"My lessons are going very well. My instructor is wonderful. She always ensures I'm OK with the material before proceeding to challenge me with anything new."
Osvaldo Lugo
Spanish course in Online.
Spanish Lessons in Oxford
If you’ve ever set foot in Oxford, you are probably aware of the vast variety of languages that can be heard around the city. This should not come as a surprise, given that the city has a large influx of immigrants, partly because of thei well-known university, which attracts students from all over the world, and also the many job opportunities in the area, that draw various groups of people to the city who are looking for a better life. All of these immigrants bring their customs, traditions and languages to the city, and make Oxford the multicultural city that it is. Among them, one of the most commonly used languages is Spanish. According to the 2011 census, Spanish is listed as the sixth most popular foreign language after Polish, Chinese, German, French and Portuguese. This means that, if you’re interested in learning this fascinating language, you’ll find plenty of opportunities around the city to do so, including events that celebrate Latin and Spanish cultures, institutions that keep the language alive and many chances to meet native speakers who come to study or work in Oxford. What’s more, if you become a bilingual resident in the city, you’ll enjoy a large number of benefits, including better job offers, a more active social life and many openings to visit other countries and get to know different cultures.
Why Study Spanish in Oxford?
Learn Spanish for Work and Travel
No matter what you do, learning Spanish can help you advance your career. Due to the fact that this language is so widely spread around the world, local companies are constantly looking for bilingual applicants, because they know that if they hire people who can speak Spanish, they’ll be able to improve their business relationships abroad and attract larger numbers of foreign-born clients in the UK who are part of the Hispanic community. That’s why you’ll find many great positions in the area that are exclusive to Spanish speakers, such as Spanish-speaking Customer Service Advisor for Euro London Appointments, Partner Marketing Manager for bChannels and Inside Sales Executive for Rezatec. On top of this, being able to communicate fluently in the language is the key to improving your local business, as networking with other Spanish speakers in the city and abroad can grant you access to new exciting opportunities to expand your business and even reach international markets. On the other hand, if you want to visit other countries or even work abroad, Spanish is one of the most useful languages you can learn, as you’ll be able to live in beautiful countries like Spain, Mexico or Colombia and understand the local culture, which will allow you to feel at home there and enjoy your stay much more.
Learn Spanish for Social
If you want to explore Spanish and Latin American art in the city, you should consider becoming a member of ARTES. This registered charity is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of Iberian and Latin American visual culture by organizing different meetings, talks and art exhibitions around Oxford and other important cities in the UK. By becoming a member, you’ll be able to attend private tours at the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology, located on Beaumont Street, and enjoy the many wonderful paintings, sculptures and objects made by Spanish and Latin American artists. What’s more, you’ll be able to meet art experts from all around the world and other locals who share your interest in the fascinating Hispanic cultures, so if you love art, this group is exactly what you need.
Learn Spanish for Culture
Are you eager to meet other language enthusiasts and native speakers to have conversations in Spanish? If so, you should attend the meetup organized by The Oxford Spanish Intercambio Meetup Group. They organize eight meetings a month where you can meet other Spanish speakers who can help you better your language skills and also help out native speakers who need to work on their English. Meetings always take place at a local pub called The Chequers, located at 131 High Street, and the way they work is during the first hour only Spanish is spoken and the next hour only English so that everybody can improve their conversation skills. Learners of all levels are welcome, so don’t worry if you can’t say many things in Spanish, as you’ll find many like-minded, friendly people who will make you feel comfortable. In addition to the language exchange events, this group also holds city tours in Spanish, movie nights where you can watch Spanish and Latin films and visits to local restaurants that celebrate Hispanic cultures, so don’t miss out on this amazing chance to socialise and expand your knowledge of the Spanish-speaking world!
Where to learn Spanish in and around Oxford?
After reading about the many advantages of learning Spanish in Oxford, you probably wonder how you can get started learning this wonderful language. If you’ve never spoken a word of Spanish and are feeling too self-conscious to attend a language exchange event, you could start by paying a local visit to the Oxfordshire Public Library, located on Queen Street, which has many interesting language materials for beginners like Get Started in Latin American Spanish by Juan Kattan-Ibarra and Essential Spanish Vocabulary by Mike Zollo. On the other hand, if you can already speak some Spanish and want to become a Spanish professional, you could check out the many courses at Oxford University, perfect for those who want to become translators or work as Spanish teachers. Lastly, if you are looking for a special Spanish course that is completely tailored to your unique needs and requirements, your best option in the city is Listen & Learn. Send us a quick enquiry now and we’ll have one of our qualified native Spanish teachers build a one-of-kind language course based on your interests, skill level and language goals that will make the process of learning much more enjoyable! So what are you waiting for? Get started now!
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Spanish
Spanish lessons of this type are broader and are aimed towards students with a variety of requirements. While all beginner level students will cover survival Spanish—needed for short visits to countries where English isn't widely spoken, or if you wish to 'go local'—those studying Spanish usually go in different directions at this point, depending on what they need. Those who have benefited from these Spanish classes have been those investing in or buying property overseas, those married to overseas nationals, people setting off on a round-the-world trip, enthusiasts for Spanish culture and those hoping to pass a specific exam in Spanish. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Spanish
These Spanish Lessons are intended for people who really need to learn Spanish to help make that difference in their work. For beginners, it will be useful to learn greetings and basic business etiquette; at higher levels, reading and then writing become more important. Typical students include those involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where an additional language is required, and those working with international colleagues, academia and government. Even in our most basic lesson for Beginners, students should expect to end the lesson with basic telephone Spanish and Spanish e-mail skills for communication as well as survival Spanish required for short visits to a country. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Spanish
Lessons in Spanish are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Spanish Lessons or Small Group In-Company Spanish Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs for areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Spanish sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Spanish
Our native speaker qualified Spanish language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning, afternoon or evening. In certain circumstances, if your home or office is not available, you can take your classes at the trainer's office. Course books are provided. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Spanish
Those wishing to learn Spanish in groups of two or more together (Two-to-One Spanish Lessons or Small Group In-Company Spanish Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Spanish proficiency, have the same needs from the language and be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not propose group sizes of more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Spanish Lessons can occur with up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Spanish Courses or Take A Free Spanish Level Test
Top Tips For…
spanish Books
Cuentos de la Selva - Horacio Quiroga
If you are looking to unlock a whole new world of stories while improving your Spanish skills, then don’t hesitate to read “Cuentos de la Selva” by Horacio Quiroga, an Uruguayan writer who published this novel in the 1920s. The tales are set in the Argentinian jungle and the main characters are animals that take on human characteristics, serving as a metaphor for how people interact with nature. These tales were originally written for children, so they are short and use fairly simple language, making this book the perfect choice for beginners eager to know more about the Argentinian culture. Click here to find out more about the novel.spanish Books
La Sombra del Viento - Carlos Ruis Zafón
Reading a novel will help you familiarise yourself with Spanish sentence structure and grammar in real-life contexts. Forget about reading overly simple sentences and grab a novel like “La Sombra del viento”. Set in Barcelona, this is the story of 10-year-old Daniel, a boy who visits one of the biggest libraries in the city and finds a book called “La Sombra del Viento”. But, as soon as he draws it from the shelves, something strange happens and a seemingly innocent action transforms into a race to save the ones he loves. This novel by Zafón is the perfect choice for those who love mystery books and would like to know more about what happened in Spain after the civil war. Click here to find out more about the novel.El Amor en los Tiempos de Cólera - Gabriel García Márquez
Developing proficiency in reading in Spanish has a positive effect on your listening and speaking skills as well, so it’s a great option for beginners who want to build their confidence. For example, you can start reading one of the most well-known books ever written in Spanish: “El Amor en los Tiempos del Cólera” by Gabriel García Márquez. This is a multiple-character story set in the 1800s that depicts forbidden love and draws a comparison between love and illness (in this case, cholera). The novel tells a captivating story but also carries a lot of deep, potentially unanswerable questions about the human condition and love itself. Click here to find out more about the novel.spanish Youtube Channels
German Garmendia
German is a wildly popular YouTuber from Chile who creates content related to video games and lifestyle in general. For example, one of his most viewed videos is called “Things that happen in job interviews”. The content is funny and the vocabulary is not overly difficult to understand. However, keep in mind that he speaks incredibly quickly, so it might be difficult for you to keep up with everything he says at first. Still, you can use subtitles or, as you watch the video on Youtube, you can pause and rewind as often as you like, with no judgment. Watch this amazing content here.spanish Youtube Channels
Clevver Teve
So, you might be taking lessons in a classroom with Listen & Learn, but it’s always a good idea to diversify your language learning with multiple sources, like YouTube. For example, Clevver Teve is a channel focused on celebrity gossip, interviews and movie trailers. As it targets all types of audiences, the videos are really short and the vocabulary is simple. So, it is suitable for beginners who want to improve their Spanish skills by watching entertaining videos. You’ll soon get used to the European Spanish accent and start reproducing some favourite phrases, like “oye, tío”, with flawless pronunciation! Click here to subscribe.Werevertumorro
Learning Spanish can be tough if you don’t have a lot of time to practise outside of your course. That is when YouTube videos come to the rescue, as they are easy to fit into even the busiest schedule and are an excellent way to take your listening skills to the next level. So, why not follow a top YouTuber like Werevertumorro and learn from his videos? This YouTuber creates cartoons and acts out videos on interesting topics, like “how to make a woman fall in love with you”, so you’ll be improving your Spanish while having some fun. Click here to subscribe.spanish Sports
Local Football Teams Can Help You Learn
If you are looking to improve your command of the language, watching football matches in Spanish can be a great idea. This is a hugely popular sport in Spanish-speaking countries, so if you want to learn the language to interact with locals, it’s a good idea to know about football. You’ll be able to chat about this fascinating sport for hours! And if you are a fan of Spanish football teams (like the famous Barcelona or Real Madrid from Spain, or Boca Juniors from Argentina), you could try following these teams’ social media pages to learn new vocabulary and stay up-to-date about their achievements. Learn more about soccer teams here!spanish Sports
Newspapers: Great Tools to Enhance Vocabulary
Watching football matches in Spanish is not the only way to learn about this fascinating sport. In can be challenging to understand what commenters are saying, as they speak very quickly and use slang frequently. Instead, why not try to read the sports news instead of just watching events? Most newspapers, including El Pais, El Mundo and ABC, have a sports section where you can read about your favourite football teams. Furthermore, you can visit their websites and access an array of articles about the players, teams, gossip and curious football facts that interest you the most. Soon, you’ll understand what marcar un golazo or hacer un gol de chilena mean! Read El Pais' sports section here!Spanish Commentary to Increase Listening Comprehension
When learning Spanish, it’s important to surround yourself with different contexts from where you can absorb vocabulary and phrases. Plus, doing so will help you to improve your listening comprehension skills. So, if you are a sports lover and your Spanish level is at least intermediate, you can try and watch the exciting matches of La Liga Española with Spanish commentary. The commentators speak really quickly and use a lot of slang, but you’ll surely be able to pick up some words and expressions, like pintalo de amarillo (“the yellow card”). CLick here to know when the Liga starts.spanish For Kids
Whistlefritz Spanish for Kids
Spanish videos for kids are a fabulous learning resource. The videos are fun, memorable and keep children engaged. Furthermore, watching videos like Whistlefritz Spanish for Kids is an excellent way to expose your child to a variety of Spanish accents. Whistlefritz products are themed and teach contextual Spanish words to kids. The videos are intended for children ages 2-7 and introduce basic vocabulary related to the seasons, birthday parties, animals and other topics interesting to young kids. The presentation is clear with plenty of repetition, so the kids will never feel overwhelmed. Check out their website to know more.spanish For Kids
Juegos Arcoiris
If your children enjoy short, interactive games, why not take advantage of this and encourage them to play games in Spanish? For example, Juegos Arcoiris is an excellent resource for kids to acquire new vocabulary and reinforce what they learn in their Spanish course. It hosts a variety of puzzle games, short stories and even colouring activities that will keep your children amused for hours. These games are perfect to practise vocabulary: the colouring activities display the names of object and colours and all the instructions are in Spanish; and the short stories are written and read in Spanish, too! Check out their website to know more.La Ratita Presumida
La Ratita Presumida is a popular folk tale that follows a mouse who wants to get married. She welcomes different suitors to her home, like a pig, a dog and a cat. To decide whom she wants to marry, she always asks them “¿Y por las noches, que me dirás?” (What will you say to me at night?), but never likes their answers. This is a great story to learn some phrases and vocabulary about animals, as it’s repetitive but fun. Your child can even watch the story on YouTube and then act it out. Check out this website to read the story.spanish Comedy
Esperando la Carroza
Are you looking to improve your listening skills in Spanish in the comfort of your own home while learning more about the Argentinian culture? Then, Esperando la Carroza is a movie you should not miss. This comedy follows the Rodriguez family who suddenly lose Mamá Cora and believe her dead, with amusing scenes that take place during the funeral. Today, most people in Argentina know the characters’ lines. So, by watching this hilarious movie, you’ll be able to pick up a lot of puns and cultural references to help you to integrate with the locals if you ever go to Argentina. Here you can find more information about this Argentinian movie.spanish Comedy
Un Novio para mi Mujer
Are you planning to visit Argentina soon? If so, you’ll find the locals’ slang and high use of cultural references can be difficult to comprehend. Fortunately, you can become familiar by watching movies at home. One of the must-watch Argentinian comedy is Un Novio para mi Mujer, a movie that follows Carlos, a man who wants to get a divorce but doesn’t know how to say it to his wife. One of his friends suggests that it would be easier if his wife falls out of love with him instead, so the movie depicts hilarious situations where Carlos tries to make Victoria hate him. Find out more about the movie here.8 Apellidos Vascos
Watching comedy can be a lot of fun and it’s even better if you watch them in the language you are learning. For example, watching Spanish comedy can be of great help when improving your listening skills and picking up some new vocabulary. So, why not enjoy high-quality Spanish productions, like 8 Apellidos Vascos? This movie deals with the ridiculous prejudice some people have about those who come from the Andalucia and El País Vasco regions, through a humorous lens. If you enjoy irony and jokes, then you’ll certainly have a laugh with the absurd situations depicted in the film! Read more about the film here!Testimonials
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Sara McCullum
Spanish in Peterborough
Listen & Learn seemed to be the most professional, and when I began to enquire, very much lived up to my expectations
Our Clients Include
From our clients all over the world
Forward Internet Group
Language learned: English in London.
TDM Group
Language learned: Arabic in London.
