OK! I’m trying a new way. Visit this page often and try your hand at Spanish Lessons. Email questions or comment in the comment box or come to my “Office Hours”, Saturdays at 4 or whenever you see me sitting on my patio. I can help with pronunciation and I can help with your homework.
I am thinking that singing familiar lyrics will help you process sentences in Spanish as opposed to individual words. The goal is to gain a basic understanding of what is being said instead of focussing on the details of each word. Let me know if this approach works for you. You must do it over and over and over again for it to work.
Good Luck!
First Lesson - Richie Valens’ ”La Bamba”
SP – Para bailar La Bamba - Para bailar La Bamba ENG – In order to dance the “Bamba”
“para” a connecting word meaning “in order to” or “for” – “bailar” the infinitive “to dance” – “la” feminine pronoun – “Bamba” a noun name of the dance
SP – Se necessita una poca de gracia ENG – You need a little bit of grace
“se” – Personal pronoun meaning “you” – “necessita”, “you need”, 2nd person conjugation of the infinitive “necessitar”. It’s an “-ar” verb, so drop the “-ar” and add “-a” . Click this link for a complete conjugation of “necessitar” – “una” feminine adjective meaning “one” - “poca” feminine adjective meaning “little” – “de” connecting word meaning “of” – “gracia” feminine noun meaning “grace”. Look for the common Latin root in many words, “grace”/”gracia”
SP – Una poca de gracia ENG - A little bit of grace
SP – Pa’ mi, pa’ ti, ay arriba, ay arriba ENG – for me, for you, faster faster
“Pa” contracted version of “para”, see above – “mi” personal pronoun meaning “me” or “mine” – “ti” personal pronoun meaning “you” or “yours” (familiar) - “Ay” throwaway word – ”arriba” technically the command form of “go up”, here it means “faster” (it’s also a common colloquialism, or local phrase)
SP – Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere ENG - I will be here for you
“por” connecting word meaning “by” or “for” – “ti” see above – “sere” (it needs an accent) future tense, 1st person of the verb “ser”, meaning “to be”. Drop the “-er” ending and add “ere” (should have an accent on the second “e”, but I can’t put one in)
All Together Now!! Click this link to sing along!
SP - Yo no soy marinero , Yo no soy marinero ENG – I am not a sailor
“yo” – personal 1st person pronoun I – “no” “no” or “not” – “soy” 1st person conjugation of the verb “ser”. It’s irregular. To see the conjugation for “ser” click this link. “marinero” – masculine noun meaning “sailor”. To see a list of common verbs and their worker names, click here.
Many professions are described by the verb for the work, then drop the ending and add “-ero” , “-ora”or “-ador” “-ista”, eg: “marinar” to sail, drop the “-ar” and add ”ero” (masculine). A female sailor would be a “marinera”. “Trabajero” – worker, ”trabajar” to work + “-ero”.
SP – Soy capitan, soy capitan ENG – I am a captain
“soy” – see above. “capitan” noun. There are two Spanish verbs meaning “to be”, “ser” and “estar”. You use “ser” when the condition of being is not likely to change. For example. “Soy una mujer”, “I am a woman”. Use “estar” for a condition that is likely to change; for example, “Estoy feliz”, “I am happy”. “Estoy” is the 1st person conjugation of “estar” and is irregular. Just memorize it.
To see Spanish Class Lesson One, click here.
HOMEWORK – Click here.
After you finish your homework, click here for a karaoke version of La Bamba and sing along using your new lyrics!!
Second Lesson – Tito Puente’s “Oye Como Va”
As performed by Carlos Santana
SP Oye, como va, mi ritmo bueno pa’ gozar, Mulata ENG Hey, how’s it going? My rhythm is good for partying, Sweetie.
“Oye” – command form of “oir”, “to hear”. Here it mean “Listen”. Click here to learn more about command forms. “como” – connecting word meaning “how”. ”va” – 2nd person, present tense of the verb “to go”. Click here to see the conjugation of the verb “to go”. “mi” – personal pronoun meaning “my” or “mine”. ”ritmo” – noun meaning “rhythm”. “bueno” adjective meaning “good”. It modifies “ritmo” and so is masculine. “pa” is a contraction for “para”, a connecting word meaning “for” or “in order to”. “gosar” or “gozar” means “to party” or “to enjoy”. “Mulata” is technically a female who is half Spanish and half Indian. Common usage is an endearment.
Click here to hear the music
