Over the next few weeks we are putting together recommendations for people wishing to learn Spanish. Why? This is the most important thing to do if you want to give your relocation to Spain the best chance of success. We are currently researching the best recommendations for books, on line courses and actual classes here in Spain. We will also include the quirky ideas to learn Spanish that people who live here used to get going.

For example living with a Spanish family for a week just to get you going. Nothing like the pressure of knowing that your hosts speak NO English to get you studying before your trip. Maybe watching your favourite film on DVD in Spanish with English sub- titles twice and then the third time with no sub titles. You will be amazed how much sticks when you have a visual prompt.

We are currently checking some e-courses which have been recommended. The best seems to be a course designed by Marcus Santamaria called Synergy  Spanish. He lives in Mexico and is available to communicate with if you have problems but his course is designed to get you up and TALKING quickly.  His belief is that communication is your main goal. The grammar will follow. At the current exchange rate it is about 50 euros. I was so impressed I ordered for my whole family to use. For more information on his e course  Click Here!

Marcus Santamaria also does a shorter course called Short Cut to Spanish whereby he gets you recognising thousands of words which are very similar if not the same in English and Spanish. I tried to write these out once using my first Spanish dictionary....I never got passed the B's!! This is half the price of the other course but a real confidence booster when you see just how close the languages are. For more information Click Here!

Locally there are a range of schools which offer a variety of courses to suit everybody´s needs. For example in Nerja ( strictly Costa del Sol but only 10 minutes by car) has a brilliant school which offers lots of different options to learn Spanish including intensive courses, but makes them fun.

The  Escuela de Idiomas Nerja  start with 1 hours technical with two hours conversation, two hours homework and then social activities in Spanish. The main emphasis was learning through fun. My mother is retired and did the intensive course and loved it.

Check their website out here www.idnerja.es

Other schools with a more formal format here in Almunecar are the Language Tree and Logos. They have courses in groups, one to one, grammar, conversation and audio through music etc.

The one thing that gets repeated time and time again is that you must immerse yourself in the language and try all types of learning styles to achieve success. When you can speak Spanish you enjoy the whole experience of living in Spain so much more.

Buenas suerte.