Once you’ve started studying Spanish, you will quickly realize that it has two different formality levels, unlike English. In everyday, casual conversations with friends, classmates, and peers, you will refer to people as “TÚ” (informal YOU), or – if there is more than one of them – as “VOSOTROS” (at least in Spain) When you … Read more
One of the best reasons to study Spanish is to be able to communicate in this language when visiting Mexico, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, or any other Spanish-speaking country. It becomes particularly useful when you venture away from the typical tourist spots and explore more remote places where hardly anyone speaks English. Unless you rent a … Read more
“Don’t do it!”“I didn’t hear you!”“We aren’t going!” People make negative statements all the time. To forbid things, to talk about what didn’t happen, what isn’t going to happen, or what never ever happens. Today, I am going to talk about making negations and using negative words in Spanish. You will quickly realize how easy … Read more
My best friend here in Chile is Tatiana. She is originally from San Petersburg in Russia, and she has been great support all these years. How about you? Do you have a best friend? How long have you known each other? Where did you first meet? One of the reasons why Spanish is such a … Read more
I’ve always loved the Spanish language: the vibrating and melodic sound of it, the passion of Latin songs, the kindness of its people. It was on my bucket list for a few years before I finally got a chance to learn it. If you have Spanish is on your list too, tempting yet scary, perhaps … Read more
Whenever we set out to learn something totally new – skating, guitar playing, juggling, you name it – we unavoidably wonder how long it will take us. Knowing the required time frame allows us to make realistic expectations and plan our training accordingly. Of course, some skills can be mastered within days or weeks. Others … Read more
Do you speak Italian and wonder if it will be of any help once you start learning Spanish? Or perhaps you already speak Spanish and are toying with the idea of taking up Italian classes? Or maybe you can’t make up your mind about which of the two is more recommendable for you to study? … Read more
One of my best and most memorable teaching experiences has been the beginner Spanish course I did for the Senior Adult Learning Center at the American Embassy in Santiago de Chile. I must admit I had certain doubts at first. “Do they want serious classes, or are they looking for someone to simply entertain the … Read more
A student of mine, whose native language is Portuguese, asked me an interesting question the other day. “If I have to choose between studying Spanish and studying English, which one will be easier for me to learn?” Have you ever wondered that? Well, my answer was: “It depends.” There are several factors that determine how … Read more
I have given this question a lot of thought, and I’m afraid I can’t come up with a better answer than: “It’ll depend on your needs.” Simply speaking, if you live in Europe, are planning to travel or move to Spain, your work requires daily contact with Spaniards, or you are dating a lovely Spanish … Read more
