Learning Spanish

A particularly scary part about moving to Spain is the language barrier that you might have to face, especially if you have never had chance to study Spanish before. Contrary to popular belief, everybody cannot speak English, although most Spaniards are able to speak a few words, so it isn’t advised that you rely on this long-term. On the other hand, due to the general Spanish population being friendly and welcoming, picking up the language is so much easier when you are in the country itself as you will be surrounded by new words, accents and expressions that are both fun and exciting to learn.

The language barrier shouldn’t be something that you’re afraid to face, but rather an exciting new obstacle that, in the process of overcoming it, you will make new friends, learn new skills and overall boost your confidence within your new environment.

How?

A Spanish immersion course is one of the best and most rewarding ways to learn Spanish in Spain once you arrive in the country. Not only do courses such as these allow you to begin studying the language from your own, personal level, but it means that you can learn in a friendly, relaxing and exciting environment. Although classes are taught solely in Spanish, small class sizes and excellent teachers make the learning process easy and fun; most of the time you won’t even realise that you’re in a school!

Intercambio is a really good way to improve your spoken Spanish and boost your confidence at the same time as meeting new people and making friends. Although Intercambio is probably more suited to those with a better level of the Spanish language due to it requiring a certain level of communication skills, I would recommend it to anyone, because more than likely there will be Spanish students looking for someone to practice their English/French/German etc. and will be more than willing to get you started on your basic Spanish vocab.

Once you are in the country you will be surrounded by the Spanish language; in the street, the media, publicity, street signs etc. and the more you take note of things such as this, the easier it will be to pick up the language. Teaching yourself is one way of getting off the ground with your Spanish proficiency and spending a couple of hours each day watching TV, studying some grammar points or reading will accelerate your learning and boost your confidence. There are a number of fun and interactive beginners Spanish courses also available on the internet for free, such as this one offered by the BBC. It’s a common misconception that by living in Spain you will eventually be able to speak Spanish, which isn’t necessarily true. Helping yourself and putting in a little effort, however, will make it happen and learning will get easier and easier with time.

Where?

There are opportunities to learn Spanish wherever you are in the country and schools offering language courses are spread nationwide. Although accents are noticeable (you can listen to some examples here), you shouldn’t worry about this when deciding on the best place to live with regards to learning Spanish, the most important thing to consider though are the regional languages of Spain.

It is true that in Andalusia, the‘s’ is usually dropped from the end of words and that in Catalonia, Castilian tends to be a second language after Catalan, giving way to another accent and style of pronunciation, but the longer you spend in one place, the easier it will be to pick up and understand regional differences, without ever being aware of it. If its classes you’re after, then it might be better to do some research online about where the best schools or universities offering tuition are located, especially if you plan to fast-track your Spanish when you first arrive in the country. Additionally, employing a personal tutor is a great way to continue your studies once you begin working, as it can be difficult to timetable going to classes with a new job. Tutors are available everywhere and prices vary depending on their teaching experience and how long and often lessons are convenient.

Children

If you’re travelling with children, getting them on track with their language is important, especially as they are more likely to pick up on language the younger they are. Although they might not be overly enthusiastic about attending extra classes initially, the long-term advantages are definitely worth it and most classes are fun and interesting.

Another popular way for children to get involved is to get them involved in a Summer Camp. Due to the long summer breaks, many Spanish parents send their children to camps such as these as a way to keep them occupied and take part in fun activities throughout the summer. Camps such as these are available to international kids, providing a global learning environment where children can develop their language and communication skills naturally and at their own pace at the same time as learning Spanish!