Travel to Spain, Central and Latin America

Part 1: Gerona Gathering popularity because of the filming location for Game of Thrones (and home to El Celler De Can Roca voted ‘The best restaurant in the world’), we visited the stunning cathedral, walked along the bridges with the colourful houses, couldn’t get enough of the local eateries, stumbled upon the Festival of Flowers, climbed up the Torre to

Read more

Choosing to study abroad can be a daunting yet exciting prospect for many students. In this article, we look into more detail about the benefits of learning a new language whilst spending time in the country where the language is being spoken. The programmes are varied so that they’re flexible and tailored to your learning requirements. By selecting a study

Read more

In this infographic, we provide facts and statistics on our students who have holiday homes abroad, the most popular areas to purchase and the main reasons why they want to learn Spanish with us. We also share the most challenging aspects of learning Spanish for these students, such as the level they started studying Spanish at, to getting used to

Read more

With it’s all-year-round comfortable climate, traditional buildings and vibrant culture, Barcelona is seen to most as the perfect city break. In 2012, Barcelona reached record numbers with 27 million visitors. Two years later, in 2016, the city recorded 34 million visitors – 25% up in four years! In conclusion, that sounds like a healthy economy. However in recent years Barcelona has

Read more

This month’s blogs come from Málaga in Andalusia, where we’re catching up with different students we used to teach who are now happily settled in their new homes and communities. Next up is Tim and his son Jack, who moved out here along with mum Julie, all from Cardiff. We used to teach them 10 years ago (10 years!) and

Read more

This month’s blogs come from Málaga in Andalusia, where we’re catching up with different students we used to teach who are now happily settled in their new homes and communities. First up is Grantley and his son Louie, who used to learn Spanish in our Cardiff centre 4 years ago. I meet them for tapas and a drink in San

Read more

There is a lot to love about Spain. There is the year round sunshine, the stunning coastal areas with glorious beaches and the beautiful cities with unmistakable art and architecture. It is little wonder that more and more people are looking for a change of life by moving to Spain, which does require them to find work that suits them.

Read more

Many people choose to move to Spain to take advantage of the laid-back lifestyle, the great weather and the culture but has the Brexit vote resulted in a rise in concerns for individuals who were thinking about moving to Spain? Following the Brexit vote, those who were thinking of moving to Spain have a concern about how much time they

Read more

There is no denying that world is a lot smaller than it used to be. This is because communication is easier and faster but also because businesses are spreading their wings and working in other countries throughout the world. Whether you are an international banker or a production supervisor, Spanish in the workplace is in demand more than ever before.

Read more

Buying a property in Spain Moving to Spain is a big ordeal – it can be both exciting and stressful, much like in your own country, but with a different language, currency and legal system. It’s clear that you should be well informed before and during your move to make the process as pleasant as possible. So, take a look

Read more

With approximately 1.3 million British expats living in Europe, it is no wonder so many of our students here at The Spanish Academy have properties in Spain and other countries in Europe. They are probably currently making the most of them in the wonderful heat of the summer! However, with the results of the Brexit vote, students are probably wondering

Read more

Your son or daughter’s Spanish will hopefully be at its best in May, but many parents worry about how they may forget their language skills over the long holiday period. Even if your son or daughter decides not to continue with Spanish at A-level, having a language is a big plus for future job opportunities. Therefore, I am going to

Read more

Now that the holidays are well under way you may be thinking about going to a warm and sunny place during the summer period. Spain is an excellent location for the summer months due to its warm climate, glorious beaches, exquisite food and marvellous culture. Spain can be quite inexpensive and there are numerous activities that can be carried out, such

Read more

This blog post comes to our readers from the beautiful island of Mallorca. I first visited Mallorca over 15 years ago, taking part in the typical tourist attractions that the island has to offer, from the Sóller railway ride, to visiting the various marinas and ports for evening dinners and sunsets to a day out in Palma, ambling through the

Read more

As we get comfortably nestled into Spring here in the UK, I’d like to take this time to introduce to you Medellín in Colombia, which is known as ‘la ciudad de la eterna primavera”. For many of us, Spring is one of our favourite seasons, full of life, colour, sun and greenery. Whereas Spring as we know it only lasts

Read more

      Recently, I’ve come to realise how beneficial regular trips to a Spanish speaking country can be for one’s language skills, particularly when complimented by tailored Spanish tuition. Most of us have heard that living abroad for an extended period of time is highly advantageous for improving your ability to speak the language, and you’re likely to come home

Read more

In English, we have many different accents across many different English-speaking countries: Deep-south, New York, Canadian, Scottish, Northern Irish, Southern Irish, Welsh, East London, Queen’s English, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Dorset…..just to mention a few. Now that you’ve started your Spanish classes, have you ever wondered if this is the case for all languages? Does Spanish have distinct accents in different

Read more

Colombia is a rich and beautiful country that cannot be missed from your itinerary if you are heading that way. You’ll be in for a treat as you crisp up on the beautiful beaches, salsa away until dawn and meet some of the happiest and friendliest people on earth. Take a look at my list of places in Colombia that

Read more

As part of the UK education system, it is common for schools to teach Spanish from Spain, due to the proximity to the UK. However, many students who pursue their studies in Spanish go on to travel to South or Central America on their gap year, or work in companies that have links with Latin America. Thus, it is important

Read more

Pronunciation is something that everybody wants to improve when learning a language. While having a perfect and native-sounding accent is not at all essential in order to communicate fluently in a language, having clear and accurate pronunciation can definitely help us to be understood and can also give us the confidence we need to progress in a language. Here I

Read more

Peru is famous around the world for its exquisite national delicacies. If you are planning a trip to Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos, Lago Titicaca or any other of Peru’s numerous gems, make sure you try as many of the following platos típicos as possible! Ceviche Probably the most renowned Peruvian dish, this will be the first to tick off your

Read more

If you have a holiday planned to Spain or Latin America, you’re probably going to need the language basics to get yourself about. Therefore, at Cardiff Spanish Academy we have put together a specialised holiday Spanish course outline so that you can impress the locals with your language skills and so you don’t have to embarrass yourself by asking them

Read more

If you have every travelled to Argentina, or watched an Argentinian film, you will have heard the word vos being used quite a bit, or at least in its conjugated form. Voseo refers to the use of vos. Vos is a subject pronoun, which has a similar meaning to the more commonly taught form tú. It is used extensively in

Read more

We are seeing more and more about the mysterious Día de los Muertos every year around Halloween, but many people are still “in the dark” about what it is for and what is represents. I’m here to settle a few of those uncertainties! When, where and who? Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a two-day festival

Read more

If you are planning on venturing to Barcelona, I’m sure that one of the first things on your itinerary will be a visit Gaudí’s numerous architectural wonders. Antoni Gaudí was born in Reus in 1852 and graduated with a degree in architecture in 1878. On the contrary to being influenced by the other contemporary architectural styles of the time, his

Read more

If someone says the word “Andalucía” – what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Most likely it is something under the lines of colourful gypsy dresses, beautifully hand painted fans, castanets, stomping of the feet, elderly couples dancing away their years of Andalucían experience and culture in the striking plazas. Many would say that Flamenco is more

Read more

Latin America is stuffed to the brim with hand made crafts – whether it be painted, woven, sewn or baked, you’ll find whatever floats your boat. However, between the cheap and tacky tourist stalls, the re sale tiendas where everything has just arrived on the latest ship from China, and the overpriced boutiques, sometimes it’s hard to know what is

Read more

Cuba is a fantastic mix people and cultures from Spanish and African origins, which is portrayed all over Cuba’s towns of Matanzas, La Habana and Santiago de Cuba, among others, with their colourful European style architecture and sizzling Afro-style music and flavour. It’s definitely worth a visit! Here I’m going to highlight one of Cuba’s many fascinating religions, known as

Read more

It appears that Cuba is changing significantly both socially and economically, in order to provide a more modern lifestyle for its citizens and increased growth and opportunities in the economy. This is partly due to the revised relationship between President Obama and government officials in Cuba as well as the fact that Cuba is now vastly widening its public use

Read more

So you’ve tasted all there is to taste, seen all there is to see and spoken all the Argentinian Spanish you can in Buenos Aires – now its time to explore the rest of this vast and plentiful country. Take a glance at my tips on where not to miss outside of the great Capital Federal de Buenos Aires. Mendoza

Read more

A topic that is widely discussed when talking about the cultural differences between Latin Americans and Europeans is the concept of time. When I say time, I mean a number of factors. Firstly, the notion of preciseness; for instance, how late is it acceptable to turn up to a meeting with a friend or at work? The second factor is

Read more

Mastering Argentinian Spanish is certainly an art! Not only do they have their very own expressions, colloquialisms and an accent as thick as glue, but they also conjugate verbs in a way in which you were definitely not taught at school. If you’re considering a trip to Argentina, getting the hang of the local jargon is essential for your survival!

Read more

To follow on from my discussion on languages and translation from last week with my Colombian and British family, this week I’d like to highlight some interesting cultural differences that I’ve noticed throughout my Colombian family’s stay here in England. Keep reading to have a glance at the differences that I found most striking. Expressing emotions Firstly, I’ve noticed that

Read more

To continue on from last week’s blog, which discussed the food and beverages of Buenos Aires, now we’re talking places to visit. Buenos Aires is one of the most visited cities in South America, and the reason why can’t just be down to its sizzling steaks. Buenos Aires is a fantastic mestizo of South America and Italy in many of

Read more

This weekend my Colombian in-laws met my British parents, brothers and sisters for the first time – an unforgettable experience for many reasons but particularly from a linguistic point of view. I realised (not for the first time) how crucial knowing a foreign language can be in order to transmit beautiful and meaningful messages, thoughts and feelings. Without this skill,

Read more

Ché, if you’re planning a trip to South America, make sure Buenos Aires is high up on your list of places to visit.  With an energetic scene of steak, wine and tango, an intriguing Italian inspired culture and a Spanish that will throw you, Buenos Aires cannot be missed. Keep reading for the ins and outs on the Argentinean food

Read more

With around 200,000 Latin Americans estimated to be living in London, it’s no big surprise that the city has its fair share of Latino culture. For us Spanish speakers, there’s no better place to impress the natives with our brand spanking new expressions than at London’s very best Latino dance classes, film festivals, concerts, performances and conferences, just to name

Read more

Planning on hiking your way up Machu Picchu in the historical town of Cuzco, Peru? Or perhaps you’d rather experience a glorious rainbow over the Iguazú Falls in Argentina whilst feasting on a sizzling steak and “papas fritas” and savouring a delicious glass of local Malbec? Whatever your plans may be for your trip to Latin America, they will most

Read more

Recently, several of our students have visited Spain for short trips and holidays, to practise their Spanish and take in the varied culture that Spain has to offer. The difference being, that this time our students were lucky enough to meet the parents of our tutors Elena and María! It’s great to see our students not only getting on well with

Read more

Have you ever thought about getting yourself involved in a Spanish exchange or homestay? Well if you haven’t, maybe it’s time! At London Spanish Academy we have quite a few enquiries from students who are thinking about this as a credible alternative to staying in a hotel or renting accommodation. Let’s admit it – it’s one of those things that

Read more

This month I’m writing to you from Central America! I’m here on a 6 week sabbatical, taking in the sights and wonders of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Cuba. The trip so far has been like nothing I’ve experienced before: imposing Mayan ruins, dense jungles steeped in wildlife, cascading waterfalls, river canyons, regional delicacies, artisan wares sold in bustling hilltop markets,

Read more