Did you know that the typical Dominican dish is called “the flag”? That Dominican coffee ranks among the best coffees in the world? That the Dominican Republic has the second highest number of baseball players in US Major League Baseball? That it is a Dominican tradition to eat habichuela con dulce (sweet beans) on Easter? And that Puerto Plata was given its name by Christopher Columbus? It is said that he was so dazzled by the beauty of the shining ocean that he named the bay “silver harbor”.
This program is right for you if:
You like to learn more about Dominican culture, traditions, and history
You are curious to know what is típico dominicano
You like to experience Dominican hospitality
You want to combine classroom knowledge with real life language practice
You like to meet people from around the world
THE PROGRAM
The IIC program “Spanish & Culture” provides an explicit understanding of the Dominican culture. The course combines a Spanish group course with additional private classes on various cultural topics. Students will gain a deeper insight into history, society, and the Dominican way of life.
Classes will usually be taught at IIC. At times, the teacher will also take you onto a salida pedagógica to experience every day Dominican culture and practice your Spanish skills amongst the people on the street.
Spanish class
IIC courses range from one week to several months. They are available at both schools for all language levels: from beginners to advanced students (A1 to C2). We follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The group course (max. 7 participants) consists of 20 45-min lessons per week, Monday to Friday, from 9:00AM till 12:30PM.
Cultural class
These classes will be taught in private tuition, four 45-min sessions per week, usually in the afternoon. The teacher will share plenty of stories, anecdotes, and surprising local customs with you to show you the “real DR”. Dominicanism (words and expressions used in local daily Spanish) are also part of the class.
Culture topics: Colonial & modern history, Dominican cuisine, Merengue and Bachata music and dance, traditions & superstition, carnival, baseball, Dominican & Haitian relations, “the Mariposas”: local heroes & heroines, art & literature, the game of Domino, and everything you won’t find in a travel guide.
THE COURSE PLACES
Santo Domingo
With a population of more than 2.5 million inhabitants Santo Domingo is a vibrant and lively Caribbean metropolis. It is the oldest city in the New World where the colonial settlement of the Americas began. Its Old Town Zona Colonial was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990. In 2010, the city was the American Capital of Culture.
Students there have plenty of opportunities to follow the traces of Christopher Columbus, explore the modernity of the city through its architecture, galleries and art museums, and dip into a bustling night-life with lots of music and dancing.
IIC Santo Domingo is situated in Zona Universitaria and faces the UASD (Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo), the largest university of the country. From there it is easy to explore the city or to meet with local students in nearby cafes and bars.
Sosua
Sosua is located on the north coast of the Dominican Republic in a typical rural environment, only 10 min driving from the International Airport of Puerto Plata. The small coastal town, home to 12,000 inhabitants, is known for its beautiful beaches and water sports facilities. 15 min east of Sosua lies surfer’s paradise Cabarete, one of the best wind- and kite surfing spots in the world.
Due to its central location between the mountain range of the Cordillera Septentrional and the Atlantic Ocean, Sosua is the ideal starting point to explore Dominican country life. It is also a unique place to learn more about Jewish heritage in the DR.
IIC Sosua is situated in the district of El Batey within a stone’s throw of the city center and just a 5-min walk from the main beach. The school building, sheltered by impressive old trees and lush vegetation, offers the ideal ambiance for concentrated learning in a tropical surrounding.
Besides classes, the IIC student facilitators organize weekly cultural and social activities and excursions on the weekends.
Accommodation in Santo Do-mingo, Sosua, and Cabarete can be booked through IIC as well:
- Students’ Residence (shared apartment or private studio)
- Guest family (Sto. Dgo only)
- Apart- or Mid-range Hotel
- Private apartment
For prices of “Spanish & Culture”, please see our price list 2018.