Beginners series 1

Beginners 2: Resolutions

We’ve just reached another new year, and another opportunity to make and break new years resolutions! We run through the most popular resolutions, and tell you our own new years resolutions. Here’s what you’ll learn:
  • Do they have new years resolutions in Colombia?
  • The top 10 most popular resolutions, and how to say them in Spanish
  • How to say your own resolutions, in Spanish
Picture of Lis Salinas

Lis Salinas

Colombiana

Picture of Rob

Rob

Inglés

Contents

Transcript

Hola a todos y bienvenidos a spanishobsessed this is our beginner podcast 2, estoy con Lis, hola Lis [Hi everyone and welcome to Spanish Obsessed… I’m with Lis, Hi Lis]
Hola Rob, hola a todos [Hi Rob, hi everyone]
¿Cómo estás? [How are you?]
Muy bien gracias, ¿tú cómo estás? [Very good thanks, how are you?]
Muy bien gracias, today we coming to the end of the year 2012 and starting 2013, in England when we finish our year as you all know we a lot of people come up with new year´s resolutions and I’ve certainly thought of a few, I’m sure Lis has a few as well, we are going to talk about that later, I was wondering in Colombia is there a custom of resolutions for the new year?
We have a custom called 12 wishes but it is the same as here
Ok we have resolutions and in Colombia they have wishes.
So, I have done a little bit of research and out of curiosity I wanted to see what the most popular resolutions were, so thanks to time.com we have the 10 most popular resolutions. So I wonder if you can guess what they are, so number ten, what is it Lis, in Spanish?
Bajar de peso [To lose weight]
Again?
Bajar de peso
and what does that mean?
It means when you want to lose weight and get fit
Ok bajar de peso, and how do you say to get fit
Ponerse en forma
Ok, so a popular resolution, bajar de peso y ponerse en forma. Lose weight and get fit, do you want to do that?
Yeah yeah, after Christmas time I have to.
What’s resolution number 9, the ninth most popular?
Dejar de fumar [To stop smoking]
Again
Dejar de fumar
Ok and what does that mean?
Quit smoking
Quit smoking, yes, so very popular one there, to quit smoking, dejar de fumar. Quiero dejar de fumar. I want to quit smoking, do you want to quit smoking, ¿quieres dejar de fumar? 
I am not smoking
So what’s resolution number 8?
Aprender algo nuevo, it means to learn something new
Cool! how do you say that again?
Aprender algo nuevo
Aprender algo nuevo
For example, yo quiero aprender a bailar tango
Yo quiero aprender a bailar tango, so aprender is learn, algo
Something
Nuevo
New
Yeah, aprender algo nuevo , great, so Lis wants to learn tango, what do you want to learn? What’s resolution number 7?
Very important, salir de la deuda y ahorrar dinero, salir de la deuda y ahorrar dinero [To get out of debt and save money]
What does it mean?
Can you help me?
Yes, so it means get out of debt, salir de la deuda, y save money ahorrar dinero, very popular one especially in Spain I imagine, with the crisis.
Ok what about resolution number 6, the 6th most popular?
Comer más sano y hacer una dieta [To eat more healthily and go on a diet]
Again
Comer más sano y hacer una dieta
Comer más sano, so eat healthier y hacer una dieta and go on a diet or start a diet y tú Lis ¿quieres comer mas sano? [Do you want to eat more healthily?]
Y ¿quieres hacer una dieta? [And do you want to go on a diet?]
También [Also]
I don’t think so, right, what about number 6th no the 5th most popular resolution?
Pasar más tiempo con la familia [To spend more time with the family], very important
What does it mean?
Just you have to share more time with your family
And how do you say it again?
Pasar más tiempo con tu familia
Pasar más tiempo con la familia, con tu familia
Or you can say compartir con la familia, compartir means to share
So pasar spend more time or compartir; share more time, that’s nice, very good one. What about number 4
Viajar a sitios nuevos [Travel to new places]
And what does that mean?
Travel, and travel, and travel a lot
So viajar is travel, a sitios nuevos to new place, ¿y Lis dónde quieres viajar? [Lis, where do you want to travel?]
I want to go to México this year and Spain and Italy
Lots of places
Yes and a lot of money as well, but
And number 3, what is the third most popular resolution?
Estar menos estresados, very important for English people. Estar menos estresados [To be lessed stressed]
And what does that mean?
Be less stressed
Be less streessed, yes I think this is very important for people in England, who are always very stressed, it’s very important to , estar menos estresados and this is a good one because if you are a man you say estresado, with an o at the end if you are women estresada so it’s an adjective which changes, so Lis ¿quieres estar menos estresada? [Do you want to be less stressed?]
Sí estaré menos estresada el otro año [Yes, I will be less stressed next year]
Muy bien, and the second most popular resolution
Hacer voluntariado [To do volunteering]
And what does it mean?
It is like an internship job, unpaid job, volunteer job
So be an a volunteer, hacer voluntariado, y ¿tú Lis vas a hacer voluntariado? [Are you going to do volunteering?]
Sí, lo estoy haciendo [Yes, I’m doing it]
Muy bien, and finally the most popular in England, see if you can guess what’s the most popular I think it’s not surprising at all , What is the most popular resolution?
Beber menos alcohol [Drink less alcohol], the same word
So I’m sure you can guess what it means
Drink less
Drink less, especially in England y Lis, tú en el otro año, ¿tú quieres beber menos? [Lis, you next year, do you want to drink less?]
I’m not drinking a lot but I have to
Very good, so those were the most popular new years resolutions we also came with our own Spanish Obsessed resolutions, so there is a question that you can ask to find out what someone’s resolutions are, so Lis how do you say to someone “what are your new year’s resolutions”?
¿Cuáles son tus resoluciones para el año que viene? Cuáles son tus resoluciones para el año que viene? [What are your new years resolutions?]
So Ok Lis, ¿Cuáles son tus resoluciones para el año que viene?
Bien, la primera, mejorar mi nivel de inglés, la segunda aprender a bailar tango, también quiero aprender a tocar guitarra, mejorar y viajar a México. [Ok, the first one, improve my level of English, the second to learn to dance tango, I also want to learn to play guitar, improve and travel to Mexico]
What was number 1?
Mejorar mi nivel de inglés [Improve my level of English]
Right, and what does that mean?
I need to improve my English
Mejorar, improve, mi nivel de inglés, my level of English, my English. OK, what was number 2?
Aprender a bailar tango [To learn to dance tango]
Aprender a bailar tango? and what does it mean?
Bailar, dance tango. Ahora Rob ¿cuáles son tus resoluciones para el año que viene? [Now Rob, what are your new years resolutions?]
Número uno es aprender a nadar mejor, segundo es aprender Ruso, el idioma ruso y finalmente el número 3 es tomar menos cafeína, yo tengo un problemo, tomo demasiada cafeina. [Number one is to learn to swim better, second is to learn Russian, the Russian language, and finally number 3 is to drink less caffeine, I have *a problem*, I drink too much caffeine]
Un problema [A problem – Correction of Rob]
Un problema, gracias! Quiero tomar menos cafeina [A problem, thanks! I want to drink less caffeine]
Y cerveza [And beer]
yY cerveza también, gracias! [And beer too, thanks!]
Number one aprender a nadar mejor, means aprender – to learn, a nadar mejor– to swim better. I am not a very good swimmer I want to learn how to swim better, it will be my new exercise. Number 2 I said aprender ruso, so aprender again- to learn and then Ruso is Russian. I used to speak Russian unfortunately I’ve forgotten most of it, so I’d love to learn that again, and finally tomar menos cafeina y alcohol so drink less caffeine, I drink far too much coffee so it would be great to drink less caffeine and while we’re at it maybe less alcohol as well. So what are your new year’s resolutions? Why don’t you let us know in the comments below, we’ll be really interested in finding out you can tell them in English, or Spanish, or whatever you like. Until then that’s all from us spanishobsessed I’ll say hasta luego [Goodbye]
Muchas gracias, hasta la pròxima! [Many thanks, until next time!]

Review

Initial conversation

SpanishEnglish
Rob: Hola a todos y bienvenidos a spanishobsessed this is our beginner podcast 2, estoy con Lis, hola LisHi everyone and welcome to Spanish Obsessed, I’m with Lis, hi Lis
Lis: Hola Rob, hola a todosHi Rob, hi everyone
Rob: ¿Cómo estás? How are you?
Lis: Muy bien gracias, ¿tú cómo estás?Very good thanks, how are you?

New year’s resolutions

SpanishEnglish
¿Cuáles son tus resoluciones para el año que viene?What are your resolutions for next year?
Bajar de pesoTo lose weight
Ponerse en formaTo get in shape
Dejar de fumarTo stop smoking
Quiero dejar de fumarI want to stop smoking
Aprender algo nuevoTo learn something new
Yo quiero aprender a bailar tangoI want to learn to dance tango
Salir de la deuda y ahorrar dineroTo get out of debt and save money
Comer más sano y hacer una dietaTo eat more healthily and go on a diet
Pasar más tiempo con la familiaSpend more time with the family
Viajar a sitios nuevosTravel to new places
Estar menos estresadosTo be less stressed
Hacer voluntariadoTo volunteer
Beber menos alcoholTo drink less alcohol
Mejorar mi nivel de inglés To improve my level of English
Aprender a bailar tango To learn to dance tango

Exercises

Downloads

Contents

Beginners 1: The weather

Welcome to our first episode, all about the weather! Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Questions to ask people when you first meet them
  • How to ask about the weather
  • How to tell people that it’s hot, cold, raining, or sunny
View Lesson

Beginners 2: Resolutions

We’ve just reached another new year, and another opportunity to make and break new years resolutions! We run through the most popular resolutions, and tell you our own new years resolutions. Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Do they have new years resolutions in Colombia?
  • The top 10 most popular resolutions, and how to say them in Spanish
  • How to say your own resolutions, in Spanish
View Lesson

Beginners 3: Transport

Learn about different types of transport in Spanish, including a few methods which are unique to Colombia! You’ll learn:

  • Different methods of transport
  • The cardinal numbers (first, second, third, etc)
  • The “masculine problem” (you’ll see what we mean)
  • Problems of transport
View Lesson

Beginners 4: Illnesses

Rob and Liz are enfermos (ill)! They talk (moan) about their illnesses, and what they’re going to do about it. In episode 4 you’ll learn:

  • Different ways of saying “I have a cold”
  • How to say you have a head ache, stomach ache, back ache, or anything-ache!
  • How to cure your cold with vitamins, hot drinks, and staying at home (no secret there…)
View Lesson

Beginners 5: Love phrases

Podcast número cinco (not four, as I say in the podcast…) is all about el día de San Valentin, where love is in the air and you learn all about Romantic Spanish. Learn phrases and terms for referring to your significant other, some love idioms, and more. You’ll also learn all about the South American tradition of El día de amor y amistad.

View Lesson

Beginners 8: Sports

How to talk about sports in Spanish: Sports vocabulary, key phrases and conversation. Do you play any sports? What do you think the most popular sports in Colombia are?

View Lesson

Beginners 10: Feelings and emotions

Learn how to express your inner self, whether good or bad. We also introduce to the verb sentirse – to feel. This is a reflexive verb, so needs a little extra attention when we conjugate it. Also, learn about how using poner and dar can be used in a cool way to describe your emotions!

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Beginners 11: Money

Learn vocabulary related to money – how to ask about prices, how to actually say prices (numbers do come in handy!), as well as a few other money related phrases!

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Beginners 12: Arguments

Useful phrases for some of the most intense “conversations” you can have: arguments! Tempers may be running high, so it’s always good to have a stock of phrases that you can fall back in should you ever be unfortunate enough to have an argument with a Latino/a or Spaniard!

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Beginners 17: Social Networks

Learn the latest Spanish vocabulary around social networks, and communication in the digital age:

  • How social networks are changing Spanish (as well as English)
  • How to say “update”, “upload”, “download”, “tag”, and other important “digital verbs”
  • What is “a like” in Spanish?
View Lesson

Beginners 18: At the doctors

Learn the vocabulary and phrases you’ll need should you ever have to pay a visit to the doctor or pharmacy. You’ll learn how to:

  • Ask for a doctor’s appointment
  • Describe different types of pain, and how you feel
  • Understand common medical procedures
View Lesson

Beginners 19: How to complain

Learn the subtle art of complaining in Spanish:

  • Say when something doesn’t work, is broken, or doesn’t function properly
  • Use no creo que and hasta que to complain
  • Talk about how long you have been waiting
View Lesson

Beginners 20: Driving

Learn important vocabulary and phrases for when you are out and about on the roads in Spain and Latin America. Here’s a taste of what you’ll learn:

  • Some rules of the road in Spanish
  • Driving verbs, such as “back up”, “pull over”, and “give way”
  • All of the types of road and weird road signs you’ll see!
View Lesson

Beginners 23: Asking for favours

Learn different ways and structures that you can ask for favours in Spanish:

  • “Lending” vs “borrowing” in Spanish, and why Spanish speakers struggle to understand the difference
  • Different ways of asking for a lift, and asking to be dropped off
  • Using esperar que and the subjunctive
View Lesson

Beginners 24: Making excuses

Specific language you can use for when you need to make an excuse in Spanish:

  • Es que, resulta que, and other ways of “introducing” your excuse
  • Phrases using excusas
  • Using the past conditional: habría terminado, pero…
View Lesson

Beginners 25: How to pay a compliment

We cover some useful and authentic ways of paying someone a compliment in Spanish

  • Using ser and estar when describing someone
  • The verbs quedar and verse, meaning “to look”
  • ¡Qué bonita estás! structured phrases
View Lesson

Beginners 27: Problem solving

Learn useful verbs and constructions to help solve problems:

  • Verbs including arreglar, solucionar, and more
  • Lo que se puede hacer para… type phrases
  • Use the subjunctive with necesitar que – “I need you to…”
View Lesson

Beginners 29: How to tell a story

All about those little things people say to bring a story to life and help it flow:

  • How to start a story
  • Sequencing and linking words and phrases
  • Introduce new elements to a story
  • How to finish a story
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Beginners 44: Exclamations

Learn three key Spanish exclamation patterns using “qué” to express surprise and emotions naturally. Master simple to complex structures through real examples and add authentic flair to your Spanish conversations.

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Break into Advanced Spanish, and (finally) master the subjunctive

Learn the most common subjunctive phrases and triggers in our cheatsheet

Grab your Fluency Phrasebook

95 essential phrases for beginners, designed to guide you towards fluency