Spanish learning tools

This week I started tutoring and it really made me realise how easy it is to let knowledge go.  I practise Spanish every day both at work and at home but my level is sorely lacking and I'm going to be working on that a lot over the next weeks.

I think I shared a post similar to this earlier in the year but my experience shows it doesn't hurt to have another look.

This is a site I use for all my languages every day - it's best for beginners though.  I need to stretch myself more in Spanish and German.

For reading, it's always great to look at current news articles as the context is usually already there and it normally involves new vocabulary in some way.

This school site has activities for all levels.  I can use some with classes and do the higher ones myself.

Here are some great videos, also at different levels that are great for honing those listening skills.  I already passed this tip on to my tutee.

The good old beeb also has a wide range of activities plus access to Spanish radio channels.

And of course, if you have the money, the good old fashioned book or film can be found here.  Here are some of my favourites:

Books:
Como agua para chocolate
El mar adentro
Diarios de motocicleta
La sombra del viento

Films:
Volver
El mar adentro
El laberinto del fauno
Diarios de motocicleta

Encuentro Hispanico

source

Today I was on a long training course for Spanish teachers. It's the first one I've been on for a while and I came back feeling totally energised and ready to go again.

First there was a talk on Spanish politics from a renowned professor. I was a bit worried but managed to follow and understand for the full hour.

Then came the first workshop on vocabulary training. It was just the right balance of talking and doing and of theory and practice.

Lunch was provided and various publishers were advertising their Spanish books and we were offered a 50% discount so I got a Spanish grammar book for my classes.

In order to get good value for money and get more involved in Spanish again, I joined the DSV (a committee for Spanish teachers in Germany). Their meeting took place after lunch and it was interesting to hear about the situation for Spanish in Bremen.

Then came the second workshop on mediation. This was really practical and interesting again and as with the morning workshop can be applied to Spanish or English.

Finally was an information session about exchanges with Spain and Mexico which is something our school is also interested in.

All in all, a great day!

Spanish Tip

Even though I won't be teaching for a while now, I'm always on the look out for new tips and resources. The same colleague who put me onto Babbel for my Turkish, also put me onto this teaching resource for Spanish.

It's a series set in Barcelona about an American learning Spanish. It's very visual and the actors don't talk too fast so the pupils really had understood a lot when I questioned them after the first episode. 

It's designed for English speakers but it's simple enough for our German pupils too. Have a look!

Ricitos de Oro

This was my view on Tuesday evening as my year six Spanish group made me and our Spanish assistant Laura very proud on stage.

At that age it is a huge thing to get up on stage in front of strangers, but to do it in a foreign language - I don't think I could have done it at 22 never mind at 12.

They performed twice and were brilliant.  I had the idea from a project in my NQT year and I hope it is something we can keep up for open evenings in the future too.

Empanadas

On Sunday, we tried to make Spanish style empanadas.  I love empanadas, I have done ever since I lived in Spain and fell in love with tapas.  When I went to a Tupperware party in February, I saw a special mold for making them at home. 

This weekend we got around to trying it and opted for an onion and blue cheese filling.  The mold was rubbish.  Maybe it was just with the gluten free dough but every time we closed the maker, all the filling fell out the middle.  My friend had the same problem.  In the end Nico made a couple by hand and they turned out the best tasting anyway. 

Next time we will definitely do it by hand and put in more filling!