The Gazette Lanzarote Jan 2014 | Page 54

YOU CAN DO IT! N ow in the books (even in your own language), music, film and culture that surrounds us. It´s a way of fitting into the society around you, or finding even more places to fit in. But before you enroll, it´s wise to be aware of some of the hurdles you´ll face. But don´t let them put you off – millions of others have been exactly where you are and changed their lives. If you want to learn a foreign language, there’ll be plenty of slip ups along the way – but sometimes that’s the best way to learn. Language learning takes guts: the courage to make errors and still carry on; it takes common sense, rather than intelligence; and it takes character – to laugh at your mistakes and try out what you’ve learnt in the street. It´s social – after all, the aim is to communicate, it makes your daily life on Lanzarote easier and much more interesting and its rewarding – literally paying for itself many times over in the job market. It also expands your mind – making you more interested l GRAMMAR SCHOOL One of the disadvantages of the English educational system is that grammar is so rarely taught – children who haven´t learnt a foreign language often leave school without the faintest idea about the rules that govern their own, or other, languages. As a result, when they come to learn a foreign language, they also have to learn a little about basic grammar. It´s not too hard to tell an adjective from an adverb or identify a past participle and say when it is used, but it may be off-putting for beginners. Fortunately, if you’re learning Spanish, many grammar rules are very similar to those in English. Some that aren´t such as putting adjectives after nouns - (Spaniards say “un coche rojo” - “a car red”) - are where many beginners slip up initially. Don´t worry, these common rules soon come naturally. Bookswop I Fariones Hotel end Corner of C/Timanfaya Puerto del Carmen Mon-Fri 9.30 - 18.00 Sat 09.30 - 14.00 Tel: 928 514 931 Bookswop II San Antonio Hotel end C.C. Costa Luz Puerto del Carmen Mon - Fri 09.30 - 17.00 Sat 09.30 - 13.30 Tel: 928 513 563 Bookswop III C/ La Corvina Rd. opposite the church Playa Blanca Mon - Fri 9.30 - 19.00 Sat 9.30 - 14.00 Tel: 928 349 420 now on Come and check out our great prices Wishing all our customers the best for 2015 St Valentine SALE starts on 14th January hurry whilst sale stock lasts 54 | January 2015 | The Gazette Come Visit Us