In this video, you’ll learn about some of the most common antojitos in Mexico. Antojitos are Mexican snacks like tacos, quesadillas and burritos. But there are way more than just that. Watch this video to learn more. This Spanish Tidbit (and the next one too) is required viewing for this Spanish Quickie: Eating in Merida, Part #1 . So make sure you watch this video in order to better understand (and fully appreciate) that Spanish Quickie. In that video, I filmed myself eating dinner in Mexico. S...
Feb 02, 2015•6 min
I won’t shy away from the fact that I really like this lesson. It’s important. And not just for the vocab, though that too. “Faltar” is a close relative of “quedar” (featured in the last Spanish Tidbit)–in fact, it could be considered the opposite. But there’s something else going on in this video. One of the biggest hurdles Spanish learners face is simply a mindset problem. So in this video, not only are you going to learn some really useful uses (I guess all uses are useful by definition) of t...
Jan 21, 2015•3 min
This Spanish Tidbit is a good example of “life Spanish” Vs. “book Spanish”. When I traveled to a Spanish-speaking country for the first time, I already knew what “quedar” meant. But that didn’t really help me when I heard it being thrown around in other ways. In this video, you’ll learn the two most common uses of “quedar”. If any of the conjugation is confusing to you, please watch this video: http://youtu.be/ux7SeKCmYkE See all previous Spanish Tidbits here: Go here for every Spanish Tidbit Ma...
Jan 18, 2015•11 min
In this video, you’ll learn how to say you’re going to eat a meal (hint: it’s different than in English) AND how these words differ around the world. Check out my new show: Spanish Tidbits
Jan 16, 2015•9 min
While I traveled through Mexico, there was tons of little stuff I was seeing that I wanted to share with you. In fact, if you’re walking the streets of any city in Mexico, virtually EVERYTHING is a real-life Spanish lesson. So during my six week trip, I shared several Spanish Tidbits. Little, teeny, bite-sized Spanish lessons. Subjects that don’t warrant an entire Spanish Quickie. Make sure you’re signed up to the Gringo Español Newsletter , if you don’t want to miss out. You can’t depend on Fac...
Jan 11, 2015•2 min
I failed Spanish 2 the first time I took it. And I recently started getting a lot messages from high school kids taking Spanish 2 saying they were having the same problems I had. This is my “open letter” to anybody who’s having problems with verb conjugation or Spanish. Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation Subject Pronouns The Flashcard Strategy The Conjugation Strategy Verb Conjugation Boot Camp (Present Tense Edition)...
Nov 11, 2014•14 min
In this video, we pick up where we left off last week–you’ll learn more ways to be polite when traveling. This video includes more real examples from Spain. Want to ask somebody politely to get out of your way? Or apologize for bumping into them? Or ask if you can take a picture? Watch this video!
Oct 17, 2014•11 min
In this video, we cover some different ways to say “hello” and “goodbye”. Not just “hola” and “adíos”. There are many other ways to say “hello” and “goodbye”. Most Spanish courses and books don’t teach the real ways, because they’re often not real words or phrases.
Oct 10, 2014•10 min
The second I saw this commercial, I knew I had to share it. Not only is it hilarious, but the words are simple. So you can focus on hearing them. In this video, we take apart the commercial, analyze it, then put it back together. Free Practice Resources: Download the Commercial – Lola y La Nieta Related Videos: A & De Reflexive Verbs (and Pronouns)...
Sep 17, 2014•7 min
Today, not only are you going to learn a very important lesson: what to do when you have TWO OBJECT PRONOUNS in the same sentence. But you’re going to witness… My worldwide… Singing debut! But seriously, this is a very important lesson. And once you’re done with this. I promise, no more pronouns for at least a month. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Double Object Pronouns Answer Key: Double Object Pronouns Related Videos: Subject Pronouns Possessive Adjectives Direct Object Pronouns ...
Sep 11, 2014•9 min
Reflexive verbs can be kind of tricky for we Gringos. We have them in English. But they’re not used nearly as much as they are in Spanish. Furthermore, using reflexive verbs means learning more pronouns. And pronouns were ALREADY confusing! This takes some getting used to. In this video, the goal is just to get familiar with reflexive verbs, their pronouns, and how they’re used. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Reflexive Verbs Answer Key: Reflexive Verbs Related Videos: Subject Prono...
Sep 05, 2014•10 min
In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use words like “gustar” and “encantar”. Words that sure seem to work in the opposite way that most verbs do. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Verbs Like Gustar Answer Key: Verbs Like Gustar Related Videos: Direct Object Pronouns The Personal A Indirect Object Pronouns...
Aug 27, 2014•9 min
Once you know your direct object pronouns in English, you’re done. Direct and indirect object pronouns in English are exactly the same. But not in Spanish. Oh no. So… You can’t just say “him” or “her” or “them” when you’re talking. In today’s video, not only will I explain what the heck direct and indirect objects are (I had no idea either!) But you’ll quickly see how they’re different, so you can pick the right one. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Indirect Object Pronouns Answer Ke...
Aug 14, 2014•8 min
The personal a has no English counterpart. It’s just something you have to get use to. In this quick video, you’ll not only see how to use the personal a. But when to use it. And when NOT to use it. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: The Personal A Answer Key: The Personal A Related Videos: Direct Object Pronouns 2 Magic Travel Spanish Word: A & De The Only Two Contractions In Spanish Speak in the Future Without More Conjugation...
Aug 06, 2014•6 min
Direct object pronouns is one of my least favorite subjects in Spanish. After 15 years, it still gives me troubles sometimes. In this video, you’ll see how to use direct object pronouns in Spanish. Then a comparison with the other pronouns you’ve learned. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Direct Object Pronouns Answer Key: Direct Object Pronouns Pronoun Comparison Chart Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation Formal Conjugation...
Jul 30, 2014•9 min
There are two different ways to say “to know” in Spanish, “saber” and “conocer”. And there are a bunch of rules regulating when to use each one. But in this simple video, I share a little trick that’ll help you AVOID those rules, and still choose the right word every time. Free Practice Resources: Blank Conjugation Sheet Answer Key: Saber & Conocer Conjugations Practice Worksheet: Saber Vs. Conocer Answer Key: Saber Vs. Conocer Related Videos: Present Tense, Regular ER Conjugation...
Jun 26, 2014•6 min
Pronouns haven’t been very hard for us so far. We’ve only covered subject pronouns. It gets more confusing every time you add another set of pronouns. Not only is it more little words to remember, but you also have to choose which to use and when. In this video, I go over the second set, possessive adjectives, and compare them to subject pronouns. Free Practice Resources: Practice Worksheet: Possessive Adjectives Answer Key: Possessive Adjectives Related Videos: Personal Pronouns (Subject Pronou...
Jun 24, 2014•7 min
In today’s video, I’ll tell you about something that happened while I was away that really pissed me off! I probably haven’t stressed this enough. I said it, but I didn’t stress it. Pronunciation doesn’t matter. Related Videos: Spanish Pronunciation Pronunciation in Spain
Jun 19, 2014•7 min
As you now know, there are three types of verbs in Spanish: AR, ER and IR. And each type has it’s own conjugation rules–how you change the endings of the words. “Hablar” is to “talk”, but I talk is “hablo”. However, there are also irregular verbs–where not only do you change the ending based on the subject, but there’s a change to the stem too. Lots of the most common verbs in Spanish are irregular and I’m sick of avoiding them in my examples. So today, we’re gonna talk about the first kind: E t...
Apr 09, 2014•6 min
I went back to Spain recently for the first time in over 10 years. I was chatting with my buddy Manuel, and he said something quickly that sounded like gobbly gook. I had acclimated myself to the Latin American way of talking. There are differences. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t understand Manuel in Spain. And of course, what he was talking about–it didn’t even exist 10 years ago! Related Videos: Spanish Pronunciation Pronunciation in Spain...
Apr 03, 2014•3 min
When you’re learning Spanish, lots of rules are important to see once, then forget. How adverbs work, is a good example. When I did a little Googling, I saw there are five ways adverbs are used. Ugh. More rules. Then, after a few seconds, I noticed something… adverbs in Spanish, work exactly like they do in English! There’s NO REASON to memorize five rules when you can just use them as you naturally would. But like I said, this is an example of a time when it’s good to see the rules once, then f...
Apr 01, 2014•7 min
There are only two contractions in all of Spanish. And they are both very common when you’re traveling. These two words saved my butt the first time I ever went to Spain. In today’s video, I tell you that story and all about the only two contractions in Spanish. Related Videos: The Three Enemigos Two Magic Travel Words Present Tense, Regular AR Conjugation...
Mar 25, 2014•4 min
This is, minute-for-minute, one of the very best lessons I’ll ever give you. In this short lesson, you’ll learn how to speak perfectly in the future, without learning any more conjugations. When I first discovered this, I was pissed they hadn’t taught it to me earlier. Instead, they buried me deeper and deeper in conjugations! Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation The Three Enemigos Present Tense, Regular ER Conjugation...
Mar 20, 2014•4 min
These two little teeny words saved my butt big time the first time I went to Spain and found myself at a little train station in the south–where nobody spoke English. In this video, not only do I tell you the straight up definitions, but I show you a few different ways to use “de”–one of the most common and useful words in all of Spanish. Related Videos: The Three Enemigos The Only Two Contractions in Spanish...
Mar 18, 2014•4 min
CRAZY! Since I started studying Spanish over 10 years ago, I’ve always told people: “Whenever you don’t know a word in Spanish, just take the English word and Spanishify it!” But over the last couple weeks, as I made the three “Fun with…” videos… I was still shocked by just how many words there are that are essentially the same. Today, I just picked the 10 regular IR verbs I thought would be most helpful to you. Little did I know that 7 out of the 10 would be friends! That’s cool, when a word is...
Mar 14, 2014•5 min
Today I go over the present tense, regular IR conjugation. IR verbs are the last type of regular, present tense verbs we need to learn.
Mar 12, 2014•5 min
Trying something new today. I’m a little out of my element here. You’ve heard of a tortilla right? Well, in Spain, they have tortilla too–it’s just totally, 100% DIFFERENT. Not only will you learn a few important words in this video, you’ll also see exactly how I prepare one of my favorite foods from Spain. And I might sing and dance a little at the end too.
Mar 10, 2014•7 min
In today’s video, we continue with the verbs. This time, ten of the most common, regular ER verbs. Related Videos: Fun with Words Present Tense, Regular ER Conjugation The Flashcard Strategy
Mar 05, 2014•6 min
We are really getting somewhere now! In today’s video, not only will you learn how to conjugate regular ER verbs in the present tense… I’ll also teach you the word for “idiot” — and maybe give you an example too! Free Practice Resources: Blank Conjugation Practice Sheet Conjugations – Answer Key Related Videos: The Infinitive & Conjugation Personal Pronouns Present Tense, Regular AR Verbs The Conjugation Strategy...
Mar 03, 2014•5 min
Today, we’re going to continue with regular AR verbs. In this lesson, I show you 10 of the most common regular verbs–especially for travel. I personally use these words all the time. So either watch the video or don’t. The important thing is you learn these words. The video explains them a bit. But I can’t memorize them for you. Related Videos: False Friends...
Feb 28, 2014•7 min
