How we work

Personalization

We do not offer individualized or personalized one-to-one courses but when we close a group of 4 to 7 students, we take into account the profiles of each and every one of them. We look at the information that we will have gathered through the data that a student is willing to give us with an absolute confidential treatment of the data as stated on this WEBSITE in the section on data protection, according to the latest laws in force in the European Union. In all matters relating to Cookies and Data Processing, we are governed by the directives of the European Union.

In this process, not only are the tastes and interests of each of the members of the group considered, we also look at the use that you will have for the language. But above all, we will consider each of your learning styles. We don’t want to bore you with educational theories, but we do want to share that learning styles determine to a great extent how each person learns and how much they get out of their learning. In fact, some linguistic techniques are already proven. For example, a linguist like Michael Lewis (1993, 1997, 2000) gives clear techniques for memorizing the lexicon, teaches effective vocabulary and strategies. You yourselves will have observed that in everyday life; everyone has his or her own learning style. According to Reinert (1976) “learning style is the aptitude or talent for which a learner is best “preconfigured”, i.e. how he is able to receive, understand, memorize and handle the new information he receives and how he best solidifies it”. There is an extensive bibliography, Riechmann (1976), Koll (1984), Honey and Mumford (1986), Sprock (2018), García Cué (2006) that reflects and explains this.

We are open, if you wish, to test your learning style, and determine what your learning style is, so that we can adapt our teachings as much as possible to each and every member of the group that is living together for 1 month or 2 months.

When we informally started this project last year, it just so happened that some students who left for the weekend asked us if we could go on a trip to one of the cities to which you can travel from here. It is possible that a Sherpa could accompany a group, say, for example, to visit Venice, where the whole group would speak in Spanish the whole weekend. This customization is possible as long as the Sherpa is willing to sacrifice his or her free time on the weekend and be willing to accompany the group for sightseeing. However, this is absolutely optional and is a personal decision for the Sherpa. The whole group or part of the group may go because it is optional. In order to not make distinctions between group members, it is something that would have to be democratically agreed upon by the group. We don’t want this to become a source of differences among group members.

Internship Programme

Spanish & Work Experience

This programme is designed to combine Spanish language learning with practical work experience through an internship in a company or institution in Asturias. We facilitate work placements according to the trainees’ CVs, their previous professional experience, their interests and their language skills. This is an opportunity not only to improve your language skills, but also to gainprofessional experiencein today’s international workplace. Internships or traineeships in-companies are the way we recommend in order to go from level C1 to C2 or even from B2 to C1. A minimum B2 level is required.

How the intership works

The Spanish government has recently granted temporary residence and fixed-term employment authorization for training and work experience.

There are two main options for internships in companies:

  1. There is an authorization for temporary residence and fixed-term duration for seasonal or campaign activities.
    1. In this case, there is no restrictions regarding the education that students must have. So we can place the student in a variety of fields, mainly in Tourism and Hotels sectors.
    2. The placement duration will be for a period not exceeding 9 months.
  2.  There is another authorization for temporary residence and fixed-term employment that is requested by an employer or entrepreneur in order to hire a worker for training and work experience.

Foreigners, out of the EU, who have obtained a higher education degree in the two years prior to the date of application or who are pursuing studies leading to a higher education degree in Spain or abroad, may participate in internships in companies program by signing an internship agreement or an internship work contract to improve their knowledge, practice and experience in a professional environment.

To this end, they must have a prior residence permit for internships and, in the event that they are not located or residing in Spanish territory, the corresponding visa, which will be issued in accordance with the procedures described in the law.

The residence permit for internships in companies shall be requested by the host entity by electronic means and shall be valid throughout the national territory.

The period of validity of this residence permit for work experience (Internships in companies) shall be six months or equal to the duration of the work experience agreement, whichever is shorter. This authorization may be renewed once, but the total period of the initial authorization and its extension may not exceed one year. In the case of an internship contract, the duration shall be the duration foreseen in the contract, governed by the labor legislation applicable at any given time (in some cases 2 years).

This type of contract is particularly useful in high-demand professions such as STEM but also in certain business areas. Once the internship period is over, you are forced to return to your home country unless you get enrolled in studies which lead to a higher education degree in Spain.

In both cases we work with some companies in order to facilitate to you this process, but we cannot guarantee that you will be able to get the internship since this decision depends on your personal and professional skills and profile, and company decision. Our goal is to facilitate the process.

This is a work we do for free as far as the student spends at least two months (in a row or in different years) in our program. It is also a process which requires at least 45 days in advance authorization by the Spanish Government.

This type of contract is paid under the minimum wage in Spain, which is enough to pay the month apartment rent, food and some stipends. Nothing else.

On the first day of the course there is an orientation meeting followed by an interview with our coordinator to discuss placement objectives, experience, and possibilities. In the last week of the language course, final details are given, and participants are introduced to their host company.

How we organize the intership programme

Registration

Please contact us by email for detailed information about the enrolment. Students should send a Curriculum Vitae including all relevant educational and work experience, along with a letter stating their placement objectives and interests.

On the first day of the course there is an orientation meeting followed by an interview with our coordinator to discuss placement objectives, experience, and available possibilities. In the last week of the language course, final details are given, and participants would be introduced to their host company.

Monitoring and Follow Up

We organize follow up meetings with our participants so they can share work experiences, ask questions, and offer their own insights about all aspects related to the programme. The host company tutor and the participant fill in initial and final evaluation questionnaires, analyzing all aspects of the internships.