Onto this week’s Saturday Spanish: There comes a point in your Spanish when you feel pretty fluent in some situations… And like a total beginner in others. If I’m honest, that still happens to me now and then (like when I ended up in the hospital in Mexico back in January). But to be fair, it happens … Read More
If you’re reading this, you probably want to understand native Spanish speakers. Maybe you’re close, maybe you’re a ways off. Either way… there’s something that might be holding you back. It’s difficult to avoid (I still catch myself doing it). But it’s a critical comprehension mistake to avoid because it zaps your motivation faster than … Read More
Please don’t fact check me on this… But here’s something I suspect native speakers of all languages do: They connect their words. They don’t always leave a clear boundary from one word to the next. And the speakers of the language you’re learning? They are pros at this. The ends of Spanish words are like … Read More
So you need practice speaking Spanish…. But you’re not the most extroverted person. Or maybe just the idea of speaking Spanish turns you into an introvert. A foreign language can exacerbate feelings of shyness (speaking from experience). Doesn’t exactly make you thrilled to speak. And it’s hard to get better at speaking without… speaking. In … Read More
One of the best things about learning Spanish is discovering a new, parallel world to the one you’re used to. One with different cultural references, habits and quirks… And different humor, celebrities, politics, food and art. At least for me, that keeps me engaged and motivated to keep improving my Spanish after so many years. … Read More
Most conversations are unpredictable. We don’t know exactly where they’ll take us. It’s part of the challenge when learning a new language: We can’t prepare for all possible scenarios. But many scenarios are very predictable. Extremely common. So common, in fact, that we often forget about them until we’re in the moment, grasping for words we should know. It’s … Read More
You’ve seen it around: Phrases like espero que tengas, no creo que pueda, or es como si fuera… It’s the… [insert Jaws music]… Subjunctive! On top of all the other conjugations, there’s this whole other “mood” to learn, with its own set of verb endings. It is kind of a pain… But it doesn’t have to drive you … Read More
Spanish is a language with tons of tips and resources. Many are great. But it’s an “arma de doble filo” (a double-edged sword)… The quantity invites doubts. It can make you question the way you’re doing things. And yep, the way you learn does make a difference… But beyond the learning strategies themselves, a huge part of … Read More
Do you ever come across phrases in Spanish that you can’t say right? I’m not talking about actual tongue-twisters like tres tristes tigres or el perro de San Roque. I mean everyday phrases that are just won’t come out. Sound combos that are like peanut butter on the roof of your mouth. The bad news … Read More
View Post Spanish speakers speak fast… And if we’re trying to speak more like them… We need to speak fast too. ¿Verdad? Well, yes and no. Yes, we want to speak at a pace that sounds natural. But “speaking fast” is about as clear a goal as saying “I want to run fast”. It’s not … Read More