Exchanging Languages in Spain

By Tracy Shields Moral

Learning Spanish in Spain can be free. While I was trying desperately to learn Castilian, a friend introduced me to the classified newspaper called Segundamano. Along with secondhand furniture, cars, and the like, it also lists pages of traded goods and services: piano lessons for babysitting, a stereo for a trail bike, and so on. What mostly caught my attention, though, were the intercambios, free exchanges of English conversation for Spanish.

Intercambios are a very popular and economical way to socialize and to educate yourself while at the same time helping the person with whom you share the intercambio. Not only do you have a free Spanish class, you also have a friend and the satisfaction of sharing your language while gaining experience and confidence as a teacher.

“Spanish woman is looking for native English speakers to share conversation. Please call . . . ." My annuncio ran on a Wednesday, and by Friday I had received nearly 20 calls from people interested in an intercambio!

Segundamano is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and can be accessed via their web site, www.segundamano.es. Look under the section heading “Enseñanza y Clases” (Teaching and Classes) and the subsection “Idiomas/Demanda.”

TRACY SHIELDS MORAL is a freelance writer who lives in Madrid for three months out of the year. She is married to a Madrileno and runs The Expatriate Cafe web site, www.expatriatecafe.com. Web Editor's Note: The site has grown into one of the finest of its kind and features invaluable information for those who seek to teach English in Spain.