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Lesson Transcript

Fernando: Welcome everyone, I’m here with JP. JP, how are ya?
JP: I’m great, Fernando. How are you?
Fernando: I’m good, I’m good. 5 phrases you’ll hear in a classroom when you’re learning Spanish. This is pretty important, at least basic, but important basic.
JP: Yes, now certainly your teacher will teach you as the class progresses how to say these things. But, if you know how to say these things from day one, you’re probably going to get brownie points.
Fernando: Wonderful
JP: And I’ve got 5 key phrases for you
Fernando: Ok. Numero uno.
JP: Numero uno. The first key phrase that you’re gonna hear in a classroom that you might say is going to be, “Perdón, tengo una pregunta.”
Fernando: Excuse me, I have a question.
JP: Ok, so this is when you’re raising your hand.
Fernando: Right.
JP: And it’s very polite. “Perdón,” excuse me. “Tengo una pregunta,” I have a question.
Fernando: You’ll probably have quite a few of those.
JP: Right, right. And, you know, as a teacher, as a former teacher, I can tell you I really don’t like it when people just shout out their questions. I really enjoy it when they say, “perdón, tengo una pregunta.”
Fernando: You like the formality. And it’s good, it doesn’t interrupt the class.
JP: Exactly, exactly. “Perdón, tengo una pregunta.” That’s one of my five key phrases that you’ll hear in a classroom.
Fernando: Exactly. Numero dos.
JP: Numero dos. The next one, “cómo se dice…en español?”
Fernando: How do you say that in Spanish?
JP: So the first part, “cómo se dice” literally says “how is it said?” Right? “How do you say it?” And then, “en español” you can either say or you can leave out. “En español” means…
Fernando: In Spanish.
JP: In Spanish. Like for example if I say “Cómo se dice red?” Like if I don’t know the word for “red” I’ll say, “perdón, tengo una pregunta.”
Fernando: He’s raising his hand
JP: I am. “Cómo se dice red en español?”
Fernando: How do you say red?
JP: In Spanish, right?
Fernando: In Spanish, yes.
JP: And the answer, the teacher’s answer will be “se dice rojo.”
Fernando: Se dice rojo.
JP: “Se dice” means “you say…rojo”
Fernando: You say rojo
JP: This is important when you’re having a conversation, you get stuck and maybe you don’t know the word in Spanish so maybe you can ask in English. “Cómo se dice”…give the English word
Fernando: Right, of course what you want to do after you’ve been given the answer is repeat the answer in Spanish.
JP: That’s right, you have to learn the answer. Ok, you want to hear number three?
Fernando: Yes I do.
JP: Ok, my third key phrase that you’re probably going to hear in a classroom, that you might even say, is “Qué quiere decir?”
Fernando: What does that mean?
JP: It means, “Qué quiere decir?”
Fernando: What does that mean?
JP: It means, “What does that mean?”
Fernando: Oh, “What does that mean?”
JP: So if you hear something, you don’t know what it means, “Qué quiere decir?”
Fernando: “Qué quiere decir?” What does that mean?
JP: Now you notice, when you say “qué quiere decir?” when you ask “what does that mean?” you might get an answer in English, you might get the translation in English. Or, you might get an explanation in Spanish. So you have to be ready for either of those, whether it’s the English equivalent or a periphrastic explanation, when they try to talk you through it.
Fernando: And what language to you usually respond in?
JP: As a teacher, I usually respond in Spanish and I imagine that most teachers that follow my method would respond in Spanish as well. Cuz you gotta speak Spanish in Spanish class.
Fernando: Of course.
JP: If not, where else?
Fernando: Where else?
JP: Hey folks, before we move on to the number four key phrase that you’re likely to hear in a classroom, I want to remind you to take a look at the lesson notes for this podcast. You will find all five of these phrases in their written form and you can follow along, alright? So, you ready for number four?
Fernando: I am.
JP: Ok, number four is pretty important. It’s, “Cómo se escribe?”
Fernando: “How is that written?” or “How is that spelled?”
JP: Exactly. “Cómo se escribe?” Ok, so when you ask “Cómo se escribe?” your teacher will probably tell you, either using the letters, or maybe the teacher will write it on the board. I used to finger spell mine in sign language so I wouldn’t have to get up.
Fernando: That’s very convenient.
JP: Yeah. Cómo se escribe?
Fernando: Cómo se escribe? How is that written? How is that spelled?
JP: Ok, the last of my five
Fernando: Achoo
JP: Salud. Ok, the last one if for when somebody sneezes.
Fernando: Like I just did.
JP: Like you just did. And you notice everyone that when Fernando sneezed I said, “salud,” which is what you say when somebody sneezes. It means “health.”
Fernando: Yes
JP: Ok so when somebody sneezes you have to wish them health, “salud.”
Fernando: Salud.
JP: Now here’s the deal. In English, if somebody sneezes we say, “bless you,” right? And if they sneeze twice we say “bless you,” and if they sneeze three times we say “bless you,” right?
Fernando: Yes
JP: In Spanish we don’t do that. So the first sneeze in Spanish, you’re going to say “salud.”
Fernando: Yes
JP: The second sneeze, if somebody sneezes twice you’re going to wish them “dinero,” which means “money.” Ok, “dinero.” So the first one, “salud,” the second one, “dinero,” and the third one?
Fernando: Love
JP: Love, “amor.” So, ok do you want to act this out for the people? Ok, you be the sneezer.
Fernando: I’ll be the sneezer.
JP: Alright.
Fernando: Alright, so we’re walking down the street and…ACHOO
JP: Salud.
Fernando: ACHOO
JP: Dinero.
Fernando: Wow, one more. ACHOO.
JP: Amor. So those three wishes that we do, salud, dinero, and amor, those are the three things that in Spanish culture, in Spanish society that people wish for. In America we wish for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Fernando: Yes.
JP: And in Spanish they do salud, dinero, and amor. Now, the one funny thing we do is that when people sneeze the first time they say “salud,” the second time we say “dinero,” and if they can’t do a third one then we say “falta amor.” It means, “no love for you.”
Fernando: No love or “love is missing.”
JP: Yes.
Fernando: What if they sneeze more than three times?
JP: You know what, I don’t know. I think we say “salud” again. I don’t know, you can make something up at that point. You can say like
Fernando: Nice car, nice European car.
JP: Transportación.
Fernando: Yes. Transportation.
JP: I don’t know.
Fernando: Well, in this economy you want public transportation. Just an observation. Well, this is great, this is great. JP, again, thank you for your insight.
JP: Grácias a ti Fernando.
Fernando: Catch us on All About lesson 15. Thank you, guys.
JP: Hasta luego.
Fernando: Byebye!

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