Predeparture Madrid AYA 2012

Academic Year AbroadFor adults and Students aged 16 & above

EF International Language Centers

www.ef.com

EF Madrid

Important Note: Factual information contained in this document is subject to change.

Accreditations and Memberships

The EF International Lan-guage Centers in London,

Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol

and Bournemouth are:

EF Dublin is accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in the USA are members of:

The EF Interna-tional Language

Centers in the USA are accredited by:

The EF International Language Cent-

ers in Sydney, Brisbane

and Perth are accredited by:

EF Nice is recognized with the Label Qual-ité Français Langue

Etrangère.

EF Vancouver and Toronto are accredited by Languages Canada.

All EF Courses are certified by Southern

New Hampshire University.

EF Education is an active participant in

the Comité Européen de Normalisation.

The EF International Language Centers

in Brisbane and Perth are mem-

bers of:

The EF International Language Centers in

Cambridge, München, Cape Town and Nice are

accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in London, Cambridge,

Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Bournemouth are

members of:

All EF Courses are recognized by Hult

International Business School.

Federation of International Youth

Travel Organizations.

MadridA lively city, Madrid enjoys an unsurpassed social

scene found in its many sidewalk cafes, tapas bars

and nightclubs. The EF school is located in an

elegant residential quarter, close to many important

sites.

Contact details:EF Escuela Internacional de EspañolMaría de Molina, 41 28006 Madrid Spain Phone: +34 91 781 65 83

Section Topic

1 .......... Introduction to EF

2 .......... Welcome to Spain

3 .......... Weather watch

4 .......... Travel & transfer service

5 .......... School information

6 .......... Academics

7 .......... Accommodation & meals

8 .......... Money matters

9 .......... Phones, faxes & Internet

10 ........ Health care & insurance

11 ........ School activities & excursions

12 ........ Transportation

13 ........ Expectations

14 ........ Spanish culture & living tips

15 ........ Adjusting to a new culture

16 ........ EF school calendar & holidays

17 ........ Checklist

Contents - Madrid

Dear Student

Welcome to Madrid! Thank you for choosing to study

at EF Escuela Internacional de Español. During your

stay in sunny Spain, we will do our very best to make

your stay with us enjoyable and easy.

We have a lot to offer you here in Madrid. The school

is in a good location in a lively area of Madrid with

excellent sports facilities nearby. Enjoy studying with

us in the 3rd biggest city of Europe and capital of

Spain, with plenty of opportunities waiting for you and

also with the warmest and most hospitable people

you will ever meet.

The school staff and I look forward to meeting you

soon and helping you make the most of a complete

immersion in our culture. Madrid will exceed your

expectations!

Best wishes,

Chus de Llano,

School Director

EF International Language Center, Madrid

4 Madrid, Spain

2. Welcome to Madrid, SpainMadrid is the biggest city in Spain and the

3rd largest in Europe in terms of population

after London and Paris. It is a cosmopolitan,

warm and welcoming city and a melting pot of

different nationalities and cultures. Madrid is

also the world capital of the Spanish language,

a language that is becoming an essential tool

in a growing number of disciplines (already

spoken by more than 400 million people

worldwide.) As financial capital of Spain,

Madrid offers numerous professional train-

ing programmes in national and multinational

leading companies.

Madrid has so many exhibitions, shows and

an endless array of artistic initiatives and leisure

activities (shopping, dining out, clubbing) that the

students feel a total immersion in the Spanish

culture since the beginning, helping them to

improve their language skills. Furthermore, it is

home to some of the most renowned institu-

tions, aimed at nurturing and promoting the

Spanish language, such as the National Library

or the Cervantes Institute. We must also men-

tion the cultural heritage provided by El Museo

del Prado, Reina Sofía and other magnificent

museums.

Madrid also has the privilege of being geo-

graphically situated in the center of Spain,

allowing the student to visit many other Spanish

cities in just a few hours by public transport

(bus, plane, high-speed trains).

3. Weather WatchThe climate of Madrid is dry and sunny. Its

continental climate is characterised by extreme

temperatures: July and August are absolutely

scorching, but the short and intense cold winter

(between December and February) surprises

many visitors.

The little rain that falls on Madrid is mainly

between October and November and also during

the spring (from March to May).

Having planned a trip to Madrid, we must bear in

mind that autumn and spring are also very mild

and pleasant seasons. Average temperatures:

Summer between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius,

Autumn between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius,

Winter between 2 and 10 degrees Celsius and

Spring between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius.

There is a 5 degree temperature difference

between the day and the night. Please pack

accordingly!

Due to this continental climate, seasons are

strongly differentiated, resulting in amazing skies

and landscapes, especially the sunsets.

4. Travel & Transfer serviceTransfer service

Arriving at a busy airport in a foreign city can be

confusing. EF offers a one-way transfer service

from the airport to your accommodation for an

additional fee. We highly recommend that you

take advantage of this service.

At least one month before your arrival, you

must inform the EF Office in your home country

of the exact details of your flight (airline, flight

number, date and time).

Independent arrival

It is very easy to get to the city from the airport.

There are several options (please note that

prices are subject to change):

❚ Take a taxi to your homestay or to the Stu-

dent Residence. Taxi fares from the airport

usually cost 25-30€. There is an airport

supplement of 4,50€. Do not get into a taxi

unless it has been booked for you by EF or

you have agreed to a price beforehand as it

will be very expensive. Besides by law the

1. Introduction to EFEF Education First, welcomes students of all ages from every corner of the world to learn a language at our schools, also located all over the world. Our innovative curriculum uses an intensively structured academic program, along with an array of educational and social activities, resulting in a fast and fun way to learn a language.

EF students come from diverse back-grounds that, like you, have chosen an academic language program to enhance their skills and improve their career pros-pects. Many of you will have been planning this for many years and it is now time to take advantage of this opportunity!

A large percentage of our students ap-ply their new language skills by taking a recognized exam. Successful completion provides the necessary language qualifi-cations for university and for professional endeavours. Many students view their time with EF as a chance to explore educational alternatives whilst honing language and study skills.

A great aspect of an EF program is the variety of nationalities at our schools. We welcome you to join this international com-munity where you’ll experience life and language with EF. We take great pride in our continuing dedication to our mission – breaking down barriers of language and culture.

5 Madrid, Spain

cabs must have a “taximetro” (counter) and

the taxi driver must turn it on when you enter

in the cab. PAY ATTENTION to this important

detail in order not to be deceived

❚ If you are travelling light, you can take the

tube, a modern, secure and cheap option.

In around 45 minutes you will be in any place

of the city. Cost 1, 50 € single ticket plus 1

€ airport supplement. For more information

www.metromadrid.es

❚ There is also an airport bus, which will take

you downtown to Avenida de América (just in

front of EF school) for 1,50€. From there, you

may take a taxi to your homestay. It will cost

approx. 10-15€.

IMPORTANT: Please always advise your EF

office or your homestay hosts of your expected

arrival time. This will allow your hosts to plan

their day accordingly and to make sure some-

body is there when you arrive.

5. School InformationOur EF Madrid school lies in the exclusive

northest quadrant of the city, in front of one

of the main public transport hubs of the city,

which includes 4 tube lines and more than 40

bus route lines (city and regional). It is because

of this, that in less than 20 minutes you can

be in any part of the city departing from the

school. The neighborhood is the renowned

“barrio de Salamanca”, exclusive and luxuri-

ous where Loewe, Gucci and all other big

and exclusive brands are located. It is also a

very traditional and old fashioned area with a

local market and hundreds of typical bars and

restaurants ranging through all categories and

prices.

A very competent staff of teachers, Housing

and Administrative Coordinator, Activities Coor-

dinator and School Director that love Spanish

culture and Madrid city, are here to assist with

questions and concerns.

The unique and emblematic glass building in

which the school is housed, is an icon in the

city. A fully modernized building with state of

the art design and facilities and a nice private

outdoor area that students can enjoy, even

in Winter (partially covered). The school is

provided with:

❚ Reception (always staffed)

❚ Classroom with multimedia facilities

❚ Language lab with 16 pc’s

❚ Multifunction room for presentations, confer-

ences or special events

❚ Wi-fi

❚ Internet bench

❚ Student lounge

Students can eat lunch at the cafeteria in front

of the school with special EF prices and ter-

race all year around.

Staff

The School Director can help with anything

that has to do with the general organization

of the course and will deal with any problems

of a serious nature. She can also help with

administrative problems such as banking, visas,

course changes and insurance as well as with

more important academic matters such as class

changes and examinations.

If You Need Help

❚ Questions about your course can be

answered most easily if you ask the right

people. The following people are always

ready and willing to help.

❚ The Accommodation Coordinator can help

with homestay problems and financial ques-

tions.

❚ The Activities Coordinator is responsible for

entertainment, sports, travel and other non-

academic events. They can give you sugges-

tions of what to do in your spare time.

❚ Teachers and Course Advisors can help with

any language difficulties or study problems.

❚ Homestay hosts can help with domestic and

general problems about life at home.

6. AcademicsThe EF academic programme gives students

the opportunity to study the Spanish language

and the local culture for as long and with as

much intensity the student wishes and best

adapts to his or her needs. All students will at-

tend grammar, listening, speaking, reading and

writing classes.

First days at the school

On your first day of school, you will be wel-

come at 9:20 a.m. (winter time) and 8.50 a.m.

(summer time) by the School Director, and you

will be given a test lasting approximately 1.5 to

2 hours; this will allow us to allocate you to the

right level.

Orientation

Orientation is a very important part of your

course. It is when you first meet your class-

mates and where friends are made. It is your

first introduction to the staff. You will also re-

ceive your personalized study timetable, details

on the study centre, recreational activities and

information about Madrid.

Spanish teaching programmes

Classes will be divided according to levels.

Our teaching staff will make sure that you are

placed at the right level. Please note that Busi-

ness and Exam courses are only available for

students of an intermediate to advanced level.

All classes are taught in Spanish. Please also

note that promotions to higher levels are based

on class performance, attendance and teach-

ers’ comments.

Tests

You will take a placement test on arrival. Your

progress is monitored, amongst other things,

by 2 weekly tests covering all the skills: gram-

mar, vocabulary, reading, writing and oral

comprehension.

Official Diploma de Español como Lengua

Extranjera (DELE) exams

Depending on students’ interests and levels,

we offer DELE preparation options. There

are three levels – from Lower Intermediate to

Advanced. Exam dates are usually in May and

November. Students interested should contact

either their local Spanish Consulate for details

or their local EF office.

Course Certificates

At the end of your course, you will receive a

certificate. You will also receive an academic

record referring to the progress you have

made. However, please note that these certifi-

cates are only given to students who have at-

tended courses regularly. It is important to note

that in order to be eligible for an EF certificate,

students are expected to participate in class

and must attend at least 80% of all classes.

Special Interest Options

General and Intensive courses include a num-

ber of special interest class options. After the

initial placement test, you will have the chance

to specify your preferences for these special

6 Madrid, Spain

interest classes. Some of these classes require

intermediate or advanced Spanish proficiency.

Also, a minimum number of participants are

required for each special interest class to take

place. The Director of Studies will discuss

your particular needs and wishes with you. All

General and Intensive courses include special

classes on phonetics and additional Intensive

Language practice.

Course books

As part of your academic program, you’ll be

expected to buy the books and classroom

materials that you will use in class. The exact

number of books that you’ll need is determined

by your academic level, progress and choice of

special interest classes. If you wish to buy ad-

ditional books you may need more money. The

books you buy are yours to keep, write in and

take home with you for future reference.

Lessons

All lessons last 40 minutes and are always

taken in Spanish, including the beginner’s level.

The basic study classes are taken in blocks of

two lessons.

Timetable

The school’s timetable changes during the

year, depending on enrollments. Students will

either have a combination of morning and

afternoon classes during their stay, or a morn-

ing or afternoon schedule only. The applicable

schedule will be confirmed during the orienta-

tion on the first day.

7. Accommodation & MealsFor your comfort and safety, please observe

the following rules in your homestay accom-

modation:

❚ The taking of drugs is strictly forbidden.

Students not respecting this rule will be sent

home immediately at their own expense.

❚ No animals are allowed in the rooms.

❚ No open flames (candles, cookers, etc.) are

allowed in the rooms.

❚ No alcohol is allowed in the rooms.

Homestay accommodation

If you are staying in one of our carefully chosen

homestays you should arrive at your host’s

home between 17.00 and 19.00. If you cannot

arrive at this time please inform your hosts of

your arrival time so that someone will be there

when you arrive. Any special requests for ar-

ranging additional nights should be confirmed

with your home office prior to departure. In a

city as large as Madrid, homestays can be up

to one hour’s travelling time from the school.

Meals: Homestay accommodation includes

breakfast and dinner at home seven days a

week and full board at the weekends. You

are not allowed to use the kitchen to cook.

However, you can put food, water or sodas in

the refrigerator. You will have meals with your

hosts at their set meal times. Please be sure to

call your hosts if you are going to be late or if

you are not going to be home for a meal. Please

also respect your host’s privacy at lunchtime

by eating before returning to their home after

school. Note: Lunch and dinner times are very

late in Spain compared with the rest of Europe.

Lunch is generally after 14.00 and dinner after

21.00. During school days it is usual practice

to have a second breakfast/snack at the 11.30

break in order to keep you going until lunchtime

for prices between 4-6€. Please do not wash

any clothes in the bathroom and dry those in

your bedroom, instead, please ask your hosts

where their laundry room is.

Note: Most homes in Spain are not air-condi-

tioned our homestays are no exception.

Inviting friends: Please ask your hosts before

you invite friends to their home. Please do

not expect your hosts to serve meals to your

friends.

Damages: Should you cause any damages to

your host’s property, please inform them imme-

diately and settle the matter directly with them.

EF acts only as a mediator between student

and hosts and cannot assume responsibility for

any damages caused by you.

Telephone: Do not use your host’s telephone

without asking them first. If you want to make

a call to your own country, try to reverse the

charges (in Spain this is called a “llamada a

cobro revertido”), or ask your family to call you.

Keys: You will most likely be given a key to

your host’s home. Please keep it in a safe

place. If you lose it, you may have to pay for a

new lock, which can be very expensive!

Accommodation Questions: Should you feel

unhappy with your homestay, please try to dis-

cuss any problems with them. You may suffer

from “Culture Shock” because the Spanish may

have different ways from your own country.

Room: Generally you will share your room with

an EF student of a different nationality, although

we are not able to guarantee this. You will be pro-

vided with a bed, bed linens, closet space, and

towels for home use. You will also have access to

a desk or table which may be in another room.

Bathroom: You will use the host’s bathroom

facilities. Please be considerate of your host’s

habits when using the bathroom.

Laundry: Your homestay hosts will wash your

sheets and towels. However, they are not

responsible for doing your personal laundry

(although some families may offer to do this for

you anyway). An information sheet will be given

7 Madrid, Spain

to you at the school with a list of launderettes

that you can use; the price per wash can

differ from what you would be charged at the

homestay. However, if you have any serious

problems and are still unhappy after the first

week, you should contact our EF staff who

may be able to find another homestay for you.

If you wish to change your accommodation

in any way during the course you must give

the EF staff seven days notice. If you do not

respect this notice period, you may be subject

to a penalty fee.

8. Money MattersCurrency

The currency in Spain is the Euro. The symbol

for this currency is €. The euro is divided into

100 cents (sometimes referred to as euro-

cents, especially when distinguishing them

from other currencies).

Banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10,

€20, €50, €100. They will each be a different

color to allow you to tell them apart more eas-

ily. Coins come in denominations of 1c, 2c, 5c,

10c, 20c, 50c, €1, €2.

Spending money

We advise you to take about 100 to 125€ per

week in spending money, although this truly

depends on what you choose to do during

your leisure time. You should bring most of

your money in traveller’s cheques or credit

cards, as well as about 100€ in cash for when

you first arrive, including, some small change

for telephones, lockers and bus tickets. You

will also need to take money for learning

materials used in class and for any language

proficiency exams you plan to take.

Only carry as much money as you need for

one day – remember that thieves exist every-

where in the world! The safest way to carry

money is traveller’s cheques. Many places also

accept major credit cards.

Changing money

Foreign money cannot be changed at the

school, but please ask staff where you are able

to change money or traveller’s cheques.

Credit cards

We strongly recommend that students travel

with either a Visa or MasterCard. Credit cards

enable you to rent cars, reserve hotel rooms,

and do various activities, which may be more

difficult with cash or traveller’s cheques.

9. Telephones, fax & InternetTelephone

On your first day at the school, you’ll get in-

structions on how to use a payphone and how

to phone your home country. We remind you

that you should not use your homestay host’s

telephone to call your family, as there is no way

of checking the total cost of the call. Depend-

ing on the length of your stay we recommend

buying a local Spanish mobile phone. You will

receive information about this on arrival.

Fax

All EF schools use fax machines to conduct

business. You can send and receive faxes from

this machine. When you receive mail or faxes

at the school, these will be kept at the front

desk for you until you pick them up.

Internet

The school is equipped with Wi-Fi wireless

Internet. Students are highly encouraged to

bring their personal laptop computers for email

and Internet use on the wireless network.

Students are also able to access the Internet

and email in the computer centre according to

the timetable set by the school.

10. Health Care & InsuranceWe strongly recommend that you take out a

comprehensive health insurance policy before

leaving for Madrid. An insurance policy will

cover you in case of illness while away from

your home country and is available through

your local EF office. If you have any health

problems during your stay, please alert your

homestay hosts or the EF staff at the school,

either one can put you in touch with a doctor.

❚ If you do have to see a doctor during your

stay, you should:

❚ Keep copies of all bills

❚ Keep all prescriptions or make copies

❚ Fill out an EF Insurance Claim Form if you

have purchased Erika Travel Insurance (forms

available upon request at the school).

Mutual Health Insurance Agreement

Students from Austria, Iceland, Norway, Belgium,

Israel, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Finland,

Liechtenstein, Sweden, France, Luxemburg,

Switzerland, Germany, Morocco, Tunisia, Greece,

Netherlands, United Kingdom, Former Yugoslavia

have a mutual health insurance agreement with

Spain. We recommend that students ask their

health insurance in their home country for an E

-111, -106 or -109 form.

Even students from the above countries

should consider purchasing a supplementary

insurance, since this mutual agreement covers

them only for basic treatment by the first avail-

able doctor. A supplementary private insurance

like Erika Travel Insurance entitles the student

to a wider choice of treatments, doctors,

health services available more quickly, and

preferential conditions for hospital stays.

Third Party Liability Insurance

Please make sure that you have third party

liability insurance. Particularly for long-term

students, this is a condition for obtaining your

visa from the local authorities.

Please inquire at your local EF office prior

to departure, as this type of coverage may

already be included in your policy IF you have

purchased student travel insurance through EF.

Erika Travel Insurance

Because security is EF’s number one priority,

we have negotiated a comprehensive tailor-

made travel insurance package for EF students

with Erika Travel Insurance, an international

insurance expert. The policy protects you

against expenses incurred through accident

or illness, and provides coverage for loss or

theft of baggage and personal effects. It also

provides coverage against interruption of your

EF program due to illness as well as liability

and legal expenses.

The EF staff is trained to assist with your Erika

Travel Insurance questions and claims. When you

are sick or injured the last thing you want to do is

deal with such issues. Let us help you!

11. Activities & ExcursionsExtracurricular activities contribute greatly to your

social and academic success. They not only help

you to relax after a day studying, they also provide

you with an opportunity to meet and make friends

from other classes, other countries and other cul-

8 Madrid, Spain

tures. Your school’s activities and trips give you

the opportunity to apply your life skills, practice

Spanish in real situations and familiarize yourself

with the Spanish culture.

Activity Programme

You will have the chance to take part in a

programme of sports, activities and excursions.

They are organized by the Activity coordinator at

a minimum cost to the student.

Madrid offers a tremendous range of cultural

and recreational activities. At the beginning

of every second week you will be informed of

the programme planned two weeks ahead.

This programme will include activities and

suggestions on how best to spend free time.

Madrid offers many exhibitions, shows and an

endless array of artistic initiatives and leisure

activities that our activities coordinator will talk

you through. Please note that most excursions

and activities require a contribution from the

students and a minimum number of partici-

pants to run.

Some examples:

❚ Visits within the city of Madrid: 0-7€. (Exam-

ples: Prado Museum, Almudena Cathedral,

Palacio de Oriente, Parque del Retiro…)

❚ Full-day excursions: 35-50€. (Examples:

Segovia, Toledo, Alcalá de Henares, Aran-

juez… )

❚ Two-day excursions: 200-400€. (Examples:

Sevilla, Córdoba, Málaga, Barcelona, Bilbao,

la Rioja, Skiing, weekend on the beach)

Sports

EF students are able to use a huge public

sport center (5 minutes walking from the

school) which includes: indoor and outdoor

swimming pools, solarium, tennis, badminton,

paddle and multi-sport courts, sauna, physio-

therapist, dance, swim and other lessons and

a gym.

Membership Fees: 30€ monthly unlimited use.

If you want to take lessons in any sport there

is an additional fee, the amount depends on

the sport. You can find out more information

once you are in Madrid. There are other special

areas where students can practice outdoor

sports such as skating , biking, jogging, etc. as

the Parque del Retiro and the Casa de Campo

are close by. For further information, all you

have to do is ask in reception.

12. TransportationPublic transportation

The public transport system in Madrid is very

good. A detailed bus and metro map will be

given to you upon arrival. The EF staff will also

inform you on ticket prices. The best course of

action for the first week is to buy a card with

ten single trips (9,30 €).

The closest metro stop to the school is Ave-

nida de América (L4,L6,L7,L9, bus lines 12 29

52 72 73 114 115 122 200 C1 C2 )

Cars

We do not recommend that you bring your own

car to Madrid. It is a very large city with dense

traffic and parking is limited and costly.

13. ExpectationsExpectations are a normal part of a new expe-

rience. Remember that many of your expecta-

tions may have been formed by the unreal

world of TV and movies. Arrive at your course

centre with an open mind!

What you can expect from EF:

❚ Supportive staff available for guidance and

encouragement.

❚ Language programme which combines lan-

guage, special interest, and culture-oriented

classes.

❚ Full programme of local activities and excur-

sions at special EF rates.

❚ Accommodation in a homestay.

❚ All designated meals.

❚ EF Academic Year Abroad Diploma for

Academic Year Abroad students with 80%

attendance per term and good academic

standing and academic records

❚ EF Course Certificate for International Lan-

guage Students with 80% attendance and

good academic standing.

❚ Preparation classes and/or materials for ap-

propriate standardised language exams

What EF expects of you:

❚ To develop a greater understanding of the

world around you.

❚ To attend at least 80% of all classes and to

do your best in class at all times.

❚ To be respectful of your homestay hosts,

your classmates, your teachers, and your

community.

❚ To keep your room and shared areas clean.

❚ To speak Spanish at all times.

❚ To abide by all laws, rules, and regulations of

your host country and school.

❚ As a representative of your country, com-

munity and school, the highest standards of

responsibility and behavior are expected

What you can expect from your

homestay hosts:

❚ A comfortable, clean place to live.

❚ Prepared meals or accessibility to food to

prepare yourself according to the meal plan.

❚ Access to the school in approximately one

hour by public transportation. All transporta-

tion costs are your responsibility.

What your homestay hosts expect of you:

❚ Treat the family members of your homestay

and their property with respect.

❚ You will be responsible for a reasonable

9 Madrid, Spain

amount of chores/housework

❚ No refunds will be granted for students who

choose to leave their homestay for personal

reasons

❚ You must observe “quiet hours” if and when

they are established by your homestay hosts

❚ You must abide by all rules listed in the

homestay contract (where applicable)

Rules and regulations

You will be required to abide by all local and

national laws as well as any rules of the EF

school. Violation of these rules will lead to a verbal

warning and possible disciplinary action by the

School Director. Any student who ignores a verbal

warning will be given a formal written warning, a

copy of which will be sent, when appropriate, to

the formal legal guardian. Any further breaches of

the rules may be followed by expulsion from the

programme. In the case of serious misbehaviour,

you will have to return to your home country at

your own expense. You will be required to sign a

copy of these rules prior to your departure, which

will be explained again at orientation.

National laws

❚ Everyone must carry identification at all times

❚ Drinking and purchase of alcohol is prohib-

ited under the age of 18

❚ Under the current visa legislation, non-EU

students are not permitted to undertake

employment in Spain

❚ Students under 18 may not enter some

discos

❚ Remember that you are legally governed by

the laws of Spain. If you break these laws,

your consulate cannot offer you free legal

assistance or bail you out of jail. You are con-

sidered responsible for your own actions.

EF International Language Center Rules

❚ In accordance with immigration regula-

tions, non-EC students may not accept paid

employment

❚ If you leave the programme during the

course of the year, EF International Language

Centers have the right to revoke your student

visa and advise you to return home

❚ You must notify the School Director and your

homestay hosts if you plan to travel indepen-

dently of EF and if you will be away overnight

14. Spanish culture & living tipsPassport and visa issues

You will need a valid passport. In addition,

you may need a student visa, depending on

the length of your stay. Please check with the

Spanish Embassy in your country.

The Schengen Visa (very important for non-

EU students on the Multi-Language Year

Programme or any non-EU students intending

to travel after or during their programme in the

Schengen states).

The following European Countries participate

in the Schengen programme: Austria, Belgium,

Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,

France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,

Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxem-

bourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,

Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

and Switzerland.

If applicable, a Schengen Visa issued by a

consulate of one of the countries mentioned

above allows the holder to travel freely through

all of the countries. For any non-EU students

who are not normally required to hold a visa

for individual stays of up to 90 days in one

Schengen country, but who will be staying for

a consecutive period of more than 90 days

in the Schengen countries collectively, either

a Schengen visa or a valid visa from each of

the countries to be visited is required. In either

case, the visa application(s) must be complet-

ed before you leave your home country, and

cannot be applied for through the consulate

in one of your host countries. In other words,

you will not be eligible to apply for a visa from

outside your home country, and would need to

return home in order to obtain the appropriate

visa in person.

If you intend to visit only one Schengen coun-

try, you must apply at the consulate of that

specific country.

❚ If you intend to visit several Schengen coun-

tries, you must apply at the consulate of the

country, which is your main destination.

❚ If you intend to visit several Schengen

countries, but do not have a main destination

or you will be staying the same amount of

time in each of them, you must apply at the

consulate of the country you will enter first.

❚ If you do not need a visa for the Schengen

country which is your main destination,

please note that a visa may be required for

other Schengen countries. You should then

apply for a visa at the consulate of the coun-

try you will enter first.

❚ To apply for a Schengen visa, you will need:

❚ To appear in person at the visa office of the

Consulate General closest to you. You must

submit the application form, available through

the consulate, and a recent passport-size

photograph. Please inquire with your local

consulate to see if more than one copy of the

application form, or multiple photos will be

necessary in your particular case, which may

vary depending on the countries you intend

to visit during your stay.

❚ To present to the visa office your passport

which must be valid at least 90 days over

your expected stay, proof of residency in

your consular jurisdiction, a valid round trip

ticket for transportation, and proof of financial

means to support yourself during your stay.

You should also bring the acceptance letters

from each of the schools you will be attend-

ing in the Schengen countries, specifying

dates of attendance. If you will be travelling

to another destination following your stay in

the Schengen countries for which you are

required to hold a separate visa, you will also

need to present this visa when applying for

your Schengen visa. Further documentation

may be requested from you by the consulate,

particular to your application.

*Fees will vary, please inquire at the time of

your application.

EU citizens who will be staying for a con-

secutive period of more than 90 days in Spain

must sign up in the local police station. Once

arrived, school staff will explain how to do this

easy procedure.

15. Adjusting to a New Culture The EF community is more than a group of

students who have come together to learn

Spanish. It is also a multi-cultural group of

young adults who are eager to share their

own culture and learn the culture of their host

country and fellow classmates.

One’s culture is made up of values, beliefs,

arts, traditions and practices of a specific com-

munity or population. Our culture affects how

we view ourselves, how we relate to others

and what we value as important in life. We are

10 Madrid, Spain

often unaware of how much our culture affects

our lives. You may have already had some

exposure to the new culture you are about to

experience. You may have seen television shows,

read books, or studied in school about Spain.

While some parts of this culture may already

seem familiar to you, experiencing a new culture

first-hand will prove exciting. You will be meeting

students from all over the world who, like you,

are looking forward to spending a year learning

and living a language, both inside and outside

the classroom.

As a visitor to a new culture, you may experi-

ence periods of fatigue and discomfort when

you are uncomfortable. Culture shock is what

sometimes happens when we try to meet chal-

lenges of our new culture by using the values,

beliefs, and attitudes of our own culture. As

visitors to a new culture, we must learn that

cultural differences are merely different – not

right or wrong.

It is a good idea to bring traditional objects from

your culture to share with other students and

your host to teach them about your country.

Tips on coping with change

❚ While you might be tempted to surround

yourself with things that are familiar to you,

try not to isolate yourself by being only with

others from your home country. Keep reach-

ing out to your host, roommates and other

students.

❚ Put off making major decisions such as an

accommodation change, until you feel more

“at home” with the culture in general.

❚ Talk to us about your worries or problems.

EF Staff are here to help and would prefer to

know about any problem you may have so

that we can help you.

❚ Set goals, no matter how big or small, and

accomplish them! You will feel good about

yourself in doing so, and you will reduce the

negative feelings associated with culture

shock. For example, set a goal that you will

speak Spanish at all times.

❚ Remind yourself that you came to this

country to experience a new culture, to meet

others and to explore your new surround-

ings. Relax, take a deep breath and reflect

back on the days before leaving your home

country when you were excited about your

new adventure. Try to refocus this former

excitement towards your experience.

Keeping a journal

One way to keep track of emotions and

changes that take place over the year is to

keep a journal. By recording your experiences

and feelings on a regular basis, you will be able

to reduce the impact of culture shock. You will

have a record of your academic and personal

progress to look back on in days and years to

come. Be sure to note changes in:

❚ Language skills

❚ School performance and involvement

❚ Campus/host adjustment

❚ Individual learning and growth

Keeping a journal will help to remind you that

culture shock is truly a temporary phase of

adjustment.

Bring pictures and items from home

If you have room in your suitcases for some mu-

sic, a costume, pictures, or some typical crafts,

it would be good to show other students, as well

as to make your room seem like home. We have

seen costumes and drums from Korea, music

from Austria and traditional dress from France.

Please bring pictures of your friends, family and

surrounding area.

Important telephone numbers

16. EF School CalendarAcademic Year Schedule

The Academic Year is divided into three terms.

(See the applicable start date below for your

program’s specific term and break schedule).

January 2012

Academic Year and Semester Program

Orientation: Fri 6 Jan - Sun 8 Jan

Term 1: Mon 9 Jan - Fri 9 Mar

Holiday: Sat 10 Mar - Sun 25 Mar

Term 2: Mon 26 Mar - Fri 1 Jun

Semester Departure: 2 Jun 2012

Holiday: Sat 2 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 3: (Year) Mon 11 Jun - Fri 17 Aug

Departure: 18 Aug 2012

April 2012


Orientation: Fri 13 Apr - Sun 15 Apr

Term 1: Mon 16 Apr - Fri 1 Jun


Term 2: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Semester Departure: 8 Sep 2012

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 3: (Year) Mon 24 Sep - Fri 30 Nov

Departure: 1 Dec 2012

June 2012


Orientation: Fri 8 Jun - Sun 10 Jun

Term 1: Mon 11 Jun - Fri 7 Sep

Holiday: Sat 8 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 2: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Semester Departure: 17 Nov 2012

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan

Term 3: (Year) Mon 7 Jan - Fri 8 Feb

Departure: 9 Feb 2013

September 2012


Orientation: Fri 21 Sep - Sun 23 Sep

Term 1: Mon 24 Sep - Fri 14 Dec

Holiday: Sat 15 Dec - Sun 6 Jan


Semester Departure: 9 Mar 2013


Term 3: (Year) Mon 25 Mar - Fri 31 May

Departure: 1 June 2013

January 2013


Orientation: Fri 4 Jan - Sun 6 Jan



Term 2: Mon 25 Mar - Fri 7 Jun

Semester Departure: 8 Jun 2013


Term 3: (Year) Mon 17 Jun - Fri 16 Aug

Departure: 17 Aug 2013

Please note: there will be no classes on

public holidays.

School holidays

The EF International Language Center in Madrid

recognizes the following public holidays when

there will be no classes. If your arrival falls on one

of these dates, please check with the school staff

upon your arrival for an exact orientation schedule.

2012

1 January - Año Nuevo

6 January - Día de los Reyes Magos

19 March- Dia del padre

5 April - Jueves Santo

6 April – Viernes Santo

1 May - Fiesta del Trabajo

2 May- Fiesta comunidad de Madrid

15 August - La Asunción de la Virgen

12 October - Fiesta Nacional de España

1 November - Todos los Santos

9 November- La Almudena

6 December - Día de la Constitución

8 December - Día de la Inmaculada Concepción

25 December – Navidad

2013

1 January - Año Nuevo

6 January - Día de los Reyes Magos

19 March- Dia del padre

29 March - Viernes Santo

1 April - Lunes de Pascua

1 May - Fiesta del Trabajo

24 June - Día de San Juan

15 August - La Asunción de la Virgen

12 October - Fiesta Nacional de España

1 November - Todos los Santos

9 November- La Almudena

6 December - Día de la Constitución

8 December - Día de la Inmaculada Concepción

25 December - Navidad

17. Checklist ■ Valid passport (with visa where neces-

sary) It’s a good idea to make copies of

these and pack them in your suitcase

just in case. You don’t need to carry your

passport with you while you are in Spain

but you must keep it and your other docu-

ments in a safe place while you are in

the country.

■ Passport Photos (4) for EF student

identification cards, travel cards and other

possible documents

■ Flight ticket

■ Luggage correctly labeled

■ EF Confirmation letter & other

EF documents

■ Make sure all EF forms are complete,

especially the Health Certificate

■ Medical and travel insurance documents

■ Basic medical supplies, any medication

you take regularly and a spare pair of con-

tact lenses or glasses if you wear them.

■ An International Driving License if you are

planning on renting a car.

■ Local currency for first week and for any

learning materials that are not included in

the cost of the course.

■ Money in the form of an ATM card

(Automatic Transaction Card), credit cards

and/or traveler’s checks (Do NOT bring

large amounts of cash in any currency!).

■ Electric adaptor for any electrical appli-

ances you plan to bring with you.

■ Pencil and/or pen and notebook.

■ Items from your hometown or country so you can share your culture with friends, homestay hosts and teachers.

■ Personal sports equipment.

■ Favorite books, photos and a camera.

■ Homestay or student residence details and emergency numbers.

Homestay host’s or student residence name:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address:

________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s):

________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number:

________________________________________

EF School telephone number:

+34 91 781 65 83________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number:

+ 34 69 677 01 56________________________________________

Predeparture Madrid AYA 2012

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