Institute of Spanish Studies
Frequently asked Questions - Lodging and Meals
During the school term and the Summer Sessions lodging and three daily meals will be provided in private homes. Families who usually receive foreign students as boarders in their homes live in apartments or flats. Families and accommodations have been carefully reviewed and approved by our director of housing (rooms are double occupancy). All homes are located close to public transportation so that both the school and the center of town can easily be reached.
· How are the homes students live in? In Spain, almost everybody lives in apartments, and they are normally smaller than those in the US.
· Will I live very far from the school? The homes can be in any area of the city, although we try to have them close enough to the school. If they are a little far, there is always a bus that will pass near the school.
· Do the families speak English? In most cases, no. That forces the student to speak Spanish, and that’s the whole idea.
· What if I have special needs related to diet, health, etc.? If you do (for example, if you are vegetarian or are allergic to certain foods, etc.), you must notify the Institute as soon as possible so that we can find a family that can cater to your needs. Normally there is no additional cost associated with this, unless the special need is quite unusual and special efforts must be made to accommodate the student.
· Is there more than one student in each home? Normally there will be two of our students in each home. Our experience tells us that this is psychologically good for the students and gives them more confidence. In some instances, there are other Spanish students in the same family.
· What happens if I have a problem with the family? All the families in our program have been carefully selected and they have had the experience of hosting American students in the past. However, if there is ever a problem with any of the families, the Institute will help the students solve the problem, even if it requires switching to another home.