How to say that you don’t understand or are unsure in Spanish
When you are a beginner language learner you are often unsure about what you are saying and whether a) it is correct and b) if you are pronouncing it correctly. It is probably the first time you have actually spoken the words that you have learnt to a native speaker. It is only natural for language learners to have these doubts when they first start speaking in the target language.
Similarly, when you listen to their reply you may think you’ve understood what they’ve just said to you, however you may not be 100% sure. You will probably find it difficult to keep up with what they are saying – as we all know how quickly Spanish people speak!
In this blog post we will go through some useful expressions for you to say that you don’t understand or are unsure of what someone has said to you. If you learn some of these phrases they will help you keep the conversation going. There is nothing to be embarrassed about when saying that you don’t understand or asking for clarity – Spanish people like helping learners improve their Spanish! Continue reading
7 Common Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make in Spanish
Many people studying Spanish do the same mistakes all the time without even realizing it. For them, these mistakes might seem minuscule, but when conversating with a native, things look differently. We must pay attention not to embarrass ourselves, or make the other person feel uncomfortable.
Here are seven mistakes any Spanish student should avoid. Continue reading
4 Tricks to help you speak Spanish faster!
As all learners of Spanish know, Spanish people speak incredibly fast. Spanish is the fastest speaking language in Europe. This is why when in a group of Spanish speakers you also need to speak quickly to keep up with the conversation. This post will give you a few handy tips to help you speak more quickly in Spanish. Continue reading
Summer Spanish vocabulary
Expand your Spanish vocabulary by learning some words related to summer – “verano”, holidays and hot weather.
The following infographic will help you remember the key words linked with this season: Continue reading
Impress the examiner!: Simple ways to use the subjunctive in your Spanish speaking/writing (AS, A2 Spanish advice)
If you can show the examiner that you know how to use the subjunctive mood in Spanish you are proving to them that you are capable of using complex grammar structures and therefore you will gain higher marks. Here we will look at ways you can easily include subjunctive phrases into your essays and your oral presentations. Continue reading
Tips for GCSE / AS / A2 Spanish – Using connecting phrases
To gain a higher grade in speaking and writing exams one tip is to use a good variety of connecting words and phrases which will help you sound more natural. These connecting words will link parts of a sentence together to make them more complex, earning you extra marks!
Tip: Try to use a wide range of connecting words and phrases rather than sticking to the same ones all the time. This shows the examiner that you have a wide range of vocabulary at your fingertips.
Here are some key connecting words and phrases to learn: Continue reading
Expressions for Writing a Spanish Christmas Card
If you are sending a Christmas card to a Spanish relative, friend or colleague, here are some typical expressions to give Christmas and New Year wishes that you could write:
¡Feliz Navidad! – Happy Christmas!
¡Que pases una feliz Navidad! – Hope you have a happy Christmas!
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! – Happy New Year! Continue reading
10 Essential Spanish Phrases for Modern Travellers
You may have learnt some basic Spanish phrases from travel guides or phrase books before your trip or holiday, but have you learnt the really useful up-to-date phrases that the modern traveller cannot do without? Here are ten Spanish phrases you really need to know to stay connected whilst abroad:
1. Is there free wifi here?
¿Hay wifi gratuito aquí?
2. What is the wifi code?
¿Cuál es el código wifi?
3. Is there internet connection in the room?
¿Hay conexión a internet en la habitación? Continue reading
Preterite vs Imperfect
Master Which Past Tense to Use
One of the most difficult things people who are learning Spanish come across is which past tense to use. There are several past tenses in Spanish but the two most common ones are the preterite (or the past simple) and the imperfect which are also the easiest to confuse.
In this blog post we will help you work out when to use the preterite and when to use the imperfect so that when you come to talk or write in the past in Spanish you will be able to with ease. Continue reading
Tan v Tanto – Master Comparisons of Equality in Spanish
In everyday conversation you often want to compare objects and people, so this is one of the important parts of speech to learn when studying a foreign language.
In Spanish, two key words you need to know how to use are “tan” (so/as) and “tanto” (so much).
In this blog post you will learn how to use these words to compare things and people easily in Spanish. Continue reading
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