If, like me, you took Spanish in high school, spending hours in a language lab, learning boring dialogs:
“¿Cómo están Pablo y Luisa?
Pablo está bien, pero Luisa tiene catarro.
¡Qué lástima, lo siento, ojalá que se mejore pronto!”
Which, by the way, was the exact same dialog that you learned in French class, except there the leading characters were Paul et Marie, you will understand the revolution in Spanish learning offered by the “Podcasts En Spanish” from Spanish Tutor DC! The podcasts are authentic conversations between two native Spanish speakers (who happen be husband and wife). Learners are exposed to different accents (the husband is Spanish the wife Mexican), and the podcasts are offered at the beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Unlike my old friends Pablo y Luisa, the listener is not exposed to a difficult verb like “mejore” in the fist lesson without the slightest explanation.
I love the fact that “Podcasts En Spanish” debunks long-held and nonsensical rules of so-called Spanish grammar. For example, the difference between the verbs “ser” and “estar” is not one of permanent-state vs. temporary-state (a silly distinction that is blown away when the learner hears “el está muerte”). And oh, by the way, it is sometimes possible to use the imperfect subjective when the main clause is in the present tense: “Mucha gente duda que Elvis muriera en 1977.”
Rather than offering pat, often overly simplified grammar rules, “Podcasts En Spanish” acknowledges the interesting complexity of real language while offering authentic, humorous, and easily understood explanations all without resorting to English!
I wish “Podcasts En Spanish” had been available when I first learned Spanish and I rejoice that they are here now to help me maintain and improve my Spanish proficiency!
