Spanish Lessons in Hobart

Como Agua para Chocolate - Laura Esquivel

Reading a novel will certainly be more interesting than a glossy textbook, and it will help accelerate your learning by providing you with rich vocabulary. Thus, a novel like “Como Agua para Chocolate”, for example, will greatly appeal, especially if you would like to know more about one of the most important aspects of Mexican culture: its food. Each chapter is titled for a month of the year and starts with a Mexican recipe, like tacos or burritos. This is a coming-of-age story that follows Tita, a woman who wants to become independent from her traditional family. Read this novel if you’re looking for a story of love and self-discovery while learning a lot of Spanish! Read more about the book here!

Nada - Carmen Laforet

If you are looking to improve your Spanish vocabulary and reading skills, there’s nothing better than to grab a cosy blanket, a drink and lose yourself in “Nada” by Carmen Laforet (the writer’s first novel!). This classic Spanish novel was published in 1945 and takes place in post-civil war Madrid, exploring the hardships and poverty faced by most people living in the city at the time through the eyes of Andrea, who leaves the Canary Islands to live with her grandmother in Barcelona. Read “Nada” and you will learn a lot about Spanish history and culture while improving your language skills, including your vocabulary and grammar. Read more about the book here!

La Ciudad de las Bestias - Isabel Allende

“La Ciudad de las Bestias” is a gripping book of more than 400 pages that tells the story of Alexander Cold, a teenager who travels across the Amazon rainforest looking for his ancestors. During his trip, he encounters a magical beast that helps him to achieve his objectives while learning valuable lessons. Read this novel and you’ll not only broaden your knowledge of the language but also you will expand your mind and challenge your comprehension skills. Just consider that “La Ciudad de las Bestias” is not an easy read, as it includes quite complex grammatical structures and vocabulary, so the book is best suited for upper-intermediate students. Read more about the book here!

Agua - Jarabe de Palo

“Agua” by Jarabe de Palo is the perfect starting point for beginner Spanish learners who wish to improve their language skills through music. The tune is slow-paced and sung with very clear diction, so it’s easy for learners to understand exactly what the singers are saying. This song is about a man who falls in love with his friend and does not want to ruin the relationship they have, so you’ll pick up words related to love and friendship like “por ti daría la vida” or “un mensaje entre líneas”. Listen to the song here!

Yo Te Amo - Chayanne “Yo Te Amo” is a timeless song by Puerto Rican singer Chayanne where the poetic persona declares his devotion for a woman and promises her they will be together in the near future. The best thing about this song is that the lyrics don

“Yo Te Amo” is a timeless song by Puerto Rican singer Chayanne where the poetic persona declares his devotion for a woman and promises her they will be together in the near future. The best thing about this song is that the lyrics don’t blend into one another, as Chayanne has excellent diction and pronounces each word very clearly. Thus, the lyrics are easy to understand and repeat, which makes the perfect song for beginners. Soon, you’ll be singing along to Chayanne’s “Yo Te Amo” with flawless Spanish pronunciation! Sing along to this romantic song!

Muñeca de Trapo - Oreja de Van Gogh

If you are looking to improve your Spanish diction and comprehension, there is no better way to do it than by listening to Oreja de Van Gogh. The song “Muñeca de Trapo” is the first single of the album Guapa (which won a Latin Grammy back in 2006). This beautiful song tells of a woman who compares herself to a rag doll when she cannot express her feelings for her loved one. Sing along and increase your vocabulary while becoming acquainted with Spanish regional accents and slang. You will soon find yourself singing in Spanish almost without trying! Sing along to this romantic song!

Knowing About Messi or Maradona Will Help You Learn Spanish

There’s no better way to achieve fluency in a language and develop your receptive skills than by watching or listening to something you enjoy. For example, are you a soccer fan? Then, you are in luck because soccer is one of the most popular sports in most Spanish-speaking countries, meaning you can literally follow hundreds of teams, ligas and players. Some of the most famous football players in the world are Argentinian (like Messi or Maradona), so it’s a great idea to learn some terms in Spanish (like “es una bestia” or “siempre elude la marca”) to bond with locals about their idols! Click here to know more about Messi!

Regional Soccer Varieties

Are you visiting Spain or a Latin American country soon? Then, it would be a good idea to learn a bit about soccer. You will surely catch the locals’ attention by talking about their passion! For example, you’ll find millions of fans in Argentina or Colombia. But watch out: with soccer being so popular in Latin America, there is a lot of regional variation in the words and terms used to describe aspects of the sport. For example, a referee can be called árbitro or referí, the ball can be pelota, bola or balón and the football boot can be zapatilla, botín or bota. Click here to know more about Colombian soccer!

Take a Trivia to Test Your Knowledge

Would you like to know more about Spanish soccer vocabulary and facts? Then, you can take a trivia in Spanish to test your knowledge about the teams that play in La Liga. Some of the questions are related to the most popular stadiums around Spain, the players, and slang used to describe the matches. For example, did you know that the expression le dio una leña means that a player just fouled his opponent in a very nasty way? You can even share the results with your friends in your social media networks and show off how proficient you are in Spanish! Check out the trivia here!

El Día de la Bestia

Are you looking to supplement your Spanish learning with fun activities you can do in your spare time? Then you should watch El Dia de la Bestia, a comedy that is today considered a cult Spanish movie. It’s a very peculiar Christmas story in which a priest thinks he has discovered a secret message about the coming apocalypse. By watching this hilarious movie by Alex de la Iglesia, you’ll not only laugh but also learn a lot about Spanish culture and slang terms, which will be useful when you interact with native speakers. Read more about this hilarious movie here.

Kiki, el Amor se Hace

Undoubtedly, being entertained while learning positively influences our foreign language development. Our brains pick up new words and structures very easily because of the fun and relaxing context. So, why not take advantage of this and watch good Spanish comedy to increase your listening skills while learning about the language’s cultures and some useful conversational phrases? One great movie to watch is Kiki, el Amor se Hace, where you’ll observe 5 interconnected stories that take place during a summer in Madrid, where the protagonists explore their capacity to love and be loved in a very fun, entertaining way. Learn more about the movie here.

El Otro Lado de la Cama

El Otro Lado de la Cama is a fun Spanish comedy you must watch if you are a fan of the genre. This is a very successful musical comedy that follows different couples being unfaithful to each other in hilarious situations. Emilio Martínez-Lázaro is the director of this movie that describes love and human relationships in a natural fun way, without any prejudice. The actors that perform in this comedy come from different regions of Spain (like el País Vasco or Galicia), so watching it will help you to improve your listening skills and comprehension of different accents as well. Click here to know more about this hilarious film.

Eat Some Tapas with Friends - Spain

In the past, Spanish tapas referred to a specific type of food, eaten before dinner. But today, anything can be tapas: croquettes, cheese on toast, chips with bacon. The only thing that matters is that it’s a small portion that can be served with beer or wine. At some bars, tapas may be free of charge after you buy drinks. However, watch out: others might offer you tapas without saying that you will be charged later (especially in touristic destinations). Go for some tapas with your friends, drink some beer and enjoy the night like a true Spaniard! Want to know more about tapas? Click here!

Celebrate el Dia de los Muertos - Mexico

If you ever go to Mexico, you’ll see that on the 1st and 2nd of November, people visit cemeteries with food, candles, flowers, photographs and other elements to remember them. This happens because they celebrate a special date called El Dia de los Muertos, when they honour family members and loved ones who passed away. Mexicans believe they have to keep their memories alive, otherwise their spirits would fade away and never reach paradise. So, el Dia de los Muertos is a day of remembrance and prayer so people’s loved ones are able to get to Heaven. Click here to know more about Dia de los Muertos

Take a Siesta - Spain

If you ever travel to Spain or would like to emulate the Spanish lifestyle at home, you should definitely take a “siesta” (nap) after lunch! As the hours between 2pm and 5pm are hot throughout the country, most shops close and people go home to nap. Of course, the duration of each siesta varies according to each shop and the local climate. Either way, siestas are sacred, especially in the centre of Spain during the summer, so don’t be surprised if you ever come for a visit and find all the shops closed in the afternoon! Want to know more about the siesta? Read here!