Spanish Language Learning

don Quijote, a market leader in the provision of Spanish language learning, is pleased to announce the launch of its new logo this month. Our company’s updated image reflects our renewed commitment to providing the same quality of education to more than 12,000 students each year. The transition also represents our continual drive for innovation and modernization across our product range, while maintaining the same corporate identity for which we’ve become renowned over the past three decades.

Our company was established in 1986 as an agency for Spanish language schools. In 1989, such was the demand for personalized and high quality courses, our inaugural school opened in Salamanca, from where we have evolved to a network of seven locations throughout Spain and South America, as well as thirty partner schools and over 150,000 satisfied alumni.

The new logo is featured on our website, correspondence and schools. Much like our methods of teaching, our new branding is clearer, and easier to understand. We are at the forefront of Spanish language teaching, and this updated image demonstrates our commitment to preserving this position.

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Spanish food is a really good idea for hosting a dinner with friends. The problem is that it might seem quite hard for those who don’t have much cooking experience. The answer to this is a simple Valencian dish called paella. Cooking paella is actually a lot easier than it looks, honestly it’s probably one of the easiest dinner party recipes out there, while making you look like a star chef. If you’re like me and somehow manage to find a way to burn cereal, than it might seem quite a daunting task, but with this easy to follow guide you will be a master of Valencian cuisine in no time.

Paella's recipe

There are three types of paella:

Paella Marisco: Most famous Paella, seafood. 45 minute preparation, 1 hour cooking.
Paella Valenciana: Traditional version, rabbit, chicken and snails ! 45 min preparation, 45 min cooking.
Paella Vegetariana: A veggie version instead of meat and fish. 45 minute preparation, 45 min cooked.

What you’ll need:

Depending on the size of your group will dictate the paella pan you need for the job. A paella pan is a round metal pan about 5 cm deep evenly spread across a large surface. They vary in price depending on the size. Cooking for 4 people will need a heavy 12 inch pan, or if you want to cook for more people an 18 inch pan should do the job. Best bet is a 12 inch stainless steel pan. You can grab these off any major cooking store on online.

Depending on the Paella you are trying to make, you will need either rabbit (really traditional), boneless chicken breasts or thighs with the skin on, or sea food. The latter is a lot easier to make and tastes better in my view. What you will need though is a large paella size pan, and some foil to place over the pan, as well as a relatively strong hot plate. This is a standard list of what you will need, and will feed about 4 people. Feel free to be creative!

Olive Oil
1 finely chopped onion
1 finely chopped green pepper, red pepper and orange pepper
2 peel and cut carrots
2 skinned and chopped tomatoes
1 table spoon of saffron
About 400g of long grain or paella rice
Seafood: About  1KG depending on servings. Include , prawns, mussels, calamari, etc.
Peas, about 200g
Lemon wedges

Step 1:
Add two to three spoons of olive oil onto the pan, then add your finely chopped onions, peppers and carrots, while frying at a low temperature for two/ three minutes.

Step 2:
Then add the finely chopped garlic cloves, tomatoes and saffron to the pan while stirring the mixture at a low temperature for two to three minutes. Add the rice and stir well to make sure the rice is well coated.

Step 3:
You should then add about 800ml of water to the mixture, or alternatively you can add a prepared seafood stock depending on what you prefer. Bring the mixture to the boil.

Step 4:
Leave the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes.

Step 5:
At this point you should add your seafood, coriander and sugar snap peas. Make sure to keep stirring the pan well.

Step 6:
Then cover the pan and leave to simmer for a further 10 -15 minutes.

Step 7:
Depending on the temperature and your ratio add a little bit of water.

Step 8:
An easy way to tell when the paella is ready is when the mussel shells open, and the rice feels tender. Have a taste if you are unsure!

Step 9:
Then season to taste, with salt, freshly ground black pepper, coriander and lemon wedges.

There you have it! Chuck some Spanish wine on the side and you’re set!

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Kissed on either side by the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, Mexico has nine thousand kilometers of coastline – one and a half thousand more than Spain. We hope that the following beach descriptions help you feel the appeal of this magical country.

Holidays in Mexico

Puerto Escondido

In southern Mexico, on the Pacific coast, in the state of Oaxaca, you'll find the fittingly named Puerto Escondido.

This peaceful haven offers both sandy beaches and lush vegetation landscapes that will delight eco-tourists and hikers. Zicatela Beach is the spot for surfers while Puerto Angelito, Marino and Carrizalillo are all must-visit points for snorkeling and exploring underwater wildlife.

Bahias de Huatulco

Bahías de Huatulco is also in Oaxaca, where a natural rustic flavor survives alongside modern tourist facilities.

Here you can take in spectacular natural landscapes by kayak, while fishing (fish are returned to the water after they're caught), or even while whale watching. Some of the area's best known beaches (practically virgin) are Yerbabuena and Cacaluta.

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Zihuatanejo

To the north of Oaxaca, in the state of Guerrero, is Zihuatanejo, just 6 kilometers from Ixtapa.

Zihuatanejo is an old fishing town that now offers a number of opportunities to see and purchase local art work. This town is a nice alternative to the mass tourism found in other coastal destinations, a perfect place for visitors interested in throwing on a backpack and immersing themselves in local flora and fauna.

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Careyes

Continuing down the Pacific coast, cross the states of Michoacán and Colima to arrive at Jalisco, where Careyes offers an exciting range of water sports such as kayaking, snorkeling, windsurfing and scuba diving. After hitting the beach you can always go horseback riding into the jungle.

Thousands of sea turtles flock to Careyes' beaches each year to deposit their eggs. Participating in a local turtle protection program by helping baby turtles safely reach the ocean is a unique experience.

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Cabo San Lucas

With the Pacific Ocean to the left, make your way north to Sonora, then turn westward to Baja California.

To the south, in Baja California Sur, is where you'll find Cabo San Lucas, one of Mexico's finest tourist destinations, where you can play golf on world class courses and where the winter time birth of gray whales in Magdalena Bay is a natural phenomenon of vital importance.

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Playa Ventura

Now head back south through the state of Guerrero toward Mexico's Caribbean coast and Playa Ventura, a colorful town of small homes that offer inviting accommodation without the fancy extravagance of big beach resorts.

Observe enormous lute turtles or adorable olive ridley turtles in their peaceful natural habitat, take a relaxing stroll through coconut tree groves and take a dip in a fresh water lagoon. Later, try a fresh plate of the best seafood you can imagine.

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Costa Esmeralda

Next, cut over to the Costa Esmeralda in Veracruz, so named for the color of its calm waters that are perfect for sailing, skiing and fishing on.

The area offers postcard-worthy beach scenery at Monte Gordo, Playa Oriente and La Guadalupe, where the incredible natural beauty is surpassed only by the peace and harmony of the coastal atmosphere.

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Playa Escondida

Also in Veracruz, Playa Escondida is not an easy beach to reach as its name indicates.

There's no place to stay here either, which is an extra attraction. You can only get to this hidden away beach on foot, horseback or by boat, and those that make the extra effort to come are rewarded with a unique mix of jungle and beach scenery.

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Tulum

We'll wrap up our tour of coastal Mexico in Quinana Roo. Right in the heart of the Riviera Maya, Tulum is a gorgeous Mayan city set upon a Caribbean coast bluff and surrounded by fascinating history.

Visiting Tulum is like entering an archeological site full of secrets and treasures waiting to be discovered. Just outside of Tulum, you can relax on fantastic beaches or explore underground cenote water pools (cenote Cristal and cenote Escondido are just 5 kilometers from Tulum and cenote Calavera is even closer).

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Photo credits by: mexi || marz (Puerto escondido), Christian Ramiro González Verón (Bahias de Huatulco), Ruben Balderas (Zihuatanejo), Samuel Globus (Careyes), Sanctumsolitude (Cabo San Lucas), Gary Denness (Playa Ventura), Fabrice ROSE (Playa La Guadalupe, Costa Esmeralda), Waywuwei (Playa Escondida), Jeremy Wilburn (Tulum).

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America’s increasing linguistic diversity

According to statistics collected from the 2011 census survey, over 20% of people in America speak a language other than English at home (44% in California). About two thirds of this group speaks Spanish (37.6 million), making Spanish the most spoken language in the country after English, followed by Chinese in a distant third place position with just under 3 million speakers. States with the highest percent of Spanish speakers are Texas, California and New Mexico.

Speaking Spanish

The report shows that of all languages spoken in the US, Spanish has gained the most speakers with 26 million more than in 1980 –that’s a 232% increase. New York has over 3.5 million Spanish speakers and Los Angeles has 4.4 million. About 90% of Laredo, Texas’ population speaks Spanish.

Although English is still the most spoken language in the country and is used in most governmental functions, Spanish use is increasingly appearing in governmental contexts. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine made headlines this year when he gave an entire speech en español on the senate floor. President Obama has also made several television appearances speaking Spanish.

As the United States has no official national language, census statistics are used by the federal government to help determine which language services must be provided in different areas of the country to guarantee language rights protected by laws such as the US Voting Rights Act.

While the new data indicates that the use of Spanish is growing in the US, it’s important to keep in mind that Spanish is nothing new here. Spanish has been spoken in America for as long as or longer than English. California’s original 1849 state constitution stated that laws, regulations and provisions would be “published in English and Spanish”. People often forget that the entire southwestern region of the US including parts of Wyoming, Oklahoma and Kansas used to be a part of Mexico.

The results of the survey also disprove the misconception that increased Spanish use poses a threat to American English –in fact the opposite seems to be true –Spanish speakers reporting that they spoke English “less than very well” has slightly decreased since 2005 (from 5.7% to 5.6%).  

As Spanish experiences an upsurge in use, many European languages seem to be experiencing a decline in speakers. German and French speakers both decreased by 20% and Italian dropped 28%.

The US Census Bureau

The US census bureau’s website offers a new interactive map tool that pinpoints the languages that are spoken around America. Other innovative features here include a population clock that shows the US and world populations as they grow based on a series of monthly estimates (U.S. 316 million, world 7 billion), and the bureau’s first cell phone app that gives users real-time updated information on the US economy.

The site also gives insightful world population data, listing the United States as the country with the 3^rd largest population just behind India and just ahead of Indonesia. The largest Spanish speaking country is Mexico ranking 11^th on the list followed by Spain (28^th) and Colombia (29^th), although the US is estimated to soon surpass Mexico as the country with the largest Spanish speaking population in the world.

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What Spanish stereotypes exist and are they true?

Every country is known for a particular stereotype, it doesn’t matter if it is actually true or not. Whether it’s a cup of tea, fish and chips or brussel sprouts in England, to cheese, wine, snails and frogs in France. The question is though what are the Spanish stereotypes and are they actually true? I am British and this might be a completely biased point of view but this is what I think when it comes to Spanish stereotypes:

Do Spaniards work less hard than other European countries?

Something that I have found to be completely misconstrued is that the Spanish work less hard than other Europeans, truth be told it depends on what your definition of working hard is. According to statistics they actually have the longest average working week, at 38.4 hours. You could go out to the country to find people doing 3am shifts and napping all day, to people putting in 50 hour shifts in city centres or businesses etc. People are adamant that because there appears to be a holiday nearly every day that the Spanish don’t work. This has grown more so post economic recession, with the uninformed blaming the Spanish unemployment and financial crisis on this misinformed idea. This is something that is
false through and through. 

What time is it? Siesta time!

The siesta is supposed to be a short nap or a quick shut eye after lunch. Most places in Spain give you 2 hours for lunch, from 14.00 to 16.00, and then you carry on working. Although some people have a siesta,  most people use this time to pick up their kids, go home, cook, eat, drop their kids, and go back to work. Not much time for siesta in reality is it…
Some truth.

They love bullfighting

This is not true. Bullfighting is no longer classed as a sport but rather a cultural tradition. In a lot of communities bull fighting has been banned and is considered quite controversial. It might be a tradition but it is one fighting a losing battle.
Not true.

They only speak Spanish

It might be the second most spoken language in the world and something definitely worth learning, but they do speak Euskera, Catalan and Galego in different areas of Spain. Places like Benidorm, Marbella, Madrid and Valencia have a massive amount of tourism and in all likelihood you can go around just speaking English. Unlike the English, waiters, receptionists and service staff are usually very proficient at speaking a multitude of other languages.  
Wrong.

Tacataaaa, livin la vida loca, salsa and flamenco

Especially when in it comes to music the majority of Europe tend to believe that music, dance and culture all roll into one. Contrary to popular belief Ricky Martin is not Spanish, you are not born with the ability to dance flamenco, and Spain is not Mexico with mariachi bands on every corner. Flamenco is a very difficult dance and needs a lot of practice; it is not something you can improvise.  Truth be told though from what I have seen Spain does play Euro top 10 trash in clubs and bars nearly all night.
Some truth.

They are loud

I’ll admit that when you are in England you can tell there is a Spanish family there from a mile away. They do sound quite loud, but whereas in England we would raise our voice if we are angry, it’s not the same for Spaniards who may quickly raise their voice when discussing something but this clearly does not imply anger.
This one might be true.

Dark hair, dark eyes, dark skin

I won’t bother go into detail but although the majority tend to be brunette and slightly darker, you still get blonde Spaniards with blue eyes so
it’s not true.

Sun, Sea and Beach

Geography seems to go right out of the window when people think of Spain. It somehow becomes invincible to winter or the cool chill it might bring. To be clear, summer is hot, winter is cold. Again the Mediterranean is really nice to swim in and generally is quite warm, but not all year round.
False

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Tourism in Spain

For a country which has always been a tourist powerhouse, Spain still suffers from high unemployment, one of the highest in the Eurozone. This might be quite hard for people to understand considering Spain attracts over 55 million tourists every year, bringing 1,500 million euros worth of income into the country. Spanish tourism is actually generating more income than before the economic crisis, so what else do they have to do to? The Answer: Sponsorship, gambling, construction, price hikes and privatization:

Selling out to corporate giants

Vodafone have now apparently taken over the Madrid underground system, purchasing the rights to rebrand the entire line for an estimated 3 million euros. Madrid’s central metro station Puerta Del Sol has been renamed Vodafone Sol, with line 2 being rebranded line 2 Vodafone. This has undoubtedly been greeted with some resentment, a possible reminder of the Franco regime where street names were changed without any prior warning. The site was also the focal point for protests during the recession.

What happens in Vegas…

If that wasn’t enough, backed by the American Gambling Association powerhouse Las Vegas Sands, there are plans to build the largest casino in Europe just outside of Madrid in what was a fierce battle between the Catalan giant and the Spanish capital. The 35 billion dollar project is set to bring 10,000 new jobs to Spain with a further 160,000 directly and 90,000 indirectly, and is estimated to be completed by 2025, with 6 casinos, 4 hotels, 9 theatres and 3 golf courses. EuroVegas though has been met by fierce competition, especially Conservative politicians, the Catholic Church, and outraged citizens. They share the opinion that the project is set to open Spain up to human trafficking, prostitution, drugs and gambling addiction. To add insult to injury the Madrid government are bending tax evasion laws for the American powerhouse and are even trying to overturn a ban which will stop smoking in enclosed indoor areas.

The belief is that this is the answer to Madrid’s economic problems, but this may be a gamble too far for the Spanish government. Leading experts say that this mass construction frenzy was what got Spain to where they are now, and that their economic model is not suitable for gambling, construction, but more on tourism and exports.

More Construction…

While excessive construction may have got Spain into this miss, they are also planning to tear down a belle époque building and courtyard in Madrid’s Plaza de Canalejas, in lieu of plans to construct a 5 Star hotel and shopping mall. 18 Major architects have signed a petition against the destruction of the building claiming it as a historic monument, but it seems as if the plan is to go ahead.

Privatization and Price Hikes

Privatization of hospitals may be on hold due to a ruling from the Spanish high Court, but plans to raise Spanish tuition fees are certainly moving forward. Madrid’s public universities will increase in price by 20% next year, a 65% rise in two years. This is in a country where the value of a degree is imperative no matter what job prospects you have.

While these moves may be considered quite controversial, considering the state the economy is in I’m unsure whether they have any other choice. The real test will come after the summer months are over and will definitely be a reality check for the Spanish economy when tourism drops, if EuroVegas falls through maybe their bid for the 2020 Olympics will be the answer they are looking for.

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Free Tapas!

Granada, a Spanish gem in Andalucia, is famous for the Alhambra Palace, Sierra Nevada and… free tapas! It is one of the few remaining cities in Spain that will bring you free food every time you order a drink; something almost incomprehensible given the cheap drink prices and large food portions… But who’s complaining? With so many places to choose from, this is by far the best way of eating out in Granada.

The best street for a tapas crawl would be Calle Elvira, just off Gran Vía. This street is lined with tapas bars, and is probably the most “touristy” although still ridiculously cheap. There are promoters who will try to get you into their tapas bars, although with tapas bars that are next to each other anyway, it is easy enough for you to choose your own places to go to.

Tapas Bars in Granada

La Bella y La Bestia, a chain of four tapas bars in Granada, claim the title to the best free tapas in Granada. The one on Calle Elvira has got a very friendly atmosphere and these bars are famous for their first free tapas of a ham and cheese bagel (vegetarian available on request), pasta salad and chips with ketchup and ali-oli (garlic mayonnaise). I know what you’re thinking… a bagel is hardly on the list of famous Spanish foods, but that said, it fills a gap and although it may not be the best free tapas in town, it is certainly very tasty.

Babel, also along this street offers you a massive range of free tapas which you can choose from. You can choose two tapas per group, and they offer all different types of cuisine, ranging from oven-baked pasta to teriyaki pork. With so many tasty dishes to try, it is worth having a few beers in this bar, which always has a buzzing yet laid-back atmosphere and attracts a whole array of young people and travelers.

Plaza Trinidad, perhaps a bit more of a calmer atmosphere, offers a few tapas bars which are worth checking out.

Bar Reca has a lovely relaxed atmosphere, although it can get busier and louder at the weekends. An elegant bar filled with business men and students, this bar attracts all sorts of people. It is worth staying here for a couple of drinks, as the tapas tends to get better the more you order.

Just off Plaza Trinidad, a hidden tapas bar called D´Cuadros. You will spot the black and white checkered sign, but you won’t think to go down this quiet street. Well, you should. D´Cuadros, particularly lively at the weekends, is a funky modern bar, with some of the best Ribera Del Duero you will find at crazily cheap prices. You can choose your tapas from a unique and mixed menu, including as well some Spanish classics.

Plaza Romanilla, known by the locals as “Plaza del Burro” due to the donkey statue in the square, is a very beautiful square right next to the cathedral, filled with lots of cafés, restaurants and tapas bars.

Restaurants in Granada

Ermita, a stylish restaurant, also gives tapas every time you order a drink. It has a lovely outside area which is ideal for the summer. You can’t really predict which tapas you’re going to get here, as it changes every time, but you can be sure it will be good quality whatever it is!

El Deseo, another stylish restaurant in this square offers a place where you can eat at the back of the restaurant from the menu, or sit in the bar, which is where you will get your free tapas. A lovely restaurant with friendly staff where you can order cocktails or a particular glass of wine for whatever mood you’re in (yes, really!). The tapas portions are sizeable and good-quality, and in terms of the restaurant, the food is beautifully presented and delicious; the best chicken salad in the world; presented in a filo pastry shell!

For something a bit different, and more in line with the Moorish culture of Granada, just off from Calle Elvira and on Calle de la Calderería Nueva, you will find a lovely traditional Tetería (famous for its Arabic teas) called Kasbah. The food here is traditional Arabic; dishes with a lovely blend of spices, as well as Arabic-style tapas to share. It is a friendly, intimate and romantic restaurant where you will find something a bit different for a reasonable price.

In addition to tapas bars and restaurants, why not try one of Andalucía’s guilty pleasures… a shawarma. Similar to a kebab, these fast food delicacies can be found in fast-food places all around Granada, with the best ones around Calle Elvira. Ideal for those cravings after a night on the town, or if you want a filling meal for just €3!

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Beat the heat with this top ten Summer drink selection!

1. Pisco sour

The origins of this sweet drink are a bit of a controversy; the bordering countries of Chile and Peru both claim it as their own. What everyone agrees on however is that the drink must be made with a good pisco, some syrup (water + sugar) to sweeten, an egg white, and a bit of lemon.

Mix these ingredients in a cocktail mixer and then add a a few drops (no more than just two or three) of angostura bitters.

2. Margarita

Can you imagine Mexican food without a refreshing margarita? Take 50 cl. (16.9 ounces) of your favorite tequila, 20 cl. (6.7 ounces) of Triple Sec or Cointreau (the latter is sweet), and some lemon.

Shake and serve in a glass with a salted brim.

3. Sangrita

Not to be confused with sangría, this drink is made with tomato juice (3 parts), orange juice (1 part) and lime (1/2 part), and seasoned with a dash of salt and pepper and even Tabasco sauce if you like spicy flavors, or perhaps Worcestershire sauce.

This drink goes perfect with tequila añejo before lunch.

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4. Sangría de cava

Here's a white version of this Spanish classic. It's made with semi-dry or brut cava, the juice from one lemon and half of an orange, a pinch of sugar, and perhaps a bit of rum or triple sec.

Then add an orange, a peach, and strawberries that have all been cut into small chunks. We recommend serving immediately to not lose the sparkling magic of the cava.

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5. Sangría

Make this perfect summer drink with a nice red wine, the juice from three oranges and one lemon, sugar (as desired) and a stick of cinnamon.

Then add cut pieces of apple, peach, apricot and banana. It's best to cool it in the refrigerator to serve cold without adding ice.

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6. Rebujíto

Anyone that's been to the Feria de Sevilla must remember the rebujito: a wine from Jerez or Manzanilla with the added touch of a carbonated lime refreshment and a few hierbabuena leaves (like sweet mint) to create a refreshing and aromatic beverage.

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7. Mojito

The mixed drink loved by Hemingway and known the world over comes from the Caribbean island nation of Cuba.

White Cuban rum and grinded hierbabuena leaves in the bottom of a glass with a spoonful of sugar, a little carbonated water and plenty of ice make up this popular drink.

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8. Palomita

This drink reminds us that Spain is indeed a Mediterranean country: the palomita (anisette, sweet or dry, plus five parts cold water) is the Spanish version of the French pastis, the Greek ouzo, the Turkish raki and the lebanese arak.

Refreshing and fragrant.

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9. Daiquiri

Our list of summer drinks wouldn't be complete without this marvelously simple cocktail made with two parts white rum and one part lime juice and served in a glass with sugar on the brim.

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10. Piña colada

For experiencing the South American tropics, there's nothing like filling your drink mixer with equal parts of white rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream.

Shake and serve with a slice of pineapple decorating the brim of the glass.

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Photo credits by: Reese Lloyd (Pisco Sour), Pfau 910 (Sangría de cava), Colonnade Boston (Sangría), German Laullon (rebujito), Kenn Wilson (daiquiri).

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The Sun Also Rises in San Fermin this 2019

Dear reader, surely at some point you have wished to attend to a festivity so thrilling it is worthy of inspiring a novelist to create his greatest work. And speaking of such novelists, if you´re imagining a novelist so accomplished they have even won the Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Prize in Literature, this festival is indeed a guaranteed success. As many of you might have already guessed, we’re talking about San Fermin.

It is known that Ernest Hemingway felt an attraction so strong for this special celebration that he included it in his novel The Sun Also Rises, but he hasn’t been the only one. Orson Welles, Ava Gardner, Errol Flynn, Deborah Kerr, Charlton Heston, Tyrone Power, Dennis Rodman, Bill Clinton, are few among many other figures in varying fields to form part of this “sanferminera” loyalty.

Keep reading in English, or click here to switch to Spanish, and discover everything you must know about this “bestseller” celebration.

What should I wear?

As any significant event, San Fermin has its own rules of etiquette. To become an authentic “pamplonica” you will have to get some white pants, a white T-shirt, a red handkerchief, and a red waistband.

While the tradition of wearing all white is recent, from the 1970s, the red handkerchief has its history. And it remains a mystery, because there still exists several hypotheses about the origin of its red color. One theory explains that it symbolizes the martyrdom of Saint Fermin, who was beheaded at the young age of 31. Other hypotheses say that it’s red to encourage bulls during “encierros” or because of Navarra’s flag.

Remember! Before the “chupinazo” kicks off the festival, the handkerchief must be tied around the wrist. Afterwards, it’s worn around the neck (or wherever you want).

The takeoff

There’s nothing like a traditional song to obtain valuable information:

Uno de enero, 2 de febrero, 3 de marzo, 4 de abril, 5 de mayo, 6 de junio, 7 de julio San Fermin. A Pamplona hemos de ir.

Ok, after listening the same old song year after year, I think that the most of us have a pretty clear idea about the meeting’s day and location. However! It can lead to error. Yes indeed, San Fermin is July 7^th. But the festivity starts every year on July 6^th at 12:00 noon. At this moment the “chupinazo” takes place, and fireworks are launched from the balcony of Pamplona’s hall balcony to mark the opening of the “sanfermines.”

This is the moment when you will hear: Pamploneses, Pamplonesas, ¡Viva san Fermin! ¡Gora san Fermin!

Here, if you can’t run, you’d better fly            

At 8 a.m, during two to three minutes, the city’s main street fills with adrenaline. It’s the moment of the world-famous running of the bulls or encierros.

Along a 950-yard-long circuit, bulls and humans compete in a vertiginous race that concludes in the bullring.

According to records, just a 14% of the runners in the “encierro” are from Pamplona. To live out this ‘‘once in a lifetime’’ kind of experience, runners come from all around the world, among them, 20% are American, an 8% are Australians, a 3% are from England, and a 1% are French.

If you’re planning on being one of these brave runners that dare to put themselves in front of six bulls, you better entrust yourself to a saint. That’s why this song exists and is dedicated to our beloved Saint Fermin:

A San Fermín pedimos, por ser nuestro patrón, nos guíe en el encierro, dándonos su bendición.

But San Fermin is not only about running of the bulls. Music too has a presence in all the celebrations, from the “dianas” of "La Pamplonesa" to concerts and traditional charangas to the bullfight’s “pasodobles.”

Other predominant activities are the “Riau-Riau,” held on July 6^th, and parades, such as the “Giants, big-heads, kilikis, and zaldikos parade” (Giants, with more than 159 years old of history, are the most emblematic symbols of the festivity. They are figures made of wood, cardboard, and cloth that are accompanied by “kilikis,” big-heads, and “zaldikos.” Together, they make up the “Comparsa”). Behind each giant pair, “comparseros,”,bagpipers, and “txistularis” (musicians) set the tone.

 

Furthermore, every night at 11 p.m, a firework spectacle lasting 15 to 25 minutes is held at the citadel park.

The festivity finishes on July 14^th at 12 midnight. If you don’t want to miss it, take a Spanish course and intone perfectly the song that says goodbye until the next year:

¡Pobre de mí, pobre de mí, que se han acabado las fiestas de San Fermín! 

 

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A Business Solution

The world is networking, cultures are coming together, economies are connecting, businesses unbound by borders are building bonds. Ours is an increasingly globalized world, a place where monolingual English speaking professionals are increasingly edged out of business positions by multilingual colleagues who can hurdle language barriers. It’s a world where nearly 500 million people speak Spanish. Having a great time in a business Spanish course preparing to share a special connection with roughly half a billion global citizens just makes good business sense.

A wise investment. An unforgettable experience

It’s no secret that full cultural and linguistic immersion in a country that speaks your target language, combined with intensive formal instruction, is the learning formula that produces maximum results. Don’t have much time availability? Keep in mind that just 2 to 4 weeks of a course specifically designed to build your business Spanish skills can equip you with communication tools that will make mobility in Spanish speaking business spheres more comfortable, and relationships more personal and direct. The ability to engage clients and colleagues in their own language helps earn trust; a competitive advantage for professionals in any international field.

When you head off to your host country, prepare to absorb the rich textures of language and culture that will surround you every day, where you’ll gain first-hand insight into the life of a different country. Awareness and sensitivity to cultural differences are essential to language study and effective communication in international contexts. Observing your own command of Spanish as it noticeably increases is in itself an enjoyable and highly rewarding experience, particularly when taking your newly acquired Spanish abilities outside of the classroom to interact with the residents of your study destination.   

Positions available. Spanish speakers needed

A business Spanish course abroad is also an ideal solution for college students, recent grads, and job seekers hoping to enhance their résumés. Employers value candidates with global skills, and speaking the Western Hemisphere’s most widely understood language (Spanish) is clearly a global skill. Spanish is in fact the second most spoken language in the world in terms of native speakers after Chinese. The growing economies of many Latin American countries have increased international trade en español.  

When you return from your life changing experience building Spanish skills abroad, you’ll feel fully prepared to join the conversation. Developing Spanish communication skills and cultural appreciation fosters understanding, gains confidence, and increases international business competitiveness, qualities employers love to see. International study experience also proves that you embrace challenges and have dealt with the challenges of adapting to new environments; attractive selling points when convincing companies that you’ll make an ideal addition to their international team.

A globalizing world

International borders appear increasingly blurry as technological advances make international communication more convenient and cost effective. Members of the global business community increasingly rely on foreign language skills when making direct contact with clients and colleagues. Speaking the native language of your partners and customers gives you an invaluable advantage, as it allows you to create a personal relationship that you just don’t get when depending on an interpreter. A Spanish business course in a Spanish speaking country will give you the language to build productive relationships, and you may even make personal or professional connections with your classmates, as you will all share a common goal; to speak better Spanish for doing great business.

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