Study Abroad in Salamanca: Student Life

Activities

AIFS organizes monthly activities such as: excursions to towns and sites of interest in Spain, a Spanish cooking class, “tapa” tour, fiestas, Thanksgiving dinner, professionally guided tours of Salamanca, “intercambio” get-together to meet Spanish University students, etc.

Full day excursions include a day among the honey-colored monuments of Segovia, a trip to the carnival in Ciudad Rodrigo for the mini “running of the bulls” or a visit to a typical Charro (Salmantine) bull ranch.

Community volunteer opportunities

For students willing to make a serious commitment, volunteer work can also be arranged by the AIFS staff. It is an excellent way to integrate in the local community. Students can prepare “English language workshops” for small children (aged 6 to 12) as an after-school activity in a Spanish public grade school—if your class schedule permits. The commitment would entail one hour (between 4 and 6 p.m.) on one school day per week. The school will prepare a certificate reflecting a student’s participation if requested.

Computer and Internet access

The AIFS office has a student computer lab and a wireless connection. Students also have free computer/internet access at the University of Salamanca. Additionally, the AIFS office provides students with a cybercafé supplement of 15 hours per month to allow computer access in the evenings and over the weekends when the AIFS office and the university are closed.

AIFS support staff

AIFS maintains a centrally located office and full-time staff to assist students with problems, doubts, questions, cultural adjustments, medical visits, emergencies and general well-being. The Resident Director serves as a liaison between students, hosts and the University of Salamanca. AIFS coordinators supervise placement of students with hosts as well as organize group excursions and activities that are included in the fee. Dr. Carlos Cabrera, the AIFS academic advisor at the University, holds regular office hours for AIFS students to assist them with any academic concerns.

University activities program

The University is a center of activity for Salamanca. Its plays and concerts draw students and residents alike, and its cinema has an ever-changing program of art films and new releases. Because of the small size of the community (180,000), students can wander into the city center easily, finding other students who will talk over the latest political happenings or discuss poetry over a glass of wine or a late night cup of coffee at a local café.

Students can use the University sports facilities (for free) and partake in social activities (for a small fee) such as hiking, horseback riding through the Charro (Salmantine) countryside, flamenco lessons, salsa lessons, ballroom dancing, Sevillana dance classes, pilates, fitness, judo, karate, fencing, yoga, etc. More information on the University of Salamanca's sports activities can be found at www.usal.es/deportes.