La Rochelle vs Barcelona
Sep 2nd, 2015, 12:39 PM
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La Rochelle vs Barcelona
I may have a chance to study 1 month in either La Rochelle, France or Barcelona, Spain. I have never been to Europe or had an opportunity like this before, so i can't choose... If i were to go to La Rochelle I would be practicing/learning more French, I am currently learning french. If I were to go to Barcelona I would be taking a Spanish Culture course, I do speak Spanish (from Mexico) but I do not know Catalan. I was hoping someone could give me advice or just their opinions one or both of the locations. I've only traveled to places in America, Mexico, and Guatemala. Anything is helpful 
Sep 2nd, 2015, 12:48 PM
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La Rochelle is a super good looking seaside town but is relatively isolated from any place you may want to day trip to - even Paris is 3 hours or so each way - but if you want to learn French that may be good - being stuck there may force you to do more of that.
But on weekends you could easily train up to Paris.
La Rochelle is a lot smaller than Barcelona - thus if into nightlife or whatever a larger cosmopolitan city offers that may be better and you can esily travel on weekends to many nice Spanish and French places.
For your future is it more vital to learn fluent French or Catalan, a language spoken only in a small area around Barcelona - I would base my decision on what language you really want to study and would be more valuable to you. I'm not sure how different Catalan is from Castillian Spanish - Catalans say a lot others say relatively little - me don't know.
But on weekends you could easily train up to Paris.
La Rochelle is a lot smaller than Barcelona - thus if into nightlife or whatever a larger cosmopolitan city offers that may be better and you can esily travel on weekends to many nice Spanish and French places.
For your future is it more vital to learn fluent French or Catalan, a language spoken only in a small area around Barcelona - I would base my decision on what language you really want to study and would be more valuable to you. I'm not sure how different Catalan is from Castillian Spanish - Catalans say a lot others say relatively little - me don't know.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 12:50 PM
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Where do you really want to go? It doesn't sound like this has anything to do with really learning anything, but just for the experience. Because why go to Spain to take a "spanish culture" course, which you can do anywhere. I guess they have to justify the program to people spending a lot to go there.
Do you want to learn more French? I know Spanish and just learned a little Catalan when visiting Spain (I didn't want to spend a lot of time on it as it isn't a useful language like Spanish is), it isn't a problem as anyone you run across will probably know Spanish anyway, I think everyone does except maybe some older people in other areas. YOu can certainly get by in Spanish just fine.
I"d pick it based on where you want to be. I'd pick Barcelona as I really like the city. Not so mention good train options (or bus) to go some other places, like Madrid, or SW France, for that matter. I would not be interested in staying a month in La Rochelle, but that city just doesn't interest me that much (or that area of France). These are just personal decisions, you have to go with what attracts you.
Academically, I would presume a month of French would be more useful than some survey course of Spanish culture, but if you don't really intend to use the language much anyway after college, it doesn't matter.
Do you want to learn more French? I know Spanish and just learned a little Catalan when visiting Spain (I didn't want to spend a lot of time on it as it isn't a useful language like Spanish is), it isn't a problem as anyone you run across will probably know Spanish anyway, I think everyone does except maybe some older people in other areas. YOu can certainly get by in Spanish just fine.
I"d pick it based on where you want to be. I'd pick Barcelona as I really like the city. Not so mention good train options (or bus) to go some other places, like Madrid, or SW France, for that matter. I would not be interested in staying a month in La Rochelle, but that city just doesn't interest me that much (or that area of France). These are just personal decisions, you have to go with what attracts you.
Academically, I would presume a month of French would be more useful than some survey course of Spanish culture, but if you don't really intend to use the language much anyway after college, it doesn't matter.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 01:02 PM
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There are major differences between the two. Barcelona is a large, busy cosmopolitan city, while La Rochelle is a much smaller and more relaxed coastal city in southwest France. Culturally they are completely different.
Of the two, I'd head for La Rochelle.
Of the two, I'd head for La Rochelle.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 01:35 PM
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And in La Rochelle at least you do not have to worry about rampant street crime (compared to other travel meccas) that makes Barcelona one of Europe's, along with Madrid, Europe's most street-crime ridden cities - you always have to be on guard - in La Rochelle there should be a much more relaxed atmosphere.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 02:15 PM
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Go to La Rochelle if you want to learn more French (a very good argument since you already speak Spanish), but Barcelona is an out of this world city with a completely different range of options. Depends on wheter you're out for a relatively small town or a big city experience. I love Barcelona, but since you know Spanish, I think it's a very good idea to make La Rochelle your home town for a month. You could actually get to know the place quite well.
By the way, everyone in Barcelona also speaks Spanish.
By the way, everyone in Barcelona also speaks Spanish.
Sep 2nd, 2015, 10:43 PM
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<and in Barthelona would learn Catalan>
One would of course speak Spanish in a Spanish culture course, and tons of Spanish language schools in Barcelona. As said, everyone in Barcelona speaks Spanish, even though many also speak the relatively close Catalan language.
Would be hard to find a Catalan language course outside the universities.
Some local guides to fabulous Barcelona, you could easily fall in love with this city also:
http://www.spottedbylocals.com/barcelona/
http://www.skyscanner.net/news/10-be...a-locals-guide
https://www.likealocalguide.com/barcelona
One would of course speak Spanish in a Spanish culture course, and tons of Spanish language schools in Barcelona. As said, everyone in Barcelona speaks Spanish, even though many also speak the relatively close Catalan language.
Would be hard to find a Catalan language course outside the universities.
Some local guides to fabulous Barcelona, you could easily fall in love with this city also:
http://www.spottedbylocals.com/barcelona/
http://www.skyscanner.net/news/10-be...a-locals-guide
https://www.likealocalguide.com/barcelona
Sep 3rd, 2015, 08:32 AM
#15
If I were to go to Barcelona I would be taking a Spanish Culture course, I do speak Spanish (from Mexico) but I do not know Catalan>>
Re not speaking catalan, most visitors to Barcelona don't speak Spanish, let alone catalan. and I'm with kimhe here - the course in Barcelona is likely to be in/about Spanish not catalan [the website should tell you this].
<<again she is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico - no more need for a Spanish language course than I may need an English language course (well some may suggest that!).>>
well you said it, Pal.
if you want to learn French, go to La Rochelle. it's a lovely place with lots of other nice places nearby, and you can always do a weekend trip to Paris.
Re not speaking catalan, most visitors to Barcelona don't speak Spanish, let alone catalan. and I'm with kimhe here - the course in Barcelona is likely to be in/about Spanish not catalan [the website should tell you this].
<<again she is a native Spanish speaker from Mexico - no more need for a Spanish language course than I may need an English language course (well some may suggest that!).>>
well you said it, Pal.
if you want to learn French, go to La Rochelle. it's a lovely place with lots of other nice places nearby, and you can always do a weekend trip to Paris.
Sep 3rd, 2015, 09:51 AM
#16
My first impulse would be La Rochelle, but Barcelona is a major international city that would be a lot more dynamic.
If you have never seen the film "The Spanish Apartment," I highly recommend it to get an overview of student life in Barcelona.
If you have never seen the film "The Spanish Apartment," I highly recommend it to get an overview of student life in Barcelona.
