Learning Spanish
Studying or interning abroad is the perfect opportunity to improve your Spanish skills! Aquí van algunos consejos (tips):
DUOLINGO
Practice your Spanish on a daily basis with Duolingo! It's a language learning app in which you have the option to receive daily reminders so that you're sure to practice each day. It's the perfect way to practice your Spanish during any down time in the bus, metro, etc.
INTERCAMBIOS
(Language exchanges)
The best way to learn a language is to meet native speakers and practice speaking with them. It's also a great way to make local friends!
Check out the following language exchanges:
The Friday Language Exchange is a weekly language exchange hosted in the Estación de Francia. It's a great chance to meet locals, practice your Spanish, and even help others with their English.
Be sure to attend any language exchanges hosted by the program (check your TeamUp calendar!). They're typically hosted with local college students from Barcelona.
Vennmón hosts language exchanges on Wednesdays with locals who can help you with your Spanish/Catálan in exchange for you practicing English with them!
Centros de Autoaprendizaje de Lenguas: The UAB & the UB have self-learning language centers in which they organize language exchanges. Sometimes they can also pair you up with a language buddy so that you can practice with the same person throughout your time in BCN.
Conversation Exchange and the Open Language Exchange, are social platforms to pair up language exchange partners.
MEET UPs
There are so many ways to meet locals and practice your Spanish, whatever your interests! We recommend MeetUp for interest-based events that you can sign up for.
PRACTICE AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY
Every time you buy something in a store, order a coffee, or ask for directions, try to use the Spanish you already know. That way, you'll practice in a real-world setting and start to feel more comfortable conversing in Spanish.
WATCH MOVIES/TV IN SPANISH
Watching movies or TV in Spanish is a great way to practice your Spanish while having fun at the same time! There are tons of Spanish movies/series to check out - start off with English subtitles and then once you get more confident, switch to Spanish subtitles so that you're reading and listening at the same time!
KEEP A DIARY/BLOG IN SPANISH
One of the best ways to learn Spanish is by writing. Keep a diary/blog (whether hand written or typed) about your experience in Barcelona. Write until you come to a word or phrase that you don't know how to say - looking it up and then having to write it down will help your brain to remember the word for next time. This is also a great way to keep track of your progress, as you can look back and see how much your language skills have improved!
