Malaga: A Top Destination To Learn Spanish Language And Culture

If you’re planning to learn Spanish as a second language or have already started studying it, you've made the right choice. The popularity of the Spanish language is increasing tremendously and with good reason.

Spanish is a phonetic language, unlike other popular second languages like French or Chinese. This means that you pronounce letters consistently and each letter and a separate sound. These links suggest fewer spelling mistakes and make Spanish a pretty easy language to learn, even for beginners. The elementary levels of grammar are easy to master and some vocabulary is similar to English.

Spain has always been a popular travel and study destination. Studying Spanish in schools and universities has increased, especially in Asia and that makes Spanish important in the global market. It is also important to mention that being able to speak Spanish helps with your career because booming Latin economies are always looking for people who can speak Spanish.

As you know, Spanish is spoken by approximately 450 million people and the language is spoken in some of the most beautiful destinations in the world such as Mexico, Spain and Venezuela. Being able to speak the local language makes your travels to those places an even more enjoyable experience.

Like with any second language, the best way to learn it is to spend time with the locals, fully immerse yourself into the language and culture and practice it on a daily basis in various situations taking Spanish courses in Malaga is a great way to do this. Malaga is a port city in southern Spain and the hometown of Pablo Picasso. Malaga and Spain’s Costa del Sol is a vibrant region with youthful energy and a multi-layered past making it a fascinating place to spend time.

According to the Confederation of Malaga Businesses, Málaga is one of the most in-demand tourist destinations internationally. The tourists that seem to be more attracted to the city are from the UK. In particular, tourists originating from the United Kingdom make up about 12.5% of the total number of tourists that visit Malaga, followed by French (5.4%), Dutch (3.8%), German (2.6%) and Italian (2.4%) travellers. The diversity of leisure, the tourist attractions, the beaches, the climate and the gastronomy are the determining factors for tourists to decide to visit the province of Malaga. (Source: Confederation of Malaga Businesses)

The diversity of leisure, the tourist attractions, the beaches, the climate and the gastronomy are the determining factors for tourists to decide to visit the province of Malaga. The majority of tourists arriving in the city of Malaga are from the rest of Spain. Those from Andalusia account for 51.8% of the total national tourists. (Source: Confederation of Malaga Businesses)

Almost all tourists who come to the city visit a museum and claim to know the Picasso Museum (82.1%), the Carmen Thyssen Museum (62.5%), the Centre Pompidou (49.1%), the Russian Collection (26.3%), the Automobile Museum (14.9%), the Contemporary Art Centre (11.4%) and the Picasso Foundation (9.7%), among others. (Source: Confederation of Malaga Businesses)

Why should you study Spanish in Malaga?

Aside from Spanish being a popular and in-demand language, there are several other benefits for you to learn Spanish in Malaga. First and foremost, Malaga is a very popular tourist destination.

During your studies, you will have the opportunity to experience Malaga’s vibrant youthful vigour and rich Spanish culture.

Eating just-caught sardines by the sea is one of life’s great simple pleasures, and the beaches on either side of Malaga are the perfect place to do it – particularly after a morning at the Picasso and Carmen Thyssen museums. Unlike some Spanish cities, it does not wind down in summer and is particularly lively during the Malaga Fair in mid-August, when even the most reserved visitors might find themselves joining the locals for a twirl in the streets.

When not attending your Spanish courses in Malaga, make sure that you stop by for a cup of coffee at the Plaza de la Constitución, then take a walk down Lairos Street towards the Mediterranean, and take a stroll along the Muelle Uno waterfront. And if you have a passion for art make sure you visit the Picasso Museum and the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo. And in case you get hungry, there are plenty of tapas bars at the local Atarazanas market.

During the weekends, when you have time off from your Spanish courses, be sure to participate in the many leisure activities available. Malaga has a very pleasant Mediterranean climate that is ideal if you’re a sports enthusiast. Language schools often arrange sports activities on the beach or in sports centres. You can choose from tennis, golf, keep fit classes, diving, hiking and skiing (during winter).

Students who decide to study Spanish in Malaga, will surely also be interested in some of the cultural activities that this city has to offer, these students will really get to know the local customs, and traditions of Malaga and Andalucia.

Involving yourself in many cultural activities is key to success when it comes to mastering any language. This is a great way to practice your Spanish in real-life situations and enjoy life as locals do. Cultural activities include dance classes, discussion clubs, bullfighting, Flamenco, wine, cooking lessons and more.

Day trips and weekend excursions from Malaga are a particularly useful way to perfect your Spanish and further develop your knowledge about Spain and Spanish culture because you will get the chance to explore other parts of the region. Spanish students in Malaga often visit Cordoba in Andalusia mainly because of its rich cultural and historical heritage. Throughout the city's architecture, you will find different styles starting from Roman, Islamic, Jewish and Christian. Visitors can see Roman bridges, theatres, mausoleums, old mills, medieval baths, churches and religious structures. However, aside from Cordoba, you can also visit Granada, Sevilla (most popular for its Seville Fair), Ronda and the white villages of Nerja and Frigiliana.

Spanish language schools often organize other activities for students who would like to try something new and express their creativity. These students can take part in various cooking workshops where they can learn how to cook authentic paella and prepare a gazpacho or tortilla which are traditional Spanish dishes. Others might want to learn how to dance the Sevillas (traditional Spanish dance) or enjoy good music during school fiestas.

Who should study Spanish in Malaga?

Just like with any other second language, there is an abundance of benefits to language learning, especially when it comes to Spanish. Students that study Spanish in Malaga, or anywhere else, significantly increase their competitiveness in the global market. Many international companies are opening divisions in Latino developing countries and are constantly searching for talent that speaks Spanish.

If you plan on studying in a country with Spanish as its official language, communicating in Spanish will provide huge benefits and advantages during your studies, applying for scholarships and improving your overall student life abroad.

Senior students (50+) will benefit from Spanish courses in Malaga in a different and unique way by taking part in language school activities with their peers, fully immersing themselves in the Spanish culture, exploring the surrounding area and learning how to prepare traditional Spanish meals. Senior students are able to take part in the most diverse programs and teaching methods where their morning lessons can for example focus on food items after which they will visit the local market to buy groceries for a paella that they will prepare in the afternoon during a cooking class.

This type, of course, combines highly practical language study with social activities and visits to important cultural and historical places.

Where can I learn Spanish in Malaga?

There are different Spanish courses in Malaga that the students can choose from, depending on whether they want to enrich their studies with cultural activities like dancing and cooking or maybe want to spend time outdoors on excursions or playing sports. For students that are looking for a combination of Spanish courses and creative workshops (cooking, dancing etc.) La Brisa language school can provide the perfect program no matter if you’re a beginner, young or senior student. For the more adventurous students, that want to spend time outdoors, the Malaca Instituto arranges various sports activities (tennis, hiking, golf etc.) and excursions to Cordoba, Granada, Sevilla and Ronda so that their students can experience Spanish history and culture and apply their language skills in real life situations.

Studying a language abroad is a unique experience. Students receive cultural immersion first-hand and learn a lot more than from traditional classes as they get to apply their knowledge on a daily basis and continuously improve their skills. Malaga with its vibrant culture, pleasant climate and various activities will surely make your Spanish language experience unique.

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