Oxbridge Academic Programs - La Escuela Preparatoria de Barcelona

ENGLISH	SPANISH
Barcelona and the Arts Creative Writing History's Secrets International Relations and Current Affairs Marine Biology Psychology Spain in the Literary World Studio Art	Spanish Language: Beginner, Intermediate Spanish Language: Advanced:   - Barcelona: Artes y letras   - Cultura y cocina

Barcelona and the Arts. The best way to get to know Barcelona is through the eyes of its great artists, notably Picasso, Miró, Gaudí, and Dalí. The work that they did – in the fields of painting, printmaking, architecture, sculpture, film, collage, theater, and more – has transcended conventional artistic methods and styles to redefine art and culture in the 20th century. Students in this course do a comparative study of the work and lives of these colossal figures – as well as other artists and writers with whom they collaborated (Max Ernst, Luis Buñuel, Max Jacob, among others) – as they discover the different parts of the city they influenced and that influenced them. The course also looks at the various movements associated with Barcelona’s artists – cubism, dada, surrealism, symbolism, modernism, to name a few – as well as their lasting impact on the worlds of art, politics, fashion, and, popular culture. Regular visits take students to
museums and monuments, as well as cafés and neighborhoods frequented by the artists. Back to top

Creative Writing. Working with a published writer, students compose fiction and poetry, exploring their own potential as they experiment with new forms and styles of writing. They draw on Barcelona’s many cultural and visual resources, and take inspiration from Spain’s rich literary history as well as readings and workshops given by established poets and writers. Students develop a portfolio of their best writing and collaborate to design, edit, and publish the program’s literary magazine. Back to top

History’s Secrets. The history of Spain abounds with mysteries, which this course sets out to explore, expose, and elucidate, taking into account recent research and less-publicized facts. Some of the many questions considered will be: What happened during the Civil War and where are the bodies of Franco’s victims? What role did Spain really play in the discovery of the New World? Who was responsible for the Inquisition and how did they manage to carry it out? Was Spain truly neutral during the Second World War? Barcelona serves students as a living text book, allowing them to gain fascinating insights into a country that has shaped
world history. Back to top

International Relations and Current Affairs. This course introduces students to international relations through the analysis of current affairs and the relationships between nations, cultures, and ideologies, particularly from the point of view of Spain. Students begin most classes by reading several newspaper articles whose contents launch the discussion for the day. Once the theoretical and historical aspects of international relations have been established, students apply them to the world today, learning how and why policy decisions are made, how they are enforced, and how their repercussions affect us. The course ends with a model UN project in which students use their knowledge to negotiate the best
outcome for their represented country. Back to top

Marine Biology. With Barcelona situated in a prime Mediterranean seaport, our students are able to combine several trips to the coast with visits to the renowned Institut de Ciències del Mar and the city’s world class aquarium, as well as classes on the ecology and environment of oceanic life. Students learn to view marine life at evolutionary, ecological, physiological, and behavioral levels, gaining familiarity
with function, diversity, and taxonomy. Case studies and individual projects on the indigenous marine life, the local ecosystem, and coastal preservation are all part of a carefully designed introduction to this fascinating topic. Back to top

Psychology. This course introduces students to theories of behavioral and cognitive psychology as they examine key aspects of memory, intelligence, personality, dreams, body language, gender, and individual development. Students look at a number of mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, multiple personality, obsessive-compulsive behavior and eating problems, as well as the effects of substance abuse and cognitive impairment. Students tackle the issue of ‘nature vs. nurture,’ debate the sociocultural and psychological grounds for certain types of behavior, and – for those wishing to explore the mysteries of the mind – look at notions of a ‘sixth sense.’ Students study experimental protocols and proper experimental procedure to explore such subjects and conclude the course by designing their own experiment on a selected topic. Back to top

Spain in the Literary World. The object of this course is to assess the remarkable and lasting influence of Spanish writers and cultures on world literature. Students are introduced to selected readings from the great masters of classical Spanish literature, not least Cervantes, and to the influence they went on to have on the Western canon. They are then exposed, also through readings, discussions, and relevant excursions, to the spectacularly varied and vibrant literatures that have emerged, over the past century, in Spain and in the wider Spanish-speaking world: Pablo Neruda, Federico García Lorca, Jorge Borges, Carlos Fuentes, Gabriel García Márquez, and Ana María Matute. Finally they analyze the profound and lasting influence Spain has had on non-Hispanic literatures, from the Gothic novel to Hemingway to Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia, parts of which they can retrace in the streets of Barcelona. Back to top

Studio Art. Designed for beginners as well as students with more advanced art training, this course uses art as the medium for imaginative engagement with Barcelona. Students receive instruction in the techniques of charcoal, pencil, and watercolor, and spend much of their time outside of the studio, capturing Gaudí’s fantastical Parc Güell, his soaring Sagrada Familia, the bustle of the harbor or las Ramblas, and the tranquility of a hidden plaza or quiet cobblestone street. Students mount their best pieces in an exhibition at the end of the program and take home a portfolio of their best work. Materials fee of $200 US for Majors; $100
US for Minors. Back to top

SPANISH LANGUAGE COURSES

Spanish Language: Beginner, Intermediate. Favoring innovative and interactive teaching methods, our language courses cover elements of language and grammar with a heavy focus on conversational proficiency. Language learning is approached through the exploration of various cultural themes such as theater, cinema, gastronomy, music, regional cultures, and literature. A special emphasis is placed on exercises that bring students into contact with native Spaniards. Students are evaluated on the first day of class and placed in a group of the appropriate level. Classes are taught entirely in Spanish, so as to simulate an immersion environment and optimize students’ learning potential. Back to top

Spanish Language: Advanced. Students with a more advanced level of Spanish – those who have had two or more years in school – have a choice between two courses, outlined below. Both options concentrate on perfecting written and oral language skills, but they do so via a specific thematic focus. Both courses use an interdisciplinary approach to explore Barcelona and, in so doing, transform the city into a living language lab. Back to top

Barcelona: Artes y letras/Barcelona: Arts and Letters. En este curso interdisciplinario, estudiantes exploraran la ciudad de Barcelona a través de las vidas y trabajos de artistas y escritores que son responsables de la riqueza de las tradiciones artísticas y literarias de esta importante ciudad. Estudiantes examinarán y compararán las obras de algunos escritores selectos (Cervantes, Manuel Vázquez Montalbán, Mercè Rodoreda, Eduardo Mendoza, Carlos Ruiz Zafón) cuyas obras se centran en Barcelona o bien la toman como musa de inspiración. Las pinturas y las esculturas de artistas como Picasso, Miró, Dalí, cuyas contribuciones también han transformado, y siguen transformando, la ciudad de Barcelona, también serán objeto de estudio. Además de visitar museos y galerías locales, estudiantes tendrán la oportunidad de explorar los monumentos, parques, talleres, cafés y barrios que los artistas y escritores frecuentaban. Los alumnos también tendrán la oportunidad de crear una relación literaria con la ciudad mediante la escritura de un diario personal y textos en diferentes estilos. Back to top

Cultura y cocina/Culture and Cuisine. Los estudiantes aprenden la historia de la cocina española centrándose durante la primera parte del curso en las especialidades de las diferentes regiones - desde la paella valencia hasta el gazpacho andaluz, pasando por los pinxos (tapas típicas) del País Vasco – y cómo éstas se relacionan con las diferentes culturas de estas partes de España. La segunda parte del curso se centra en el papel que Barcelona – junto con sus célebres cocineros, como Ferran Adriá – ha llegado a tener en el mundo culinario. Las sesiones de clase se complementarán con visitas regulares a los mercados de Barcelona, incluyendo la espectacular Boquería, construída en 1836, pastelerías, carnicerías y panaderías, las cuales son testimonio de la extraordinaria gastronomíade la ciudad. Durante la última semana del programa se ofrecerán varias lecciones prácticas de cocina impartidas por expertos locales. Honorarios de $300 US para la clase de Major; $250 US para la clase de Minor. Back to top

For an English translation of any of these courses to show your parents, please email or call us.