Spanish for children, reward or punishment?

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,...

Why study Spanish in Tenerife?

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...
Roller Coaster of Language Learning

Roller Coaster of Language Learning

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...
What is the best way to learn Spanish?

What is the best way to learn Spanish?

Have you ever thought about learning or improving your Spanish, but got somehow confused about which of many ways to choose?   We wanted to give you a first orientation about the topic and hope, it will be of help to you. So, what is the best way to learn Spanish?   First and foremost many different sources and common experience agree, that having a Spanish girlfriend or a Spanish boyfriend will definitely help you to learn and improve your Spanish significantly.   However this method might not be the most appropriate one for everybody. Nevertheless and to put it more general, you should try to practise with native speakers as often and as much as you can.     This will not only train your application of the language, but it will also widen your vocabulary and broaden your knowledge about it. You can listen carefully to how they pronounce words and the way they speak, what will help you when trying to speak yourself.   The reason, why practising with a native speaker is seen as very efficient, is the fact a full immersion to the language is often considered as the best way to learn Spanish.       What means a full immersion into Spanish language?   Often we tend to understand by a full immersion some kind of drastic exposure to the language, for example by being surrounded by Spanish people without being able to speak a single word. Even though such a hard confrontation with the language might bring effects as well, we would still like you to opt for a more varied type...