We won't be headed there until 2010 but I am wondering if I should be learning Spanish before we get there? We will be in Barcelona at least a ful day before the cruise and I am wondering how much of their language I should know. None of us speak it. Will we look too much like tourists if we don't speak their language? If I do learn Spanish, which I probably will anyway, how different is what they teach here in the US?
Also is there a must see place or a must do item? It will be my first time to Europe.
We also be stopping in Gibraltar & then to Madeira, Portugal. Any advise will do!

First of all, if you want to learn Spanish, go ahead and do it for your own sake. Most locals in Spain who deal with tourists or work in tourist industries speak some English anyway. I don't speak Spanish at all (except the basic words) and I went to Spain last year for 12 days. I didn't have any problem at all.

In Barcelona, they speak Catalan, so learning Spanish won't do you much good in Barcelona.

Yes by all means learn Spanish! In America, you'll likely be learning Latin American Spanish. This is similar to standard Castillian Spanish (Castellano) with mainly spoken differences, but quite different than Catalan (Català). However most Barcelonians can understand both, so I would disagree with yk that it won't do you much good.

My experience has been that the Spaniards have less familiarity with English, as compared to their European cousins. I was quite surprised at this on my first trip through Spain. I was lost in Cordoba, and needed to ask for directions. Neither English nor my atrocious Spanish was understood; I was helped finally by a kind fellow who could speak French.

You are a tourist. Your dress, hair, glasses, shoes, watch, and the way you walk will say you are a tourist.

The Spanish, however, are very gracious when you try to speak their language.

I find it a bit blown out of proportion to learn a language for a 24 hour stay.
Barcelona is a very international big city. Official signage is only in Catalan anyway, and where you find bi-lingual information, like in subway stations, you will also find an English version posted. ATMs, ticket machines, or phones can be set to work in 3-4 languages, including English.
Only a tiny fraction of those zillions of tourists from non-Spanish speaking countries will know more than a handful of phrases in Castellano (and probably none in Catala), and gets along.
If you had planned for a 2 week hiking tour through the hinterland of Catalunya it might be a different thing, but for ONE day?
Would you also learn Portuguese for your day in Madeira?

"In Barcelona, they speak Catalan, so learning Spanish won't do you much good in Barcelona."

not true at all.
I speak Spanish and had no problem whatsoever in Barcelona. I made an effort to learn a few phrases in Catalan ; when I told a server in a restaurant I did not speak Catalan
(in Catalan), he said he didn't either ( in Spanish).

When in Madeira be sure to have the espada, the ugliest fish in the world, and try and fit in a lavada walk.

My comment about Spanish was more if I should just stick with English when I was there. I have been a spoiled American for far too long to learn a language for a country I will visit for a day or two. I have traveled to many places but I have not had the European experience outside of the British Isles. Being a 3rd generation Californian I have been seeing the trend that you have to be bi-lingual in order to even get a job. I NEED to learn Spanish but it seems as though I will use it as a back-up to my English just as I will do here at home.

Aduchamp1-Not sure how bold I will be about eating the "ugliest fish in the world" but I will try. And I know I will look like a tourist I just like to feel comfortable. Hence why I have not traveled to France, yet.

Thank you for all of your input. Any other "must see's"??

Don't worry. I was in Barcelona ten days ago with a friend who
spoke English to everyone without hesitating.

Most people in the tourist industry understand enough English to sell whatever you are buying.
It is polite, though, to learn a few phrases :

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/lan...nphrases.shtml

Sue

Be brave. Eat espada. Go to France. I just speak restuarant French and that is with a Brooklyn accent.

One day you will wonder why you did not go all the palces you wanted to see.

There is ALOT to see in Barcelona - go to the library, get a travel book and pick out the places that appeal to you. Also there is a "Fat Tire" bike tour that is a good way to see a variety of sights or a HOHO bus (hop on hop off). Learn a few polite words of Spanish or Catalan - that usually will get you alot of goodwill.

For starters (and for free):
http://quizlet.com/16521/catalan-bas...s-flash-cards/
Unfortunately, you have to find out the pronunciation rules somewhere else.

Castellano ("Spanish") is as much a 2nd language for you as for most people you will meet in Barcelona. Of course, they understand and speak Castellano fluently, but it's a bit like learning English when going to Montreal.
Those who speak Castellano as 1st language in Barcelona are usually "immigrants" from other parts of Spain who moved there, in more recent years due to the better job situation.

"Those who speak Castellano as 1st language in Barcelona are usually "immigrants" from other parts of Spain"

also numerous immigrants from Latin America .
In many restaurants, when a waiter with English skills is "needed" , often it is someone from SA.

My friend in Barcelona, who owns a pharmacy ( in a less affluent part of town), told me that most of her customers speak only Spanish. Her husband is from Columbia; he had to learn Catalan but found it easy.

I do not know if it is still true, but years ago Catalans used to take great pride in speaking a better Castillan than those from Castille. And of course on top of that they spoke Catalan.

Two days are nothing in Barcelona.

At first glance of the sites you two directed me to, it almost looks like it is French and Spanish together? At least as far as helping me with pronunciation? Maybe?

I have not really had many opportunities to travel especialy to Europe. Our son is almost 9 yr old and we felt better not going too far when he was young. This cruise we figured we would use as a stepping stone to see what we like. It is actually a transatlantic cruise. But we start out of Barcelona and depending on how many more days my husband gets off of work will be how many days we explore beforehand.

Flying from the US it seems that the more resonable fares fly you into Dublin? For now I have to just look as we won't be flying until Sept 2010. Can you tell I like to plan?
Thank you for everything and I will be going to a book store with a big travel section next.

Pronunciation is somewhat like Spanish/Castilian, e.g. emphasis is usually on the 2nd last syllable. Excemptions are marked with an accent (?).


The probably most "different" words are the multitude that end in -tx, -eig, -aig, -uig, and -oig which will all result in a sound more or less like the "ch" in Chile or chili.

-tge as in metge (doctor) or Sitges (a town near BCN) sounds like as if you replaced it with the "Je" in English Jericho. So there is no hard "t" sound in it.

-ny- replaces the Castilian ñ, with the same effect

l.l as in paral.lel sounds same as a "double L" sounds in English
ll is pronounced as in Castilian.

SueTGGR writes: ...<< I am wondering if I should be learning Spanish before we get there? We will be in Barcelona at least a ful day before the cruise and I am wondering how much of their language I should know. Will we look too much like tourists if we don't speak their language? ... If I do learn Spanish, which I probably will anyway, how different is what they teach here in the US?
Also is there a must see place or a must do item? We also be stopping in Gibraltar & then to Madeira, Portugal. ... >>

What's wrong with looking like tourists if that's what you are? Barcelona's pickpockets and moto-mounted thieves will spot you as tourists regardless what language you speak.

For one day in Barcelona, I wouldn't recommend learning Spanish any more than learning Portuguese for your day on Madeira. "Spanish" taught in the U.S. should be Castellano (i.e., Castilian) although it's inevitable that many of those who teach in our High Schools and Colleges will be influenced by their own background. Language learning CD's usually don't have that problem. You could supplement a CD Course with watching Spanish lnaguage TV Channels like Univision & TeleMundo