Future tense in Spanish
If you want to talk about what you are going to do tomorrow, next week, next month or next year you will need to know how to use the future tense. There are two ways of expressing future actions in Spanish:
- Immediate future – for things that are already planned, are definitely going to happen and you know when. “Going to …”
- General future tense – for things further in the future but often there is no specific time in mind. “Will / shall …”
You will be pleased to know that neither of the two future tenses are too difficult to learn! Continue reading
Breakfast in Spain
Desayuno en España
In Spain breakfast (desayuno) is almost the most important meal of the day and they do not hurry over it! Coffee is perhaps the most important part of it. You will find though that their coffee is much smaller than in the UK with the “cortado” (small cup of coffee with a drop of milk) being the most typical. Typical foods include galletas (biscuits), tortilla (potato omelette) and pan tostado (toast).
Here are the most traditional foods and drinks you will find in Spain for breakfast: Continue reading
Pedir v Preguntar
Both of these verbs in Spanish mean “to ask” but you would use each one in different situations. In this blog post we will explain when to use them.
Pedir:
To ask for something / to request something / to order a service or an item
e.g. Voy a pedir los postres ahora. I am going to order the desserts now.
e.g. Pedimos que vuelvan enseguida. We ask them to return straightaway.
e.g. Pido la carne bien hecha. I order the meat well done. Continue reading
14 Spanish words related with technology
Here are some of the most useful words in Spanish related with technology and computers used nowadays! Continue reading
Learn Spanish with music!
Despacito – Justin Bieber, Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee
An easy and fun way to improve your language skills is by listening to songs. Here is the huge summer hit by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee which Justin Bieber has released a new version of, meaning that it is heard in not just Spanish-speaking countries but English-speaking ones too. It is very catchy and proves that it seems like everyone is learning Spanish these days! Watch the video below and follow the Spanish section’s lyrics that have been translated into English: Continue reading
15 Spanish expressions using animals
The Spanish language is full of idiomatic expressions that are used in everyday conversation. When you chat with native-speaking people it can really help you keep up with what they are saying if you can learn some of the most common ones. Here we are going to focus on popular idioms using animals. Some are similar to ones we use in English but others do not exist in English at all:
1) Estar como una cabra – To be completely mad Continue reading
Spanish idioms using parts of the body
1) Estoy hasta las narices de alguien – I have had enough of someone
(Literally: Up to the nose of someone)
2) Ser uña y carne = To be really close to someone
(Literally: To be nail and flesh)
3) Tener mucha cara = To be really cheeky / be shameless
(Literally: To have a lot of face) Continue reading
11 Spanish expressions to learn before your business trip to Spain
If you want your business trip to Spain to be as successful as it can be, it would be wise to learn a few phrases in Spanish to make a good impression with people you are trying to set up good relations with. Spanish employers, colleagues and clients will really appreciate your efforts to learn their native language. Here are a few to begin with:
1. Encantado/a * de conocerle. – Pleased to meet you. * If you are female, use “Encantada”
2. Le presento a mi compañero/a (name) – I’ll introduce you to …
3. Quisiéramos hablar del asunto de … – We would like to talk/discuss the matter of … Continue reading
“One” of my star pupils!
Individual language tuition is so effective!
The best thing about my job is seeing how much progress people make. Most people start out learning Spanish as complete beginners, not knowing barely a word of the language except perhaps “hola” (hello) or “Dos cervezas, por favor” (Two beers, please). However, this soon changes! A lot of people who have private lessons choose to do so because they prefer a one-to-one or two-to-one lesson rather than learn in a classroom full of people which they find too intimidating. They would be reluctant to speak out in front of everyone, therefore get little opportunity to practise the language or to ask questions. Also, they find that in a larger group of people, everyone tends to be at different levels – some know more than others and want to progress faster than those at lower levels who can get left behind and lose interest.
These are the reasons why one of my clients came to me to learn Spanish. She was very lacking in confidence and felt that she would “never master this language”, however, she has now moved to Spain permanently and here is a list of things she has been able to use the language for in addition to the general daily getting-by when living in a foreign country: Continue reading
5 Reasons why Skype is an effective way to learn a language
One of the greatest recent technological innovations has been the invention of video calling platforms such as Skype which has completely transformed the way in which we keep in touch with people across the globe. Communicating with people around the world has never been easier and international companies rely on such platforms every day to communicate with colleagues, clients and suppliers in other countries. This innovative method of connecting with people all over the world is particularly effective for people learning languages.
Why Skype is beneficial for language learners
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