The British American Institute opened its doors in January 1991 in Plaza Xica, Mataró. Our philosophy was—and still is—to offer quality English instruction, qualified and experienced teachers, in a comfortable and friendly environment. In 1996, increasing demand forced us to look for new premises, and we relocated in the heart of Mataró—La Riera 22. Since changing locations, we have added an English library; we have expanded our number of classrooms until we now occupy three floors—over 480 square metres; we have put in a Coffeehouse, where students can gather to relax and chat over coffee or a soft drink, or play card and board games; in 1999, we added our spacious state-of-the-art multimedia centre, where students can study independently using the latest in interactive English computer programs. In 2000 we earned ISO 9002 certification-the first and only language school in Maresme to obtain this highly coveted recognition of quality and service; and we will continue to work hard in the future to create the best possible learning environment for our students and staff.

The coastal city of Mataró, the county seat of Maresme, is located 29 km north of Barcelona.

The population is approximately 115,000 and for the most part bilingual (Catalan/Spanish). The city dates back some 2,000 years, originally being the site of the Roman village Iluro, whose ruins are regularly unearthed today at new construction sites in the city centre. This centre—casco antiguo—still boasts several fine structures from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Mataró offers its inhabitants and visitors a wide variety of activities and entertainment: aquatic sports, hiking, mountain-biking, tennis, football, beaches, shopping, restaurants, bars, museums, cinemas, popular festivals, and discotheques to name but a few.

Finally, the city is well situated for weekend "get aways" to the famous Costa Brava (30 min.), the Pyrenees Mountains, and France (both well under 2 hrs. drive).