Consider These Factors To Choose Your Spanish Learning Product

From time to time I am asked to review products related to Spain and Spanish tourism. The majority are books about Spain and the rest are educational products mainly geared towards learning Spanish. In this short article I've identified three interesting products which are geared to very different students of Spanish. Before ever recommending any of these Spanish learning products I consider three main factors:

(1) Does This Product Make Any Outrageous Claims?

There are too many products out there that are nothing more than a scam so if I read that you can be "fluent in Spanish in a week" then I'm extremely suspicious. For the majority of people considering these language learning products they want to simply know enough to get by on their visit to Spain, they are not seeking fluency. So I tend to take an interest in products that will provide short term visitors with enough Spanish skills to enable them to learn enough to take part in basic interactions with the locals.

(2) Does This Product Offer An Extended Money Back Guarantee?

Language learning products are very well promoted on their respective websites and their impressive claims are generally backed up by the testimonials of customers. If the products are as good as they say they are then I'd expect them to offer an impressive money back guarantee with no questions asked should a client not be satisfied with the course. So in each of the products I've listed below you'll find a no questions asked money back guarantee of 60 days which enables you to give the product a fair try but still with the option of securing a refund if you aren’t satisfied.

(3) Who Is The Product Created For?

There's no point paying several hundred dollars for a comprehensive Spanish language course if you don't have the time or inclination to dedicate significant hours to it over an extended period. If you're in this category then you'll probably have a go at the first few sections of the course then give up. I'm sure we've all been there at some time or other! What I like to do is identify how deeply do people want to get into these courses. In general I tend to find that most new Spanish learners would be more than happy with enough words to get by on their holidays rather than aspiring to become bilingual.

Below I've listed three quite different products which cater to quite different consumers. Each one is immediately downloadable through the internet, offers an impressive 60 day money back guarantee with no questions asked and is a lot cheaper than traditional language learning methods available at better known companies such as Linguaphone or Rosetta Stone. Take a look at my brief review then click on the individual websites if you want more information.

Following This Delicious Spanish Paella Recipe

Looking for a tasty, hearty meal for your next dinner party? This delicious Spanish Paella only takes a mere 30 minutes to prep, and another 30 minutes to cook. And, in the end, you'll enjoy a lot of taste for just a little effort! The following recipe serves eight.

  
Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice
• 1 pinch saffron threads
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 bunch Italian flat leaf parsley, chopped
• 1 quart chicken stock
• 2 lemons, zested
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 Spanish onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• 1 pound chorizo sausage, casings removed and crumbled
• 1 pound shrimp, peeled and de-veined

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, oregano, and salt and pepper. Stir in chicken pieces to coat. Cover, and refrigerate.

2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet or paella pan over medium heat. Stir in garlic, red pepper flakes, and rice. Cook, stirring, to coat rice with oil, about 3 minutes. Stir in saffron threads, bay leaf, parsley, chicken stock, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to medium low. Simmer 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir in marinated chicken and onion; cook 5 minutes. Stir in bell pepper and sausage; cook 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp; cook, turning the shrimp, until both sides are pink.

4. Spread rice mixture onto a serving tray. Top with meat and seafood mixture.

These Five Most Famous Spanish Festivals

My (very British) idea of a festival or celebration involves drink, music, possibly dancing and often a speech. The Spanish like to throw fireworks, build towers out of humans, get carried around in coffins and jump over babies (all things that actually happen in yearly festivals).

I have also discovered that a very large number of Spanish festivals involve throwing things. I have no idea why the Spanish like to throw things so much… but they do! Below is a list of 5 Spanish festivals that take place in Spain every year. Let me know what you think of these wacky and uh…weird celebrations:

1. Most Famous: Tomatina

You may have heard of the Spanish festival where thousands of people throw tomatoes at each other, aka. Tomantina. It's very popular with tourists from all around the world and the town of Buñol is conveniently located just a few miles away from the beautiful city of Valencia. Initially beginning in 1945 as a protest, Tomantina is now one of Spain's most famous festivals and provides good messy fun for all. It's held annually on the last Wednesday of August.

2. Continuing with the fruit theme: La Raima – The Grape throwing festival

Since the 1930s, every year the end of Harvest has been celebrated by the farmers and other locals with a grape throwing festival. Over the years the festival, like Tomantina, has also become popular with tourists and the now huge crowds are delivered over 60 tonnes of grapes for their throwing fun. It's another festival that gets very messy!

3. Food fight! Flower and eggs throwing during Els Enfarinats

Els Enfarinats is a slightly bonkers festivals were people dressed in combat gear, round around the town like their part of a Guerilla army trying to get money (for charitable causes) from locals and eventually these 'army people' let off fireworks and begin to batter people (hehe) with eggs and flour bombs. It becomes a huge food fight and the town gets caked (hehe) in flour.

4. A slightly more acceptable and fun fiesta: Water fighting

Each year at the stroke of midnight, Spainish biggest water festival begins in the Andalucían town of Lanjaron. People from all over the country charge into the streets armed with buckets of water and water pistols, whilst ladies equipped with hosepipes prepare for battle from their balconies. The liquid onslaught then begins and by the time the whistle blows there is a river running through the village. The dripping participants then do what any decent water fighter would do…they spend the next two days getting drunk and eating ham to recover.

5. Rags, Mud and Ant throwing festival

For over a thousand years, the festival of Farrapada in Galicia has prepared for the self-restraining period of Lent by throwing rags and ants at each other. The battle begins when someone is hit by a wet muddy rag (how lovely) and then it becomes a bit of a 'free for all'. Dirty rags are thrown as well as handfuls of mud, each full of ants. Not just any ants… biting ants! To make sure these biting ants that you are to throw at friends and family are on full form, they are previously doused in vinegar which apparently keeps them extra feisty.