During the 2022-2023 academic year, the Voluntariat Lingüístic programme has scheduled and offered international students from Pompeu Fabra University both its programme of activities and cultural visits, with a total of 41 activities throughout Catalonia, and its program of language tandems, with a total of almost three hundred language tandems matched throughout the academic year.

Programme of tours and cultural activities

The year began on Saturday the 24th of September 2022 and ended on Saturday the 10th of June 2023. All in all, a total of 41 tours and visits have been offered, both in Barcelona and in the rest of Catalonia – including , also, a visit to the Principality of Andorra – with the aim of introducing UPF international students to the linguistic, cultural, landscape, gastronomic and national reality of Catalonia.

Of these 41 visits or activities, 15 were offered in the first term, 12 in the second and 14 in the third. Of these, 22 activities have taken place in Barcelona, and the remaining 19 in the rest of Catalonia, including one in Andorra. All visits have been made with official guides of the places visited. A total of 24 of these activities took place on a Saturday, 16 took place on a weekday, and one, the visit to the Principality of Andorra, lasted an entire weekend.

Visits and activities in the first term:

  1. Route through Roman and medieval Barcelona
  2. Boat trip along the coast of Barcelona
  3. Visit to the monastery of Valldonzella and Torre Bellesguard, by Antoni Gaudí
  4. Visit to Empúries, L’Escala and Pals, on northern Costa Brava
  5. Visit to the Biblioteca de Catalunya, the national library of Catalonia
  6. Walk and breakfast among vineyards + visit to a Penedès winery
  7. Visit to the monastery of Pedralbes and the neighbourhood of Sarrià
  8. Visit to Ripoll, “the cradle of Catalonia”, ‘pa amb tomàquet’ workshop and excursion to the Santa Margarida volcano, in the Garrotxa volcanic area
  9. Visit to the MareNostrum supercomputer, one of the most powerful ones in the world
  10. Visit to the modernist site of the Hospital de Sant Pau
  11. Visit to the city of Girona
  12. Excursion from Barcelona to Sant Cugat, crossing the Collserola mountain range
  13. Visit to Televisió de Catalunya, the national television of Catalonia
  14. Visit to the Fabra Observatory and walk along the Carretera de les Aigües
  15. Catalan Christmas traditions tour + Christmas celebration

Visits and activities in the second term:

  1. Visit to the Roman aqueduct of Les Ferreres and discovery of Roman and medieval Tarragona
  2. Tour around the modernist Eixample
  3. Visit to the city of Figueres, the fortress of Sant Ferran and the Dalí Museum
  4. Visit to the University of Barcelona historical building
  5. Theoretical and practical ‘sardana’ dance workshop
  6. Trip to the walled city of Montblanc, visit and wine tasting in a DO Conca de Barberà winery and ‘calçotada’, ’pa amb tomàquet’ and ‘porró’ drinking workshop
  7. Visit to Colonia Güell and the Gaudí’s crypt
  8. Visit to the walled town of Hostalric + international ‘porró’ drinking contest
  9. Tourist and skiing weekend in the Principality of Andorra
  10. Route of the Tres Turons (hills) (Turó de la Rovira, Turó del Carmel and Turó de la Creueta del Coll) + end-of-term international brunch
  11. Visit to the historic building of the University of Barcelona
  12. Welcome spring! Boat trip along the coast of Barcelona to welcome spring

Visits and activities in the third term:

  1. Discovery of the Collserola mountain range: Tibidabo, Vallvidrera water reservoir and Vil·la Joana
  2. Visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, including the panoramic terraces + Sant Jordi celebration
  3. Visit to the Institute for Catalan Studies
  4. Visit to Banyoles, with a boat trip on the lake, to Besalú and to Castellfollit de la Roca
  5. Walk among vineyards in the Penedès area + visit and tasting in a winery of the DO Penedès
  6. Tour on the “reinvention” of the Gothic Quarter and visit to Palau Requesens
  7. Visit to the monastery and the mountain of Montserrat, with a hiking to the peak of Sant Jeroni (1,236 m)
  8. Visit to Tossa de Mar + boat trip along the coast
  9. Visit to the stadium and the facilities of the Barcelona Football Club
  10. Trip to Vall de Núria, in the Pyrenees
  11. Visit and beer tasting at the Damm Factory
  12. Trip to Cadaqués, with a boat trip from Roses
  13. Hiking to La Mola (1,104 m), in the Sant Llorenç del Munt mountain range
  14. Coastal path and beaches in L’Ametlla de Mar, in the south of Catalonia

All in all, a total of 3,100 students have signed up for these trips and activities, with an average of around 75 students for each of the 41 trips and activities scheduled. However, it has not always been possible – especially in the trips and excursions outside Barcelona – to accommodate all the students who had applied for a spot. Thus, discounting the approximately 25% of students who could not get a spot in one activity or another, those who finally canceled it or who did not show up for the activity, the total number of international students who have participated in our activities has been around 2,400. Adding up the 19 trips and visits that have taken place outside of Barcelona, in total we have traveled more than 3,900 kilometers by coach, and we have taken more than 16,000 pictures, which we have been publishing regularly on our profiles on social networks (Facebook and Instagram), also as a way to account for the programme’s activities.

Tips for the weekend

In addition, as a complement to the visits and face-to-face activities that have been scheduled throughout the year, a total of 19 messages with more than sixty tips for the weekend have also been sent, in general every two weeks, so that the students could also do other activities on their own that would allow them to complete their knowledge of Barcelona and Catalonia and enjoy their experience here. Once submitted, these tips have been added and linked to the full schedule of activities webpage, so they can be checked anytime, anywhere.

Tips for the weekend of the first term:

  1. 30 September and 1 and 2 October 2022: discover Barcelona’s museums for free on the first Sunday of the month; discover the beautiful neighbourhood of Sarrià, in the upper part of Barcelona, and taste (or not) what have often been said to be the best ‘patatas bravas’ in Barcelona; recipe of the week: ‘pa amb tomàquet’ (bread with tomato).
  2. 21-23 October 2022: visit a modernist building on Passeig de Gràcia for free; enjoy the best views over the Gothic Quarter and the centre of Barcelona (for only 2 euros) ; take advantage of the 48H Open House to visit some of Barcelona’s emblematic buildings for free; discover some of the most important bookstores in Barcelona.
  3. 4-6 November 2022: take a walk along the final stretch of the Llobregat river; visit the Marès Museum for free; don’t miss the World Press Photo 2022 exhibition; get to know the cinemas in Barcelona that show films in the original version.
  4. 18-20 November 2022: discover the Palau de la Música Catalana, a jewel of modernism in the city centre; take a bike ride from Port Vell to the Besòs River Park or to Badalona; enjoy a good traditional ‘coca’.
  5. 2-4 December 2022: visit the Laberint d’Horta park for free; stroll around the beautiful and rather unknown gardens of the Palau de les Heures; visit the Picasso Museum without paying an entrance fee.
  6. 16-18 December 2022: visit the Barcelona Zoo as many times as you wish for only 5 euros a year; take an excursion to the castle of Torre Baró; do your Saturday shopping and take the opportunity to discover two of Barcelona’s great markets while walking around the Eixample; don’t miss the Fira de Santa Llúcia, Barcelona’s Christmas fair, and learn about Christmas traditions in Catalonia; if you ever want to come back to Barcelona (which we hope you do!), don’t forget to drink water from the Canaletes fountain before you leave.

Tips for the weekend of the second term:

  1. 20-22 January 2023: explore the neighbourhood of Gràcia and its squares; visit the Sunday market of Sant Antoni; relax and stroll through the gardens of Palau de Pedralbes.
  2. 3-5 February 2023: discover Barcelona’s waterfront: the Old Port, the Maritime Museum, the Museum of the History of Catalonia and Barceloneta, the city’s most maritime district; enjoy Llum BCN, the Poblenou light festival; and next weekend (10 to 12 February), enjoy the Santa Eulàlia Festival, Barcelona’s biggest winter festival.
  3. 17-19 February 2023: walk around Montjuïc and discover its history; spend a pleasant morning at Mercantic, in Sant Cugat del Vallès; enjoy the Carnival of Barcelona, Sitges or Vilanova i la Geltrú.
  4. 3-5 March 2023: taking advantage of the fact that it is the first Sunday of the month, visit the Palau Güell for free; girls! On the remaining Thursdays of the season you can ski for free at the Porté Puymorens ski resort, in French Catalonia; cross the Collserola mountain range with the metro and, without leaving Barcelona, enjoy the beautiful natural space you will find there.
  5. 17-19 March 2023: discover the Francesca Bonnemaison library; disconnect from the city by walking from Tibidabo to the south-western end of the Collserola mountain range; enjoy the benefits and discounts of Gaudir Més; the recipe of the week: “bunyols de Quaresma” (Lent donuts).
  6. 31 March-2 April 2023: learn about the Voluntariat Lingüístic social networks; take a pleasant walk through the Botanical Garden of Barcelona; visit the Palau Foundation to see works by Picasso in the beautiful town of Caldes d’Estrac.
  7. Tip for Easter: 15 places in Catalonia to visit (4 April): Marimurtra Gardens, Blanes (Costa Brava); Tossa de Mar (Costa Brava); coastal path from S’Agaró to the beach of Sa Conca (Costa Brava); Calella de Palafrugell, Sant Sebastià lighthouse and Cap Roig gardens (Costa Brava); enjoy the magnificent views of L’Estartit and the Medes islands from Begur castle (Costa Brava); walk through the beautiful streets of the city of Girona and taste the traditional ‘xuixos’; discover Puigcerdà, the Cerdanya area and the summit of Tosa d’Alp by cable car; discover the sanctuary and the Montgrony mountain range; discover the sanctuary of Cabrera; get to know Altafulla and Tarragona; Sitges; Montserrat; coastal path and beaches in L’Ametlla de Mar; Cotlliure, in French Catalonia; Puigsacalm.

Tips for the weekend of the third term:

  1. 21-23 April 2023: celebrate Sant Jordi properly; dance and enjoy the Sant Jordi Musical music festival.
  2. 5-7 May 2023: don’t miss the Límbic festival and take the opportunity to discover Sitges this weekend; taking advantage of it being the first Sunday of the month, visit the CCCB; visit the Pedralbes monastery and the Parc de l’Oreneta.
  3. 12-14 May 2023: discover or rediscover Girona, coinciding with the “Girona Temps de Flors” festival; visit Barcelona’s museums for free this Saturday, on the occasion of La Nit dels Museus, the museum night; visit the Parc de Cervantes on the occasion of the international competition of new roses.
  4. 26-28 May 2023: visit the Arús public library; come see Macbeth, performed by the UPF’ Theater Workshop discover Sant Cugat, the neighbouring city of Barcelona that awaits you on the other side of Tibidabo; don’t miss the ‘orxata’ drink.
  5. 2-5 June 2023: enjoy a pleasant walk along the Carretera de les Aigües, in the Collserola mountain range, and discover the charming neighbourhood of Sarrià, in the upper part of Barcelona; go to Canet de Mar to visit the house museum of Domènech i Montaner, the architect of the Palau de la Música and Hospital de Sant Pau, and take the opportunity to visit Arenys de Mar on the occasion of the “Arenys de Flors” festival; take a nice excursion to La Mola, the peak of more than a thousand meters of altitude closest to Barcelona.
  6. 9-11 and 23 June 2023: don’t miss the tradition of the “ou com balla”, the dancing egg; say goodbye to Barcelona by having a drink or simply enjoying the magnificent views offered by the terrace of the Museum of the History of Catalonia; make sure to drink water from the Canaletes fountain before you leave, if you ever want to return to Barcelona; celebrate the feast of Sant Joan.

Language tandems programme

And, finally, the Voluntariat Lingüístic programme has continued to manage the language tandems programme, with quite successful participation. Thus, around three hundred language tandems and trios have been matched throughout the year: around 140 in the first term, around 100 in the second and around 60 in the third, based on the requests made by 300 Catalan students and 365 international students.

By status, many more undergraduate students (72%) than postgraduate students (21%) have participated in the language tandem programme, while the remaining 7% correspond to professors, administrative staff and alumni. By gender, 70.6% of applicants were women, 29.1% were men, and 0.30% were other. In terms of age ranges, the vast majority of participants (85.7%) were between 18 and 25 years old, while the remaining 14.3% were over 25 years old.

As for languages, a total of twenty different languages have been requested or offered. In the case of Catalan students, 6.6% offered only Catalan, 82.8% offered both Catalan and Spanish, and 10.6% offered only Spanish. English has been both the language most requested by Catalan students (present in 47.75% of applications) and the language most offered by international students (present in 71.25% of applications). In addition, other languages such as French, German, Italian or Chinese have also had a notable presence during the three terms. Finally, with regard to international students, 10.75% have requested only Catalan, 22.05% have requested both Catalan and Spanish, and the remaining 67.2% have requested only Spanish.