Spain is one of the most beautiful and temperate countries in Europe. Equally
famous for vibrant cultural life as for a laid-back ethos, it has been a massive
draw for tourists and independent travellers alike for half a century. Unlike
the French government and their struggles to promote the French language, the
Spanish
government has no difficulty in persuading people from around the world
to come and study
Spanish in Spain.
There are a number of great places to learn
Spanish in Spain, from the large cities like Madrid and Barcelona (where
Spanish classes are available alongside Catalan classes), to smaller, inland
towns where learners are given a real taste of Spain. One great motivation for
learning Spanish is that more than half a billion people around the world speak
the language, including the majority of Latin and Central America. It is the
unofficial second language of the United States, due to the large amount of
immigration - official or otherwise - from Central America (in particular Mexico).
Courses
to learn Spanish in Spain are available in some fantastic places, including:
Madrid
Madrid is famous for fantastic
nightlife and great shopping. Located in the centre of Spain, Madrid is the
third most populous city in the European Union, but didn't become the capital
of Spain until the 16th Century when Philip
II moved his court to the city. Nowadays, Madrid is home to one of the world's
greatest football teams (Real Madrid) and the Prado
Museum.
Seville
For anyone considering learning
Spanish Seville is a great city to visit at any time of year. Located in
Southern Spain, Seville is home to the Semana Santa festival and some of the
finest weather in Europe. It should be noted that the months of July and August
are seen as 'too hot' by many locals, who will not go out in the midday heat
and often leave Seville for cooler climes. Studying
Spanish in Seville is great all year round, but particularly popular in
the spring and autumn months, when the climate is at its best.
Malaga
For some people, taking a Spanish
course in Spain means heading to the Costa Del Sol. The city of Malaga is
home to more than half a million people, while the entire Malaga
urban area is home to more than a million (according to 2005 estimates). On
great reason to learn Spanish in Malaga is the vast array of cheap flights available
from the UK to the Andalucian city.
