Expats and no facts
There were a lot of very worried expats here in Spain when the referendum came along earlier this year. What on earth would become of them if the UK population voted to leave the European Union? Would...
View ArticleTeachers! Coming very soon: Search by Theme
¡Hola teachers! Are you using Speekee to teach Spanish in your school? Perhaps not yet. Perhaps you are still weighing up the benefits. Well here’s a new benefit about to be added: Search by Theme....
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A minority language demise
I had no idea that Catalan was spoken in Italy! Normally associated with that region in north eastern Spain known to English speakers as Catalonia, the Catalan language made its way to Italy in the...
View ArticlePlateauing in language
As an adult, when you start out learning a new language you are full of enthusiasm. Quite how long that enthusiasm will last is going to depend on many factors, including your ability to learn, a...
View ArticleChloe (age 7) talks about Speekee Accelerate – Spanish for Kids
Thanks to Kelly Thornhill and to her daughter Chloe for posting this video! Check out Speekee Accelerate here. The post Chloe (age 7) talks about Speekee Accelerate – Spanish for Kids appeared first...
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Top 10 Spanish animal expressions
Happy New Year! (¡Feliz Año Nuevo!) Expressions in Spanish which use animal characteristics for reference often reflect their Engish counterparts, but there are some interesting differences. Check out...
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A lovely walk in Andalusia’s Lecrín Valley
The Lecrín Valley lies just off to the side of its better known counterpart the Sierra Nevada (famous for its high altitude ski resort and the region known as the Alpujarras on its lower flank). I have...
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Spain’s top 10 ski resorts
On my recent trip to the lovely Lecrín Valley, I took the opportunity to drive up to the Sierra Nevada ski resort – one of the highest in Europe. Here I am surveying the scene: No skiing for me but on...
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Peter Ustinov the linguist
Peter Ustinov was a rare multitalented entertainer, the like of which may never be seen again. He was a much loved character whose passing in 2004 was mourned by his admirers around the world....
View ArticleThe Bilingual Ventriloquist
The trick is to entertain. How could any teacher be a success with children if they fail to entertain? To entertain is to engage, and once you have your audience / pupils engaged then they can really...
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6 Animated Spanish Movies for Kids
For the filmmakers, one of the advantages of animation is that you can put the movie into any language you like without it losing any of its substance – a sure way of increasing the earnings for the...
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How Spanish worksheets for kids consolidate what they have been learning on...
As I have mentioned in many previous bulletins (just don’t ask me to recall exactly which ones!) there are 4 ways to learn a new language: by listening, by speaking, by reading, by writing. How would...
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In defence of Muzzy’s unusual plot
You may have heard of a late American comedian named George Carlin. Highly skilled in his art form, he propounded an anti establishment mantra through unrelenting acerbic wit. Look him up on YouTube...
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Spain’s windiest wind? The Levante
My, how the weather plays its part in the way we live our lives. There is a memory I have of walking past a series of terraced houses on a street in East London, England. It was around 5pm on a day in...
View ArticleHey TV, slowwwwww down
I can’t keep up. How can any viewer keep up? Young or old. The speed at which so many television programmes are delivered now is mind boggling. Last night I was watching 72 Dangerous Places to Live, a...
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Language shapes how the brain perceives time – OBVIOUSLY!
Boffins over at Lancaster University have come to the less-than-startling conclusion that “Language shapes how the brain perceives time” Let’s see how they did it shall we? First, here’s a quote you’ll...
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Where the Spanish made cannon balls for the Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1783)
I have just had the pleasure of spending two nights in a rural hotel on the edge of Jimena de la Frontera, about an hour’s drive north from Gibraltar. Curiously enough, this building served as a bomb...
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What on earth are these Spanish men doing?!
Have a guess. [GUESSING TIME] I’ll explain, but first, when would you say this photograph was taken? I don’t know myself actually, but it’s got to be at least 75 years old. That would make it pre...
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Cathy Duffy Reviews Speekee’s Spanish Homeschool Programs
You can tell a reviewer is ‘worth their salt’ when they request to review not one but both of your Spanish homeschool programs. So it was with Cathy Duffy (pictured). Cathy Duffy is best known as a...
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Is it getting hotter in Spain?
I know, I know, as a blogger I am supposed to answer the question I pose in the title, but from the outset I can state clearly: I don’t know the answer for sure. It seems to be getting hotter....
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