Learn Spanish / Spanish Bank Account

Back away from the coast today, but still in Cadiz. I checked out one more beach called the Playa de la Barrosa, which looked great. From there I went about 20 minutes inland to Medina Sidonia.

This is not a very large city and I didn’t see it on any of the ‘You gotta go here’ type pamphlets or websites I have seen. I’m not looking for the tourist stuffed gotta see it sights though. I really want a kick back vacation where I can rest, relax and get to know my surroundings. I think that is why I am trying to stay away from places where I know lots of people are going. (In fact that is why I am starting my cyber Spanish vacation in Andalucia to begin with. The Andalucian region is not well traveled by tourist at all, but I am discovering Andalucia offers some wonderful treats to visitors. I’m glad I am getting in on the secret.)

I was fascinated when I found this tiny dot on my map, Medina Sidonia, put it into a search engine and out came all this amazing information. Medina Sidonia is thought to be the oldest city in Europe to be used as a military defense sight. Am I tipping my hand as a history geek by saying that? There are also roman ruins near with a particularly lovely statue that can be viewed in the town hall. Medina Sidonia is very close to other places of interest, without being totally under foot. I like what I see so far.

In this ancient town are a number of Schools where you can learn Spanish. Why not see if you would like to learn Spanish before you visit. Try this introduction course today!

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab

Ok, after exploring

I also like the descriptive words I see used frequently in reference to the beaches in

I don’t mind other visitors, but I like to know I am not going to be sharing my beach towel (toalla) with them. I also like the idea of getting an all over tan without an all over check out!

If you have a basic spanish vocabulary then it will definately make that beach holiday more enjoyable. You will be able to ask at the beach bar for some beer (cerveza), some light nibbles (tapas), menu (el menu) or the daily menu (el menu del dias). You will be able to tell your friends that you managed to get sunburnt (bronceado/a).

Get that basic spanish grammer into your head today and enjoy your next holiday.

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab

Traveling to Spain, or Mexico and want to speak Spanish You can.

The flight is booked. The room looks like a slice of heaven. Only 5 pounds

to go until that itsy-bitsy swimming suit fits like a dream. Things are all

set, except for one minor hang-up that’s rattling around and creating a host

of disturbing thoughts. Finally the dream vacation to Spain is a reality and

the reality is you don’t speak Spanish. There is still time. Learning a

second language is always a valuable skill, but when the main goal is to use

converse while on vacation you need to learn a specific lingo and pay close

attention to certain skills.Why not start to learn Spanish today.

Help is a click away

First head to your computer and click away. Find a good site that offers

basic Spanish lessons. Try to find audio lessons if possible to train your

ears as well as build vocabulary and grammar skills. Many sites even offer

free Spanish lessons. Use the free trials. There is nothing to loose and

many words to gain.

Firmly founded in vocabulary

Learning a set of basic phrases will not be enough. It will do you no good

to simply memorize a set of basic questions unless the solicited response

happens to be on the list you memorized also. Learning proper grammar is

ideal, but not as important as building a large base of Spanish vocabulary.

Learn as many words as possible. Begin building vocabulary before leaving

for vacation by repeating the Spanish word for commons objects and daily

activities. If unable translate an English word into its Spanish counterpart,

look it up and use it repeatedly the following day. This simple exercise

will yield a vast vocabulary in a short time.

Pardon me, but do you have the time?

Travelers need to pay special attention to learning numbers and time. Numbers

have countless application in travel. The ability to solicit the time from a

stranger or ask a shop keeper an item’s cost is a not taken for granted when

in a foreign country. Number skills are used often when shopping,

calculating tips or riding the metro. Count money in Spanish to practice.

Place labels on the clock indicating Spanish terms for ‘half past the hour’, ‘

quarter ’till’ and so forth.

In addition to vocabulary it is also wise to study the basic layout of the

towns on the vacation itinerary. Is there a Roman ruin or cathedral? Does

the city center upon a town square. These places are more common in Spanish

cities than in American towns. Learning the Spanish terms for these landmarks

will make asking or following directions much simpler. Don’t forget to learn

basic directional terms like right, left, straight ahead and the compass

points.

Talk is cheap

Above all speak Spanish. Enlist traveling companions to learn. Speak

Spanish to each other. Learning a language is easier if you can speak it

regularly.

Relax, have fun and learn to speak Spanish. It can be done, and you can do

it. Enjoy your trip.

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab

Down the coast to Cadiz.  The Costa de la Luz stretches a long way.  I thought I’d better explore all of it.  Jerez is located in the province of Cadiz and I liked what it had to offer.  So why not check out the beaches in Cadiz too. This would be a great place to try out  what you have learned during your Spanish language lessons.

At first I was a bit concerned.  The beaches in Huelva didn’t mention much wind, but there is more wind on the beached in Cadiz. I was not deterred and read more and more.  I am really glad I did.  I do like to sunbathe, but I would get really tired of it after a day or two if there was not other activity to hold my interest.  Fortunately there is.

The wind at the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz is responsible for the European capitol of windsurfing being located here!  Along with that come great kite flying opportunities.  My kids will love that.  (OK, so I admit that like to fly a kite, too.)

In addition to sandy beaches I found rocky coastlines. I love to tide pool.  I could lose myself for hours poking about a tide land area with lots of life. There are several natural parks along the Costa de la Luz in Cadiz which protect the coast and the wild life.  I like that.  Another treasure nugget I found not common when looking for good beaches are the Roman ruins in hamlet of Bolonia.  I think I found a winner. So you learn Spanish is to enhance your holiday or break in Spain or any other Spanish speaking country.

Why not learn Spanish that will help you in your day to day interaction with the local people. Visit here to get an overview of what you can hope to achieve.

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab  

Genetically Spanish is a member of the Indo-European group of languages which also includes English. These languages are spoken by 50% of the population of the world. Other Indo-European languages include the traditional language of Iran, Afghanistan, Germany, Sweden, and Russia. Nearly all the countries in Europe are considered Indo-European with the exception of Basque. Basque developed its own language and can not be considered a derivative of any other language. Only about 600,000 people consider Basque their native language.

The Indo-European languages can be further subdivided into the Romance languages and Spanish as well as French and Portuguese are considered Romance languages because they are derived from Latin. These languages have strong similarities in grammar and structure.

Language can also be classified by word order, the order of the sentence structure, in other words the order of the subject, object, and verb. Spanish is flexible but primarily a subject-verb-object or SVO language much like English. In English one would say Joe reads the book. ‘Joe’ is the subject, ‘reads’ is the verb, and ‘the book’ is the object. In Spanish one would say Jose lee el libro. ‘Jose’ is the subject, ‘lee’ is the verb and ‘el libro‘ is the object.

However, Spanish is not strictly a SVO language. If the subject can be understood from the context it can be left out. It is not uncommon to emphasize a part of a sentence by changing the word order. Additionally when it comes to pronouns the order changes from SVO Joe reads it – to SOV, in Spanish one would say Jose lo lee. (Jose it reads)

Language can also be classified by word formation. Languages can be isolating which simply means that the word roots don’t change as a result of how the word is found in a sentence or in relationship to each other. Language can be inflectional which means that the meaning of the words change to show how they relate to other words in the sentence. Agglutinating is a third way of classifying a language. Word units are combined and the meanings differ considerably depending on the combination of the unit of words.

Viewed as an inflectional language, Spanish also has characteristics of isolationist. Verbs change to reflect singular subjects or plural and also change to show past, present or future tense. This is known as conjugation. The verbs are inflected. The root of the verb remains constant and different endings are attached to the root to demonstrate the time period of the action and who or what is performing the action.

The author of this article Pablo Conway lives in England, however he visits Spain on a regular basis to improve his Spanish. He has found the people who live in the Costa de la Luz area of Western Spain to be very friendly and willing to assist in his learning the Spanish language.

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab  

I have been touring Spain in an effort to learn more to plan a vacation. I have been to Valencia, Cordoba, Jerez and the Costa de la Luz so far. I plan to really explore Andalucia in depth. I like the idea of going someplace off the beaten path, while staying close to a few real Spanish must see sights. I am laying the ground work for my first self catered vacation.

OK, why all the build up? I am doing all this research. I am going to be really familiar with the geography, history and tourist traps when I get there. But I don’t speak the language. More and more I am thinking this is going to be a problem. I want learn Spanish and the thought occurred to me why not start now? I can find free Spanish lessons online, I am excited to get started. I also want something more real with more to connect to me. I am learning a ton about a country that is becoming more beautiful and interesting to me with every website I visit. I don’t speak much Spanish other than no habla Espanol or Hasta la vista, baby.

I want a pen pal. Has this ever occurred to anyone to offer pen pal opportunities for people like me to learn Spanish, or for a native Spanish speaker to learn English? I want a pen pal. Can anyone help me?

How about learning basic spanish vocabulary so that you will be able to converse with your new pen pal

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab

Don’t Forget the Toilet Paper!

Travel abroad can be stressful; with proper planning your memories will last a lifetime.

International travel can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of a lifetime. You will recall with fond memories the walk from your hotel to the money exchanges in the bustling heart of a foreign city passing shop after shop because you don’t have any of the local currency. Perhaps you will look back on an exciting, but confusing dialogue with your waiter after a fabulous meal and still try to figure out what was said. Remember wandering around for hours because you lacked the basic knowledge to ask for directions in Spanish or getting stuck on the wrong metro and traveling miles in the wrong direction because you misread the map. Good times, Good times! With a little bit of preparation before hand you don’t have to have a marvelous holiday tainted by frustrating memories of currency and language barriers.

Plan on it

First, have a basic plan. You don’t have to hire a travel agent to get a firm grip on your accommodations and sight seeing tours. Self-catered holidays are becoming more and more popular. Ask for help from a friend who has been there. The internet is a valuable and virtually limitless source of information, use it! Dare I even suggest it? You could even use a book to get the knowledge you seek.

Speaking of books, a good Spanish/English dictionary (of or a dictionary containing the languages pertinent to your travel) will be very useful. There are many well written and easy to use pocket varieties. In addition to a dictionary it would be a good idea to learn a few basic Spanish phrases like: how much does this cost or where can I find a restroom.

Airport pitfalls

It is a good idea to pack medications, especially liquids, and any object that is the least bit pointy (your toenail clippers for example) in luggage that will be stowed in the bowels of the airplane. Post 9-11 security is much stricter as to what is allowed in your carry-on. Be prepared for customs. Some items cannot cross international borders. Being aware of what these items are will help avoid entanglements with Customs Officials. Save your receipts. You may need to them as proof if a dispute on the taxable value of your souvenirs occurs

BYO-TP

Bring all your basic toiletries, and check them twice! Restroom facilities internationally are not always likely to measure up to standards you could be accustomed to. To avoid embarrassing and stressful accidents always carry a few coins and your own toilet paper. It is not uncommon for public toilet facilities to charge a fee for use. This fee may or may not include toilet paper, best be prepared.

Armed with the prior knowledge and preparation you will be able to look back on the strange and different things you may encounter with fond laughter rather than the disquiet of embarrassment. May your next holiday be soon, and enjoy the trip.

The author of this article Pablo Conway visits Spain on a regulare basis through out the year. He has been improving his knowledge of Spanish on each visit.

Andalucia’s olive oil and wine

I was just online this morning, poking around a map of Spain. I stumbled across a coastal area on the south west, between Portugal and the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea called the Costa de la Luz. I didn’t pay much attention at first until I saw two things that caught my eye.

First the climate there is milder. Which is not really significant in itself but the milder temperatures do lend themselves to growing grapes. You may still think this information amounts to a hill of beans, but as I poked around further I realized why the author of the website chose to include such a small tid-bit of information. The unique climate in this region creates a unique and pleasing flavor to the wines and oils produced here.

I have heard in the past that Spain is known for its fine wines, but not being a connoisseur of wine myself, never paid much attention. I thought it was really interesting to note that not only is Spain known for wine, but is the third top producer in the world. The Jerez district by the Costa de la Luz is renown for sherry…there is even a nickname ‘the sherry triangle.’

I am much more interested in the other product abundant in the Costa de la Luz: olive oil. I cook almost exclusively with olive oil, because of the health benefits it offers. I am always looking for better tasting olive oils. I had no idea that Spanish olive oil was really a major market. Thank heaven for the internet. I now have a ton more options.

The author Pablo Conway has visited the Costa de la Luz on numerous where he has a property in the Andalucian village (pueblo) of Medina Sidonia

Spanish lessons for All

The Spanish are by far one of the most hospitable people you will find. Once they get to know you, they treat you like one of the family. The only thing that you have to do is learn how to learn Spanish. Not to much to ask for when all things considered. It is not difficult to learn basic Spanish; it only takes a little effort on your part. Just think about all those times you have visited a Spanish speaking country and how much more you would have got from the holiday if you could only have spoken even a little of the Spanish language.

The visit to the Restaurante could have been better; you may even have ordered the right items of food. We have all been there, we thought we ordered white fish and got squid instead. When I started to learn Spanish I ordered what I thought was eggs in a mayonnaise sauce, instead I got and ate bulls testicles!!! They actually tasted ok, but a little dry for my palette. The important lesson here is to try and speak Spanish it can only enrich your life, plus make others laugh.

Once you start to learn even the most basic of Spanish you will get a feel for there language and customs. There is nothing better than visiting a Spanish museum (museo) or opera and not only understanding the language but feeling their culture. The only thing that may be stopping you from learning to speak is a fear of failure. Let me tell you there is nothing to fear, you can only enhance your language skills, by learning Spanish. You will find that when you start to speak, the Spanish people will help you with your pronunciation. They still help me now.

So take that step forward and a learn Spanish Vocabulary lesson free today. There are now so many different ways to learn the language, for instance download the lessons onto your mp3 and listen at your leisure. Burn to a cd and listen in the car or at home. There are now interactive Spanish lessons on the internet. You have so many choices, don’t delay start learning today and you will not regret it. In next to no time you will be speaking Spanish like a native.

Pablo Conway has been visiting Spain on and off for about 3 years. On each visit he learns a little bit more Spanish which on his last visit he managed to walk into a shop and obtain a short length of TV coax cable with the necessary connections on each end. Start a course of give away lessons today. I decided to write my own Learn Basic Spanish Vocabulary Course.

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab

Tips on Learning Spanish

Of course you can always take a community course on learning Spanish but there are lots of other ways you can learn, or improve your Spanish speaking skills.

If you have some grasp of the language put it to use by subscribing to Spanish newspapers of magazines. Most publications are written at the level of sixth grade reading so it shouldn’t be too hard to grasp at least some of the meaning. If you have a English – Spanish dictionary by your side so much the better. Major news stands often have a variety of Spanish language publications. You can buy an assortment and then decide which are the most interesting to you.

Listen to Spanish radio. Just about every major city in the U.S. has at least one Spanish station. Listening, even if you don’t understand everything that is being said, will get you used to the cadence and rhythm of the Spanish language. After awhile you may be surprised to find that you understand more and more every time you tune in.

Make it a point to speak Spanish at least once every day. Have a conversation with yourself if there isn’t anybody else around. Discuss the weather, your lunch, or where you plan on going in the evening. Make sure you say the words out loud and not just in your head. You can also tape record your conversations so you can hear how you really sound, not just how you think you sound. Because we hear our own words vibrating through our head and our chest we don’t hear ourselves as others do. If you have a learn Spanish language tape you can compare how you sound to how the instructor sounds.

Find a buddy who is also learning Spanish and practice with him or her on a daily basis. If you’re not next door neighbors use the phone or use email. Try to keep the focus on expanding your language skills, not just repeating to each other what you already know.

Join a Spanish speaking discussion group on Yahoo or Google. You’ll get lots of practice reading Spanish in a real life – well almost real life – setting. Start a learn-to- speak-Spanish, or practice-your-Spanish group yourself. Even if you have only a handful of members you’ll probably find yourself posting away.

Rent Spanish language movies, some come with English subtitles. Or watch a movie that you already know on a Spanish language TV station. You can find books you’re familiar with in English translated into Spanish. You can also find Audio books in Spanish.
Go on amazon.com and order some Spanish comic books or graphic novels. The drawings will help your understanding of the language.

Vacationing in a Spanish speaking country.

The trip itself will motivate you to practice your Spanish and you’ll get a chance to hear natives speaking and to talk with them. Don’t let the fact that you’re learning Spanish deter you from speaking with the residents. Most people are friendly and will appreciate the fact that you’re at least trying to communicate with them in their language. You may be surprised that many of them will help you with your Spanish.

Pablo Conway has learnt his Spanish through some of the above ideas. Do not be afraid of making mistakes, it is through making these mistakes that we remember the correct way to speak Spanish. Get your hands on a learn basic spanih vocabulary course today.

http://www.spanishbankaccount.com/basicspanvocab