When you learn Spanish you don't just learn a language. Spanish is actually a doorway into music, movement, friendships and whole continents of culture.
In this interview, Julie Ricci, Spanish & Brazilian Portuguese Tutor Coordinator at City Lit, shares how learning Spanish transformed her life from a school subject into a daily rhythm she now lives and works in. Her story shows why Spanish might be the most rewarding language you’ll ever choose to learn.
Why did you choose to learn Spanish?
In France, when you are about 14, you have to select a second foreign language to study, the first one being English. It was advised to me to choose Spanish because it was more international, supposedly the second most spoken language in the world, so I decided to go for that. And also, because I already had an affinity with that culture, the music and the dance as a little girl, it just seemed like the natural choice.
So I started learning, it, I loved it, I was good at it, and with the years, my love for everything Spain and latin-America related grew with each class, each new friend, each song, each film and it’s been a life-long journey.
When I moved to Scotland in 2004, I was lucky enough to live with other Spanish women who became friends and we spoke Spanish together all the time, which is when I started to become more fluent. Through them I met more Spanish friends. It’s also around that time I started living at the Spanish rhythm, where you eat dinner and start partying much later. We would go dancing at this latin club in Edinburgh where they had a Spanish night, and from there I discovered salsa and flamenco. I have been dancing them ever since.
How Did You Learn Spanish?
When learning Spanish, or any language, get interested in the cultural aspects of it. Even if you don’t understand much at the start, it doesn’t matter. It will be more effective if it is about something that you care about.
So, if you like cooking, then maybe that’s a topic that you can use to help yourself improve your language skills. Same if you like art, music, motorbikes, anything.
I love the music and the dancing. That’s what I used to help me learn more vocabulary, have better pronunciation and better grammar. It gave me more understanding about how Spanish-speaking people feel. It also helped me understand why they used certain words or certain phrases.
What are some of the benefits of learning Spanish?
Firstly, it’s a beautiful language that is very satisfying to speak. It’s always nice to hear such a beautiful language coming out of your mouth.
It's also very useful. You can speak it in many different countries. Outside of Spain and all the islands surrounding it (Canary islands, Baleares), you will be able to go anywhere in South and Central America; parts of the United States; islands of the Caribbean; Andorra and Gibraltar; Equatorial Guinea in West Africa; Western Sahara; and the Philippines. If you love travelling or if you work internationally, Spanish is so important to have.
And last but not least, you will get to know and discover really interesting, lovely people. Spanish speaking people have a rich and ancient history, beautiful and ancestral traditions and modern and fascinating views. You will basically, understand and know more of the world.
And so! That brings me to our fabulous Spanish teaching team at City Lit. The team reflects that diversity of countries in which Spanish is spoken. We have tutors from Spain, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Colombia. The team bring some of their own culture to their teaching, which gives students a lot of choice and a well-rounded learning experience.
VIDEO: Julie Ricci explains some of the benefits of learning Spanish
What is learning Spanish like at City Lit?
As well as teaching the language, City Lit also offers a lot of courses that provide cultural knowledge and cultural awareness. We go beyond clichés: some courses explore places like Patagonia, the Andes or Spanish regions, others focus on art, cinema or literature, and some connect language with themes such as culture, gender and power; even the different accents of our teaching team.
Our students are very accepting of the diversity of varieties of Spanish that they encounter in City Lit courses. They actually appreciate it. There's an understanding that when you go to Spain, you will inevitably interact with people from other Spanish-speaking countries and vice versa. It also exposes you to aspects of the Spanish culture, which is widespread due to literature, culture and history.
Is Spanish difficult to learn?
Spanish is actually less difficult to learn than you might think. One of the most obvious reasons is that it’s a phonetical language. You pronounce everything you see, so I find that it’s one of the easier languages to read and to pronounce.
It’s also very mechanical. Once you understand the main mechanisms of grammar, you can reproduce them to a variety of verbs and words. It’s not about learning independent elements that don’t make sense, it’s about applying mechanisms. And that’s something that you can do early on in your learning journey, which will help you progress fast. Some may disagree but I find Spanish to be a very logical language.
I personally find it a very happy, passionate, lively language. I don’t know if it really means anything but that’s the sensation it gives me when I speak it; and when I was learning it.
Spanish is also a quite direct, honest and unpretentious language. You don’t beat around the bush when you speak Spanish. So if you are the kind of person who likes to speak simply, openly and directly, then Spanish is for you.
VIDEO: Julie Ricci explains why Spanish is actually one of the easier languages for beginners
What can students do if they’re struggling with learning Spanish?
The most important thing for students is that they achieve their learning objectives and thrive in our courses. So, we’re always here to help, particularly at the beginning. Starting to learn a new language can be stressful and intimidating, so the tutors and myself are always available to answer questions, give tips and offer support.
We also have support sessions for beginners students. Throughout their first three terms of learning, students can attend, for free and as many times as they like, support sessions lead by either myself or a tutor. In English, we provide explanations about grammar and pronunciation rules, vocabulary, and syntax, all related to the programme. We also answer students’ questions about any aspect of the language that they need help with.
Students who have attended the sessions so far have found them very useful. It helps reassure them, gives them the opportunity to ask questions that they didn’t think of asking in class and offers them some extra practice. That way, class time can be more dedicated to the practice of Spanish and the students’ immersion in the language.
What would you recommend to someone wanting to learn Spanish?
It doesn’t matter which level of Spanish you have, if you want to learn it or learn more of it, be assured that City Lit will help you. You will be supported, advised, you will receive high standard teaching that will help you develop your language skills as well as your cultural knowledge and awareness, and we will do everything we can to make your learning journey as efficient, as enjoyable, as stress-free and as enlightening as possible.
Study Spanish at City Lit
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