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As all of my posts, this post has not been written by any kind of IA.&nbsp;I have only used AI to check some translations and / or to check grammar mistakes, as English is not my first language. If you are living outside of your native country and you are trying to learn the local language, increasing your political awareness can be a key.Increasing your political awareness can also help you developing your language skills.&nbsp;<h2>Ideas&nbsp;</h2>1. Ask locals how they feel about certain current topicsYou will get a wide range of opinions, but each individual will give you their unique perspective over certain topic.To know what to ask, you can:2. Use "<a data-mce-href="https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/" href="https://www.newsinslowspanish.com/">news in Slow Spanish</a>" to hear about the newsIt's a payed-based platform, but you will be able to listen to interesting audios about the latest news, narrated in a slow and second-language-friendly way.3. Find cool youtubers that share the news in a friendlier wayYou can also ask local friends what are their to-go Youtube sites when it comes to news.&nbsp;Alternatively, you can try getting into Youtube's rabbit holes until you find channels that make you feel welcomed.&nbsp;Remember you can slow down or speed down any video using the tool bar.&nbsp;4. Listen to podcasts about local and worldwide newsSame alternative as Youtube, but better if you are on the go, commuting or using mobile data.Don't forget that listening without visual imputs is considerably harder.Give yourself a big pat on the back if you can understand loose words,&nbsp; complete phrases or ideas: any of those are big accomplishments!&nbsp;<h2>Benefits of following what's happening in the country</h2>1. You will be more aware of the country's struggles, hot topics and current situation.&nbsp;That knowledge is useful in itself, in my opinion, but it can also fuel decisions about&nbsp;investments, job market status, places to live, and legal modifications in the country.&nbsp;2. You will be able to understand the target language better"Traditional" reporters and journalists usually speak separating words, pronunciating clearly, and you can see different other imputs on the screen (texts, images). I find them easier to follow rather than "normal" people reporting news.&nbsp;3. But, if you follow "normal" people who are reporting news...You will be able to pick up the "real" way in which locals speak. Finally, it's also respectful to be politically aware of the country you are visiting or living in, and an opportunity to connect more deeply with locals, who are the ones who struggle the most with their countries's policies. You will get the chance to be able to dive more deeply into their situations and understand better how the country came to be why it is like it is now.&nbsp;

Improve your language skills by being politically aware (specially if you are an expat)

Writing journals can be a great way to improve your written skills in a foreign language, whatever your initial level.&nbsp;<h2>For A1-A2 learners, you can use this prompts:</h2>1)&nbsp; ¿Cómo me siento hoy? (how do I feel today?)Me siento...Emociones positivas: contento / emocionado /&nbsp; alegre /&nbsp; feliz / extasiado (+)Emociones negativas: cansado / sobreestimulado / agobiado &nbsp;(+)Sentimientos muy negativos: triste / pesimista / deprimido (+)2) ¿Cuál fue el mejor momento del día?Fue cuando... (tomé un café con una amiga/ volví a casa)3) ¿Qué hábitos implementé hoy?Tomar / tomé 2 litros de agua...Ir / fui al gimnasio...Pasear / paseé al perro...<h2>For B1-B2 learners, you can use this prompts:</h2>1) ¿Qué hábitos saludables podría incorporar a mi rutina?Podría beber más agua / Podría ir al gimnasio / Debería utilizar menos el móvil2) ¿Tuve alguna emoción fuerte? ¿Qué sucedía a mi alrededor / qué la desencadenó?Me enojé cuando estaba en el trabajo y mi compañero me hizo un comentario inapropiado. 3) ¿Qué me gustaría que pase mañana para tener un buen día?Que coma mi comida favorita / Que mire una película muy buena por la noche / Que me reúna con mis amigas a cenar<h2>For B2-C2 learners, you can use this prompts:</h2>1) Si hubiese podido cambiar algo de este día, ¿qué sería?2) ¿De qué me habré arrepentido pasado mañana si no lo hago mañana?3) ¿Si podría hacer cualquier cosa mañana sin que importase el dinero o las consecuencias, qué sería?

How to improve your language proficiency by journaling

I love to incorporate Latin American music, especially with songs from Shakira 💃 and Bad Bunny 🕺.Not only because we (all) love them, but also because music has the potential to help us learn better and feel connected to a language.I started by paying more attention to the music I heard and trying to notice the grammar intrinsic to the lyrics. Then I brought the songs into my Spanish lessons.Here's a list of some songs I love using from these two artists and the grammar topics I cover with them, in increasing levels of difficulty:🕺 Bad Bunny: ⏯️"Yo no soy celoso" Grammar: verb "ser" in the present. "Yo no soy celoso, pero ¿quién es ese cabrón?"⏯️"Estamos bien" Grammar: verb "estar" in the present. "No te preocupes, estamos bien. Sobran los billetes de 100"⏯️"Yonaguni" Grammar and vocabulary: ▪ Verbs in the present tense. ▪ Possessives. ▪ Vocabulary related to physical descriptions. "Pero cuando bebo me viene tu nombre, tu cara, tu risa y tu pelo…"⏯️"La canción" Grammar: ▪ Contrast between pretérito indefinido e imperfecto. ▪ Pretérito pluscuamperfecto. "Pensaba que te había olvidado, pero pusieron la canción"⏯️"Si estuviéramos juntos" Grammar: pretérito imperfecto and pretérito pluscuamperfecto (both of the subjuntivo). "Y me pregunto qué hubiera pasado, si estuviésemos juntos, aún enamorados"💃 Shakira: ⏯️"Te aviso, te anuncio" Grammar: regular verbs in the 1st form of the present. "Te aviso, te anuncio, que hoy renuncio..."⏯️"Inevitable" Grammar: irregular verbs in the present. "Nadie piensa en ti como lo hago yo, aunque te de lo mismo”⏯️"¿Dónde estás corazón?" Grammar: ▪ Verb "estar" in the present. ▪ Pretérito indefinido. ▪ Prepositions of placement. ▪ Vocabulary: random objects📘📻🚘 "¿Dónde estás corazón? Te busqué en el armario, en el abecedario, debajo del carro, en el negro, en el blanco, en los libros de historia, en las revistas, en la radio." Learn&nbsp;

Learn Spanish with Bad Bunny and Shakira

Self-teaching through songs is a great way to study a language using real-world materials. It takes attentive listening, some repetition and a great deal of analysis, but with the possibility to learn better the flow of a language.When analizyng a song, try to identify these:<h3>Do the lyrics and the video match?</h3>The video can give us a great deal of information about what the song is about, but some times it will not have anything to do with it. Try to see if there's any correlation.&nbsp;<h3>Verbs and Tenses</h3>Pay close attention to verbs in the texts you're studying. Try to identify the ones you already know and determine their tense. This will help you grasp the context and meaning of sentences more effectively.<h3>Filler words and popular words</h3>While studying, make an effort to separate filler or colloquial words from the sentences. However, don't ignore them entirely; learning these words will help you sound more natural in everyday conversations. Words like "bebé", "mi amor", etc., are very commonly used should be learned as well.<h3> Vocabulary seeking</h3>Actively seek out new words and phrases. Explore how these words are used in different contexts, including popular settings such as social media or informal conversations. This will broaden your understanding and fluency in the language. <h3>Set Phrases</h3>Look out for set phrases or expressions that are frequently used in the language. These phrases often remain consistent in their structure and usage. Learning them will not only improve your comprehension but also make you sound more proficient.If you incorporate these strategies into your self-study routine, you'll be able to make good amount of progress in your language learning journey. Keep exploring, practicing, and listening to good music along the way.

How to teach yourself a language using only songs

Received a sweet request from my student David, who wanted book recommendations for his partner Lauren, also my student. He expressed the desire to include a Spanish book in her Christmas gift pile.I couldn't resist creating a special presentation featuring my favorite books from Spanish-speaking authors. I aimed to cover various themes, ranging from thrillers to autobiographies, each accompanied by a short description explaining why I loved them.Here's the list: <figure id="figure-49u3umt1ai5lv2qnerh"><img id="49u3umt1ai5lv2qnerh" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29SreAQiQxbhdwuL0NKfmVFanA9nMlywzzzY8JNZSmea3KBk24hp54Xb8eWerLDK.png" alt="📸 Amongst the city, I found remnants of the Old Castle of Valencia with its magnificent sentinel of history. Its weathered stones whisper stories of conquests and courage, while offering breathtaking views of the city." title="📸 Amongst the city, I found remnants of the Old Castle of Valencia with its magnificent sentinel of history. Its weathered stones whisper stories of conquests and courage, while offering breathtaking views of the city." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29SreAQiQxbhdwuL0NKfmVFanA9nMlywzzzY8JNZSmea3KBk24hp54Xb8eWerLDK.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><figure id="figure-yztoinlsxdlv2qmxi0"><img id="yztoinlsxdlv2qmxi0" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/280L5HcZIV3H1bvKI7HWkdwHwF0cVqMt2St0lKpg77TOxo1FEIbS9DmGgKJoCHVH.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/280L5HcZIV3H1bvKI7HWkdwHwF0cVqMt2St0lKpg77TOxo1FEIbS9DmGgKJoCHVH.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><figure id="figure-oov97ajpuflv2qlbey" class=""><img id="oov97ajpuflv2qlbey" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/127xSz5JTQ444BdqewSSfmDXSaBgN3fCwP08yMZDPbcupaFfc1BkIppG9kj9Pc1E.png" alt="📸 Strolling through Valencia's streets is like stepping into a living storybook. The elegant blend of history and modernity paints the cityscape. Cobblestone alleys lead to grand plazas adorned with intricate facades, whispering tales of the past." title="📸 Strolling through Valencia's streets is like stepping into a living storybook. The elegant blend of history and modernity paints the cityscape. Cobblestone alleys lead to grand plazas adorned with intricate facades, whispering tales of the past." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/127xSz5JTQ444BdqewSSfmDXSaBgN3fCwP08yMZDPbcupaFfc1BkIppG9kj9Pc1E.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><figure id="figure-qe8zjncdqtblv2qoyuk"><img id="qe8zjncdqtblv2qoyuk" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/11LHcJCvk6BNGIenUqyt8Tbyd55bdyrncIn5xBsUhOlcIhTQ7qZwFBQNOGCdllPk.png" alt="📸 Amongst the city, I found remnants of the Old Castle of Valencia with its magnificent sentinel of history. Its weathered stones whisper stories of conquests and courage, while offering breathtaking views of the city." title="📸 Amongst the city, I found remnants of the Old Castle of Valencia with its magnificent sentinel of history. Its weathered stones whisper stories of conquests and courage, while offering breathtaking views of the city." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/11LHcJCvk6BNGIenUqyt8Tbyd55bdyrncIn5xBsUhOlcIhTQ7qZwFBQNOGCdllPk.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Hoping these books bring joy to Lauren's reading time! 📚✨

Easy books to learn Spanish

In a recent session with Lauren, we discussed the world of sports and explored challenges faced by women athletes. We watched this video:<figure id="figure-bj7mcyhq1blv2qsa2i"><iframe id="bj7mcyhq1blv2qsa2i" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEUQywO4Xzs" class="w-full bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;" allowfullscreen="" data-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEUQywO4Xzs&amp;ab_channel=DiarioAS" data-corners="default" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEUQywO4Xzs" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9;"></iframe></figure>Players from different sports talk about their experience breaking barriers and redefining norms in the sporting arena.&nbsp;The discussion that followed provided a unique opportunity to blend Lauren's passion for sports with a discussion around her own experiences playing them. For the grammar bit, we later had to complete the quotes with verbs in different past tenses.&nbsp;Can you guess the answers to these quotes?<blockquote><h3>Cuando ...... por primera vez a practicar boxeo, la sala .... a un 99% llena de hombres</h3><h3>Mi primer recuerdo en el rugby es bastante malo. Yo vengo del ballet clásico y cuando ... a jugar al rugby ... algo super nuevo.&nbsp;</h3><h3>... muy pequeña, ... unos 6 o 7 años y estaba en el colegio. El equipo de chicos iba a formar un equipo.</h3><figure id="figure-k7i7bijh94lv2r00vr" class=""><img id="k7i7bijh94lv2r00vr" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/36JIQZJ2z6xgZC2qaQsxirgsVZolcJCyrui3sfT4DZKLUkjiMfyBPLtJ7Gc39Wmg.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-sm md:rounded-md lg:rounded-lg" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/36JIQZJ2z6xgZC2qaQsxirgsVZolcJCyrui3sfT4DZKLUkjiMfyBPLtJ7Gc39Wmg.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3>Vieron que yo ... a jugar y que lo ... bien. Mi primer recuerdo como árbitro ... en Marbella. Una amiga y compañera de equipo me .... (pedir) que echara una mano porque no ... suficientes árbitros.&nbsp;</h3><h3>Cuando ... tan pequeño, todavía no ... conciente de decir: 'eres chica, o chico'.&nbsp;</h3><h3>La verdad es que .... mucha suerte.&nbsp;</h3> </blockquote>Answers: entré- estabaempecé- fueera- teníaiba-hacía-fue-pidió-habíaeres-tienestuve

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Improve your language skills by being politically aware (...

How to improve your language proficiency by journaling

Learn Spanish with Bad Bunny and Shakira

How to teach yourself a language using only songs

Easy books to learn Spanish

Women, Sports & Past Tense in Spanish