While studying abroad in Spain, what can I do to save money on communication with my family?
541205
Get SKYPE and a mike and earphones for your computer and the computer at home.  You can speak (not type) for free computer to computer and it is very cheap to speak from computer to phone.
695207
money shouldn't be a problem because most university scholarships, grants, financial aid, etc. can be used in the abroad university. so you will be paying the same price. you may need to pay for your flight, but that can be balanced out by studying in a country whose currency is weaker than the USD.  This usually will mean that housing is significantly cheaper and the cost of living is cheaper.  For example, you could studying in South Africa (which is actually very Western in most cities and quite safe) or South/Latin America. I studied abroad in Thailand....it was way cheap to live there.\n\nIn terms of making money...have you looked into babysitting/nannying/tutoring in a wealthy town or city.  You can make between 12-20 dollars an hour in the right neighborhood.\n\nGood Luck!
774197
Buena idea. Yo estoy estudiando, y espero que algun dia puedo hablar mejor que ahora.\n\nEspanol es una lengua muy bonita y casi toda la gente en el mundo pueden hablar mas que una lengua y por eso estoy tratando apprender mas que una por mi parte.
24840
Depending where you live at you don't need to go to a spanish speaking country to learn the language.  Pick up books and meet some people in your area who speak spanish and are willing to engage in spanish conversations with you.
1120233
Try the Spanish Embassy, The Spanish Chamber of Commerce\nor Yahoo. ESPANA.
675443
It is customary for visitors in Europe to bring a small gift.  I have found that 100% real maple syrup is good because it is uncommon in Europe and they like it a LOT more than any other American food product.  Other than that, something particular to your region, city, or college might be good.  Something that identifies it as being particular to you is great.  Don't go too overboard though.\n\nA thank you card would be a nice additional touch.\n\nYou don't HAVE to eat meals or attend religious rituals or whatnot, but you ARE there to learn about the culture (I hope!), so it makes sense to experience some of these things.  You might be surprised to learn that some of these "mundane" things grant greater insight into your studies or they might just be interesting experiences.  Still, I'm not saying you need to convert or anything.  Just learn about the people you are living with.  It's polite and educational.  If, on the other hand, you want to offend your hosts, demand that they change to your ways and belittle their own.\n\nDealing with culture shock:  Set reasonable goals for yourself.  Don't try too hard or set unobtainable standards.  In fact, set low expectations for yourself at first - easily obtainable goals that will allow you to have some early successes.  For example:  instead of expecting instant language mastery, set a goal of learning a set number of new words each day.  KEEP A JOURNAL!  This is great because it allows you to record your progress and look back and recognize your accomplishments.\n\nStay in touch with people back home.  For example, I realized too late that if I wanted to be an RA the next year I would have had to know when the application process was happening (January!) and arrange a telephone interview.  I learned this in March...  Yech!\n\nA sure sign of culture shock is forming a cultural clique where you just hang out with people from your own country.  One step down is just hanging out with expatriots - other foreigners.  I'm not saying beat off all potential fellow citizens or fellow foreign students, but it is important to work on making friends from the country that you are visiting.\n\nMake sure you pay attention in any cultural briefings or locale briefings.  They provide important information like where not to be wandering out alone at night or whether it's safe to drink the water.  I had some friends learn some of these things the hard way.
499737
visit the British Council in your nearest city in your country if u r living outside the UK
667102
hey, your from quito, equador? (i saw it off some other question you had anwered) cool me too...hehe. anyways, if you want to enhance your english aside from reading one too many books, you should try Skype, its this type of messenger that you can log in for free. in fact, you can also talk to people using the mic from your computer to anyone world wide for free. thats how i keep in contact with my family in the states while im studying here in italy. \ni recommend you it because there are many people that have chatted with me on skype to better their language, they do it on purpose for that reason, so maybe it can also help you.\n\nhope this helps!
1155878
get books...audio tapes...a friend who speaks spanishh or better yet...a girlfeidn....and study study study! ...its the only way u will learn....there is no SHORTCUT!!!
256837
Well, there are many resources to find study abroad programs in the region that interest you. The Internet is your best source of information if you have time. Most universities also have a dedicated office to study abroad programs. The problem is that these counselors are biased. There are also counselors that are independent like myself who specialize in one geographic areas or one subject. There is a fee to their service but usually that service will be very helpful to find the right program for your or to jump start your research in the right direction. Unfortunately Ireland is not my area of concentration so I can't help you much there. However study abroad.com and google can be of a great help. \nRemember funding is available through your student loans and it is usually easier to get through your school. There are also scholarships but those are very limited. Spain and France are my areas and I usually suggest to my students to go SOLO with no middle man (STudy abroad programs and university sponsored programs). It is usually much cheaper for the same program and I strongly believe that you can pay for it from you summer job ( a six weeks in Spain can cost you around 2000 including flight food and stay while in most programs you have to pay 3500 just in tution).\nGood luck in your research, and contact me if you need help.
805262
Get Skype (www.skype.com).  It's free over the Internet from computer - computer.\n\nWe use it to call the EU and Asia.  Saves LOTs of money!
257619
Generally, you have three options: \n1. get a cell phone (the coverage, roaming and standards compatibility are even more of a mess than in the U.S., but within a certain region it's quite OK). Believe it or not, this option is becoming more and more popular. The costs are comparable with West Europe, so to get a number and a handset, you'll pay between 40 and 100 USD.\n2. Apply for a line in an established order. It won't cost you a lot (varies from region to region), but be prepared to wait for several YEARS (no kidding).\n3. Apply for a "commercial" installation. The installation fee is quite high then (again, it varies from region to region, in a place where my relatives live it's an equivalent of about 200 USD, I believe), but you'll get it relatively quickly if there is a line available, which is a big if.
130420
First of all, you may be allowed to attend meetings of a Spanish conversation club at the college in Ann Arbor, because often clubs are open to people off-campus as well.\n\nSecondly, if you discover that there isn't such an organization in your area, you could start one.  It wouldn't be hard to advertise meetings at a central location (like a library or community center).\n\nThirdly, you can try to find places where people do Latin dancing, since Spanish speakers often like that kind of dancing.
883729
Take a holiday in a Spanish speaking country...  Try to go where people are not too busy and they willl be more helpful.   When you hear the sounds and have to speak the language you will soon forget to be tongue tied.\n\nOnce you begin speaking learning the language will be easier.
330740
their main offices are in madrid call them 91 63488 00\nthey should be able to help you\n\ngood luck
222332
Yes you said that right, spanish is an easy language to speak of course I say this cause I live in Puerto Rico heh.  I have family in Spain and you will have a GREAT time.  As for a program worth the time, money and effort.  Um sorry nope the only good thing would be taking a class.  Denada y perdona por no poder contestar tu pregunta.  Hope you understood that.  Heh\nGood Luck, Have Fun...Buena Suerte ...que te diviertas.
1067981
If you are talking about meeting people who speak Spanish, then, any on-line community, myspace, etc., should work. If you are talking about how to communicate with them, then just speak English. Most Europeans, including those from Spain, speak English at least to some degree. It's only Americans that limit themselves to one language.