Speak, spoke, spoken.

BARCELONA, June 21th.- English teacher humiliates Catalan student. B.C. is reportedly considered a threat for a large amount of Catalan journalists trying to improve their English secretly.

It could have been on the news but it wasn't. I'm just doing my homework. Immolating myself in the name of truth: Barcelona inhabitants hardly speak English. Also journalists. Sad but true.

Take a look at this map (sources: European Union and Jakub Marian):

I'd like to know which kind of conversation are we talking about: How do you do level? What would you like to drink level? What do you think about Kant level?

I'd love to know the answers also. I guess we'll have an overwhelming majority of "Fine, thanks". So, yes: we have a problem.

Only 11,9% of Spaniards declare themselves able to follow a conversation in English, according to the last CIS report 

The good news is that a 34,6% assures they can do it in Portuguese. Not that well with our French neighbours: only a 13,1% for parler. I feel particularly ashamed of these last results, as a catalan-thinker: it seems people from Galicia and Extremadura are taking more profit than us of their vicinity with Portugal.

That said, I promise someday I'll take French lessons. Right now, as you can see, I'm pretty busy doing my best with English.

As a journalist, I'd like to know if you people who make money with language feel as miserable as me when admitting you are useless with a foreign one. I really do.

Well. Now imagine you are not only supposed to run a blog in a foreign language but also have to promote that blog on the social media. Are you modest enough? I am. So please, if you still have a heart, help me with your comments and retweets. My homework could be at stake, once my reputation is lost. Put in my shoes.

PS. -  More about my results and the process on the next post. Don't miss it!

In the name of Barcelona

Are you just arrived and don't understand anything? Welcome to Barcelona. The damned city. We're a creation, a state of mind and, above of all, a trademark. Believe it or not, two years ago, the City Council registered the name of the city at the Patent and Trademark Office. The creation of a Barcelona's Brand Agency was approved last January. This agency has to look out for a proper use of the word "Barcelona". The question that still remains is: what does Barcelona mean? And, specially, who takes the decision about its multiple meanings?

Is Barcelona its most famous football team? Maybe its fake gothic quarter? Its music festivals? Its nightlife? Has the city a real spirit that can be easily defined? Easily invented, maybe? 

A measure born to prevent an innapropiate use of the name can turn into a tool to satisfy the interests of a very few.

And can be also a corny thing as this video the Council has just launched to sell the city to the tourists and show the not so much visited places of the city:

I have to confess that we are not that blonde, the city is not that clean, we don't smile all the time -seriously-, and we have better musicians than -with all due respect- these two guys. If you have listened -could you?- maybe you've noticed they sing in Catalan, Spanish and English. Beware: we speak the firsth both fluently. Forget about English.

That's why I've made my own suggestion to the Council: I'd like to be asked about Barcelona means! And I'm supposed to be able to achieve it thanks to the new participation platform Go-Coinnovacio. Go here to share your ideas. 

Has your city promoted any similar platform? Please let me know! 

PS.- As you can see, we love to be asked. More about it and the process in the next post. Don't miss it!