BootsnAll Travel Community

Hi all....Im new to this board but Im amazed by the amount of info available....Wish Id had a resource like this when I started travelling!

Anyway, this is my 1st contribution and Id like to suggest doing a slightly different trip to Spain. Its also the perfect way to really get to know the country.

Im just back from doing a course in Malaga...Its on the south coast whic was ideal for going to te beach after the time in the school was over. "School" sounds very formal, and to be honest it put me off really (was never a big fan) but it was really nothing like as a kid. Its all adults and totally laid-back. People are there to learn Spanish, obviously, but theres plenty to do and see from a tourists point of view and living there as a "local" lets you see things from a different angle.

I stayed for 6 weeks and it didnt really break the bank. If youre dead keen to learn the language, you can stay with Spanish families or a cheaper option is to do what I did and share an appartment with other international students. Theres a kitchen too so if youre not keen on tasting the delights of Spanish cuisine or if youre on a budget this is ideal.

I could go on and on....Its all fresh in my mind and Ive gotta say its the best 6 weeks Ive ever had...Met loads of interesting, nice people, ate the most amazing food and visited some of the most beautiful cities (Granada, Seville, Madrid...)

If anyone wants more info, join the tab or PM me....No problem.

That's cool, I know a friend that's going to study Spanish in Malaga for six weeks this summer, but I think she's doing it through her college here in the U.S.

But what was your accomodation like? I want to go next year to learn Spanish on my own, but I rather live with a host family. What are the ups and downs of a host family? I obviously want to be totally immeresed and have my own privacy with my own room and bed (as oppossed to a hostal).

Hey...Your friend is gonna love Malaga! As to the question of accommodation, well, if its immersion you want and your main aim is to learn Spanish, I would take the option of staying in a Spanish family. People I met did this and their Spanish was improving at a quicker rate than others staying in a shared appartment.

I stayed in a shared appartment which gave me a little freedom - I could cook there too because a kitchen was also in the place. I met one family where someone I knew was staying and the people were totally cool, food was great (apparently)....They also had the freedom they needed and there were never any problems....From a personal point of view I wouldnt feel as "free" in a Spanish family, but no-one I met had any problems....

When and where are you thinking of going? Can really recommend it....you wont regret going - as Im sure your friend will tell you soon
Mike

Well I'll prob. fly into Lisbon and travel around Portugal for a bit before taking a train into Madrid. The thing is, Spanish comes easy for me so I really don't want to take any formal classes, or pay for them. Private tutoring I'll probably do for a bit, but I kinda know quite a bit of Spanish as is (what Californian doesn't?). Basically I wanna learn Spanish on my own, live with a family, and see Madrid and Seville and the rest of southern Spain (I'm a big bullfighting afcionado!).

I'll probably do the same thing in Portugal, but take formal classes cause Portuguese, mainly the pronunciation, is not eazy for me. I just need to extend my tourist Visa and save some more money and I'll be set!

Daniel....whats Portuguiese like to learn....Im concentrating on Spanish for know but I presume its close and would consider it next. You know of any courses in Portugal? Thanks... Mique

Did you arrange this through a company or how do you set it up? Do they arrange accomodation for you? i'd love to know-trying to learn spanish whilst living in scotland isn't having the desired effect

quote:

Originally posted by mique:
Daniel....whats Portuguiese like to learn....Im concentrating on Spanish for know but I presume its close and would consider it next. You know of any courses in Portugal? Thanks... Mique

Hi Mique,
Portuguese is harder than Spanish, at least for me. But if you learn both at the same time, like I am, you'll realize a lot of the vocab. is closely related. It's harder for me because there are no natives around to practice it with, and of course with Spanish here in California, I took a few years in High School and College and already know the rules, not to mention the fact that there are Spanish speakers EVERYWHERE! But the main thing with Portuguese that gets me is the pronunciation. Spanish is very straight foward, "what you see is what you get" type thing, whereas Portuguese can become very tricky when learning it. So I guess I'm saying it's important to have a native Portuguese speaker around to make sure you are pronouncing properly. "Estou Bem" does not sound like it looks and that seems to be the case with 85% of Portuguese words.