Spanish Lessons in Leeds

Cuentos de la Selva - Horacio Quiroga

If you are looking to unlock a whole new world of stories while improving your Spanish skills, then don’t hesitate to read “Cuentos de la Selva” by Horacio Quiroga, an Uruguayan writer who published this novel in the 1920s. The tales are set in the Argentinian jungle and the main characters are animals that take on human characteristics, serving as a metaphor for how people interact with nature. These tales were originally written for children, so they are short and use fairly simple language, making this book the perfect choice for beginners eager to know more about the Argentinian culture. Click here to find out more about the novel.

La Sombra del Viento - Carlos Ruis Zafón

Reading a novel will help you familiarise yourself with Spanish sentence structure and grammar in real-life contexts. Forget about reading overly simple sentences and grab a novel like “La Sombra del viento”. Set in Barcelona, this is the story of 10-year-old Daniel, a boy who visits one of the biggest libraries in the city and finds a book called “La Sombra del Viento”. But, as soon as he draws it from the shelves, something strange happens and a seemingly innocent action transforms into a race to save the ones he loves. This novel by Zafón is the perfect choice for those who love mystery books and would like to know more about what happened in Spain after the civil war. Click here to find out more about the novel.

El Amor en los Tiempos de Cólera - Gabriel García Márquez

Developing proficiency in reading in Spanish has a positive effect on your listening and speaking skills as well, so it’s a great option for beginners who want to build their confidence. For example, you can start reading one of the most well-known books ever written in Spanish: “El Amor en los Tiempos del Cólera” by Gabriel García Márquez. This is a multiple-character story set in the 1800s that depicts forbidden love and draws a comparison between love and illness (in this case, cholera). The novel tells a captivating story but also carries a lot of deep, potentially unanswerable questions about the human condition and love itself. Click here to find out more about the novel.

Me Voy - Julieta Venegas

Julieta Venegas is a praised Spanish artist and “Me Voy” is the perfect example of her singing skills. This song follows the story of a woman who leaves her partner and says goodbye to him because of personal reasons, though she does not want to abandon him. It is very slow and uses simple vocabulary, which makes it perfect for Spanish learners who have just started their course. Furthermore, “Me Voy” is mostly sung in the present tense, so you won’t have problems understanding the grammar. Your brain will remember this catchy song and soon you’ll be saying “qué lástima” with flawless pronunciation! Check out the song here!

Nada Valgo Sin tu Amor - Juanes

Listening to songs in Spanish can massively improve your vocabulary and grammar. You can avoid the monotony of learning with a textbook, and you will probably remember words more easily if you learn them in a song rather than by memorising a long list. So, if you are looking for a jazz-inspired song to take your Spanish to the next level, “Nada valgo sin tu amor” is a great choice. This is the beautiful confession of a man who sings about how much he loves his partner and does not want to lose her. It uses a lot of complex grammatical structures (including the subjunctive mood), so it’s more suitable for intermediate students. Check out the song here!

Vivir mi Vida - Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony is one of the most famous Latin American singers and “Vivir mi vida” is one of his most famous songs. In the last few years, it has become an anthem that celebrates life and talks about the importance of staying positive, no matter how many hardships we face. The lyrics are simple and powerful and include a lot of repetition, so you’ll surely be able to follow the song, even if you are not very familiar with Spanish yet. You will also find a few interesting expressions and slang like “pa’ que?”, so make sure you read the lyrics closely to practise later! Check out the song here!

Local Football Teams Can Help You Learn

If you are looking to improve your command of the language, watching football matches in Spanish can be a great idea. This is a hugely popular sport in Spanish-speaking countries, so if you want to learn the language to interact with locals, it’s a good idea to know about football. You’ll be able to chat about this fascinating sport for hours! And if you are a fan of Spanish football teams (like the famous Barcelona or Real Madrid from Spain, or Boca Juniors from Argentina), you could try following these teams’ social media pages to learn new vocabulary and stay up-to-date about their achievements. Learn more about soccer teams here!

Newspapers: Great Tools to Enhance Vocabulary

Watching football matches in Spanish is not the only way to learn about this fascinating sport. In can be challenging to understand what commenters are saying, as they speak very quickly and use slang frequently. Instead, why not try to read the sports news instead of just watching events? Most newspapers, including El Pais, El Mundo and ABC, have a sports section where you can read about your favourite football teams. Furthermore, you can visit their websites and access an array of articles about the players, teams, gossip and curious football facts that interest you the most. Soon, you’ll understand what marcar un golazo or hacer un gol de chilena mean! Read El Pais' sports section here!

Spanish Commentary to Increase Listening Comprehension

When learning Spanish, it’s important to surround yourself with different contexts from where you can absorb vocabulary and phrases. Plus, doing so will help you to improve your listening comprehension skills. So, if you are a sports lover and your Spanish level is at least intermediate, you can try and watch the exciting matches of La Liga Española with Spanish commentary. The commentators speak really quickly and use a lot of slang, but you’ll surely be able to pick up some words and expressions, like pintalo de amarillo (“the yellow card”). CLick here to know when the Liga starts.

Esperando la Carroza

Are you looking to improve your listening skills in Spanish in the comfort of your own home while learning more about the Argentinian culture? Then, Esperando la Carroza is a movie you should not miss. This comedy follows the Rodriguez family who suddenly lose Mamá Cora and believe her dead, with amusing scenes that take place during the funeral. Today, most people in Argentina know the characters’ lines. So, by watching this hilarious movie, you’ll be able to pick up a lot of puns and cultural references to help you to integrate with the locals if you ever go to Argentina. Here you can find more information about this Argentinian movie.

Un Novio para mi Mujer

Are you planning to visit Argentina soon? If so, you’ll find the locals’ slang and high use of cultural references can be difficult to comprehend. Fortunately, you can become familiar by watching movies at home. One of the must-watch Argentinian comedy is Un Novio para mi Mujer, a movie that follows Carlos, a man who wants to get a divorce but doesn’t know how to say it to his wife. One of his friends suggests that it would be easier if his wife falls out of love with him instead, so the movie depicts hilarious situations where Carlos tries to make Victoria hate him. Find out more about the movie here.

8 Apellidos Vascos

Watching comedy can be a lot of fun and it’s even better if you watch them in the language you are learning. For example, watching Spanish comedy can be of great help when improving your listening skills and picking up some new vocabulary. So, why not enjoy high-quality Spanish productions, like 8 Apellidos Vascos? This movie deals with the ridiculous prejudice some people have about those who come from the Andalucia and El País Vasco regions, through a humorous lens. If you enjoy irony and jokes, then you’ll certainly have a laugh with the absurd situations depicted in the film! Read more about the film here!

Drink Some Mate - Argentina

Argentinians are known for carrying their mates everywhere they go, but what are these exactly? A mate is a drink made up of yerba, hot water, a straw and sugar. But mate is much more than just a drink: it’s a tradition. Although you can drink mate on your own, most people share it with friends, family or even strangers. Also, you should consider that some people prefer to drink mate dulce (with sweetener or sugar) or mate amargo (without sugar). Have a taste of both and decide which one you like best! Click here to learn more about mate!

Dance Flamenco - Spain

Flamenco is a highly expressive dance form originally from Spain, characterised by clapping, percussion and movements of the body, arms and hands. Most of the time, the dancer is a woman, who dances to the rhythm of a song and guitar. If you plan to learn it, there are some terms associated with flamenco that you should learn, like “corto” (a singer skilled only in some styles but not in others) or “braceo” (the movement of the dancer’s arms). Improve your mind-body coordination and build your confidence while embracing this cornerstone of Spanish culture! Learn more about Flamenco here!

Celebrate el Dia de los Muertos - Mexico

El Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican traditional celebration that honours those who have passed away. It’s celebrated every year on the 1st and 2nd November. In Mexico, it is believed that those who are not remembered by their families will just fade away and never reach paradise. So, during these days, people pray for the ones who died to be welcomed into Heaven. Some other traditions include visiting the graves of family and loved ones and preparing altars at the cemetery with food, candles, flowers and photographs to remember them. Learn more about the Day of the Death here.