1. Will I be able to live with a family that does NOT smoke?

Smoking is prevalent in Spain. Request a non-smoking family on your application Form.
This is not always a guarantee that you will have a non-smoking family.
In Your room, you can have a non-smoking environment.

2. Suppose I cannot get along with the family that ES has chosen for me?

If you want to change families, you can do so.
Please contact the Director of the School and she will make arrangements for you
to interview three other families and then you can choose one of the families.
There is no charge for this service.

3. Suppose I cannot get along with my roommate?

Tell the Director of the School and she will make a room change.

4. What kind of clothes should I pack?

Check the temperature charts on pps. 34-36 in your Student Handbook.

5. Are there gyms close by to the ES Schools?

Yes there are gyms close to all the ES Schools.
Ask your Director for a list of addresses.

6. How do I get to Alicante, El Puerto or Salamanca from Madrid?

You can take a train to Alicante and El Puerto from Madrid.
You should take a bus from Madrid to Salamanca.
Train and bus schedules are on pps. 29-32 in the Student Handbook.

7. How can I exchange my American dollars?

You can exchange your US$ at the airports and at the local banks.

8. Should I exchange US dollars for Euros in the US?

No, the commission in the US is very high.
Exchange your US$ once you arrive in Spain -- at the airport for convenience
and later on, at a bank. You will be told about exchanging money in your orientation
on the first Monday of your study program.

9. What are the temperatures like in Spain and in Ecuador?

Check the average temperatures in the Student Handbook, pps. 34-36.

10. How can I receive college/university credits?

You will have to meet with your advisor at your university or your department chair.
If your university accepts ES credits, then ask your advisor for written permission
to take courses with ES. On the application, write the name and address of the person
to whom ES should send your transcript. Many universities in the US are now accepting
ES credits directly.

11. Will ES accept financial aid?

If you are on financial aid at your university and the financial aid officer in your
university accepts your study program with ES, then the financial aid office can send ES
the financial aid at any time during your program.

12. Does ES have any scholarships available to students?

There are scholarships available through the AATSP
(American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Sigma Delta Pi
and several other small scholarship funds.)
Please write to dorothy@spanishworksinc.com for more information.

13. Does ES give a lot of homework?

The normal amount of homework is 1-2 hours per day.
The homework is not busy work and many times, homework consists of studying for a quiz.

14. How do I go about applying for study at ES?

Contact dorothy@spanishworksinc.com for an application or go on the
website www.spanishworksinc.com and obtain your application from the menu.

15. How many students attend ES?

During the summer, about 500 attend ES in Madrid,
about 400 attend Alicante, about 300 in El Puerto,
about 450 in Salamanca and about 200 in Cuenca.

16. How many students from other countries attend ES?

In 2001-2002 in Spain there were 42 nationalities represented
and in Ecuador in 2001-2002, there were 15 nationalities represented.

17. How do I go about getting references from previous students?

There are some references listed on the web page and if you contact
dorothy@spanishworksinc.com, she will send you another list of references.

18. Suppose I have dietary restrictions,who do I tell?

Write your dietary needs on the application:  #4 Other:

19. Suppose that I am allergic to certain food, how do I deal with that?

Write down what your allergies are on the application form and before living
with a family, go over these allergies with the señora of the house.

20. Which School should I choose?

It depends on what you want:
if it's the beach in the summer, then you will choose Alicante and El Puerto.
If you want a big city, then you will choose Madrid. If you want quaintness
and a sense of history, then you will choose Salamanca.
If you want almost spring like weather 360 days a year and you want to experience
South America, then you would choose Ecuador.

21. Do you need a passport to travel to Spain and Ecuador?

Yes, check the link on the Spanish Works, Inc. webpage --
under links and visa information.

22. Is the double room accommodation with another foreign student or
       with a member of the family?

You will share the double room with another student from Estudio Sampere.
Usually, Estudio Sampere does not put two students of the same nationality
in the same room so if you are an American, you are likely to room with a foreign student.

23. Should I be afraid to wear any jewelry like my engagement ring in Madrid?
      I've heard that I should leave those things home. What do you think?

Yes. Please leave all your jewelry home. Enjoy your trip without having to worry
about your jewelry. You can wear costume jewelry if you would feel better having
something on those fingers -- but leave all the good stuff home.

24. Should I bring notebooks, pens, pencils to Spain?
      What is provided in the area of supplies?

Textbooks are supplied by ES and they are included in your fees.
However, notebooks, pens and pencils are not. You can buy lined paper, pens
and pencils in Madrid without a problem but if you'd feel more comfortable having
your lined paper from the US, then by all means, throw in a few notebooks and
some pens and pencils in your suitcase.

25. Where do I find the information for excursions?

Look at the Spanish Works, Inc. website (www.spanishworksinc.com) under
Programs and then under your particular city of study and click on "excursions".

26. Do most of the families in Madrid have irons in case we need to iron our clothing?

Yes, definatly, the Spaniards iron everything from underwear to sheets.
An iron is a "hot" item in Spain.

27. Are there places to do laundry in Madrid?

Yes, there is a laundromat on every block in every city in Spain.

28. Should I bring a converter for my hairdryer?

You can but many times it is less expensive to buy a hairdryer at the Corte Ingles
(a department store) in Spain around $10 - then you won't have any problems
with the converters shorting out the electricity, which happens on occasion.
You can also enjoy the luxury of fairly inexpensive hair stylists in Spain
by visiting the "peluqueria" and leaving your hairdryer at home

29. Should I bring dollars or travelers checks?

This is a personal preference.
Usually, you will get a better exchange rate with travelers checks.

30. Do most stores, restaurants, and train stations accept credit cards?

Yes, Master Card and Visa are the more popular than American Express.
Paying with your credit card is a good way to pay for things in Spain since your
bank account has more "clout" than you do and your bank can probably get you a
good rate of exchange. Of course, the credit card bill will be waiting for you when
you return to the States - that's the downside.

31. How are the ATMs in Spain? I heard they "eat up" your bankcards.

The ATMs are great in Spain and you shouldn't fear using them.
As a rule, the machines don't "eat up" your bankcards. You will, however, have
to pay a commission - sometimes up to $5 - on a transaction so make sure you
take out at least $200 to make it worth your while.
Also, make sure you have your four-digit pin number for your bankcard
or else you cannot get money out of the ATM.

32. Do I have to pay a commission when I exchange dollar bills and travelers checks?

Yes you will have to pay a commission on both US dollars and travelers checks but
make sure you ask how much the commission is before you exchange either the
dollars or the travelers checks.

33. How much extra money do I need?

Again, that is determined up to you.
If you plan to buy leather jackets, Lladro and visit the discotecas every night,
then you will need a lot more money. Generally speaking, between $35 - $50 a week
is enough for spending money - especially if you live with a family and have two
meals a day with them.

34. What is half board?

Two meals a day.

35. What is full board?

Three meals a day.