Jun 20, 2019
In this new entry of our blog, we are going to talk about the smallest of the house, the children. Learning a new language for them can be either a complex task or a game, it all depends on the way you deal with it. The main reasons why many children learn Spanish are: they change their country and the official language is Spanish or because their parents want them to learn a second language. Whatever the reason might be, the key lies in the way parents present this idea to their children and how the teachers organize the classes, that is, the methodology they use. We can’t forget that children are children and besides learning new things they need to enjoy their free time: playing, interacting with more children, going to the park, etc. Sometimes, some parents worry too much about Spanish classes, more classes equal better results, and this provokes in the child a feeling of rejection that is quite strong. They see Spanish classes as a punishment from their parents, they have to go to some classes and learn something they don’t want to, simply because their parents think it’s a good idea. Base in our professional experience we think the best way to introduce Spanish lessons to children is presenting Spanish lessons as an extra fun activity more like basketball, soccer, dance, etc., so the child wouldn’t feel pressured and his/her attitude would be very different. With a positive attitude, the child would come wanting to learn and have fun. This way it is much easier and more comfortable for the teacher and the child,...
Mar 25, 2019
Why Tenerife? The answer is very easy: Because it is the perfect destination for your language course. It is that simple. However just in case, you would like to have a more detailed explanation, we prepared something for you. Tenerife is an exotic island, where sunny days are normal Tenerife forms a part of the Canary Islands, an archipelago situated 100 km west of the African continent in the Atlantic Ocean. It is the biggest of the 7 main islands with a surface of 2034,38 km². Thanks to the diverse geographical and meteorological conditions, the island provides a mild and warm climate with lots of sunshine throughout the whole year. No wonder, that people like to call Tenerife “ the Island of eternal spring”. You can study at the beach after classes The great weather brings us to the next point. How does it sound to you, to do a language course with a picturesque backdrop of majestic mountain tops and where you can complete your homework at the beach afterwards? Here it is possible! Tenerife offers fascinating and amazingly beautiful landscapes. From the extinct volcano Mt. Teide in the center of the island, up to green pine and laurel forests as well as black and white beaches. It is impossible to get bored in Tenerife, as there is so much natural beauty to discover and enjoy. Tenerife, a wonderful place to learn Spanish Canarian Spanish is a variant of standard Spanish spoken in the Canary Islands and really similar to Western Andalusian and to Caribbean Spanish and other Hispanic American Spanish. Canarian Spanish is the only Spanish dialect...
Dec 18, 2018
Illuminated streets, family atmosphere, music, Christmas shopping, and of course, the lottery. The Spanish Christmas Lottery or simply Lotería de Navidad is a national lottery. In the Spanish-speaking media it is sometimes just called El Gordo and is the second longest continuously running lottery in the world. The Christmas Lottery is one of the most deeply rooted traditions in Spain. Share tickets (décimos) with family members, with the group of friends, with coworkers … and dream about everything that can be done if you buy a ticket. The lottery administrations, during these months, are filled with people full of hope. The “décimos” are given or shared, because as the slogan of the Christmas Lottery says, “the best gift is to share it”. On December 22nd, the date on which the lottery of Christmas is held, all the Spaniards follow the live draw on the radio or televisions at work or at home, consulting the internet via mobile … everyone wants to know if they or someone they know have won something. From the first draw, the children of San Ildefonso were in charge of singing the numbers of the Christmas Lottery, which until 1913 were printed on papers. As of this date, the system of drums and wooden balls that is still used today was implemented. Currently, the maximum prize has a value of 4 million euros. Although the statistics prove that the chances of winning are very low, each year the prize of this famous lottery makes someone happy, and this fact feeds the illusion of others who resort to lucky classics like rubbing the “décimo” by the...
Nov 14, 2017
Why is it a roller coaster? Well, because learning a language is full of ups and downs. It also makes us face our insecurities and fears. Learning Spanish is a process full of positive emotions and frustrations, the moments of clarity and total confusion. At the very beginning any foreign language seems very difficult to learn. Students often come to the first date with a new language full of fear (pretty much like any other first date) about the pronunciation and complexity of grammar. Thus we often enter the first class full of preconceptions about the language. We slowly progress through the first lessons: basic grammar, phonetics and vocabulary. In no time, we start to understand, the fears are dissipating and we regain self-confidence and security. That is when first obstacle is defeated and frustrations dissipate, we accept the logic of Spanish language. It begins to work its way into our minds, we feel that first “rush” that makes us believe that it is not as difficult as we had imagined it. Soon we find ourselves back in comfort zone and, hence, start thinking that we will be fluent in Spanish in no time. Then things start to get more complicated and more complex structures appear and make us return that the initial frustration. As a result we find ourselves in the learning pit again. Don’t we all have a false belief that the more we know, the easier it is? But how to overcome the ups and downs in the learning process? To be successful in your learning you have to count on two very important things, your...
Sep 27, 2017
Nowadays learning languages has become a necessity, not only for work reasons, but also at the social level. It is a complex challenge. Speaking another language does not only imply knowing its grammar and structure, but also means thinking in different way. This seems a bit difficult at first, however with time, dedication and practice can be achieved by every language student. What is the main reason for learning languages? Learning languages can change your life completely and open doors to a completely new way of life. I have been teaching Spanish for a long time. Long before that I was a language student myself. From my personal experience I believe the only way to truly learn a language is to immerse yourself in its culture. And this language immersion, in one way or another, transforms you. For years I studied English at school as a child, and later at private academies. Despite all the effort it wasn’t until I went to England and started to experience its culture when I really began to internalize English language. By internalize, I mean I stopped translating in my head, and started to create new mental schemes. The best way to tell whether you really speak a foreign language is when you are able to express an idea in that language in a way that you are not able to do it in your native language. And that is the greatest gift that speaking another language can give you, learn to think in a more diverse way. But this is not the only advantage of speaking foreign languages Expand your abilities Developing...
May 5, 2017
When we decide to learn a new language, we always do it with great enthusiasm! But there is a high risk that we drop it soon. Most people who begin to learn a foreign language gradually lose interest or quit right away, but why? Common reasons – lack of time and, above all, not having chosen the most effective method of learning. You must have already researched different options of courses to learn Spanish, we have reviewed each one of the them to outline pros and cons. When choosing a course, the first thing to take into account is the time available, the money you are willing to invest and, the most important, the commitment you are willing to make to learning. The first decision to make is to start studying in your country or take the big step and study abroad. From the economic point of view it is always better to start in your country, but from an educational efficiency point of view, the best way to learn a language is linguistic immersion. Sign up for a language school in your town You decided to start learning Spanish in your country. The cheapest method is to take course in a public language school. You get several classes a week and an official degree. But it has 2 serious disadvantages: Non-native teachers: Most state schools have very good teachers, but most are non-native. It is not bad, but it is always better to hear a native teacher to work on your accent. Students who have a language in common – a temptation to use your own language in...
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