Barcelona Online | Learning Spanish

International House Barcelona top 10 site
Spanish in Barcelona
Barcelona attracts a huge number of foreign students, many to learn Spanish, but many others too on programs like Erasmus. It combines its obvious attractions as a place of outstanding tourist and cultural interest with an unbeatable climate, a friendly, cosmopolitan population and general atmosphere, and Spanish that is spoken with a clarity not to be found in other parts of Spain, making it easy to understand as well as, for learners, to imitate. You're afraid you'll pick up a Catalan accent? If you do, congratulate yourself – you've obviously learnt a lot.

As they are this site's sponsors, we obviously have to say that International House Barcelona is the city's premiere Spanish language school… But, actually, the fact that IH is also one of Europe's top language teacher training centres, for both Spanish and English teachers, as measured by student numbers and examination results, is probably as good a guarantee as any that you are choosing a reputable school.

The site itself offers full information on the Spanish courses the school offers, as well as information, photos, links etc on Barcelona.

International House Barcelona... IH is one of the leading language teacher training centres in Europe

•We liked: The clarity of the information on Spanish courses in Barcelona
•Not so hot: Disappointing the site isn't in Swahili (see Languages, below)...
•No, really: my Mum's Swahili
•Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese

Language learning strategies
Learning Spanish
A page on the International House Barcelona site (see above), but one that we found particularly interesting. Basically, it is a series of interviews with people learning Spanish and looks at what learning strategies they have used to learn the language.

•We liked: The idea – how do people set about learning a language? We think the world should be told!
•Not so hot: That's all very well, but just how are you supposed to learn irregular verbs?
•Languages: English

NetLanguages.com
Learn Spanish online
We can't say anything bad about Net Languages – online Spanish and English courses – (a) because it's a neat site, (b) because their online language courses comprise some excellent material and (c) because they have an International House Barcelona connection – and IH sponsors this site.

That said, here at Barcelona-Online (a) we've had close, inside look at their material and (b) we happen to know a thing or two about e-learning [and (c) stop this abc nonsense, Ed.]. Net Languages have produced language learning material that is pedagogically excellent – and that puts them streets ahead of much of the competition.

•We liked: The free newsletter for learning either Spanish or English
•Not so hot: What do you want me to do, criticise? They'll kill me! Oh, what the heck...! What we'd like would be more emphasis on collaborative learning.
•Languages: English, Spanish

Free Spanish lessons
Learn Spanish Free
Well, er, almost...! Barcelona is one of the top destinations in Spain for people wanting to learn Spanish.

Begoña Montmany, head of IH Barcelona's Spanish teacher training department has asked us to advertise the fact that she is offering almost free Spanish lessons (that's in fact €35), on both intensive and extensive Spanish courses, taught by her department's trainees.

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