Yes, you read that right. In this blog post you’ll discover five ways you can practice your Spanish out & about in Liverpool. Practicing Spanish like the methods outlined in this blog post can greatly enhance your fluency and comprehension, providing a well-rounded learning experience without the need to travel. I’m an advocate for language immersion and seeking out connections of the target language in your local community. Liverpool as all major cities attracts a lot of European visitors so there are many ways you can practice your Spanish here.
One of the things I always do when I visit places in the UK is to seek out as many Spanish connections as possible. This is so ingrained in me that I now act as a magnet and without trying find myself immersed in the Spanish language easily. Here are five ways to practice your Spanish without leaving the UK – try them next time you visit somewhere – You’ll be amazed at how it can transform your experience of even the most “un-Spanishy” of cities.
Tune your ear in
I know what you’re thinking. The Liverpool accent is so broad, how is it even possible to drown it out to hear anyone speaking Spanish? But if you stay open to the possibility and realise that there are many, many tourists you’ll soon start to pick up on the odd word or two. Especially at the main landmarks like the Liverpool Cathedral, Liverpool One or China Town for example – people will be taking photos. What better opportunity to practise your Spanish than to offer to take their photo; “¿Quiere que le tomo una foto?” (would you like me to take a photo of you?) This is a thing – On my last visit to Liverpool I bumped into a group of Spanish speakers who asked me to take a photo of them by the entrance to China Town.
Dining out
Book a table at a restaurant where you know the waiters speak Spanish. Booking a table at a Spanish restaurant doesn’t guarantee that the staff will speak Spanish. It takes a bit of research to find one where they do (trial and error may mean you need to try a few). The Argentine restaurants famed for their meat dishes usually employ staff from Argentina. Places like Gaucho, MEET and Fazenda are fabulous and great places to practice your Spanish too.
Indie book shops
If (like me) you live in quite a rural area visiting a city is a great opportunity to visit an Indie Book Shop. They usually have an alternative selection to the books available at mainstream shops like Waterstones. News From Nowhere is a fabulous indie book shop on Bold Street in Liverpool. It has a great South American section in with lots of alternative literature on South American politics and it’s history. If you’re into South American history “Open Veins of South America” by Eduardo Galeano is a must read.
Open Top Bus tour
The hop on hop off open bus tours are a great way to visit any city. By selecting Spanish audio instead of English you’re doing that little bit more to help tune your ear in and develop your Spanish listening skills.
Read tourist literature in Spanish
Liverpool Cathedral is the largest religious building in the UK and the fifth largest in the World. It attracts a lot of tourists every year. The information leaflets are available in 10 different languages. Instead of automatically picking up the English version, grab the Spanish version instead (or as well). I picked up a copy of a Spanish one on my last visit to Liverpool even the front of it is a lesson in the difference between “Por & Para”. It’s a great way to extend your Spanish vocabulary too. Plus, if others see you with a Spanish leaflet they may be included to approach you speaking Spanish 🙂
So there you have it, five ways to practice your Spanish in Liverpool and not a Netflix documentary or podcast in sight!