Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson 32_relax_2 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, n...
Aug 16, 2016•14 min
Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson 32_relax_1 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, n...
Aug 16, 2016•10 min
The Great Push Thanks to the ongoing crisis, there is a enormous wave in Spain of the Spanish learning English. Why? Well, what they know is that if they are going to find work in their own country, then they will have to have something extra to offer the hiring company. In addition to that, what is at the forefront of most of the Spanish learning English is that if they are to escape the crisis by heading off to other countries, then they must first have a good level of English to have any chan...
Apr 13, 2015•10 min
Fun Stories and Spanish Jokes Being a Spanish teacher has many fun moments, but none as funny as the ones in which a student makes an error that is simply hilarious. Why is it, however, that most times the error converts an innocent sentence into something totally vulgar or rude? This happens nine times out of ten. Perhaps its the fact that so many rude words have an equivalent ‘normal’ with only one letter difference. Chicken or Cockerel? Probably the most common mistake is the mix up between P...
Feb 27, 2014•15 min
The Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive Before you watch this podcast-video, we suggest that you watch video 9 and 10 in the range of Subjunctive videos that we have made in which we help you with the structure of this tense. Scary stuff The Spanish Imperfect Subjunctive seems to have the ability to strike fear into any serious student of the Spanish language. Why? The title itself doesn’t help. What does imperfect mean? What about the word ‘subjunctive’? What on earth does that ‘quiere decir’? The fa...
Feb 25, 2014•2 min
Present Subjunctive Spanish. This podcast is designed to pull together the range of eight videos that I (Gordon) made on the Present Subjunctive Spanish. Click here to go to the Youtube playlist. Why so many videos? The reason I made so many videos (Cynthia thinks that there are too many and that it will stress people out) is that there are numerous parts to the subjunctive. The system I use to help people to learn it is to show them WHEN, not WHY, they should use it. I didn’t learn it this way....
Feb 24, 2014•2 min
Spanish Spanish? Let me start by saying that this subject is a highly polemic and controversial one. Making a blog and a podcast on this is like throwing a lighted match into a powder keg. Already, we have a small battle waging in the comments area in Youtube about what we say in the video. It seems that for every person who has something to say on this issue, there is a different opinion. History doesn’t help. Maybe I’m misreading the situation a little, but as far as I can see, there exists a ...
Feb 23, 2014•4 min
Very strong Spanish swear words This is the third in the series of Spanish swear words and general profanities. Please ensure that before you watch this video that you are 18 years of age or more. It contains strong language. The poor mums. In Mexico, when something is really good it is described as being ‘PADRE’ (father) and when something is bad, it is ‘UNA MADRE’. (a mother) If someone is not a particularly good person, then you would be well within your rights to say: “Qué poca madre.” which...
Feb 19, 2014•13 min
Spanish Swear Words. For those of our followers who have already watched or listened to our previous podcast on Spanish swear words, then you will know that the Spanish are very good at cursing. In fact, swearing is as much a part of their life as is tortilla española or la paella. It’s important to add the disclaimer that the Spanish swear words we cover in this podcast only apply to Spain and are NOT something we recommend you to use carelessly. In other Spanish speaking countries they could b...
Feb 18, 2014•11 min
Spanish Insults. The first thing to make clear when we talk about Spanish insults is that we are talking about the way insults are used in the Spanish mainland. Every country has its own way of using insults. In some countries in Latin America, for example, everyday, easy on the ear swear words from Spain would cause tremendous offence. AVISO. When learning these expressions and words, please use them with care and do not drop them, willy nilly into conversation unless you know that the person y...
Feb 13, 2014•6 min
Madrid vs Barcelona. There exists a tremendous rivalry between ‘los madrileños’ from Madrid and ‘los barceloneses’ from Barcelona. One would imagine that the rivalry exists specifically because of football and the fact that the two great cities have two of the best football teams in the world. It goes much further back than that. According to my sources (mi suegro/my father-in-law) the problems between Barcelona and Madrid started in the year 1700 when there was a war between the then king of Sp...
Feb 10, 2014•2 min
What is La Crisis. Talk to any Spanish person about the Spanish economy and you will hear the words ‘la crisis’ within their first few sentences. In fact, talk to any Spanish person about anything and you will still find them mentioning the Spanish economic crisis very early in the conversation. What is it all about? I’m no expert, but from what I am told and what I have seen, Spain has gone from boom to bust in the last five or so years. As we turned into the millennium, Spain’s construction in...
Feb 09, 2014•10 min
Funny Spanish Stories. In this podcast Cynthia and I talk about some funny things that happened to us during our Christmas break. (Listen to the podcast and you’ll understand ‘el significado de’ the teabag photo.) It offers you an ideal opportunity to test your listening skills. The Spanish stories we tell are simple, day to day things that happened whilst we spent time in Spain with Cynthia’s family during the Christmas break. Listening well is a learnt skill. It’s worth spending a little time ...
Feb 06, 2014•2 min
For many years now, Spanish weddings have been a spectacular event that takes months to prepare. No expense is spared to provide the guests with luxurious settings, gourmet food and an endless flow of wines and spirits. The entire experience has become an industry in itself and only the bride’s “traje de boda” can cost what entire wedding might have cost twenty years ago. For a young couple just starting out in the world, putting on a celebration of this “tamaño” is no small feat and would norma...
Dec 21, 2011•11 min
This online Spanish lesson from LightSpeed Spanish is about las drogas. A Cynthia no le gustó este tema. The truth is, I (Gordon) kind of forced Cynthia to talk about this subject and “ella no estaba muy contenta” something you may notice in the podcast. However, the subject of drugs is one that cannot be ignored. According to statistics, 80% of the Spanish population has, at some point in their lives, tried marijuana (un porro/a joint) although the indication is that cocaine use is on the incre...
Dec 14, 2011•11 min
Have you had an experience in your life that changed its entire course? ¿Has tenido lo que se llama ‘un momento revelador’? In our journey through life many things happen to us, some of them “muy buenas” and others, “terriblemente malas”. Quite often, however, certain things happen to us that have a profound effect of how we see life. Certainly, Cynthia and I have had many of those moments and in this podcast we share some of these with our listeners. Clearly, although these can be interesting t...
Dec 07, 2011•10 min
Ahora, ¡un tema difícil! We chose to include this subject as a Spanish video lesson not because we are experts on politics, nor because we are interested in it! In fact, we don’t really know why we made it! However, like in most conversations in every country, the subject of politics comes up and even if you don’t have an opinion, it’s important to be able to state that and back it up with a good reason. For example, because of “la crisis”, Spain is currently in tremendous political turmoil. Pol...
Nov 30, 2011•11 min
This free Spanish lesson — all of our Spanish lessons are free, by the by — was great fun to make. “¡Fue super divertido!” In it we talk about the funny moments that have happened to us over the past few years. Cynthia gets very carried away with the whole story telling experience and watch out for the way I (Gordon) have to keep telling to calm down so the listeners can actually hear what’s being said! Watch out for the fun story of our trip to the woods and Daniel’s (my son) shoes. Then, liste...
Nov 23, 2011•10 min
Mercedes, Cynthia’s mum, gives a great interview with Gordon in this advanced Spanish podcast, in which she talks clearly about the youth in Spain and the challenges and opportunities they have before them. At the time of the interview Spain was just starting to feel the effects of “la crisis” that has since overtaken the Spanish economy in such an aggressive and shocking way. What is really interesting about one aspect of the Spanish culture is their respect for young people. Given that it was ...
Nov 16, 2011•13 min
In this advanced Spanish podcast, we’re going to talk about movies in the Spanish language. The Spanish cinema has a very different attitude toward films. Do you know that virtually all the films shown in Spain are overdubbed or “dobladas” and rarely are the subtitled or “subtituladas”. Every actor and actress has their own specific voice over person that follows their entire career. Imagine those lucky enough to have been given the job of overdubbing famous actors like Bruce Willis or Arnold Sc...
Nov 09, 2011•10 min
This advanced Spanish audio has to do with the year 2012. Cynthia and I recorded this podcast in the lead up to this much discussed and anticipated year. At that time there were many differing opinions of what was going to occur. Some said it was going to be “el fin del mundo” and others said it would be the start of “algo nuevo”. Were you aware of the buzz that existed about 2012? What did you think was going to happen? The focus of this audio in grammatical terms is that of possible futures an...
Nov 02, 2011•10 min
This free Spanish podcast has everything to do with alternative medicine. In today’s modern world, medicine has moved forward at a tremendous speed and surgeons have the skills to perform breathtaking and lifesaving operations never before seen. Y eso nos encanta. However, alternative medicine, and the benefits of using this kind of treatment, has been making a comeback, although it is not without its critics. Once again, Cynthia and I have very strong views on this subject and perhaps we could ...
Oct 26, 2011•10 min
In this free Spanish audio lesson, we discuss diets and their effectiveness. Cynthia and I have very strong views on this subject, which, we must state, are purely our own opinions. “Es posible” that you think something completely different from what we say. This, however, is the purpose of this podcast. As an accomplished student of the Spanish language you must be able to state your opinion on matters and argue your case. As you listen to us talk, try and formulate what you might say if you we...
Oct 19, 2011•10 min
This advanced Spanish lesson takes you through a day out we spent at Xanadú, a large shopping centre on the outskirts of Madrid we visited during one of our trips to Spain. Xanadú is a very special and unusual attraction that is well worth visiting. Listen in as we talk about our day and the experiences we had. In terms of the Spanish we use, it might be worth paying special attention to the range of tenses we use when explaining the things that we did and what we saw in the shopping centre. You...
Oct 12, 2011•11 min
Whilst in Spain did you ever notice the amount of bumps and bruises that most Spanish cars have? Listen in and learn some of the reasons why they treat their cars so roughly. Of course, all the additional information and guidance can be found in the comprehensive help-sheets. Video for This Spanish Lesson Audio for This Spanish Lesson Podcast_9_Spanish_Cars 0:00 / 0:00 Speed Play new window | Download Learn Spanish Resources Free Videocasts 160+ free podcasts & lessons, each with a comprehen...
Oct 05, 2011•10 min
For someone learning the language, there’s no replacing Spanish listening practice. Listening to native speakers is a fundamental part of the learning process. Here, Leti, Cynthia’s cousin, describes some of the strange things she’s been required to do during her time as a veterinary assistant. Leti, or Leticia, loves animals and really enjoys working with them. However, she has one small problem. At the first sight of blood, she faints! This certainly hasn’t put her off and although she has pro...
Sep 28, 2011•12 min
This free Spanish audio should get your toes tapping because today we’re talking about la musica. One of the downfalls of living in the UK for us is that the music that gets played on the radio is only either English or American. Once in a while there appears a novelty song from another country, but in general the radio stations never stray from music of their own language. This is a real shame, given that the music from Spain and from Latin America is some of the best in the world! There is suc...
Sep 21, 2011•11 min
In this free Spanish audio lesson, we discuss la familia española, the Spanish family. Every culture has its own personality and way of being and none more so than the Spanish from mainland Spain. For them, family is still very important, (thank goodness for that) and day to day life resonates with the sounds of the names of everyone in their extended family group. For the most part, everyone must have their title, which serves as the identification of who they are within the group. In a typical...
Sep 14, 2011•10 min
In this advanced Spanish podcast we review the film, El Laberinto del Fauno or Pan’s Labyrinth by the director, Guillermo del Toro. We aren’t film critics but we were inspired to talk about this particular film because of the fact it’s based in Spain during the Spanish civil war when Franco’s men ruled the country with an iron fist of brutality and fear and were constantly in battle with the rebels. Despite the film’s harsh brutality and shocking reality of life during Franco’s regime, (be caref...
Sep 07, 2011•12 min
In this podcast, we do a bit of listening practice in Spanish as we interview Quique Lorenzo, a full time footballer who currently plays for a team in Madrid. Quique has an interesting accent given that he is from Almería but has lived for many years in Cataluña. Gordon does the interview with Quique which is a little ironic given that he knows absolutely nothing about football and has limited vocabulary on the subject. Se nota! One of the interesting sides to the interview is the fact that Quiq...
Aug 31, 2011•12 min
