When you learn Spanish at your local college, the quality of that learning depends on the quality of the teaching and the interaction within the group but, whether good or bad, the class still finishes with students going back home and into the comfort of their own language and culture. Actually getting to use your newly-acquired language may be just a dream and, like with anything you learn, that certificate says ‘you know’ that topic but, if you haven’t actually used it, your confidence can start to slide a little. Getting into a real situation is so important so that’s why, in these modern times, some professional courses now include taking the eager students to Spain to ‘give it a go’.
Of course, you could book your own package holiday but the disadvantage of this is that you are going into an area of Spain where many tourists have been before and, no doubt, into a hotel where all of the staff have learnt a little of your language over the years. When you nervously open your mouth on that first occasion, and you hesitate while you choose your words carefully, you can guarantee that the receptionist or the waiter will finish your sentence for you, by anticipating what you were about to say. The staffs in the hotel are just as eager as you to improve their understanding of other languages and their confidence, even if they did not form a perfect sentence, can knock you sideways and seal your once eager lips for the rest of the holiday.
So the best way to make use of your new knowledge is to go on a trip which has been factored into the educational course, or to book your own tailored visit. Such a trip will tick all of the boxes, as professional companies like UniSpain know what students want, where they like to go, what they want to accomplish and also what cultural visits will help their overall growth into understanding the ways of Spain. They also sort out accommodation and its closeness to where you want to be, so going down this professional route really does tick all the boxes.
You’ll learn so much more in a typical Spanish bar than one that has, over the years, moulded itself towards the needs of tourists. A holiday rep may never dream of telling the busload of people that just arrived that a particular event taking place will help them with their language growth, or that some of the best places to visit are a little off the beaten track. A busy member of staff will not exercise extreme patience while you try to spit out a sentence you had prepared several days ago but, being taken to the right places, places where tourists don’t tend to venture, will give you more of an opportunity to exercise your new language.
Such professionally-tailored support will make your trip a success and, instead of seeing your confidence slide, it’ll be a case of ‘practice makes perfect’ and what can beat that?
