Lightspeed Spanish - Beginners Spanish Lessons

Gordon & Cynthia Smith-Duran

Spanish Lessons Online

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94 episodes
Updated January 14

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Jul 16, 2015 · 12 min
34 Abs Beginners Spanish Culture Gestures
Spanish Culture and Gestures. I recall one of the very first times I went to Spain to visit my wife’s family and was introduced to her ‘tía Maribel’. Maribel was chatting animatedly with me and mid flow, without any warning she stuck her two fingers up at me. My immediate reaction was one of shocked surprise. Why? Because in the U.K., that gesture can have three meanings. Two are wonderful, one is terrible and it all depends on which way your hand is facing. Peace/Victory or Vete a la Mi…da. If the palm of the hand is facing the listener, then the gesture can mean Peace or Victory. In the U.K. you could go around all day sticking your fingers up at people that way and no one would take offence. However, turn your hand around with your palm facing you and the gesture is the same as ‘flipping the bird’ and in essence you are saying: ‘Go away in jerky movements’. The Big Difference. In Spain, and in the Spanish culture, the self same gesture simply refers to the number ‘two’. So, all Maribel was doing was explaining that there were two of whatever it was that she was describing. What struck me about that moment was that I realised that my own British culture had inbuilt into my psyche an unconscious reaction to that gesture. Even though I knew that Maribel wasn’t telling me to get lost, so to speak, I couldn’t help feeling quite put out about it all. Andar con mucho cuidado. Proceed with caution. It was that experience that partially inspired this blog. You see, if you are in Spain, or any other country for that matter, and you get the gesture wrong, using something that is very negative or rude without knowing it, you can cause quite an unconscious reaction. And that can happen even if the people know you are not doing it on purpose! Because of our conditioning, we can’t help but to take offence. This Podcast. So, with that in mind, it really is worthwhile learning these insights into the Spanish culture and understanding which gestures are the most offensive. That way, if you have a similar kind of gesture in your culture that means something else, you can avoid using it whilst in Spain. Flipping the Bird. What is interesting is that raising the middle finger has exactly the same meaning in Spain as it does in the USA and other European countries. So, if someone is rude to you or cuts you up in traffic, this is the perfect one to show them your displeasure. Jaja. Gordon Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_34_gestos 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post 34 Abs Beginners Spanish Culture Gestures appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Jun 16, 2015 · 14 min
33 Abs Beginners Saying ANY in Spanish Algunos/Unos
Let’s help you to know how to say ANY in Spanish. What’s really interesting is the fact that in English we use ANY in a couple of ways. We have this way: 1, Do you have any glue in your workshop? and then there’s this kind of ‘any’: 2, I don’t want just any! This difference causes Spanish speakers no end of confusion because in their language they have two distinct words to express these sentiments. In example number 1, the ‘any’ is translated as ‘algún pegamento’ (Other options are: alguno/alguna/algunos/algunas) In example 2, the ‘any’ is translated as ‘cualquiera’. So, to say ANY in Spanish, you have a few options, something which can cause us problems too. Especially when we are faced with the strange ‘cualquier’ word. The STRANGE word CUALQUIER Why is this strange? Well, it’s because this adjective doesn’t behave like normal Spanish adjectives. Rather, it has only two options, regardless of the noun it describes. Look at this: No quiero cualquier cosa. = I don’t want just anything. Yo estaría contento con cualquier coche. = I’d be happy with any car. Mándame un hombre cualquiera. = Send me any man. ¿Cuál quieres?…Cualquiera. = Which one do you want? …Any. Have you noticed that no matter what the gender of the noun that it describes, when it is used before the noun it is always ‘cualquier’? Then, if it is a stand-alone word with no noun after it, it turns into ‘cualquiera’ regardless of the gender of the noun it is referring to. This was always a confusion for me as I began learning Spanish. And so, when I wanted to say ‘any’ in Spanish I would avoid ‘cualquier’ like the plague. Clearly, as you can now see, you must be able to ‘dominar’ both ‘alguno’ and family as well as ‘cualquier/a’ if you really want to be able to express yourself properly. In this podcast we help you to do this by way of live examples and simple descriptions that will guide you through this tricky ‘puzzle español’. Where to go for help. For more information and guidance on virtually every grammar subject in Spanish all you need do is to use the search bar on our website and you will find what you need along with some simple, easy to understand explanations. Every podcast is backed up by comprehensive Helpsheets and a Transcription/Translation of the spoken Spanish used during the podcast. LightSpeed Spanish also provides online tuition and is soon to begin offering online group classes on predetermined subjects on a weekly basis. Saludos, Gordon y Cynthia Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_33_abs_beg 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post 33 Abs Beginners Saying ANY in Spanish Algunos/Unos appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
May 12, 2015 · 13 min
32 Abs Beginners Spanish Test your Level The Mónica Naranjo Concert
Your Listening Spanish Test. In this Podcast we offer you a story about a concert that we went to in Barcelona. It was a show put on by Mónica Naranjo to celebrate her 40th birthday. Mónica has probably the best, strongest voice in the whole of Spain and yet during her career her music has maintained a cult status in the world of pop. Her fans adore her and she has gained a massive gay following which is palpably visible in the audience of her concerts. Mónica’s style is theatrical, avantgarde and at times almost operatic and Cynthia and I love her. Our short story with which we give you a Spanish test is centred around our journey to the concert, the poor directions that the hotel receptionist gave us and our subsequent 30 minute walk up what seemed to be a cliff face. Finally, after a great deal of stress, questions to passers by and about two pints of sweat, we finally made it to the Club San Jordi. The concert was fabulous and Mónica sang all of the songs that we had hoped to hear. The only downside was the pain in our backs that both Cynthia and I were suffering due to having walked around Barcelona all day only to then have to scale a mountain in order to reach the event. Still, it was worth it and the concert will remain in our memories as one of the highlights of 2014. Once we move to Madrid in Spain we will undoubtedly have the opportunity to see many more of our favourite Spanish artists. ¡Qué ilusión! Why have a Spanish test? It’s good to make a Spanish test of your listening abilities as often as you can to give you a good gauge on how well tuned in you are to the language. However, it’s not always the level of the Spanish that’s being used that trips us up. More often than not it’s the person that is speaking that makes it easy or very difficult for us to understand. In any language, the effort that the person puts into their speech to make themselves understood is paramount to the listener. In my view, the speaker has a more important job to do than the listener. The reason I say that is that I have learnt that there is a certain kind of person that exists in every place in the world that cannot be understood and, at the same time, there are those that can be understood perfectly. This is why: Good communicators: Enunciate all words fully. Use generous gestures and facial expressions. Observe their listeners closely, ensuring they are getting all the right signs of understanding. Speak with a musical, expressive tone neither too high nor too low. Maintain eye contact and speak toward their audience. Speak in a measured, medium to slow pace. Poor communicators: Swallow their words or barely open their mouths. Have minimal or non-existent body moments. Speak in a monotone fashion with little or no expression. Pay little attention to their listeners. Often speak down to the floor or away from their audience. Speak quickly or with a mixed rhythm, trailing off and speeding up toward the end of each sentence. Where do you fit in? So, the question is: Which category does your speaking style fit into? Do you consider yourself to be a good communicator? Like everything, it’s all about intention. If you really want your audience to understand what you are saying, then good communication comes naturally. However, it doesn’t do any harm to work on the above points so that you can become a master communicator. After all, if no one understands what you are saying, it’s hardly worth talking. Ha ha. Enjoy the podcast. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson podcast_32_abs_beg 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post 32 Abs Beginners Spanish Test your Level The Mónica Naranjo Concert appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Feb 20, 2015 · 12 min
Beginners Spanish Pronunciation 31 LL, Y, B, V. Let’s clear this up!
The confusion around Spanish Pronunciation One of the most confusing issues with Spanish pronunciation is knowing how we should pronounce the Y and the LL, closely followed by the B and the V. In this podcast we cover the correct way to pronounce these letters according to what is called ‘Received Pronunciation’. For those not familiar with this expression, it simply means the way that we should speak if we were to use standard Spanish. (That’s free of regional accent.) Of course, the issue is that very few people have an accent free pronunciation. And this is where the problem starts. That’s not what I hear in my village… The danger with offering pronunciation guidelines is that invariably, we get emails and comments from people saying: “Well, where I go in Spain they pronounce the V as a V and not as a B as you suggest.” And what can we say to that? Of course they do! Language is not a solid, unmovable concept. It’s fluid, plastic, and it changes from place to place, from region to region, from north to south, from country to country and even from person to person. We are just saying that… Faced with the massive variations that surround us, the very best that we can offer is the ‘standard’ Spanish way. But, why bother? If it’s all so different, why should we even try to follow one way? The best way to answer that question is to say that everyone understands standard Spanish. Wherever you go in the Spanish speaking world you have more chance of being understood if you aim to speak in standard Spanish. Remember, for us non-natives, we have the added challenge of achieving a decent pronunciation. Imagine if we spend our efforts copying a really difficult Spanish accent and do a terrible job of it! We are going to have a lot of problems getting Spanish speakers from other areas to understand us. It’s the best way… Really, our advice is to work on creating our own standard Spanish pronunciation. Some people say that they don’t want to sound strange. Don’t worry, we do anyway! We are foreign. Spanish speakers will know that we aren’t from their country. Your challenge… The very best we can do is to develop such a standard accent that, although Spanish speakers know we are foreign, they can’t tell where we are from! Now, that is ‘un logro’. (An achievement.) The reason we say that is that it’s normally quite easy to identify the nationality of a Spanish speaking foreigner, especially if they’re French or English because of the R. So, why not take up the challenge to get your accent as close to neutral as possible. Watch this video podcast as the first step in getting there! Gordon y Cynthia Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_31.mp3 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Pronunciation 31 LL, Y, B, V. Let’s clear this up! appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Jan 6, 2014 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 30 – Test Your Listening Skills
Learning grammar is so important for any student of the Spanish language. In fact, it’s a vital part of building up your listening skill. However, there comes a time when the grammar needs to be put to one side and the real work of listening to a genuine conversation in Spanish needs to happen. The Right and the Wrong way to listen to a Spanish podcast. Yes, that’s right! There is a right and a wrong way to listen to Spanish being spoken. Over the years we have come across many people who do not know how to listen and have had to learn it as a skill. You may say: Well, all you need do is listen. What can be so difficult about that? The truth of the matter, however, is that it isn’t as simple as you might have imagined. Let us tell you about some of the ways NOT to listen first: The Wrong Way Rabbit in the Headlights. This is probably the most common. Many students when faced with a Spanish speaker talking to them quite literally PANIC. They start a running dialogue in their head that normally goes like this: Oh my God! They’re talking to me in Spanish! What if I don’t understand! What will they think of me! I’m not good enough to have them talking to me! They think I’m fluent! I don’t understand! etc. etc. etc. Finally, the person puts them out of their misery by finishing what they were saying and the poor listener realises that they HAVEN’T HEARD A WORD THEY SAID. I’m sure I know that word. This is another common listening mistake. As someone speaks to you in Spanish, you hear a word that’s familiar but you can’t quite recall what it means. You start to search your memory asking yourself where you heard it before, whilst all the time telling yourself that you should know it. Finally, the speaker comes to a close and you realise that YOU HAVEN?T HEARD A WORD THEY HAVE SAID. The Right Way The Shower Technique. This is fairly self explanatory. When you listen to someone what you should do is to imagine that their words are like drops of water from a shower. You let them wash over you without any attempt to focus on one particular drop. The idea of this is to capture the idea of the sentence and not the individual details of what is being said. If you hear an unfamiliar word, you just let it go by and trust that your mind will fill in the gaps for you. This works very well. Pay attention to when you listen in your own language. If someone asked you to repeat word for word what someone has told you, you would find it very difficult. Our minds focus on the message rather than the details. The Vacant Stare. This combines nicely with the Shower technique in as much as when someone is talking to you in Spanish, you let the words wash over you whilst you adopt a blank kind of mentality. It’s almost like a state of meditation or trance. Let your breathing slow down, soften the focus of your eyes. Relax your mind. When the person has finished, wait for your mind to tell you what they just said. You’ll be amazed how often what your mind tells you they said is absolutely correct. (And now and again it get’s it absolutely wrong, too!) The Power of Three. When you are listening to something NEVER assume that if you cannot understand it the first time around you never will. This is simply not the case. To know if you can understand something you must first listen to it THREE times as a minimum. The first time you are just getting a very basic idea of what is being said. The second time around your mind begins to help you fill in the details. The third time, you begin to focus on the words you missed beforehand. There is no shame in listening to something TEN or TWENTY times. How many times must children hear a word before they can use it? Be brave Enough to Ask for Clarity. If you are in a live conversation, then the most valuable phrases you can learn are: ¿Qué significa eso? = What does that mean? and ¿Cómo se dice? = How do you say? and ¿Puedes repetir eso, por favor? = Can you repeat that, please? Listen if you want to Speak. Listening is the key to being able to speak. Many students try to talk all the time and never really move beyond the level they are at. This is because, to improve your Spanish you must listen well. Remember: We have ONE MOUTH and TWO EARS and we should use them in that ratio when learning Spanish. Gracias de Gordon y Cynthia. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_30_review 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 30 – Test Your Listening Skills appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Dec 31, 2013 · 9 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 29 – Learning Spanish Conversation with Opinions
Learning Spanish Conversation In the past One of the most frequent reasons we hear for people learning Spanish is so that they can have “a chat” with the locals in their favourite holiday resort. Naturally, “a chat” can mean many things to many people and there are different levels of “chatting” that go from asking someone how they are to asking their opinion on the political climate. During the 90’s in the U.K. there was a surge in the number of people learning Spanish. This was because 80% of people who went abroad for their holidays went to Spain. Not only that but a lot of people were making plans to retire to Spain and realised that they need to get the “lingo” if they were to survive out there. The problem was that most people who wanted to learn Spanish were terrified of GRAMMAR. This was a throw back from their school days that they had never learnt to overcome and so many colleges that offered Spanish were getting requests for courses that focussed more on the spoken word than on grammatical structure. Beginner’s Conversational Spanish. (the oxymoron) Because of this obvious marketing opportunity, there suddenly appeared on the market a plethora of Spanish classes entitled, “Beginner’s Conversational Spanish.” Now, for anyone who has learnt a language, you will know that no such thing exists. Conversing in Spanish or in any other language for that matter is a skill that demands high levels of knowledge and vocabulary, not to speak of a tremendous command of the tenses. Yet, despite being mis-sold, the classes proved very popular and as a result an entire generation of Spanish speakers were spawned that without any concious awareness went about killing the language with every sentence they uttered and striking fear into every Spanish waiter this side of the costas. The Turn Around. Fortunately, the more serious people learning Spanish these days realise that grammar is a fundamental part of learning. And although it’s not easy at first, they are getting to grips with the fact that it must go hand in hand with with learning vocabulary and useful expressions. So, it’s in this podcast that we aim to give you some useful ways of making conversation in Spanish. We show you how to give opinions and ask others for theirs. We give you real life examples of how to respond if you agree with what someone says and what to do if you don’t. Knowing how to ask these kinds of open questions is the key to instigating great conversations and will give you the opportunity to listen, a great skill that not many people are capable of and yet can be the making of your Spanish. Join us as we talk you through some key ways to really converse in Spanish. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_29_opinions 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 29 – Learning Spanish Conversation with Opinions appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Dec 29, 2013 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 28 – Easy Spanish Tips and Suggestions
Easy Spanish? This may sound like a cliché and let’s be clear, what we are saying here is NOT the following: Easy Spanish in one weekend! Easy Spanish with 300 words! Easy Spanish without verbs! or even Easy Spanish whilst you sleep! and the best we’ve seen, Easy Spanish without studying! Así no se hace. No, no, no. Our suggestion is to steer clear of anything that claims to be magical. When we say, Easy Spanish, what we are referring to are ways to make your Spanish easier to use. There are many great ways of learning Spanish and we certainly do not claim to offer you the only way to learn. However, over time we have found that there are some things that really do make a difference. We already have talked in a previous podcast about ensuring that you READ, WRITE, LISTEN and SPEAK Spanish every day, even if it’s just a matter of a few minutes of each. It seems that one of the best ways of learning a language is to chunk it down into small bites. When you look at the entire process involved in learning Spanish, you could easily become overwhelmed by the vastness of it all. That’s why it’s better just to look at the next step, whilst being vaguely aware of what lies ahead without worrying overly about it. Another important requirement is repetition. Just because you’ve seen one thing does not mean that it’s logged into your mind. It’s the dogged repetition that does that. I’ve lost count of the times in which I have covered a particular subject or grammar point for the fourth or fifth time with a student and only then have they had that wonderful “lightbulb” moment in which it all fits together for them. Quite often they say to me: “Ah, I get it now. Why didn’t you tell me that before!” Of course, I had done, many times before, but they simply weren’t in the right place to understand it. Learning language is like working on a giant 100,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and the problem is that you’ve lost the box top that had the whole picture on it. You can recall vaguely what it was, but the details aren’t available. So, what happens is that you have to start forming the corners, the edges etc. and little by little you get pieces of the image, but not the whole picture. Sometimes you manage to get a little cluster of pieces that fit together but you have no idea where they fit into the whole puzzle. And so that’s why you can have lots of information and still feel confused about what it is you are doing. It’s only when one important piece links lots of others that you get that “KERJING” moment and you see the bigger picture. Remember the 80/20 rule and you’ll be much calmer and more patient with yourself. Learning Spanish is 80% frustration and confusion and 20% clarity. Expect it to be like that and you’ll find yourself enjoying the whole process. Welcome the confusion, because we’ve always found that just after confusion comes clarity. Sometimes, you have to wait a while for it to arrive, however! Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_28_advice 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 28 – Easy Spanish Tips and Suggestions appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 30, 2013 · 11 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 27 – The Spanish Conditional Tense
What is the Spanish Conditional Tense? The Spanish Conditional tense is a frequently used and important part of Spanish grammar. Its job, in essence, is to give a sense of what could be, what should be, or what would be possible. An old English teacher of mine called it the EXCUSE tense. He said that if he could, he would ban it from use. His reasoning was that when people used it, it more than often was their way of saying they weren’t going to do something. Most often, it’s followed by the word BUT, which is an acronym for Behold the Underlying Truth. lol Example: I would eat more vegetables BUT I don’t like them. (And so I’m not eating them.) Comería más verduras PERO no me gustan. We would have arrived earlier BUT… (We didn’t arrive earlier.) Habríamos llegado más temprano PERO… I would study more Spanish BUT I just haven’t got the time. ( I can’t be bothered to study more Spanish.) Estudiaría más español PERO simplemente no tengo tiempo. So, as you can see, the Spanish conditional works very much in the same way as does the English version. It’s not always an excuse tense. Of course, the conditional can be used for other things such as talking about possibilities and desires. You can use it to talk about what you would like by using GUSTAR. Me gustaría tomar un café. = I would like to have a coffee. Or what you could do: Podría hacerlo. = I could do it. Spanish Conditional with the dreaded IMPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE. Maybe you have already seen a construction with the Spanish conditional along with the imperfect subjunctive, like this: Si tuviera más tiempo lo pasaría estudiando el español. = If I had more time I’d spend it studying Spanish. As this podcast is for beginners, then this particular construction will not be covered here. However, to know more you could always watch our Subjunctive range found on Youtube. So, join us to find out how to make the Spanish Conditional tense and to hear how it is used. Of course, our Helpsheets available on our website will guide and assist you to really grasp this tense and use it like a true native speaker. Hasta pronto, Gordon y Cynthia Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_27_Conditional 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 27 – The Spanish Conditional Tense appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 30, 2013 · 11 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 26 – Spanish Adverbs
An Adverb? Before we look at what a Spanish adverb is, we had better examine just what an adverb is. These are probably one of the little understood parts of English grammar. In fact, so misunderstood are they that they are often omitted from spoken language. An ADVERB is, as it’s name implies, an ADJECTIVE (describing word) that pretends to be a VERB (doing word). How it does that is by tagging LY to its end. So, for example, let’s think of the adjective HAPPY. We know we use it to say things like, “I am happy”. However, if we want to make that into an action, we have to change it to: “I do the work happily.” I’m Doing Good! One adverb which is very much misunderstood is the word “WELL” and its opposite number “BADLY”. If you want to be grammatically correct in English, then when someone asks you the question: “How are you, today?” You should answer with: “I’m WELL” or “I’m doing WELL.” or “I’m not doing too BADLY.” Unfortunately, more and more the answer is heard: “I’m doing GOOD.” or “I’m doing BAD.” In itself, this isn’t a problem except when you are learning another language, such as Spanish. The fact is that we simply cannot mess about with the Spanish adverbs such as BIEN and MAL as much as we do with the English ones. You see, GOOD and BAD are ADJECTIVES, not ADVERBS. So, when you say, “I’M GOOD“, or SOY BUENO in Spanish, you are referring to the type of person that you are. You are saying: “I’M A GOOD PERSON.” and not actually commenting on your state of being, as you do when you say “ESTOY BIEN” which means “I’M FINE/WELL.” A Big Mistake! Even worse, if you mix up the verb with the adjective and say: “ESTOY BUENO”, you are actually saying, “I’M SEXY“. Now, that might be true, but it isn’t something that you want to go around telling people. Better that you let them make their own mind up on that, don’t you think? lol The same applies with the words, MAL and MALO. You use MAL when you want to say that you are feeling bad. “ESTOY MAL” whereas MALO means bad in another way, like a bad person. So, if you say, “SOY MALO” you are saying that you are intrinsically BAD/WICKED/EVIL. The correct version is to say: “ESTOY MAL“, which describes your current state: “I’M POORLY/ILL“. Of all the Spanish adverbs, these are probably the ones that create most problems, however, in this podcast we help you understand how to construct all the adverbs and what their job is. It’s really worth becoming familiar with them, and when you do, your Spanish, as well as your Spanish Adverbs, will move forward to a new level of excellence. Buena suerte, Gordon y Cynthia Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_26_Adverbs 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 26 – Spanish Adverbs appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 14, 2013 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 25 – Here and There in Spanish?
Here and There in Spanish. Have you ever been confused by the different words for Here and There in Spanish? There are certainly more than you might imagine. Perhaps you have heard a Spanish speaker say: “Ven aquí.” only to hear another say: “Ven para acá.” Or have you heard someone say: “El mercado está allá.” only to hear someone else say: ” La estación está allí”. Then, of course, there’s always the option of saying: “Mira, está ahí.” Faced with this confusion about just how to say Here and There in Spanish, you may find yourself worried that you might make a mistake. The truth of the matter is that it’s not so difficult. As you watch or listen to this podcast, however, you should notice that even to a native Spanish speaker, (Cynthia) there is a bit of confusion as to whether AHÍ meant SPECIFICALLY THERE or GENERALLY THERE. The reality is that AHÍ means THERE, very specifically. Imagine a spot on a piece of paper. The spot is AHÍ. In Spain, ALLÍ is THERE but in a more general context. It’s still quite specific an area, yet not as defined as a spot on the paper. You could say, “Cuando estaba allí.” = When I was there. The biggest difficulty is that each country, region and area has its own rules about what each one means. For example, many L.A. countries use ALLÁ much more than ALLÍ. Is it Scon or Scone? Arguing about the meaning of a word can often be an exercise in futility given that the meaning depends on the person and not the word. Throughout the Spanish speaking word there are countless examples of verbs that in one country mean one thing, and in another mean something completely different. One student said that his Peruvian teacher had told him that to “remove” something was “remover”. Yet in Spain, “Remover” means “to stir” and Spanish speakers use “quitar” to mean “to remove”. What do I do then? The best way to deal with these kind of issues is to pay attention, or simply ask the people in the area in which you holiday, visit or live. Then, you copy them. Having said all of this, this doesn’t make the information in this podcast worthless. It is still valuable and can be used as a guide of what might be called “standard Spanish” until such time as you find out what goes on in the area you find yourself in. Remember, the Spanish language is fluid, flexible and ever changing and so to avoid frustration and confusion, the ideal is that you keep an open mind to everything that you learn and when you hear someone say the words “Always” and “Never”, then start to doubt them. Trust us, after many years of teaching we have realised that in Spanish, “always” and “never” simply don’t exist. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_25_Alli_alla 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 25 – Here and There in Spanish? appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 13, 2013 · 10 min
Spanish Lesson Beginners 24 – Saying AGO in Spanish
Have you wondered how to say, AGO in Spanish? Just as in English, in Spanish there is a specific way to say: “Ten years ago.” or, “Three weeks ago” At first, it might seem a little confusing, given that Spanish speakers put the “Ago” in a different place to us, and that rather than saying, “Ago”, they say, “It makes”. Yes, that’s right. The equivalent Spanish phrase to the English, “Ten years ago.” is “It makes ten years” Why do they use Hace? There is no real answer to this question. In fact, it’s just these kinds of questions that can cause us a hiccough in our learning progress. The reason for that is because once you begin to learn another language you quickly find that many of the rules you have known and used all of your life in your own language simply don’t apply any more. The best way to deal with these kind of anomalies is to just accept them as the Spanish way. Trust that after a while, using Hacer to talk about time will seem like the most natural thing in the world. You may even start to discover that your English begins to sound a little weird when you speak. Let me give you an example of this. The other day, I (Gordon) was with my two year old son, Sebastián, and I noticed that he was putting his fingers in the door jam. Without thinking I said to him in English, “Sebastián, be careful because you might make your fingers damage.” At the time the sentence sounded perfectly fine to me, until Cynthia began to laugh loudly and bring to my attention that what I had said was in no way an English sentence. I had used the Spanish structure of, “hacerte daño” in an English sentence. For some reason, this was very funny to Cynthia and so she then proceeded to tell all of my family what I had done. The same applies to the use of Hace when you talk about time, or the way Spanish speakers say that they “have years”, or “cold”. The more you use these words and phrases, the more they will sound perfectly fine to you. So, say hello to some new language structures and say goodbye to your English. lol. In this podcast we also cover how to say, “since 1999” or “from March of this year” as well as “for the last ten years”. We hope you find it to be of value and will see you in the next podcast. Hasta pronto Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_24_desde 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Spanish Lesson Beginners 24 – Saying AGO in Spanish appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 10, 2013 · 11 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 23 – Spanish Accents / MI or MÍ
Spanish Accents in Strange places. Maybe during your Spanish language learning journey you’ve noticed that there are some words that are spelled the same yet one of them has an accent or tilde and the other doesn’t. Many times the accent barely changes the pronunciation, if at all. The most confusing part of this, of course, is not when you have to say these words, but when you have to write them. Is it SOLO or SÓLO? Should I write EL or ÉL? Is it MI or MÍ? Understanding Why. This is the key to getting it right, of course. If you don’t know why they have Spanish accents, then you will never be able to know when they should have them and when they shouldn’t. The actual reason is fairly straightforward. Many words have the same spelling, yet are different in meaning and need to be identified as different. Thus, when faced with writing the word, MY, you need to know if you should write MI or MÍ. Just by listening to the pronunciation will not necessarily give you the answer. For example, AUN and AÚN are very difficult to identify with the ear. and so, there needs to be another way to distinguish between them. So, What’s the Answer? The answer is knowing what each word means so that you can always choose the correct one. For example, TU without the Spanish accent means YOUR, whilst TÚ with the accent means YOU. Subtle? Yes, it’s true, however, it’s a fundamentally important difference. Do all Spanish Speakers Use Accents? Unfortunately, the vast majority of Spanish speakers don’t always use the Spanish accents correctly. They often miss them out, or add the odd one just for the look of it. As students of Spanish, however, we really don’t have that luxury. We should always strive to put them in their rightful place. Why? Because, as the saying goes, before you stop using something, you must first understand it. If you don’t even bother to learn the, just because other native speakers don’t bother with them, then you will have a permanent skills gap in your Spanish which is sure to cause you issues later. So, listen in or watch on as we explain to you the meanings of these words and how to identify them in the future. Remember, everything we cover in the podcasts is covered in much greater depth in the helpsheets. Saludos, Gordon y Cynthia Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson beginners_tu_tu_23 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 23 – Spanish Accents / MI or MÍ appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 7, 2013 · 11 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 22 – Spanish Pronunciation – The Nose Rule
Putting Emphasis on your Emphasis. A student of ours had some Spanish pronunciation problems when he once tried to buy some sugar in a shop in Spain and spent a good while repeating the same word over and over again with no success. Finally, defeated, he left the shop without his “azúcar”. The problem he had was that he wasn’t putting the emphasis, “el golpe de voz” in the right place. Rather than saying; azUcar, he was saying; azucAr. Now, that may seem like a minor infraction, but believe us when we tell you that just by changing where the emphasis goes on a word can completely confuse your listener. So how do I know where to put the emphasis? Well, this is where some little tips can help you in a big way. In this Podcast we give you three great ways of knowing just exactly where to place the stress on any Spanish word. There is “The Nose Rule”, “The Broken Nose Rule”, and then, “Everything Else”. Once you have these simple rules in your head, your Spanish pronunciation will be great and you will always know how a word should be pronounced, even if you don’t know the word. As anyone who has learnt English will know, being able to pronounce correctly an unknown word is a real luxury. Because Spanish is phonetic, that means that as you see the word you say it, there is never any mystery apart from which vowel to stress. Now, with this useful Podcast, the last part of the puzzle fits into place. A Big Tip on Spanish Pronunciation. Did you realise that the stress in any word always falls on a vowel in Spanish pronunciation (and in English for that matter)? Now that you know that fact and combine it with the learnings we offer you in the Podcast, then from now on, you should be able to pronounce perfectly every Spanish words and, more importantly, make yourself understood. We hope this helps and wish you every success in your future Spanish pronunciation and sugar purchases. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_22_Nose_Rule 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 22 – Spanish Pronunciation – The Nose Rule appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 4, 2013 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 21- Help with QUE in Spanish
For any serious student of the Spanish language, asking; “What does QUE in Spanish mean?” is probably one of the most fundamental questions that they seek answers to! Not long after you begin your learning journey, you begin to notice the worrying frequency in which QUE, or QUÉ, or LO QUE, for that matter appear in whichever text or exercise you are working through. With this realisation comes certain trepidation as we begin to ask ourselves if we will ever really understand it properly. The Good News. The good news is, however, that it’s not as difficult as it might first seem. Basically, QUE in Spanish is what you might call the cement that joins the bricks of your words and sentences together. It is, literally, everywhere in both written and spoken Spanish, and yet its meanings are not as diverse as you might imagine. Here, it is important to state clearly that having a command of this word is so fundamental to your Spanish that it would be folly not to pay special attention to this podcast. It’s not a one-time listen and probably deserves a number of listens until you have the ideas firmly implanted in your mind. In the ten minutes that we cover this subject we cover all of the main uses of QUE in Spanish and in what contexts you would use them, something which is very important to any student of Spanish. Some of the meanings of QUE. So, what does QUE in Spanish mean? Well, it can mean, THAT, it can also mean, WHICH, it can mean, WHAT as a statement and WHAT? as a question. Sometimes Spanish speakers use QUE in place of WHO, also. A Curious use of QUE. One of the more confusing uses of QUE is when a speaker begins a sentence with it! e.g. …que mañana voy a llegar un poco más tarde. Although the sentence starts with QUE, it would translate like this: I’m going to arrive a little later tomorrow. So why do they put a QUE at the beginning? Well, it’s almost as though the front of the sentence is missing and that what they really wanted to say was: Quería decirte que… = I wanted to tell you that… So, instead of saying the whole sentence, for quickness they skip the beginning and start at the QUE. This isn’t something that we would suggest you use right away, however, now that you are aware you can listen out for it. Only, this time, you won’t be confused about why a Spanish speaker is starting their sentence with QUE. Extra Help. As well as the video and the podcast that comes with this lesson, we offer our helpsheets that assist you in gaining a deeper understanding of how to understand and use this important word. You can be sure to have the question, “What does QUE in Spanish mean?” answered fully and completely. All Helpsheets come with full explanations and exercises to check that you have understood the information we offer you. For those who have more questions than answers, feel free to ask for a one-to-one session on Skype in which we can clear up any doubts or misunderstandings you have. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_21 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 21- Help with QUE in Spanish appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Dec 22, 2011 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 20 – Important Verb Review
Now that you have these important verbs under your belt, so to speak, listen to us using them all in general conversation. This is your chance to get tuned in and develop your ‘ear’ for the Spanish language. ¡Buena suerte! Remember, a wealth of additional information about this Spanish lesson for beginners can be found in our comprehensive Spanish help-sheets available to all our students now. Video of This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_20_Review_Important_verbs 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 20 – Important Verb Review appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Dec 15, 2011 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 19 – Four More Important Spanish Verbs
Did you know that there are more irregular Spanish verbs than there are regular? That’s why you must catch this podcast. Come and join us as we continue helping you to get to grips with four more vitally important verbs that will help you move your Spanish forward at LightSpeed. Of course, all the additional information about this free Spanish podcast can be found in the Spanish help-sheets we offer for all of our lessons. Video of This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_19_4_More_Important_verbs 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 19 – Four More Important Spanish Verbs appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Dec 8, 2011 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 18 – Four Important Spanish Verbs
In this Spanish lesson for beginners we help you learn four important Spanish verbs and their, at times, strange structures. You simply can’t get by without these ones! Listen in as we coach you step by step through their usage and help you become comfortable with their conjugations. As always, please note that all the additional information and guidance can be found in the comprehensive Spanish help-sheets. They were written and designed especially with the learner in mind. You won’t be disappointed. Video of This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_18_4_Important_verbs 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 18 – Four Important Spanish Verbs appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Dec 1, 2011 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 17 – Review
If you’ve arrived this far…¡Enhorabuena! Now it’s time to review everything we’ve covered by putting it into conversation. Why not challenge yourself and see how much you can pick up the first time! Loads more information can be found, as always, in the comprehensive Spanish help-sheets available now. Video of This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_17_Review 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 17 – Review appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 24, 2011 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 16 – Spanish Question Words
Who? What? When? Where? How? Without these and all the other Spanish question words you simply cannot ask the questions that will lead you to a wonderful Spanish conversation. Join us for this Spanish podcast for beginners to hear some handy ways to commit them to memory forever. Don’t forget that lots more information can be found in the comprehensive Spanish help-sheets available now. Video of This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_16_Questioning_words 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 16 – Spanish Question Words appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.
Nov 17, 2011 · 10 min
Beginners Spanish Podcast 15 – Weather Vocabulary in Spanish
Although the weather isn’t quite as important a subject for some as it is for others, this is an absolute must for any Spanish student. Come and join us as we help you learn how to describe every kind of weather from freezing cold to baking hot! Of course, all the additional information for this beginners Spanish lesson can be found in our Spanish help-sheets, which have been designed with the learner in mind. You’re sure to love them! Video of This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_15_The_Weather 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehensive helpsheet to guide your learning. Our Fantastic Books A growing range of acclaimed workbooks explaining Spanish grammar clearly and simply. Total Immersion Courses Week-long immersion near Madrid to boost your confidence — Socios get €50 off. 1-to-1 & Group Lessons Have a free, no-obligation chat with Ana and explore how to take your Spanish further. Gordon’s Diaries Hundreds of free diaries where Gordon talks about Spain, life, and everything else. Cynthia’s Insights Cynthia shares her view on life in Spain and in general through video diaries. All of Our Playlists Browse hundreds of videos on YouTube. Any questions? Write to us anytime. LightSpeed Spanish App Download our free iOS & Android app and access lessons on the go. Any questions? Contact us The post Beginners Spanish Podcast 15 – Weather Vocabulary in Spanish appeared first on Lightspeed Spanish.