Time to Hola! Hola!

It was my first class at Instituto Cervantes here in Manila. And I’m so excited to learn something new.

Before I reached my destination, I endured the windy and stormy weather going to class. Also, the MRT is busted as of that moment.  So, I went by bus from Boni to LRT Pedro Gil and then I took LRT to UN station.   I arrived 30 minutes before class, so I decided to walk around the building and went to the cafeteria for coffee and spaghetti (total cost is 200 pesos ouch!).   And I’ve shared the same table with other students as other table is already occupied.   It was nice to hear from other students coming from a different background, I’ve heard their stories and reasons about learning Spanish language.  The young lady beside me has passed her bar licensure exam lately.  And she told me that she is learning Spanish language because she likes it by heart and for some other practical reasons as well.  Here, I became more inspired and wanting to learn more.

What compelled me to learn Spanish?

• I was influence by someone, who can speak fluently in Spanish.
• Statistically, Spanish language is 4th most spoken language in the world and I want to be part of that figure.
• I love backpacking overseas.  For me, it's astonishing to be able to communicate in Spanish with other Spanish-speaking traveler.
• I could use it for some other sensible cause in the future.

Since the Spaniards colonized Philippines for about 300 years.   Spanish language was first introduced to the Philippines in 1565 along with the Roman Catholic religion.  Going back to history, Spanish was imposed as an official language of the Philippines until 1973.  So, that is why Filipino language has mixed of Spanish.  And it will be much easier for me to learn Spanish.

Throughout the class, my Filipino instructor is giving her lecture in Spanish.  I believed it is an effective learning method.   You will be learning not by wasting your time translating every word but through helpful association. 

During the three hours lecture, I have learned about basic Spanish conversation, Spanish alphabet, Pronouns and we had some practical exercises.

Summing up, it was a splendid first-day-class experience, minus the stormy weather and horrible commute.  Attending Spanish class at Instituto Cervantes motivates me to learn more, travel more, and immerse myself in different culture. 

Something to look forward next week is the 10^th Spanish film festival on October 5-12 at Greenbelt 3, Makati city.   Definitely, I will be watching!