Hola todos,
I found two interesting language game sites. Check them out.
Here’s the link to another quizlet set for vocabulary on direction, places, and transport
Gracias,
Shahir
I just created a quizlet set for words related to work and business. Here is the link
Gracias
Shahir
NB: Last time I forgot to mention. Quizlet has six components for every set. They are:
- Familiarize: It has a whiteboard kind of thing which can either show just one word, or the word and the meaning according to your need.
- Learn: Here quizlet will give you the word in English (in the case of a English – Spanish task), and you should try and give the meaning in Spanish
- Test: This has a few test types like fill in the blanks, match the following, true or false etc. This section is boring.
- Scatter: I don’t like it much. Here you need to drag corresponding items onto each other to make them disappear.
- Space race: This is definitely my favorite. If you are a fast typer, this is the game for you. Trust me, I have learned upto 200 words in a day using this (It is possible for you, if your capability for obsession is as high as mine). Let me reiterate. I love this game.
- Voice race: In some sets you can see this. You can play this if you have a mike. I haven’t played it. But my guess is that it is space race sans typing. As the name suggests. You can use your voice instead of your fingers.
Now, ask me one question. Why the heaven are you promoting quizlet so much? The answer ” I LOVE THIS SITE” If I had the technical expertise, I would create one like this myself. (Though with a few more games)
Thank you in advance for visiting this set.
Here’s the link again.
Per me, this is the best way to improve your vocabulary. Through games. I found this site called quizlet.com, and immediately played a game to learn 50 new verbs. It was a set of 106 verbs, out of which I had already learned around 50.
Try this out, and let me know if this works out for you too. (Try the space race and see whether you can beat my score)
Btw, we will soon be creating customized language games and posting them. Thanks to quizlet.
Shahir
If you have not read part-1, please read it first.
Here are the meanings:
1. Estoy embrazada
Suggested meaning: I am embarrassed
The real meaning: I am pregnant.
2. Revolver por favor
Suggested meaning: Please give me the revolver
Real meaning of the word revolver is to revolve or to cause disorder. The word for the other revolver is not too different. It is revólver
3. No molestar me
Suggested meaning: Don’t molest me
Real meaning: By now most of you know the meaning. It means ‘to disturb’ and not to molest. Abusar (sexualmente) is the word for ‘molest’
4. Yo éxito el jugar
Suggested meaning: I quit the game
Real meaning: This is quite an irony, because exito in Spanish does not mean ‘to quit’, it means ‘success.’ And the word for quit in Spanish is dejar.
5. es un rapista
Suggested meaning: He is a rapist
Real meaning: Rapista is a lesser known word for a barber. A barber can also be called a barbero
Why give this list?
The list is a representative of words that are called ‘false friends.’ False friends are words which are so similar to a word in our own language that we assume that it has the same meaning in the language that we are learning. And this can cause a lot of confusion, and at times embarrassment (Definitely so if you confuse the word embrazada).
For this reason, it is good to take a look at some important false friends in Spanish, and here is the link to such a list.
http://spanish.about.com/cs/vocabulary/a/obviouswrong.htm
I wish you all luck in not making false friends (Pun truly intended) 🙂
Adios.
Shahir
Find the meanings for these expressions. I will explain my reasons in the next post.
1. Estoy embrazada
Suggested meaning: I am embarassed
2. Revolver por favor
Suggested meaning: Please give me the revolver
3. No molestarme
Suggested meaning: Dont molest me
4. Yo éxito el jugar
Suggested meaning: I quit the game
5. Julio es un rapista
Suggested meaning: Julio is a rapist
Adios. Hasta luego.
Shahir
I love A.R.Rahman’s music, and the side effect was that in three years after getting in contact with the language, I was speaking Tamil as fluently as a native speaker. Do you get the hint? I hope so.
Here is a Spanish song which I picked up from the los principales list (It is the Spanish equivalent of top 40 billboard of the US or UK). I love the song (I have already learned quite a few words from the song), and I hope you like it too.
Here is the video of the song from You tube, and the translated lyrics. (You will never forget the word quiero after listening to this song)
Lyrics
Quiero ser, una palabra serena y clara
I want to be a word calm and clear
Quiero ser, un alma libre, de madrugada
I want to be a free soul, at dawn
Quiero ser una emigrante, de tu boca delirante,
I want to be an emigrant, delirious for your mouth
de deseos que una noche convertiste en mi dolor.
of desires that one night you turned into my pain
Estribillo 1 (refrain)
Quiero creer, quiero saber,
I want to believe, I want to know
que dormiré a la verita tuya (1)
that I will sleep by your side
Quiero esconderme de miedo y mirar de una vez
I want to hide because of fear and to look at last
los ojos que tiene la luna.
the eyes that the moon has
Estribillo 2
Quiero cantar a la libertad,
I want to sing to freedom
y caminar cerca del mar, amarradita siempre a tu cintura (2)
and to walk close the sea, tied always to your waist
que esta locura de amarte no puede acabar
that this crazyness of loving you cannot end
por mucho que te entren las dudas
just because you doubt
de si eres tú el que me hace tan feliz
whether is you who makes me so happy
Quiero ser, la que te jure amor eterno.
I want to be the one who swears to you eternal love
Quiero ser, una parada en la estación
I want to be a stop in the station
que lleva tu nombre.
that has your name
Quiero ser el verbo “puedo”,
I want to be the verb “can”
quiero andarme sin rodeos (3), confesarte
I want not to beat around the bush, to confess to you
que una tarde empecé a morir por ti
that one afternoon I started dying for you
Lyrics courtesy:
http://learningbysingingspanish.blogspot.com/2009/01/quiero-ser-i-want-to-be-by-amaia.html
NB: Please take a look at the previous post’s comments, you will find a long list of Spanish learning websites, courtesy Umashankar. Thanks Umashankar, that is a very useful list.
NB2: Do let me know if you have any other Spanish song which we can post here.
¿ Vosotros recordáis? Yo escribo una post sobre un site que hosts Español videos. Aquí es un video de linguas. tv. Habla sobre introducciones. Miralo.
Btw, do let me know if you find any good resources to learn Spanish.
Gracias and Adios
Shahir
Nb: You can find more such videos here
Volver is the best Spanish movie that I have ever watched. (Not that I have watched too many. I tried finishing off a list of top ten Spanish movies. Couldn’t). Volver is the word for ‘to return’ in Spanish, and the theme of the movie is return. If you have heard of Pedro Almodóvar, (arguably the most successful and internationally acclaimed Spanish film maker of his generation), I can say that critics rate this as one of Almodóvar’s best works.
Here is a trailer from youtube – Enjoy.
Do watch the movie if you get a chance.
I guess in 2007, for this movie, Penelope cruz was nominated for the best actress category in the oscars. I am not sure though. You can check that out and let me know.
Adios.
Shahir
Aprendelo 