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...
The 12 grapes for New Year’s Eve in Tenerife

The 12 grapes for New Year’s Eve in Tenerife

Have you ever spend the time of the end of the year in Spain and wondered, why everybody is so keen to get grapes? Supermarkets and fruit shops are full of them, even offering special packages of 12 grapes. But why?   Why do we eat the 12 grapes for New Year’s Eve in Tenerife? The tradition has its origins in the late 19th century in Spain and spread from there to countries in Latin America, in Tenerife it was first reportedly realized in 1903. It consists of starting the New Year in a superstitious way: if you can manage to eat 12 grapes with every stroke of the clock in the first 12 seconds of the new year, you will be lucky. Every grape represents one of the 12 months, so that you better do not skip even one. In Spain it is usually the clock of the Puerta del Sol in Madrid, which is in the center of attention. People gather in front of it and television channels stream it to almost every household in Spain. In the Canary Islands the 12 chimes are broadcasted one hour later, either from El Hierro, Gran Canaria or from the Basilica of Candelaria in Tenerife.   The attempt to eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds results often in a very funny and thrilling way to start the new year, especially if you try not to laugh or lose a grape on the way to your stomach. So you should try celebrating New Year’s Eve this time the Spanish way yourself, together with your family and friends. Let us give you...
Celebrate Christmas in Tenerife with SMS Spanish Experience

Celebrate Christmas in Tenerife with SMS Spanish Experience

We are so excited to celebrate our first Christmas with our students. We decorated the school, we launched a great Christmas offer with big discounts, we just had a toast with our students and we wait with excitement for the Three Magi to come. But wait, do you know, why we do so?   How we celebrate Christmas in Tenerife   There is two important aspects about how people celebrate christmas in Tenerife:   The biggest difference people from northern Europe will experience when celebrating Christmas in Tenerife is: the weather. Tenerife is the island of eternal spring and even if there is sometimes snow up on Mt. Teide, there is no comparison to colder countries. Warm and sunny days, beaches and palm trees simply do not fit too well in the typical picture of a white Christmas. However people here try to create a feastful atmosphere by decorating the streets and buildings with flashing lights and Christmas motifs.   Second you must know, that the 24th of December is not the most important Christmas day for children in Tenerife. This is because in Spain it is not Santa Claus, who brings gifts to the children – it is the Three Magi on the 6th of January. Therefore Christmas Eve and Boxing Day are not so popular, as they are in other nations. However people in Tenerife and the rest of Spain still celebrate them. It is common to have a good dinner on Christmas Eve and then walk around the neighbourhood to greet and toast with all friends and acquaintances. The Boxing Day is then usually more quiet....