Study Abroad in Granada: Student Life
Orientation in Granada and Castile
To ensure that students are able to fully integrate into Spanish life and University culture from the first day of classes, AIFS provides a language and cultural orientation at the University at the start of each semester followed by a 4-day visit to Madrid and Castile. Students live in Spanish households or the student residence during orientation, as they do throughout the year.
Based on initial proficiency, students enroll in one of four levels:
- Spanish 100: Elementary
- Spanish 200: Intermediate
- Spanish 300: Advanced
- Spanish 400: Superior
During the fall semester, 80 hours of language contact are offered (5 credits). During the spring semester, due to calendar adjustments for the Christmas holidays, 60 hours of language contact are offered (4 credits).
Orientation credit
Students receive five (fall) or four (spring) credits for the orientation language and civilization course of 80 hours (fall) or 60 hours (spring). Grades and details of hours attended will appear on the final University transcript.
Activities
AIFS sponsors excursions to various Spanish cities and cultural activities in the city of Granada every month. During the fall semester, students visit the Alhambra and Generalife Palace, the Moorish neighborhood of the Albaicin, the Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada and the home of poet Garcia Lorca. Overnight excursions are arranged to the Costa del Sol, Gibraltar, Seville and Cordoba. A day excursion is arranged to the Sierra Nevada. Activities include a welcome party, Sevillanas dance lessons, Thanksgiving dinner, a day hiking through the hills and valleys of Granada, a photo contest, a flamenco show, basketball and soccer competitions, and weekly tapas evenings with Spanish students.
During the spring semester, students visit the Alhambra and Generalife Palace, the Moorish neighborhood of the Albaicin, the Cathedral and Royal Chapel of Granada, the Sacromonte Abbey and the home of poet Garcia Lorca. Overnight excursions are arranged to the Costa del Sol, Gibraltar, Seville and Cordoba. A day excursion is taken to Ronda. Activities include a welcome party, Sevillanas dance lessons, a day hiking through the hills and valleys of Granada, a photo contest, basketball and soccer competitions, weekly tapas evenings with Spanish students and a flamenco show.
Students can participate in sports and social activities at the University, attend lectures, concerts and other cultural events. For a small fee students may take flamenco dance, salsa, Spanish guitar, photography and painting classes at the University Cultural Center. There is a University cinema and a regular schedule of plays and performances. Access to computers (with internet) and a wireless internet hookup for those who wish to bring their laptops is free at the AIFS Student Center and at the University.
Those who like the outdoors can ski the accessible and inexpensive slopes of the Sierra Nevada or spend a weekend at the Spanish beach town Almuñecar, on the Mediterranean coast.
Students use the AIFS Office and Student Center daily for consultations with staff, tutoring, meeting and studying with friends as well as accessing the internet. AIFS office amenities include: a Student Center with 4 computers and a wireless broadband hook-up (for those who bring their own laptops), webcams, fax and photocopier machine, an Intercambio board for meeting Spanish students, a library of travel books, text and novels in English and Spanish, mailbox, and cultural and travel information.
