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Videos in Spanish: How to Use your Hands When Speaking in Public Posted by Paula on Sep 30, 2016
Last week we discussed several set expressions in Spanish using the words manos and manitas. We hope they help you feel more comfortable using your Spanish in everyday situations. Today we’ll see how to use your hands when speaking in public. Thanks to Sebastián Lora for the video. Cómo Usar las Manos al Hablar en Público Según Alan Pierce…
Spanish Set Expressions: Giving Someone a Hand (II) Posted by Paula on Sep 23, 2016
This week post continues with the set expressions in Spanish. Let’s study more expressions with hands, since the Spanish language has a wide variety of meanings for this part of the body. ¡Manos a la obra! Poner las manos en el fuego por alguien (to place one’s own hand in the fire for someone): To really show…
Spanish Set Expressions: You’re in Good Hands (I) Posted by Paula on Sep 15, 2016
In the process of acquiring any foreign language the importance of set expressions cannot be underestimated. You have to invest time in learning and implementing these expressions if you want to sound more natural and also to understand the natives better. Spanish has many of these expressions and today we will practice those related to the word…
Music in Spanish: Bomba Estéreo – Soy yo Posted by Paula on Sep 8, 2016
This week we saw the release of the new official video by Colombian band Bomba Estéreo, for their song included in the Amanecer record, Soy yo. The video is an excellent tribute to all girls (and boys, why not) who do not fit with standards but struggle to find their place, a place of their own. So words…
Poetry in Spanish: Borges and Cortázar Posted by Paula on Aug 25, 2016
These days we celebrate the anniversary of Jorge Luis Borges’s and Julio Cortázar’s birthdays, in 1899 and 1914, respectively. If you are not familiar with these names, you should run to the closest bookstore and grab any of their books (personally, I recommend El aleph and Historias de cronopios y de famas). They are the most…
Spanish proverbs: Refranes sobre el agua Posted by Paula on Jun 30, 2016
To continue with the topic of Spanish proverbs, today we focus on those that talk about or are related to water. Water is a fluid element that is essential to life, and as such can take on many different symbolic meanings. Add that to the natural creativity of a language and you will have a myriad…
Spanish proverbs: Los refranes Posted by Paula on May 25, 2016
Popular wisdom usually takes the form of a proverb. All languages have them, and sometimes proverbs combine knowledge on a topic, with puns and rhythm. In Spain, there is a tradition of proverbs that go back to the epic poem Mio Cid. Let’s start with a proverb we use in English, “Spain is different“, coined by Franco’s…