Mester. Study Abroad
Learn Spanish
with Spanish... to anywhere
Cultural Programs
We plan our activities so that you not only practice your Spanish in class but also in your free time! We have carefully designed a wide selection of extra curricular activities, the majority of which are free.
Each day our cultural co-ordinators and your teachers will detail the activities which we provide. You will get to know the rest of the students from your school whilst enjoying an international atmosphere and, most importantly, practising Spanish. Detailed information is available in La Voz, Mester´s own student publication.
Additionally, each school organizes activities that reflect the culture of that particular city. In Granada and Seville, the popular festivals such as the “Feria de Abril”, “El Rocío”, or “El Día de las Cruces” provide a unique opportunity to interact with Spanish people, to participate in some traditional street festivals and to be exposed to Spanish traditions.
Some of Spain’s most important bull farms are dotted about the plains surrounding Salamanca so studying here means that you can really get to understand these animals that form such an integral part of Spanish culture. In addition, you can take full advantage of the wild and beautiful countryside on your doorstep and go horse riding, hiking or engage in any number of other outdoor activities.
A guided tour of the city
On your first day of school we will show you around your new city, to help you feel at home straight away. With your fellow students and teachers you will get to know the main monuments, places of interest and those important for your daily life.
Additionally, on each Friday we offer a program of specialized visits to various sites around the city. Accompanied by a teacher, you can get to know the history, the artistic details and the behind-the-scenes secrets of the most well known monuments and buildings.
Conferences
This is one of the strong points of our schools, and is always very popular among students keen to learn about Spanish culture. In our annual series of conferences we take a close look at the many different aspects of social and cultural life in Spain, its origins, its history and literary background.
On Mondays and Tuesdays history lectures are given from 6 to 7 p.m. and art lectures are given from 7 to 8 p.m. On Wednesdays a literature lecture (Hispanic literature in film) is given from 4 to 5 p.m.
Excursions
Mester´s excursion program takes students off to visit the rich tapestry of towns and cities dotted all over Spain. In addition, a cultural teacher will be on hand to guide the students around these locations, highlighting their importance in Spanish culture and history and pointing out the monuments and landmarks that are all too easy to miss.We guarantee that these excursions will make your visit to Spain one that you will never forget.
Every weekend we offer you a chance to discover the magical cities scattered throughout the region in which you are studying. Andalusia`s cities overflow with a culture that has had a influence throughout the world, those in Inland Spain form part of our national heritage and are the source of many of our oldest traditions, and from the paradise of Tenerife, you can visit the Spanish islands of the Atlantic with their unique wildlife preserves.
Concerts
We occasionally organize concerts either in the schools or in a local café or bar.These may feature classical, traditional Spanish acts, or perhaps pop or other styles of music.
We organise trips to see international concerts in a variety of musical styles, usually specific to the area of Spain.
Additionally we hold weekly music classes for Spanish guitar.
Films
Spanish is very much á la mode in world culture, a fact reflected by the enormous number of Hispanic films produced each year. At the school we´re keen to introduce our students to popular and successful directors of Hispanic cinema, therefore we show regularly films.
These are always presented with Spanish subtitles to aid comprehension.We also show films from other countries, but these are, of course, dubbed into Spanish. Most of these films, whether Spanish or foreign, are on DVD and thus have perfect sound quality to help give students an ear for the language, its subtle intonations and its rich vocabulary.
Sports
One of the most popular pastimes in Spain is sport and we offer you the chance to play your favourites. Each week we organise tournaments and competitions in tennis, bowling or basketball...
Horseback Ridding
On the first or second Friday of every month, from 4 pm to 7 pm., we drive 24 miles outside the city of Salamanca to Picadero Valverde to visit a Spanish bull ranch and ride for an hour. During the summer, we can also swim in the pool.
Tapas Tour
This is one of the most interesting and of course fun Spanish social customs.Tapas are small snack foods served with coffee, soda, beer, wine or other drinks and add a new dimension to your understanding of Spanish hospitality and social life.
Every Monday, a teacher will take you and your friends off to visit the various bars and cafés in the town in which you are studying, where you`ll have a chance to sample some of the most delicious food on offer.This is usually typical to the region and reflects the agricultural and gastronomic traditions that abound in every area of Spain.
We also offer weekly kitchen classes in which we teach students how to prepare tapas.
Dance Lessons
Every week we offer dance classes of Salsa (only in Salamanca) and Sevillanas.