Ricos y famosos: Agatha Ruiz de la Prada

Some famous people are famous for being famous.  Other famous people are famous because they deserve to be.  Agatha Ruiz de la Prada falls into the latter category.  She makes beautiful things in joyful and cheery colours.  If you're interested in finding out more, here is her website - in Spanish here and in English here.

Today, we're going to look at a text about Agatha and a prize she won in 2009.

First the comprehension questions:

1. What was celebrated and when?
2. Who won?
3. Why?
4. Who else - amongst others - was in the running to win?
5. Who awarded the prize?
6. Where?
7. What is Agatha's abiding achievement in relation to Spanish fashion?

Now the text (the original post can be found here).   Unfortunately, this text is in image format, so Google Translate can't carry out a translation.  Time to fly the nest and wing it then?  After more than thirty texts, you know you can do it!

:-)

See you tomorrow.

Literatura: La cronología de Harry Potter

You may or may not have read any of the Harry Potter books.  I bought the box set of the first three - and loved the third for its tight and ingenious plot.  They then started getting longer and longer - and I wasn't much up to reading 21st century versions of "War and Peace".  However, I did continue to watch the films.  I am now excitedly awaiting the delivery (it's already on its way via Royal Mail!) of the final film of the series.

I've often wondered when the books were actually supposed to have taken place.  Today, we'll look at a short text which actually works out when.

As always, first the comprehension questions - and do try and anticipate the answers to make reading the texts themselves just that little bit easier.

1. In which book do we get the first clue about when in real time the story might be taking place?
2. Whose death gives the clue?
3. When does this death take place?
4. What second year is mentioned and in which of the books do we get this piece of evidence?
5. When does the series finish?

And now the text itself:

Cronología

Los libros evitan ubicar la historia en algún año en particular, sin embargo hay un par de referencias que permiten establecer una línea de tiempo con años reales. La primera se da en la segunda novela, Harry Potter y la cámara secreta, en la que el fantasma Nick Casi-Decapitado celebra el 500º aniversario de su muerte, que ocurrió el 31 de octubre de 1492, por lo tanto, el libro se ubica en el ciclo lectivo de 1992 a 1993. Esta cronología se reitera en Harry Potter y las reliquias de la Muerte, cuando se indica que la muerte de James y Lily Potter ocurrió el 31 de octubre de 1981. Estos datos permiten deducir que el argumento de la historia transcurre desde 1981, cuando Dumbledore entrega a Harry a sus tíos al comienzo de La piedra filosofal, hasta 1998, al final de Las Reliquias de la Muerte.

If you still have problems understanding the text, remember you can always copy the above text and paste it into the left-hand side of Google Translate.

In the meantime, if you've never watched all eight Harry Potter films, I strongly advise you to watch them back to back.  Even if you haven't read the books or watched any of the films, they'll make much more sense if you watch them in this way.

And happy watching ... or, indeed, reading - if 21st century "War and Peace" is your thing!

Deportes: La triste noticia de Gary Speed

The manager of Wales, Gary Speed, died at the age of 42 at the weekend.  He lived quite near to where I find myself.  A sad piece of news - a man we should remember.  He seems to have been universally liked.

Let's look at a text published in El País today.  First, the comprehension questions:

1. Where did the police find Gary Speed's body?
2. What was the cause of death?
3. Were there any suspicious circumstances?
4. How many times did he play for Wales?
5. Whilst he was captain, which other famous players were also playing?
6. How many games did he play in the English First and Second Divisions?
7. What was he awarded in 2010?
8. What responsibility did he acquire in 2010?

Now the text itself.  And remember, if you're still having problems understanding enough to answer the questions, why not try the Google Translate version?

RIP, Gary Speed.  You will never be forgotten.

Cocina: La sopa de ajo

Garlic soup?  Mmm.  If you've never tried it, you really don't know what you're missing. 

I love soups in general - am the kind of person the Spanish call "sopera" ("soup-loving") - and regularly make not only soups but also their even more nourishing cousins, the broths and "potajes" that make up that glorious Spanish cuisine which, once tried, you simply can't fail to fall for.

Today we're going to look at a simple recipe for the garlic soup I mentioned at the top of this post.  Sometimes it's called garlic soup ("sopa de ajo") and sometimes it's called Castilian soup ("sopa castellana").

Let's first have the comprehension questions for the text we're going to try and understand.

1. What characteristic dish is used for the soup?
2. How many eggs does the recipe contain?
3. How much garlic is needed?
4. How much meat is required and what sort of meat is it?
5. What should be done to the bread?
6. When should you add the meat?
7. How are the eggs added?  How long do they need to be cooked for?

Now for the text itself.  As always, in order to improve your understanding, try and predict first the possible answers to the comprehension questions above before you read the text.  And if you still need extra support to help you understand enough, you've always got the Google Translate version to help you out.

Enjoy the weekend, the soup and those undeniable benefits of garlic!

¡Hasta la semana que viene!

Cultura e historia: El cine de la Movida madrileña

Spain has always had a grand tradition in cinema.  A particularly productive moment in Spanish film history was the Movida madrileña of the 1980s, when many artists attempted to talk about everything that had been prohibited under the dictatorship of Franco.

Today we'll look at a short text on this very subject.  First the comprehension questions.  As always, try and predict the possible answers before you move onto the text itself.

1. What type of movement was the Movida madrileña?
2. When did it start?
3. What did it aim to show?
4. Give examples.
5. Where is this cinema located?
6. Describe the kind of characters this cinema portrays.
7. Who were the most representative directors of the period?

Now the text itself.

El cine de la Movida madrileña fue la expresión cinematográfica del movimiento contracultural surgido en la capital española a comienzos de la Transición y se impuso a lo largo de los años 80.

Supone una intención trasgresora con el cine de época franquista y se engloba dentro del movimiento posmodernista. La temática de este cine se esfuerza en mostrar todo aquello que el cine franquista ocultaba, como la homosexualidad, la droga, la prostitución, las salidas nocturnas, la transexualidad, las pasiones desenfrenadas o la sexualidad explícita.

Es un cine urbano cuyos protagonistas son personajes del mundo underground y la contracultura. Aunque el cine español siempre había tratado especialmente las historias de personajes humildes y media o baja condición económica, el cine de la Movida madrileña los transforma en seres estrafalarios, los radicaliza, mostrando un gusto por lo anecdótico y por lo fuera de lo común. Son personajes que procuran descolocar al espectador más que el que se identifique con ellos.

La figura más representativa fue Pedro Almodóvar, aunque otros directores notables fueron Fernando Trueba, Fernando Colomo, Iván Zulueta y Manuel Iborra.

If you still have problems understanding the text, copy the above and paste it into the left-hand part of Google Translate.  Then translate it into English.

Ricos y famosos: Hugh Grant y la prensa sensacionalista

Hugh Grant's often been in the news.  Recently, he's been pointing out some myths the sensational newspapers like to spread.

But, lately, he's not only been news in Britain.  He's also been news in Spain.  Today, we're going to look at quite a long article about exactly what Grant feels about the "prensa amarilla".

First, the comprehension questions:

1. Which newspaper has Grant accused of having hacked into his phone in 2007?
2. For how long does Grant say the newspapers have followed him?
3. What does he say happened in the mid-1990s?
4. How many other famous witnesses have been called by the hacking inquiry?
5. What happened in the summer as a result of the original revelations of phone-hacking?
6. What other inquiry is currently taking place in parallel?
7. Who has harshly criticised the investigations taking place?

Now the text itself.  And if you're still having problems understanding the full meaning, try taking a look at the Google Translate version.

¡Hasta mañana!

Literatura: Robert Louis Stevenson

Yes.  I know.  A little strange to be reading in a Spanish translation an author who originally wrote in English.  But - hey ho - this is a translation blog.  And I have found a beautiful translation of a lovely short poem of Stevenson's.

First the comprehension questions.

1. What seasons does the poem mention?
2. What is characteristic of the first season?
3. What is particularly mentioned as characteristic of the second?
4. What does the latter produce?
5. What shapes does Stevenson describe?

Now the text itself - it's the first poem on this page.

There are also some other very short poems on the same page.  See if you can understand them - or, better still, find their original versions in English! 

Finally, here in the original English - no Google Translate version today! - we have the poem which we've been looking at today.

Enjoy.  It's a beauty.

Deportes: La poción mágica

It's true.  Spain has dominated world sport at so many levels of late.  From tennis to football, from basketball to cycling, Spain's current generation of sportsmen and women have overwhelmed so many of their competitors.

A lot of hard work - or something quite different?  The Frenchman, Yannick Noah, accuses the Spanish of using magic potions (Google Translate version here).  Potions like the ones which Asterix and Obelix used in the famous French comic strips.

Today, we're going to look at Rafa Nadal's reaction to this article.  First, as always, the comprehension questions.

1. Where did Yannick Noah write the article in question?
2. Was Nadal surprised when he was asked about the article?
3. In what language did Nadal reply?
4. Did he think Noah was being sensible or not?
5. What adjective did he use to describe Noah's opinion?
6. Why?
7. Did Nadal think Noah was behaving like an adult?
8. According to Nadal, which country's image is most damaged by Noah's article?

Now the text itself.

A Nadal le preguntaron, cómo no, por el artículo de Yannick Noah en 'Le Monde'. Ninguna sorpresa para el tenista, que no tuvo problemas para expresarse bien claro en inglés. "Lo que dijo es completamente estúpido y él lo sabe mejor que nadie", respondió. "Decir esto hoy es completamente estúpido por todos los controles que se realizan hoy durante toda la temporada. Así que, en mi opinión, su artículo me parece escrito por un niño. Y cuando un niño dice algo así, no nos duele".

"Es peor para la imagen de Francia que para nosotros porque lo ha dicho un tipo importante como Noah, y eso es horrible", añadió Nadal.

And finally, if you need to use Google Translate to understand the article properly, copy the above excerpt into the left-hand side of this link and translate it to English on the right.

¡Y que la poción mágica sea de tu agrado!

Cocina: La quesada

La quesada is a delicious kind of cheese cake of a dessert.  It's simple to make, wholesome and the kind of recipe which, once tried, will never be forgotten.

Today, we'll look at some comprehension questions about a recipe for this dessert - and then we'll look at the recipe itself.

Here are the questions.  Remember, as always, to try and predict the possible answers before going to the text - this will always help to provide you with more context which will allow you to interpret the content more effectively.

1. Is it a high or low calorie food?
2. Is it tasty or not?
3. Where in Spain is it very popular?
4. How quick to make is this version?
5. What should you use to measure the ingredients?  Why?
6. How easy is it to make?
7. List the ingredients
8. What temperature should the oven be preheated to?
9. What do you need to grease first of all?
10. What should you do to all the ingredients?
11. How long do you cook it for?
12. How is it served?

Now to the text itself.  And remember, try and write down the answers in Spanish.  If you still find it too difficult to understand, use Google Translate to help you out.

Finally, sign up to our newsletter - and get model comprehension answers for today's text, as well as useful vocabulary, on Monday. 

The weekend is for recharging batteries all round - and we don't study at the weekend!!!

Cultura e historia: La Navidad en España (¡y también en Inglaterra!)

Today, we'll take a break from asking and answering questions - and simply enjoy two pieces of fascinating media.

I know.  I know.  A little early - still - to be talking of Christmas.  But there are a couple of things I wanted to show you - and one of them relates to a Christmas advert which has just been released in the United Kingdom for the John Lewis Partnership chain of department stores.  Watch it - and let me know what you think.  And if you're looking for more information to this campaign and previous ones from the same company, then have a look at this excellent - though rather lengthy - Yahoo report in Spanish (the Google Translate version can be found here).



Meanwhile, below you can see an excellent PowerPoint presentation from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia which I have used frequently over the years with my students.

It gives us a beautiful overview of everything that is good about the Spanish Christmas.

View more presentations from Lisa Stevens

Hope you learned something from these two pieces of media - and that maybe they've encouraged you to visit Spain in the festive season.

For if you do, you truly won't be disappointed.

¡Prepárate!  ¡Ya vienen los Reyes!

Ricos y famosos: Benetton y #unhate

Benetton is a big Italian clothing company, famous for its controversial advertising campaigns.  As far as I know, it's been a little quiet of late.  I haven't heard anything really out-of-the-ordinary for a while. 

So this week's launch of a brand new campaign - "Unhate" - is the very least which could have been expected of them.  In the campaign, famous world leaders kiss each other.

Here are some comprehension questions about a text which talks about the subject.  As always, try and predict the possible answers - this will help you understand the text itself when we look at it.

1. In what famous places in Italy can you find examples of this campaign?
2. Where was it first launched?
3. What phrase is used to describe this style of marketing?
4. What two European leaders were shown kissing each other?
5. What two religious leaders were shown doing the same thing?
6. How far from the Vatican was the second advertisement situated?
7. How many adverts have been used in the campaign?
8. Where was the hashtag #unhate used?

Now the text itself.  Try and do your best - using what you know as well as your dictionary - to work out the answers to the questions without using online translation tools.

If, in the end, you find you are still struggling, then - as always - Google Translate can help us out.  More from this version here.

And don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for model answers to this text and helpful vocabulary tomorrow!

Literatura: Manuel Vázquez Montalbán

Manuel Vázquez Montalbán was a highly accomplished writer, journalist, poet and essayist - amongst many other things - who, sadly, died of a heart attack whilst on the way back to Spain from a tour to Australia in 2003.

One of his most magnificent creations was the detective Pepe Carvalho.  Today, we're going to look at a short text on this subject.  First, the comprehension questions:

1.  What kind of literature were the Pepe Carvalho novels?
2. How successful were they?
3. What did Montalbán achieve through these novels?
4. What period of Spanish history was he interested in?
5. What event was described in 1981?
6. What event was used as backdrop in 1993?
7. What other hobby or interest was given prominence in the novels?

Now we'll have a look at the text itself.

Montalbán creó una de las series de novela negra más exitosas y prolíficas de la literatura española. Esta serie, protagonizada por el detective Pepe Carvalho, fue un vehículo expresivo del autor para legar una crónica sociopolítica, histórica y cultural de los últimos 40 años.

Así, cada novela está claramente ambientada en el contexto histórico en el que fue escrita. Por ejemplo, en Asesinato en el Comité Central 1981 se consuma el asesinato de un dirigente comunista en plena crisis del eurocomunismo del PCE, mientras que en 1993 serán los fastos de la Barcelona olímpica lo que centre las aventuras del detective en Sabotaje olímpico.

Las novelas sirven al mismo tiempo para dar rienda suelta a la pasión desatada del escritor por la gastronomía. Diferentes personajes, algunos creados ex-profeso como Fuster, sirven al autor de excusa para disertar sobre las virtudes del asado argentino o la contundencia del ajoarriero.

If you've still had problems understanding the text, copy the above into Google Translate - and see if you can use the resulting translation into English to help you out a little more.

Plus, if you'd like model answers and helpful vocabulary tomorrow, why not sign up for our newsletter today?

:-)

Deportes: El Fórmula Uno

Some people find it difficult to understand how anyone can enjoy watching low-slung racing cars swinging around race tracks lap after lap.  But Formula One, the sport in question, involves advanced technology as well as extreme bravery from the drivers.  A perfect combination of man and machine.

Today, we're going to look at a text from the BBC's Mundo service which provides news in Spanish for Spanish readers like yourself.

Here are the comprehension questions.  Read them and try and predict the possible options.  Then look at the text and see if you can work out the answers by reading for general meaning, using your dictionary and - if necessary - clicking on the Google Translate link below.

1. Who won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday?
2. Who was second?
3. How far behind was he?
4. What was his nationality?
5. What type of car was the third-placed driver driving - and what was his nationality?
6. Sebastian Vettel is already champion for this season, but must have been disappointed on Sunday.  Why?
7. How many races has he won this year?
8. How many races did Michael Schumacher win in his record-breaking year?

Now to the text itself.  As already mentioned, if you still can't understand the text completely enough to answer the questions, why not look at the Google Translate version by clicking here?

¡Hasta mañana!

Cocina: La grandeza del alioli

Some of the glories of world cooking can be found in the sauces which have been created to complement the fresh meat, fish and vegetables all good cooks are accustomed to using.  One of the greatest sauces in Spanish cooking is the Catalan/Valencian alioli.  Alioli at its best is freshly-made mayonnaise mixed with garlic.  Now mayonnaise may look easy to make - but it's actually really rather tricky.  If you don't keep stirring at just the right speed, it unmixes itself before your eyes.  And there's absolutely nothing you can do to save your raw materials.  All you can do is dispose of them as discreetly as you can - and start all over again.

You can find out more about this sauce here in English and here in Spanish. 

Meanwhile, today's text describes - step-by-step - how to make this mayonnaise, taking great care to avoid any chance of that dreaded process which leads to total failure!  First, as always, we'll look at some comprehension questions - and then we'll take a look at the text itself.

1. What are the main ingredients of alioli?
2. What do you have to do to the garlic?
3. Why?
4. How should you add the oil?
5. What does this avoid?
6. What should you do whilst you add the oil?
7. What two things mustn't you do?
8. How much garlic should you use?
9. When do you add the salt?
10. What else can you add?
11. If you want to avoid an overpowering taste of garlic, what should you do?
12. What kind of oil should you use?

Now we'll look at the text itself.  Remember, again as always, it's going to help you a lot if you try and predict the possible answers to the questions before you read the text.

Se hace con ajo y aceite de oliva, como indica su nombre. Hay que machacar mucho los ajos, para sacarles el jugo, ya que es eso lo que liga con el aceite, e ir añadiendo el aceite con una aceitera, casi gota a gota para que no se corte, a la vez que se va removiendo siempre en el mismo sentido. La única manera de cortar un alioli es querer ir demasiado rápido y añadir demasiado aceite de un golpe. Al principio el sabor y el olor de ajo es muy fuerte, más que el ajo sólo debido a la grasa aportada por el aceite, pero poco a poco se va diluyendo. De todos modos, para un mortero de allioli normalmente dos ajos son suficientes, aunque se puede añadir uno o dos más para obtener un sabor más fuerte en ajo y un poco picante. A los ajos, al principio, se les añade un poco de sal. Al final se puede rectificar de sal y, opcionalmente, añadir unas gotas de zumo de limón como condimento. Modernamente la salsa se puede montar con batidora u otros aparatos similares.

Es MUY importante quitar a los dientes de ajo el tallo de brote interior que tienen para que no tenga ese sabor tan fuerte que repite.

En la elaboración hace falta que el zumo de limón esté en contacto con los ajos machacados unos 3 minutos para que facilite el proceso de ligado, o la emulsión, con el aceite de oliva virgen.

Finally, if you're still having problems understanding the text, copy it and paste it into Google Translate - and see what you can make of it then!  And don't forget to subscribe to our daily newsletter for model answers to the comprehension questions as well as useful vocabulary!

Cultura e historia: Ciencia en al-Ándalus

The Arab influence in Spain is considerable: culturally, architecturally, even linguistically speaking.  You can find out more about this subject in English here.

The scientific legacy, in particular, reminds us how sophisticated - in its heyday - this culture really was.  So today, we're going to look at a short text which provides an overview of both its achievements and its complexity.  First the comprehension questions to the text - and then we'll have a look at the text itself.

1. How does the text compare the scientific achievements of the al-Ándalus region with Europe in the Middle Ages?
2. Where did such knowledge first flower?
3. Which other places were important centres of scientific endeavour?
4. How did the development of the region compare to the rest of Europe?  Was it more rural or urban?
5. What legacies did the Arab civilisation build upon?
6. What specialisations was it particularly effective in?

Now we'll have a look at the text.

Las Ciencias en al-Ándalus alcanzaron un alto grado de perfeccionamiento, superior al resto de Europa durante la Edad Media. El florecimiento de la ciencia y del conocimiento en Al-Ándalus se produjo en primer lugar en la ciudad de Córdoba, para después en el periodo de las taifas, extenderse por todos los territorios de al-Ándalus, especialmente las ciudades importantes (Zaragoza, Toledo, Sevilla, Granada, etc.), pues la civilización andalusí se fundamentaba en el desarrollo e importancia que tuvieron las ciudades, cuando en el resto de Europa durante la Edad Media la mayoría de los núcleos urbanos contaban con escasa densidad de población. En un principio el movimiento científico, escrito en árabe en la Edad Media, empieza por el conocimiento del legado heredado, por una parte de la cultura clásica de los Griegos, y por otra parte las ideas provenientes de Asia (principalmente de China y la India). Durante el califato destacaron fundamentalmente en las áreas de astronomía y medicina, aunque en menor medida hubo representantes en la farmacopea, la alquimia, la agricultura, la botánica, las matemáticas (aplicadas), la ingeniería hidráulica, etc.

And remember, if you have problems understanding the text, use Google Translate to provide you with a workable instant translation into English which will help you get a better idea of the background and detail of the subject.

Ricos y famosos: Iñaki Urdangarin

Iñaki Urdangarin is famous for a number of reasons:

Don Ignacio (Iñaki) Urdangarín Liebaert, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, Grandee of Spain (born Zumarraga, Gipuzkoa, 15 January 1968) is a prominent retired handball player. He is the husband of the Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, the youngest daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain.

Lately, he has been in the news for other alleged reasons.  First, we'll have a look at the comprehension questions for a short text from the El Mundo newspaper.  Then we'll have a look at the text.

As always, please try and work out possible answers to the questions before looking at the text itself.  This helps you gain a context for the content - and will improve your ability to use your Spanish effectively.

1. Why does the representative of the political party Izquierda Unida say Spanish justice must act quickly in the case described in the text?
2. What does he say Urdangarin must do if he is guilty of any accusations?
3. Why is Urdangarin being investigated?
4. Which institution would be affected if anything he has been accused of was proven to be true?
5. Who should tell Urdangarin that this would be wrong if anything was proven?
6. Why?

Now to the text itself.  And if you need further help with the background or the context, click here to go to the Google Translate version in English.

That's all until tomorrow.  Happy communicating in Spanish!

Literatura: Fábulas

Fables are part of our childhood.  But, more importantly, they underline our culture as they generate those morals of the story we are so familiar with.  Here's some background in English to the subject, as well as an example of a fable in Spanish below:

El Gato y el Ratón

Había una vez un pequeño ratón, que vivía en la casa de una mujer vieja. La señora, que temía de estas criaturas, colocó muchas trampas para matar el ratón. El ratón asustado le pide ayuda al gato de la mujer.

-¿Podrías ayudarme, lindo gatito?-le dijo al gato

-Si...¿En que?-respondió este

-Solo quita las trampas de la casa-dijo el ratón

-Mmm... y ...¿que me das a cambio?-dijo el gato

-Finjo ante la señora que estoy muerto, ya que tu me has matado, ella creerá que eres un héroe-respondió el ratón

-Me has convencido-dijo el gato

El gato saco las trampas de la casa, pero el ratón nunca cumplió su parte del trato. Un día la señora descubre que fue el gato quien saco las trampas, ella muy enojada decide dejar al gato en la calle. Moraleja: "No confíes en todo lo que oyes"

Here's a text in Spanish which describes the life and times of a famous medieval Catalan writer: Francesc Eiximenis.  One of the fables which is attributed to him is called "La Zorra y el León".

Let's first look at the comprehension questions in English for this latter fable.

1. How did the lion feel at the beginning of the fable?
2. What did he ask the sheep?
3. Did the sheep answer truthfully or not?
4. What did the lion then do?
5. Why?
6. What did the lion ask the goat?
7. Did the goat answer truthfully or not?
8. What did the lion do?
9. Why?
10. What did the lion ask the fox?
11. How did the fox escape the lion?
12. What happened to the rest of the animals?

Now we'll have a look at the text itself.  First, the version in Spanish.  Try and answer the comprehension questions by predicting the possible answers before you read the text, and then reading the text for gist (general meaning) after.  If you're still having problems understanding some of the Spanish, try Google Translate's instant translation here.

And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter here.  Tomorrow, we'll send out the model answers for today's post, as well as useful vocabulary to help you on your way.

Deportes: La corrida de toros

Bullfighting is highly controversial - not only abroad but also in Spain itself.  As the English version of Wikipedia points out:

Supporters of bullfighting argue that it is a culturally important tradition and a fully developed art form on par with painting, dancing and music, while animal rights advocates hold that it is a blood sport resulting in the suffering of bulls and horses.

So I'm not really sure whether today, "sports day" on "Un Texto Al Día", is the day we should really deal with this topic -  or whether Thursday's "culture and history day" wouldn't be more appropriate ...

Anyhow.  First to the comprehension questions in English, so you can get some idea and context as to what the text we'll be looking at later on in the post will be about.  Remember, as always, try and answer the questions in Spanish - and by simply reading for gist (that is to say, for general meaning).

1. What is a bullfight?
2. Is a bullfight conducted on foot or on horseback?
3. Where does a bullfight take place?
4. What is the aim of a bullfight - is it a game like football or a work of art like theatre?
5. When was its current rules and regulations fixed?
6. What is the main difference between bullfighting in Spain and bullfighting in Portugal?
7. Where else do bullfights take place?
8. How are bullfights classified?

Now to the text itself. 

La corrida de toros o toreo es un espectáculo que consiste en lidiar varios toros bravos, a pie o a caballo, en un recinto cerrado para tal fin, la plaza de toros.

En la lidia participan varias personas, entre ellas los toreros, que siguen un estricto protocolo tradicional, reglamento de espectáculos taurino, regido por la intención estética; sólo puede participar como matador el torero que ha tomado la alternativa. Es el espectáculo de masas más antiguo de España y uno de los más antiguos del mundo. Como espectáculo moderno realizado a pie, fija sus normas y adopta su orden actual a finales del siglo XVIII en España, donde la corrida finaliza con la muerte del toro.

Las corridas de toros son consideradas una de las expresiones de la cultura hispánica. Se practican también en Portugal (donde, a excepción de algunos municipios, no se le da muerte al toro en la plaza desde 1836, durante el reinado de María II), en el sur de Francia y en diversos países de Hispanoamérica como Ecuador, México, Colombia, Perú, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panamá y Bolivia.

Las corridas pueden clasificarse, según la edad y el trapío del toro que se lidia, en becerradas, novilladas y corridas de toros propiamente dichas, y pueden desarrollarse a pie o a caballo. Si se ejecutan las suertes a caballo, el festejo recibe el nombre de corrida de rejones o rejoneo. Cuando se combinan ambas disciplinas en un mismo festejo, se denominan corridas mixtas.

And remember, if you are still at a loss to understand even the general meaning of the text, after working through all the comprehension questions, there is one tool still available to help you out.  Click here to go to Google Translate, copy the whole text above and paste it into the left-hand half of the Google Translate page - and it will be translated into a functional though not perfect English on the right-hand side.  This should help you a lot.

Also, don't forget to sign up to our newsletter if you'd like to receive model answers in Spanish to the comprehension questions and helpful vocabulary.

For those of you who have just discovered us, we'll be setting up a "back newsletters" page shortly.  So if you find a text you'd like to study - and don't have the newsletter - well, don't fret.  You will have soon!

Cocina: Las lentejas

Lentils form one of the fundamental pillars of the Spanish dieta mediterránea (the English version of this Wikipedia page can be found here).  Today, we're going to look at a recipe for these magnificent legumes.  First, the comprehension questions:

1. How many grams of lentils are needed in this recipe?
2. What vegetables are used?
3. What meat is used?
4. What herbs and spices are used?
5. What do you need to do to the lentils before cooking them - and for how long?
6. What do you use to cook the lentils?
7. What do you need to do to the onion - and where do you cook it first?
8. How long does it take for the lentils to be cooked properly?
9. What sort of temperature do the lentils need to be cooked at?

And now the text itself.  Remember, before reading the text, try and anticipate possible answers to the comprehension questions.  This will help you gain more context for what you are about to read - and, hopefully, mean you understand more than you would have done.

If you still have problems with the text after following our suggested method, then more help is available.  Just take a peek at the Google Translate version of the text.  The translation into English won't be perfect - but it will be good enough to help you understand the gist (the general meaning) of what the original says in Spanish.  And don't forget, you can always see the original Spanish by hovering over the translated English with your cursor.

Hope you enjoy the recipe, have a lovely weekend - and see you next week for more daily Spanish!

¡Hasta la semana que viene!

Cultura e historia: Los niños robados de España

As I said the other day, children are ever-present in Spanish society - and this is good.  But, sadly, there is a darker side to Spain's relationship with children which has only just been uncovered.

Watch this video - and prepare to be shocked by the deception it describes.



If you'd like to read more background to this scandal, you can find a special El País mini-website on the subject here (in Spanish) (Google Translate version in English here).

Today, we're going to look at a short text in Spanish on the above story from the Spanish newspaper El Mundo.  First, the comprehension questions in English.  As always, try and predict possible answers before going to read the text itself.

1. Why does the text suggest Spain has been the world's supermarket?
2. Selling what?
3. Which other countries could have been involved?
4. Where and when was the most recent case registered?
5. How many children are estimated to have been affected?
6. Is this a conservative estimate?

Now the text itself.

And again, as always, if you still have problems answering the comprehension questions, why not take a short peek at the Google Translate version in English?  Whilst you're at it, why don't you sign up for our newsletter and receive model answers to today's text as well as useful vocabulary?

Ricos y famosos: El peinado

Beautiful women spend a lot of time and money on their hairstyles.  Today, we've going to have a look at a short text from the Spanish rich-and-famous magazine ¡Hola! (Spanish version here).  In this text, we'll find out about the latest trends in hairdressing - and also get an opportunity to look at some of the hairstyles beautiful women are currently showing off.

First, as always, the comprehension questions.  If you're new to our site and our method, take a quick look here to see how best to take advantage of the material we post.

1. What is the interviewee's name?
2. What is his profession?
3. Is the hairstyle modern or old-fashioned?  How do you know?
4. What period in time does it remind us of?
5. What do you need to do to achieve the hairstyle itself?  Can you do it yourself?
6. What kind of hairdryer is needed?
7. At what setting?
8. How long do you need to dry your hair with a hairdryer?
9. If you let your hair dry naturally, how long will you need?

Now the text itself.  And if you still need help in order to answer the comprehension questions, why not take a look at the Google Translate version here?

Happy hairdrying!

Literatura: La literatura para niños

Children play an important part in Spanish society.  They are ever-present - unlike in other countries, they are very frequently seen and heard!  They generally go wherever their parents go, even if this means going out for a walk at ten or eleven o'clock at night.  The habit many Spanish children have of taking a nap in the afternoon does make this possible, after all.

Today, we're going to read a short text on the subject of literature for young children.  In it, you'll find out the kind of literature young children read.

First, as always, we have the comprehension questions.  And as always, read the comprehension questions first to give you an idea of what the text is going to be about.  If possible, you might even try to anticipate possible answers.

1. What ages are we talking about in the text?
2. What are the stories offered to these ages based on?
3. Why?
4. What's the advantage of using this kind of text with these children?
5. What kind of literature is it - oral or written?
6. What's the advantage of texts in verse?
7. What's the advantage for the narrator of texts in prose (ie not verse)?
8. As well as the texts, what else is important for young children of this age?
   

Now we have the text itself.

Los textos que se le ofrecen a los niños y niñas de 3 a 6 años están basados en el folklore. El folklore es algo que el niño/a ha vivido y sentido desde su nacimiento, por lo tanto es algo muy cercano a él. Servirá como instrumento de trabajo y al ser textos pertenecientes a la colectividad, al surgir de su propio contexto cultural, el niño/a verá en él algo suyo, no ajeno, por lo que no le inducirá a rechazarlo.

Aunque el folclore es ante todo oral, no impide que se trasvase al escrito. Si se tratase aparte, estaríamos fragmentando arbitrariamente la relación existente entre lengua oral y escrita. El Folklore constituye la base primordial de lo que debe ser la Literatura en estas edades.

Los textos en verso tienen ventajas, por su fijeza y por su mayor capacidad para el juego y la memorización. Los textos en prosa fundamentalmente cuentos, tienen su mayor oportunidad para la audición, aunque revisten menor fijeza lingüística que los versos, y gozan de más facilidad para la adaptación por parte del narrador.

En estas edades lo visual juega un papel muy importante en lo que se refiere a los cuentos. El niño observa las ilustraciones y re-crea el texto que acompaña a esa ilustración.

If you'd like to translate the above text using Google Translate, and as this is a text taken from Wikipedia in Spanish, in this case you'll need to copy and paste it into the left-hand side of this screen - and translate the text itself rather than by using the web address as we normally do.

The reason seems to be that when we're dealing with Wikipedia texts, sometimes Google Translate looks for the equivalent Wikipedia page in English - and, quite often, these pages do not have exactly the same sentence structure or topic order.

Hope you enjoyed the text for today.

¡Hasta mañana!