I am going there for less than 3 weeks but am considering learning some basic conversational Catalan.

How necessary is it to learn Catalan if I already speak Spanish fairly well?

Is it easier to navigate the city with it?

Does anyone know of reputable teachers, schools, short term classes in Barcelona to study Catalan? And the costs?

Can you tell about your experiences learning Catalan if you have done so in Barcelona?

Thanks.

In Barcelona most people speak spanish, so you don't need catalonian in a daily basis. Of course, it will be very welcomed if you also speak it (or at least some words).

Anyway, spanish is spoken by 400 million people in the World, while catalonian is spoken by as much as 7 million people.

Fernando

There are free initial courses financed by the catalan government. Duration of 20h/30h. You have to contact "Consorci per a la Normalització Lingüística" (Consortium for the Linguistic Normalization) cpnl@cpnl.org

Universities where you can learn catalan in USA (are you from US?)
If not go to : Learn Catalan worldwide

UNIVERSITY OF HARVARD
Department of Romance Languages and Literature
327 Boylston Hall
02138 CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSSETS
ESTATS UNITS
Tel. 00/ 1-617-495 2546/
Fax 00/ 1-617-496 4682

Lector/a: Sílvia Bonamusa Belmonte
Responsable acadèmic: Prof. Brad Epps

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
Phelps Hall
93106-1130 SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA
ESTATS UNITS
Tel. 00/ 1-805 893 8378
Fax 00/ 1-805 893 8341

Lector/a: Ivan Montiel
Responsable acadèmic: Prof. Harvey L. Sharrer

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese
4080 Foreign Languages Building, MC-176
707 South Mathews Avenue
61801 URBANA, ILLINOIS
ESTATS UNITS
Tel. 00/ 1-217-244-3250
Fax 00/ 1-217-244 8430 / 217-333 3390

Lector/a: Sílvia Perpiñán Hinarejos
Responsable acadèmic: Prof. Ronald W.Sousa

THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
Department of Modern Languages and Literature
Center for Catalan Studies
MC Mahon Bldg.
620 Michigan Avenue, NE
DC 20064 WASHINGTON DC
ESTATS UNITS
Tel. 00/ 1- 202-319 52 40
Fax 00/ 1-301-229 2749

Lector/a: Marta Fonollosa Penalva
Responsable acadèmic: Prof. Lourdes María Álvarez

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Languages and Linguistics
Department of Spanish and Portuguese
BOX 571039
20057-1039 WASHINGTON DC
ESTATS UNITS
Tel. 00/ 1-202-687 5705
Fax 00/ 1-202-687 5786

Lector/a: Anna Meda Vicens
Responsable acadèmic: Dra. Cristina Sanz

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Department of Romance Languages and Literature
1050 Eas 59th Street
Wieboldt Hall 205
60637 CHICAGO DC
ESTATS UNITS
Tel. 00/ 1-202-687 5705
Fax 00/ 1-202-687 5786

Lector/a: Carles Bartual Martín
Responsable acadèmic: Prof. Mario Santana

If you're coming to Barcelona for less than three weeks, I wouldn't worry about Catalan too much. There are certainly Catalans who would appreciate the effort, and you may be treated less like a typical tourist, but everyone you meet will certainly speak Spanish as well. In fact, many times I've seen Catalans switch to Spanish when they realize that someone isn't a native Catalan speaker, assuming that it's easier for them, and you certainly won't pass for a native speaker with any kind of short-term classes.

As for my experience with learning Catalan (well, what little I do speak), most of it comes from spending time with my wife's family, who speak Catalan most of the time, as well as coworkers who switch back and forth between Catalan and Spanish. At this point I generally understand written and spoken Catalan, and I can say a few basic things, but most of my time goes toward perfecting my Spanish (still trying to get rid of that American accent).

The only type of situation I can imagine where speaking some Catalan might come in handy is what you described in another post; namely, something like sitting in on jam sessions with local musicians. Since this isn't a typical tourist-y thing to do, and it's likely to be a more closely-knit community, knowing a few phrases might help you there. In general, though, you can get around the city just fine with Spanish alone.

Espero que t'ajudi...

I lived in Girona, for 6 months and found that learning catalan was a very good idea. I found travelling in and out of barcelona every week that it was not as much of a presents in the city but if you enjoy learning languages and have some spare time i would learn it. I took a 3 week intensive course 10.00-14.00 & 19.00-20.00. I did enjoy the language classes but i found the cultural classes in the evening so enjoyable. It gave me a great insight into the country. I already spoke french and spanish so i did not find it to hard. My spanigh freiends who had moved to the area found it only took them 2/3 weeks to learn the language.

Good luck and enjoy

edel