{"id":66758,"date":"2016-05-14T10:58:34","date_gmt":"2016-05-14T08:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/?p=66758"},"modified":"2019-12-24T12:16:20","modified_gmt":"2019-12-24T11:16:20","slug":"free-spanish-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn Spanish and Catalan on a Shoestring Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Learning any language always takes time and effort and often involves paying through the nose. However, this needn&#8217;t be the case, there are ways of learning Spanish or Catalan in Barcelona which are either relatively inexpensive or completely free.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">So if you are keen to learn, but don&#8217;t have a large budget to spend on classes, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\"><strong>ShBarcelona<\/strong><\/a> offers a few ways how to do this&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Related article:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/language-bookstores\/\">Language Bookstores<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tkqlhce.com\/click-100575529-13075473\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><br \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.tqlkg.com\/image-100575529-13075473\" alt=\"\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#Intercambios\" title=\"Intercambios\">Intercambios<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#Almost_free_classes\" title=\"Almost free classes\">Almost free classes<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#Escola_Oficial_dIdiomas\" title=\"Escola Oficial d&#8217;Idiomas\">Escola Oficial d&#8217;Idiomas<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#International_House\" title=\"International House\">International House<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#Consorci_per_a_la_Normalitzacio_Linguistica\" title=\"Consorci per a la Normalitzaci\u00f3 Linguistica\">Consorci per a la Normalitzaci\u00f3 Linguistica<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#Centres_Civics\" title=\"Centres Civics\">Centres Civics<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/free-spanish-classes\/#Immerse_yourself_and_dont_be_shy\" title=\"Immerse yourself and don&#8217;t be shy!\">Immerse yourself and don&#8217;t be shy!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Intercambios\"><\/span>Intercambios<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_66759\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/cafe-barcelona.jpg\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-66759\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66759\" class=\"wp-image-66759 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/cafe-barcelona-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"large group of people on terrace in barcelona\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66759\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Pixabay<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">A typical and popular way of <strong>improving your linguistic ability<\/strong> through conversation which is completely free. An <strong>Intercambio<\/strong> involves meeting up with another person who speaks the language you want to learn (Spanish or Catalan) and wants to learn your language (English).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You speak for half the time in your language and the other half in their language.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The beauty of this is that it is completely free and enjoyable if you find someone who you get on well with. It works particularly well in tandem with studying, you can learn the grammar and vocabulary and then ingrain it into your memory by using it in actual conversation.<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Almost_free_classes\"><\/span>Almost free classes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Escola_Oficial_dIdiomas\"><\/span>Escola Oficial d&#8217;Idiomas<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The <strong>Escola Oficial d&#8217;Idiomas<\/strong> (EOI) has a number of schools in and around Barcelona and run language course in a variety of languages including Spanish and Catalan as well as Russian and Chinese.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The courses are subsidised by the government and are therefore only a fraction of the cost. There is a ballot for places there as the courses are so popular so a place is not guaranteed but once you get lucky you have a spot there indefinitely so long as your attendance is good and you pass their exams.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"International_House\"><\/span>International House<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although classes at <strong>International House<\/strong> are normally fairly expensive, they need guinea pigs for their trainee Spanish teachers to practise on. For a small fee of \u20ac40 you can do a two-week intensive course and you even get that back if you go to every class.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The classes are generally well-organised, though the teachers might be a little nervous as they are being observed and assessed by their mentor. For classes that are effectively free, they are amazing.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Consorci_per_a_la_Normalitzacio_Linguistica\"><\/span>Consorci per a la Normalitzaci\u00f3 Linguistica<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_66761\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/learning-1.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66761\" class=\"wp-image-66761 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/learning-1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"male and female student with books\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-66761\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Photo via Pixabay<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Catalan Government are keen to protect and promote the Catalan language and therefore invest in teaching foreigners living in Catalonia how to speak it. You can, therefore, complete a course at the <strong>Consorci per a la Normalitzaci\u00f3 Linguistica<\/strong> for next to nothing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The first level for beginners is completely free and includes 45 hours of lessons. As you move up the levels you have to pay a little bit more \u2013 but at \u20ac13.27 for the 45-hour intermediate course, it is hardly crippling!<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Centres_Civics\"><\/span>Centres Civics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Each <strong>neighbourhood of Barcelona<\/strong> has one, and each one runs a whole host of courses, not just language courses but <strong>dance, yoga and cooking<\/strong> classes to name just a few.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At these centres it is possible to find relatively cheap Spanish and Catalan classes and you should be able to find one close to your home.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Related article:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/4-apps-to-help-you-learn-spanish\/\">4 Apps to Help You Learn Spanish<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tkqlhce.com\/click-100575529-13075473\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><br \/>\n<img src=\"https:\/\/www.tqlkg.com\/image-100575529-13075473\" alt=\"\" width=\"728\" height=\"90\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Immerse_yourself_and_dont_be_shy\"><\/span>Immerse yourself and don&#8217;t be shy!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After all, you are living in Spain and there are infinite opportunities to practise speaking Spanish and Catalan. Whether you are out in a bar or on the street do not be scared of making mistakes as this is the best way to learn.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">One good way is to throw yourself into an activity in the language you want to learn \u2013 this could be cooking, yoga or martial art course where you will have to communicate in the language and are likely to meet lots of people to practise speaking with while doing something fun.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/yearly-rental\" class=\"broken_link\" rel=\"nofollow\"><strong>Living with locals<\/strong><\/a> is also a great way to improve quickly as you will have to converse on a daily basis in their language.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Where did you learn the Spanish language?<\/strong><\/p>\n<div style=\"display: none;\"\n    class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-valign-bottom kksr-align-left \"\n    data-id=\"66758\"\n    data-slug=\"\">\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 125px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 25px; height: 25px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <div class=\"kksr-legend\">\n            <strong class=\"kksr-score\">4.2<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">\/<\/span>\n        <strong>5<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">(<\/span>\n        <strong class=\"kksr-count\">8<\/strong>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">\n            votes        <\/span>\n        <span class=\"kksr-muted\">)<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning any language always takes time and effort and often involves paying through the nose. However, this needn&#8217;t be the case, there are ways of learning Spanish or Catalan in Barcelona which are either relatively inexpensive or completely free. So if you are keen to learn, but don&#8217;t have a large budget to spend on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":66760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4599],"tags":[1206,3999,9445,9444,2082],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66758"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66758"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108484,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66758\/revisions\/108484"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shbarcelona.com\/blog\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}