Hola mis amigos
Buenos días
Yay 
in Spain.
As usual I have used Hola, Buenos días etc
But tonight in restaurant I pushed it nervously to practice some español.
“Hamburgesa Especial con patatas fritas”, when ordering… and she seemed to understand.
I also asked ¿dónde está el baño? And the waitress understood and gave me directions.
And 'la cuenta por favor! I asked what seemed to be the owner as he walked past, he never said a word, just kinda acknowledged me and walked on and brought us the bill
Well pleased with myself 
my wife was very impressed también
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El segundo día
Today’s Spanish hablo español was interesting. Mostly it consisted of the usual greetings, Hola,Buenos días etc…until I got on the short 20 mins bus to porto del Carmen. There was the friendliest bus driver I have ever had the pleasure to meet. He greeted everyone with Hola, Buenos días que tal etc. So i sat on the front seat and watched and listened for 20 minutes to what seemed like a real life Spanish class for beginners… as he greeted every passenger and they greeted him.in return.
I loved it. Still I’m from Ireland so get very little chance to actually hear native
Spanish speakers. Here, it’s on the radios in the shops , buses, taxies, locals chatting on phones , in the streets to Friends. It just brings this beautiful vibrant and beautiful language alive. Like I have already said I have been to Spain many many times. But now " I’m seeing it with different… ears " 
Muchas Gracias mis amigos.
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That’s fantastic, @Alan-Clifford! Those small beginnings give you the inspiration to keep going. ¡Muy bien!
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Hola Deborah
Buenos días 
Muchas gracias.
My plan for today is to set up a few different questions to practice today as I come across Spanish locals , or create the situation where i can say a few basics like…
¿Cómo estás?
¿Que tal?
¿Cómo te llamas?
Me llamo Ailéin.
¿Quanto?
¿Quanto questa?
¿Quanto questo esto?
Quesiera uno de esos.
Quesiera dos de uno.
Etc
Wish me luck 
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¡Qué tengas suerte!
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Hola
Hopefully everyone isn’t bored senseless with my Spanish holiday/ learning adventures…if so scroll on down, occasionally I have to lol. So today my español started with asking the lifeguard at the pool, ¿dónde estan el baño? Which he seemed to have NO problem giving me directions. My next encounter was in a shop when I needed some cream for a rash on my wrist caused by my watch. I said " cuanto " the assistant was really lovely and helpful and enquired where I was learning Spanish. Then tonight I met and greeted the owner of a restaurant we had previously visited with Hola, ¿que tal? Which received great smiles and a huge Muy bien!
I then ordered paella for 1 ( 
’ I know it’s always a minimum of two) and a beer, then asked the waitress her name, and i told her mine and that I’m from Ireland. Might not seem like much. People here mentioned bravery, nerves, omg it’s so nerve-racking. But it just had to be done. Thinking about it now. If I’m this nervous bout little phrases, how could I handle a whole conversation. Obviously I couldn’t. So I’ll pick my battles and enjoy little victory’s. Linguistically speaking. But it’s still such a buzz. And the Spanish people ( well the ones iv met so far) are absolutely amazing with me so far. Maybe the alcohol is helping/fueling my bravery
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On the whole, Spanish people - and people in non-English-speaking countries in general - really appreciate English speakers making the effort to learn a little of the local language. I bet you’re making their day!
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Hola Buenos días
Yeah i agree now Deborah. When i started learning Gaeilge in Ireland, eventually practicing Irish was also challenging, as was Welsh when a fellow learner visited me. But I have to admit “wrongly I must add” the Spanish really intimidated me. Why, because Irish and Welsh speakers also speak perfect English. Many Spanish don’t. So let me tell you it’s a WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME:rofl:, but bloody nervously exciting
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Hola Buenos días
Último día completo in Lanzarote. I have loved it pero, Espero con ansias to getting De vuelta a casa. It’s been a totally Experiencia diferente searching out opportunities hablar español. And sí I had to make La mayoría de ellos happen. Inasmuch as most Spaniards will greet you with a Hola, Buenos días, tardes, noches etc. If you’re contento to leave it. Ahí es donde termina principalmente. I looked for and created opportunities. I didn’t just get up and go to baño even though I knew where it was. Esperé a passing Camarero/ Camarera and stood up and asked. I asked every single time, la cuenta por favor. A menudo pedía las bebidas en español. Greeted people in Tiendas, restaurantes, bares, the market, street in español. Asked how much something was * although that needs revision as I need to learn the numbers. A few times iv been happily answered in español, and because I then pause and say nothing it’s then repeated in ingles, slightly awkward, so I need a reply when told the cost of something. For example: that’s fine, no problem, that’s excellent etc. The bus also be a hotbed of español, uno/ dos por fa! ( por fa is cool ) i went to counter in shop yesterday to buy a bottle of water and two pastries all set up with ’ una botella de agua y dos de esos por fa! And not for the first time as I reach the assistant she starts chatting to her colleague as she lifts my items. So unfortunately I don’t get to speak español I’m gutted . Last night as I saw owner of el restaurante walking past I got up and asked dónde estan el baño? Without hesitation he replied in español then walked on, but I could hear him muttering, Español, hmm muy bien , he did the same when I asked la cuenta por fa!
So yeah it was nerve-racking, but when I didn’t say small things in español that I knew, I felt disappointed in myself. When I used un poco, I was buzzing. It so added to the whole experience. I’ve just realised I don’t want Spaniards reverting to ingles because of me. In their own country. When all I need to do is try my best and learn español and use it if snd when I can. And my I add NO ONE LAUGHED, CALLED THE GUARDS OR MADE ME FEEL AWKWARD, The opposite in fact. Everyone was very understanding and appreciative.
So all in all it’s been a fantastic language learning experience. And I still have a half day practicar, porque when i go home to Irlanda, I won’t have as many opportunities hablar español
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Only just came across this thread you’ve started (usually too busy wiring my own essays on here haha) but I have to say reading this bit above really made me feel a lot better. I’ve got the impression that you’re a very confident learner and speaker (who puts in a lot more effort than me) and a bit of a linguist already as you can speak Irish and Welsh, so in a way I felt like we were ‘opposite’ types of learners! But!.. It’s great to know that other people do still have challenges!
Keep the updates coming! 
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Hola
Im glad its helping even a little. Im not really a confident learner or speaker, well.i don’t feel like i am. Although im told i am. It would be fair to say i put an awful lot of time and effort in. I only work part-time as an Irish language assistant, a few hours with children and some classes with adults. While i thoroughly enjoy adults, children can be a bit more challenging. Probably only 12 hours a week. Leaving quite a bit of free time. Also kids grown up and flown the nest, so can be quite quiet here. Im most definitely not a linguist lol, again i dont think so or claim to be. I started Irish when i was 38 from scratch, 24 years ago. Then Cymraeg during lockdown just over 4 years maybe. But practicing everyday at home ans with regular zoom sesiwn. Spanish i started in May so around 10 months ago by myself with SSIS and now a local class and a friend online. I do want to learner fast. Im nosey, inquisitive lol and impatient and stubborn. Usually not nice traits, but very applicable to learning a language. I make a point of doing something EVERY DAY. Whether its 10 mins or 4/6 hours. Secondly it must be as enjoyable as possible, even though its a difficult task. I also apply the 4 basic skills Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. In various ways and amounts. And lastly finding someone or group to practice with particular Speaking and listening. I do not in any way see myself as clever, the opposite in fact lol. But the aforementioned skills and plans get me there eventually. I now know how i learn. Through REPETITION. My boredom threshold holds no bounds when it comes to repeating a phrase, word or lesson. But i accept that now. Ill happily listen again and again and again until im comfortable. This isn’t in line with SSIW ethos. But it works for me. And.i cannot march to someone else’s drum whilst learning or Teaching.
Hasta luego
P.s if you are on Facebook. 'Spanish Tips every day ’ is a great resource.
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Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond! Those are some great ideas. I honestly can’t tell you how much it really has helped to read this!
Hope you had a great holiday 
I’m sure I’m the only person I know who’s never been to Spain, so I need to make that a goal for the end of this year!
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