10 Must-Pack Items for Your Suitcase It doesn’t matter which airline you travel with, your luggage allowance is always going to seem miserly when you try to pack for a whole new life in Spain. We spoke to some seasoned veterans about the definitive Survival Kit – what’s essential to take with you to Spain and what you can […]
Guides Daily newspapers such as 20 Minutos (given out for free at distribution points throughout the major cities and towns) are useful sources of information when planning a night out. Similarly, at weekends local newspapers often publish supplements with entertainment listings. As well as details of what’s on at the theatre, reviews, etc., these entertainment guides often
Manspreading, the practice whereby a man travelling on public transport adopts a sitting position with his legs wide apart, in such a way as to encroach on adjacent seats, is a real problem in Madrid. So says, a women’s group (Mujeres en Lucha) and they want it stopped. A women’s group in Madrid has successfully lobbied
Manspreading in Madrid Read More »
Do I have to speak Spanish to work as an English teacher in Spain? No, you don’t. You’ll find that most schools prefer the communicative approach to language teaching which involves immersion in the target language. It is perfectly possible to teach English without recourse to Spanish. However, Spanish is a considerable benefit for settling
A judge in Cantabria (northern Spain) has rejected a 23-year-old woman’s request for an income of €300 a month from her parents. While there have been other cases in which parents have been legally forced to maintain their offspring into their 30s if they have not yet become financially independent, this landmark ruling is based on
Your GP EU citizens are entitled to free health care in Spain. In order to register with a GP, however, you will need to go to your local health centre with the following documentation: NIE (your Spanish ID number) Social Security number ID with photo (e.g. passport) You will be asked to complete a form
Health Care in Spain Read More »
“Don’t people just pick them and eat them?” is a question a lot of overseas visitors ask the locals when they see oranges hanging from the trees lining the streets of many Andalusian cities. Just like Adam and Eve, you might be tempted to grasp this forbidden fruit. But you do so at your peril!
Currency Spain is in the eurozone so the euro is the currency here. The euro breaks down into 100 euro cents (céntimos). Notes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 Coins (euro): 1, 2 Coins (cents): 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Banks Most banks can be identified by the words Banco, Caja or
Essential Services Read More »
What’s the most difficult thing about learning Spanish? The past tense? Pronunciation? The subjunctive? Spanish slang? Several students of Spanish as a Foreign Language (ELE) share their experiences in this video.
Difficult Learning Spanish Read More »
In 1968, Massiel, a 20-year-old, last-minute substitute for Joan Manuel Serrat, represented Spain at the Eurovision Song Contest in London’s Albert Hall. With Cliff Richard singing Phil Coulter’s song ‘Congratulations’ and on ‘home ground’, nobody was ready for the shock of Spain’s first Eurovision victory! As Sandy Shaw had won the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest with
The Spanish Education system has been subject to a number of reforms in recent years. Changes in Infant and primary education have been somewhat more successful to date than those in the secondary system. In most parts of Spain schooling is now available to children from the age of three, although the obligatory age for
The Spanish Education System Read More »
Tapas, Pinchos & Lots More! Mealtimes In Spain, breakfast is usually served between 8am and 11am. Restaurants generally serve midday meals between 1pm and 3:30pm, while evening meals are served from 8:30pm to 11pm. (Pubs, bars and discos are usually open until 3 or 4 in the morning.) Vegetarian Issues Vegetarianism is not common in Spain so
