Nika, Author at Aprender inglés Learn Spanish in Las Palmas | profesores nativos | small groups

10 things to make your trip easier in GC

Posted on November 10, 2021December 6, 2021 by Nika

Before I go on holiday I always research tips or fun facts about the holiday destination to make my trip easier. 🚗✈🚢

Do you also prefer to be familiar with the do’s and don’ts of your destination? This blog is the blog for YOU!

We have summed up 10 things to make your Gran Canaria trip easier. 🏝

Make sure you have a piece of paper or your notes on the phone open to write everything down or save this blog so you will be 100% prepared for Gran Canaria! 📝

1 Car rental 🚗

The first tip to make your trip easier is to rent a car. The island is so diverse and even though the public transport is easy and cheap, the best way to discover the island is by car. There are endless road trips you can do on Gran Canaria so make sure to check out our Road trip routes blog.

On the island there are many car rental companies, but the best one is definitely Cicar.

However, if you feel overwhelmed by this, feel free to DM @travel_gran_canaria on Instagram for more information.

2 Camping ⛺

Secondly, camping is really popular on the island, there are several locations where you can camp for free, for example: Llanos de la Mimbre and Llanos de la Pez. Be aware that you are not allowed to camp in random places and for some camping sites you need permission. Check out the website of the government to make sure where you can camp for free and where you need permission.

3 Shopping 🛒

An important tip to make your trip to Gran Canaria easier is about shopping on a Sunday. From May until October most shops tend to close on Sunday because of the low season. If you are on holiday here in this period and you would like to do some shopping, make sure you do this from Monday to Saturday.

Another fun fact about shopping: did you know that on the Canary Islands you only pay 7% tax on your shopping. This is why it is definitely worth it to do a proper shopping spree when you are in Gran Canaria. These are the best shopping malls to do shopping

4 Tap water 💧

The fourth tip is an important one, it is best not to drink the tap water! This is also why there are so many different water options in the supermarkets. You can use tap water for brushing your teeth and cooking pasta for example, but for drinking, bottled water is better!

5 Tipping 💰

In a restaurant or bar it is normal to tip up to 10% of the bill. Of course this is not mandatory but if you are satisfied with the service and food it is definitely appreciated.

6 Best month 📅

People often ask me ‘What is the best month to visit Gran Canaria?’ and the answer is: there is not one best month. The warmest months are July to September but there is nice weather all year round. It also depends what you are looking for, in winter there are (usually) more waterfalls and nature is green. If you are looking for beach days, I would recommend July or August. The conclusion is: there is no bad month to visit Gran Canaria, each month has its own advantages.

7 Currency 💸

Gran Canaria is a part of Spain which is why we use the Euro. If you are coming from a country that uses another currency, I can recommend you to exchange some money before you arrive on Gran Canaria but there are several exchange locations on the island and one of them is at the airport.

8 Clothing 👚

When you are going to explore the island I can 100% recommend you bring extra clothes. When you arrive at the beach, you might want to swim and the mountains are always a bit cooler. Also there can be quite a difference between the temperature in Las Palmas and in the south. I have made this mistake several times. Even by just staying in Las Palmas, the morning can be cloudy but in less than an hour the clouds can completely disappear.

9 Circumference 🏝

Gran Canaria has a diameter of 50km. The total area is 1560km2. If you would like to do a tour around the island you will cover approximately 170KM.

10 Bus 🚌

Bus or as they call it here: Guagua. There is a very efficient bus system on the island. For example in the city of Las Palmas you can take the yellow buses, fun fact, most buses in Las Palmas are actually electric.

For the buses outside of the city centre you have the blue buses. On the blue bus you can pay by card, cash or get a bus card.Make sure to check out Guaguas Global for the updated timetables and stops!

For the yellow buses you can only pay cash or use the bus card.

I hope these tips have helped you make your trip to Gran Canaria easier. If you have other questions of course feel free to comment in the blog below or send me a DM on Instagram @travel_gran_canaria.

Do you have any tips that you wish you had known before coming to the island? Leave them in the comments 😊.

Elise

5 días en Mallorca

Posted on October 27, 2021October 24, 2021 by Nika

Las Islas Baleares son el destino perfecto para cualquier tipo de viaje: en pareja, en familia, en busca de fiesta y vida nocturna, para practicar deportes como el ciclismo, etc. 5 días en mallorca

Septiembre es un mes muy bueno para programar un viaje por España por muchos motivos, principalmente, porque el tiempo sigue siendo veraniego ☀ (algo más suave y puede que alguna llovizna aislada) y porque evitas las aglomeraciones típicas de los meses de julio y agosto. El año pasado decidimos ir a La Palma y este año teníamos muchas ganas de conocer las islas de Mallorca y Menorca, en el archipiélago balear.

1- Mallorca y su ubicación

Rodeada por la tranquilidad del Mar Mediterráneo, Mallorca es una isla frondosa y llena de vegetación. Es conocida por sus increíbles calas de arena blanca y mar turquesa 🌊. También tiene grandes playas de arena fina que te harán recordar al Caribe o a las playas de Fuerteventura. 5 días en mallorca

En el extremo noroeste, la Sierra de la Tramontana le da carácter. Sus carreteras de montaña son una delicia para todo el que las circula. Es un sitio ideal para ciclistas 🚵, que llegan aquí de toda Europa para entrenarse en sus carreteras.

2- Nuestra ruta

Gracias a Binter pudimos volar en vuelo directo ✈ desde Canarias hasta Palma. Un vuelo de algo menos de 3 horas que se pasan “volando”, gracias al snack box que incluye el vuelo de Binter.

Al llegar a Palma, alquilamos un coche. Para nosotros es la mejor opción para poder movernos en este tipo de lugares con tantas cosas que ver.

En Mallorca, pasamos 5 noches y nos alojamos en varios hoteles. Es una isla grande con muchos lugares que querrás visitar y que están alrededor de toda la isla, con lo cual, nos pareció buena idea ir cambiando de hotel para no tener que desplazarnos siempre de vuelta al hotel, con lo cual, dividimos el viaje en zonas para aprovechar nuestro tiempo al máximo. Creemos que fue todo un acierto 😃.

El norte de la isla: Día 1 y 2

Nuestros primeros días en la isla fueron para conocer el norte de Mallorca. Nos alojamos en Port Alcudia, al lado de la Playa de Muro.

Lo primero que hicimos al llegar a nuestro primer destino fue darnos un baño en la Playa de Muro, todo una sorpresa. Lo más parecido a las buenas playas del caribe que he visto: Arena blanca y fina, el agua calentita y puedes caminar y caminar que el agua casi no te cubre. Los embarcaderos que hay en esta playa son perfectos para sacar buenas fotos. Te recomendamos que aproveches para ver el amanecer en uno de ellos, algo que no olvidarás.

Otra playa a la que fuimos fue la de Cala Agulla. Una playa salvaje y rodeada por naturaleza 🏖, con un poco de oleaje (el justo). El parking, a pie de playa, cuesta 5 euros. Puedes probar a aparcar por las calles que hay a la derecha de la playa. Cerca de esta playa se encuentra la de Cala Mesquida, no pudimos visitarla por falta de tiempo pero estaba en nuestra lista. La dejaremos para la próxima vez.

Otro de los atractivos de las playas del norte son los beach clubs donde se puede comer de maravilla o tomar algo 🍸. Nosotros comimos una Paella muy rica en La Ponderosa. También te recomendamos Can Gavella en la misma zona (Can Picafort – Playa de Muro). Es casi indispensable ir con reserva, tenlo en cuenta (tanto aquí como en los demás sitios que te recomendaremos).

Otro de los #hotspots del norte de la isla es ver el atardecer en el Cap de Formentor. El sitio es bestial. En verano se llena de visitantes, intentando captar los últimos rayos del sol del día. La carretera para llegar aquí es muy estrecha, con lo cual, se generan muchos problemas para llegar. Es posible que tengas que darte media vuelta y quedarte sin ver el atardecer. Durante los meses de verano el acceso a Formentor está restringido y se abre a partir de las 19h para los que quieran ir a ver el atardecer. Es muy bonito pero te aviso que puede ser una ratonera.

Sa Calobra y Tramontana: Día 3

Nuestro tercer día comenzaba muy temprano y con ganas de carretera. Nuestro plan tenía marcado con letras en mayúscula Sa Calobra. Una cala única al final de un torrente. Para llegar a Sa Calobra hay que pasar por una de las carreteras más bonitas (exigentes, peligrosas y espectaculares) de España. Te esperan giros de 360 grados, pasos estrechos entre laderas y vistas de vértigo. La carretera tiene su recompensa entre acantilados, el Torrent de Pareis y la cristalina cala de Sa Calobra. También se puede llegar aquí con un Ferry desde Sóller o en Bus.

Mallorca no solo son calas y playas. También tiene pueblos muy pintorescos donde parece que el tiempo se detuvo hace décadas y mantienen toda su esencia. Fornalutx, Valldemossa y Sóller en la Sierra de la Tramontana son buenos ejemplos 😍.

Fornalutx tiene el mismo galardón que se le concedió a Tejeda, como uno de los pueblos más bonitos de España. Si pasáis por Fornalutx, les recomendamos comer en @can_antuna. Nos encantó la Porcella y la tarta de limón 🍋. Recomendado por mallorquines de verdad!

Zona sur y este: Día 4 y 5

Después de esta jornada, nos adentraremos en la zona sur y este de Mallorca. Nuestro siguiente hotel estaba situado en Porto Colom, en la costa este de la isla, a medio camino de las maravillosas calas que puedes encontrar en esta costa. 5 días en mallorca

Siguiendo con nuestro plan, decidimos pasar el día en la zona de Playas de Es Trenc y la Colonia de Sant Jordi. Playas infinitas de arena rubia y lujosos yates navegando por la costa: Mallorca en estado puro. Justo en la playa, comimos en un beach club muy top que se llama 5 Illes, te recomendamos que vayas con reserva 😉.

En esta zona también puedes visitar la playa de Es Carbó, mucho más silvestre debido a que su acceso no es tan sencillo y hay que caminar bastante para llegar a ella.

En la zona este de la isla, hay numerosas calas. Entre las más conocidas, Caló des Moro, Mondragó y S’Amarador, Cala Mitjana, Cala Domingos. Entre tantas opciones, nosotros decidimos pasar el día en Cala Llombards, y nos encantó. Es una pequeña pero muy pintoresca cala rodeada de antiguas casitas de pescadores, zona de arena blanca y también la zona de piedras desde donde puedes lanzarte al mar de color turquesa.

Sitios muy TOP que nos recomendaron pero que no tuvimos tiempo de probar:

Nuestro amigo y top chef Juan Santiago de @hestia_gc nos recomendó varios sitios donde comer de maravilla 🍽. Como nos faltó tiempo, no pudimos dar cuenta de ellos, pero si están recomendados por él, merecen que los compartamos con todos ustedes.

Entrevista a Juan Santiago: el chef y el dueño del restaurante Hestia

En Sóller, Es Fanals del chef Javier Soriano. Cocina exquisita con una de las mejores puestas de sol de la isla.
En Palma de Mallorca, La Vieja de Jonay. Un chef Canario, Jonay Hernández afincado desde hace años en las Baleares.
Un Estrella Michelín, como el restaurante Maca de Castro. Sobran las palabras.
Tasca Ombu en Palma, muy cerca de la Catedral.
Si te apetece una pizza, en Cala Major, un local regentado por un napolitano que hace las mejores pizzas de la isla: se llama Cibus.

Y creo que aquí acaba nuestra primera aventura por Mallorca (¡por ahora!). Espero que te haya gustado nuestro blog y que guay que hayas llegado hasta aquí. 5 días en mallorca

Un saludo, viajer@!!

Pedro

10 most common false friends in English

Posted on October 20, 2021October 24, 2021 by Nika

Como ya hablamos en un blog anterior, el inglés es un idioma que se formó a partir de distintas lenguas. Tanto el inglés como el español tienen palabras que provienen del latín, lo que significa que ambos idiomas tienen palabras que pueden parecer que comparten el mismo significado ya que se parecen en la forma de escribirlas, pero que en realidad no tienen nada que ver la una con la otra 🤔. 10 most common false friends

Estoy segura de que en algún momento de tu vida has visto palabras como ‘constipated’, ‘embarrassed’ o ‘carpet’ y has pensado que significan ‘constipado’, ‘embarazada’ y ‘carpeta’, pero si hoy en día piensas eso, ¡debo decirte que estás equivocado! Palabras como las que te acabo de decir se llaman en inglés ‘false friends’ (“falsos amigos”), y usarlas con el significado que puedes pensar que tienen debido al español puede hacer que haya una enorme confusión 😳 con la persona con la que estés hablando. Para que no tengas problemas ni confusión a la hora de hablar con otras personas en inglés, aquí tienes la lista con los ‘10 most common false friends in English’.

1 – Constipated

Empezamos con uno de los falsos amigos de los que ya he hablado en la introducción. Al ver la palabra ‘constipated’ podemos llegar a pensar que la persona está constipada 🤒, que tiene un resfriado. ¡ERROR! ‘Constipated’ en español quiere decir estar estreñido. Como podéis ver, no tiene nada que ver el significado en inglés y en español, aunque el lexema de la palabra sea el mismo. Ahora ya lo sabéis, cuando queráis decir que estáis resfriados debemos decir ‘I have a cold’ y no ‘I’m constipated’.

2 – Embarrassed

Otro de esos falsos amigos que hace que muchas personas cometan errores al hablar en inglés. El significado real de ‘embarrassed’ no es embarazada, si no avergonzado/a. Si queremos preguntarle a alguien si está embarazada, no le preguntes ‘Are you embarrassed?’, sino ‘Are you pregnant?’.

3 – Carpet

‘Carpet’ es otra de esas palabras que llevan a una gran confusión 😖 cuando la vemos por primera vez. Es natural verla y simplemente añadirle una ‘a’ para darle el significado en español de carpeta. Pero en realidad, ‘carpet’ no significa carpeta, sino alfombra o moqueta. Si queremos comprar una carpeta, no digas ‘I need to buy a carpet’, sino ‘I need to buy a folder’. Así sabrán que realmente quieres un objeto para guardar papeles y no una alfombra para decorar la casa.

4 – Casualty

Otra palabra que realmente puede traernos problemas al hablar en inglés. Al ver la palabra ‘casualty’ lo primero que se nos puede venir a la cabeza es la palabra española ‘casualidad’, pero en realidad cuando hablamos de ‘casualties’ hablamos de bajas o de víctimas. Si queremos decir que algo es una casualidad, no te equivoques y di ‘What a coincidence!’, así te aseguras que no haya ninguna víctima en tu oración 😉.

5 – Terrific

La palabra ‘terrific’ se asemeja demasiado en su escritura a la palabra ‘terrorífico’, pero realmente el significado de ambas palabras no podría ser más diferente 😅. ‘Terrific’ no significa terrorífico, sino genial o fantástico, mientras que si queremos decir que algo nos ha parecido terrorífico debemos decir ‘terrifying’. Imagínate querer decir que algo te ha dado mucho miedo y en su lugar decir que te ha parecido genial, podría generar muchas confusiones.

6 – Actually

Algo parecido ocurre con la palabra ‘actually’, que se parece muchísimo a ‘actualmente’ en español. Sin embargo, como hemos visto en los casos anteriores, no significan lo mismo. ‘Actually’ es un adverbio que utilizamos para decir ‘en realidad’, por ejemplo: ‘The smallest restaurant in town actually serves very good food’. Mientras que ‘actualmente’ en inglés sería ‘currently’ (E.g.: ‘I’m currently at home’).

7 – Career

Otro error frecuente entre los hispanohablantes al hablar en inglés es confundir la palabra ‘career’ con ‘carrera universitaria’ 📜. Aunque en español antes se solía llamar carrera al grado, palabra muy similar a ‘career’, realmente la traducción correcta para grado o carrera universitaria sería ‘degree’ y no ‘career’, que realmente significa ‘carrera profesional’. Por ejemplo, ‘I have a degree in Modern Languages’ (“Tengo el grado en Lenguas Modernas”) versus ‘I have a career in politics’ (“Tengo una carrera profesional en política”).

8 – Assist

Como con los anteriores false friends de los que hemos hablado, la palabra ‘assist’ se parece mucho a la española ‘asistir’, pero de nuevo no tienen nada que ver la una con la otra. Si queremos informar a alguien de que no podremos asistir a una clase o reunión debemos decir ‘I will not be able to attend your class / meeting today’, ya que el significado real de ‘assist’ es ayudar y no asistir.

9 – Library

Otras dos palabras que comparten lexema, pero no significado son ‘library’ y ‘librería’. La palabra ‘library’ se refiere en español a biblioteca, mientras que librería sería ‘bookshop’ 📚. Un error frecuente debido a la semejanza en escritura entre las dos palabras.

10 – Sensible

Esta palabra es otro importante false friend con el que muchas personas que estudian o hablan inglés suelen tener problemas. ‘Sensible’ en inglés no es lo mismo que sensible en español, si decimos ‘I’m quite sensible’ queremos decir que somos bastante sensatos, mientras que si queremos decir que somos personas sensibles debemos decir ‘I’m a sensitive person’.

Si quieres leer otros blogs sobre vocabulario inglés, puedes leer el de 12 palabras preciosas en inglés o el de 10 palabras muy interesantes cuyo origen te sorprenderá. Además, en el libro Born to speak British de Amigos Ingleses, tienen un capítulo dedicado al tema de los false friends, por si quieres echarle un vistazo 😊.

Ahora dinos, ¿con cuál de estos 10 most common false friends que hemos mencionado te sueles equivocar en el significado? ¿Hay algún otro false friend que conozcas? Deja tu comentario en la sección que encontrarás más abajo.

Estefanía

Road trip routes on Gran Canaria

Posted on October 13, 2021February 23, 2025 by Nika

Are you visiting Gran Canaria and you want to see all the wonders that the island has to offer ? but you have no idea where to start planning? We are here to help you out! In this blog we will give you some insights on different road trip routes on Gran Canaria ?.

Road trip 1: around the island

The first of our road trip routes on Gran Canaria that I highly recommend is a route along the coast of the island ?. In this route you take the GC-1, GC-2 and the GC-200, you take the coastline roads and you will see the most amazing views of Tenerife, the mountain ranges and the nature that Gran Canaria has to offer.

The GC-200 is known as one of the most beautiful coastal roads ? in Spain. The combination of the mountain range on one side and the cliffs and ocean view on the other side, makes the road unique.

We suggest the following stops:

Starting point: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria → we decided to start with the South, but you can do it the way around
Stop in Anfi, Puerto Rico or Mogan
Head from Mogan to La Aldea
Stop in Playa de la Aldea, you can also have your lunch there. Super tip: no reservation needed, all the restaurants offer local food and are delish
Continue to Mirador del Balcón
If you still have energy, you can definitely stop in Agaete (puerto)
When finishing your road trip, visit one of the natural pools ?. If you decide to check the natural pool in Galdar, you will drive through different plantations of bananas which are pretty cool 🙂

This route is the most common route to take and the route where you will see the most locations. Of course it is always possible to adapt the route to your ‘must-see’ list.

Road trip 2: through the middle

The second of our road trip routes on Gran Canaria will take you through the mountains ⛰.

The inside of the island is very mountainous, so there is also a big height difference and the roads are proper mountain roads. These roads will take you to the most amazing viewpoints and fresh forests ?.

*note*: bring a sweater or jacket as it can be cold in the mountains.

The views on the route to the top are incredible, plus, on the route to the top there are several viewpoints where you will be able to stop. Keep an eye out ? for them because they are all worth stopping.

Here are the TOP locations where you should stop:

Roque Nublo: there is a small hike for which you need a permission (you can get it here). Personally this is my favorite viewpoint of the island, so I would 100% recommend you to do this hike. Have a look at the second point of this blog for photo ideas.
Pico de las Nieves
Tejeda (Cruz de Tejeda): the town of Tejeda is adorable. There are several local restaurants and stores where you can get delicious food: We highly recommend you stop in Dulcería Nublo and get “una palmera de chocolate”, have some home made ice cream in the ice cream shop La Lexe and try some traditional Canarian food in the restaurant Gayfa.
La Cesta: this is the famous basket where you can sit in (you have probably seen it on Instagram). It is definitely worth a visit as you have an amazing view and if you are visiting it in spring, there is a very nice waterfall very near it.
When driving back home, you can also stop in San Mateo. This town is famous for its cheese, so make sure you try some on the way down the mountain.

Road trip 3: culture and history

In this road trip route on Gran Canaria that we will tell you is on the east side of the island, it contains the locations:

Barranco de Guayadeque: check out Restaurante Tagoror for an authentic meal and a unique view.
Barranco de las Vacas
Salinas de Tenefé

This road trip is perfect for people that enjoy the history and culture of the island ?. Barranco de Guayadeque is a historical location where you have the cave houses, and Barranco de las Vacas is a location which makes you feel like you aren’t on the island anymore but somewhere in the US.

Road trip 4: The towns and Volcanoes of Gran Canaria

In the last road trip route on Gran Canaria we will take you to the two most famous towns ? in the north of the island.

Teror and Arucas: These towns show the typical Canarian architecture style and have several cute stores where you can buy souvenirs and get local dishes. Both towns have significant churches ⛪ which are both worth a visit.

In addition to that, you will also drive past the inflated volcano Bandama. You can walk around the edges of the crater but also walk down to the middle of the crater (the walk will take you around 2 hours).

The locations are:

Teror
Arucas
Caldera de Bandama
Next to the crater there is also a winery, if you have time left, make sure to check it out.
Moreover, there is a golf Club called Real club de Golf in Las Palmas which is the oldest golf club in Spain.

Of course these routes are not the only road trip routes on Gran Canaria that are worth taking but with these routes you will see the different sides of the island and you will fall in love with every part of the island.

I hope this blog helped you with your itinerary of Gran Canaria, also check out our other blogs like our City Guide or the top 10 places to watch the sunset on GC to complete your itinerary and dont forget anything important.

Don’t forget to tag us in all your island photos on Instagram ( @nikateacher & @travel_gran_canaria )

Let us know in the comments which road trip is your favorite and if we missed any locations!

Women in Education: Interview with Mary Morgan

Posted on September 29, 2021September 29, 2021 by Nika

Mary Morgan is one of the most successful business women, educators and mums in The Canary Islands. She is definitely a role model for all the young entrepreneurs and people who would like to work in education.

In today’s interview she is going to answer some very interesting questions about education, business and life. Plus, she will also share with us what are 3 most important things you should have in mind when deciding on a school for your children.

1 – Can you tell us something about yourself, your profession and your school.

I am the co-founder and co-director of Oakley College, a British International school in Tafira, Gran Canaria. In 1989 my husband and I started a British nursery school in Las Palmas which over the years has grown to a school that now caters for children from 2 – 18 years, preparing students for the International community of study and work.

2 – As you mentioned, you and your husband opened a nursery school back in 1989. What motivated you to open the school back then and, even more importantly, what keeps you going after so many years?

We had arrived on the island some 3 years prior to opening our school. We both taught in another British International school where I taught in upper Primary and lower Secondary and Donat was the Head of Infants. As we fell in love with the island, its people and its culture, we decided that we wanted to settle here and further develop and challenge ourselves to see what opportunities we could create.

Keeping an open mind, learning new skills and adapting to change are our key steps to maintaining a positive outlook and life. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

3 – How does your daily routine help you to stay focused, complete all the work and enjoy life on the island?

Work is never really completed as there is always something that you want to finish or start. When you enjoy the process it’s often difficult to separate work from leisure time.

Our new Oakley Park has an allotment that is currently being developed to be a science garden where the children can grow and harvest some fruit and vegetables and learn the practicality of sustainability. The next stage would then be eating the fruits of their labour!

Routines have adapted over the years as our family and the school grew. When you work in a dynamic and growing school you know that your routines will be affected and have to be flexible. A strong home life with a shared vision allows the stability necessary to juggle balancing the work, the children and allowing time to reflect and grow. This sometimes means quiet time, exercise, study or simply rest.

That said, regular healthy meals and family time over dinner have always been non-negotiable at home!

4 – What are the main differences between running a British International school 30 years ago and nowadays?

We were very lucky to have had a great mentor in Beryl Pritchard, the founder and current Head teacher of Canterbury school. She demonstrated every day that problems and set backs were there to be solved and overcome. Her enthusiasm and drive continue to inspire us to be better and solve problems.

We were also fortunate to be young, naïve, energetic and full of dreams!

Whilst technology has changed since just a telephone, a fax machine and a few computers, the learning has continued to adapt to the ever changing environment. Parents want what they have always wanted, the best educational experience for their children. One that they enjoy, that challenges them and provides them with the confidence, knowledge and skills to become successful in their chosen field of work.

Striving to provide the best educational experience, fluid and ongoing communication with our parents, staff and children has allowed us to further develop a school that our community wants and that provides the learning and skills necessary for the modern world.

5 – As a director of a prestigious British International school in Gran Canaria, there have definitely been moments you will remember forever. Can you share with us one of these moments?

We often joke that we could write a book with some of the stories and experiences over the years.

We have had many happy and some sad times that are normal in a school that has spanned almost 32 years since it began.

Each time we hear of or meet a former pupil who as a young adult is making their way in the world of work and forging new dreams, it makes us feel privileged to have been a part of the journey. Many former students are living around the globe working in the Arts, in medicine, in technological study and raising families of their own.

Another proud moment was when Donat received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth 11 in 2016 for services to British International Education and NABSS.

We see and feel special moments every day. Every time a child learns something new for the first time the look of happiness and sense of pride is hard to put into words. The same goes for our community who continue to learn and develop and serve as examples to the children that learning is a lifelong process.

We love to hear of the students successes and where they are. We are lucky that many still keep in touch. With Danny O´Brien and Marta Membrilla taking time to talk to our Y12/13 students about university life and work in Spain and London.

Danny is an independent film maker and Marta a graduate of the London school of Economics and currently working for an international engineering company.

Our children are valued and loved. They understand they are individuals who have something special to offer the world. They are free thinkers, encouraged to question and look deeper into things. The confidence and security they experience allows their naturally inquisitive minds to grow and learn.

Our commitment over the years to local and International charities stems from the belief that we are fortunate and able to give something back to a society that has given us so much. Our Community Service programme in the Secondary department allows our students to activate change and impact their society for the better.

6 – In your opinion, what are the most important values that should be taught through education?

Our school has 3 main values, they are Respect, Responsibility and Resolving problems. It is our hope that all who join us understand that together we can continue learning and making a difference to our communities based on these simple values.

7 – What would you say to someone who thinks learning English is difficult?

Yes, I think English is difficult!

I also think that when you find the right environment for learning you will thrive, grow and learn. So if you are an adult who wants to learn English whether it’s conversational or academic, NikaTeacher will allow you to find your perfect teacher and method of learning that is individual to you.

Likewise Oakley College provides the International British education that allows your child to grow and develop into a confident young person who can who access, Spanish and International universities and work.

8 – When deciding for a school, what are 3 most important things parents should have in mind?

Will my child learn and be happy here?

Is this school going to provide my child with the learning, confidence and opportunities necessary to succeed in today´s world?

Does this school value my child and will I be involved in the learning process?

9 – What are you truly passionate about?

I love my family. They are my joy and passion. I love creating. I also enjoy solving problems and finding solutions. I love our island home where we have been so happy and fortunate. And I love being a part of a school that is committed to providing a school where children who get opportunities, the right environment, love, nurture and stability can thrive wherever they are as they move forward to take on their chosen life challenges and goals.

If you have any other questions you would like to ask Mary, write it in the comments section! If you are interested in Oakley College and would like to know more about it, you can click here.

Nika

How to improve your speaking skills

Posted on September 22, 2021September 20, 2021 by Nika

For some reason, when you first ask a student what their goal when learning English is, most of them say “I want to improve my speaking skills”. We know that English is one of the most important languages all over the world 🌍, spoken by more than 1.35 billion people all over the world, although the great majority of these people aren’t actually native English speakers. It is a language greatly used to communicate with people from any country, in any continent.

So, we know that many people still want to be able to perfectionate their skills, not only speaking but also listening, writing, and reading, but in today’s blog we’re going to focus on how to improve your speaking skills 👄. Sit tight and start reading some tips that will help you if you really want to become more fluent in this amazing language!

1. Having English classes

The first and most obvious way of improving your speaking skills (or any skill in general) is to start having English classes with a good English teacher 👩🏻‍🏫 who will really help you to become proficient in the language. Having a class with a teacher will help you to learn and improve your grammar structures, add new vocabulary and slang that you will be able to use in your day-to-day life, and will correct all those little pronunciation mistakes that you might make while you have a conversation with them.

Improving your speaking skills is not only about pronouncing perfectly in English or studying phonetics and phonology, but also about expanding your knowledge of the language and being able to understand others 🗣 as well as being able to speak fluently.

If you are in need of an English teacher to improve your speaking skills, don’t forget to check out this post on the 3 essential characteristics that all English teachers should have.

2. Record yourself when speaking English

No one likes listening to their own recorded voice, that’s a fact, but if you really want to improve your speaking skills you will start doing it! When you record yourself while speaking and afterwards listen to it, you are able to hear your own mistakes 🤔 and realize certain things that you might be mispronouncing without being aware of it.

There are many little things that you might notice when hearing yourself speak, such as not pronouncing correctly certain phonemes like /θ/, or not being able to differentiate between one phoneme and another such as /æ/ and /Ʌ/. Recording yourself will certainly help you to find out these tiny mistakes 🔍 and while listening to yourself you will be able to improve your speaking skills.

3. Do a language exchange

Doing a language exchange with both native and non-native speakers is another very good way to improve your speaking skills. There you will not only be able to learn from native people but also from non-natives, as they both can contribute to helping you to become more fluent in the language. Natives will be able to correct your mistakes while you can also help them by correcting them in your language, and non-natives will give you a different perspective and you will be able to learn from what they know as well as from the mistakes they make themselves. I think it’s a win-win situation 😍 for everyone!

At NikaTeacher, we have already organized some language exchanges between our students, both current ones as well as old ones. If you’re interested in attending one to improve your speaking skills, I suggest that you keep your eyes open for any upcoming news about our next language exchange 🇪🇸 🇬🇧 which I’m sure will take place very soon!

Are you ready to start becoming more fluent in English? If you want to book a class with us, you can leave us a message right here, and we will get in touch with you ASAP!

Now, we would like to know your opinion. Which tip do you think is the most useful to improve your speaking skills? Do you have any other tips that you would like to share with us? Leave your comments below and let us know what you think.

Estefanía

Shopping in Las Palmas

Posted on September 15, 2021November 15, 2023 by Nika

The Canary Islands use a 7% tax on goods, which also means clothes. This is why a shopping day is a perfect addition to your holiday. Where would it be better to go shopping than in the capital of Gran Canaria? Today we are going to tell you all about the different locations on where to go shopping in Las Palmas.

Las Arenas shopping centre

We are going to start with Las Arenas, a shopping mall next to Las Canteras. This shopping mall has over 90 stores like Adidas, H&M and Zara, and more than 20 restaurants. You can go for a quick look around on your way to the beach but you can also do a proper shopping day with lunch or dinner on the rooftop terrace of the mall, this also includes a sea view. I know, amazing right! There are also events that are hosted there, make sure you check out the website to see the diary!

Zona Triana

Secondly, we have the shopping street of Triana, if you want to do some shopping in Las Palmas but also enjoy the architecture and history of the city, I would recommend going there.

There is one main street and several streets surrounding it, which have cute boutiques but also familiar stores.

This combined with many restaurants, cafés and ice cream parlours make Triana definitely worth a visit.

Las Terrazas outlet

Furthermore, there is a big outlet shopping mall called Las Terrazas. Located a bit out of the centre of Las Palmas but worth going to. Las Terrazas has many different outlet stores like Nike, Asics, Mango, where you can shop till you drop.

El Corte Inglés

Last but not least, we have El Corte Inglés, a huge department store in the centre of the island’s capital. You cannot go shopping in Las Palmas without visiting El Corte Inglés. This department store has many famous brands and because the store has six floors on both sides of the street, you will find some amazing things without a doubt.

Make sure to get the tourist card for free at the customer service desk inside the building, for discounts. You accumulate 10% of the value of your shopping and redeem the balance in your following purchases

While you are at El corte Inglés also check out the surrounding stores in Mesa y López. This street has many different stores such as Zara, Stradivarius and Massimo Dutti. Definitely worth checking it out!

We suggest that you take an empty suitcase to the island and fill it up here ?! If you don’t enjoy shopping but you do enjoy exploring the city check out our other blogs, like our city guide or our blog about where to eat in Las Palmas.

Enjoy shopping in Las Palmas and don’t forget to tag us in your holiday posts on Instagram.

@nikateacher & @travel_gran_canaria

Beach Clubs on Gran Canaria

Posted on June 30, 2021November 15, 2023 by Nika

Lying on a sunbed with a cocktail in your hand underneath a clear blue sky, in one of the several beach clubs on Gran Canaria. If this is your idea of a perfect day of recharging and resting, keep on reading.

On my Instagram account I am often asked the question if I can suggest some Beach Clubs on Gran Canaria. I thought we would fill you in on a bit of information about 4 of the best beach clubs on the island. So you can sit back and relax as we have done the research for you. That’s what holidays and weekends are for, right?

Today we will talk to you about 4 of the best beach clubs on Gran Canaria.

*disclaimer: the clubs are not written down in any particular order!*

1. Kai Club

Located in Patalavaca, with everything you are looking for in a Beach Club, a gorgeous pool surrounded by palm trees, and the possibility to go out on a boat and enjoy the sunset with a glass of champagne. If you prefer to stay on land you can also go for a relaxing massage.

You will definitely relax at Kai Club.

With a varied menu, you will be able to get the cocktail and snack that you prefer.

Price: The entry is free, however you have to consume at least €30 (on the weekends €40) while you are there. Massages and other services also count in these 30 or 40 Euros.

Opening times: 12:00- 20:00

2. Maroa Club del Mar

A club where you can do everything, from relaxing on a lounge chair with sea views, to jet skiing and a wellness day. With three different menus for the different times of the day you will always be surprised.

The cocktail bar has many choices, so they will definitely have your favorite cocktail which you can mix with snacks.

Located in sunny Anfi Maroa Club already gives you the tropical summer vibe.

Price: you can rent a sunbed for €12 a day.

Opening times: 09:00-19:00 in summer and 09:00-18:00 in winter.

(Side note: they don’t have a swimming pool!)

3. Amadores Beach Club

Located in Amadores and is the definition of relaxing, if you want a massage or just relax by the pool, this is the place for you.

If you prefer a lounge to relax at or a chill out garden to socialize with others as well, this beach club has it all!

Price: you can rent a sunbed for €30 a day. There are several different packages that you can choose from on the website.

Opening times: 11:00-18:30 and the restaurant is open from 12:00.

4. Chester Beach Club

Last but not least, the newly opened Chester Beach Club. Chester is a popular club which is located in Las Palmas and Meloneras and they have recently opened a beach club in Puerto Rico.

This club is a mix between nightlife and a relaxing pool day, if you prefer to have all of this in one day, make sure you check out Chester Beach Club.

Knowing Chester, you will get the best service and have the most amazing time with live music and special acts.

Make sure to check their Instagram account to stay up to date on the special acts and other parties/ activities that they organize!

Price: €10,- entrance and €40,- for a sunbed.

Opening times: they open at 12:00.

When you are on holiday, you want to enjoy every moment to the fullest and that will definitely be the case at any of these clubs. I hope we have helped you find a beach club on Gran Canaria that you´ll LOVE.

Which club are you going to visit first? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram @nikateacher and @travel_gran_canaria.

If you prefer to find swimming pools that are more natural, check out our previous blog about natural pools on Gran Canaria.

Elise and Nika

12 beautiful words in the English language

Posted on June 23, 2021March 28, 2023 by Nika

In every language there are a million words: some that we know and use daily, others that we might have heard but we don’t know the exact meaning of the word, or even words that we have never heard of. Words are very important things even though they are a combination of the alphabet letters, as without them we would not be able to communicate in a verbal way. 12 beautiful words

Today we’re going to focus on some words that have beautiful meanings and that also sound very beautiful when said aloud. In today’s blog, we’re going to take a look at a list of 12 words that either have a gorgeous meaning or that have a wonderful sound when pronounced .

1. AURORA /ɔːˈrɔː.rə/:

Aurora is a noun and the most common meaning that we give it is the dawn in the early morning or, in other words, the radiation emissions which naturally create a lovely display of colours in the morning sky . We could remember that it’s also the name of the princess from The Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. It was also the name given to the Roman goddess of the dawn. Don’t these meanings sound even more beautiful than the actual pronunciation of the word?

2. SERENDIPITY /ˌser.ənˈdɪp.ə.ti/:

The word Serendipity is also a noun which means the developments of events by chance or by accident in a way which is beneficial. I think the meaning of this word is very romantic, but the sound that comes out of your mouth when you pronounce it is even more perfect.

3. PETRICHOR /ˈpet.rɪ.kɔːr/:

Petrichor is another noun, and the meaning of this word is the pleasant, earthy smell that is left behind by the rain. Just reading the sense of the word brings back memories and thoughts to our minds. Who hasn’t felt in their nostrils that distinctive smell after a day of pouring rain?

4. WANDERLUST /ˈwɒn.də.lʌst/:

Wanderlust is another noun that we have added to our list. It refers to that craving that we sometimes feel to travel , to explore, and to seek adventure. It’s that feeling we get from time to time and that makes our heart ache to visit another country and learn about a new culture. But it doesn’t only have a gorgeous meaning, I believe its pronunciation is also quite beautiful.

5. PLUVIOPHILE /-faɪl/:

Have you ever felt joy and peace of mind while hearing the sound of the rain tapping against your window? Then you, my friend, are a pluviophile (which is also a noun). Pluviophiles are people who love the rain and feel great enjoyment when it’s pouring down outside.

6. SELENOPHILE /-faɪl/:

This other noun has a very similar meaning to the previous one. Selenophiles are people who love the moon and find joy and peace of mind when looking at it. They find it soothingly captivating. It also sounds quite soothing when pronouncing it, doesn’t it?

7. ETHEREAL /iˈθɪə.ri.əl/:

Ethereal is the first adjective of our list. Something ethereal is something that is extremely delicate and light, something out of this world. It’s something that seems too perfect to be from this world. The same meaning sounds ethereal, but the pronunciation is also very beautiful.

8. MELLIFLUOUS /melˈɪf.lu.əs/:

Mellifluous is another adjective and it means sweetly or smoothly flowing or something sweet-sounding. I would say that the word mellifluous is kind of mellifluous itself, and that’s called a homological word (which means a word that describes itself).

9. HIRAETH /hiraɪ̯θ/:

Hiraeth is a noun which comes from the Welsh which has no direct translation into the English language. Hiraeth is the feeling of homesickness for a home which you can’t return to or maybe even a home which never really existed. It’s also the feeling of nostalgia and grief ? for the lost places of your past. It sounds just as sad as lovely.

10. INEFFABLE /ɪˈnef.ə.bəl/:

Ineffable is also an adjective which expresses that something is too great to be expressed in words. Isn’t it a bit ironic trying to express the meaning of something which means that something can’t be expressed? In my opinion, the pronunciation of this word sounds very musical.

11. EPIPHANY /ɪˈpɪf.ən.i/:

Epiphany is the noun which occupies the eleventh place in our list, and its meaning is a moment of sudden revelation, or a sudden, profound idea that occurs to you. Have you ever had a moment like that? Now you know what to call it next time it happens! It also sounds very well when pronounced.

12. LULLABY /ˈlʌl.ə.baɪ/:

The final word in our list is another noun. A lullaby is a quiet, gentle song which is normally sung to make children fall asleep. The name of the word itself sounds very calming and relaxing, and makes you think of something that will help you relax.

So, now that we have finished with our list of 12 beautiful words in the English language, I would like you to tell me which word you find most beautiful. In which order would you place the words if you wanted them to be from the most beautiful to the least? Let us know what you think in the comments section below! 12 beautiful words

Also, if you want to have some classes with us, send us a message here and we can talk in person! 🙂

Estefanía & Nika

Qué ver en La Graciosa

Posted on June 16, 2021July 7, 2021 by Nika

Cuando uno decide viajar a La Graciosa siempre se pregunta: ¿Qué ver y, sobre todo, qué hacer en esta isla tan pequeña? Qué ver en La Graciosa

El número de habitantes durante el año es de unas 700 personas, pero en verano este número se eleva considerablemente hasta 2500 personas aproximadamente. Como siempre dice @travel2getthere: vale la pena revisar bien la época en la cual vas a viajar para evitar la época de temporada alta. Especialmente en La Graciosa, ya que en verano la tranquilidad y lo idílico de esta isla parece que desaparece. Los mejores meses para ir son: mayo-junio y septiembre-octubre: buen tiempo y desconexión asegurados 😉.

Hace 2 años la visitamos por primera vez pero en aquel momento fue una excursión de un día en el cual alquilamos una bici y “recorrimos toda la isla”. Esta es la típica frase que dicen las personas que han estado en La Graciosa un día. Por ello, voy a empezar de esta forma. Qué ver en La Graciosa

1- Cómo llegar

Para llegar a la Graciosa hay que trasladarse hasta el muelle de Orzola, al norte de la isla de Lanzarote. Desde este puerto, existen dos compañías de ferry ⛴ con frecuencias casi cada hora. Nosotros decidimos optar por el ferry de Líneas Romero. El trayecto hasta la octava isla es de unos 30 minutos. Para la ida, el primer barco es a las 08:00 y para la vuelta, dependiendo de la temporada, el último trayecto será entre las 18:00 y 20:00. Puedes ver los horarios aquí.

Al llegar a La Graciosa la sensación es única. Llegas a la plaza principal del pueblo (a Nika personalmente le recuerda mucho a una isla de su niñez en Croacia – cuando el acontecimiento más importante del día es ver llegar el ferry mientras estaba sentada en un banco tomándome un helado). Al bajar del barco, sientes con todo tu cuerpo que has llegado a la vida simple, la vida tranquila, la vida feliz.

2-Un día en La Graciosa

Al llegar a la isla, te recomiendo un buen desayuno en algún bar/ restaurante de la avenida que da al mar 🌅. Con las pilas recargadas, uno de los mejores planes en La Graciosa es: alquilar una bici.

Top tip: Si no llevas comida, proponemos que cojas algún dulce en la panadería (que no cunda el pánico, la vas a encontrar porque solo hay una 😊) o pidas un bocadillo de tortilla para llevar en el restaurante Los Girasoles. Además, no te olvides del agua.

Existen varios lugares donde puedes alquilar una bici, nosotros alquilamos la bici en @pedalealagraciosa. Los precios por día oscilan sobre los 10-15 euros, y también disponen de bicis eléctricas.

La mejor ruta que puedes hacer si solo vienes a pasar el día es llegar hasta la Playa de Las Conchas (en el norte). Una playa maravillosa y virgen, con vistas a las islas de Montaña Clara y Alegranza.

Nosotros al llegar a la Playa de las Conchas, no pudimos resistirnos y subimos también la montaña que está al lado (Montaña Bermeja): las vistas merecen el pequeño esfuerzo 😍.

Ahora sí, toca disfrutar y bañarse en el mar turquesa y tomarte tu bocadillo o el dulce con tranquilidad, te lo has ganado.

Para los menos aventureros: pueden pedir un taxi 4×4 que los lleva a la playa.

Varios días en La Graciosa

Nuestra idea principal ha sido ir a La Graciosa y no preocuparnos mucho por el plan sino cada día descubrir un poco mejor la isla. Como ya tuvimos la experiencia con la bici, pensamos que íbamos a volver a alquilar la bici pero había tanto viento que decidimos caminar. Y curiosamente (todo pasa por algo!), los lugares que visitamos no tenían acceso con la bici, así que hicimos bien.

Visitar la Montaña Amarilla

Uno de los mayores atractivos de la isla es la zona conocida como Montaña Amarilla (esta fue mi caminata favorita). Tomando dirección oeste desde Caleta de Sebo, pasando por la zona del Salado, para llegar a la playa de la Francesa, esta playa también es muy agradable. Si continúas 5-10 minutos más, llegarás a Montaña Amarilla, no tiene pérdida, fíjate en el color de la montaña y sabrás el motivo de su nombre. Es muy curioso porque cuando ves la montaña desde Caleta de Sebo se trata de una montaña marrón oscura pero solamente al llegar te das cuenta que hay una parte completamente amarilla y con otra playa extraordinaria, conocida como Playa de La Cocina.

Visitar el pueblo Pedro Barba

Otra de las caminatas más bonitas e indispensables es la visita al pueblo de Pedro Barba.

Pedro Barba fue el primer asentamiento de la isla, alrededor de 1880, donde vivieron pescadores principalmente, ahora reconvertido en exclusivas viviendas dedicadas al alquiler turístico. Como dato curioso, es el núcleo poblacional más al norte de toda Canarias, y por tanto, el más cercano a la península.

Son 60-90 minutos de caminata con la preciosa vista a Lanzarote y al Río, y a tus pies las olas que van rompiendo de forma perfecta una detrás de otra.

La primera parte del camino es llano, entre tierra y un poco de arena, la parte final es un sendero entre las rocas y acantilado. En algunas zonas hay que andar con precaución, pero en general no tiene gran dificultad.

Al llegar al pueblo de Pedro Barba te encuentras con unas casitas muy bonitas y un muelle desde donde puedes observar las olas 🌊. Llévate alguna manzana, galletas y algo para beber ya que ahí no hay nada aparte de las casitas. Para volver también necesitarás unos 60-90 minutos así que calcula bien para que vayas antes de que se vaya el sol.

Alojamiento

Nosotros nos alojamos en Alojamiento Santa Rosa. Una vivienda de dos plantas y dos habitaciones. La alquilamos a través de booking y fue todo un acierto. Super moderno, la habitación tenía una terraza enorme con hamacas e increíbles vistas. Una cocina super equipada y muy parecida a la de nuestra casa. Era la casa perfecta para disfrutar varios días de esta isla 😊.

Además, recuerda que puedes obtener un descuento de 10% si reservas cualquier apartamento del Santa Rosa club en La Graciosa o Lanzarote , contactándoles al: reservas@apartamentossantarosa.com y añadiendo el código: NIKA10 en el correo.

Dónde comer

Hay pocas opciones pero hay una muy, muy buena. Es por ese motivo que no probamos en otros restaurantes. Si algo te encanta, no hay porqué cambiar. Se trata del Restaurante Los Girasoles – Casa Margucha. Especialistas en arroces, pescado fresco, comida canaria. Un trato muy amable y maravillosas vistas a la pequeña playa de Caleta de Sebo.

Justo al lado hay otro bar en la arena, ideal para tomar algo a los pies de la playa 🏖.

No te puedes ir de La Graciosa sin pasar por la Pastelería Quela. Así tendrás un dulce recuerdo de tu visita a esta isla.

Como resumen, la isla de La Graciosa es ideal si quieres desconectar, buscas tranquilidad y unos días de calma. Dedicarte a la lectura, la pesca, explorar la isla, un refrescante baño y un bronceado maravilloso suena a una rutina muy especial para unas vacaciones.

Si quieres seguir descubriendo Las Islas Canarias, @travel2getthere y yo te dejamos aquí las guías de 2 islas que nos han encantado y no son tan conocidas:

La Palma y El Hierro

Pedro