In this 18 lesson series, you'll learn about Spain and different aspects of Spanish culture and society through audio blogs entirely in Spanish. Along the way, you'll pick up sophisticated expressions and advanced grammar in this Audio Blog series geared towards higher level students.
| L# |
Title |
Topic |
Summary |
Cultural Fact |
Vocab |
| 1 |
Real Madrid VS Barcelona (Spain) |
Soccer |
Importance of soccer in Spain, esp. of Madrid and Barcelona's teams |
Soccer-crazy Spain |
fútbol
fútbol americano
aficionado
seguidor
quedar con
tener la oportunidad
asegurar
relleno |
| 2 |
All Souls' Day (Spain) |
All Souls' Day |
Recent addition of Halloween on eve of All Saints' Day, customs on All Souls' Day: grave visits (flowers and prayers), sweets, butterfly candles |
Spain's Catholic sentiment |
duradero, -a
tradición
costumbre
típico, -a
cementerio
tumba
difunto, -a
recordar a alguien
recordar
aconfesional
relleno |
| 3 |
Esta noche es Nochebuena y mañana Navidad (Spain) |
Christmas |
"Villancico" carols, Catholic sentiment, Christmas eve (dinner), Christmas day (lunch, less formal than previous night's dinner) |
The most magical time of the year in Spain |
víspera
bota
emborracharse
estrofa
villancico
arraigado, -a
entrañable
reunirse |
| 4 |
Nochevieja y Año Nuevo (Spain) |
New Year |
Resolutions, huge party (dinner till midnight, eat a grape for each bell toll, hit the bars) |
Why grapes? 'Cause there used to be too many |
intención
propósito
hacer balance
dejar de fumar
Nochevieja
Año Nuevo
víspera
campanada
se supone que
ser cansado
estar cansado
traje
fuerza de voluntad |
| 5 |
The 3 Wise Men (Spain) |
Christmas |
Origin of gift-giving on 1/6 (wise men bringing gifts for baby Jesus), "King's Ring" sweet |
Kids still prefer the Wise Men, despite the disadvantages |
los Reyes Magos
basarse en
portarse
depender de
no hacer falta
inconveniente
una especie de
fruta escharchada
ponerse de moda
a lo sumo |
| 6 |
January Squeeze and Markdowns (Spain) |
The January squeeze |
Need to squeeze, store participation (after the Wise Men come) |
Why people spend so much on Christmas |
no falla
de antemano
apretarse el cinturón
Dios aprieta pero no ahoga
hacerse cuesta arriba
evitar
proponerse
cumplir
rebaja |
| 7 |
How to Make Paella (Spain) |
Paella |
Origin (Valencia), diversity of recipes (this time: mixed paella), ingredients, procedure |
Ubiquity and etymology |
receta
ingrediente
objeción
sartén
olla
cocer
langostino
pimiento verde
pollo
cerdo
azafrán
sangría
chiringuito |
| 8 |
A Brief History of Spanish Cinema (Spain) |
Spanish movies |
International renown, 3 films: Un perro andaluz; Benvenido, Mr. Marshal; Los amantes del Círculo Polar; Oscar-winning films; Abre los ojos |
Director Pedro Almodóvar |
reconocido, -a
más allá
repaso
repercusión
impactante
desvelar
metáfora
aislamiento
destino
nombrar
merecer la pena |
| 9 |
The Snowy Season (Spain) |
Skiing in Spain |
Rising standard of living has made more families able to ski; popular destinations (Pyrenees, Granada's Sierra Nevada) |
The economic reason for skiing's popularity
invierno
disfrutar
nieve
si el tiempo lo permite
destino
nivel de vida
instalaciones
|
| 10 |
Los carnavales (Spain) |
Carnival |
When it's celebrated (weeks before Holy Week), costumes, street parties, dances, brass bands |
History of banning Carnival |
muy distinta
el disfraz
satírica
las máscaras
personajes
desfiles
música
baile
buscar |
| 11 |
Las Fallas (Spain) |
Las Fallas |
Ritual burning of false, satirical works of art; scope of Valencia's Fallas |
Queens of the festival |
cartón
quemar
carpintero
barrio
alrededor
celebridades
salvar
la estatua
deportes
política |
| 12 |
Holy Week (Spain) |
Spain's Holy Week |
Catholic pervasion, processions (Nazarenes, bearers, penitents) |
Images of Christ |
la muerte
la pasión
los creyentes
resurrección
sangre
sangrar |
| 13 |
Televised Political Debates (Spain) |
Spain's televised political debates |
Pro: get people to pay attention to issues; con: influence people with other factors (appearance, voice, gestures, etc.) |
Spain's political structure |
campaña
elecciones
votar
debate
decantar
indeciso
influir
apariencia |
| 14 |
Fama (Spain) |
Fama |
Popularity of reality shows in Spain (since Big Brother), Operation Triumph, Fame |
Abundance of channels |
extraño
surgir
bombazo
consurso
aliciente
concursante
expulsado |
| 15 |
Eurovisión (Spain) |
Eurovision |
History of festival and its fluctuating popularity, resurgence thanks to Operation Triumph |
Spain's path to the EU |
atraer el interés
comienzo
dispararse
representante
recobrar
gala
ensayar |
| 16 |
La Feria de Abril (Spain) |
April's Market |
Origin as farmers' market, evolution to revelry among temporary vendors' stalls |
Seville, your only April destination |
feria
impaciencia
ganadero
agricultor
diversión
recinto
carruaje |
| 17 |
Refranes de Primavera (Spain) |
Weather proverbs |
"Windy March and rainy April make May flowery and beautiful," "In April thousands of waters," "Don't take off your smock until May fortieth" |
Vacationing in Spain's mercurial spring |
con ganas
terraza
refrán
ventoso
cumplir
corresponder
a persar
ropa de abrigo
|
| 18 |
Bull Season (Spain) |
Bullfighting |
Fiestas, running of the bulls, evening bullfights, controversy |
Origins and controversy |
polémico
la temporada
pueblo
a lo largo y ancho
protagonista
vallado
doblar una esquina
traja de luces
seguidor
detractor |
