Several studies show that when learning a language, it is important to get in touch with the language frequently. This means that learners need to be able to hear the language of native people on a regular basis, and while TV shows, films, radio stations and music do offer the opportunity, this is not always enough.
If you learn Spanish, you will get the best results if you really immerse yourself in the language. For this reason, many people choose to study Spanish in Spain. This will force you out of your comfort zone, encourage you to speak the language, and help you understand how the language is authentically spoken.
Here you can take a closer look at five Spanish cities that are best suited for a visit to learn the language.
1. Barcelona
In terms of population, Barcelona is the second largest city in the country, making it an excellent choice for many people who are thinking about where to learn Spanish. Spanish class Barcelona can be a great mixed language experience, and of course you can also count on wonderful catalan architectonic culture as a bonus.
Are you wondering if people will not speak Spanish? In fact, roughly half of the city speaks Catalan. This is not a Spanish dialect but a very special language that comes from Latin. Nevertheless, a total of 98 percent of the population speak Spanish, even if it is not the first language for everyone, and there are also Spanish TV and radio stations and street signs in Barcelona.
Despite the potential problems with the two different languages spoken here, students from all over the world travel to Barcelona to study Spanish at one of the many schools. In addition, the combination of the unique culture of the city, the multitude of things to do and the pleasant weather have their own charm.
2. Salamanca
The city of Salamanca is located in the west of Spain and is an extremely popular choice for those looking for real immersion in the language for a variety of reasons. For one thing: the city’s inhabitants speak very clearly and clearly, and the Castilian accent is one of the easiest to understand in the whole country.
Secondly, Salamanca is one of the most important university cities in Spain and attracts thousands of international students every year. This means that Salamanca is a young and safe city compared to other parts of the country, where language students can find like-minded people with the same goals.
In fact, there is a disproportionate number of Spanish language schools in the city, 16 percent of the total market for teaching Spanish takes place here. In addition, the cost of living is lower than in many larger Spanish cities and the summers are hot, but there is less to do here than in places like Madrid or Barcelona.
3. Granada
If you want to travel in Spain and want to learn in a more demanding environment, Granada is a popular choice. Granada is one of the most important cities in the Spanish region of Andalusia and that is why most people speak Andalusian Spanish there, a dialect that is noticeably different from Castilian Spanish.
Perhaps the most striking feature of Andalusian Spanish is the omission of the letter ‘s’ in many words, and various other words are also shortened. In addition, people speak with a strong accent that can be difficult to understand, even if you speak the language quite well.
Due to the high level of emigrants who moved from Spanish colonies in Central and South America to Andalusia, the Spanish spoken in Granada is similar to the dialects in these parts of the world. The city may not be ideal for beginners, but it is a great choice for those who want to understand all Spanish speakers.
4. Santiago de Compostela
The capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, is a unique destination for those who want to travel to Spain to learn Spanish. Many who have done so would say that excellent results have been achieved.
Nevertheless, this is also a challenge, because only 15 percent of the population speaks only Spanish. In fact, the region has its own language, Galician, which is the only language spoken by only 21 percent of the population. Fortunately, the majority speak both languages and it is absolutely not uncommon to hear Spanish on the streets. You can also hear Spanish on TV, on the radio and so on.
Once you have processed the fact that two languages are spoken here, Santiago de Compostela is actually a very useful place to learn Spanish, because the inhabitants speak the language with a fairly strong accent. This can be difficult at first, but once you understand the people of Santiago you will understand most of the Spanish speakers.
5. Madrid
As the capital of Spain and one of the largest cities in the European Union, Madrid is a very popular option for people who want to move to Spain. The vast majority of the city’s 3.2 million people speak Castilian Spanish and the city has an abundance of different schools for students who want to learn Spanish.
Much like in Salamanca, one of the plus points of learning Spanish in Madrid is the purity of the accent, which makes it so easy to understand. But there is a remarkable peculiarity: The residents of Madrid pronounce a ‘d’ at the end of a word like the English ‘th’.
The city is used to a relatively high number of immigrants, which makes it easy to find other international students. What In terms of lifestyle, Madrid is a hectic city where you can experience a lot and which has a lot of tourist destinations to offer. July is the hottest month of the year with temperatures averaging 32 to 33 degrees a day.
No matter where you end up traveling, your Spanish language learning can be supported by taking classes in an institute with natives. Now let’s go adventure!