In learning a language, there are 4 main components: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. All 4 are of equal importance, however, when developing one’s communicative skills the specific focus will be on listening and speaking. When students are asked at the beginning of the year what their goal is for Spanish class, 9 out of […]
25 Goofy Spanish Similes with the Word NUN
One of the funniest types of Spanish language idioms are the ones that uses similes or comparisons. The Wikipedia definition of a simile is “a figure of speech that directly compares two things through some connective, usually like, as, than, or a verb such as resembles.” The use of a nun or monja as a […]
Free Printable List of School Supplies in Spanish and English: 36 Basic Items
This printable list of school supplies in Spanish and English is as an example of the Spanish vocabulary diversity. Many items have different Spanish names.
From Adults to Kids: 3 Key Points to Create a Spanish Lesson for Kids
A Spanish lesson for kids is going to look much different than any other lesson you plan for a group of teenagers or adults. This lesson needs to be uncomplicated, engaging, and include regular changes in activities, so you can maintain their interest. Many children will not sit for a traditional high school Spanish lesson, […]
Which of These 4 Spanish History Books Would You Read?
The Spanish Language has it roots in the Latin that was brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Romans. After the disintegration of the Roman Empire, the territory experienced the Muslim invasion for seven centuries. Over the time, the territory was finally recovered and unified by a single language: castellano (Castilian). This language unification happened […]
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER: English Phrase in Spanish
Have you ever felt out of place? If you want to express that feeling in Spanish you can use the phrase “fuera de lugar.” But that phrase sound a bit formal and serious. Here are two ways you can translate “like a fish out of water” maintaining the English phrase in Spanish. 1. Como sapo […]
12 Additional Stories About Spanish Words in English
While I continue devouring the book Spanish Word Histories and Mysteries: English Words That Come From Spanish here is a second taste of what I have been learning. It is fascinating to read interesting stories about all these Spanish words in English and how they passed from one language to another. In the first article […]
The Spanish Slang Meanings of CHUPI: Thalía’s Spanish Children Book Character
Last week Mexican singer Thalía announced that she will publish her first children’s book this year. The book –available in November 2013- is called Chupi: El binky que regresó a su hogar (Chupi: The Binky That Returned Home). The story and the character Chupi were created to help parents take away the pacifier from their […]
Spanish Idiomatic Expression CUANDO LAS GALLINAS MEAN in English
Cuando las gallinas mean is a common Spanish idiomatic expression generally said to children when they speak when they are not supposed to. The full Spanish saying goes los niños hablan cuando las gallinas mean and literally translates to “children talk when hens piss.” For anyone that doesn’t know hens doen’t pee and this phrase […]
MAZAMORRA: Spanish Language Word for Cooked Corn
In Colombia, I ran across this can of what should be corn cooked in sort way. It’s just hard to tell from the picture. It turns our that mazamorra is a common Spanish language word in Latin America and is basically a maize-based dish with a thick consistency, probably something close to creamed-corn. The preparation […]
Celebrate El Día E and The Spanish Language Day
Spanish is the second language in the world in number of native speakers, the second language of international communication (more than 500 million people speak it), and the third most used language on the Internet. To celebrate this vast wealth of Spanish culture, the Instituto Cervantes organizes for the fifth time El Día E, a […]
Bilingual Story Books: 5 Children Books in Spanish and English
Hispanics are 16.7% of total population of the United Sates, making them the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. If you are part of that statistic, you are one of the 52 million Latinos that make the United States the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. Unfortunately, there is also the risk of future generations […]
Spanish Language Practice Tests: Learn Your Spanish Level
If you have been taking Spanish classes or lessons for a while and are wondering how are you doing, check this out. Our friends from don Quijote Spanish Courses have put together these online Spanish language practice tests for you to measure your improvement. The practice tests are quick and consist of a short paragraph […]
The Best Book for Learning Spanish Vocabulary
The Best Book for Learning Spanish Vocabulary: Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish First Publish date: 1951 Pages: 496 Author: Margarita Madrigal Over 60 years after it’s first publication, Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal still may be the best book for learning Spanish vocabulary ever published. The premise of Madrigal’s book is that […]
10 Easy English-Spanish Words You Can Add to Your Vocabulary Today
When I was reading the book Spanish Word Histories and Mysteries: English Words That Come From Spanish I learned the following fact about English-Spanish words: After French, Latin and Old English, “Spanish is one of the most important ingredients in English vocabulary.” I knew that there were Spanish words in the English language, but I […]
7 Spanish Comic Book Characters from Latin America
Comics were popularized in the United States in the 30’s. From political and social strips to the action comics featuring iconic super heroes, from the beginning there has been a broad variety titles for all ages. Latin America is also active in this so called “Ninth Art” and give us a lot of characters that […]
What Makes Great Spanish High School Lessons?
Most school districts offer Spanish in high schools only, so it is important that you know how to make fantastic Spanish high school lessons. Teenagers are hard to please, and yet teachers must be able to find a way to engage them immediately. This especially needs to happen in a language classroom because most teenagers […]
Bilingual Poetry: 4 English and Spanish Children Books
The school year is almost finished and you might be looking for activities to do with your small children. If you are raising a bilingual kid, here are some English – Spanish children books you can use during the summer. These suggestions are focused on simple bilingual poetry that reinforces the Hispanic heritage in elementary […]
11 Videos of Alphabet Sign Language in Spanish
Sign language varies geographically and therefore there is no universal sign language. This means that mute people around the world learn different sign languages to communicate. In the case of the sign language in Spanish, it also varies by country which is the exact same thing that happens with spoken and written Spanish. Each country […]
The Spanish Sign Language Alphabet
Origin of the Spanish Sign Language Alphabet According to a document published by Cultura Sorda.eu, author Alejandro Oviedo indicates that “in most of the countries whose official languages are written with the Latin alphabet, deaf communities use the same manual alphabet. Although there are some differences between them, most manual settings used to represent the […]
¿Qué Representan los Personajes de Mafalda?
The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Mafalda: • Parte 1 | Breve historia de Mafalda y Quino • Parte 2 | La voz de Mafalda • […]
6 Asuntos Político-Sociales en la Voz de Mafalda
The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Mafalda: • Parte 1 | Breve historia de Mafalda y Quino • Parte 2 | La voz de Mafalda • […]
11 Useless Fun Facts About Spanish: A Day of Spanish Language Infographic
There is a big party going on! A celebration of 500 million people and 22 countries that speak Spanish! April 23rd is the International Spanish Language Day or Día Mundial del Idioma Español, a celebration that has been going on since 1926. This date marks the death of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, author of El […]
Breve Historia de Mafalda y Quino
The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Mafalda: • Parte 1 | Breve historia de Mafalda y Quino • Parte 2 | La voz de Mafalda • […]
Los recuerdos de Esmeralda Santiago en “Cuando era puertorriqueña”
La vida de Esmeralda Santiago es narrada desde el inocente punto de vista de una niña que va desarrollándose hasta ser una “señorita” (adolescente) valiéndose de preguntas que a lo largo de la lectura van obteniendo respuestas y van formando la identidad de ser puertorriqueño.
Cuando era puertorriqueña: El dilema de la identidad boricua
The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Cuando era puertorriqueña: • Parte 1 | ¿Quién es Esmeralda Santiago? • Parte 2 | Cuando Esmeralda Santiago era puertorriqueña […]
Are You Really Fluent in Spanish? Only If You Know These 8 Spanish Language Words
Are You Really Fluent in Spanish? If you are interested in being, appearing or faking that you are fluent in Spanish, here’s a quick tip. I’ve been speaking Spanish now, at varying levels for 18 years (holy crap!). In that time, my speaking experiences have crossed country borders and generations, as well as education and […]
Learning to Speak Spanish Free? Easy!
Learning to speak Spanish free can be an easy task. As the United States becomes more and more diverse, it becomes easier and easier to find ways to learn and practice Spanish. This means you may have to be a little creative, but it is not impossible. There will be challenges along the way, and […]
8 ejemplos de realismo mágico en “Como agua para chocolate”
The following article is part of the Spanish Friday initiative that promotes blogging in Spanish. El siguiente artículo es parte de la iniciativa Spanish Friday que promueve el blogueo en español. Artículos en la serie Como agua para chocolate: • Parte 1 | Como agua para chocolate: Un dicho mexicano hecho novela • Parte 2 […]
Infographic: Are You Really Fluent in Spanish?
This is the infographic for the blog post Are You Really Fluent in Spanish? Only If You Know These 8 Words. If you find it useful, please share, like or pin it for your friends. ARE YOU REALLY FLUENT IN SPANISH? | Infographics