"Everything going very well."
Anita Barrett
Spanish course in Cork, Sector PMO, PepsiCo.
Spanish Lessons in Reading
Did you know that the Spanish language is regulated by an institution called the Royal Spanish Academy, founded in the 18th century? Its headquarters are in Madrid, although it operates other language academies in the 21 other countries that speak Spanish. The academy prides itself on inventing the use of the inverted question and exclamation marks, which are unique to the Spanish language. Similarly, it’s responsible for is the letter ñ, which was introduced to the Spanish alphabet 200 years ago.
If you want to know more about the Spanish language and its features, contact us at Listen & Learn today. We will prepare a personalised course for you to achieve your learning goals in a short time. For example, if you are planning to use the language abroad, we can focus your lessons on either European or Latin American Spanish to ensure you are understood, no matter where you decide to travel. Our instructors will help you understand the difference between the “vos” used in Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina and “tú” used in Spain, Chile and Colombia.
And learning Spanish can also be useful locally, as Reading has more than 3,000 residents who speak Spanish at home. Thus, you’ll never run out of opportunities to put your new skills into play, such as by attending the meetings of Lively Spanish Conversation Meetup that take place every week.
Contact us at Listen & Learn today and study at your own pace and time, no matter how busy your schedule. Soon, you’ll be able to watch La Casa de Papel or Vis-a-Vis without English subtitles!
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Spanish
These Spanish lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students who have a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Spanish—required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population—students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Spanish-culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Spanish examination. 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
Lessons in Spanish are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Spanish Lessons or Small Group In-Company Spanish Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs for areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Spanish sessions can be run with as many as 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 speaker qualified Spanish language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning, afternoon or evening. In certain circumstances, if your home or office is not available, you can take your classes at the trainer's office. Course books are provided. 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
Two or more people can benefit studying Spanish together as these Spanish lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Spanish Lessons or Small Group In-Company Spanish Lessons). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Spanish Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Top Tips For…
spanish Entertainment
Gran Hotel - Netflix Series
If you like period dramas, then you will surely enjoy “Gran Hotel”, a superb production with plenty of romance and intrigue. The story is set in the 1910s and follows Julio, a man who arrives at the Gran Hotel to speak with his sister, head chambermaid Christina, only to find out she has disappeared. So, he decides to pose as a footman to find out what happened. This Spanish drama has more than 80 gripping episodes for you to binge-watch while improving your European Spanish. Even if the series is set in the previous century, you will certainly learn useful words and expressions for modern-day interactions! Here you can find more information about the seriesspanish Entertainment
Spanish Film Festival
Every year, London hosts the fantastic Spanish Film Festival, established in 2002, where you can find more than 50 ground-breaking Spanish and Latin American movies screened in their original language. This event features the most representative films from Spanish-speaking countries of the year, so why not attend this festival and watch classic and traditional Hispanic films without English subtitles? This way, you’ll pick up new words, improve your listening comprehension skills and learn more about Spanish and Latin American cultures. Most of the time, actors and directors also attend the festival, so you can approach them afterwards and speak to them in Spanish! Click here to know more about the festival.The House of Bernarda Alba - Play
“The House of Bernarda Alba” is a classic play written by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca in 1936. It is entirely set in Bernarda’s house, where you can take a peek at her family life with her five daughters, her maid and many other servants. It explores the themes of sexual repression, inheritance and violence among three generations of women who live in the same house. You can watch this award-winning production at the Cervantes Theatre in London, where it is delivered entirely in Spanish. So, as it’s fast-paced and uses complicated grammatical structures, this play is recommended for intermediate to advanced students. Click here to learn more about this play.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 Apps
Green Line
Green Line is a Spanish app that is currently available in more than 300 municipalities throughout the country. It aims to improve the quality of life of Spanish citizens by solving incidents on public roads, promote communication with public officers and more. So, using the app, users can let the town hall know about broken street benches, defective street lamps or traffic lights, etc. If you decide to collaborate, you will even get a notification when the problem is resolved. And the best part is that you don’t need to be an advanced-level Spanish speaker to operate it and the app is intuitive and easy to use; so, it is handy for Spanish learners as well as native speakers. Download the app here!spanish Apps
Busuu
Spanish grammar can be a bit tricky sometimes and requires a lot of practise. Fortunately, you can download an array of apps that can help you take your grammar to the next level with very useful exercises and resources, such as Busuu. Regardless of your level, you can take advantage of their audio files, pictures and multiple-choice exercises to improve your skills. Furthermore, it has a forum that gives you the chance to connect with other students. So, you’ll be able to share experiences, talk about the exercises and even practise your speaking skills via the sharing of audio files. Click here to find out more about the app.Mi No Dieta
If you are looking for help to start more healthily, Mi No-Dieta (My no diet) is here to help! Designed by expert nutritionists, the app guides the user to create a 30-day eating plan depending on their needs and preferences. If you don’t like fish, for example, the app will recommend vegetables and eggs instead. And not only will you get a list of recommended meals but you can contact specialists any time via the app. This is a great way to practise your foreign language vocabulary and learn more about food and meals in Spanish while staying healthy! Learn more about the app here!spanish Comedy
Esperando la Carroza
Are you looking to improve your listening skills in Spanish in the comfort of your own home while learning more about the Argentinian culture? Then, Esperando la Carroza is a movie you should not miss. This comedy follows the Rodriguez family who suddenly lose Mamá Cora and believe her dead, with amusing scenes that take place during the funeral. Today, most people in Argentina know the characters’ lines. So, by watching this hilarious movie, you’ll be able to pick up a lot of puns and cultural references to help you to integrate with the locals if you ever go to Argentina. Here you can find more information about this Argentinian movie.spanish Comedy
Un Novio para mi Mujer
Are you planning to visit Argentina soon? If so, you’ll find the locals’ slang and high use of cultural references can be difficult to comprehend. Fortunately, you can become familiar by watching movies at home. One of the must-watch Argentinian comedy is Un Novio para mi Mujer, a movie that follows Carlos, a man who wants to get a divorce but doesn’t know how to say it to his wife. One of his friends suggests that it would be easier if his wife falls out of love with him instead, so the movie depicts hilarious situations where Carlos tries to make Victoria hate him. Find out more about the movie here.8 Apellidos Vascos
Watching comedy can be a lot of fun and it’s even better if you watch them in the language you are learning. For example, watching Spanish comedy can be of great help when improving your listening skills and picking up some new vocabulary. So, why not enjoy high-quality Spanish productions, like 8 Apellidos Vascos? This movie deals with the ridiculous prejudice some people have about those who come from the Andalucia and El País Vasco regions, through a humorous lens. If you enjoy irony and jokes, then you’ll certainly have a laugh with the absurd situations depicted in the film! Read more about the film here!spanish Lifestyle
Drink Some Mate - Argentina
Argentinians are known for carrying their mates everywhere they go, but what are these exactly? A mate is a drink made up of yerba, hot water, a straw and sugar. But mate is much more than just a drink: it’s a tradition. Although you can drink mate on your own, most people share it with friends, family or even strangers. Also, you should consider that some people prefer to drink mate dulce (with sweetener or sugar) or mate amargo (without sugar). Have a taste of both and decide which one you like best! Click here to learn more about mate!spanish Lifestyle
Dance Flamenco - Spain
Flamenco is a highly expressive dance form originally from Spain, characterised by clapping, percussion and movements of the body, arms and hands. Most of the time, the dancer is a woman, who dances to the rhythm of a song and guitar. If you plan to learn it, there are some terms associated with flamenco that you should learn, like “corto” (a singer skilled only in some styles but not in others) or “braceo” (the movement of the dancer’s arms). Improve your mind-body coordination and build your confidence while embracing this cornerstone of Spanish culture! Learn more about Flamenco here!Celebrate el Dia de los Muertos - Mexico
El Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican traditional celebration that honours those who have passed away. It’s celebrated every year on the 1st and 2nd November. In Mexico, it is believed that those who are not remembered by their families will just fade away and never reach paradise. So, during these days, people pray for the ones who died to be welcomed into Heaven. Some other traditions include visiting the graves of family and loved ones and preparing altars at the cemetery with food, candles, flowers and photographs to remember them. Learn more about the Day of the Death here.Testimonials
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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
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From our clients all over the world
Angus Mccallum BG Group
Language learned: French in Reading.
Job Center Plus
Language learned: German in Leeds.
