Cool Conversations

Work into Spanish — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:23:12 +0000

Conversation practice for breaks between classes! Here are some student tasks to keep the momentum going. Try one per week.

Order a meal completely in Spanish.
Watch one episode of “Betty La Fea.”
Send an email to someone in Spanish.
Read an article from a Spanish newspaper (online or buy) and write one sentence about its contents.
Have a three-minute conversation with a Spanish-speaking employee about his/her plans for the holiday/summer/spring break - completely in Spanish!
Write your to-do list for one day in Spanish.
Find one Spanish grammar website on the Internet, and complete a free online practice.
Visit a bookstore. While you’re there, read a Spanish children’s book.
Listen to a Spanish CD.
Write a three-line poem in Spanish.

Grammar Goodness

Work into Spanish — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:21:27 +0000

To get along easier with Spanish commands, use “Favor de + infinitive verb form” as in “Favor de llenar esta forma /Please fill out this form.” It even works with negative commands as in “Favor de no llenar esta parte/Please don’t fill out this part.” Suggested by Joyce Lewis, Randolph Community College. Good one, Joyce!

Side Splitters

Work into Spanish — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:13:02 +0000

Can you recite the Spanish alphabet from memory in less than 15 seconds?

Cool Conversation

Work into Spanish — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:32:36 +0000

The 45-second conversation. Imagine a blank bingo card with only the outer-rim boxes. Assign a work-related topic to each empty box. Example topics - Mi Oficina, Mi Día Más Favorito, El Almuerzo, Mi Horario. Divide into groups of 3-4 people and label yourselves Student 1, 2, 3… Each student has 45 seconds to speak non-stop about the topic in a particular box.
Students find this board game in Work into Spanish tremendous fun and great practice!

Grammar Goodness

Work into Spanish — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:32:00 +0000

Use this catchy phrase to help remember the use of ser vs. estar:

“If it’s how you feel or where you are, you always use the verb estar.”

Name chase. Practice using ser and estar. Collaborate with a partner to describe a person at work. Have your classmates guess who it is.

Side Splitters

Work into Spanish — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:30:55 +0000

Too close for comfort. In front of the class, act out the medical problem written on your index card. Let your classmates guess the illness. Surprisingly, there are many illnesses in English that have Spanish cognates. A great confidence builder!

More creative miming cards can include dizziness vértigo, heart palpitations palpitaciones del corazón, loss of appetite perdido de apetito, sleep apnea apnea, amnesia amnesia, shortness of breath falta de aire, insomnia insomnio, allergies alergias, diarrhea diarrea, stress estrés/ nervios, appendicitis apendicitis, asthma asma, blurred vision vista nublada, bronchitis bronquitis, bunion juanete, laryngitis laryngitis, claustrophobia claustrofobia, double vision visión doble.

Cool Conversation

Work into Spanish — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:10:07 +0000

What’s in your pocket? Take out all the items from your pockets. Tell your partner about them. Use the present/past tense to explain. For example, with a set of keys you could say, “Traigo las llaves todo los días. Tengo muchas llaves que uso en mi trabajo. Esta llave es para mi oficina.” Let your partner ask you any questions about the object you are describing. When you have said enough, choose another object to describe. Take turns describing your objects.

Grammar Goodness

Work into Spanish — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:05:29 +0000

Concentration. Compile a list of common ar, er, and ir verbs. (Work into Spanish has a great list of common workplace verbs). Create a deck of cards -index cards will work- for groups of 3-4 employees with Spanish verbs and their English translation. Employees match the meanings in a traditional game of “Concentration.”

Side Splitters

Work into Spanish — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:00:37 +0000

Tell a joke. Jokes are a great way to start breaking down the language barrier. Tell this joke at work to your Spanish –speaking employees. See if they laugh.

Doctor, doctor, veo elefantes azules por todas partes.
¿Ha visto a un sicólogo?
No, sólo elefantes azules.