1.3: Language + Cultural Notes

In this episode we're going to go over some basic language and cultural notes for the Spanish language. When you're learning another language, one of the most important things to understand is that it's not just about learning the words and vocabulary. I know this from personal experience when I was learning Spanish — it's about learning about the culture. There are certain things that make sense to English speakers that aren't done in the same way when you're speaking Spanish. An anecdotal story for me is that when I was first learning Spanish in Mexico, I would attempt to tell jokes. Even when I knew the words for the jokes, the jokes made absolutely no sense to the Mexicans. While I thought I was being hilarious, I was usually greeted with crickets. Sadly, this hasn't improved that much 10 years down the road, but I'm still working on it. But that's why it's so important to listen to the sections and understand what we say. because that will make this unit and all future units in the Live Lingua Spanish Podcasts make sense. After listening to the episode, click here for practice exercises. Don't forget to subscribe here, rate 5 stars, and leave a review!

Conversations — the vehicle of language. Being able to properly introduce yourself is akin to hopping into the vehicle. This audio and text guide will show you how to do just that. This is a conversation between Ms. Laura Ramirez and her husband, Ray, who is an American that speaks a little bit of Spanish (yes, those are really our names!) They're meeting with someone called Miguel Gomez, and this episode is an introduction when they first meet. Then, the same conversation in Spanish. Don't worry if you can't understand it yet. We will break it down and practice it. After listening to the episode, click here for free practice exercises. Don't forget to subscribe here, rate 5 stars, and leave a review!

This 13th episode is a quick recap of Unit 10 of the Live Lingua Spanish Podcast. It offers a congratulations on your hard work so far in learning Spanish.

This 12th episode is a visualization practice that picks up where the visualization practice of Unit 9 leaves off. It continues the dining experience through ordering your meal. You may find it helpful to play both visualization practices back to back, just for practice.

In this 11th episode, you will listen again to the first conversation you heard. You should now be able to understand it. If there are any parts you are still not clear about, just replay this m-episode and the prior m-episodes in Unit 10.

This 10th episode brings everything you have learned in the past few episodes together. Listen to the material in English and say it in Spanish. The first run through we won't give you the Spanish answer to give you time to say it yourself. Then we'll go through it again and say the English with the Spanish answer.

This 9th episode moves on to the good stuff -- how to order a meal in Spanish. When a waiter is ready to take your order, they will typically say something like, ¿Qué van a pedir señores? In this episode you'll learn how to reply.

This one is for those with dietary restrictions and their travel companions. One of the difficulties when traveling to a foreign country, if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, is finding food to eat. In this 8th episode we'll practice asking if a dish has a specific ingredient.

One of the difficulties when traveling to a foreign country, if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, is finding food to eat. In this 7th episode we'll practice asking if a dish has a specific ingredient.

If you are traveling to a place you have never been before, you may run into dishes you don't know. In these cases you may want to ask what is in the dish. You'll learn how to do that in this m-episode, including uncommon ingredients.