How often do you use idiomatic expressions in your Spanish conversations? Do you know some “dichos” en español? Whichever your native language is there are so many colloquial / idiomatic expressions that we sprinkle into our everyday conversations. Think about the last animated conversation you had with a friend… “Hey James, I’m over the moon …
Spanish for Teachers – 5 Idiomatic Expressions in Spanish Read More »
En esta lección, estaremos conversando sobre un tema muy interesante en la mayoría de países de Latinoamérica y, en especial, de Argentina: El fútbol. Spanish teachers you can incorporate this lesson in a variety of ways into your advanced classes. This is a great resource if you are looking for a video clip with native …
In this article we are delving into the current trend of using the inclusive language in Spanish: El lenguaje inclusivo. Language is always evolving and often reflects societal trends and tendencies. Let’s take for example these new verbs: I already Googled that Let’s Skype Whatsapp me We SnapChatted Download Lenguaje Inclusivo Notes TODAY These verbs did not exist 5,10, 20 …
Inclusive Language in Spanish | Lenguaje Inclusivo Read More »
Semana Santa in Guatemala – Brillant Alfombras de Aserrín This cultural unit explores the vibrant and beautiful tradition of the saw dust carpets or alfombras de aserrín that are created during Semana Santa celebrations in Guatemala. Learn more about the history, symbolism and how to make your own saw dust carpets in this mini lesson. …
Get these 3 FREE Carnaval Activities to use with your students in the Spanish classroom. They are fun, interactive cultural lessons embedded with rich vocabulary and grammar concepts that are easy to implement. Did you know that Carnaval and Semana Santa are connected holidays? If you’re like me, you think of Carnaval as a Brazilian or …
Carnaval Activities for the Spanish Classroom – Culture & Language Read More »
Cultural Lesson all about and Semana Santa and Carnaval for your Spanish classroom! DOWNLOAD NOW! This valuable cultural resource is full of Spanish classroom activities that explore the rich history and celebrations of Carnaval and Semana Santa and is super easy for you to implement in your classes! Carnaval and Semana Santa present ripe opportunities to teach about …
Semana Santa and Carnaval Cultural Lesson for the Spanish Classroom Read More »
Let’s Talk About El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos! What is the connection between los Tres Reyes Magos and the 12 days of Christmas? Have you ever wondered why there are “Twelve Days of Christmas“? Well, Biblical interpretations and Christmas traditions have changed over the centuries across various regions and sects of Christianity, but …
Los Reyes Magos – History, Lesson Plan & Activities Read More »
Las Posadas Navideñas Spanish Class Activities Celebrating Las Posadas in the Spanish Classroom…whether you’re a Feliz Navidad or Felices Fiestas person, it’s nice to do some cultural activities around the holidays in your classroom; the trick is pulling it off in a meaningful and low-hassle way. Not only is it fun to do something unique, but Christmas is ripe …
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) The Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos observed November 1st and 2nd is a vibrant and profoundly meaningful tradition that originated in central and southern Mexico during the Aztec Empire. People believe that on these days, the spirits of the deceased return to their …
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Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin American Independence are more connected than you might think! This cultural lesson explores the complex history of how many Central and South American countries gained their independence in a process also known as the decolonization from Spanish/ European power and how this rich history is also linked to the US …
The Link Between Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin American Independence Read More »
Free Preterite vs Imperfect lesson This is the perfect 3-5 day lesson plan for teaching preterite vs imperfect uses In Spanish, the Preterite vs Imperfect is a tricky concept. Both of these tenses are used to talk about past events. Which one is used depends on the meaning the speaker wishes to convey. Click below …
Preterite vs Imperfect lesson for Spanish teachers: How to teach when to use which Read More »
Spanish Valentine’s Day Lesson Plan and Activities The Spanish Valentine’s Day lesson plan is a great authentic resource that talks about the history of this holiday and how it is celebrated throughout Mexico and Latin American. From 3rd century Rome, through medieval times, to this modern age of technology; Valentine’s Days is celebrated around the world. …
Top 10 Spanish Songs to learn Spanish Grammar Lesson Plan for Teachers Learning Spanish can be fun, especially when you incorporate pop culture songs into learning. These are the top 10 Spanish songs, Latin American hits, paired with a grammar focus. This activity allows students to connect the grammar topics they are learning in class …
Por and Para Spanish Grammar Teacher Lesson Guide INTRODUCTION My students often ask about the uses of POR and PARA. I bet you get that question a lot also. POR and PARA is a complex grammar topic for second language learners to grasp. As teachers, we have all types of tricks and tools up our …
I teach Spanish for specific purposes, and I teach a high percentage of beginning level students who are also adult learners. I don’t know about you, but I’m always trying to stay in the target language as much as possible when I’m teaching; I assume you do too. We do this because we know that …
Using Modified Target Language in Class: When & Why Read More »
Ditch the Spanish Translator Apps – They Inhibit Learning! Important Note: this article focuses on Spanish translator apps because I’m a Spanish teacher and my business specializes in teaching Spanish for Specific Purposes. However, the principles below apply to any language classroom. The days of lugging around a bulky dictionary to your language class are …
An Argument Against Using Spanish Translator Apps Read More »
Teaching Dyslexic Students Spanish- Great tips to ease the struggle By this time in the school year, it’s clear which students are struggling in your Spanish class. Some students may not be giving your class the energy required to succeed, but it’s pretty safe to assume that there are others who are trying to tackle …
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Tú and usted, using the forms of you in Spanish: In our work with professionals learning Spanish for workplace communication, we often encounter the patterns they learned in high school or college Spanish courses taken years before. One of the most common is the tendency to default to the tú form of you in Spanish …
To tutear or not to tutear…the forms of you in Spanish Read More »
Some relevant and interesting debate topics for Spanish Class Hopefully your Spanish students have been exposed to important historical themes through their classwork and readings. However, what better way to get them talking than by exploring some debate topics relevant to their generation? We recently gave students a list of research topics for oral presentations. …
An effective immersion model is educational, fun and inserts students into the community There are a lot of summer programs out there for high school students, with different approaches to student travel and education. Our Spanish immersion program has not only proven to improve language ability, but it’s a hit with teachers, parents, and of …
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A fun and useful activity for learning Spanish verb tenses; have Shakira help you out with planning an easy classroom activity: Spanish Teachers – Don’t let practicing Spanish verb tenses be a drag when you can engage your students with one of the best parts of Latino culture: ¡La música! Shakira’s song “Estoy Aquí” from …
Shakira Teaches Spanish Verbs: Future Tense and Gerunds Read More »
Learning a new language can always be tricky; some of the most embarrassing scenarios include these common Spanish-English translation mistakes: Whether or not you travel abroad this summer, chances are you’ll be using your Spanish right here at home for a long time to come. Even the most experienced Spanish speakers make mistakes, but here …
One dust sandwich, please, discussing some common translation mistakes Read More »
Having trouble motivating students? Getting ready to send your graduating Spanish students off to college and into the world – hoping that they’ll continue their language studies? For a lot of students, motivation to learn certain subjects doesn’t come simply because they enjoy learning, but later on, once they have a practical application for the …
Motivating students- Connecting to Spanish in the “real world” Read More »
Use one of the easiest tunes to remember the tricky irregular preterite tense Irregular preterite tense can be difficult for many students. We all know that remembering the lyrics to a favorite song is easier than memorizing verb conjugations. So when it comes time to introduce your students to a new set of irregular verbs, …
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The internet is full of Spanish teacher resources. Interactive quizzes and printable worksheets abound, but here are some of our favorites that serve 5 distinctly different purposes: 1. Word Reference.com: We trust this multi-language dictionary because of it’s thorough definitions – which identifies which term is used in which regions; full verb conjugations; and language …
