CONNECT WITH SPAIN: LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS The curse is intended t prvide students a first impressin n Spain, its, its culture as well as practicing cmmunicatin and sft skills needed t develp themselves in a glbal wrld. It includes intensive lectures and practice, as well as specialized culture s cmplemented with culture visits, aimed at giving the students a hlistic experience abut Spain. During the weekend, students can use their free time t explre Barcelna (nly ne hur away) and ther attractins in the regin, such as the sandy beaches r natural parks. Students Duratin Perid 10 t 25 2 weeks Spring-Summer-Fall STAFF The teaching staff will be prvided by the Center fr Hispanic Studies, which has a vast experience in rganizing immersin prgrams such as START. The Center fr Hispanic Studies is made up f a specialist team f prfessinals with a slid backgrund in the training f educatin prfessinals in as a Freign Language. Emplying their many years f experience in educatin and academic research, the team have created a brad catalg f mdern, tp-quality educatinal prgrams t satisfy the increasing demand fr studies arund the wrld. Teaching lectures will be taught in, althugh n previus knwledge f is needed. Seminars and Sft skills sessins will be taught in English. A B1 level accrding t the CEFR (Cmmn Eurpean Framewrk f Reference fr Languages) is the minimum advised t fllw the lectures and visits.
COURSE CONTENT Language mdule (12 hurs) Sft skills mdule (6 hurs) mdule Specialized culture s (6 hurs) Cultural visits Language lectures Language lectures will be taught by URV teachers specialized in teaching f as a Freign Language. The curse will be divided in grups f maximum 10 students t ensure persnalized attentin t the students learning prcess. Sft skills sessins Besides, students need t acquire a series f sft skills t be cmpetitive in a glbal wrld. Specialized culture s s n different tpics that will help t understand the Language in the cntext f culture. Tpics as histry, religin r art will be discussed by specialized URV prfessrs. - Histry and plitics: - Art and heritage: Cultural visits Rle f Spain in the cntemprary wrld Relatinship between Spain and Catalnia in Eurpean cntext Rman civil architecture, influence in mdern infrastructures Mdernism and Gaudí intrductin Cultural visits will be directly linked with the cntents f the culture s, s students can see n site and experience the lessns learned.
CULTURE VISITS Tarragna city cultural visit The students will be intrduced t the histry f Tarragna by means f the main mnuments that survive frm the ancient Rman era, when the city was at the peak f its splendr. The city f Tarragna cnserves als several majr mnuments frm its mediaeval past. Its abundant Rman ruins are thus supplemented by a rich mediaeval artistic heritage best epitmized by the city s cathedral, which ffers utstanding examples f art and architecture frm the Middle Ages. Reus Mdernist Rute Mdernism (Art Nuveau) was an internatinal mvement which riginated in Eurpe in the late 19th century. Its fundatins, essentially aesthetic, have their cmmn link in the renewal f the arts and the cnstant inspiratin frm nature, frm which they tk their mst distinctive symbls. In Catalnia the mvement was nt nly based n aesthetics, but extended t all areas, being ne f the regins with the strngest plitical and intellectual influences attached t Mdernism. In this visit the students will knw the mst interesting mdernist facades f the city f Reus, especially the wrks f Lluis Dmenech i Mntaner (Institut Pere Mata, Navas Huse, Casa Rull and Casa Gasull) and access the interir f sme buildings nrmally clsed t the public.
Castells activity (Human twers) Castells, r human twers, are ne f Eurpe's mst genuine and unique cultural displays. Under the traditinal mtt f "strength, balance, curage and seny" (a Catalan expressin encmpassing virtues such as gd sense and calmness), castells are an excellent way f shwcasing Catalnia t the wrld. Watching, r even better, taking part in a castells display is a thrilling experience that really highlights under a single prject the individual and cllective struggle fr imprvement, the effrt invlved in achieving a gal, the slidarity and spirit f cperatin between peple f all ages, cnditins and abilities. Students will visit a rehearsal f this activity in Tarragna. Tarragna Rman sites Rman civilizatin is key t understand the develpment f ur city and regin, in this visit students will visit different sites arund Tarragna: Rman Quarry f Mèdl: The main quarries f Tarragna were aimed primarily at the explitatin f limestne, very cmmn arund the city. Currently, this is the mst spectacular because f its size and state f cnservatin. Aqueduct f les Ferreres: Tarrac had in the Rman perid tw aqueducts. These hydraulic pipes had the missin t lead the water t the tanks lcated in the city.
Ebre Delta day uting The Ebre Delta cvers an area f 320 km2 and is the largest wetland in Catalnia and the secnd largest in the Iberian Peninsula. Its gegraphical features and the high natural value f its flra and fauna (ver 350 species f birds have been bserved in the Delta), make it a place f special interest fr discvering nature. Sme delta areas have been drained fr agricultural use ver the centuries. The mdern delta is in intensive agricultural use fr rice, fruit (in particular citrus), and vegetables. A netwrk f canals and irrigatin ditches cnstructed by bth agricultural and cnservatin grups are helping t maintain the eclgic and ecnmic resurces f the Ebre Delta. Pblet Mnastery Religin has played a majr rle in shaping the histry and culture f ur cuntry. T understand its relevance, students will visit the Pblet Mnastery, which hst still an active Mnastic cmmunity. This Cistercian abbey in Catalnia is ne f the largest in Spain. At its center is a 12th-century church. The austere, majestic mnastery, which has a frtified ryal residence and cntains the panthen f the kings f Catalnia and Aragn, is an impressive sight.
CALENDAR Week 1 Mnday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 09:30-11:00 11:30-13:00 Sft skills: Effective teamwrk visit Reus Mdernism Sft skills: Hw t speak in public 16:00 Visit t Tarragna Old Twn Castells rehearsal visit Week 2 Mnday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 09:30-11:00 11:30-13:00 Sft skills: Debate visit Delta day uting Sft skills: Glbal awareness 16:00 Visit t Tarragna Rman Sites Visit t Pblet Mnastery Farewell lunch