Two types of motivation are associated with language learning. The first, integrative motivation, comes from the desire to create a better understanding of another culture, society and language and for that to then be a ‘tool’ for building relationships and meaningful communication.

This type of motivation may come about through romance or another type of connection with someone from another country and the necessity to understand that person’s culture and language. Sometimes integrative motivation is prompted by a move to warmer climes in retirement or to be with family members who are already living abroad.

Integrative motivation has been found to yield faster and more effective language learning as this type of motivation simply carries the learner along in their quest for communicative skills and understanding and their desire to learn for their own benefit is the key.

Instrumental motivation comes from a desire to accomplish success in a learning environment such as school or university i.e. to gain academic credit, or your new language may be necessary for work or to achieve progress or promotion at work.

Just some of the most Attractive Villages in Cantabria which you should really get to know!

• CASTRO URDIALES

One of the Roman port settlements to be found along the coast of Cantabria, Castro Urdiales is a town you shouldn’t miss either!  With its prominent castle and church set against the deep blue of the Cantabrian Sea, the long sea-front promenade, innumerable hotels, restaurants and typical bars with some of the best examples of Spanish pinchos and wines!  Well, you will never regret coming!

• POTES

Getting to Potes, set in its own hidden valley in los ‘Picos de Europa’ and with its own micro-climate, is quite an adventure in itself!  Driving along the long, twisty, narrow gorge and following the rushing waters of the river between the high mountain crags, you will feel you are moving into another secret world, set apart from the rest of Cantabria! Visit ‘El Monasterio de Santo Toribio’, go up into Los Picos by cable car at Fuente Dé, and take a long walk into the breathtakingly beautiful mountains.  Potes, with its majestic surroundings, and its renowned food and drink has to be high on your list of places in Cantabria to visit!

• SAN VICENTE DE LA BARQUERA

Along the coast westwards from Comillas is the totally charming fishing port of San Vicente with its wide awe-inspiring estuary spanned by a long arched stone bridge. Wander along the waterfront, have a drink in one of the many street cafés or bars, and taste some of the wide variety of fish dishes in the innumerable restaurants. Climb up through the old port to the castle built over Roman foundations and browse round the church of Santa Maria de los Angeles. From the port drive along the coast road to the long, sandy and unspoilt beaches of Oyambre and Meró and look back at the town with the mountains behind.

• LIERGANES

This small inland spa town surrounded by mountains attracts tourists all year round, who come for treatments in the spa hotel or simply to spend a quiet and relaxing holiday away from the rush and tumble of modern life. Lying astride the river Miera, this pretty picture-postcard town with its superb examples of local stone architecture, flower filled balconies and cobbled streets, well deserves its award as one of the prettiest towns in the whole of Cantabria. Learn about the legend of ‘El Hombre Pez’ and the history of cannon making, try the renowned ‘chocolate con churros’ or simply soak up the peace and quietness of this unique Cantabrian jewel!  A day spent here is so very worthwhile, and a drive out of the town and along the narrow tree-lined winding roads into the surrounding mountains is also to be highly recommended.

Do you know why many Spanish language courses don’t really help you to communicate well in Spanish?

Many Spanish language courses are based on grammar rules – and only on the language. BUT successful communication in any language is much more. Practice is vital – only with practice does one obtain perfection!

Avoid taking a course which is based on bad methodology or which doesn’t have a methodology at all. These courses do exist. Be careful!

Here in Hello Cantabria we offer you the opportunity to experience something quite different. Our method is based on activities organized in such a way as to promote active communication skills which lead to a notable improvement in listening comprehension, pronunciation, intonation, grammar and vocabulary.

With us:

•  You live and communicate in a totally Spanish environment and community. Being exposed continuously to a language allows for faster, easier and much more satisfying progress.
• You live in a pleasant quiet atmosphere and the support of highly qualified experienced teachers, successful and meaningful learning takes place.
• You achieve linguistic fluency quickly.
• You improve your ability to face everyday situations with confidence and ease.
• You think in Spanish without the need to translate, in this way communicating with fewer mistakes.

All our courses are based on the personal requirements of each client, and on a careful analysis of the student’s objectives and interests carried out prior to the start of the course.

You will also learn about Spanish culture, have wonderful local Spanish food — and wine!

Don’t forget!  At the same time you are learning to speak Spanish, you will be in one of the most beautiful parts of Spain called Cantabria – if not of Europe – with incredible mountains, rivers, the sea, green hills, many marvellous beaches and much more…

All this besides the historical and cultural heritage of northern Spain – there for you to see and discover!!

We make your stay an enjoyable one  – feel happy and you will learn!

Your comfort is one of our main concerns!

I do hope we can meet personally here in one of our courses.

Bye for now!

Harvey Higgings (Director Hello Cantabria)

Learning Spanish can be fun! There are seven common mistakes that people often make…but…there is hope! If you follow these easy tips, you will find it easier!

1-  When to use SER or ESTAR:

 Why is it so difficult to use two verbs that both mean “to be”correctly?

SER or ESTAR?  That is the question…

 SER refers to:

• Permanent or lasting attributes:
• Names: El es
• Physical descriptions: Elena es alta, delgada y morena.
• Nationalities: Pedro es
• Religions: María es católica.
• Occupations: Rosa es
• Describing someone or something: Mi coche es nuevo…Mi casa es
• Origen: Where a person comes from or the material something is made of: Steve es de USA… Las sillas son de madera….Mi anillo es de oro.
• Time when it refers to to days, dates, years and time on the clock: Hoy es martes…Mañana será miércoles…Son las 12:30.
• Relationships: Rubén es mi novio….Michael y Katie son mis hijos….

 ESTAR refers to:

• Temporary states or locations: Mi abuela está sentada en el sillón…Estaba dormida cuando llamaste.
• Physical location :  El baño está al fondo a la derecha.
• Describing ongoing actions: Estoy limpiando las ventanas….Susana está cocinando comida china.
• Physical and mental conditions: Lucía está enferma….Mi hermano está un poco loco.
• Emotions: Hoy estoy alegre….Marta está triste

2-  Subject pronouns.

In Spanish the verb forms often make subject pronouns unnecessary. They are often understood by the context and therefore they shouldn’t be used.

Examples:

• Voy al cine (it implies the first person YO).
• ¿A dónde vas? (It implies the second person singular TÚ).

But DON’T forget…sometimes we do use them in order to:

• Avoid ambiguity: Él es Mario no Juan… Ellos vienen conmigo.
• Emphasize the subject/contrasting two subjects: Tú lava e coche y yo hago la comida…Nosotros llevamos el vino y vosotros el postre. 

3-  Gender confusion (nouns).

English nouns do not have a gender, so it can be difficult to figure out whether an object is “el”( masculine)or “la”( feminine). In general, we say that all the words ending in “a” are feminine while the rest are masculine. BUT, if you follow this rule you are very likely to be often wrong. A good tip is to know that all words ending in “ma” (except for mamá), are masculine: Examples: el problema, el tema, el diagrama, el diploma, el enigma, el idioma, el crucigrama.

4-  Adjective noun order.

 Adjectives must agree with the subject they are modifying. Example: Los zapatos son rojos…La camisa es blanca.

The order is very important too. In English you say “a black car”. In Spanish the order is different: “un coche negro”. The adjective goes after the noun and NOT before.

5-  Being polite.

 It is always hard to decide whether to use: the TÚ form of the verb (informal) or the USTED form (formal).

The general rule is to use USTED only with older people or people who have power over you (your boss). However, it is common to use the same form in either case, so being too informal for the elderly or being TOO formal for younger people. USTED is used much more in Latin-American countries than in Spain. 

6-  False friends.

 There are many words that look very similar in Spanish and in English but they mean something completely different.

Examples:

Asistir – means to attend or to be present.

Realizar – to carry out some kind of activity

Atender – to serve

Éxito – success

Estar emabarzada – to be pregnant

Ropa – clothes and not rope

As you can see there are a lot of these words…but don’t worry; just remember a few everyday, and in no time you will become aware of the difference.

7-  Being afraid to make mistakes.

 Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Don’t be afraid to use what you know. Be adventurous! We can become better by practising often and regularly.

Remember the old saying: “Practice makes perfect”.