Off To Tenerife for four weeks in November!

[Edith]

At last! This November, I will be off to the south coast of Tenerife to take part in a four-week Spanish course (mini group, twenty hours a week). I can't believe this is actually going to happen! I was planning to go to Mexico at first but my knee is giving me such problems at the moment that I decided to switch to Tenerife to avoid the ten-hour transatlantic flight. And to be honest, Tenerife sounds like a real good alternative too! I love the Canary islands. Any tips and suggestions are welcome!

Here is the website of the language school I will be attending in Costa Adeje:

http://www.studytravel.com/course/index.php?id=148&lang=&destination=Tenerife

[Alan]

Hope you have a great time :)

[Edith]

Hope you have a great time :)

Me too! I can hardly wait!

[Marina]

Hi Edith,

I was very sorry to read that you have injured your knee:-(
however you can look forward that trip to Tenerife to cheer you up!

I haven't been to the South part of the island but apparently the weather is much better at that end. "Tenerife tiene seguro de sol..." as the song says!!
Waiting to hear all about your adventures in there and to see you pics!
M.

[Edith]

Oh yes, I'm really looking forward to this trip, and to be immersed in the Spanish language for a month! :)

Last year, I was in Gran Canaria in October and in the South, the temperature was still around 30 degrees Centigrade, and I still expect it to be pleasant in November.

[Marina]

I have a friend that has lived in Canary Islands for most of her childhood and always says that October, November and December are the best months to be there. Lucky you;-))

[que]

Well, when i went to Salamanca for a months language course, i had the best time. Really it was great. I enjoyed the lessons, and of course everything that goes with it (social side of it).

I didnt go to Tenerife, so im not sure if it is the same, but there were mainly Dutch and Brazilians there. The Dutch were fantastic people, but the problem for me is that they wanted to practice there English with me. So if there are any nationals, just try and avoid constant conversations in your mother tounge.

Take advantage of the outings if they do any, as you will be encourage to speak in Spainsh all the time. Also, im not sure of your level of Spanish, but it can be intense the first few days, takes a few days to settle in to the teachings in Spanish. Was difficult as you could only ask questions in Spanish, unlike Spanish evening classes in England.

Do you know what level you are being put in? Or is the test given once you get there? Lastly, what are you doing for accomodation?

Have a great time. Wish i was doing it again.

[Edith]

I have a friend that has lived in Canary Islands for most of her childhood and always says that October, November and December are the best months to be there. Lucky you;-))

:cheers:

I'm looking forward to it so much, Marina! Last year was tough for me because my father died, but finally the time has come to move on and enjoy myself again.

This is what I always have wanted to do, but somehow I never did... a language immersion course! Speaking Spanish for a whole month, getting to know new people, enjoying myself, soaking up the sun and the culture, splurging on seafood and jamón serrano, and last but not least: escaping from spending November in northern Europe! What a prospect! :thumbs-up: I wish I could stay there all winter but I know I shouldn't complain. :D

Right now the weather in Holland is like this, and this is how it has been almost all month. Our summer here in northwestern Europe is over... thank goodness I've still got something in store!



http://www.teleweer.nl/images/upload_telegraaf/IMG_0022.jpg (javascript:OpenImage('/images/upload_telegraaf/IMG_0022.jpg'))

[Edith]

Students from Holland and from Brazil? What a fascinating combination! :D Salamanca is one of the most popular summer destinations for students of Spanish, isn't it?

My level of Spanish is intermediate (reading level: advanced) and I already watch TV on a daily basis, so I don't expect too many problems there, but I expect I will be needing some warming up as far as speaking Spanish is concerned. I truly hope, though, that there won't be too many students whose language I share. I have decided I won't take any books in Dutch or English with me so the immersion experience will be optimal. A friend of mine here in Holland is from Aruba and sometimes we speak Spanish for a while (Spanish is an important language on the island) but we always seem to be slipping back into Dutch. So I'm aware of the problem.

Dutch people always want to speak English, LOL This is a common complaint among English-speaking expats who live in Holland and who are trying to learn the Dutch language. Sometimes they are simply not able to practice their Dutch because everyone is so eager to speak English to them. Or so I have been told. Many people in Holland speak 'steenkolen-Engels' ('charcoal English', an odd expression in Dutch which simply means 'bad English').

[que]

Yes. It was great.

Here is a photo of some of us before going out to celebrate Queens Day:

[Edith]

Queen's Day in Salamanca! LOL, great! :)
The headgear is muy típico.

[Marina]

Spending a whole month in autumn or winter in semi tropical weather is luxurious!!!


By the way I'm sorry to hear about your Dad Edith.

[que]

Yes, it is annoying.

However, good news, ive just had a phone call. They will be here in 10 minutes which means im good to go tomorrow to the festival. Great news.

[Edith]

Spending a whole month in autumn or winter in semi tropical weather is luxurious!!!


By the way I'm sorry to hear about your Dad Edith.

Thank you Marina. :-)

That's why I decided I needed a break, and a big one... I booked the most expensive option available: a single-use apartment and 5-people mini groups! If this is not going to work out well for my Spanish I don't know what else will. ;)

Having been inspired by Flickr, I'm also looking forward to making as many photographs of the island as possible. I'm sure our teachers will tell us where the interesting spots are.

[Edith]

Yes, it is annoying.

But funny too! Imagine hundreds of adult people out in the streets on April 30 wearing these outlandish hats! ;D

However, good news, ive just had a phone call. They will be here in 10 minutes which means im good to go tomorrow to the festival. Great news.[/quote]

There you go! Have fun.

[que]

Thanks.

I seem to have put that post in the wrong thread though! jaja. whoops

see post 'Spain travels to regent St (Sept 3rd)'

[gary]

At last! This November, I will be off to the south coast of Tenerife to take part in a four-week Spanish course (mini group, twenty hours a week). I can't believe this is actually going to happen! I was planning to go to Mexico at first but my knee is giving me such problems at the moment that I decided to switch to Tenerife to avoid the ten-hour transatlantic flight. And to be honest, Tenerife sounds like a real good alternative too! I love the Canary islands. Any tips and suggestions are welcome!

Here is the website of the language school I will be attending in Costa Adeje:

http://www.studytravel.com/course/index.php?id=148&lang=&destination=Tenerife

I'm jealous to death - Im planning a fortnight in Barcelona doing a course next July - have a great time - and dont forget to keep us posted

[gary]

Hope you have a great time :)

You too - whens the big day?

[gary]

Well, when i went to Salamanca for a months language course, i had the best time. Really it was great. I enjoyed the lessons, and of course everything that goes with it (social side of it).



Was it Isla - I am thinking of emrolling for a fortnight next july

[que]

no. It was with Colegio Delibes:

http://www.colegiodelibes.com/

But i booked it thorough another company, not realising at the time:

http://www.estudiohispanico.com/


I took a risk because i didnt really have any reccomendations for schools, but i think i picked well.

Great teachers. And the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca is amazing!

[Edith]

I'm jealous to death - Im planning a fortnight in Barcelona doing a course next July - have a great time - and dont forget to keep us posted

But of course! :) The language school has got a computer room of its own, so I should be able to visit the forum every now and then.

[Brian]

Have a great time, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

[Edith]

Have a great time, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity!

I will! :)

[Ben]

I wish we were off Tenerife for two weeks! Have a great time Edith, and I hope you will have lots of pics to show us afterwards!

[Edith]

I wish we were off Tenerife for two weeks! Have a great time Edith, and I hope you will have lots of pics to show us afterwards!

Me too! :)

[Edith]

no. It was with Colegio Delibes:

http://www.colegiodelibes.com/

But i booked it thorough another company, not realising at the time:

http://www.estudiohispanico.com/


I took a risk because i didnt really have any reccomendations for schools, but i think i picked well.

Great teachers. And the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca is amazing!

Don't laugh, but Study Travel was recommended to me by a young woman who works at the tanning booth which I frequent every now and then. o far, my impression is good because they cooperate with Don Quijote in some places. Don Quijote language schools are recommended by the Instituto Cervantes (the Spanish equivalent of the British Council or the Alliance Française).

[celia s]

Have a great trip Edith!
I hear that Tenerife has some unusual cactus-like trees.(I think they are called Dragon trees).Any photos would be greatly appreciated!
Make sure you try some Malvasia wine!
Cheers.

[Edith]

Have a great trip Edith!
I hear that Tenerife has some unusual cactus-like trees.(I think they are called Dragon trees).Any photos would be greatly appreciated!
Make sure you try some Malvasia wine!
Cheers.

Thanks! You bet I will take many, many pictures. :D

Last year, I photographed some Dragon trees on Gran Canaria, but we didn't get to see any large ones. Here is one specimen I saw in a botanical garden:


http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g52/tetabiakti/DragotreeGranCanaria2005.jpg (http://s53.photobucket.com/albums/g52/tetabiakti/?start=#imgAnch1)

Is Malvasia wine typical of Tenerife? On Gran Canaria, we tasted another local delicacy, queso de flor. It was delicious!

[Edith]

Now THIS is a big drago(n) tree. I would love to see one of those!




http://jardin-mundani.info/agavaceae/tenerife2.jpg

[celia s]

Wow,that is incredible!!
Have you been to the Giardino Garibaldi in Palermo?They have the most stunning Banyan trees with twisted,exposed roots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/entropybound/42380316/in/set-928483/

I thought that Malvasia wine was from Tenerife.Maybe I have confused it with Lanzarote.Oops!

[Edith]

Wow,that is incredible!!
Have you been to the Giardino Garibaldi in Palermo?They have the most stunning Banyan trees with twisted,exposed roots.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/entropybound/42380316/in/set-928483/

I thought that Malvasia wine was from Tenerife.Maybe I have confused it with Lanzarote.Oops!

I will look for it anyway. And for gofio too, since I have never been able to taste this traditional Canary dish before.

Those roots are just amazing! I believe the banyan tree is originally from the Indo-Pacific region. Never been to Palermo though... amazing that they are able to grow there, too. Another one of my favorites is the flamboyant tree (flamboyán in Spanish), which is a native from Madagascar but which you'll be able to find all over the (sub)tropics now:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Poinciana

This one is in Mexico. I have seen some beautiful specimens in southern Europe - including on Gran Canaria - too.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/RoyalPoinciana.jpg

[celia s]

How beautiful!!

[ValenciaSon]

Have a really great time in Tenerife Edith!

[Edith]

Have a really great time in Tenerife Edith!

Thanks ValenciaSon! :)

Times really does go fast now, I'll board the plane in six weeks' time.

I am really looking forward to being able to speak Spanish all the time. Perhaps I will even pick up some of that wonderful Canario accent which I like so much...

[Edith]

Tonight, I will be leaving for Tenerife!!! No more computer screens for the next four weeks, but lots of other things to do. And, hopefully, the rains in Tenerife will have stopped by the time I get there. The weather in Holland, has taken a turn for the worse, and I'm so glad to leave it all behind! ;D

I might be popping in every now and then to leave a message, but we have no real computer facilities at our language school (you can only use the Internet for 15 minutes at a time) so I'll have to go look for a Internet café.

Ciao!

[Marina]

Have a wonderful journey Edith!!!
Your Spanish is going to improve a ton with a month in Tenerife.

We will be looking forward to reading your posts!!!
Marina.

[Edith]

Have a wonderful journey Edith!!!
Your Spanish is going to improve a ton with a month in Tenerife.

We will be looking forward to reading your posts!!!
Marina.


Thank you Marina! :)

[Brian]

Have fun, learn a lot!