LANGUAGE LEARNING:
Spanish in Madrid
 Stephanie
Bon, Language Travel Advisor for Cactus Language, profiles
her course and stay in Madrid, Spain.
A few years ago, I decided that it was time for me to seriously
improve my Spanish, as my rusty school knowledge never really
allowed me to feel confident enough to interact in real-life
situations. I am a true believer that there is no better way
to learn the Spanish language than just go and immerse yourself
in the life and culture of Spain.
Madrid was my destination of choice, as some friends of mine
were nice enough to welcome me into their spare bedroom for
2 months in spring, enough time for me to really feel what
Spain is all about.
I wasn’t disappointed! Wherever you go in Spain (I
have since spent some time on the south coast), you meet warm,
friendly people, who seem to take life that little bit easier…
and Madrid is no exception. What I liked most about it is
the fact that even though you find yourself in a major European
capital, it still feels relaxed. Of course, Spanish business
people run to work and the underground gets crowded, but it
doesn’t matter because you’re in Spain, and in
Spain there is a certain quality of life that you can not
find anywhere else this side of the Atlantic.
Is it the weather? The gorgeous food? The beauty of the surroundings?
The abundance of activities you can choose from? I say all
of the above! Madrid is a beautiful clean city, where it is
worth just staying above the ground and look around while
you walk. And when you feel like resting, head for El Parque
del Retiro, a real oasis of greenery and calm in the middle
of the city, where many Spanish workers and students enjoy
a nap on the grass during lunchtime, when everything stops
for a few hours because it is just too hot to do anything!
I started feeling my confidence grow in Spanish really quickly,
with the help of my friends, TV, books (including the first
chapter of Harry Potter, but it is still a challenge in Spanish!),
and even strangers met during nights out. Spanish people are
well known for being outgoing and talkative and this is true,
they will naturally come to you and make you feel at ease.
Before I knew it, I could go anywhere and speak to pretty
much anybody on my own, without having to follow my friends
and feeling like they were my safety net in case I was completely
out my depth. I remember chatting away with some Spanish students
in a bar, thinking to myself that I had really come a long
way! There is nothing like the sense of achievement you get
from being able to speak a new language, this really opens
the door to many adventures, discoveries and encounters!
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