Our student’s rich backgrounds and future plans with their acquired Spanish skills never cease to keep us entertained! We absolutely love being a part of our student's Spanish learning journeys, read on to get to know some of our current student's stories!
Gleb Zhizhkin
Meet Gleb, a destination content photographer from Russia.
What brought you to Barcelona?
A line from a song from my youth was “wiped the сlouds from the sky and started living in Spain”. The rest is the work of the subconscious!
Why did you decide to study Spanish?
I want to discover Latin America, especially Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, so I think “hablo español” will help me with that.
Where’s your favorite spot in the city?
Eixample. I like to walk along Carrer d’Enric Granados after my classes 📍
What’s next for you/what are your future plans?
I want to immerse myself in the language this year, so I’ll stay in Barcelona for a while. Also, I love hiking and I still have a lot of untapped trails in the Costa Brava.
Sarah Candee
Say hello to Sarah a Content Creator from Wisconsin, USA .
Where are you from?
I am from Wisconsin, in the United States. It’s a Great Lake state just two hours from Chicago.
What brought you to Barcelona?
I lived in Madrid 4 years ago and have been planning my return to Spain ever since. After graduating from university back home, my partner and I moved here together so we could pursue fine arts!
Why did you decide to study Spanish?
Spanish has been and always will be my favorite language. I loved my Spanish classes growing up, I love Spain and Latin America, I love Spanish music… The reasons are endless! I also love to learn and be in class so Speakeasy was right for me.
Where’s your favorite spot in the city?
A Montserrat jaunt is the best way to spend a morning or afternoon. You can get a breath of fresh air and hike a whole mountain in only 2 hours!
What’s next for you?
I haven’t yet decided if I will move from Barna this year or 2 years from now. I’m considering teaching English abroad after being inspired by my language instruction at Speakeasy. For now, I will continue as a content creator on my Instagram and TikTok. Fortunately, that lets me live wherever I want to!
Birol Adem
Say hello to Birol who is from Sweden and has Turkish roots.
What brought you to Barcelona?
I moved to Barcelona because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. Barcelona is a beautiful city with many things to do, I love the food and the nice weather.
Why did you decide to study Spanish?
I studied a little bit of Spanish when I was younger and found it interesting, I would also like to travel to countries where they speak Spanish.
Where’s your favorite spot in the city?
There are a few! The Bunkers have a fantastic view, El Born and Gracia have great restaurants and bars, and of course the beach.
What’s next for you?
My plan is to study for 3 more months and then look for a job here. I want to live in Barcelona and at the same time travel a lot, but let’s see where the future leads.
Asya Gribanova
What brought you to Barcelona?
I’m taking a career break and decided that living in another country, and studying its culture and language is the best decision for me. My friends live in Barcelona (they also studied at Speakeasy) and I fell in love with Barcelona for the first time when I visited them.
Why did you decide to study Spanish?
Spanish changed my mind about learning foreign languages. I think that Spanish culture and language is great for foreigners to learn (especially because of welcoming native speakers).
Where’s your favorite spot in the city?
My absolute favorites are the top of the church in Tibidabo and the top of the Castell de Montjuic. In these places, I feel at the center of the history of Barcelona and part of the incredible architecture.
What’s next for you/what are your future plans?
This year taught me a lesson: dream big, but don’t forget the world could change faster than you dream.
Franziska Pfeifer
Say hello to Franziska from Vienna, Austria.
What brought you to Barcelona?
I’m currently taking a gap year, and I’ve decided to move to Barcelona when I visited in February of this year I fell in love with the city. I knew right away that this was the place for me.
Why did you decide to study Spanish?
It’s very important to me that I know how to speak the language of the country I live in. Therefore, I was sure I had to take Spanish classes! (Still working on my Catalan though) Additionally, it has always been a dream of mine to travel through South America.
Where’s your favourite spot in the city?
My favorite spot in the city is probably the small cafe in El Born where I work, called Coffee Casa. I get to meet so many nice people every day and listen to their stories! It also allows me to practice Spanish.
What’s next for you?
My dream is to study medicine next year, so I will probably have to go back to Vienna sooner or later. However, I want to spend as much time as possible in Barcelona and might even come back to live here again someday!
Posted in Life at Speakeasy, Moving to Barcelona
Learn and improve your Spanish in Barcelona, one of the world's most vibrant and exciting cities.
Here at Speakeasy you'll find courses for all abilities and timetables, an incredible team of talented and motivated teachers and classmates to share your interests and passions. And if you need a visa for your stay, then of course we're able to help and advise.
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