Cultural Immersion Program
At BCNLIP Language School, we encourage our students to use Spanish in real contexts and to develop skills that allow them to be autonomous in their learning. The school follows the guidelines of the Instituto Cervantes and the latest trends in language teaching. Below, you’ll find more information about the program.
Barcelona Immersion: dive in, discover, and tell your Barcelona
With the Barcelona Immersion program, in addition to the general course —where we use Spanish textbooks adapted to the level of each group— students take part in classes and activities that help them go deeper into the language and local culture. From Monday to Thursday, they have classes focused on cultural and linguistic immersion, which they must record in a self-learning journal. Here they learn how to discover the city in Spanish. The goal of the program is for students to be able to explain Barcelona as if it were their own city, create guides, and write chronicles.
In addition, from Monday to Thursday, students also do half an hour of daily autonomous group work. On Fridays there are tutorials, cultural outings, and cultural and language workshops.
- Tutorials — In these sessions, a teacher answers the group’s questions and helps them with the self-learning journal.
- Cultural outings — Guided routes where the teacher accompanies the group through Barcelona’s neighborhoods, explaining their history and sharing curiosities about the city (from September 12).
- Cultural and language workshops — Classes that address topics such as writing or film (from September 12).
- Events — Students are invited to take part in the school’s cultural calendar and must also record these activities in their learning journal.
Fridays at BCNLIP: tutorials + activities
9:00–11:00 · Group tutorials + free breakfast buffet
We start Friday with group tutorials to review goals, strategies, and your learning journal. We’ll be waiting with a breakfast buffet to encourage you to come and to support you closely. These activities are essential to complete the immersion program. They also complement the general courses and can be done on their own according to your interests.
11:30 · Activities begin
We renew the schedule each term. Four strands, tailored to interests and levels:
Routes and cultural outings around Barcelona (11:30)
- Led by a teacher–historian (Revolution of 1934, La Mercè, Poblenou…).
- Cultural lexis, reading context, and conversation on the street.
- For all levels; recommended from A2.
Flamenco and music of the Spanish-speaking world (13:00, after class)
Monthly performance with local artists, preceded by 4 micro-classes (history, Barcelona and flamenco, guided listening, review). In each edition, listening, speaking, and cultural lexis are worked on by level.
Reading club (11:30)
- With a teacher–writer: guided readings, literary walks, libraries, and debates.
- Comprehension, argumentation, and writing in Spanish.
- Minimum level: B1.2.
Film club (Friday afternoon)
Spanish and Latin American cinema with a teacher’s introduction, subtitles (ES/EN), and a guided debate to practise speaking and mediation.
Hit play and see how we live Fridays
Integration and participation activities
Learning also happens outside the classroom. These experiences complement the classes and the immersion program (and you can join even if you only take general courses): they strengthen group cohesion, intercultural mediation, and spontaneous Spanish practice in real contexts.
- Cultural and festive events — We celebrate Barcelona’s cultural life: La Castanyada, Sant Jordi, La Mercè, Night of the Museums, food workshops, and start/end-of-term parties. Perfect for socializing and using the language naturally.
- Quarterly excursions (free) — Outings led by our teacher–historian. Usual destinations: Vic, Montserrat, Sitges, and nearby natural parks. Planned to travel with a commuter card, at no additional cost.
- Sports events — In summer, beach volleyball; the rest of the year, futsal and recreational activities. Teamwork, live vocabulary, and plenty of conversation.
- Language exchanges — We encourage participation in the city’s meetups and in open activities by the BCNLIP Foundation, to practise with native speakers in diverse social settings.
They’re the ideal complement: they reinforce what you learn in class, expand your network, and build your portfolio with real experiences. Are you in?
| BCNLIP CULTURAL CALENDAR | |
|---|---|
| JANUARY | Flamenco session |
| FEBRUARY | Flamenco session |
| MARCH | Flamenco session |
| APRIL | Sant Jordi Flamenco session |
| MAY | Gothic Quarter Festival Flamenco session |
| JUNE | Flamenco session |
| JULY | Flamenco session St John’s Eve |
| AUGUST | Holidays for the whole team (no scheduled activity) |
| SEPTEMBER | La Mercè Flamenco session |
| OCTOBER | Flamenco session |
| NOVEMBER | Flamenco session |
| DECEMBER | Christmas event Flamenco session |