First things first. In Spanish if you study Information Technology, estudias informática, and if you work in IT, eres informático/informática. More specifically, you can be director-a del departamento de informática (IT manager), ingeniero-a informático-a (IT engineer), desarrollador-a de software … Continue reading
When I was a child, Halloween didn’t exist in Spain. The festivity came from the U. S. much later, so that now, around October 30th, my nieces wear costumes to school, and learn how to say trick or treat (truco o … Continue reading
Most American students of Spanish never hear the subject pronoun vosotros until they have a teacher from Spain. Until then, students learn the ustedes form. Both, vosotros and ustedes, are used to address a group of two or more people … Continue reading
El otoño (Fall) is already here and the weather is changing. Let´s review basic expressions to be able to talk about el tiempo (the weather) in this beautiful season. Most of the expressions use the verb hace. This can be … Continue reading
La vuelta al cole - literally the return to school - is the familiar expression that we use in Spain to talk about children returning to their classrooms around the first week of September. The word cole (short for colegio, school) … Continue reading
The smaller words are the most difficult to master in a foreign language. El, la, los, las (the), the definite articles in Spanish, are particularly confusing for English speakers because very often their use in English doesn’t correspond to their … Continue reading
Escuchar la radio (listening to the radio) is a great tool to gain exposure to a foreign language while learning about a different culture. Students with an advanced level should do it regularly, and I also recommend it to students with an intermediate level. Remember to listen with patience and self compassion! Continue reading
Sorry for the inconvenience, foreign visitors, and I know that you find it unbelievable, but it’s true, stores close in Spain de dos a cinco aproximadamente (from 2 to 5 aproximately). The only places you’ll find open during these precious … Continue reading
There is an important difference in the way that Spanish people and Americans greet one another, and after ten years of living in the US, I still haven’t gotten used to it. I’m talking about the overwhelming presence of how’re-you-doings … Continue reading
Gazpacho is an easy-to-make and delicious summer dish. I made gazpacho this morning and it took me exactly 10 minutes. I was having a friend for lunch and I was in a hurry. On other occasions, when there’s no rush, … Continue reading
