Learn to Speak Catalan

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Learn Catalan
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Origins of the Catalan Language
Catalan is a member of the Romance group of the Italic subfamily of Indo-European languages. Like all the Romance languages, it is descended from Latin. Linguistically, it is related most closely to Occitan, a language spoken in the south of France, although it shares many similarities with Spanish and French, and the other Romance languages.

How many people speak the Catalan language?
There are 4 million native speakers and some 9 million people who use Catalan.

Catalan-speaking Countries
Catalan is spoken in northeastern Spain, in the Balearic Islands, in Andorra, where it has official status as the main language spoken, in a small part of France and in the town of l'Alguer, on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Screenshots from Talk Now! Learn Catalan CD-ROM

Talk Now Catalan CD-ROM Details

This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun, easy and relaxing. There is no better way to teach an old dog new tricks and this fun element of the program means that your fears are forgotten as you absorb words and phrases without even realising you are learning them.

Talk Now! is the world's best selling language learning CD-ROM series for beginners, used by more than three million people to date. It's ideal for travellers, holidaymakers, business people, schoolchildren, students and families.

Anyone over 10 years of age will find the disc indispensable for improving listening, understanding and spoken language skills. There are nine topics: first words, food, colours, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries.

The games and quizzes included on the disc ensure that users have fun whilst using the disc, without realising that they're learning. The "intelligent" software feature remembers words you get wrong and targets your weak points.

NOW includes Apple iPod integration, which allows you to listen to Talk Now Catalan wherever you are!

Catalan Music and Dance

Although Andalucia is the home of flamenco dancing, the large Andaluz population in Catalonia has given rise to the popularity of Catalan flamenco.

Catalan Food and Drink

Catalan food tends to be wholesome and nourishing with heavy emphasis on meat, olive oil, garlic, fruit and salad. Chicken and shellfish (Pollastre amb Gambes is a dish that comibines them) or meat and poultry with fruit are common examples of Catalan cuisine.

Fresh fish and seafood play an important role in Catalan cuisine. Sarsuela is a traditional fish stew to be found in most towns.

Orxata (pronounced horchata) is a typical Catalan/Valencian drink that is usually served with dessert and is mixed with chopped tiger nuts, ice and sugar.

Catalan Attractions

Tarragona: The capital and chief city of Tarragona Province, it is a port on the Mediterranean Sea at the mouth of the Francolí River. The remains of a Roman amphitheatre and defensive walls are in the city, and a two-tiered Roman aqueduct is nearby. The Romanesque cathedral, construction of which was begun in the 12th century, is famous for its Gothic façade.

Barcelona: The capital city of Catalonia and the second largest Spanish city in terms of population.

The oldest port of Barcelona, formerly enclosed by walls, was built on the harbour and is crossed by Las Ramblas, a famous tree-lined street, lively day and night with street performers, stalls and shops.

The Plaza de Cataluña is the focal point of the city lies at the other end of Las Ramblas. The streets of the old quarter are narrow and crooked while in the newer sections they are wide and straight, with modern buildings.

Dominating Barcelona's skyscape are the fantastic spires of the Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia (Church of the Sacred Family), a huge, unfinished cathedral notable for the elaborate patterns and undulating curves designed by the Catalán architect Antoni Gaudí y Cornet.

Other landmarks include Mount Tibidabo, from which can be seen fantastic views of the entire city, the gardens and museums of Monjuic and the famous Picasso Museum.

Customer Testimonials

"This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! Uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun and relaxing." - PC Answers

"I bought your Learn Malay CD today - I've only just begun, but I wanted to say how much I am enjoying it. I studied Malay from a book all day yesterday, making some 25 pages of notes on grammar and vocab, but I remember more from your CD from just an hour!" - James Bryce

Full list of Talk Now Language CD-ROMs available to buy online in the UK.