"My first lesson with Adriana was lovely! We’ve been practicing every day and I look forward to this week’s lesson."
Kerry Smith
Spanish course in Aberdeen, The Warehouse Health Club.
Spanish Lessons in Aberdeen
According to the 2011 census, there are over 68 languages used in Aberdeen, Scotland’s third-largest city. In fact, over 12% of the 228,670 estimated city residents were reported to use a language other than English or Scots at home. Among this wide range of languages, Spanish is the sixth most commonly used, with almost a thousand speakers.
As the official language of more than 20 countries, Spanish is the second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese, with nearly 500 million native speakers in countries like Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and of course, Spain. With 548.3 million total speakers, it’s the fourth-most spoken language in the world, which makes it one of the most popular among language learners.
As you can imagine, learning such a widespread language can be a great advantage. Whether you’re looking to connect to a broader part of the local community, get access to better job opportunities or just expand your horizons, learning Spanish is just what you need.
Why Study Spanish in Aberdeen?
Learn Spanish for Work and Travel
Learning Spanish is one of the best things you can do to advance your career. Not only will it allow you to work in countries like Spain, Colombia or Paraguay, but it will also help you land a job in multinationals across the globe. Top companies in Aberdeen like Amazon, Deloitte and Schlumberger are constantly looking for bilingual applicants for job positions like Localisation QA Tester, Field Specialist and Customer Engineer.
What’s more, if you have your own business, learning Spanish will allow you to build professional relationships with many local Spanish and Latin immigrant communities, which can be the key to growing your business and getting access to once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the city.
Learn Spanish for Social
There’s more to learning a language than just expanding your vocabulary, it’s also important to immerse yourself in the cultures where that language is spoken. One of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to do so is through its food, and fortunately, if you’re interested in exploring Spanish and Latin American cuisine, there are many amazing places you can visit in the area.
One of the best places to get a taste of Spain in Aberdeen is Café Andaluz, located at 5 Bon Accord Street. Stepping inside this exotic restaurant will make you feel like you’ve been transported into the Andalusia region in Spain. Among the mouth-watering Spanish dishes you can taste, there’s the traditional tortilla española, a thick omelette filled with sliced potato & onion, albóndigas, which are spiced pork & beef meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, and the famous paella, cooked with Calasparra rice and topped with your choice of meat & seafood.
Do you want to try some of the best Mexican food in the area? If so, you should visit Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, located at 3015 6th Ave SE. From fajitas to carne asada, they offer fresh, traditional meals that are perfect for both lunch and dinner. It’s the perfect place if you want to get to know Mexican dishes from different regions while you enjoy traditional music in a relaxed, warm atmosphere. Whether you want to try spicy burritos or delicious quesadillas, this place is just for you!
Learn Spanish for Culture
Every language learner knows there’s nothing like practising your target language with other people to take it to the next level. If you’re looking to boost your Spanish skills and meet new people, you should attend one of the language exchanges held by the Aberdeen Spanish Language Society. This group of Spanish language enthusiasts meet every Tuesday at 7 pm in La Tasca, located at 367 Union Street. These meetings are the perfect chance to better your conversation skills and meet native speakers from Spain and Latin America. In addition to the regular language exchange events, they arrange special meetings like salsa nights, ceilidhs and Spanish movie nights.
Where to learn Spanish in and around Aberdeen?
If you’re a film lover, you can visit one of the many Aberdeen Public Library branches, where you’ll find a great selection of Pedro Almodovar films you can’t miss. As one of Spain’s most accomplished directors, watching some of his films like Pain & Glory, Julieta, and The Skin I Live In will make you feel like you’ve been transported to Madrid and will help you understand the passionate Spanish culture.
After watching these amazing films, you’ll be eager to start learning Spanish right away. If so, the best place you can choose to do it is Listen & Learn! Nowhere else in Aberdeen will you find such personalised lessons that will make your learning experience so rewarding and fun. To start learning right away, the first thing you can do is take one of our free 15-minute tests where you find out how good your Spanish skills are. After that, send us a quick enquiry and one of our team members will get in contact with you.
If you want more information about the course or you’re ready to book your first lesson, you can also call us!
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Spanish
These lessons in Spanish are wide-ranging by nature and are driven towards students who have a variety of differing needs. All beginner students will expect to study enough survival Spanish to get them through a short visit to the country. Those who choose to continue with the lessons will progress differently, depending on their individual requests and requirements. Whether you are buying property in a foreign country, married to a foreign national, planning a round-the-world trip, interested in Spanish history and culture or if you simply want to attain a particular level of Spanish, this is the choice for you. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Spanish
These Spanish lessons are driven towards people who have a requirement to learn Spanish to bolster their work output. For novices, you will find it useful to learn basic greetings and business etiquette. Once you have become more proficient, then reading and writing will come to the fore. Typical students include those concerned with imports and exports, those seeking work in multinational companies, international negotiations and anyone working with international colleagues or administration. Even in our most rudimentary lesson for beginnners, students can expect to finish with decent telephone and e-mail Spanish, as well as a good enough grip on the language for a short trip to the country where the language is spoken. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Spanish
Those wishing to learn Spanish in groups of two or more together (Two-to-One Spanish Lessons or Small Group In-Company Spanish Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Spanish proficiency, have the same needs from the language and must be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not suggest group sizes of more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Spanish Lessons can occur with up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Spanish
Our native-speaking qualified Spanish teachers can instruct you and your group at your work or at home at a time most convenient for you. Classes can take place on any day of the week—even weekends—morning, afternoon or evening. If meeting at your office or home is not suitable, you can take your lessons at the trainer's office. Study materials are supplied for you. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Spanish
The Spanish lessons are also available for two or more people studying together (Two-to-One Spanish Lessons or Small Group In-Company Spanish Lessons). All participants must have the same level, the same business or general language needs and be able to study at the same time in the same location. The booking must be made for all participants at the same time. Listen & Learn does not recommend group classes of more than 6-8 people though In-Company Taster Spanish Lessons can be run with up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Top Tips For…
spanish Books
Cuentos de la Selva - Horacio Quiroga
If you are looking to unlock a whole new world of stories while improving your Spanish skills, then don’t hesitate to read “Cuentos de la Selva” by Horacio Quiroga, an Uruguayan writer who published this novel in the 1920s. The tales are set in the Argentinian jungle and the main characters are animals that take on human characteristics, serving as a metaphor for how people interact with nature. These tales were originally written for children, so they are short and use fairly simple language, making this book the perfect choice for beginners eager to know more about the Argentinian culture. Click here to find out more about the novel.spanish Books
La Sombra del Viento - Carlos Ruis Zafón
Reading a novel will help you familiarise yourself with Spanish sentence structure and grammar in real-life contexts. Forget about reading overly simple sentences and grab a novel like “La Sombra del viento”. Set in Barcelona, this is the story of 10-year-old Daniel, a boy who visits one of the biggest libraries in the city and finds a book called “La Sombra del Viento”. But, as soon as he draws it from the shelves, something strange happens and a seemingly innocent action transforms into a race to save the ones he loves. This novel by Zafón is the perfect choice for those who love mystery books and would like to know more about what happened in Spain after the civil war. Click here to find out more about the novel.El Amor en los Tiempos de Cólera - Gabriel García Márquez
Developing proficiency in reading in Spanish has a positive effect on your listening and speaking skills as well, so it’s a great option for beginners who want to build their confidence. For example, you can start reading one of the most well-known books ever written in Spanish: “El Amor en los Tiempos del Cólera” by Gabriel García Márquez. This is a multiple-character story set in the 1800s that depicts forbidden love and draws a comparison between love and illness (in this case, cholera). The novel tells a captivating story but also carries a lot of deep, potentially unanswerable questions about the human condition and love itself. Click here to find out more about the novel.spanish Songs
Me Voy - Julieta Venegas
Julieta Venegas is a praised Spanish artist and “Me Voy” is the perfect example of her singing skills. This song follows the story of a woman who leaves her partner and says goodbye to him because of personal reasons, though she does not want to abandon him. It is very slow and uses simple vocabulary, which makes it perfect for Spanish learners who have just started their course. Furthermore, “Me Voy” is mostly sung in the present tense, so you won’t have problems understanding the grammar. Your brain will remember this catchy song and soon you’ll be saying “qué lástima” with flawless pronunciation! Check out the song here!spanish Songs
Nada Valgo Sin tu Amor - Juanes
Listening to songs in Spanish can massively improve your vocabulary and grammar. You can avoid the monotony of learning with a textbook, and you will probably remember words more easily if you learn them in a song rather than by memorising a long list. So, if you are looking for a jazz-inspired song to take your Spanish to the next level, “Nada valgo sin tu amor” is a great choice. This is the beautiful confession of a man who sings about how much he loves his partner and does not want to lose her. It uses a lot of complex grammatical structures (including the subjunctive mood), so it’s more suitable for intermediate students. Check out the song here!Vivir mi Vida - Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony is one of the most famous Latin American singers and “Vivir mi vida” is one of his most famous songs. In the last few years, it has become an anthem that celebrates life and talks about the importance of staying positive, no matter how many hardships we face. The lyrics are simple and powerful and include a lot of repetition, so you’ll surely be able to follow the song, even if you are not very familiar with Spanish yet. You will also find a few interesting expressions and slang like “pa’ que?”, so make sure you read the lyrics closely to practise later! Check out the song here!spanish Sports
Local Football Teams Can Help You Learn
If you are looking to improve your command of the language, watching football matches in Spanish can be a great idea. This is a hugely popular sport in Spanish-speaking countries, so if you want to learn the language to interact with locals, it’s a good idea to know about football. You’ll be able to chat about this fascinating sport for hours! And if you are a fan of Spanish football teams (like the famous Barcelona or Real Madrid from Spain, or Boca Juniors from Argentina), you could try following these teams’ social media pages to learn new vocabulary and stay up-to-date about their achievements. Learn more about soccer teams here!spanish Sports
Newspapers: Great Tools to Enhance Vocabulary
Watching football matches in Spanish is not the only way to learn about this fascinating sport. In can be challenging to understand what commenters are saying, as they speak very quickly and use slang frequently. Instead, why not try to read the sports news instead of just watching events? Most newspapers, including El Pais, El Mundo and ABC, have a sports section where you can read about your favourite football teams. Furthermore, you can visit their websites and access an array of articles about the players, teams, gossip and curious football facts that interest you the most. Soon, you’ll understand what marcar un golazo or hacer un gol de chilena mean! Read El Pais' sports section here!Spanish Commentary to Increase Listening Comprehension
When learning Spanish, it’s important to surround yourself with different contexts from where you can absorb vocabulary and phrases. Plus, doing so will help you to improve your listening comprehension skills. So, if you are a sports lover and your Spanish level is at least intermediate, you can try and watch the exciting matches of La Liga Española with Spanish commentary. The commentators speak really quickly and use a lot of slang, but you’ll surely be able to pick up some words and expressions, like pintalo de amarillo (“the yellow card”). CLick here to know when the Liga starts.spanish For Kids
Whistlefritz Spanish for Kids
Spanish videos for kids are a fabulous learning resource. The videos are fun, memorable and keep children engaged. Furthermore, watching videos like Whistlefritz Spanish for Kids is an excellent way to expose your child to a variety of Spanish accents. Whistlefritz products are themed and teach contextual Spanish words to kids. The videos are intended for children ages 2-7 and introduce basic vocabulary related to the seasons, birthday parties, animals and other topics interesting to young kids. The presentation is clear with plenty of repetition, so the kids will never feel overwhelmed. Check out their website to know more.spanish For Kids
Juegos Arcoiris
If your children enjoy short, interactive games, why not take advantage of this and encourage them to play games in Spanish? For example, Juegos Arcoiris is an excellent resource for kids to acquire new vocabulary and reinforce what they learn in their Spanish course. It hosts a variety of puzzle games, short stories and even colouring activities that will keep your children amused for hours. These games are perfect to practise vocabulary: the colouring activities display the names of object and colours and all the instructions are in Spanish; and the short stories are written and read in Spanish, too! Check out their website to know more.La Ratita Presumida
La Ratita Presumida is a popular folk tale that follows a mouse who wants to get married. She welcomes different suitors to her home, like a pig, a dog and a cat. To decide whom she wants to marry, she always asks them “¿Y por las noches, que me dirás?” (What will you say to me at night?), but never likes their answers. This is a great story to learn some phrases and vocabulary about animals, as it’s repetitive but fun. Your child can even watch the story on YouTube and then act it out. Check out this website to read the story.spanish News
RTVE
Watching TV in your target language is a great way to crank your learning up to the next level. If you’d like to know what’s going on in the world while improving your Spanish skills, then why not watch the news in Spanish? For example, if you prefer the European variety of castellano (or you want to travel to Spain), you can watch RTVE, a conglomerate of television channels that broadcast content in Spanish: you can watch the news on La 1, documentaries on La 2 and even Barcelona FC’s football matches on La 3! Click here to start with Spanish news.spanish News
Azteca Noticias
Azteca is a Mexican media giant that showcases news from all over the world. Its biggest competitor is called Televisa, which only offers paid subscription services. In contrast, Azteca is free to stream and available almost anywhere in the world. One of the most popular programmes is called Hechos, where you can see what is currently happening in Mexico and the rest of Latin America. If you are looking to improve your comprehension of the Mexican accent and to pick up some words while watching the news, this is the channel for you. Click here to start with Spanish news.Canal Uno News
Are you planning to travel to Colombia or would you like to learn this specific accent (which is considered one of the most “neutral” in South America)? Then, watching the news on Canal Uno can be a great way to develop your Spanish listening skills. Most of the reporters speak very clearly, so it’s easier to understand what they are saying than many comparative channels. Watching this Colombian channel can also serve as a springboard to tuning into the news in Argentina or Cuba in the future, as you’ll gain confidence over time. Click here to start with Spanish news.Testimonials
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Client case studies
Have a look at successful and satisfied clients.
Sara McCullum
Spanish in Peterborough
Listen & Learn seemed to be the most professional, and when I began to enquire, very much lived up to my expectations
Our Clients Include
From our clients all over the world
Euro Auctions (UK) Ltd
Language learned: German in Belfast.
Miplaste Ltd.
Language learned: Portuguese in Leeds.
