Spanish Language & Walking Holidays – Science proves it is not just an “off-beat” idea!

Learn Spanish while you walk – not just an ‘off-beat’ idea.

When I started our Spanish Language and Walking holidays 12 years ago the combination seemed to make good common sense! Not only would I, at least, get to do two things I loved, but the walks appeared to add another dimension to language learning all of their own.  Walking  immediately put people at their ease – they could hang back, stride forward, mix and mingle and no one was ever put on the spot to speak up unless they wanted to. On the other hand, the beautiful landscapes, the village fiestas, the beers in local bars etc. all provided endless topics of conversation and so although no one was ever put ‘on the spot’  – everybody had something to say! Conversation, naturally,  bubbled forth (mistakes and all!). Words and expressions also seemed easier to remember …‘castaño’ (chestnut) was more likely to stick in the memory archives  had you accidently sat on one over a picnic lunch,  ‘pásame el vino por favor’  if there was actually a bottle (or bota) to hand; and the expression ‘ secorro! ‘ (help!) would never be forgotten again if we really did have to send in the emergency services to rescue you 🙂 ! 

And … 

Science has now proven me right! A few months ago Paul, a psychology lecturer, and former Pyrenean Experience guest/friend  forwarded me an article from Scientific American Mind (July/August 2009) which shows proof that there is a powerful link between physical activity and

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The Romance Languages

The Romance Languages

   Similarities between the Romance Languages  The similarities between all Romance languages are striking, even to the novice. The Spanish and the Italians, and the Spanish and the Portuguese do not have great problems understanding each other. Having learned one Romance language you have an excellent basis for learning the next, not only as far as vocabulary is concerned, but also as far as structure and thinking processes.   

For a start, the majority of English words ending in ‘- ion’, ‘- ary’, ‘- ible/ -able’ and ‘-ant/ -ent’  are very similar in all Romance languages:   administration:  amministrazione (It), administration (F), administración (Sp)   

  necessary:        necessario (It),  nécessaire (F), necesario (Sp)   

  possible:           possible (It),  possible (F),  possible (Sp)   

  probable:         probabile (It), probable (F), probable (Sp)   

 constant:          constante (It), constant (F), constante (Sp)   

 present:            presente (It),  present (F), presente (Sp)    

 Understanding which words tend to be similar in English and the Romance languages gives you an immediately vocabulary of over a 1000 words in French, Italian and Spanish.   

 Here are some more examples of words easily recognised from one Romance language to the next:   

school:             scuola (It), école (F), escuela (Sp)  

castle:              castello (It), château (F), castilla (Sp)   

escape:             scappare (It), échapper (F), escapar (Sp)   

 cost:                 costa (It), côte (F), costa (Sp)   

 visit:                visitare (It) visiter (F) visitar (Sp)   

 Changes in spelling.

 Looking at the previous sets of words we can see that each language has put its own  fingerprints on the original Latin words. Certain consonants change predictably from one language to the next – often because their sounds are very close, and easily distorted by changes in accent and spelling. Once you know which consonants are likely to differ from the English – or switch between themselves – you should find it easier to detect the ultimate similarities between words.  

The ph – f – changes:   

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Spanish – English Bi-cultural House Parties (A Rhapsody in Cultural Differences)

Bi-cultural Spanish/English Pyrenean House Party 2000

In 1999 my first ´bi-cultural´ house parties gained coverage on national Spanish television. They were bizarre, great fun, hard work, a fascinating show case for cultural differences between the Spanish and the English (and a nightmare in parallel marketing!)

The farmhouse hosted a roughly equal number of Spanish and English-speaking guests and, during this 10-day bi-cultural, bi-lingual holiday, we would alternate the language spoken and the house culture (food, music, videos) etc. on a daily basis. Actresses, lawyers, butchers and vegetarians of both nationalities all ventured up the track to the Pyrenean Farmhouse.

Cultural differences

These house parties were perfect ‘Big Brother’ material – not only do people’s true colours shine through on such a holiday but so too do common cultural characteristics.

Over the next few days I will write my own anecdotes on the differences I have encountered in cultural attitudes and perceptions between the British and the Spanish. I will touch on some of the following subjects:

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