Information and Help Center

the Village is organized by Ireland Idiomas and the Colegio Internacional San Fernando in Avilés (Asturias). Ireland Idiomas, with 19 years of experience in language immersion abroad, specializes in language training.

After 19 years of organizing stays, we noticed that over time, immersion decreased. The kids would isolate themselves in their rooms or go out with Spanish friends. That's how the idea of the Village was born, a village where only English is spoken, and it has been a resounding success, making the kids speak more English than during their trips abroad.

The Colegio Internacional San Fernando, founded in 1941, is a bilingual school with nearly 1,600 students. Recognized among the top 100 schools in Spain by the newspaper El Mundo, it offers all non-university educational stages and International Baccalaureate® programs.

the Village takes place in Asturias, a mountainous and coastal region that offers countless options to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.

The summer climate is ideal for our program, with mild temperatures. We organize outdoor activities and sports, taking advantage of the charms of Asturias to enjoy the summer while speaking English at the Village.

At the Village, we maintain a 1-5 ratio, with one coach for every 5 participants. At least half of the coaches are native speakers from English-speaking countries, complemented by bilingual Spaniards with a high level of English. Their mission is to encourage conversation among participants during all activities, following the English program set by the organization.

We have a program supervised by Cambridge University Press, which adapts each activity to a teaching content worked on with the participants. This ensures that, in addition to having fun, the kids improve their English in an organized manner with clear objectives based on age and level.

Most of the national coaches are teachers at the Colegio Internacional San Fernando, a bilingual school and Official Cambridge University Examination Center. They collaborate with international coaches and are responsible for their group, consisting of 10 participants of the same age and program, each named after a city (City). The Head Coach is the tutor of this small group, who knows the participants in depth and maintains communication with the parents.

Many parents ask us if their children have the appropriate level to participate in the Village. We want to reassure them: most have a level suitable for their age, although some have a higher level. In general, they are more accustomed to listening than speaking, and at the Village, we encourage them to participate actively from day one.

Upon arrival, the Villagers are grouped by age, and specialized Coaches have a brief conversation with each one to assess their level of English. This process is not a formal test, but it allows the Coaches to form the Cities with kids of similar ages and English levels.

There are two options to formalize the registration for The Village, with the same price in both cases:

1. Through this website, by filling out the Registration Form in the corresponding section. Fields marked with an asterisk are mandatory. When submitting the form, a reservation is created, valid for 7 days. Within this period, you must confirm the registration by making the First Payment via transfer to the bank account provided in the response email. If payment is not made within the time frame, the reservation will be canceled.
2. By going to any office of Viajes El Corte Inglés and requesting registration for the The Village program. All offices have access to our computer system, so registration will be processed quickly.

We recommend downloading and keeping the document of General Terms and Conditions, which describes the terms of contract with The Village.

Once the registration is formalized by paying the first installment, you will receive an email with the credentials to access your reserved Area on the website, where you can easily manage all the information related to your children's registration in the Village. If you do not receive this email within 3 days and, after checking your SPAM folder, you still cannot find it, please send us an email informing us of the issue. In your private area, you can manage:

• Personal and family details: Parents' names, additional phone numbers, address, email, etc.
• Financial details: Billing items, invoices.
• Chosen program (Kids or Teens), session, medical details, transfer information, options for Sports Academy & Broadway, and much more information about the participants' stay.

Note: Due to additional costs, certain options such as Surf School must be chosen during registration. If you wish to sign up for any of these activities later, please send us an email, and we will modify your registration.

For organizational reasons, we kindly ask that you complete all documentation as soon as possible. This will only take a few minutes and will allow the the Village team to plan activities and adjust the clothing order to meet the needs of our Villagers. Important: The possibility to modify options will remain open until the programs are full or the the Village team needs to finalize all organizational aspects: activity distribution, programs, rooms, etc. Approximately two months before the start of the program. After that time, online editing will be suspended, and any modifications must be communicated via the Contact Form.

Photograph: Please attach a current passport-style photograph where the Villager is easily recognizable. This is necessary for the Head Coach to identify the participants in their group and for the identification cards.

ID, health card, and other documents: You can upload a PDF file that includes both the front and back of the documents. Accepted formats are PDF, JPG, or PNG. If you have difficulty uploading photos or files, or if the files are too large, you can hand in the documents in person or email them to info@thevillagespain.es, and we will upload them for you.

To access the private area on the website, follow these steps:

1. Click on the image the Village Speaking English on the homepage.
2. In the Speaking English section, click the LOGIN button located at the top left.
3. In the pop-up, enter the credentials we sent you in our registration confirmation email.

Note: Make sure to enter the username and password exactly as they appear in the email. Uppercase and lowercase letters are important. If you copy and paste the credentials, verify that no spaces are added at the beginning or end, as this is a common mistake.

IMPORTANT: When you enter your username and password, a new item will appear in the sidebar menu Managing Your Private Area, which will allow you to learn more about how it works.

You can modify all of this information by accessing your private area, as mentioned in the previous section.

• Choose roommates: In the section for your son or daughter, select City & Room and there you can edit the names of the roommates.
• Modify Program or Session: If you wish, you can choose the Kids or Teens program you want your child to attend, or modify the session by selecting the Personal section in the corresponding private area.

Important: Both parameters are subject to availability and dates. The online editing option will disappear once the program is full or when the groups are being organized. In that case, please contact us through the Contact Form or by phone.

If you have only filled out the Registration Form but have not made any payment, you don't need to do anything else: after 7 days, your reservation will be canceled and your data deleted.

If you have confirmed the registration for the Village and wish to request cancellation, you must notify us through the Contact Form. You will be entitled to a refund of the amounts paid, although, depending on the timing, you will need to pay the Village the amount corresponding to the damages or losses caused by the cancellation, as well as the management and cancellation fees, according to the deadlines outlined in the General Terms and Conditions document we sent you in the reservation confirmation email. This document is also available in the Financial section of your private area.

A new item is added to the main menu called My Data. You can access the corresponding screen by clicking on this item. In the submenu that appears when you hover over My Data, there is an item called Edit My Data, where you can edit your personal and family details. Changes made, such as mother’s name, father’s name, phone numbers, or address, will automatically be reflected in your children's records.

In this menu, you can access the following sections:

• Family: The images allow you to access your children's private areas by clicking on them.
• Personal: Check your personal and family details (phone numbers, address, etc.). To modify them, go to My Data > Edit My Data.
• Financial: View billing items, amounts paid, and payment deadlines. You can also download the General Terms and Conditions document and the invoices issued in your name.

Click on the image or name to access your children's area.

Photo: By clicking on the image, a web uploader will appear allowing you to upload a photo in JPG format preferably. Please use a recent passport-style photo where your child’s face is clearly visible. The maximum size is 2MB. Important: If you have difficulty with the image, please email it to info@thevillagespain.es, including the Villager’s full name. We will adjust and upload the photo for you.

Menu: In the Villager's menu, you can manage and update the following sections:

• Personal: Modify details such as name, surname, or mobile phone during the editable period. Click on the small pencil icon to the left of the text to make changes. The editable period ends approximately two months before the programs begin or when they are full.
• Activities: Select up to two different activities in Sports Academy & Broadway, one for the morning and one for the afternoon. Check availability based on the selected program (Kids/Teens). Surf School and Cambridge Intensive are supplementary activities held every day in Sports Academy. If you wish to enroll in these activities after confirming registration, please notify us via the Contact Form.
• Transfers: Organize the transfers of participants to the Village. More information is available in the Transfers to the Village section under Information and Help.
• Medical: Provide any medical details we need to be aware of. Important: The health card or medical insurance is essential. Upload a photo or scan of the card using the web uploader or send it to our email, and we will upload it for you.
• Clothing: Select the t-shirt size that will be given to each participant at the destination.
• City & Room: Indicate roommates if the Villager is attending with friends or siblings of the same age. Once the accommodation is organized, the assigned Room & City will be listed here, along with the Call Center days and times.

You can modify your and your children's details in your private area on the website from the moment you complete the registration until the Organization at the Village needs to manage the participant groups. This occurs when each Fortnight is complete or a few weeks before the programs start.

After the deadline, any modifications must always be made through the Contact Form on our website.

Include strictly what your son or daughter will need for a two-week stay at the Village. All participants must have their backpacks and suitcases clearly labeled with their name and surname.

Below are the necessary details for preparing the luggage. Each family can adapt it to the needs of each participant. Clothing should be labeled with the name and surname on a sewn-in tag, leaving a blank space to later write the room number.

Recommendations: Do not bring valuables such as watches or jewelry. Cameras, video devices, mini-consoles, tablets, and similar devices are not allowed in the Village. Towels for the bathroom or bed linens are not necessary. While laundry service is available every 4 days, we recommend using it only when necessary.

Luggage Checklist:

• 8 t-shirts/polos.
• 3 pairs of shorts.
• 2 pairs of long pants.
• 2 pairs of sports pants.
• 1 tracksuit.
• 1 light raincoat (it gets chilly at night in Asturias).
• 2 sweatshirts.
• 2 pajamas.
• Socks and underwear for each day.
• 2 pairs of sports shoes; one pair for sports courts.
• Sun protection cream and lip balm.
• 2 swimsuits, flip-flops, and a beach towel.
• 1 backpack.
• 1 cap.
• 1 water bottle.
• Personal hygiene items, shampoo, and shower gel.
• If using the laundry service: 2 special laundry mesh bags (approximately 70x40cm, up to 3 kg capacity).

Sports Academy: Each participant should bring the necessary equipment for their sports:

• Tennis: Racket and footwear for hard courts.
• Basketball: Basketball shoes for synthetic courts.
• Surf: Equipment provided by the Village Surf School.
• Football: Boots for artificial grass, indoor court shoes, socks, and shin guards. Goalkeepers should also bring gloves.
• Padel: Padel racket and appropriate footwear for synthetic grass.

Important: All materials must be labeled with the name and surname of the Villager owner.

Activities at the Village: During their stay, Villagers participate in a wide range of activities. Each participant must choose at least one activity, selecting one for the morning and another for the afternoon. If, after starting the program, they wish to change activities, they can do so by contacting their Head Coach, provided there are available spots.

It is essential that participants bring the appropriate equipment for the activities they choose. Remember, laundry is done every 4 days, so they should bring enough clothes for these periods.

Sports Academy: This allows participants to continue training in regular sports or try new ones, at no extra cost. Each session lasts 2 1/2 hours and is structured into Warm-up, Technical Part, Training, and a Final Challenge, deepening vocabulary and expressions in English related to the activity.

Activities available in Sports Academy:

• Football Academy: Held on an artificial grass football field. Participants must bring football boots with rubber studs (metal studs are not allowed), shin guards, socks, and gloves if they are goalkeepers.
• Tennis: On a synthetic court. A racket and appropriate footwear for this surface are required. All equipment must be labeled with the participant's name.
• Basketball: In a sports hall with synthetic flooring. Appropriate footwear for the surface is required.
• Padel: On a covered synthetic court. A racket and suitable footwear are required.

Broadway: This activity allows participants to practice artistic disciplines and is led by experts in English. Participants will practice:

• Theatre, preparing a short play or musical.
• Dance.
• Music.

At the Village, girls and boys from all over Spain attend, both from the mainland and the islands. Additionally, many participants come from other parts of Europe, America, and Asia.

This section details the Meeting Points and the scheduled times so you can organize your travel arrangements.

Important:

• If there are any changes to the scheduled times, the Organization will inform the families as soon as possible.
• The first meal at the Village will be the welcome dinner. Participants must bring enough food and drink in their travel bag until that time.
• For return trips, the Village will prepare lunches for those participants who need them.

The use of English is the cornerstone at the Village. All coaches will do our best to ensure participants speak in English during all activities. However, some kids may try not to do so or use their native language for various reasons. In these cases, we will encourage them to change their attitude.

The identification cards of each participant include spaces where the effort to speak in English is noted and rewarded. The level of proficiency doesn't matter; we positively encourage the kids, valuing their effort to communicate in English according to their age and level. This system works extremely well, as the kids quickly understand that the "English theme" is taken seriously at the Village.

Clothing and Material Labeling: It is very important that you label all the children's clothes (t-shirts, socks, underwear, swimwear, towels, etc.). The best option is to use sewn school labels, as markers and adhesive labels tend to fade or peel off, causing organizational issues. It is also necessary to mark all items with a permanent marker, such as swimming goggles, flip-flops, backpack, and suitcase.

Laundry Service: the Village provides a laundry service that includes underwear, socks, and Sports Academy clothing. Pants, jackets, sweatshirts, towels, or other bulky clothes that cannot be dried in mesh bags or may cause color bleeding will not be washed. Laundry is done every 4 days.

Include two special mesh laundry bags in your luggage, approximately 70x40cm in size. These bags can be found in department stores and Asian shops. Please label these bags with sewn labels as mentioned in the previous section.

At the Village, boys and young people between the ages of 8 and 17 attend. In organizing the Village, we pay special attention to maintaining a clear separation by age groups. Thus, Kids and Teens hardly ever overlap during the program, as hotel areas, meal times, swimming pool, and activities are different. The dining areas are separate, and the activities are scheduled at different times or are completely different.

Regarding the rooms, they are organized by age and gender. Each program (Kids or Teens) is fully separated, and boys are housed in different areas from the girls. For safety, control, and peace of mind for the parents, there are coaches' rooms interspersed between the Villagers' rooms.

We recommend bringing around 40 €, maximum 50 €, as travel money, preferably in 5 € bills. Although all expenses are included, the kids often wish to make purchases during outings or enjoy ice cream and soft drinks.

Many parents ask if the Village includes a "Family Day." Since it is a language immersion program, the contact of the Villagers with languages other than English is minimized.

In the rooms, they don't speak English, but after 3 or 4 days, they get used to listening to and using this language, establishing a routine that should not be broken. For this reason, the Village does not have a Family Day.

Letters, postcards, and small packages: You can send letters, postcards, and small packages to your children; they really appreciate it. One or two shipments during the fortnight is a recommended amount. Please use the following address:

Hotel Zen Balagares
Av. de los Balagares, 34
33404, Asturias

Please include the recipient's full name prominently.

Birthdays: Every year, we celebrate some birthdays at the Village. We make sure that the kids feel supported by their peers and coaches, organizing a small tribute for them.

the Village Blog: We have a blog on our website where news, photos, and videos are posted. Access is restricted to the parents of the participants, who must use the credentials provided during the registration process.

We make an effort to take photographs and maintain the blog, trying to ensure that all participants have opportunities to appear. However, it is impossible to guarantee that everyone will appear the same number of times. Additionally, some young people, especially at certain ages, prefer not to be photographed and voluntarily move away.

We recommend discussing this possibility with your children at the Call Center if you suspect this may be happening, as the photos are mainly taken for parents to see.

Call Center: This is the moment when participants call home. The first call takes place on the day of arrival, and the following calls will be scheduled with specific dates and times, which will be available in the City & Room section of each Villager's private area.

There is no time limit, but we recommend that calls do not extend excessively. We understand that families want to talk for longer, but often the kids don't manage this moment well and become sad when speaking with their parents. This feeling passes quickly once they resume activities, but some parents may become worried and even contact us. In these cases, we ask for your trust: if a child were not integrating, not participating in activities, feeling ill, or having any problem, we would contact their families.

We remind you that through the Blog, you can follow the activities and see daily photos of participants enjoying their experience in the Village.

Mobile Phones at the Village: Although the use of mobile phones is not allowed during the camp, we recommend that participants who have them bring them, as they facilitate communication with their families during the Call Center. In addition, the organization provides extra mobile lines for the Call Center calls.

If you decide that your child brings a phone, it must be marked with their full name, along with the charger, and will be handed over to the group's Head Coach, who will regulate its use according to the rules of The Village. Please make sure they bring only one phone.

Mobile phones cannot be used as cameras, nor can electronic devices such as game consoles, tablets, or valuable items like watches or jewelry be brought. We remind you that rooms may not be locked. The Village is not responsible for the loss, damage, or deterioration of phones or chargers.

Dietary and Nutritional Control: It is supervised by a company specializing in nutrition that evaluates and ensures the suitability of the menus.

If your child requires a special diet (allergies, celiac, etc.), it is essential to indicate this in detail in the Medical section of the private area on the website.

Healthcare Assistance: the Village has healthcare staff on site. The city of Avilés, located 8 km away, has several Health Centers and a regional hospital. It is mandatory to include a valid health card or private health insurance in the requested documentation.

If the participant is undergoing medical treatment, please indicate this in the Medical section of the private area. Medications should cover the entire stay and be labeled with the participant's name, surname, frequency, and dosage. These must be handed over on the first day during check-in, and both the nurse and the Head Coach will be informed of each Villager's medical particulars.