During the orientation period, students are housed in Cate dormitories and served meals in the dining hall. Throughout the four-week residence in Salamanca, group members live in Spanish homes, where they eat and take part in daily activities with their families. The importance of this arrangement can hardly be overstated, since this opportunity to live with Spaniards and to form close relationships with them is likely to be the most rewarding and most educational aspect of the program. Meals are included in the weekend excursions and during our stay in Madrid, where we spend our final two nights in a hotel. While in Salamanca, students attend three hours of classes each day.
Homework is assigned each weeknight.
Each weekend, a day trip from Salamanca is scheduled for the group. During our two days in Madrid we visit museums, tour the opulent Palacio Real, and see a flamenco show. Students also have the chance to explore the cafes, shops, and parks near our hotel, which is located in one of the city's best neighborhoods. The program is directed by Cate Spanish teachers who have studied and traveled extensively in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. As a rule, the four-week program takes place during the month of July.