Thoughts and discussions of the topics that come up during the in-person and online teaching as well as real life

Vlad's teaching tales

Explora la historia y pronunciación de la "r" y "rr" en español con variantes regionales.

Taming the Spanish Verb: The Podcast

La "r" y la doble "rr" en español. 

Expresiones Españolas Desenmascaradas', el podcast donde exploramos las frases hechas y los modismos más coloridos y fascinantes de España. Únete a nosotros mientras desentrañamos el significado y el uso de expresiones que te harán sonar como un verdadero local. Desde 'dormir la mona' hasta 'llevarse el gato al agua', aprenderás a usar estas frases con confianza y estilo.

Expresiones Españolas Desenmascaradas

Welcome to "Taming the Spanish Verb: The Podcast," where we delve into the fascinating world of language and translation. In this episode, we explore some curious translations of Dr. Martin Luther King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. Join us as we uncover the nuances and cultural significance behind words and phrases translated into Spanish, using the translation by Tomás Albaladejo (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid) and other sources found online. Whether you're a language enthusiast or just curious about the power of words, this podcast is for you!

Spanish Curious translations of  "I have a dream" speech by MLK

Understanding Concessive Clauses in Spanish and English

In Spanish, the mood (indicative or subjunctive) in concessive clauses depends on whether the action is factual, non-factual, or counterfactual. For example, the conjunction "aunque" (although) can be used with both indicative and subjunctive moods depending on the context.
Example in Spanish:
Indicative: "Vendré aunque no tengo ganas." (I will come even though I don't feel like it.)
Subjunctive: "Vendré aunque no tenga ganas." (I will come even if I don't feel like it.)
In English, concessive clauses typically use the indicative mood. The conjunctions "although," "even though," and "though" are commonly used, and they don't change the mood of the verb.
Example in English:
"Although he doesn't want to, he will come."
"Even though she is tired, she will finish the work."
So, while Spanish requires a choice between indicative and subjunctive based on the nature of the action, English consistently uses the indicative mood in concessive clauses.