Accommodation

Fishing

Jesus-Tortosa, Spain
January 2007

Dear Friends,

My new friend Ampara has recently opened a new delightful language academy for languages of the 21st Century in Jesús, near Tortosa. It is called "Idiomes Segle 21".

A charming name that floats you back to your childhood days in Africa while learning hundreds and thousands of idioms out of those glorious, well-worn Longman's books. At first, you are amazed when you see Spanish and Catalan written, as to the similarity to English words and you realize so many other Romance languages have Latin roots.

Conquering a new language is such fun and challenging in adulthood! Always go out and about with a small notebook and pen handy. When asking for information I have found my most valued phrase is: Escribir, por favor (write it down please). Note that in Español inverted columns are replaced with hyphens instead of speech marks. You may not grasp their meanings straight away, especially the speed at which they chatter, but if you have it written down the meaning often becomes clear to you. Otherwise, you can always look it up when you get back home. Handy when you are not sure what the supermarket labels mean!

Amparo's new project embraces children from as young as five years to grown-ups. They are taught English in groups or in private sessions, where they are prepared to sit the extremely, valuable University of Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in June each year, here in Tortosa. She comes with a wealth of experience!

If your English children are living and studying in Spain, this is still a valid qualification to display on your CV. While your siblings are grasping any or all of three new languages, primarily Catalan, then Spanish and French, the importance of studying English can lag behind. Yet, here in the EU all these languages are vital and opens so many doors for careers and travel and friendship.

If only we had had the opportunity when we were young! In those days in South Africa in the 60's and 70's, English, Afrikaans and Latin were the order of the school day. I'm pleased to discover that they now can learn a tribal language as well as more European languages. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as I look back with regret for not having made the effort to learning the languages of my group of Convent friends. It is no wonder the nuns called us "The United Nations", where Vicki was German, Tereska was Polish, Zita was Hungarian, Clara was Italian, Diana was Yugoslavian, Fina was Greek, Colleen was Irish, with Winifred and I being English. Wonder where they all are now?

Downstairs at Amparo's there is an excellent selection of Spanish magazines, amongst other stationery requirements. Try and read a Spanish periodical each week, even if you are in the infancy of studying. You can start with a Sopas de Lettres. These are 'Wordsearchers' and the puzzles usually group words by topics, so soon your vocabulary will be up and running. These can always be transferred onto "Address" cards for easy reference at a later stage. You will soon grasp the gossip and news from magazines, allowing you to understand the local television more easily.

Summer evenings will soon be upon us, where everyone spills out onto the streets to meet and - Charlar! Charlar! - Oh yes, they love to chatter away the night and so much more fun to be able to join in! They are so eager to improve on their English and just as enthralled to help you along with your Spanish or Catalan. So please leave your English reserve at the Airport! Say how ever little you know in Spanish or Catalan and then just switch back to English. They will help you along the way. Basically, just have a go!

Regards,

Roseann and family.

PS. Don't worry, you will never forget your English.. especially when your family sends you care packages of magazines and books (even if they are in American English!).