If you’ve ever set foot in Oxford, you are probably aware of the vast variety of languages that can be heard around the city. This should not come as a surprise, given that the city has a large influx of immigrants, partly because of thei well-known university, which attracts students from all over the world, and also the many job opportunities in the area, that draw various groups of people to the city who are looking for a better life. All of these immigrants bring their customs, traditions and languages to the city, and make Oxford the multicultural city that it is. Among them, one of the most commonly used languages is Spanish. According to the 2011 census, Spanish is listed as the sixth most popular foreign language after Polish, Chinese, German, French and Portuguese. This means that, if you’re interested in learning this fascinating language, you’ll find plenty of opportunities around the city to do so, including events that celebrate Latin and Spanish cultures, institutions that keep the language alive and many chances to meet native speakers who come to study or work in Oxford. What’s more, if you become a bilingual resident in the city, you’ll enjoy a large number of benefits, including better job offers, a more active social life and many openings to visit other countries and get to know different cultures.
Why Study Spanish in Oxford?
Learn Spanish for Work and Travel
No matter what you do, learning Spanish can help you advance your career. Due to the fact that this language is so widely spread around the world, local companies are constantly looking for bilingual applicants, because they know that if they hire people who can speak Spanish, they’ll be able to improve their business relationships abroad and attract larger numbers of foreign-born clients in the UK who are part of the Hispanic community. That’s why you’ll find many great positions in the area that are exclusive to Spanish speakers, such as Spanish-speaking Customer Service Advisor for Euro London Appointments, Partner Marketing Manager for bChannels and Inside Sales Executive for Rezatec. On top of this, being able to communicate fluently in the language is the key to improving your local business, as networking with other Spanish speakers in the city and abroad can grant you access to new exciting opportunities to expand your business and even reach international markets. On the other hand, if you want to visit other countries or even work abroad, Spanish is one of the most useful languages you can learn, as you’ll be able to live in beautiful countries like Spain, Mexico or Colombia and understand the local culture, which will allow you to feel at home there and enjoy your stay much more.
Learn Spanish for Social
If you want to explore Spanish and Latin American art in the city, you should consider becoming a member of ARTES. This registered charity is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of Iberian and Latin American visual culture by organizing different meetings, talks and art exhibitions around Oxford and other important cities in the UK. By becoming a member, you’ll be able to attend private tours at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, located on Beaumont Street, and enjoy the many wonderful paintings, sculptures and objects made by Spanish and Latin American artists. What’s more, you’ll be able to meet art experts from all around the world and other locals who share your interest in the fascinating Hispanic cultures, so if you love art, this group is exactly what you need.
Learn Spanish for Culture
Are you eager to meet other language enthusiasts and native speakers to have conversations in Spanish? If so, you should attend the meetup organized by The Oxford Spanish Intercambio Meetup Group. They organize eight meetings a month where you can meet other Spanish speakers who can help you better your language skills and also help out native speakers who need to work on their English. Meetings always take place at a local pub called The Chequers, located at 131 High Street, and the way they work is during the first hour only Spanish is spoken and the next hour only English so that everybody can improve their conversation skills. Learners of all levels are welcome, so don’t worry if you can’t say many things in Spanish, as you’ll find many like-minded, friendly people who will make you feel comfortable. In addition to the language exchange events, this group also holds city tours in Spanish, movie nights where you can watch Spanish and Latin films and visits to local restaurants that celebrate Hispanic cultures, so don’t miss out on this amazing chance to socialise and expand your knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world!
Where to learn Spanish in and around Oxford?
After reading about the many advantages of learning Spanish in Oxford, you probably wonder how you can get started learning this wonderful language. If you’ve never spoken a word of Spanish and are feeling too self-conscious to attend a language exchange event, you could start by paying a local visit to the Oxfordshire Public Library, located on Queen Street, which has many interesting language materials for beginners like Get Started in Latin American Spanish by Juan Kattan-Ibarra and Essential Spanish Vocabulary by Mike Zollo. On the other hand, if you can already speak some Spanish and want to become a Spanish professional, you could check out the many courses at Oxford University, perfect for those who want to become translators or work as Spanish teachers. Lastly, if you are looking for a special Spanish course that is completely tailored to your unique needs and requirements, your best option in the city is Listen & Learn. Send us a quick enquiry now and we’ll have one of our qualified native Spanish teachers build a one-of-kind language course based on your interests, skill level and language goals that will make the process of learning much more enjoyable! So what are you waiting for? Get started now!