Take advantage of the unique flavor Barcelona has to offer. CEA offers a variety of local immersion activities to match your interests. Whether you enjoy music concerts, clubs, sports, cooking classes, language exchanges or something entirely different, our resident staff can help you get involved in the local culture. Here are just some examples.
Barça Soccer Match
CEA students will have the opportunity to watch a soccer match at the impressive Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe and home to FC Barcelona, one of the top soccer clubs in all of Spain and Europe and an architectonical state-of-the-art landmark of the city. Experience the thrill of seeing 100.000 people screaming at unison and waiving red and blue flags while the players emerge from the tunnels to start the match along with the applause of the crowd and the club's anthem.
Visit to Park Güell
Students will enjoy stunning views of the city from Park Güell, one of Barcelona’s most visited places by both tourists and locals alike. The enchanting scenery makes it obvious why Barcelonans come to enjoy a walk among nature and admire the creativity of one of our most renowned architects, Antoni Gaudí.
Tapas Cooking Workshop
Students will be able to attend a Spanish Tapas Cooking Workshop. The objective of this workshop is for students to learn about the Spanish culinary typical food called Tapas and get involved in making them.
Tapas is the name for a wide variety of appetizers, that can be eaten between the main meals allowing the body to make it until lunch or dinner. The tapas recipes include all types of food like: meat, fish, vegetables, eggs. Etc, and they can be cold or warm. Tapeo (the act of eating tapas) can even replace a meal if the amount and variety of them is enough to satisfy the appetite. But without a doubt, the most important feature of tapeo is its collective character and the fact that people usually eat tapas while standing up and talking. Another feature is that tapas have always to be served in small portions, replacing in this specific case, the word comer (eat) for picar (literally, to peck). Tapeo is definitely the best "fast food" formula if you don't have much time to seat down and eat.
In this practical workshop, students will get fully involved, chopping, cutting and adding ingredients, while they learn how to make some of the best well-known cold and warm tapas from Spain. Participants will also learn the basics of Spanish vocabulary related to cooking such as the words for ingredients, cooking utensils, etc. The workshop will be held in two languages: English and Spanish. The usage of each language will be in direct proportion to the level of Spanish of the course participants. The aim is that students learn Spanish vocabulary in a natural way, while they are making their own montaditos and other cold tapas
Castellers
Castells are the human towers that Castellers build in town squares. All kind of people take part in a castell, no matter the age or size. Castellers form colles, which are associations of people that train and prepare castells together. The building of castells is particularly popular in central and southern Catalunya, as this tradition mainly developed in towns like Vilafranca del Penedés (south of the Barcelona province) and Valls (province of Tarragona), though nowadays there are colles everywhere in Catalunya.
Flamenco show
Although Flamenco originated in Andalucía, in southern Spain, Catalonia has a rich tradition in this folk art and Barcelona is the birthplace of famous Flamenco dancers such as Carmen Amaya, as well as a new generation of younger artists-- Mayte Martín, Ginesa Ortega and Duquende. CEA students will have the opportunity to discover the passion and duende of this art, and attend a Flamenco show in one of the city’s tablaos.
Spanish Movie Night
Why not practice Spanish speaking and listening skills in an entertaining place away from the classroom? Depending on current movie listings, CEA Barcelona will arrange a Cinema night to watch a Spanish movie.
Volunteer Opportunities (only for a Academic Year Programs, Fall or Spring Programs, not for Summer Programs)
Casal d'Infants del Raval
This is a wonderful opportunity to work with children of different ethnic backgrounds in workshops setting after school hours, to help kids with homework and other activities (artwork, cooking, dance or music lessons) Interview Process. (Intermediate or Advanced Spanish Required).
YMCA
An International Non-governmental Organization that stands to stimulate the full development of an individual, by placing emphasis on their childhood and youth through activities that foster universal values in order to improve the reality of their social setting. Uniting men, women and children of all ages, races, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. The main tasks include give support to the YMCA leisure centers after school hours, doing art, music workshops and help with homework. Interview Process (Intermediate or Advanced Spanish Required).
Fundació Pere Tarres
A Non-profit making organization aming in educational and social action, promoting leisure education, improving social relations. Their core values are: love, freedom, truth, justice and peace and they value participation, dialogue and social harmony. The Volunteering tasks: helping children with homework, participate in workshops (music, dance, cooking) at their leisure day care centres. Interview process (Intermediate or Advanced Spanish Required)
Hospital Vall D'Hebron
This volunteer opportunity is coordinated by the AFANOC, which is an Association of Children with Cancer. All the children in this hospital have cancer. This involves an interview process, followed by training. This opportunity will entitle to give support to sick children as well as the parents. Type of tasks include: playing games with the kids, helping with their homework, painting, drawing and keeping them company. Interview process. (Advanced Spanish Required)
Raval Surf
Non profit Organization that has developed a project which intends to introduce the surf world to the youth of Raval (a neighboorhood in Barcelona) Main activities include: workshops for kids to teach them surf, workshops to restore surfboards. Voulnteering takes place on Saturdays mornings and some weekday evenings. Interview process. (Intermediate Spanish Required)
