Cultural Activities starting 17/08/14

This week in Spark.

On Monday as always we have our welcome drinks, we bring our new students out for a drink in order to get to know them better.

The first on’s on us šŸ˜‰

In addition to this we have Sevillanas dance lessons for any interested.

 

On Tuesday we have Discover Spain, this week Mario will be bringing people to San Fernando, he’s eager to show off the beauty of his home town.

Wednesday as always is our conversation class, where students come in order to practice their Spanish in a more practical fashion.

 

Thursday we have our visit to Castillo de San Marcos and Cata de Sherry. It is always a great learning experience for our students.

And what better way to end a summer week than with a Barbecue. Graham and David will be cooking for everyone.

To see photo’s of our previous weeks events click here.Ā 

My month at Spark

While writing this I’m about to finish my last day of my work experience programme at Spark. It has been a great month and I’m sad about going home tomorrow and it seems just like yesterday when i wrote my welcoming work experience blog post. Spark has become like a second home to me, and the people here have become my second family.

My work here consisted of analysing the social media that Spark is currently using, and find ways to improve the use of them. Since I was using Facebook, Twitter and other social media while working, it didn’t feel like I was really working. I am very glad that Spark gave me this job, it was fun and interesting at the same time.

The lessons were also great, and my Spanish has improved a lot this month. Four hours of Spanish lessons a day seems like a lot, but it really isn’t. The hours are not only filled with grammar and vocab, but also with a lot of games, music and videos. Also the teachers are extremely nice and are very good at teaching. Outside of the classroom I also spoke a lot of Spanish, so learning the language went very fast.

If I had the chance to stay a couple of weeks more at Spark, I would definitely say yes. I made a lot of good friends with who I went out for dinner, out for dancing or out to tan. Also I fell in love with AndalucĆ­a. This month has been the beginning of a deep bond between me and the south of Spain and it is for this reason it so sad to say goodbye.

Spanish Work Experience

Spanish Work Experience

Cultural Activities

The Cultural Activities in Spark, starting the 11th of August.

 

On Monday we have our welcome drinks as usual, inviting our new students out for a drink it’s a good way to get to know them.

On Tuesday our Discover Spain is quite special, it will be a bike tour of El Puerto. Cycling around El Puerto and seeing the sites up close is so much more personal than the hop on hop off buses you see,

Wednesday is our usual conversation class.

Thursday is games night! There will be games to play in Spanish in order to practice, as well as wine and cheese for tasting šŸ˜‰

On Friday is our weekly Barbecue. Graham and David are going to cook up a storm!

 

Here are last weeks photo’s, if you want to see how much fun we have at spark, look no further

One month of working and studying with Spark

I’m Nomi, an ambitious Dutch girl that’s eager to learn. That’s why I chose to do the work experience programme with Spark. It is only my second day in El Puerto de Santa MarĆ­a, but I’m already loving every bit of it! In total I will spend four weeks here, and I’m convinced that I’m in for a lot of fun whilst learning Spanish and gaining work experience.

As I mentioned before, I chose to work and study Spanish with Spark. First of all I will improve my Spanish by having class every weekday. This will be helpful to me when I’m on holiday, or maybe even in a future job. Besides class, my day will consist of three hours of work. The project that is given to me is to learn about online marketing, with special attention to SEO, and create a manual of a SEO-computer programme for the other Spark-members. Since marketing is a big interest of me, I am very happy with this project. I’m glad Spark took the time to get to know me and find a task that really suits me.

Yesterday I arrived, and some of the current group of students already invited me to come with them to the beach. I had a first lovely day where I had my first experience with the lovely beach and town of El Puerto. I can’t wait to see what this month will bring me. With the great group of students and colleagues I bet I’m going to have the time of my life.

Spanish Work Experience

Cultural Activities starting 30th of June.

On Monday Spark will be taking it“s new students out for welcome drinks, to give them a feel of the area as well as to get to know them, which is followed on tuesday by cooking class with Gloria. The dish in question this week is Tortilla de patatas, which will surely be a treat.SAM_4687

On wednesday Maria will be hosting a conversation class that all are welcome to join, following this up Maria will be hosting a games night with wine and cheese in order for people to practice their Spanish in a fun environment.

The week will end with a bang on friday with Graham and Conalls weekly Barbaque, there will be food and drink a plenty, and all are welcome to sign up

If you would like to join us at any of these events you are more than welcome! To let us know that you are coming just send us an email to info@sparklanguages.com and we will sign you up for the events! That’s all for now, have a great Sparky week in the sun!Ā To view the full program, click here:Ā 30th-4th of July.Ā And remember check out our facebook page to see the photo’s from last week’s events:Ā https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.774744732576151.1073741971.153618118022152&type=3

My name is Liz and I’m really excited to start my work experience with Spark! I’ve only been here for a few days and I’m already having a great time. My very first night there was a bonfire night on the beach and it’s only got better from there. Between the sun, the sea and the amazing people here I think I’m in for a fantastic month.

elizabethOf course, I’m doing the work experience program so as well as doing Spanish lessons I get to learn things that will give me a real advantage in my future career. My project for the next four weeks is to create a brochure for Spark’s School Groups. I’m really interested in graphic design so I cant wait to get started!

I’ve never done anything like this before so this will be a completely new experience for me and I hope I manage to create something worth while. For the next week I will be learning to use Adobe Illustrate, the program I need to make the brochure, and researching other brochures for inspiration. I’ve already spoken with a member of Spark’s marketing team who gave me some really useful tips on setting things up. The task will be challenging but most definitely worth while. By next week I will hopefully have an idea of what the brochure will look like!

A wonderful video about our wonderful El Puerto de Santa Maria (El Puerto part starts in minute 15) showing how great a place in Andaluisa the town is to visit and of course learn spanish šŸ™‚ .

School Groups in Spain – Farewell Tudor Hall High School

picture-3-THTengo que admitir que la semana vivida con este grupo de chicas y sus profesoras ha sido sĆŗper enriquecedora para mĆ­.

Ɖramos un grupo grande de solo chicas que pudimos compartir multitud de momentos que para siempre quedarĆ”n en mi recuerdo.

Nuestra primera excursión fue a Jerez, donde pudimos ver ā€œComo bailan los caballosā€œ, un espectĆ”culo muy artĆ­stico que hizo nos creciera el interĆ©s para empezar con las clases de EspaƱol por la tarde.

Estas clases, en general toda la semana, fueron intensivas pero ””era necesario!! pues las chicas tenían sus exÔmenes de español a pocos días de la vuelta del viaje.

picture-1-THHabƭa que hacer mucho, trabajar mucho, pero me consta que las chicas lo hicieron. Por un lado, por las familias que siempre comentaban que era un verdadero placer tenerlas en casa. Por otro lado tambiƩn, por mi propia experiencia donde puedo decir que estoy muy orgullosa de lo tanto que se esforzaban en clase.

Pero bueno… No sólo ahĆ­. Como decĆ­a, en las excursiones aĆŗn me sorprendĆ­an mĆ”s, pues todo el tiempo intentaban practicar lo aprendido y seguir descubriendo palabras o expresiones nuevas šŸ™‚

Nuestro viaje a CÔdiz fue fantÔstico, tanto por el barco en el que montamos en El Puerto que nos llevó hasta allí como por el espectÔculo flamenco al que asistimos así como simplemente los paseos por las preciosas calles de la ciudad. Se podía ver en la cara de las chicas que estaban encantadas, y yo con ellos!!

No puedo terminar sin comentar sobre nuestro viaje a Sevilla, también una maravilla, pero es que la ciudad en sí es fantÔstica y nos permitía estar felices y aprovechar las últimas horas hasta que el vuelo de regreso a casa saliera.

En definitiva, ha sido una semana agotadora llena de actividades fuera y dentro de la clase que nos sacaron la energƭa pero en el sentido mƔs positivo posible pues conseguimos visitar, descubrir, compartir, y aprender mucho, muchƭsimo, con lo cual yo me siento muy satisfecha y orgullosa. Por supuesto, me gustarƭa desearles lo mejor en el futuro y verlas de nuevo por Spark!!!

Un abrazo muy fuerte šŸ™‚

Maria Fernadez Alvarez – Local Chaperone

Gema GonzĆ”lez Herrera – Spanish Teacher

Gloria Reina  – Programme Co-ordinator & Sevillanas Teacher

Inge Hol – Director of Educational Programmes

farewell-banner-Tudor-Hall

Here are some comments of what the Wymondham students thought about their experience at Spark;

picture-2-TH“Everything was great! Gema, Maria and our host familys. All so friendly and helpful! I loved everything! Ā”Muchas Gracias!” Isabel

“(The Chaperone) Very helpful and so welcoming. Belen (Host Family) was amazing and very organised!” Georgie

“Our host family were very nice!!” Eleanor

“(The host families) Very friendly. They went out of their way to make the students feel welcome. The host families children took the girls out too! (Improvement of Spanish) The students are much more confident. Teachers excellent – focused on the topics we requested. (Overall) Excellent! The staff were very helpful. Everything ran smoothly and to an excellent standard. We hope to return next year with years 10, 12 and 13!” Holly (Students accompanying teacher)

Check out the photos of their tripĀ hereĀ or via clicking on images in post.

It’s Friday, and that means it’s time to introduce the cultural activities for the coming week.

On Monday, there will be welcome drinks for new and current students. The first drink is on Spark! On Tuesday, there will be intercambio with MarĆ­a. Students and locals are invited to practice their Spanish and English in a relaxed and informal environment.

School group photos

On Wednesday, our weekly conversation class will be hosted by MarĆ­a. Again, students and locals are encouraged to join and practice their Spanish. Finally, on Thursday, MarĆ­a will be bringing students to a local bodega, with sherry and tapas included.

If you would like to join us at any of these events you are more than welcome! To let us know that you are coming just send us an email to info@sparklanguages.com and we will sign you up for the events! That’s all for now, have a great Sparky week in the sun!Ā To view the full program, click here:Ā 11 – 17 mayo And remember check out our facebook page to see the photo’s from last week’s events:Ā https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.746291662088125.1073741958.153618118022152&type=1

Cultural Events: 28th April – 2nd May

It’s that time of the week again where we introduce our cultural activities for the coming week.

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to start off the week, we have welcome drinks on Monday evening. The first drink will be on Spark!

On Tuesday, we have our intercambio. Both students and locals are invited to come and practice their Spanish or English. Also on Tuesday is our weekly cooking class with Gloria. This week she will be teaching students how to cook Plato AlpujarreƱo.

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On Wednesday, our weekly conversation class will be taking place. Maria will be hosting a games night as well, with wine and cheese.

If you would like to join us at any of these events you are more than welcome! To let us know that you are coming just send us an email to info@sparklanguages.com and we will sign you up for the events! That’s all for now, have a great Sparky week in the sun!Ā To view the full program, click here:Ā 27 abril – 3 mayo

And remember check out our facebook page to see the photo’s from last week’s events:Ā https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.738648549519103.1073741956.153618118022152&type=1

TudorĀ Hall High School comes to Spain!

After a great couple of weeks with Wymondham High School and Oratory High School, we are now welcoming anotherĀ school group for the next week; Tudor Hall High School! It was a pleasure toĀ welcome theĀ Tudor Hall students and their accompanying teachers, Holly and Mair last night where the students met their host families for the first time. They have a busy and exciting weekĀ of Spanish lessons and other fun activities and excursions!

Inge Hol

Inge Hol, School Group Director

We have a fun and jam-packed programme with excursions around the wonderful town ofĀ El Puerto de Santa MariaĀ discovering and experiencing the typical Andalusian culture! They will also be going on day trips to the marvellous Jerez seeing the amazing horse show “Como bailan los caballos”, to the stunning Sevilla and to the beautiful city Cadiz! Of course there is lots of Spanish to be learnt in class during their stay here at Spark as well as dance classes! We are truly looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing experiences with the students and their accompanying teachers, Holly and Mair!

From everybody here at Spark, I, Inge, Director of School Groups programmes, Maria, the chaperone, Spanish teacher and excursion leader, and Gloria the events and homestay coordinator, would like to wish the group a safe journey to El Puerto de Santa Maria! We look forward to welcoming you very soon and helping create an experience of a life time.

Un saludo desde una EspaƱa soleada.

Check out the photos of their trip here. >Ā  Ā Photos of El Puerto

Cultural Events: 21st – 25th April

Let’s look ahead to the cultural events for next week.

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On Monday, Doug will be hosting drinks in a local bar. The first drink is on Spark.

On Tuesday, intercambio will be taking place. This week, Gloria will be the host. Students and locals are invited to join an informal discussion in Spanish and English.

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Our weekly conversation classes will be on Wednesday. All are welcome to join.

Finally, Gloria will be teaching students how to cook paella in her cooking class on Thursday.

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If you would like to join us at any of these events you are more than welcome! To let us know that you are coming just send us an email to info@sparklanguages.com and we will sign you up for the events! That’s all for now, have a great Sparky week in the sun!Ā To view the full program, click here:Ā 20 – 26 abril

And remember check out our facebook page to see the photo’s from last week’s events:Ā https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.733661843351107.1073741954.153618118022152&type=1