El Imperfecto: Pasados en español

Los pasados en español son un tema que a veces puede parecer más sencillo de lo que realmente termina siendo. Sobre todo, si el caso es que nuestros estudiantes tienen como primera lengua el inglés, entonces, hay que prestar atención especial a algunos temas concretos. Por ejemplo:

• La lengua inglesa carece de tiempos verbales que sean exactamente iguales y ocupen la misma función que la oposición entre Imperfecto/Indefinido
• De todos modos, existen similitudes que pueden usarse positivamente:
• El Imperfecto en español se suele traducir por el pasado continuo en inglés, aunque en este caso nos encontramos con otro problema, también se traduce por la perífrasis "estar + gerundio"
• El Indefinido en español se traduce por el pasado simple en inglés

En la presentación se aborda una tarea de descubrimiento para que los estudiantes intenten deducir por sí mismos las terminaciones del Imperfecto a través de la lectura de un texto breve. 

Además, se tratan: formación del Imperfecto, usos, ejes cronológicos para ayudar como apoyo visual a la comprensión del contraste entre Imperfecto e Indefinido y algunas propuestas de actividades.

Education is an ornament in prosperity

and

a refuge in adversity

Aristotle

Lunaprofe 1/21/2019  3 comments

El futuro

Through this post I try to put together some thoughts and resources to teach future tense in Spanish. The main idea is students constructing the knowledge by themselves by discovery/deduction. If a student figures out the endings of a verb conjugation (looking at patterns for instance) is more likely to be easier to remember than just transmitting them the information.

I have found out that teaching past, present and future tenses together help students to comprehend them better and that there is no problem understanding the concepts, in the contrary, they have more information to contrast, compare and therefore internalize these concepts easier and with less effort.

I usually use a simple table with three columns: past, present and future, in order to organize the information. We don't just talk about verbs, we write down every word that help us identify or talk in one of the tenses. The majority of the times, we brainstorm this in class, so they are the students the ones that actually build up this chart. If they construct the knowledge is easier for them to remember and internalize.

Additional resources:

• Busco trabajo [pdf]
• Anuncios de periódicos [pdf] 

Compartir una idea, tiempo, un libro,

eso es lo que cambiará el mundo.

Lunaprofe 2/19/2018  No comment

El Condicional

The Conditional tense must be introduced to students in early stages, the CEFR places it in the A1,A2 level, that is an emergent communicator phase or beginners level. The expression possibilities that we are opening up for our students are very interesting. 

The theory is not really difficult is just adding endings to the infinitive and if you work with patterns or chunks it can be combined at early stages with some really difficult tenses such as subjunctive, as we do for instance in the Twitter activity in the presentation.

Education is no substitute for intelligence

Frank Herbert

Lunaprofe 1/08/2018  1 comment

Los adjetivos

The adjectives in Spanish is something perfect to teach at early stages and practice agreement, ser/estar, etc.

It is important also to highlight that gender is variable from language to language, which can be masculine in German could be feminine in Spanish and viceversa, so they understand better language differences linked to cultural differences.

I did put together a presentation based on visual learning / comprehensible input to explain the articles to my students, you can find it here.



More Resources:

Resources:

- Activity #1 [web]

-  Activity #2 [web]

-  Activity #3 [web]
-  Activity #4 [web]
-  Activity #5 [web]

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new

Albert Einstein

Lunaprofe 11/20/2017  No comment

Los artículos

The articles in Spanish is a topic that seems easy but if you don't build a good foundation for your students they might struggle with their articles for quite a long time.

It is important also to highlight that gender is variable from language to language, which can be masculine in German could be feminine in Spanish and viceversa, so they understand better language differences linked to cultural differences.

I did put together a presentation based on visual learning to explain the articles to my students, you can find it here.

  

Los artículos
El / La / Los / Las [Determinados]	Un / Una / Unos / Unas [Indeterminados]

Resources:

Resources:

- Articles Theory / Explanation with visual input [pdf]
- Activity #1 [pdf]
- Visual activity, complete with the correct article [pdf]

Lunaprofe 8/31/2017  No comment

El imperativo

What do we use "Imperativo" for? 
To command something to someone.

After you learn/review Imperativo try some writing using these writing prompts. Remember to read carefully the instructions first and then include all details required.

This topic can be covered at the very beginning of the school year. I actually do it pretty soon because I usually use it to teach my students how to come up with their own class rules in Spanish.
Along with this, we work with the song La flaca [Andrés Calamaro] to internalize these structures. These lyrics are formidable to work on Commands in Spanish. There is a very interesting packet available online to work along with the song [B1 CEFR]. The melody of this song is also very sticky and help the students memorize these forms. 
Activity: From this verse [below] Find the command forms in Spanish and tell me if they are affirmative or negative.

Flaca [Andrés Calamaro]

Aunque casi me equivoco y te digo poco a poco

no me mientas, no me digas la verdad

no te quedes callada, no levantes la voz

ni me pidas perdón.

Activity: Home connection.
Look at the image provided in this post. Those are personal reminders for me [Levántate, Sueña, Lucha...] think of your own personal and if you want/need private reminders write them down and put them up in your desk so when you are studying or doing something else you can always see them and remember your own personal goals.

Activity: try these conversation cards to practice your commands in Spanish, it is also funny to actually do what you are requested and that demonstrates comprehension.


There are also resources at the bottom of this post [in Resources] that will help you explain commands to your class, worksheets, visual activities... don't miss them out!

The activity ¡A los pasillos! is usually very attractive for the students because it includes a scavenger hunt and their own interpretation of an image, creativity. Give it a try and get back to me with your students impressions!

Some of most important irregularities when using commands in Spanish can be found in the table below:

Infinitivo Afirmativo Negativo decir hacer poner salir ser tener valer venir di haz pon sal sé ten val ven no digas no hagas no pongas no salgas no seas no tengas no valgas no vengas

Sometimes we can also use the infinitive as a command in Spanish. They are actually very common structures. So, maybe it would be a good idea to memorize these couple of cases not to interfere with your learning of commands in Spanish.

Another way of commanding in Spanish is using the following structure: a + infinitivo

¡A jugar!

¡A dormir!

Atención

When the subject is impersonal the infinitive can be used as a command form. It is also very common to find the structure participle + infinitive in the public regulations signs.

Example: 

No fumar / No hablar / No gritar / No hacer ruido / ...

Prohibido fumar / Prohibido nadar / Prohibido jugar a la pelota / ...

Resources:
- Worksheet Imperativo #1 [pdf] 
- Worksheet Imperativo #2 [pdf]
- Worksheet Imperativo #3 [pdf]
- Presentation El imperativo [pdf]
- Activity ¡A los pasillos! [pdf]
- Poster [jpg]
- Theory, El imperativo [html]
- Gramática intensiva [html]
- Writing prompts [pdf]
- Kahoot: Imperativo #1
- Kahoot: Imperativo #2
- Kahoot: Imperativo #3

Lunaprofe 1/09/2017  No comment

Gerund in Spanish

This is a tough one in Spanish. Most of the times all the mistakes come from transferring the English language into the Spanish one. With this post I am going to try to give a few, simple and direct tips to avoid the incorrect use of this verb form in Spanish for beginners.
First thing we do in my class is using the visual provided here to deduce the rule for gerund in Spanish. Putting this responsibility upon students shoulders is a great strategy to develop autonomy, critical thinking, logical thinking skills. They get used to be detectives in my class. Actually they wear so many different hats in my class, but isn't it real life like that?

One big idea when using gerund in Spanish:

The action expressed by the gerund MUST happen before or at the same time as the action of the main verb, NEVER later

Correct:	Incorrect:
Paco aprende español cantando canciones.	Preguntó al profesor ayudándose de las ayudas visuales.
Thinking activity:  Looking at the first example, when is the action happening? is it previous, simultaneous or later?  In the second example, previous, simultaneous or later?

The following sequences can help us to establish and settle authentic pieces of language highlighting the concept of gerund. Pay attention to how two first sentences get combined into the third one: 

Sequences of gerund:

Llegó muy tarde a clase de español. Pidió permiso para entrar. Llegó muy tarde a clase de español pidiendo permiso para entrar.

Observó atentamente la imagen. Preguntó una duda. Observó atentamente la imagen preguntando una duda.

Quiso aprender español después de la escuela. Preguntó al profesor que podía hacer. Quiso aprender español después de la escuela preguntando al profesor que podía hacer.

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Some of the ideas from this post have been borrowed from Proyecto Aula 

Want to know more?

• Usos del gerundio [Fundación del español urgente]
• El gerundio. Grammar [El juego]
• Continuous tense. Grammar [El juego]
• 7 worksheets [ISL Collective]
• Correct and incorrect use of the gerund [Borradores]
• Intensive grammar [Ministerio de educación]

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest

Benjamin Franklin

Lunaprofe 10/23/2015  1 comment

"Useful" verbs list

There are thousands of "useful verbs lists" online. A good first question could be: Are they really useful? YES! Of course, but that depends more on how you use those lists.
One of the first things to consider can be what to do with these kinds of lists.
I like to begin with activities that involve several skills. For instance, have your students choose 4 or 6 verbs and sketch the meaning of it. No translations, just pictures. This allow our students understand the power of visuals. It is really easier for them to understand things with an image than a translation.

I assume verb conjugations are not fun, and if you are not determined to memorize them some students can get to think it's boring. So I always consider "games" to practice conjugations in my class. For example Battleship:

Sequence

• Students each receive two papers with 20 x 20 grids.
• The rows and columns on the grid are labeled with letters for the rows and numbers for the columns.
• On one of the grids, each places five ships – one that covers five spaces, one four, two three, and one two. This grid shows the placement of their own ships and should remain hidden from the other player.
• Once both players have placed their ships, play begins.
• The first player guesses a grid location (ex. B-5).
• If the other player has that square colored in, he/she says “Tocado” (and the guesser colors in the block on the second grid page). If the square is blank, he/she says “Agua” (and the guesser puts an X in the square). If a player has guessed all of the squares for a ship, the other player says “Tocado y hundido” because that ship has been sunk.
• The other player then takes a turn guessing a location.
• The first player to sink all five of the other player’s ships wins.

Tip: Diversify your verbs as much as you can and pleaseeeee, avoid overusing: hacer, tener, pensar, querer.

- A – Abrir – to open Acercarse – to approach Aceptar – to accept Acompañar a – to accompany Acordarse de – to remember Adquirir – to acquire Aguantar – to put up with Aislar – to isolate Alcanzar – to reach Alejarse – to move away from Apetecer – to feel like Apoyar – to support Aprender – to learn Aprovechar – to make the most of Atender – to serve Asegurar – to ensure Asistir a – to attend Asustar – to shock, frighten Averiguar – to find out	- B – Bailar – to dance Beber – to drink	- C – Caber – to fit Cambiar – to change Cancelar – to cancel Cerrar – to close Comer – to eat Comprar – to buy Comenzar – to start Comprender – to comprehend Conducir – to drive Conocer – to know Conseguir – to achieve Contar – to count Continuar – to continue Correr – to run Crear – to create Creer – to believe Cumplir – to fulfill
- D – Dañar – to hurt Dar – to give Darse cuenta de – to realize Decir – to say Desaparecer – to disappear Destacar – to highlight Despertar – to wake up Desviar – to deviate Dibujar – to draw Dirigirse a – to address someone Dormir – to sleep Dudar – to doubt	- E – Empezar – to start Enfatizar – to emphasize Encontrar – to find Entender – to understand Enterarse de – to hear about something Entregar – to give in Enviar – to send Equivocarse – to be mistaken Escuchar – to listen Escribir – to write Esperar – to wait Estudiar – to study Evitar – to avoid Exigir – to demand Explicar – to explain	- F – Firmar – to sign Fomentar – to foment, to foster
- G – Gastar – to spend Gozar – to heartily enjoy	- H – Hablar – to speak Hacer – to make/do Hallar – to find somewhere Herir – to hurt	- I – Ignorar – to not know Impedir – to prevent Intentar – to try Interrumpir – to interrupt Ir – to go
- J – Jugar – to play	- K -	- L – Leer – to read Levantarse – to stand up Limpiar – to clean Lograr – to achieve
- LL – Llover – to rain	- M – Manejar – to drive Mirar – to look	- N – Nadar – to swim Necesitar – to need
- Ñ -	- O – Ocurrir – to occur, to happen Oir – to hear Olvidar – to forget Organizar – to organize	- P – Pagar – to pay Parecer – to seem Pensar – to think Perder – to lose Permanecer – to remain Permitir – to permit, to allow Poder – to can, be able Poner – to put Ponerse de pie – to stand up Preguntar – to ask Preocuparse por – to worry about Pretender – to hope to achieve Prestar – to borrow Prevenir – to warn Probar – to try out Proporcionar – to provide
- Q – Quejarse – to complain Querer – to want	- R – Reparar – to fix Responder – to reply Romper – to break	- S – Saber – to know Sentarse – to sit Señalar – to point out Sonreír – to smile Soportar – to put up with Subrayar – to underline
- T – Tener – to have Tener éxito – to succeed Terminar – to finish Tocar (un instrumento) – to play (an instrument) Tomar – to take Traducir – to translate Traer – to bring Tratar – to attempt, to try	- U – Utilizar – to utilize Usar – to use	- V – Valer – to be worth Ver – to see Vender – to sell Viajar – to travel Vivir – to live Volar – to fly
- W –	- X -	- Y -
- Z –

Interesting activities you might want to consider for your verbs classes:

• Verbs and tenses [by SJ]

Lunaprofe 9/15/2014  No comment