How to Handle Language Barriers When Studying Abroad in 巴塞罗那

One of the biggest skills you can gain from studying abroad is a better grasp on a new 语言. For me, one of my goals is to be bilingual and 巴塞罗那 was a perfect place to do so! 然而, I did not know going into this that Spanish is not actually the main 语言 spoken in 巴塞罗那-it's actually 加泰罗尼亚语的. While this is very similar to Spanish it is a completely different 语言 and can really confuse you, 特别是如果你不知道这种语言的存在.

View of 巴塞罗那 from the top of El Corte Ingles in the center of Catalunya.

当我到达巴塞罗那的时候, 加泰罗尼亚语的 confused me so much that I thought every bit of Spanish I knew was wrong, when in fact I was looking at 加泰罗尼亚语的 signs instead of Spanish signs. All of my housemates and I had no idea about the history of 巴塞罗那, 加泰罗尼亚, 以及他们的母语加泰罗尼亚语, 这非常有趣. You will hear a lot about it if you decide to study here! All of our professors were excited to talk to us about everything they knew, and we even were able to talk to some locals about the history of their homeland.

The town we visited during one of my architecture field trips. This neighborhood is being torn down for apartment buildings soon, so this sadly is one of the last photos that will be taken of it.

Now when I say 加泰罗尼亚语的 can be confusing, here are some examples of Spanish vs. 加泰罗尼亚语的. There are the easy words that you can generally recognize like zumo vs. Jugo(果汁)，以及更大的差异，如salida和. 所谓(退出). Even my housemates who were fluent in Latin American Spanish were confused by this new 语言 because we had never seen it before and we were all wondering if we were going crazy, or just for some reason were getting all these Spanish phrases wrong for years.

One thing that was helpful is that 东航卡帕 provided us with lists of both Spanish and 加泰罗尼亚语的 general everyday phrases we could study just in case we needed them, 也让我们的出行更方便. 也, 大多数加泰罗尼亚人会说西班牙语和加泰罗尼亚语, since both are taught in schools and because 加泰罗尼亚 is still technically part of 西班牙. It is rare that you will run into someone who only speaks 加泰罗尼亚语的. 这通常只会发生在年长的当地人身上, and even then they can usually understand your Spanish if you are speaking clearly enough.

One of the trips I took alone was to Park Gi¼ell (one of the filming locations from The Cheetah Girls 2), 它是如此美丽. 我玩得很开心!

For me, I am not fluent in Spanish and only have a basic understanding of the 语言. 也就是说, I found it easy enough to get around because I have studied Spanish for a few years, 有说这种语言的家庭成员吗, 当别人对我说话时，我基本上能听懂. 这帮助, but not being fluent made it very complicated for me to respond even when I understood what was being said to me. There is sort of some anxiety that comes with speaking a 语言 you are not fluent in to someone who is.

Some tips for getting through this is to SPEAK-you will never become fluent if you never try. (白天)独自外出, 去杂货店要聪明，要安全, 小商店, or even just on a walk and practice asking for directions, 某些项目的成本, 等... 这帮助 me a LOT with the 语言, and I gained so much knowledge.

One of the many locations my housemates and I found for sunset watching.
巴塞罗那有很多像这样隐藏的瑰宝!

Living in the 语言 rather than reading a textbook and taking a test helps you learn so much faster, 因为你被迫不断地练习. 有时会有点吓人, but it gave me a new sense of respect and understanding for people who live in America, 不会说英语, 每天都要经历这些. Don't let the fact that you do not speak a certain country's 语言 keep you from studying there! 这更像是一个去学习的理由, 如果所有这些都失败了，你就完全被难住了, I noticed in 巴塞罗那 there is almost always someone nearby who speaks English, 或者至少知道一点能帮你的. This is definitely a risk worth taking that you would not regret!