Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Teaching & Learning > Teaching and Learning Techniques


Where to study Spanish in Spain?

 

Teaching methodology, learning techniques, linguistics-- any of the various aspect of learning or teaching a foreign language.


Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old January 21, 2013, 04:46 AM
Santenello Santenello is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Santenello is on a distinguished road
Where to study Spanish in Spain?

Hello,


My girlfriend and I are looking to spend the next three months studying Spanish in Spain. We would like to be near the Mediterranean so Valencia looks good to us, but I also know they also have a different dialect.

We want to be in a place with many things going on since we will be there for three months. Any suggestions are much appreciated.


Thank you,
Peter
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old January 21, 2013, 07:40 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by Santenello View Post
Hello,


My girlfriend and I are looking to spend the next three months studying Spanish in Spain. We would like to be near the Mediterranean so Valencia looks good to us, but I also know they also have a different dialect.

We want to be in a place with many things going on since we will be there for three months. Any suggestions are much appreciated.


Thank you,
Peter
It's not another dialect, Catalan is a different language. Castillian (the language we often call Spanish) is always spoken in all major Spanish cities, but is sometimes not the primary language. If you wish to go to a semi-tropical city by the sea in Spain where Castillian is the preferred language spoken by everyone, Málaga may be worth considering.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
  #3  
Old January 21, 2013, 12:24 PM
Santenello Santenello is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Santenello is on a distinguished road
Polo,

Thank you for your reply. Yes we would like to be immersed as much as possible but I understand in bigger cities that we might run across English speakers and people speaking other languages. We would like to be next to the Mediterranean Sea because it is a dream of ours and it will be warmer.

We are making this decision tonight and we are hoping to get a flight out of Sicily tomorrow. We would also like to be in a place that is stimulating enough for three months and that is why I though Valencia would be a good choice. Is Malaga a stimulating place?

Have you been to Valencia? Is it a good feel there with the people? Are they open to foreigners?

I hope this is enough detail. Any input about where we should go is appreciated. Thank you for your time!
  #4  
Old January 21, 2013, 01:58 PM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
I have not been to Valencia, but it is Spain's third largest city. I have found Spanish people to be reserved and professional to strangers. Most likely you will be treated honestly and cooly but people will warm up to you soon. Unlike Latin America you may find few people asking you where you are from until they know you a little better. Enjoy your stay. Spain is very cultural, comparatively inexpensive when compared with most of Western Europe, and the food is good. It's not a huge country, and their system of high-speed trains (AVE) can get you to different places like Madrid Barcelona and Seville quickly and reliably.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
  #5  
Old January 21, 2013, 06:53 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
I have only been twice to Valencia for a few days...
(Loved the city and the people...)
Good luck!
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
  #6  
Old January 21, 2013, 08:45 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
JP, please correct me if I am wrong. Since the Mediterranean Sea is much a sought place to go on vacation, it really wouldn't matter if it is a small or a big town, most likely is going to be full of tourists and everybody working there speaks at least 2 languages...

  #7  
Old January 21, 2013, 11:32 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
Indeed... Minimally Spanish, English... French, German, Swedish... (In some places of the Costa Brava there are whole "colonies" of German people... In Mallorca, there are "tons" of Swedish... And if you go to Lloret de Mar in July you could practice practically any European language...

Not so sure of that as you go South, but more and more people in Spain study English... anyhow.
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
  #8  
Old January 22, 2013, 03:23 AM
Santenello Santenello is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 3
Santenello is on a distinguished road
Thanks for your help!
  #9  
Old January 22, 2013, 05:01 PM
JPablo's Avatar
JPablo JPablo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,579
Native Language: Spanish (Castilian, peninsular)
JPablo is on a distinguished road
You're welcome, Santenello!
Good luck!
__________________
Lo propio de la verdad es que se basta a sí misma, aquel que la posee no intenta convencer a nadie.
"An enemy is somebody who flatters you. A friend is somebody who criticizes the living daylights out of you."
  #10  
Old January 23, 2013, 02:39 AM
carlosvilas's Avatar
carlosvilas carlosvilas is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Madrid (Spain)
Posts: 25
Native Language: Spanish
carlosvilas is on a distinguished road
I've lived in Madrid all my life.

If I had to choose where to go on holidays, I would probably go to somewhere in the Mediterranean coast... sun and beaches... oh man, I love that.

BUT... If you are trying to learn Spanish, try not to go there. In Andalusia the accent is really different and hard to understand (sometimes even for native Spanish speakers), and it's more similar to latin american accent. In Valencia and Catalonia there is a co-official language, Valenciano or Catalan, and it may confuse you a little bit.

The most """pure""" Spanish can be learnt, in my opinion, in Valladolid, Salamanca or Madrid (though no beaches there...)

Hope it helps!!
Closed Thread

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Help with my Spanish Study Guide Tabobo Practice & Homework 23 July 11, 2010 03:46 PM
Qué onda?!Mexican Spanish vs Spanish from Spain and Spanish from Latin America Villa Culture 6 April 08, 2010 11:50 AM
Study Spanish in Latin America MrWednesday General Chat 0 April 27, 2009 03:41 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:31 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X