Malaga or Barcelona?

Question

I'm considering studying abroad for a while and I'm not sure which city I'd like to study in. I've heard I will have trouble learning Spanish in Barcelona because a lot of people there speak Catalan and or English regularly. At the same time though I've heard people from Malaga have strong Andalusian accents. Anyone know how true either of these statements are? Also which city is a more interesting place has anyone ever been to both of them? I hear Barcelona is a lot of fun but I haven't ever heard much about Malaga.

Answer 1

Malaga is sunny and has lovely beaches, but as a city, is not pretty. It does have lovely villages around. My cousin lives there, and she loves it (she's not from there) but I confess that although I like it for a week or so, I wouldn't be able to live there. It's said that people there take life less seriously than in the north, and some even say they are lazy (you can never generalize). Anyway, I live in Barcelona (again, my choice) and I just love it. It's a big city, cosmopolitan, you can go skying, there are great beaches, nightlife, concerts...It's true that people work much harder, and also that it's bilingual, but people wouldn't speak in Catalan to a foreigner. They will try to speak English or if not, Spanish. The best place to learn good Spanish is Madrid, Castilla- León or Castilla La Mancha. Definitely not Andalucía (Málaga), because they have a very strong accent. I remember a friend from Andalucía who went to stay for some months in England with a family. Some months later, the English girl went to Bilbao (north, better accent, more similar to Madrid and Castillas) to learn Spanish and then visit her in Andalucía. She couldn't understand my friend or her family! Said she must have learnt some other Spanish because it was so different.  Barcelona's not the best accent but much better that in the South.

PS: I confess I'm a bit offended with the "real Spain" affirmation. Spaniards are tired of the idea that we all enjoy flamenco and bull fighting. Flamenco is a dance typical from the SOUTH. I can appreciate it as culture but I feel nothing, while backpipes music brings tears to my eyes, because believe it or not, that's typical music from the NORTH of Spain. My original city in Spain doesn't even have a bull fighting plaza.

Answer 2

Hello Null, Malaga and Barcelona are totally different - if not each others opposites.

It will all depend on what sort of person you are.

I liked Barcelona for a long weekend - but i simply love Málaga.

Barcelona is very western european. Málaga is very typically andalucian-spanish.

Answer 3

Your information is correct. Andaluzs speak with what is generally considered by Spaniards as a low class accent. I suppose that Glasgow is the UK equivalent.

Catalan is a pain in the neck in that it can mess up your Spanish. You may find yourself saying 'de res' and not 'de nada'. I thought a squirrel was an 'esquirol' , not an 'ardilla' for years and I used Catalanismos such as 'La Juana.

So what I have a Catalan accent. It makes the locals believe I am hard working!

Everyone in Barcelona speaks perfect Spanish if they want to. I have never had any real trouble.

The more important point is, that no matter what age you are, Barcelona is a great and a fun city whereas Malaga is just a provincial capital in a tourist zone.

It is an interesting decision to make.

You have to choose between the real Spain with bull fights, flamenco, saetas and Antonio Banderas, and the 'Provencal' Spain of Barcelona with its higher level of education and European culture.

Pablo Ruiz Picasso left Malaga for Barcelona and it did him no harm. But that was a long time ago.

Suerte!

Answer 4

Barcelona - The streets of Barcelona are alive by day or night, providing the visitor with a safe place for strolling around, whether for shopping, eating or simply passing the time of day. There is also 1 mile long city beach with clean soft sand, ideal for sun bathing.

See http://www.spain4uk.co.uk/places/barcelo... for more details

Answer 5

Wow.  Well, Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain... so that says a lot.  It's big and noisy and over crowded but there are many more things to do and see in Barcelona.  Of course they speak Spanish with a Catalanian accent... Barcelona is IN Catalonia.. That would be like saying you don't want to study english in Boston because the people in Boston have a Bostonian accent...

Malaga is in Andalusia... so same goes for accent.  It would depend on where you plan to use your spanish as to what accent you want to develop.  If you want the "pure" accent, then study in Madrid... just as you would study French in Paris to get the proper accent.

I've only been in Malaga a few times because I used to have a friend that lived there.  It's a much smaller town than Barcelona and I think it's more charming... it is also an 'older' community... because there are a lot of retired Brits there.  Malaga is on the Costa del Sol and Barcelona is on the Costa Brava... and that flavors the ambience of both towns.

I don't know how long you plan to study in Spain, but make it at least a year, just to decide where you like it the best.

You may look at Valencia.  It's Spain's third city and is grown like crazy because of the America's Cup influence... lots of new condos and apartments... and the nightlife is fantastic.

Hope this helps