VLLC
  • Home
    • Locations >
      • Victoria
      • South Australia
      • New South Wales
      • Western Australia
      • Australian Capital Territory
      • Queensland
      • Northern Territory
      • Tasmania
    • About VLLC
    • The VLLC story
    • Language Tutors
    • Join the Team
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Student Reviews and Testimonials
    • The Language Box
    • Online Student Access
    • Code of Practice >
      • Video instructions
      • Student Information
      • Privacy Policy
    • Blog Articles >
      • Work Blog
      • Travel Blog
      • Mind Blog
      • Language Journeys
      • Videos
  • Languages
    • Learn Arabic
    • Learn Dutch
    • Learn English >
      • General English
      • IELTS Preparation
    • Learn French
    • Learn German
    • Learn Greek
    • Learn Indonesian
    • Learn Italian
    • Learn Japanese
    • Learn Korean
    • Learn Mandarin Chinese
    • Learn Portuguese
    • Learn Russian
    • Learn Spanish
    • Learn Thai
    • Other Languages - VLLC Tutorial Courses
  • For Individual
    • Language Certificates >
      • Certificate II in Applied Language
      • Social Proficiency
      • Certificate III in Applied Language
      • Intermediate Proficiency
      • Vocational Proficiency
    • Online Lessons
    • In-country Language Testing Preparation
  • For Business
    • Language Certificates >
      • Certificate II in Applied Language
      • Social Proficiency
      • Certificate III in Applied Language
      • Intermediate Proficiency
      • Vocational Proficiency
    • Business Benefits
    • Online Solutions
    • Professional Development Seminars
    • Language Workshop
    • School Solutions >
      • Primary School Language Program
      • VET in Schools
  • Contact
    • Contact Form

Festival of the Dia de los Muertos.. Much more than Halloween. 

28/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a Mexican and Mexican-American holiday celebrated on November 1st and November 2nd. It is a special time where Mexican-Americans celebrate the connection between life and death. Families honour their loved ones that have passed away by making thoughtful offerings in the form of altars. Some people celebrate the holiday for the whole month of October, and some make a distinction between November 1 (el Día de los Angelitos, the day for children) and November 2 (the day for adults). The holiday has evolved as a unique mixture of indigenous traditions and customs derived from All Souls Day in the Catholic religion.
Picture

Because of its importance as a defining aspect of Mexican culture and the unique aspects of the celebrations which have been passed down through generations, Mexico's indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead was recognised by UNESCO as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2008. It is an interesting festival, 

Although it is a holiday from far away in southern Mexico, it's a holiday one can personalise and integrate into their own religious and cultural beliefs. It is more of a cultural holiday than a religious one. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the memories of loved ones who are now gone... through 
art, cooking, music, doing activities with your children, recounting family stories, fun times and lessons learned... Not how the person died, but how they lived. 

Picture
0 Comments

The beauty of Spanish food..

20/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Whether you are taking a short city break weekend, a longer vacation or just doing business in Span for a few days, one if thing is for certain, you will love Spanish food. During your stay, no matter how long it is, you will want to eat, and while for some, global fast food is easy, for many Spanish food is a must.  But what are some of the best Spanish dishes you really must try? Here are 5.

Let’s start with something sweet and something that is consumed in astronomical amounts by many Spaniards. Turrón is a sweet almond Nougat that is extremely popular at Christmas. However, many do not know that it is a true sweet treat available any day of the year even when you have no reason to celebrate at all. The small town of Jijona in the province of Alicante is where most of these very tasty treats are made and there are two types.  Made with honey, almonds and egg white the two versions of this sweet treat are Jijona which is soft and chewy and the hard Alicante Turrón that has pieces of almond in it.
Picture
Picture
Tortilla Española is a classic dish and one that is surprisingly tasty. Over the years there have been some variations on the Tortilla Española just to spice things up, but the traditionalist will have nothing of it. Nothing beats a traditional Tortilla Española that consists of Eggs, Potatoes and Onions, for some even the onion is extravagant, but it does give the meal a little more taste. Slow cooked in olive oil this simple dish is a very filling meal.

Perhaps the most well-known of all Spanish Dishes, Paella, is for some what Spain is known for.  A traditional Paella includes chicken or rabbit, saffron, runner beans and butter beans. However, the Paella is not complete without rice and quite a lot of it. The rice is used to absorb the flavours not just to make the dish more filling. Try Paella with rabbit and you will be surprised just how tasty it is.
Picture
Picture
A simple fried chicken dish, known throughout Spain is Pollo al ajillo. Everyone  says the Pollo al ajillo made by their mother or grandmother is the best and truth be told this may actually be so as every time I have had it, it tastes better. This really is a simple dish. Whole unpeeled garlic is fried in olive oil to flavour the oil then removed. Chicken is then fried in the oil and when cooked the garlic cloves, some rosemary and thyme as well as a dash of sherry are added to make a dish that is unbelievably tasty.

If you have not had a bowl of Gazpacho then you have not been to Spain. This blend of ripe red tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and garlic can be found, ice cold, in jugs in many Tapas bars throughout Spain. It is one of the most refreshing things to eat or drink anywhere in the entire country and is quintessentially Spanish!

These are just 5 of the must try dishes you can have in Spain. There are many more surprisingly good dishes and one or two house specialities you will stumble up. However, to really get the most out of any restaurant, being able to speak Spanish, will open up many gastronomic delights.

0 Comments

Things you can only do in Spain...

5/11/2019

0 Comments

 
Spain is a popular tourist destination and if a person hasn’t visited, he or she probably wants to. Apart from some flamenco and some lounging on the beach, Spain has many attractions, but there are some that can only be done in Spain. Here are 7, with one special one at the end.
Picture
Travel on a Zip Line to Portugal: Limite Zero takes one minute to travel from the Andalucía village of Sanlúcar de Guadiana and over the border to Alcoutim in Portugal.  This is the only international zip line in the world and is the only zip line that takes you forward by an hour due to the time difference between Spain and Portugal.

Eat a Gazpacho at McDonald’s: This is a fun thing that can only be done in Spain. Gazpacho is very popular in Spain and while many tourists are looking for slightly different dining experiences to McDonald’s, this is worth a try.  Spain is the only country in the world that has Gazpacho on the McDonald’s menu. Come on, it is worth a try, at least for a selfie!

Picture
Picture
Eat in the world’s oldest restaurant: This is a step up from McDonalds and Madrid in Spain is the only place in the world this can be done. Sobrino de Botin in Madrid is around 300 years old and holds the world record for the oldest restaurant in the world. If you visit, you really must try the oven baked lamb… it is legendary!

Visit the Tomb of Christopher Columbus: Christopher Columbus is well known by many people. Without out him much of the world we know today may not actually have been found. It is a tough thing to consider. Maybe it is worthwhile saying a word of thanks by visiting his impressive tomb. Recent DNA tests prove that the Cathedral of Seville does really house the remains of Christopher Columbus. The tomb is ok but the Cathedral is magnificent
Picture
Near Death Experience: No, you don’t have to come close to death but you can attend the festival of the near death experience or La Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme that takes place every year in Las Nieves, Galicia. During this bizarre event people pretend to be dead and are carried through the streets in coffins.

World’s biggest nightclub: For those wanting something a little less macabre a visit to the island of Ibiza will get your heart racing. Here the world’s largest nightclub called Privilege has space for over 10,000 people to party the night away.

Tapas: Perhaps the best thing about Spain, and final thing you can only do in Spain is to enjoy real Tapas. This gastronomic part of Spanish life will come to life when you can converse with the locals in their mother tongue.  
Picture
Spain has so much to offer tourists of all ages. However, these and many other hidden gems can be found in the country, famous for its rich history and culture, by speaking Spanish. Language opens up more doors than many could imagine, takes tourists down a road less travelled. To really experience Spain, find places that perhaps no one else has before; speaking Spanish will make a difference.
0 Comments

    About

    Travelling is an exciting opportunity which can be enhanced by learning the language before you go. This blog contains some interesting articles about language and travel.

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    May 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

About VLLC


The VLLC Story
Language Tutors
Locations
  - Adelaide
  - Melbourne
​  - Sydney
  - Perth
  - Canberra
  - Brisbane
  - Hobart
  - Darwin​
Join the team
Student Information
Online Client
Testimonials

Learning Options

Languages


Arabic
Dutch
English
French
German
Greek

Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Korean

Mandarin Chinese
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Thai

Courses


Certificate in Social Proficiency

Certificate II in Applied Language


Certificate III in Applied Language

Certificate in Intermediate Proficiency
​

Certificate in Vocational  Proficiency

Blog


Work Blog
Travel Blog
Mind Blog
Case Studies

Contact Us


Contact Us Form
Newsletter Sign up

Language School
Language School Melbourne Adelaide
Copyright © 2015 - 2025  |   VLLC - Vocational Language Learning Centre  Head Office 03 6427 0551 | ADL 08 8267 1177   |   MLB 03 9602 1605