It doesn’t take long to realize that Spanish adjectives follow different rules than in English, does it? They come in all sorts of “wrong” places. They change their form. They even change their number. It is so easy to get discouraged and confused. If adjectives weren’t so useful, many of us would probably ignore and … Read more
Knowing how to write the date in Spanish, and even more importantly, knowing how to say it can prove quite useful, especially when you get to travel to a Spanish speaking country. For instance, our birthdate is requested in all kinds of forms – from airport immigration slips to gym enrollment or visa application documents. … Read more
How do you learn new vocabulary? Do you make lists you later memorize, or do you stick post-it notes with new words and phrases all-around your room? What has always worked best with me, and what I always recommend to my students, is building topic vocabulary groups. In this way, whenever you want to participate … Read more
I wish I were more relaxed. But I am anxious and restless. On the other hand, my husband is the most laid-back and easy-going person I’ve ever met. Luckily, my kids take after him and don’t fret about insignificant things. How about you? What is it that you like about your personality? Is there anything … Read more
Traveling abroad and not tasting the local food is a sin. Especially if you get to visit one of the Spanish speaking countries, which are famous for their delicious cuisine. Spanish tapas, Peruvian ceviche, Argentinian steak, Chilean empanadas…My mouth waters at the mere thought of all this yumminess. Ladies and gentlemen – we are eating … Read more
“Joanna, do you think I can learn Spanish on my own?” – I honestly can’t remember how many times I have heard this question since I became a teacher over 20 years ago. If you ask yourself the same thing, you’ll be happy to find out that the answer is yes. Self-teaching a foreign language … Read more
Whether you live in a Spanish speaking country or just spending your summer holiday there, you’ll indeed have to go shopping at least once in a while. Be it simple groceries or hiking provisions, a beer or a glass of wine, cheap souvenirs, or local handicrafts; you’ll need to know how to ask about the … Read more
Years give our conversations an important context. They remind us of certain celebrations: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and such. They help localize events in time, talk about the past, present, and future. They allow us to compare and analyze trends, make plans and forecasts. They contain information about how long a situation has lasted or since … Read more
I was born in June, and you? Back in Poland, it was in summer, and the lovely weather alone was a present. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, June is cold, gray, and rainy. After 20 years, I still can’t wrap my mind around it. If you ever visit Chile, make sure to come in mid-September. … Read more
Today we are going to talk about another useful vocabulary group: Parts of the Body. I’m sure you are asking yourself: “when the heck am I going to use this kind of words in real life?” Trust me, there are plenty of situations when knowing body parts in Spanish come in handy. When you comment … Read more
