Episode 16 features a conversation between Alba and Mark about what they’ve been doing since they last saw each other. Grammar points covered include possessive pronouns, and uses of the subjunctive. This week’s intermedio features a presentation of Barcelona from Alba, and José looks at some more interesting ways of talking about going out for a drink or for something to eat.
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In this episode, we check if Anna has done her homework from last week and take a look at the conversations she has come up with. We also look at the present tense of two irregular verbs: avoir and être. Please note that lesson 06 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 46 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.
Episode 15 features the third installment of our ‘telenovela’, Verano Español. Find out the latest about the life of Laura and her mother as they spend the summer in Spain en la casa de tía Julia. How will Laura cope on her first day in her new job at the panadería? Don’t miss this episode of Show Time Spanish!
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When travelling to a Spanish-speaking country, one of the essential skills you need is how to order drinks in Spanish. Whether you’re in a bustling café in Madrid or a cosy bar in Mexico City, knowing the right phrases can enhance your experience and help you connect with locals. This guide is designed for beginner learners of Spanish, providing you with the essential vocabulary and phrases to confidently order your favourite beverages.
Let’s start with some of the most popular drinks you might want to order:
These phrases will get you started with the basics of drinks in Spanish. In the audio lesson, we cover more drinks, so don’t forget to listen to it!
Now that you know the names of some common drinks, let’s move on to ordering them. Here are some useful phrases that you may hear and that you can use when ordering drinks.
When you’re in a group or unsure what others want, you can use these questions:
These phrases are incredibly handy for making sure everyone gets their preferred drink.
Now that you have been asked, you can use the following phrases to say what you want to drink:
Por ejemplo, here are some full sentences:
Learning how to order drinks in Spanish is a fun and practical way to enhance your language skills. Not only will you be able to enjoy your favourite beverages, but you’ll also be able to interact more naturally with native speakers. By mastering these basics, you’ll feel more at home in any Spanish-speaking environment. So next time you find yourself in a café or bar, you’ll be ready to confidently order drinks in Spanish.
After ordering drinks, we’ll need food! So don’t forget to check out the next episode, where we teach you how to order your favourite food in Spanish. ¡Delicioso!
Happy Coffee Breaking!
In this week’s lesson, Mark and Anna talk about the verb aller, meaning ‘to go’ and introduce the concept of irregular verbs in the context of making arrangements and forming questions. By looking more closely at the grammar behind the French, we hope you will gain a better overall understanding of the language and be able to put what you learn to practical use. Please note that lesson 05 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 45 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.
In episode 14, Mark and Alba are joined by David, el novio de Alba. Topics discussed include Galicia, the region of Spain where David is from, St Valentine’s day, romantic Spanish and the imperfect subjunctive. In this week’s intermedio, Alba talks about the film Diarios de Motocicleta, and José introduces some different ways to express disbelief.
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Whether you are planning to visit a Spanish-speaking country or just want to expand your language skills, knowing how to identify and ask about common places in Spanish is essential. In this article, we will explore some frequently visited places in town in Spanish.
However, before we start, remember to listen to the audio lesson for pronunciation purposes and also to expand your knowledge. ¡Vamos a empezar!
Let’s start looking at some basic places to visit in any Spanish-speaking country.
When exploring places in town in Spanish, knowing how to ask for directions is very helpful. Here are some useful phrases:
Remember that in the previous episode, we cover some directions in Spanish, so don’t forget to brush off your knowledge if you need to! To expand what you already know, we’ve prepared a couple of ejemplos.
As you may see, we have the words del and al. If you want to know how to use them, listen to the audio lesson!
¡Y eso es todo por ahora! Mastering the vocabulary for common places in Spanish can make your experience in a Spanish-speaking town much more enjoyable and less stressful. Remember to practise these phrases regularly to build your confidence.
By learning how to talk about places in Spanish, you’ll be better prepared to navigate and enjoy your surroundings. Whether you are looking for un centro comercial or un parque you’ll be equipped with the right words to ask and understand directions.
In the next episode, we’ll learn how to order drinks in a café in Spanish – quite useful if you are preparing a trip to a Spanish-speaking country. Don’t miss it!
Mucha suerte and happy Coffee Breaking!
In this week’s lesson, Mark and Anna talk about making arrangements. By looking more closely at the grammar behind the French, we hope you will gain a better overall understanding of the language and be able to put what you learn to practical use. Please note that lesson 04 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 44 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.
We’ve had an extremely busy week this week so we’ve not been able to put a full episode of Show Time Spanish together. We’re recording next week so we hope to have episode 14 with you by Wednesday 11th February. In the meantime, this extra mini-episode of Show Time Spanish is aimed at Facebook users and talks you through how to use Facebook in Spanish. You can also join our Show Time Spanish Facebook fan page.
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In episode 13 of Show Time Spanish, Mark and Alba discuss social networks including Facebook and Twitter and their value for language-learning. In addition, in this week’s intermedio, José discusses effective ways to say you’ve had enough of something, and Alba talks about the film Habana Blues. Grammar points discussed inlude subjunctive after el hecho de que, preferir que and the imperative in the vosotros form.
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When you’re starting to learn Spanish, one of the most practical and rewarding skills you can develop is asking for and understanding directions. Whether you’re travelling through a Spanish-speaking country or simply expanding your language skills, knowing how to ask for directions in Spanish can make your experience much smoother and more enjoyable.
In this guide, we’ll cover essential phrases and vocabulary related to directions in the language. We’ll explore how to ask for them, understand responses and navigate your way to popular destinations like museums, markets, and more.
Before starting, remember to listen to the podcast while reading this article to practice with a conversation and expand your knowledge. ¡Ahora sí: vamos!
Before we get into asking for directions, it’s important to familiarise yourself with some common destinations you might ask about:
These are places you’re likely to visit, whether you’re a tourist or a resident in a Spanish-speaking area. Knowing these words will help you understand and use directions more effectively.
When you find yourself needing to ask for directions, here are some essential phrases to remember:
For example, if you’re looking for the main square, you might ask: ¿Dónde está la plaza mayor?, or if you’re unsure of the distance to the museum, you could say, ¿Está lejos de aquí el museo?.
These questions are simple yet powerful tools in your language arsenal. They allow you to get the information you need to find your way around.
Now that you know how to ask for directions, it’s equally important to understand the responses you might receive. Here are some common phrases you’ll hear:
Another way to say turn is gire. For instance, gire a la derecha for turn right.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you use these phrases, the more confident you’ll become in both asking for and understanding directions. You’ll find that navigating a Spanish-speaking city becomes second nature.
Mastering directions in Spanish is an essential skill for any beginner learner. By familiarising yourself with the key vocabulary and phrases for asking for directions, you’ll not only enhance your language skills but also feel more comfortable and confident in real-life situations.
Whether you’re navigating to the market, finding the nearest bank, or exploring a city’s main square, these phrases will serve you well. So, the next time you’re in a Spanish-speaking area, don’t hesitate to ask, ¿Dónde está…? and embark on your journey with ease!
Continue improving and expanding your vocabulary and useful phrases for your next trip to a Spanish-speaking country in our next episode. We’ll see more locations and directions to navigate the city confidently.
Happy Coffee Breaking!
In this week’s episode, we take a further look at daily routine, focusing particularly on reflexive verbs. We also look at time in more detail so we can say exactly when we carry out each part of our daily routine. Please note that lesson 03 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 43 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.
In episode 12 of Show Time Spanish, Mark and Alba get all poetic as they celebrate the 250th anniversary of el poeta nacional de Escocia, Robert Burns. Alba learns some Scots and in return she teaches Mark a poem by Spanish poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. The intermedio includes a review of the film Secretos del Corazón, and José introduces some interesting ways to convey the concept of “to fancy doing something”. Language points covered include how to translate “to realise” and the construction estar a punto de + infinitive, meaning “to be about to do something”.
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Learning how to say dates in Spanish is an essential skill for anyone beginning to learn the language. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to express dates, understand the days of the week, months of the year, and numbers in Spanish. By the end, you’ll be comfortable writing and speaking dates like a pro!
Don’t forget to listen to the podcast version to get the pronunciation and further practice on how to say dates in Spanish.
What are the days of the week in Spanish? Knowing the days of the week is fundamental when learning a new language. Here are the days of the week in Spanish:
Pay attention and notice the days of the week in Spanish start with a lower case.
Next, let’s look at the months in Spanish. Understanding the months will help you when you’re trying to learn how to say dates in Spanish. Like the days of the week, the months aren’t capitalised.
Numbers are crucial when learning how to say dates in Spanish. In a previous episode, we learnt numbers up to 10 in Spanish, so don’t forget to check it out in case you have missed it or you need to revise them! Here are the basics, from 11 to 1000:
From 30, the numbers are formed by combining them with the single-digit number. Por ejemplo:
In the podcast episode, we cover all the numbers, so don’t forget to listen to it. You’ll need to know how to say two thousand to say the year of the date!
When writing the date in Spanish, the format is slightly different from English. Typically, the order is: day of the week, day of the month, month, and year. Here’s an example:
In this format, you can clearly see how to integrate what you’ve learned about the days, months, and numbers.
By familiarising yourself with the days of the week, months of the year, seasons, and numbers, you’ll quickly learn how to say dates in Spanish. Remember to practise regularly and use these terms in your daily conversations to become more comfortable.
If you ever find yourself wondering, “what are the days of the week in Spanish?” or “how to say numbers in Spanish,” refer back to this guide. The more you practise, the easier it will become to naturally incorporate these elements into your Spanish vocabulary.
In the next episode we’ll learn how to name the buildings we can find in a city in Spanish, so don’t miss it!
Happy Coffee Breaking!
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