Buenos Aires

So, you have just returned home from one of the most amazing overseas experiences of your life. You may feel some post-holiday blues when faced with the disturbing fact of having to return to the daily grind and are unable to shake the incredible memories of the last few months. Whether you were travelling, living or studying Spanish in Latin America or Spain, you are surely to have met a bunch of really interesting people and generally become more culturally enriched from the whole experience. Hopefully for all of you, the joy of reconnecting with friends and family soothes this temporary pain quickly and what will remain is the desire to make your daily schedule back at home more interesting by incorporating some attitudes you had while overseas. Another thing to be considered when time overseas comes to a close is that if you really want to, there will be another adventure in the future.

Backpackers

After a 10-month trip to South America, Europe and Asia in 2011, I was personally in a depressive-like state for weeks after my return. I really put this down to having looked forward to that trip since the age of 13, and quite so suddenly (as we all know time flies when having fun), it was over. This sad state finally came to a close when I found myself in a new workplace with the funnest group of people who lifted me right out of my post-holiday longing.  Despite an awesome year working there, my desire to return to Buenos Aires was huge and I decided I better do it while youth was on my side.

Destination No. 1

I came back to Buenos Aires late last year to live and learn Spanish properly as it had always been something that really interested me. Being Australian and having only ever spoken English, I came to be surrounded in Spanish class by the most impressive young Europeans who already had 2-3 languages under their belt. This blew my mind and really made me appreciate the importance of being able to communicate with as many people around the world as possible.

Spanish classroom

While I prematurely become nervous about my return home, I am really starting to ponder what ways there are to maintain my Spanish ability in Australia. In my view, to continue speaking Spanish at home would be a brilliant way to, in a way, extend the overseas learning experience and hopefully make us more employable. After months of thought, these seem to be the best options to continue speaking and understanding Spanish at home:

 
WATCHING LATIN FILMS

Learning Spanish through film is just awesome in building knowledge in sentence structure, vocabulary and very importantly, listening skills. As listening is, for a huge percentage of people, the most difficult aspect of learning a language, it’s great to keep your ears accustomed to the sounds made in Spanish. It would be great if you were to perhaps return to a Spanish-speaking country one day and not be completely shocked by the speed and intonation used by the locals!

Latin film

LISTENING TO MUSIC AND AUDIO LANGUAGE COURSES

These things are going to be using the same skills mentioned above in the film recommendation. Firstly, if you have satellite radio, search for foreign stations. With latin music, vocabulary and listening skills will be gained and it will be extremely beneficial to listen to them repeatedly. Audio language courses these days are fortunately quite extensive and obviously efficient in many ways. Download a bestselling audio course directly to your MP3 player or iPod and take all your language learning with you. There are many different courses out there available such as Collins Language, WH Smith, BBC Language and many more. Audio courses encourage a more instinctive approach to learning by immersing you in the language from the start of each course. Many include tips to help you remember each lesson, and cultural advice on local customs.

Audio Language Course

READ ONLINE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

The Internet also offers a variety of newspapers, trade magazines and journals that will help keep you informed and help learn new expressions. One example is onlinenewspapers.com, which offers “thousands of world newspapers at your fingertips.”

Variety of Spanish language newspapers

CONTACT LANGUAGE COLLEGES THAT OFFER ¨STUDENT NIGHTS¨

It is safe to say that everywhere in the world, language colleges offer a wide variety of activities and social events that encourage their students to get out there and meet some locals. This would be an awesome way to share learning experiences with some nice international students, some of whom might hopefully be students who are native-Spanish speaking. From there, a friendship could start that could benefit both you and the student whether you decide to speak half the time in Spanish and the other half speaking your native language.

Language community

JOIN A LANGUAGE CLUB

Such groups often hold conversation circles where non-native speakers can practice. If no club exists near you, consider starting one yourself. Websites like Meetup.com can be useful for finding clubs or connecting with like-minded language learners.

Good luck with improving your Spanish, meeting new people, enjoying life at home and planning your next adventure!

Did you know that approximately 407 million people across the globe speak Spanish as their native language, making it the second-most spoken language by number of native speakers after Mandarin? It also boasts 60 million speakers as a second language and 20 million students as a foreign language.

Spanish Spoken Worldwide

In the last 40 years, the study of the Spanish language has grown significantly due to many contributing factors. The two most important are the growing population demographics and economies of many Spanish-speaking countries and of course, expanding international tourism.

Spanish-speaking world

People who plan language study, holidays or living experiences in Spanish-speaking countries generally have a variety of reasons for choosing to do so. Some great reasons for learning Spanish abroad are:

• To keep pace with popular culture

• It can be a business necessity

• It can completely transform a travel experience

• The Latino market is one of the fastest-growing market segment in North America. By 2015, their buying power is expected to reach 1.5 trillion.

• It allows for a better appreciation of Hispanic culture

• Communication with Spanish-speakers at home

• Improves employment potential

• Improves knowledge of your own language

• Having fun and completely expanding your universe!

Students

Something that should be taken into consideration when choosing your destination for studying Spanish abroad is that Spanish is spoken differently everywhere you go. For instance, the pronunciation of the letters y, ll, z and c in Spain is quite different to that in Argentina. Others exist like grammar and vocabulary differences but when it comes down to it, these changes can be compared to the ones between British English and American English. It is more evident in the spoken language than in writing, but they aren’t so extreme that you can’t learn the differences as you need them. Becoming aware of the varieties of the language between regions as well as the language commonality  which tie its 407 million speakers together, is part of the fun. Rest assured, whatever variety of Spanish you learn, you will be understood all over the Spanish-speaking world.

Spanish conversation

Choosing the destination in which to learn Spanish may be the hardest decision for many which is why I would like to give an outline of the differences in Spanish-learning experiences in Argentina and Spain. When choosing where to learn Spanish, focus on where you would like to be during a particular season, what kind of adventure you would like to have and, naturally, your budget.

SPAIN

Due to the current economic collapse in Spain, it is relatively cheap to travel in Spain in comparison with other European countries. Offering many Spanish institutes in a number of destinations including Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Seville, Valencia, Salamanca, Tenerife and Malaga, Spain is a popular choice. It’s one of the sunniest countries in Europe, the beaches are beautiful during Spring and Summer, and its proximity to the rest of Europe is a great advantage. Consequently, the different cities and landscape to be explored within Spain offer quite a dynamic experience for any foreigner.

Spain Destinations

Barcelona

Spanish study experiences here therefore can be so varied in terms of schools as well. There are hundreds of schools varying in sizes and kinds of environment-whether you’re looking for a small, more private-style of learning experience, or a bigger institution where it’s possible to come into contact with many nationalities. Despite much choice being available, school fees in Spain are more expensive than fees in Argentina. For an Intensive Week comprising of 20 hours, the average price is between 150-180 euros ($US 195-$US 235).

Taking into account Spain’s economic crisis and the exuberant economic growth in Argentina (and eventual inflation) over the past few years, the prices for basics such as  groceries, rent, and restaurants is very similar.

ARGENTINA

Argentina has it all- great lakes, snowy mountains, glaciers, wild west scenery, beaches, pampas plains, deserts and salt flats, and of course, Buenos Aires. It’s a country of extremes and beauty. So for a Spanish language learner wanting to experience some of the most impressive landscapes in the world, Argentina offers it all.

Patagonia

The top destinations to learn Spanish in Argentina include Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Cordoba, Salta and Bariloche.

Destinations in Argentina

Despite its modern, European feel, there’s no denying that Argentina is still very much a Latin American country. It has an intriguing, fascinating and stunning cultural backdrop to students wanting an authentic Spanish studying experience. Prices vary around the $US 150-$US 200 for an Intensive Week of 20 hours and schools offer various living situations as well. Language students are constantly encouraged to participate in cultural immersion activities like dancing tango, going to parrillas with Porteños, language exchange and even volunteering in disadvantages areas.

Tango

The most common itinery for Spanish students is a long South American trip. Most start their study in Argentina, whether it be for 1 week to a couple of months, then utilizing their language skills, proceed to explore the rest of the incredibly diverse South America.

Map of South America

Best of luck planning your Spanish study-abroad!

Lunfardo

Buenos Aires

Lunfardo is a term that refers to Spanish slang words and phrases used in Argentina. The ´Lunfa´dialect, as it is often referred to, was originated and developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, much having arrived with the European immigrants, such as the Italians, French, Portugese and the Poles. The dialect was predominantly integrated into the lower classes of Buenos Aires and the surrounding Gran Buenos Aires.

Fundamental to Lunfardo, and characteristic of the wordplay it is recognized for, is vesre. Vesre is a feature of Lunfardo that can be explained by switching around the syllable of the words. A couple of examples are amigo(friend)- gomía, pizza-zapi, pagar (to pay)-gapar and tango-gotán.

Originally, Lunfardo was a slang (consisting of about 5000 words) used by criminals. Much of the dialect was developed in the prisons as a way for inmates to speak amongst themselves without being understood by guards. Nevertheless, since the early 20th century, Lunfardo began to spread among all social strata and classes.

Early arrival of immigrants to Buenos Aires

As Tango and Lunfardo developed during the same time period, the lyrics of some Tango songs began to explore the native Argentine slang. Of course, the well-recognized Carlos Gardel used many Lunfardo words in his songs during his career.

Por Una Cabeza, por Carlos Gardel

Lunfardo today is used primarily in the River Plate region and although it has permeated Argentine culture, the vocabulary is not widely understood in other Spanish-speaking countries with the exception of Uruguay.

Currently I am learning Spanish in Buenos Aires and to be honest, I am struggling enough with my genuine Spanish vocabulary and grammar as it is. Hopefully in a month or 2 after getting more basic knowledge under my belt, I can start to utilize some of these expressions and integrate them into my daily speech. Of course, I have been using most of the greetings, and the words ‘boliche’(nightclub) and ‘quilombo’(a mess) since the start-just a perk of having started my Spanish study in BsAs-I get to sound quite original when I return to Spain or northern South/Central America!

Greetings (often combined)

Warm Argentine greetings

¿Cómo andás?

¿Cómo te va?

¿Qué tal? ¿Todo bien?

Hola, ¿qué hacés, tanto tiempo?

Hola, ¿cómo va?

Hola, ¿todo bien? ¿todo tranquilo? ¿todo en orden?

Hola, che, ¿todo bien?

Brief history of the “CHE”

“Che”, is a very popular expression used in Argentina. It is used to call somebody’s attention without using the other person’s name (“¡Che, Pibe!” or “¡Che, vení acá!”) or to emphasize something (“¡Che, qué caro!”). This expression was frequently used by the Argentinian guerrilla Ernesto Guevara (1928-1967), better known as “el Che”. There is a theory that states that the word “che” comes from aboriginal language mapuche, meaning “man”. According to Spanish experts, it is really the noise we make when calling somebody’s attention.

Most frequently used words

Nouns

Lunfardo

Adjectives

Lunfardo in lower-class neighbourhoods

Verbs

Modern Buenos Aires Slang

Modern crowd

Since the 1970s, many new terms have spread from specific areas of the dynamic Buenos Aires cultural scene. Since then, it has been a matter of debate whether newer additions to the slang of Buenos Aires qualify as lunfardo. Traditionalists argue that lunfardo must have a link to the old underworld or to tango lyrics. Others maintain that the colloquial language of Buenos Aires is lunfardo—by definition.

If you don´t speak a little Spanish already, I really recommend doing a few weeks of Spanish study before attempting to make sentences from these expressions. Otherwise you run the risk of sounding like a ´boludo´(idiot!) on the streets  

Learning a new language can be fun but also incredibly frustrating. Some people are able to speak a new language within months whereas for others it can take a lot longer. When learning the new language it is important to incorporate the 6 main aspects: reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar and vocabulary. Your focus may depend on what you need the language for but in general you will need to study all of these points in order to achieve a good level.

 Living in the same country where the language is spoken is a huge plus and should be taken advantage of as you are provided with constant exposure to the language throughout the day.

 Here are some tips to ensure that your language learning is successful!

 1. Find a good language school or teacher

Finding a good school or teacher is probably the most important part of your learning process! Small group classes are usually a good way to go as they provide personal attention but are more fun than just having a class one on one. For people who need to focus on something specific or need to acquire the target language in a very short time, perhaps individual classes would be best. The most important thing is to feel comfortable with your classes and make sure that you are being taught in a learning style that works for you!

 2. Television and movies

This is a great way to expose yourself to the language as well as learn about the local culture. It can be helpful if you watch it with subtitles of the target language as well and that way you can read and listen to the language at the same time.

 3. Books/Magazines

Try to read something everyday even if it is just one article. Find a topic that interests you and look for an online magazine or news agency that has information on that topic. Take out your dictionary and write down all the words that you don’t understand. You should be able to understand 80% of what you are reading otherwise its probable that the level is too high.

4. Music/audiobooks

Listening to music or audiobooks is a fun way to familiarize yourself with the language. The best part is that you can do something else while you are listening. If you have a long commute this can be an ideal time to immerse yourself in the new language.

 5. Language exchange program

Many big cities offer language exchange programs. This can be a cheap or free way to practice the new language as well as meet new people. The way they usually work is you spend 50% of the time talking your native language and the other 50% of the time talking the target language. There are groups that organize gatherings or you can put up an ad on a site like craigslist looking for a language partner.

It is important to try to have fun while you are learning the new language. It can be a long process but if you persevere and use all the options at your disposal you will be fluent in no time!

Fact: Speaking a foreign language means using a lot of filler words (muletillas in Spanish)! Learning Spanish or any other foreign language means you spend a lot of time thinking while you’re talking. Sometimes you start a sentence and halfway you’re stuck and need a second to think about how to finish your sentence.  To get more smoothness while talking you use (consciously or unconsciously) some filler words which help you to not interrupt your sentences or speech. Well since you can’t really use the typical English filler words like um.. ahh.. you know.. it’s like.. that thing..ok..right.. well..basically…supposedly..actually.. I have listed the top ten Spanish filler words, their meaning and an example of what context you can use them in:

 1.  BUENO/PUES = well and it is used the same way

Example: “Bueno, no te preocupes, yo lo haré.” = “Well, don’t worry, I can do that.”

 2.  MIRA = look/look here

Example: “Mira, si tu quieres hacerlo está bien, sólo digo que a mí no me parece una buena idea.” = “Look, if you want to do that it’s ok, I’m just saying that I don’t think that it is a good idea.”

 3.  ESTE = um/ah,  there is no “real” translation of it, but you can use it anytime and with a large “e” like esteee

Example: “No sé, este, a mí no me convence lo que dice ella.” – “I don’t know, um, I’m not convinced by what she’s saying.”

 4. VISTE (just in Argentinean Spanish!)= you see/wasn’t it

Example: “Creo que no me fue bien en el examen. – Sí, era muy difícil, ¿viste?” = “I don’t think I did well the exam.  – Yes, it was really difficult, wasn’t it?”

5. O SEA = I mean, this one is the most useful fillers in American Spanish and everyone uses it at least once whilst speaking.

Example: “”Estoy muy ocupada, o sea, no me llames porque no te voy a atender” = “I’m very busy, I mean, don’t call me because I wouldn’t pick up.”

6. DE HECHO = actually

Example: “De hecho, nunca vi esta película pero dicen que es digna ser vista.” = “Actually, I’ve never seen that movie, but they say it is worth it.”

7. TIPO/COMO = like

Example: “¿Y qué estilo es esa música? – No sé exactamente, es tipo/como música electrónica mezclada con tango…” = “What kind of music is that? – I’m not sure, it’s like electronic music mixed with tango…”

8. A VER = let’s see

Example: “A ver, intento explicártelo de otra manera.”= “Let’s see, I’m gonna try to explain it to you in a different way.”

9. ESTÁ BIEN/DALE (just in Argentinean Spanish!) = okay, a synonym of Spanish in Spain is “vale”

Example: “Mañana te llamo, ¿dale? – ¡Dale!/Está bien.” = “I give you a call tomorrow, okay?  – Okay!”

10. CHE  (just in Argentinean Spanish!) = Hey!

Example: “¿Che, de que estás hablando? No entiendo nada.” – “Hey, what the hell are you talking about? I don’t understand a word.”

Che, mirá… esas son más o menos las palabras que necesitas saber, o sea, las que podés usar al hablar español. Este… espero que te ayuden un poco. Bueno, es muy útil cuando no te salen las palabras ¿viste?

Obviously there are a lot more of these filler words. Just listen to some native speakers and you will realize that they use at least one in each sentence!