Take advantage of the unique flavor Salamanca 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.
Intercambios
Onsite staff will post CEA student information on an electronic university bulletin board for Spanish students looking to meet native English-speaking students to practice their English. Students usually meet at a local café or outside park. CEA students can select their intercambios and means of carrying out the exchange. Some choose to use English for the first half of their meeting and then Spanish for the second half, others choose to dedicate one language to each meeting and alternate. It is entirely up to the students and is quite informal. CEA students practice their Spanish and have the opportunity to meet local people, and above all make new friends and socialize. Since this is an easy opportunity to feel integrated into the local community, it is one of the most recommended forms of immersion by former CEA students.
Spanish Cooking Classes
This is a great opportunity to participate in the making of several typical Spanish dishes by a local chef. Students will take notes which are later compiled into a lista de recetas and handed out by onsite staff. This activity will take place in a restaurant atmosphere where students will have the chance to sample every dish prepared, learn about the different kinds of Spanish cuisine and the specialities of each region. The highlight of this class is the elaboration of the famous Spanish dish, paella. Most students agree that savouring everything at the end, especially the paella, is quite a feast!
Horseback Riding
By visiting a local picadero or ranch, students can learn about the art of bullfighting, go horseback riding and enjoy the paisaje charro. Even the bus ride to the ranch is a great way to experience Salamanca’s countryside and learn about characteristics of the local landscape, like the encina, its acorns or bellotas and Salamanca’s cerdo ibérico. Students will be taught some basic notions about horseback riding upon arrival and will be taken out on an hour-long ride through one of the ranch’s many routes by a member of the ranch’s staff. Some students have even had the chance to meet famous bull-fighters here!
Tapas Night
CEA will take students on a tour of different tapas bars in the city where they can learn about and taste typical Spanish tapas.
Volunteer Opportunities
This is an additional opportunity for students to practice Spanish in a unique environment, meet local people and make new friends. There are several volunteer opportunities for semester and year students. Some opportunities are available for trimester students as well but are limited due to the nature of the activities and the short period of time these students spend in Salamanca. VOLUSAL, a center within the University of Salamanca, works with many different organizations, prepares students and informs them about volunteer opportunities through workshops, classes, etc. Other volunteer opportunities are also available through other non-profit organizations like Cruz Roja, etc. Teaching English to children or tutoring are also excellent options for students majoring in Education.
