If you’re already living in Barcelona as a student, you’ve probably realised the importance of Catalan in everyday life and in interacting with the locals. Learning Catalan will not only allow you to communicate better, but will also help you to immerse yourself in the culture and make the most of your university experience.
So that learning Catalan doesn’t become a nightmare for you, we’ll give you some tips and tricks to make the process easier and faster.
1. Soak up Catalan culture
The best way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in its culture. Barcelona offers a wide variety of opportunities to experience Catalan culture, from festivals and local events to visits to museums and exhibitions. Take advantage of these experiences to familiarise yourself with Catalan customs, history and traditions.
In addition, listen to music in Catalan, read books and magazines in the language and watch films or series in Catalan. The more you are exposed to the Catalan language, the easier it will be to learn the language.
2. Sign up for a Catalan course
A great way to learn Catalan in a structured and guided way is to sign up for a language course. In Barcelona, there are numerous academies and educational centres that offer Catalan courses for foreign students.
These courses are designed to suit different levels, from beginners to advanced, and will give you the basics you need to communicate in Catalan. You can also practice with other students and receive feedback from expert teachers, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to perfect your language skills!
3. Join study groups
A great way to practise your Catalan and meet other students interested in the language is to join Catalan study or conversation groups. Many universities and educational centres in Barcelona offer these groups, where you can meet up with other students to practise the language together.
Participating in these sessions will allow you to improve your fluency, gain confidence in your language skills and make connections with people who share your interests. You’ll also be able to exchange tips and resources for learning Catalan.
4. Practise Catalan in everyday life
Once you have some basic notions of Catalan, it is important to practise it in your everyday life. Try to use Catalan in your everyday interactions, such as ordering in a restaurant, asking questions in a shop or engaging in conversation with locals. Don’t worry about making mistakes – we’re all learning all the time!
Catalans will appreciate your effort and will be willing to help you. You can also look for language exchange groups or take part in cultural activities where you can practice your Catalan with other people who are also learning.
5. Use online applications and resources
In the digital age, we have access to a wide range of online resources for learning languages. Download mobile apps such as Duolingo, Babbel or Memrise, which offer interactive Catalan courses and allow you to practise anytime, anywhere.
You can also search for podcasts, YouTube channels or blogs in Catalan to help you improve your listening comprehension and vocabulary. Spend a few minutes every day using these tools and you will see how your level of Catalan gradually improves.
6. Immerse yourself in conversations with the locals
One of the most effective ways to learn a language is to interact with native speakers. Look for opportunities to engage in conversations in Catalan with locals, whether in your student residence, in cafés, at social events or in extracurricular activities. Remember: don’t be afraid to make mistakes, as this is part of the learning process.
7. Enjoy Catalan music, film and literature
Music, film and literature are exciting ways to immerse yourself in the Catalan language and culture. Look for Catalan artists, bands, films and books and enjoy their content in Catalan.
Listen to songs in Catalan and try singing along to the lyrics, watch films or series in Catalan with subtitles, and read books or magazines in Catalan to improve your comprehension and vocabulary. These experiences will help you become familiar with the rhythm, pronunciation and idiomatic expressions of Catalan in an entertaining way.
8. Take advantage of language immersion opportunities
Barcelona offers numerous language immersion opportunities where you can practice your Catalan in an authentic environment. Take part in cultural activities, such as theatre, concerts or exhibitions, where you can listen to and speak Catalan.
Also, consider the possibility of a language exchange with Catalan students interested in learning your native language. These experiences will allow you to fully immerse yourself in Catalan and improve your communication skills in a real-life context.
Learning Catalan while studying in Barcelona will not only open doors for you to communicate more fluently, but will also give you a deeper understanding of the local culture. Don’t give up and put these fun ways to learn the language into practice!
