A week immersed in Spain
Discussion
I've been doing Spanish on DuoLingo for 4 months. Taking it seriously.
My writing and grammar isn't bad so far and I can text friends who are fluent.
My spoken isn't good so I have a week off the week after next so I thought fly to Spain and just be surrounded by Spanish.
So a small town or city, cheap to get to, little hotel?
Any ideas people. Not worried about beach or pool, just a genuine non touristy place that'll force me to speak the language.
Cheers.
My writing and grammar isn't bad so far and I can text friends who are fluent.
My spoken isn't good so I have a week off the week after next so I thought fly to Spain and just be surrounded by Spanish.
So a small town or city, cheap to get to, little hotel?
Any ideas people. Not worried about beach or pool, just a genuine non touristy place that'll force me to speak the language.
Cheers.
If you get away from the coastal crust you'll find people who don't speak a lot of English.
Having said that, I love the northern coast- Galicia, Cantabria, Picos de Europa etc.
One option would be just to fly to a city, then get on a train for a smaller town or two. I've never had a problem finding cheap, clean accommodation.
I was in Cadiz a couple of years ago and really liked it there - I have also spent quite a lot of time inland from Alicante - around Bocairent/Ontinyent.
Leon is about a 3hr train ride north of Madrid - last time I was there (A mate lived there - lots of neat little bars and tapas is free) we headed off to Burgos, Haro in Rioja and a couple of other spots. It's a good sized town but I think just about anywhere you go, if you attempt Spanish, people will appreciate it. Good luck making your own adventure.
Having said that, I love the northern coast- Galicia, Cantabria, Picos de Europa etc.
One option would be just to fly to a city, then get on a train for a smaller town or two. I've never had a problem finding cheap, clean accommodation.
I was in Cadiz a couple of years ago and really liked it there - I have also spent quite a lot of time inland from Alicante - around Bocairent/Ontinyent.
Leon is about a 3hr train ride north of Madrid - last time I was there (A mate lived there - lots of neat little bars and tapas is free) we headed off to Burgos, Haro in Rioja and a couple of other spots. It's a good sized town but I think just about anywhere you go, if you attempt Spanish, people will appreciate it. Good luck making your own adventure.
There are loads of towns and cities you could choose. My advice though would be to pick somewhere in Castile. Some of the regions have pretty impenetrable accents. We have a place in Andalucia, and when the locals get to talking about football in the bars, it’s hard to follow.
Ditto Aragon. My MIL is aragoness, and I don’t think I ever got more than about 20% of what she ever said to me.
The other thing you can do from here is to watch Spanish TV and listen to Spanish radio via the internet. Talk radio stations are useful - apart from the state feeds - Radio Nacional de Espana, there are decent private stations with lots of talk shows like Cadena Ser and Onda Cero. Just pick the Madrid feeds, as the regional feeds will give you a problem with accents.
Ditto Aragon. My MIL is aragoness, and I don’t think I ever got more than about 20% of what she ever said to me.
The other thing you can do from here is to watch Spanish TV and listen to Spanish radio via the internet. Talk radio stations are useful - apart from the state feeds - Radio Nacional de Espana, there are decent private stations with lots of talk shows like Cadena Ser and Onda Cero. Just pick the Madrid feeds, as the regional feeds will give you a problem with accents.
If you really want to challenge your Spanish get down to South America. Not only is English rarely spoken, a lot of cultures tend to speak very fast.
Also parts of Spain don't speak Spanish (I.E. Catalonia), or at least prefer not to.
If you're looking for a cheap way to practice your Spanish with a live person. Try an online tutor via something like Italki or Preply.
Also parts of Spain don't speak Spanish (I.E. Catalonia), or at least prefer not to.
If you're looking for a cheap way to practice your Spanish with a live person. Try an online tutor via something like Italki or Preply.
I'd second Galicia.
The area north of Sanxenxo along the coast is wild, rugged and beautiful. Very few Brits but some French and Spanish tourists. I went there about 5 years back and loved it. Some quaint little towns, quiet coast. Good food and wine. What's not to like?
I got a cheap flight to Vigo. Are cheap flights a thing this year?
The area north of Sanxenxo along the coast is wild, rugged and beautiful. Very few Brits but some French and Spanish tourists. I went there about 5 years back and loved it. Some quaint little towns, quiet coast. Good food and wine. What's not to like?
I got a cheap flight to Vigo. Are cheap flights a thing this year?
Riff Raff said:
There are loads of towns and cities you could choose. My advice though would be to pick somewhere in Castile. Some of the regions have pretty impenetrable accents. We have a place in Andalucia, and when the locals get to talking about football in the bars, it’s hard to follow.
Ditto Aragon. My MIL is aragoness, and I don’t think I ever got more than about 20% of what she ever said to me.
The other thing you can do from here is to watch Spanish TV and listen to Spanish radio via the internet. Talk radio stations are useful - apart from the state feeds - Radio Nacional de Espana, there are decent private stations with lots of talk shows like Cadena Ser and Onda Cero. Just pick the Madrid feeds, as the regional feeds will give you a problem with accents.
Gracias AmigoDitto Aragon. My MIL is aragoness, and I don’t think I ever got more than about 20% of what she ever said to me.
The other thing you can do from here is to watch Spanish TV and listen to Spanish radio via the internet. Talk radio stations are useful - apart from the state feeds - Radio Nacional de Espana, there are decent private stations with lots of talk shows like Cadena Ser and Onda Cero. Just pick the Madrid feeds, as the regional feeds will give you a problem with accents.
I have been watching Casa de Papel and listening to Radio Nacional as well as others.
Good shout, cheers.
My parents have a little house in Jalon, nearest resort is Calpe and nearest airports are Alicante or Valencia. It’s a little sleepy village in a beautiful valley. There is a mix of Spanish people and brits with holiday homes. Plenty of Spanish shops and bars who only speak Spanish but also some Brit places that speak both. May help if you get properly stuck! Lovely place though and some great driving roads around there too. I did a month over there after the 1st lockdown and when I got properly stuck Google Translate did the business. Very friendly people.
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