Where you will have to use your spanish..

que · 5th January 2007, 01:23 PM

Ok, so based on Bens 5 ideas for improving our Spanish:

Where, in Spain, is a good place to visit where you are most likely going to need your Spanish, i.e, where you won't be saved all the time by peoples knowledge of English.

So if anyone can please tell of good places to visit, im sure it would be greatly welcomed!

Ben · 5th January 2007, 02:42 PM

Great, I was just writing a post on this in the blog too! Who can add to the list?

Jules · 5th January 2007, 07:42 PM

When we visited Granada last year, our accommodation was in the Zaidin barrio which is about 30 minutes walk or a 7 minute bus ride from the centre. From the instant you got on the bus in the centre it was total immersion in Spain. In the bars & restaurants if you wanted to be understood, then it was Spanish only!!.

que · 5th January 2007, 09:48 PM

Excellent, i'll chalk that one up!

Next time i visit Spain i must visit other places than the major cities, i should also not go with my Spanish friends as you can get lazy and let them do the talking!

Jerezano · 6th January 2007, 12:18 AM

I've never heard much English spoken in Cadiz or in my home town, Jerez. It's still rare enough to where it'll make my head turn if I'm walking down the street and I hear someone speaking English, or any other language besides Spanish.

Also, as an educator for many years in this area, I can say that the level of English speaking is quite low accompanied by a very high level of patience for people who don't speak Spanish well. This is always the best!

gtappend · 6th January 2007, 12:44 AM

On Lanzarote - Teguise market on a Sunday morning.

http://www.teguise.com/mercadillo-es.html

Not in Spain but...

1. when I flew from Miami to La Paz wearing my Scout Uniform I was spoken to in very fast spanish by another passenger wanting to know where the nearest Scout Group was in their part of La Paz! She didn't speak any English so I was forced to use my Spanish.

2. we often have festivals here (Germany) where South American (mainly Bolivia and Peru) play pan-pipe music and want to sell their CDs etc. They are usually more than pleased if you try out your spanish with them and will answer in it as well, as their English (or German) is usually limited by the fact that they have an interpreter with them for hotels etc.

richardksa · 6th January 2007, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by que

Excellent, i'll chalk that one up!

Next time i visit Spain i must visit other places than the major cities, i should also not go with my Spanish friends as you can get lazy and let them do the talking!

The answer: train your friends. All my Spanish friends speak excellent English, but know that I am trying to learn Spanish. As I met most of them at a school to improve their English, where I had to speak normal paced English at them for a week, they like to get their revenge by turning the tables. They are good people and very patient with me, and an hour of slow Spanish with me included in the conversation really helps. As does the fact that we will surely be sitting in a bar and alcohol really does remove that "Translating in your head" speed bump.

theo · 6th January 2007, 07:07 AM

Go on your own in the shops in a not to big town and try to buy the latest popular novel or something else. Does wonders for your Spanish

ruthcasares · 9th January 2007, 07:57 AM

Just stay away form the costas and you will find most people don't speak English, even in the larger tourist towns such as Granada, Madrid, Sevilla etc. it is not common.

Culebronchris · 9th January 2007, 11:16 PM

Extremadura. Not a lot of people there so not many English speakers. And it's a cracking part of the country too. After three weeks by myself in Extramadura I was overjoyed to find myself in Cadiz where I could have conversations in English.

You could also go on holiday to any local Government Office where nobody speaks any sort of intelligible language of any sort.

Edith · 10th January 2007, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardksa

As I met most of them at a school to improve their English, where I had to speak normal paced English at them for a week, they like to get their revenge by turning the tables.

And did you enjoy the experience?

Another suggestion: talk to ordinary Spanish people wherever you go. I always talk to the shopkeeper when I visit a souvenir shop and very often, it works for me!

5th January 2007, 01:23 PM	#1
que Super Forero Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somewhere in Málaga Posts: 153	Where you will have to use your spanish.. Ok, so based on Bens 5 ideas for improving our Spanish: Where, in Spain, is a good place to visit where you are most likely going to need your Spanish, i.e, where you won't be saved all the time by peoples knowledge of English. So if anyone can please tell of good places to visit, im sure it would be greatly welcomed!

5th January 2007, 02:42 PM	#2
Ben Hero Forero Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,425	Great, I was just writing a post on this in the blog too! Who can add to the list? __________________ Notes in Spanish: Get The Best Free Spanish-Learning Conversations On The Net!

9th January 2007, 07:57 AM	#9
ruthcasares Novato Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Casares, Malaga, Spain Posts: 3	Just stay away form the costas and you will find most people don't speak English, even in the larger tourist towns such as Granada, Madrid, Sevilla etc. it is not common. Last edited by Ben; 9th January 2007 at 08:41 AM. Reason: Please put your URL in your signature instead. Thanks

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5th January 2007, 07:42 PM	#3
Jules Forerito sonriente Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Sunny North Posts: 388	When we visited Granada last year, our accommodation was in the Zaidin barrio which is about 30 minutes walk or a 7 minute bus ride from the centre. From the instant you got on the bus in the centre it was total immersion in Spain. In the bars & restaurants if you wanted to be understood, then it was Spanish only!!.

5th January 2007, 09:48 PM	#4
que Super Forero Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somewhere in Málaga Posts: 153	Excellent, i'll chalk that one up! Next time i visit Spain i must visit other places than the major cities, i should also not go with my Spanish friends as you can get lazy and let them do the talking!

6th January 2007, 12:18 AM	#5
Jerezano Forero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fez, Morocco Posts: 31	I've never heard much English spoken in Cadiz or in my home town, Jerez. It's still rare enough to where it'll make my head turn if I'm walking down the street and I hear someone speaking English, or any other language besides Spanish. Also, as an educator for many years in this area, I can say that the level of English speaking is quite low accompanied by a very high level of patience for people who don't speak Spanish well. This is always the best!

6th January 2007, 12:44 AM	#6
gtappend Mega Forero Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oberursel, Germany Posts: 262	On Lanzarote - Teguise market on a Sunday morning. http://www.teguise.com/mercadillo-es.html Not in Spain but... 1. when I flew from Miami to La Paz wearing my Scout Uniform I was spoken to in very fast spanish by another passenger wanting to know where the nearest Scout Group was in their part of La Paz! She didn't speak any English so I was forced to use my Spanish. 2. we often have festivals here (Germany) where South American (mainly Bolivia and Peru) play pan-pipe music and want to sell their CDs etc. They are usually more than pleased if you try out your spanish with them and will answer in it as well, as their English (or German) is usually limited by the fact that they have an interpreter with them for hotels etc.

6th January 2007, 07:07 AM	#8
theo Forero Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 25	Go on your own in the shops in a not to big town and try to buy the latest popular novel or something else. Does wonders for your Spanish

9th January 2007, 11:16 PM	#10
Culebronchris Peino canas Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cartagena, Murcia Posts: 296	Extremadura. Not a lot of people there so not many English speakers. And it's a cracking part of the country too. After three weeks by myself in Extramadura I was overjoyed to find myself in Cadiz where I could have conversations in English. You could also go on holiday to any local Government Office where nobody speaks any sort of intelligible language of any sort.