🌍✈️ Discover the Soul of Catalonia: Join Our Catalan for Travel Course! ✈️🌍

📣 Calling all adventure-seekers and culture enthusiasts! Have you ever dreamt of exploring the enchanting land of Catalonia? Picture yourself strolling through the vibrant streets of Barcelona, savoring the mouthwatering flavours of Catalan cuisine, and immersing yourself in the rich history and traditions of this captivating region. 🌆🍽️🎉

🗣️📚 But here's the secret to unlocking the true essence of Catalonia: Speak the language of the locals, speak Catalan! 📚🎓 Our handcrafted Catalan for Travel Course is your passport to an extraordinary journey filled with unforgettable experiences. Let us tell you why this course is a game-changer for travelers like you. 💃💬

✨ Immerse Yourself: By learning Catalan, you'll dive headfirst into the heart and soul of Catalonia. Connect with the locals, form genuine friendships, and unravel the hidden treasures that lie off the beaten path. From charming villages to breathtaking landscapes, you'll unlock doors that are inaccessible to most tourists. 🏰🌿

✨ Indulge in Authenticity: As you navigate through the bustling markets and cosy cafes, speaking Catalan will open up a world of culinary delights. Engage with local chefs, order your favourite dishes with confidence, and discover the true flavours of Catalonia. Taste the culture, one bite at a time! 🍷🍴

✨ Unlock Cultural Insights: Language is the key to understanding a region's history and traditions. By learning Catalan, you'll gain profound insights into Catalonia's vibrant heritage, art, and literature. Conversations with locals will illuminate the stories behind ancient monuments, renowned artists, and captivating legends. 🎭📚

🌟 Join our Catalan for Travel Course and embark on a linguistic adventure like no other! Iolanda will guide you step by step, providing you with practical language skills, cultural knowledge, and insider tips to make your journey truly extraordinary. 🌟🌍

🔗 Sign up to secure your spot and be ready to explore Catalonia in a whole new light! Don't miss this opportunity to experience the magic of Catalonia, one Catalan phrase at a time. 🌠💫

Facts about Catalan

Here are five interesting facts about the Catalan language, a Romance language which mostly spoken in Catalonia:

1. Catalan is spoken by over 10 million people: Although it is a minority language, Catalan is spoken by over 10 million people worldwide, making it one of the most widely spoken minority languages in Europe.

2. It has a rich literary tradition: Catalan has a long and rich literary tradition that dates back to the 12th century. Some of the most famous works of Catalan literature include the epic poem "Tirant lo Blanch" and the novel La plaça del diamant.

3. It has a unique sound system: Catalan has a unique sound system that includes several distinctive vowel and consonant sounds, such as the "l·l" and "ny" sounds, which do not exist in most other languages.

4. It has influenced other languages: Catalan has had a significant influence on other languages, particularly Spanish and Occitan. Many words and expressions in these languages have Catalan origins, and Catalan has also borrowed words from other languages, such as French and Italian.

5. It was banned under Franco's regime: During the regime of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, the use of Catalan was banned in public life and education. This ban lasted from 1939 until Franco's death in 1975, and during this time, the use of Catalan was suppressed and stigmatised. Despite this, Catalan continued to be spoken and written in private and in some cultural contexts, and since the end of the Franco regime, it has experienced a resurgence in use and visibility.

Course Contributor

After graduating as a Veterinary Surgeon, Iolanda Casacoberta Cantons began her career working as a veterinarian in small animal clinics in Switzerland and Spain, which she combined with teaching Veterinary Nursery, Clinical Analysis and Catalan at a private school in Barcelona, and with the writing of articles for the school newsletter and for the Spanish magazine “Todo Perros”. After that, she worked for four years as an Official Veterinary Surgeon for the Meat Hygiene Service of the United Kingdom, and 10 years as a Veterinary Officer for the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in the Division of Gloucestershire.

Eager to return to her homeland, she completed a postgraduate degree in translation, the Chartered Institute Of Linguists' Diploma in Translation, in 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Since her return, she has worked full-time as a specialised medical and veterinary translator, and designed and taught an English course for COAMB (Col legi d’amientòlegs de Catalunya — Association of Environmentalists of Catalonia), and Veterinary Translation courses for eCPD (UK) and AulaSIC (Spain). Iolanda is currently part of the staff of external collaborators of the World Health Organisation (WHO). She is also a volunteer for CAL (Coordinadora d’Associacions per la Llengua Catalana — Coordinating Committee of Associations for the Catalan Language), whose aim is to organise and coordinate conversation groups in Catalan-speaking territories, intended for people who want to improve their use of spoken Catalan. You can visit her website at www.wordstogether.es and ProZ profile at http://www.proz.com/profile/1098157.

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