Happy New Year

Happy New Year! As we head into 2011 I'd like to give a brief update on the bilingual program. The students' English level continues to improve and we are gearing up for an increase in the percentage of each class that will be taught in English. The students have also been working on their first all-English presentation to be given in Pilar's Protocol class. The students were split into 6 groups, then paired with another group. Each pair of groups has been preparing a skit to represent a different business-tourism situation (i.e. a retirement dinner for a hotel-chain manager, a business deal between a tour-guide company and a travel agency, and organizing a familiarization trip for a foreign country). The presentation will be given during the first few weeks after we return from the holiday break and I'm very excited to see the final product.

The #1 tour guide in all of Granada, Rafa

The students also had the opportunity to be taken on a very informative tour of the barrio Albaycin the week before vacation started. The tour guide was Hurtado de Mendoza's own Rafa García and he led the group through the cobblestone, hilly streets and back alleys of the area. A couple of the highlights were a stop at the Centro de Agua and the always picture perfect El Mirador de San Nicolas. It was a perfect winter day in Granada, a bit chilly but with plenty of sun, and the trip ended with some tapas in a nice little plaza near the mirador.

Prof. Juan w/ some of the students before the tour

I hope everyone had a relaxing few weeks off and a great start to 2011!