Flight Information
• Round-Trip air transportation with a major airline and airport transfers.
• You will fly from Albuquerque International Airport (or other major
international airport, if not flying from Albuquerque) to Malaga International
Airport.
• You will be met at Malaga International Airport by a representative
of the University and driven to your residence location, an approximate
20-minute ride. An orientation tour of Malaga and the classroom location
will be provided on the morning after your arrival date. On return,
you will be driven from your residence location to the Malaga International
Airport.
All reservations will be made for you – you just show up at the Main city
International Airport at the scheduled reservation time and you’re on
your way.
Course Information
• 100 hours intensive Spanish language course at the University of
Malaga• A placement exam and an interview will take place on the first
morning of the school program to determine the level of instruction for
each student. You will be placed in a sub level within one of three main
levels – Basic I, II, or III; Intermediate I, II, or III; or Advanced I, II, or
III.
• Classes are held Mondays-Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The
course includes three sections daily with two hours of grammar, one hour
of audio, and two hours of conversation, with a different instructor for
each section. A break is scheduled after every hour of class.
• Daily homework and study time is required to maintain the fastpaced
level of instruction. Presentations are required in the intermediate
and advanced level classes, related to your home country or topics of
your choice. It might be good to take some resource material of your
choice with you (your state, town, work-related topic, etc), if you’re more
comfortable with presentations of a familiar nature.
• There are five computers with internet access in the lobby of the classroom building available for student use before classes begin and
during breaks. The building is closed after 2:00 p.m. Some of the residence
centers will have accessible computers and internet access, and
there are many internet cafes throughout the city. There are also many
copy centers throughout the city where you can have copies made or
discs printed, if necessary. Most of the homework will be fill-in-the
blank forms, or preparations for brief oral presentations.
• All courses are taught entirely in Spanish and all students are expected
to interactively engage in Spanish conversation throughout the
course at their relative level of the Spanish language. Students are encouraged
to continue their Spanish-speaking ability during class breaks,
outside of the classroom with the family or residents of the residence
center, and while shopping, in restaurants, etc. Free Spanish movies are
shown in the central park every Sunday and Tuesday evening. Students
from all parts of the world, with many different languages, will participate
in these classes, making Spanish the common language that allows a
more rapid integration into Malaga’s mainstream. Lebanon, Holland,
Japan, China, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Greece, Switzerland, Germany,
England, and the U.S. are some of the countries from which students will
come to study at the University of Malaga.
• 80% attendance is required to receive a certification of completion at
the end of the course. There will be an optional final exam, with a grade
that will be included in the certification of completion, if you chose to
take the final exam. The final grade will be a combination of classroom
participation, completion of homework, and final exam score.
• The University will offer three or four local historical tours on a
weekday evening and two or three Saturday excursions by bus to Granada,
Sevilla, Ronda, or Cordova, with transportation and guides for a
minimal fee. Within the city of Malaga, local must-see sites include the
Botanical Gardens, the Alcazaba, the Cathedral, Gibralfaro casstle or the
Picasso Museum. Buses, trains, or rental cars are also available, if you
prefer personal weekend overnight excursions to further sites such as
Ronda, Granada, Cordova, or Sevilla. Local travel agencies are very
helpful in scheduling such trips or it is very easy to plan your own excursion.
The buses offer several daily trips with direct routes to these
nearby areas for minimal fees.
Supplies – take with you or plan to buy while there the usual school supplies,
such as pens, pencils, notebooks, cards, etc. Take your favorite
dictionary and other reference materials – there are no reference materials
provided in the foreign exchange student building.. The University
will provide daily handout sheets with lessons and homework assignments.
Housing Accommodations
• The price includes 30 days housing with a local family or in a University of Malaga contracted residence center. If you arrive or depart
earlier or later than the class schedule, you will be responsible for your
own housing accommodations during those periods.
• Living with a family will provide additional integration into using
the Spanish language. The family is not obliged to offer anything more
than a bedroom and bathroom and refrigerator space, but the experience
of most students who stay with a family has been a very close bonding
with the family.
• The residence centers are a mix of dormitory/apartment-style living
quarters, likely with a private bedroom and a shared bathroom with one
or two other students. Breakfast is usually provided and an option to
have lunch and dinner meals is usually available. A common study
room, computer room, TV lounge, laundry room, and shared refrigerator
will usually be available. The live-in managers and staff will speak
Spanish, as will most of the other students who come from various countries,
so there is much opportunity to use your Spanish language skills in
a residence center.
Depending on your preference, living with a family or in a residence center,
your housing will be centrally located to the foreign language classroom
building – either a short walk or city bus ride will get you to school
in 10-15 minutes.
Payment Information
• Total payment must be made no later than two months prior to departure
and before your airline, university registration, or housing accommodations
will be made.
Method of payment for the deposit and final payment is a wire transfer
from your bank account to the receiving bank account. The information
needed by your bank and the receiving bank for the transfer will be provided
to you once you are sure you want to make the reservation.
Pre-Trip Meeting Schedule
To assure you have all the information you need before making your final
decision before your departure, a pre departure meeting can be arranged.
Malaga Orientation
On your first day of arrival, you’ll receive a city tour and orientation
from a group contact person, your Malaga host. He will be your emergency
contact while in Malaga.
Passport Information
You are responsible for obtaining any travel documents needed, including
visas and passports, and/or verifying entry requirements necessary for each country of travel and/or transit. If you do not have a current passport,
you must have it before flight reservations can be made. It can take
up to six weeks to receive a passport after submitting the application to
the Department of State. Check the U.S. Department of State website for
passport first-time or renewal application requirements.
Money Issues:
• The euro is used in Spain. You can check exchange rates on the web
close to your departure time. It is recommended that you arrange for a
small euro exchange at your local bank before departure (at least two
weeks in advance) so that you arrive in Malaga with a few euros. ATM
cash withdrawals are the recommended method for additional cash needs
once in Malaga. Check with your local bank or credit/debit card company
to assure your card can be used in Spain for cash withdrawals. Cirrus,
Plus, Pulse and most other major ATM access are available in several
locations throughout the city. Banks in Malaga are only open from
9:00 - 2:00 p.m. Mon-Fri., but the ATM machines are accessible 24/7
throughout the city.
• Major credit cards can be used at most shops, restaurants and hotels.
Tipping is usually included in restaurant prices, but leaving some coin
change or a tip of your choice is recommended for good service. Waiters
and store managers are an excellent source of local information and will
engage in helpful conversation if you explain why you’re in Malaga and
speak to them in Spanish.
Food/Dining:
• Breakfast usually consists of coffee and fresh bread.
• Lunch is the large meal of the day, usually served between 2:00 and
4:00 p.m.
Dinner is a lighter meal, usually served at 9:00 p.m. or later.
Medical Needs
• Check with your medical insurance company to assure you have
medical coverage, if needed.
• Health coverage is free in Spain, in case of an accident you will receive
a treat from public health services till you arrive to USA.
• Take sufficient prescription drugs to cover your stay.
Pharmacies are open 24 hours daily throughout the city for over-thecounter
drugs or medical supplies.
Markets/Restaurants/Shopping
• Several grocery stores, fruit vendors, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries,
camera shops, copy centers, bookstores, and specialty shops are
available throughout the city for all your shopping needs. The Corte Ingles is a modern shopping mall with six floors of all types of merchandise
available from clothing to office supplies to groceries.
Souvenirs and special purchases can be found wherever you travel
throughout Spain.
Weather
• Check web sites for weather during scheduled travel time to accommodate
appropriate clothing needs.
Normally sunny and warm temperatures trougth the year.
Safety & Security
• The US Department of State website offers advice for international
travel and how to pack for such a trip Check their website for specifics.
• Make copies of your passport, credit card, ATM card, and insurance
card – one copy to take with you and one to leave with your family – so
that you have pertinent information available if you lose any of these
official documents.
• You will be given an emergency contact name and number once you
arrive in Malaga that you can give to your family (to be used only for
emergency).
• Check with your mobile phone company to determine if service is
provided in Spain and what price it costs. International telephone cards
can be purchased throughout the city for reasonable rates for making
international phone calls. Your residence location will have a phone
number for emergency contact.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Sidewalks and pathways
in many European cities and villages are uneven or under major
repair.
• Depending on the time of year you will travel, check the need for
appropriate sunscreen, water, rain gear, or other special needs.
Secure fanny packs, purses, and backpacks are recommended. As in any
city, precaution should be taken to protect yourself and your possessions
at all times.
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