Posted by: robbieroy
Madrid - My experience learning Spanish Part 1 - 04/04/05 06:55 AM
Learning Spanish in Madrid - Easter 2005
Before setting off.....
What you will find below is an account of 10 days spent in Madrid learning Spanish at a language school in the heart of Madrid by a middle-aged Scot who has been studying Spanish for just about a year and a half. The language school I elected to study at in Madrid is called Inhispania and is just of the Puerta de Sol. I organised the trip in February and went there on the 20th of March. All the booking etc was done via the Internet through their website Inhispania . I chose this school because of the price and their swift and friendly response to my initial enquiries. They also organised my accommodation for three nights in a hostal (see below) and for the full second week in shared accommodation (also see below). I was informed about my Hostal accommodation about a week before I was due to leave.
I was keen to improve my conversational Spanish so in February, I posted a notice seeking language exchange on the LoQUo language exchange section of the bulletin board for Madrid LoQUo .
The have bulletin boards for the major Spanish cities. I received 7 replies within a couple of weeks and arranged to meet a number of Spanish to interchange languages. If you do this, please come to an arrangement with them so that you agree to spend half your time communication in one language and the other half in the second language.
Well, here goes – I hope that some of you will find this interesting.
Sunday 20th March
The trip from Scotland went well, I flew British Airways from Aberdeen to Madrid via Heathrow. On arrival in Barajas, I made my way to the Metro. It is generally well signposted, but I did get lost briefly. After getting to a moving escalator it is not clear whether to go up the escalator or carry straight on – go up the escalator to the first floor (Signposted Terminal 1 facturacion (check in)) and carry straight on to get to pick up the signs for the Metro again. It is a fair walk from Terminal 1 to the Metro.
I bought a Metobus (10 trips on bus or Metro for 5.80 Euros. This represents a big saving since a single journey (sencilla) costs 1.15 Euros. For more on the Madrid Metro see http://www.metromadrid.es/ . You can choose your language preference form the drop-down menu on the top right of the home page.
I went straight to the Hostal La Plata on Gran Via to drop off my suitcase. There website is http://www.hostal-laplata.com/
I found the hostal easily – it is well placed for the main sights in the centre of Madrid and the room I had was of good quality. Here is the room I had.
Despite being close to the reception area it was quiet. At night, there is no one on duty in the hostal but at the main door off the street, there is a portero (doorman) who will take you up to the Hostal (on the 4th floor) and give you your key.
There is an elevator; the room was clean and fairly spacious for a a single and also contained a double bed. The bath and toilet facilities were on-suite. The room was cleaned daily as you would expect and clean towels were put in every day. The staff are friendly.
I wandered into town and ended up having paella and a beer in a small restaurant in Calle de Echergaray.
By the way, I noticed that there was a lot of building work going on in and around the facade of Hostal Bianco II. Also, despite going back a few times, the bar Los Gabrieles, appeared to be closed (sadly).
Later that evening I met with Beatriz for Intercambio We met in Plaza de Callao and went to VIPS for a drink and a sandwich. I had spent some time tying to find a place to top up my Vodafone card (I use a Vodafone Tarjeta when I am in Spain and have a Spanish number – works out cheaper than using my UK one), but some of the phone card kiosks in and around Sol were out of top up coupons (cupon de recarga), and was able to top up electronically in VIPS on Gran Via. You just give them your mobile telephone number and state how much you want to top it up by, and a few minutes later, you receive a message on you mobile confirming the transaction.
Monday 21st March
First Day at school. I was a little apprehensive, but looking forward to it. I arrived at Inhispania on Calle de la Montera at 0940 (It is worth saying at this point that, despite its centrality, the upper part of Calle de la Montera is a touting place for ladies of the night (some are there in the morning), but don’t be put off the area is very well policed and I saw no evidence of trouble).
They were efficient with all paperwork ready. I was shown around after handing over the balance of the money I was due to pay them for the course and accommodation. You can pay by credit card but there is a small surcharge.
The timetable at the school is as follows:
10.00 – 11.30: grammar lesson
1135 - 1300 conversation class
1315 – 1400 culture class
I had been placed in the High intermediate class (intermedio alto) and there were 6 of us in the class.
The topic for the first day were:
grammar lesson - oraciones condicionales con si ( if...)
conversation class - religion and monarchy but no conversation and
culture class - we listened to and talked about the title track from the flamenco/ jazz CD by Bebo y Cigala called Lágrimas Negras. I new this song (I play it in my car) and was able to cotribute and take part fully.
Most of the students in the class had been there for several weeks and were naturally younger then me, but this was not a concern, so if you are in a similar position to me, do not be put off.
In the morning before class, I found a good restaurant/cafeteria for breakfast: Dulcinea on Calle Caballos de la Gracia at the top of Calle de la Montera, on the right – the bar is about halfway along this street on the right.
By the way, the sister restaurant to La Finca de Susana is located on this street. It is called La Glorieta de la Montera.
After class I went back to lunch Dulcinea for a bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich) and a coke, then went back to the hostal to do my homework. Later that day, I met for intercambio with Roberto for 2 hours went to a bar in Callao for coffee and did language exchange for two hours.
At night, I went to restaurant Madrid Catedral just along from Lhardys on Carrera de San Jerónimo near Puerta del Sol. Had the menu de noche -lentejas (lentils) conejo al ajillo (rabbit with garlic) and Macedonia de frutas (fruit salad) bread and a beer for 11.45 Euros. It has magnificent decor inside.
Went and did some emails and then back to hostal for 2300. At night, a regular feature of my daily routine was to go and do my emails. I would recommend the internet cafe in Plaza de Canalejas on Carrera de San Jerónimo. The reason I say this is that they issue you with a swipe card that you use to log on. You normally buy time in multiples of 1/2 hour but any unused time is added to your card and you can use it later. It is callled Workcentre and is open 24/7.
Robbieroy
Continued ........
Before setting off.....
What you will find below is an account of 10 days spent in Madrid learning Spanish at a language school in the heart of Madrid by a middle-aged Scot who has been studying Spanish for just about a year and a half. The language school I elected to study at in Madrid is called Inhispania and is just of the Puerta de Sol. I organised the trip in February and went there on the 20th of March. All the booking etc was done via the Internet through their website Inhispania . I chose this school because of the price and their swift and friendly response to my initial enquiries. They also organised my accommodation for three nights in a hostal (see below) and for the full second week in shared accommodation (also see below). I was informed about my Hostal accommodation about a week before I was due to leave.
I was keen to improve my conversational Spanish so in February, I posted a notice seeking language exchange on the LoQUo language exchange section of the bulletin board for Madrid LoQUo .
The have bulletin boards for the major Spanish cities. I received 7 replies within a couple of weeks and arranged to meet a number of Spanish to interchange languages. If you do this, please come to an arrangement with them so that you agree to spend half your time communication in one language and the other half in the second language.
Well, here goes – I hope that some of you will find this interesting.
Sunday 20th March
The trip from Scotland went well, I flew British Airways from Aberdeen to Madrid via Heathrow. On arrival in Barajas, I made my way to the Metro. It is generally well signposted, but I did get lost briefly. After getting to a moving escalator it is not clear whether to go up the escalator or carry straight on – go up the escalator to the first floor (Signposted Terminal 1 facturacion (check in)) and carry straight on to get to pick up the signs for the Metro again. It is a fair walk from Terminal 1 to the Metro.
I bought a Metobus (10 trips on bus or Metro for 5.80 Euros. This represents a big saving since a single journey (sencilla) costs 1.15 Euros. For more on the Madrid Metro see http://www.metromadrid.es/ . You can choose your language preference form the drop-down menu on the top right of the home page.
I went straight to the Hostal La Plata on Gran Via to drop off my suitcase. There website is http://www.hostal-laplata.com/
I found the hostal easily – it is well placed for the main sights in the centre of Madrid and the room I had was of good quality. Here is the room I had.
Despite being close to the reception area it was quiet. At night, there is no one on duty in the hostal but at the main door off the street, there is a portero (doorman) who will take you up to the Hostal (on the 4th floor) and give you your key.
There is an elevator; the room was clean and fairly spacious for a a single and also contained a double bed. The bath and toilet facilities were on-suite. The room was cleaned daily as you would expect and clean towels were put in every day. The staff are friendly.
I wandered into town and ended up having paella and a beer in a small restaurant in Calle de Echergaray.
By the way, I noticed that there was a lot of building work going on in and around the facade of Hostal Bianco II. Also, despite going back a few times, the bar Los Gabrieles, appeared to be closed (sadly).
Later that evening I met with Beatriz for Intercambio We met in Plaza de Callao and went to VIPS for a drink and a sandwich. I had spent some time tying to find a place to top up my Vodafone card (I use a Vodafone Tarjeta when I am in Spain and have a Spanish number – works out cheaper than using my UK one), but some of the phone card kiosks in and around Sol were out of top up coupons (cupon de recarga), and was able to top up electronically in VIPS on Gran Via. You just give them your mobile telephone number and state how much you want to top it up by, and a few minutes later, you receive a message on you mobile confirming the transaction.
Monday 21st March
First Day at school. I was a little apprehensive, but looking forward to it. I arrived at Inhispania on Calle de la Montera at 0940 (It is worth saying at this point that, despite its centrality, the upper part of Calle de la Montera is a touting place for ladies of the night (some are there in the morning), but don’t be put off the area is very well policed and I saw no evidence of trouble).
They were efficient with all paperwork ready. I was shown around after handing over the balance of the money I was due to pay them for the course and accommodation. You can pay by credit card but there is a small surcharge.
The timetable at the school is as follows:
10.00 – 11.30: grammar lesson
1135 - 1300 conversation class
1315 – 1400 culture class
I had been placed in the High intermediate class (intermedio alto) and there were 6 of us in the class.
The topic for the first day were:
grammar lesson - oraciones condicionales con si ( if...)
conversation class - religion and monarchy but no conversation and
culture class - we listened to and talked about the title track from the flamenco/ jazz CD by Bebo y Cigala called Lágrimas Negras. I new this song (I play it in my car) and was able to cotribute and take part fully.
Most of the students in the class had been there for several weeks and were naturally younger then me, but this was not a concern, so if you are in a similar position to me, do not be put off.
In the morning before class, I found a good restaurant/cafeteria for breakfast: Dulcinea on Calle Caballos de la Gracia at the top of Calle de la Montera, on the right – the bar is about halfway along this street on the right.
By the way, the sister restaurant to La Finca de Susana is located on this street. It is called La Glorieta de la Montera.
After class I went back to lunch Dulcinea for a bocadillo de calamares (squid sandwich) and a coke, then went back to the hostal to do my homework. Later that day, I met for intercambio with Roberto for 2 hours went to a bar in Callao for coffee and did language exchange for two hours.
At night, I went to restaurant Madrid Catedral just along from Lhardys on Carrera de San Jerónimo near Puerta del Sol. Had the menu de noche -lentejas (lentils) conejo al ajillo (rabbit with garlic) and Macedonia de frutas (fruit salad) bread and a beer for 11.45 Euros. It has magnificent decor inside.
Went and did some emails and then back to hostal for 2300. At night, a regular feature of my daily routine was to go and do my emails. I would recommend the internet cafe in Plaza de Canalejas on Carrera de San Jerónimo. The reason I say this is that they issue you with a swipe card that you use to log on. You normally buy time in multiples of 1/2 hour but any unused time is added to your card and you can use it later. It is callled Workcentre and is open 24/7.
Robbieroy
Continued ........