Thoase are the new courses starting in June.

The students with some previous knowledge in Spanish need to do a placement test so we can put you in the right level. Should you be interested in doing the placement test, we will be glad to meet you anytime during the week in our school. Please let us know the day and time which is more convenient for you. Let us remind you that the school is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU!

In May, Las Lilas School added Portuguese to its linguistic CV as the second language taught in its classes.

As with Spanish, which has been taught since July 2005, Portuguese lessons are aimed at children and adults with an extremely high flexibility in terms of size of groups and the possibility to select personal lessons.

The school has designed a programme with basic-intermediate-advanced levels which total 200 hours, subdivided in 10 block of 20 teaching hours each.

Las Lilas is also finalising all the details that will enable it to offer all corporate services which are currently offered in Spanish.

Elisabet Maseras, teacher of Spanish and course coordinator at Las Lilas School, launched in late 2005 a blog with resources for Spanish students.

The blog, with over a year and a half of activity, offers, apart from numerous news about the Spanish language, information on courses and grants in Spain, links to updated sites to learn Spanish online, a section on culture to make it easy to learn about Spanish and Latin American peculiarities or an ongoing agenda on Spanish activities in Singapore.

The blog is also growing thanks to the contributions of students from all levels of the school, which are written in Spanish.

http://laslilasschool.bitacoras.com/

Mexico’s Sub-secretary for Foreign Affairs officially visited Singapore.

Singapore Airlines to fly to Barcelona starting on July

Spanish furniture met in Singapore

The Association of Manufacturers of Furniture and General Office Equipment and Collectivities (MAFO) organised in the city-State, together with the Spanish Commercial Office, a conference to present Spanish designs of interior furniture.

The event, aimed at professionals in the field, took place in the Arts House last 10th of May.

Besides this one off event, the Spanish Business mission, that consisted of the representatives of four companies from the North of Spain: Bordonabe, Ezcaray, Vilagrasa and Ofita as well as the Spanish designer Francesc Rifé and the head of MAFO for international promotion, David Portalés, held numerous meetings with professionals on the field from this zone in order to introduce them to their works as well as increasing awareness of their Spanish brands. In the Southeast Asia region, MAFO focuses its promotion efforts in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, where they already came in 2004 and where several emblematic buildings already have Spanish furniture.

Picture: David Portalés, head of FAMO; Juan Mellén, head of Vilagrasa, company participant in the exhibition; Francesc Rifé, interior designer.

Flamenco night in Singapore

The exam to obtain the Diploma of Spanish as a foreign language (“DELE” by its Spanish initials), approved by the Spanish Ministry of Education, was carried out last 13th May at the National University of Singapore (NUS) for the first time.

Nine students of Spanish sat in for the examination; 2 for basic DELE and 7 for intermediate, 5 of which underwent a special 10-week programme at Las Lilas. So far, all DELE examinations have been taken in nearby countries, namely Malaysia and Indonesia. The next examination session will take place on Saturday 25th November. Sign-up period for that session will remain open from 4th September to 13th October.

For further information about DELE, do not hesitate con contact Las Lilas School (Tel. (65) 6333 3484) or the Spanish Embassy in Singapore (Miriam Padilla, Tel. (65) 6725 9212).

Tarragona’s Commerce Chamber organised a business mission in Singapore

Picture: From left to right: Gregori Luengo, head of Celler Sort del Castell
y Roberto Barros, head of foreign trade of the Chamber of Comerce of Tarragona.

Rodrigo Rato visited Singapore to participate in two financial events

The Vice-President for Economic Affairs and Minister of Economy during the governments of José María Aznar and current Executive Director of the International World Fund (IWF) gave a conference on 24th May on “The IWF and Asia and the world economy” addressed to the members of the Singapore’s Economic Society (SES) where he was the guest of honour.

The following morning, Mr. Rato participated in the second seminar on financial integration in the Asian region, together with Finance Ministers, Governors of Central Banks and high ranks in the Public Administrations from 13 Asian economies and the international organisation.

The event, that follows up on the first one organised on 3rd September 2005, was organised by Singapore’s Monetary Authority (SMA) and the IWF.

Rato will be visiting Singapore on September as well, to take part in the annual meeting of the World Bank and IWF that will take place in September in the city-State.

The Spanish Embassy inaugurated the “Other Quixotes” exhibition

The poster exhibition “Other Quixotes: the Spanish designers reinvent the character” was inaugurated last 25th May by the Spanish Ambassador Mr Francisco Rabena. The reproduction of the works of some fifty artists, which will be exhibited until 8th June in Singapore’s National Library, celebrate the IV centenary of the printing of the Quijote that was commemorated last year. The works, which have been done in a 50x70 format, are signed by Spanish leading graphic designers, Mariscal and Peret among others. The exceptional Catalan philosopher Xavier Rubert de Ventós was also present at the inauguration and he gave a speech with the title “Is multiculturalism dangerous?” that focused on immigration. The author of “The Spanish labyrinth or The Courtesan and his Ghost” begun with a Jesuitical experience to argue that certain civilizations allow themselves to be colonised whilst other, namely the Anglo-Saxon, “imposed certain values and denied the cultures it was facing”. Both things lead him to believe that the Jesuitical attitude is “a lesson for today’s multiculturalism”.

Special news: The hit song of the summer

Special news: Public Holidays

Barcelona, the thousand faces of a city
Text y pictures by Spanish Tourist Office in Singapore

Things to Do

You will always find something to do in Barcelona. The city has over 50 museums, showcasing permanent collections of works by artists such as Picasso, Joan Miró and Antoni Tàpies. At the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC) you can see one of the world’s most important collections of Romanesque art. It also has famous collections of contemporary art housed in museums such as the Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) and CaixaForum. Most museums stage temporary exhibitions.
The city is also a showcase for the best of the country’s theatrical talent. It is the base for internationally renowned companies such as Els Comediants, La Fura dels Baus, Els Joglars and El Tricicle. One of the most important cultural events is the “Grec” Summer Festival: a date with theatre, music and dance.
The city also hosts a number of renowned music festivals devoted to jazz, flamenco, classical and contemporary music. The city also has two classical music venues with a high-quality programme of events: the Palau de la Música and L’Auditori. In addition, the opera house, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, hosts one of Europe’s most prestigious opera seasons.
And that’s not all... You will also find areas where you can play sports in the open air and a whole host of leisure attractions, such as the Tibidabo Amusement Park and the old harbour area, the Port Vell. Barcelona is a box of surprises which will keep you entertained with countless cultural and recreational activities.

What to Visit

The variety and wealth of Barcelona's heritage provide a number of attractive routes through its various districts. This way, the traveller will get to know the many faces of the city.

Its early city centre, which was surrounded by walls during Roman times, makes up what today is the Gothic Quarter. Narrow streets, with quiet squares and attractive corners, are home to an abundant collection of Gothic buildings, both civil and religious. Surrounding Barcelona's impressive Cathedral, medieval palaces emerge, such as Casa dels Canonges, La Pia Almoina, and Casa d´Ardiaca. The Plaça del Rei brings together another labyrinth of marvellous buildings, such as the Palau Reial Mayor, the Chapel of Santa Ágata, and the City History Museum. The Plaça Sant Jaume holds the Palau de la Generalitat (headquarters of the Catalan government) and the City Hall, or Casa de la Ciutat. We must not forget the church of La Mercè, patron saint of Barcelona.
Next to the Gothic Quarter, the Ribera district, also of Medieval origin, begins. In its origins, it brought together traders and seagoing people, but with the passage of time many magnificent, small palaces were built as well. Some of them have been converted to house important city museums. Examples of this are the Palace of the Marquises of Llió, (Museum of Clothing and Textiles) the Palau Nadal (Barbier-Müller Museum of pre-Columbian Art), and the Palau Aguilar (nowadays the Picasso Museum), to name just a few. Because of Barcelona's focus on integration, it is possible to travel in time in a matter of a few metres, from the Gothic structures of the church of Santa María del Mar, to the modernist Palau de la Música Catalana, a concert hall.

The urban development of the central area of Barcelona was defined, towards the end of the 19th century, by the Eixample (urban expansion). An extensive grid, with large avenues and chamfered corners, joined the irregular layouts of old districts and outlying towns to the surrounding hills. The emerging Catalonian bourgeoisie chose this place to build its mansions and palaces, following the most daring principles of Modernism. Architects such as Gaudí, Doménech i Montaner or Puig i Cadafalch relied on the help of master craftsmen to fill the streets of Barcelona with fantasy. Works by Gaudí, such as Park Güell, the Palau Güell, and Casa Milà “La Pedrera”, as well as Doménech i Montaner's Palau de la Música Catalana, and the Sant Pau Hospital have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The temple of the Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family), and houses such as Casa Lleó Morera, Casa Amatller, and Casa Batlló are just a few of the many modernist gems treasured by the city.

Picture courtesy of the Spanish Tourist office in Singapore

One of the main arteries of the historic quarter, La Rambla, leads to the Mediterranean Sea, and it is one of the best places to catch the rhythm of the city. The visitor is led through its different sections, from the Romanesque church of Santa Anna, to the bird and flower stalls, passing gorgeous examples of Baroque and Renaissance architecture on the way. The Palau Moja, the church of Betlem and the Santa Creu Hospital serve as guides. There are other centres of cultural activity and daily life in this area, such as the Palau de la Virreina, (now a gallery), the Boquería Market and the Liceu Opera House.

Barcelona overlooks the sea, and it has a waterfront that encompasses many different artistic styles. Les Drassanes, formerly a dockyard and now home to the Maritime Museum, and the Llotja del Mar are part of the medieval port facilities. Arcaded houses lead to the Ciutadella Park, the Olympic Village and the Port Olímpic. Beaches, piers and an impressive array of museums and leisure centres (such as the Aquarium, the 3D IMAX Theatre, the Colon viewing point, etc.) make Barcelona's seaport a cosmopolitan place, full of life.

Picture courtesy of the Spanish Tourist office in Singapore	Picture courtesy of the Spanish Tourist office in Singapore

Some of these modern facilities are the inheritance from the 1992 Olympics. Their mark can also be seen on the hill at Montjuïc, beside the monumental work from the 1929 World Exhibition. The castle of Montjuïc, (now the Army Museum) takes over this symbolic hill, where true gems of Barcelona's architecture can be found. The Plaça d'Espanya, the Magic Fountain, the Palau Nacional (with the medieval collection of the Catalan National Museum of Art - MNAC) and the Olympic Ring are a few of its most important works. The Olympic Stadium, the Calatrava Tower, the Sant Jordi Sports Centre and the INEFC (Catalonia National Institute of Physical Education) Pavilion, built by Ricardo Bofill, rise among gorgeous gardens.

Barcelona's culture is not only evident in its buildings, parks and outdoor sculptures, but also in its countless museum collections. Artists of the stature of Picasso, Miró, Tàpies or Gaudí, have museums entirely devoted to collect their works. Artistic pieces from all periods are kept in the city's History Museum, the Museum of the History of Catalonia, the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Many other institutions also bring the avant-garde movement to the eyes of the general public, through permanent and temporary collections. Sometimes the container is as important as the contents it preserves, and, in the case of buildings and museums, this is true of the collections found in the beautiful structures that the Barcelona Centre for Contemporary Culture (CCCB) and Caixa Forum. The museums of Barcelona, however, cover a wider variety of subjects; namely: archaeology, zoology, science, ethnology, pre-Colombian art and more. A large number of exhibition halls round off this rich and diverse cultural selection.

Barcelona's City Council has created the Barcelona Card especially for visitors; it is valid for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. Its main attractions are free transport and great discounts on entertainment, museums, and even restaurants. The visitor can also get an Articket, which is a multi-pass allowing entry to the MNAC, the MACBA (Barcelona Contemporary Art Museum, built by architect Richard Meier), the Joan Miró Foundation, the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, the CCCB, and Caixa Catalunya Cultural Centre, located in "La Pedrera", all at a discounted price.

Picture courtesy of the Spanish Tourist office in Singapore

More information, as where to eat:
http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Destinos/TipoI/MasInfo/0/Gastronomia%20080190001.htm?Language=en&contenttype=FooRes

Spanish Tourist Office in Singapore
541, Orchard Road #09-04 Liat Towers
Singapore 238881
Tel: (65) 6737 3008 / Fax: (65) 6737 3173
http://www.spain.info

June's 2006 agenda

From the 1st of June till the 2nd of July. – CUBA. Festival “Viva Cuba” presented by The Cathay. Program:
- 3rd, 4th and 11th of June: dance with “Ritmo Latino”
- From the 7th till the 9th of June: concert of "Cubania”
- 16th and 23rd of June: workshop “How to drink like a Cuban”.
- 17th and 21st of June: workshop "How to speak like a Cuban” -taught by Las LiLas School-
- From the 15th till the 25th of June: series of movies and talks, with the films "I am Cuba", "Strawberry & Chocolate" and “Lucia”
- June and July: exposición de carteles de los artistas cubanos Alfredo González Rostgaard, Eduardo Muñoz Bachs, René Azcuy, Antonio Pérez González “Niko”.

Para más información, por favor visite www.thecathay.com.sg o www.thepicturehouse.com.sg, o bien descárguese el siguiente documento (pdf): http://www.thecathay.com.sg/pdf/01_mallevents_booklet.pdf

3 de junio, a partir de las 7.30 de la tarde. – SPAIN. “Spanish Treat”. Evento organizado por Wine Arcade en el que se podrán degustar deliciosas tapas y comida española acompañada de barra libre de dos vinos españoles: Berberana Viña Alarde Tempranillo (2002) y Berberana Viña Alarde Crianza (2000). Lugar: Wine Arcade (116 Mackenzie Road). 38’80 dólares. Más información y reservas: Jimmy Ler, 9818 6863 o 6336 2881

Till the 8th of June, from 10am till 9pm. – SPAIN. “Other Don Quixotes”. 50 Spanish graphic designers, some of them National Design Prize winners, present their vision of Don Quixote, the main character of the Spanish literary masteriece The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote de La Mancha, written by Miguel de Cervantes 400 years ago. Presented by the Embassy of Spain with the collaboration of the National Library Board of Singapore. Place: National Library -Lee Kong Chian yearsReference Library- (100 Victoria Street)

16th of June, from 7.30pm onwards. – PERU. Peruvian night organised together by the embassy of Peru & Serangoon Gardens Country Club. Food, muisc, handycraft & talks about tourism & business opportunities in Peru. Venue: Serangoon Gardens Country Club Main Hall. Adults: 25 dollars - peruvian drinks not included -, 35 dollars - including three peruvian drinks -. Kids from 3 to 12 years: 15 dollars. More information & RSVP: Alice Kang, 9663 9156 ó Peter, 9820 3406

24th of June, from 4pm onwards. - Simultaneous screenings of a movie for adults (in Las LiLas) and a movie fo children (in Las Mini-LiLas). TITLES OF THIS MONTH´S MOVIES TO BE CONFIRMED IN A FEW DAYS. Free entrance. Information and reservation: Alejandra Pérez Grobet. 6333 3484 / 9093 419

30th of June, from 7.30pm onwards. - Monthly gathering of the Latin Circle & Las LiLas School. Venue: TO BE CONFIRMED IN THE NEXT DAYS. 25 dollars. More information and RSVP: Alejandra Pérez Grobet, 6333 3484 / 9093 4194.

From 30th of June to 2nd July. – BRAZIL.”Colours & Taste of Brazil at CARNIVORE!". Brazilian festival at Chijmes. Brazilian food, music & dance. Organised together with "Carnivore" restaurant & Santa Catarina Trade & Cultural Office, and the support of the Brazilian embassy in Singapore.

July's agenda 2006 (advance)

From the 1st of June till the 14th of July. – BRAZIL. Two weeks of Brazilian products at Carrefour.

For more information:
Las LiLas School 180B Bencoolen Street #08-01/02/05 The Bencoolen Singapore 189648
Tel: (65) 6333 3484 Fax: (65) 6333 3241 Email: info@laslilasschool.com

© Las LiLas School. Owned by TOYKU. International Pte Ltd

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