Calle Lanzarote

Archive for the ‘Learning Spanish’ Category

Notes in Spanish Gold – Season Two

Monday, November 22nd, 2010

Notes in Spanish Gold 2We’ve said before, that there are advantages to being able to speak Spanish when you visit Lanzarote. Whether you want to be able to bargain better at Teguise market, or just make sure that there are no hidden extras on your restaurant bill, some things just work better if you can use the local language.

One of the online courses that we recommend is Notes in Spanish, which offers downloadable audio, accompanied by worksheets containing transcripts, vocabulary lists, explanations of grammar and tasks for you to complete.

This week sees the start of the second season on Notes in Spanish Gold. For just €17* per month you receive a weekly audio file with the relevant worksheet on topics that are often connected to current issues in Spain.

So if you’re past the stage of asking your way to the Playa, and would like to learn some more advanced – even colloquial – Spanish, then take a look at Notes in Spanish Gold.

* sales within the EU are liable to 18% VAT; price subject to change



Spanish on Twitter

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

Yesterday I wrote about how I was using Twitter to follow events on Lanzarote.  This morning I had in interesting Tweet for learners of Spanish on my screen.

Ben Curtis twittered that he was offering 47% of ANYTHING in the Notes in Spanish store.

Ben, along with his wife Marina Diez, produce podcasts for different levels of Spanish learners.  The download packs in the store accompany the podcasts with transcripts, vocabulary lists and exercises.  Vital resources for anyone wanting to improve their Spanish for life or just a holiday on Lanzarote.

But you’ll need to hurry to take advantage of the offer, as it only lasts until midnight tonight (EST)!  And to receive that discount, you’ll need the promotion code that you can find…. on Twitter!



Which language to speak

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Visiting Lanzarote is an interesting situation for me linguistically, as I speak all three of the main languages that you hear on the island: English, German and Spanish.

Which language do you speak as a tourist? My rule of thumb is to use Spanish as much as possible – in supermarkets, shops and restaurants. Of course the people serving could speak to me in my mother tongue, but I find it better that way.

It can often be to my advantage as well. Some locals are more welcoming if you make an effort to speak their language. At Teguise market you can often get a better bargain for making the effort and an even better one if you are fluent in Spanish. In restaurants the waiter’s English may only extend to taking your order and presenting you with the bill – it may not extend to sorting out complaints.

Obviously if I’m talking to an English or German national, then I will talk to them in their language. But it gets very interesting when sitting in a restaurant where I talk in Spanish to the waiter, English to my parents and German to my wife! It can confuse the staff as well! 🙂

But it can also be very funny, as being able to read all three versions of the menu I often find translations that have gone wrong.

I just haven’t got round to learning Swedish yet…



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