Inhispania: Out of hours

Enjoying your classes but looking for something extra? Wondering how you can put your extensive knowledge of Spanish grammar into practice? Then look no further, you have come to the right place.

Everyone knows it’s impossible to learn a language overnight, unless of course you’re Stephen Fry and have the capacity to learn a dictionary and a grammar book off by heart in a matter of days (look it up, it’s true). If you’re not Stephen Fry, do not despair. It’s all about practise, practise, practise. And practise can be fun, especially if you’re meeting new people, seeing new sights and experiencing a new culture at the same time.

The activites we offer here at Inhispania are a great way to practise your Spanish amongst friends. We all generally have the same basic-ish level of Spanish so can all muddle through together without feeling intimidated, and for those who have a higher level, it’s great to feel like a pro. However, whilst it’s nice to practise alongside others who are also learning, it can be really helpful to chat with a native speaker. This is generally known as “intercambio” and there are loads of ways to find a partner. You will probably find that lots of people are offering their Spanish in exchange for English, but I’ve also seen adverts for German, Italian and French speakers, so everyone should be able to find someone; you may just have to look a little harder! The best (and easiest) way to find an intercambio partner is to look on the Madrid Erasmus Facebook pages. Equally accessible are the notice boards we have here at the school, which quite often include notices from people looking to practise another language.

MadridBabel is also something you should definitely get involved in. Every Wednesday and Sunday they offer an “international evening” at a local café, where you can go to practice a bit of Spanish and meet loads of people who are in the same position as you. It is designed to encompass all nationalities, so whether you’re hoping to find a piece of home and chat away in your mother tongue or to crack on with your Spanish, this is the perfect place to go. They also offer lots of other activities, so check out their website: http://madridbabel.weebly.com/index.html.

Other simple things can also be a great help when trying to master a new language. If you have a spare hour or so here and there whack on the TV and listen away. As much as it may sound like a cop out, using subtitles can be really helpful and also mean you’re not sat there with no idea as to what’s going on. This will boost your confidence and therefore help your overall learning process!

photo via: http://www.cheapinmadrid.com/madrid-babel-intercambio/