Learn Spanish Blog

Learn Spanish info, hints, free stuff, lessons, courses etc

Articles and contributions to this LEARN SPANISH BLOG are welcomed.

Mary Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish

This book was given to me by a group of Cuban friends when I lived in Miami in the 60's. With this book and practicing what I was learning from the

Malaga Apartments

Looking for an apartment to rent in Malaga? Or buy? Malaga apartments come to suit all budgets. The closer to the sea the higher the price. For a short stay an apartment shared by a family or group.

Malaga Budget Hotels

Malaga is a popular destination. Lots of cheap hotels that fill up in the summer with the thousands of sunseeking holiday makers who flock to the costas of Spain. Check out these Malaga Budget Hotels.

Travel to Spain - enjoying Spanish holidays

Travel to Spain and enjoy your Spanish holidays. Information on airfares, flights to Spain, hotels and accommodation, transport, trains, sightseeing, sights, history, things to do, entertainment etc

Rental Car Hire Alicante, Spain - all you need to know

Get all the facts on Rental Car Hire Alicante Spain. Avoid paying more than you expect. Learn the traps before they arise. Understand the different systems, benefits of full tank or empty tank return.

Alicante Hotels - Where to Stay.

Alicante Hotels exist to meet all budgets and taste. If visiting this beautiful seaside region, check out all the information you need for your Alicante Spanish holiday.

Madrid Hotels - Overview

There are Madrid hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. These are some four star ones, including hotels near to Madrid Barajas airport.

Learn Spanish in Madrid.

Immerse yourself to learn Spanish. Learn Spanish in Madrid. 5 steps are critical. 1) Take a course 2) Learn phrases 3) Learn 200 words a day 4) Learn elementary grammar 5) Speak Spanish only.

Learning Spanish Books - the best for learners

Learning Spanish Books for Spanish learners. Beginners, intermediate to advanced there is a huge choice of books for Spanish learners. Check our latest book reviews - add your own too!

History of Colombia - an overview from pre Spanish to today.

The history of Colombia is long and colorful, with a fair bit of bloodshed and conflict on the way.

Bathroom in Spanish - scrub up on your vocabulary

Today's lesson looks at words about the bathroom in Spanish. Study them up and add them to your mental dictionary. Then see if you can speed up your vocab learning, retention, recall & regurgitation.

Spanish Word Stress - learning which syllables to stress & the use of accents

Today's lesson is about Spanish Word Stress, i.e. where and how to put the stress on different syllables when pronouncing Spanish words. There are even names in Spanish for the different stresses.

Learn Spanish Verbs... Can you master them more quickly?

Quickly learn Spanish verbs & patterns, using Memory Masters techniqes making verb learning twice as fast & effective.

Flights to Spain - from budget airlines to charter flights to First Class travel

There are hundreds of flights to Spain every day, coming in from all over Europe. Never before has it been so accessible, and cheap to fly to Spain. More flights than ever, to more Spanish cities.

Learn Spanish in Argentina.

Total immersion is the best way to learn a language and there are hundreds of schools offering Spanish tuition around the world. Why not learn Spanish in Argentina?! List of schools & info click here.

Learn to Speak Spanish - from the Learning Company

I have always liked The Learning Company's products, and their Learn to Speak Spanish Product Version 8.1 is no exception. They are usually very good

Spanish Learning Product Reviews

Check out our Spanish Learning Product Reviews page, and add comments where you see fit. If you are seller or manufacturer of a 'Learn Spanish' product you can submit details here. But keep it real!

Choose a Spanish Baby Name. Find one here

Looking for a name for a baby. Or are you interested in seeing a choice of Spanish sounding names. Choose from the list a Spanish name or a Spanish baby name from A to Z.

Learn Spanish Overseas at a Spanish Language School. Total immersion is best!

The best way to learn a language is total immersion where you live in that culture. Learn Spanish overseas & live the language, make friends. Hundreds of schools listed in Spanish speaking countries.

The Spanish Verb haber conjugated with Sample Sentences

The Spanish verb haber is one of the most important to learn. You must know it to conjugate all the compound tenses of all Spanish verbs. Here are all the tenses with sample sentences.

Learn Spanish in Mexico. Totally immerse yourself for better learning.

Immerse yourself totally. Learn Spanish in Mexico surrounded by all things Hispanic. Accelerate your learning & consolidate faster. Check our list of language schools in Mexico.

How do you say the Months in Spanish?

How do you say the months in Spanish - the months of the year. Learn fast using proven memory techniques, ideal for building Spanish vocabulary.

Spanish Conjunctions & Prepositions

If you’re not learning 200 words a day you’re using outdated methods. Free Spanish Conjunctions & Prepositions. Learn Spanish - free lessons - adjectives, nouns, Spanish words, phrases, exclamations.

Don't be confused by fusion.

to merge in Spanish is fusionar.

This is of course similar to, and related to, the English word fusion, but the meanings have slightly different twists.

Dos compañias se fusionan.

Two companies are merging.
In this case the word is reflexive, fusionarse, as they are deemed to be merging themselves together.

We would not say, in English, that the two companies are fusing, but if someone did, you would know what they meant!

These interesting little twists make it a memorable way to remember the words, and their context.

Understanding the difference between the verbs ESTAR and SER in Spanish causes a great deal of trouble for many a Spanish learner...

...and this is a topic that is often taught in a confusing way...

It is important to learn the correct concepts from the outset so that the use of ESTAR and SER and their conjugations will be much easier for you.

The two verbs ESTAR and SER in Spanish both mean 'to be' in English. But in Spanish, they are used in different ways.

A major part of the problem is that most Spanish teachers (i.e teachers of Spanish language) teach that SER is used to describe PERMANENT characteristics and ESTAR is used for TEMPORARY characteristics.

Yet, using this analogy you would think that 'being dead' in Spanish would use the word SER, given that death tends to be a bit permanent!

But it actually, ESTAR is used to express the concept of 'being dead' in Spanish.

While this is broadly correct in many cases, it will lead to confusion.... and will delay your ever getting a grasp on the correct use of these two concepts...

There is a much more effective way of understanding the differences between ESTAR and SER in Spanish...and it is the subject of a complete course by exceltra called UNDERSTANDING SER AND ESTAR IN SPANISH.

The course also give you lots of cartoons to help you remember the differences between the two verbs SER and ESTAR.

Because the brain never forgets a picture, and using humour in learning makes the learning easier.

For 'ser' concepts the Memory Triggers feature a SERPENT.... including SER-lock Holmes, the detective snake.

For 'estar' concepts, the Memory Triggers feature a rabbit, an ESTAR bunny!

And there are hundreds of examples of the uses of these verbs, in all the tenses, so that as you consolidate your knowledge you will cover all the tenses of ESTAR and SER - present, past, future, conditionals, subjunctives and consolidate your Spanish with loads of practical sentences.

You will learn the fundamental differences between SER and ESTAR, and you will also learn things how you why the verb 'estar' is used with being dead in Spanish.