Boost your brain! Learn a language

Maybe you are having second thoughts about exposing yourself or your child to a new foreign language. Please don’t! Nowadays there is more evidence than ever before that multilingualism has tremendous benefits for your brain.

Multiple scientists addressed this interesting phenomenon during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2011. Ellen Bialystok of the York University in Toronto (Canada) pointed out that bilinguals seem to maintain better cognitive function (than monolinguals) as the human body begins its natural decline in old age. The research she carried out with Craik and Freedman shows that bilingualism even has a positive effect on slowing down dementia in the aging brain. They researched a group of patients with similar levels of cognitive impairment. Those that were bilingual had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about four years later, on average, than those who spoke just one language. So at the same level of impairment, bilinguals are older, which shows they have been able to cope better with the disease. An important theory in explaining this is that speaking different languages keeps the mind active in the same way puzzles and games do, and works toward compensating for the build-up of the dementia-causing pathology in the brain.

Judith Kroll, researcher at Pennsylvania State University, said that bilinguals are also better than monolinguals at multitasking. Switching from one language to another helps bilinguals to ignore irrelevant information and prioritize tasks better than monolinguals. This makes sense considering that when a bilingual person speaks one language, the other language is still potentially active. Speakers of multiple languages are constantly inhibiting multiple languages in favor of the one they are currently using. This statement is supported by a research on the effects of bilingualism on children. Bilingual children appear to make better choices based on conflicting information than monolingual children. Because a concept can be expressed differently in various languages, bilingual children know from early on that form and meaning are arbitrary. They learn to choose the correct word from the words they know depending on the context.

The results of these studies are supported by a research conducted by the researches from the University College London. They studied the brains of 105 people of whom 80 were bilingual. They found that learning other languages altered grey matter (the area of the brain which processes information) in the same way exercise builds muscles. Other benefits of multilingualism include an enhanced short-term memory capacity and problem-solving capability. Mainly due to enhanced mental flexibility. This involves neural pathways being opened up, which extends the capacity to think and opens access to different avenues for thought.

In terms of starting to learn a new language in a later stage in your life, the likelihood of becoming a fluent speaker is low, but it seems like every little bit helps in preventing cognitive decline. And proficiency may be more important than the age of acquisition according to Judith Kroll.  So don’t wait and start to learn a new language and give your brain that workout that it’s been longing for.

Extra-curricular activities 28th May – 1st June

Monday 28^th, 19:00. Plaza Mayor + ice cream: We’re going to try the delicious ice cream from Novelty and then discover the history of the Plaza Mayor. Price: your consumption - Meeting place: Tía Tula – Approximate duration: 1h

Tuesday 29^th, 19:00. Exposition: “The fingerprint of Unamuno”:  All the landscapes of this pictorial series are actual views, which in essence don’t really differ from differ little from what Unamuno contemplated. - Meeting place: Tía Tula – Approximate duration: 1h in the exposition room called Santo Domingo de la Cruz.

Wenesday 30^th, 18:30. The towers of the Clergy: Through the exposition Scala Coeli, we will go up the towers of the current Real Clerecía de San Marcos and where we will see Salamanca from above. Price: between 5 and 6 € (depends on the number of student interested) - Meeting place: Tía Tula – Approximate duration: 1h.

Friday 31^st, 18:30. Boat ride: we will go for a ride in a rowing boat on the Río Tormes River. Price between 3 and 4 € (depends on the number of student interested) - Meeting place: Tía Tula – Approximate duration: 1h30.

Thursday 1^st, 20:00. Tapas route: We will go to different bars in the centre to try tapas from Salamanca. Price: +- 6 € Meeting point: Tía Tula  - Approximate duration: 1h30

Remember to sign up for the activity at reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend our students to participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.

The legend of the Cave of Salamanca

One of the most mythical corners of Salamanca is the ´Cueva de Salamanca´. According to tradition, the devil himself used to give back magic classes back in the middle Age, in the cave and from there the fame and legend of the cave begun.

Where is the Cave of Salamanca? Well actually is very close to our school, Tía Tula, like so many monumental sights of the city ... (Here you can refer to our previous entry: how to always find Tía Tula on a tourist map of Salamanca). More specifically, the Cave of Salamanca is on the ´Cuesta de Carvajal´. Here we´ll show you how you get from Tía Tula (A) to the Cuesta de Carvajal (B), using Google Maps, with a view of the ´Cuesta de Carvajal´, which is also taken from Google Maps:


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Originally, the Cave of Salamanca was only the crypt or vestry of the Church of San Cebrian (St. Cyprian), a church that would later be destroyed in the late sixteenth century. In this vestry, Clement Potosi, the sacristan devoted himself for years as it seems, to teaching art classes that were considered obscure, such as astrology and palmistry. The purpose was to transmit divinatory techniques. It is likely that students in his classes had to commit to not disclosing the contents of his classes, which is why the legend began to form and grow. It also became twisted as the sacristan was replaced by the devil himself (maybe through Clement Potosi?) It is said that for at night for seven years in the crypt, Satan taught black magic to seven students, most of them college students (of Salamanca which was then one of the university campuses of reference in Spain - A Spain very much dominated by the power of the Church - and received students from all parts of the country, and beyond). At the end of the seven years the students had a draw to see who would pay for the classes, if the unfortunate person had no money to pay for them, they had to stay for life in the cave serving the devil as his assistant in the classroom. From here comes one of the most fascinating chapters in this fascinating legend: Marqués de Villena (the legendary character inspired by Enrique de Villena and Enrique of Aragon), was one of the college students who participated in these classes. He was the person who lost the draw and had to pay for the classes but he had no money and so had to stay in the sacristy. One day however he decided to try to escape: he hid in a large pot and when the devil came into the sacristy, on not seeing him, went out leaving the door open.  Villena took the opportunity to escape the church and ran into the street. The devil tried to catch him but was unsuccessful, he could only catch his shadow ... Since then the Marquis of Villena was marked for life by this curse of having lost his shadow and this marked him as debtor of Satan, which in turn meant he had to stay in the shadows so people couldn’t see that he was shadowless.

As always, there are many versions of this legend, but most of them agree on the main points. This story was well known in Spain during the 14^th and the 16^th centuries and it was so famous that it went with the first Spanish sailors who interfered in the colonization of Central and South America. This is the reason why it’s usual today that people still refer to lands, caves and dark places as “Salamancas”. In reality, before that, the story about the Cave was no longer told because ´Isabel la catolica´ had ordered to wall up the sacristy with mortar and stone a few years beforehand. This proves that this legend had already arrived at this time. The church was taken down afterwards, in 1580. From this moment on, half of the cave was lost and the other half became firstly, a storeroom of the palace of Mayorazgo de Albandea, then a bakery storeroom and finally a coal yard. Finally, in the 20^th century, at the beginning of the 90s, the area was conscientiously dug and rehabilitated. The discoveries were exposed to the public in 1993, thus making it an archaeological area which is composed of three parts: La Torre de Villena (in allusion to the marques), the main floor of the Church San Cebrián and the Cave of Salamanca. This exciting visit is one which our pupils make from time to time, as part of an extra-curricular activity and is one that they made yesterday.

The truth is that when you go into the cave the feeling is that it´s a ruin, not a site of interest but it is difficult not to start thinking of the legend that´s wrapped up in this place and what happened, the legend which travelled throughout the whole world for many years.



How to always find Tía Tula on a tourist map of Salamanca.

If you have a tourist map of Salamanca and these icons are marked with the major sights, we'll tell show you a trick to locate Tía Tula no matter where you are: search for the area with most monuments and in the centre of that area is Tía Tula. Easy, right? If you don´t believe us think that's an exaggeration – which is usual in these cases - we encourage you to check by looking at the location of Tía Tula on the map that has just been uploaded in the section "Location and contact" on our website.

The map reflects perfectly the location of the school: half way down the street, Rua Mayor – the main tourist thoroughfare linking the old Town Square with the two cathedrals – and along the way you´ll find monumental places of great importance like, la casa de las Conchas and the Clerecía, which are also very close to also other key points of the city, including the University of Salamanca and the Convent of San Esteban.

We can safely say that tourists who have done this route through the city, will have passed by TíaTula ... Come check it out!

Extracurricular activities 21st-25th may

Monday 21st, 18.00: Film. A brilliant opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish cinema. Meeting place: Tía Tula.

Tuesday 22nd, 19.00: Chocolate with Churros. We’re going to try chocolate with churros in the café, El Valor. Meeting place: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1-hour   Price 3.30 euros. (médium chocolate with 2 churros).

Wednesday 23^rd, 18.30: Visit to the “Patio de escuelas”. Somebody from the school will tell you the stories about the historic monument of the university of Salamanca. Meeting place: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1 hour. 

Thursday 24th: 17.30: Sport. We will go and play tennis or basketball (depending on how many people sign up) Meeting place: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h30.  

Friday 25^th: 19.30: Cinema. We will go and see one of the Spanish fims that are showing at the moment in the cinema. Price: 5 euros with Tía Tulas student card. Meeting point: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: it depends on the film that is chosen.

Remember to sign up for the activity at reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend our students to participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.

Extra-curricular activities 14th-18th May

Monday 14th, 17.45: Cinema. “COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE” (1992) by Alfonso Arau “Literature in Spanish cinema: one language, two languages “ Price: 1,20 eurosDuration of film: 114 min. In the theatre.Liceo Meeting place: Tía Tula.

Tuesday 15^th, 19.00:  The cave of Salamanca +Ice cream: We’re going to try the delicious icecream from Novelty and then visit the mysterious cave of Salamanca. Price: your consumption Meeting place: Tía Tula – Approximate duration: 1h

Wednesday 16^th, 18.30: Spanish cards: We will make the most of the nice weather and play the game chinchón (a typical Spanish game near the river) by the river. Meeting place: Tía Tula – Approximate duration: 1h30

Thursday 17h, 20.00: Tapas route: We will go to different bars to try tapas from Salamanca. Price: +- 6 € Meeting point: Tía Tula  - Approximate duration: 1h30

Friday 18^th, 19.30: Casa Lis: We will celebrate the museum by visiting “el museo de la casa Lis”: a museum of Art Nouveau-Art Déco Meeting point: Tía Tula  - Approximate duration: 1h

Remember to sign up for the activity at reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend our students to participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.

Salamanca´s book fair 2012

From the 5th to the 13th May, Salamanca has it´s annual book fair which takes place in the Plaza Mayor. This year happens to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the death of Miguel de Unamuno.This means that the fair will based around him and his work and there will be many activities and exhibitions. 

There will also be a tribute to Germán Sánchez Ruipérez who recently passed away. He was an editor who was best known for his work in the dissemination of literature in Salamanca.

Like most years, many writers will be there signing there books and there will be live music playing. Children are also welcome to the event and can join in with the children´s workshops. 

Let´s hope the rain stays away so that people can really make the most of this exciting festival!

Extra-curricular activities 7th-11th May

Monday 7th, 17.30: Film. A brilliant opportunity to immerse yourself in Spanish cinema. Meeting place: Tía Tula.

Tuesday 8th: 19.45: Cinema. “ESQUILACHE” (1988) by Josefina Molina about the work of Buero Vallejo CICLO de “Literatura en español: una lengua dos leguajes” Price: 1,20 euros Duration of film: 100 min. In the Liceo theatre. Meeting place: Tía Tula.

Wednesday 9th,19.00: Cooking class. You´re going to learn how to make tapas Gallegas and then you can eat it. Price 8 euros. Meeting place: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h

Thursday 10th: 19,00: Exhibition. “EL COLOR DE LA PALABRA” José Portilla. Meeting place: Tía Tula. Approximate duration: 1h. In the sala de exposiciones Cielo, Salamanca. Patio de Escuelas Menores

Friday 11th: 19.30: Welcome and goodbye party. Place: Tía Tula- Approximate duration: 1h30

Remember to sign up for the activity at reception beforehand (the minimum number of people needed for each activity is 3). If the cost is not stated then the activity is free. We recommend our students to participate in the activities so they can get to know other students in the school, so they can broaden their knowledge of Spanish culture and to practice and improve their Spanish in a fun way.