Extracurricular activities 1.06.2015 - 7.06.2015

 Let's welcome June with Tía Tula's extracurricular activities. Ideal to keep practising Spanish. Are you in?

Monday 1, 5:30 pm: Theatre workshop - We are heading to Espacio Almargen to learn some theatre games and exercises -in Spanish, of course!
Approximate duration: 2 h.

Tuesday 2, 7:45 pm: Cookery lesson - This week we will cook a delicious paella and then taste it.
Approximate duration: 1 h.

Wednesday 3, 7:30 pm: Book presentation - Our Chief of Studies, Montse Villar, will present her latest book "Bitácoras de Silencios" at Teatro Liceo. Teacher Carmen L. will go with you. Don't miss out! 
Approximate duration: 1:30 h.

Thursday 4, 7:45 pm: Urban gallery - Do you know Barrio del Oeste? Its open-air urban gallery is a must-see. They are creating new pieces, so we may even get the chance to talk to the artists!
Approximate duration: 1 h.

Friday 5, 7:20 pm: Exhibition + tapas - Back to Barrio del Oeste, we will visit the exhibition "He cambiado de opinión" (meaning I've changed my mind) at La Salchichería. We will after go have some tapas.
Approximate duration: 1:30 h.

Saturday 6, Excursions – Lisboa-Coimbra-Fátima, Aveiro, Toro, Valencia or Gandía. A great weekend ahead, you choose your destination. Further information at the reception desk.

Please don't forget that you need to sign up for each activity at the reception desk (in order to reserve your place). The minimum number of participants required for each activity is usually three. Unless otherwise stated, the meeting point is Tía Tula school.

Try to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun, but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you have learnt in class.

Activities 2.3.2015 - 7.3.2015

Let's welcome March with a week filled with interesting activities. Here is what we have in store for you:

Monday 2, 7:00 pm: Urban outdoors exhibition – Discover Barrio del Oeste, a neighbourhood turned into an open-air urban museum. Approximate duration: 1 h.

Tuesday 3, 7:00 pm: Playful guided tour – Come learn the history and legends behind some of Salamanca's most important monuments.

Approximate duration: 1h 30min.

Wednesday 4, 7:50 pm: Language exchange – What a perfect way to practise your Spanish! Join ufor an informal meeting with native speakers.

Approximate duration: 1h 30min.

Thursday 5, 2:40 pm: Fighting bulls ranch – We will visit a fighting bulls ranch. Are you brave enough to participate in an amateur bullfight? If you are up for it, you will have the chance there. Approximate duration: 4h (including transportation time).

Friday 6, 7:50 pm: Evening photography tour – Check out the best spots to take night pictures. Approximate duration: 1h.

Saturday 7: Excursions– Several destinations available. Further information at the reception desk. 

Please don't forget that you need to sign up for each activity at the reception desk (to reserve your place, the minimum number of participants required is usually three). Also, unless stated otherwise, the meeting point is always the same, Tía Tula school. Lastly, if there's no price mentioned with the activity, it means it is for free.

And don't hesitate to participate in as many activities as you can; they are designed not just for you to have fun (that is guaranteed) but also to improve your knowledge of Salamanca and Spanish culture, and to put into practice the Spanish you learn in class.

Urban Dynamism

"Adapt or die" –or “update or die”, to go with the times- is the motto that has been implemented in one of Salamanca’s neighbourhoods, barrio del Oeste’.  In recent years, it has grown from a neighbourhood like any other to quickly become one of the icons of Salamanca’s urban culture.

Neighbourhood Association "Zoes" which has come a long way since it was founded in 1977, is responsible for promoting the activity that characterizes this neighbourhood’s adaptation to new trends. The importance of this social project lies on participation and closeness. With this approach the organisation wants to transmit the idea that a neighbourhood is indeed more than just that: a neighbourhood is and is defined by how its people live, enjoy their free time, work, interact with others and by how they identify themselves. Barrio del Oeste is a social space where the protagonist is the neighbourhood itself.

Among the programmes that have been launched is the work of the group "Quedamos y Punto’’ (We meet and that’s it) performed by true masters of knitting. The action is known for being a surprise since anything can be knitted. It is a movement called urban knitting aimed especially at changing the aesthetic qualities of the neighbourhood and using the streets as their canvas, expressing the femininity of the neighbourhood as opposed to masculine feeling of already existing graffiti.

Here are some examples that you can see on the streets of Barrio del Oeste: trees dressed in recycled wool; a bicycle next to an English phone booth, both covered with coloured wool, and many more peculiarities that you can discover while walking through the streets. 

We also highlight the urban gallery displayed on the garage doors, security shutters and walls, all provided via a competition organised by Urban Painting Gallery of Graffiti and Mural Painting.

Here are our students of Spanish contemplating the paintings:

But there's more! Exhibitions, competitions, running club, travel club (next destination announced is Lisbon and Sintra), social action, "urban mile" ... It has also recently opened a new cultural centre to propose art projects open to the public, it’s called ”La salchichería” (the sausage factory, since that was the former purpose of the building).  

If you want know more about what Barrio del Oeste has to offer, visit the website of the association Zoes or this one created specifically for the urban gallery. You can also download this free app and check out two itineraries within the gallery.