Spanish Food Song
Learn some names of Spanish foods with our popular food song for children. Over 3000 views on YouTube woo hoo! PS. Adults might like it too!
We offer all students a free introductory lesson/assessment with their tutor. During the 20 minute session you’ll be able to chat with your tutor about your motivation for learning and your tutor will gauge your current language level and where you want to get to. It’s an opportunity to get to know each other and for you to judge whether they’re the right tutor for you.
The free introduction is offered online either using our own proprietary learning platform or via Skype. Thereafter lessons can be either face-to-face or online depending on your needs.
admin Children, Homepage, language learning, Language learning tips, music, Spanish
Learn some names of Spanish foods with our popular food song for children. Over 3000 views on YouTube woo hoo! PS. Adults might like it too!
We often think of English as the ‘language of commerce’, and the most widely spoken of European languages, but the reality is not quite as simple as we like to think. In fact, while English is second only to mandarin in languages that people can speak in the world, when it comes to the native language, Spanish is the second most common, with English third. That is why Spanish tuition in London is so popular.
Learning another language also helps you grow as a person, broadening your understanding of the world and giving you a new perspective. As the second most spoken native language in the world Spanish is used by millions of people every day, and in many places that you may travel, whether for business or pleasure, it will be the natively spoken language. Spanish also remains a popular language choice within education, its versatility making it a good language for Spanish lessons in London and gives a good grounding in Latin based languages as a whole.
So, when it comes to learning a new language, Spanish is always a good choice, whether you are planning on a trip to Spain itself, or across South America, having some Spanish lessons in London before you go can make the trip a much more enjoyable experience. While you can often get by in many circumstances, whether you are visiting a Spanish speaking area for business or pleasure, there is no substitute for being able to speak the local language. You will often find people more responsive and more welcoming when you speak their language.
Finding a Spanish tutor in London is not difficult, but finding the right London Spanish tutor can be, but perseverance is definitely worthwhile. Genuine, accredited tutors provide a reliable, honest service that offer the best Spanish tuition in London, and can help you gain a thorough understanding in a way that suits your learning style and fits into your busy life. Having that professional, tailored approach makes finding the right Spanish tutor in London so worthwhile.
When choosing a new language to learn, it is often driven by an immediate need, but if you are looking for a language with benefits the world over, Spanish is most certainly one of the best to choose.
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With over 10 million holidaymakers heading to Spain in August we’ve put together a guide on how to sound like a native when ordering food and drinks in the thousands of wonderful Spanish bars and restaurants. And if you’re heading off to one of the Spanish speaking countries in Latin America then while there are some differences you’ll be understood as well!
Drinks:
Snacks/Tapas/Pinchos
Before you sit down
Once seated
Typical Restaurant Dishes
You will be well-aware about the incredible advantages that are gained from learning foreign language. These include; increased creativity; significant improvement in analytical skills; easy international travel and business; a competitive edge in career choices and the pleasure of being able to speak another tongue. There is no better time to embark on the journey as a language learner. But have you ever pondered why students are currently more eager to learn Spanish over other foreign languages?
You will be well-aware about the incredible advantages that are gained from learning foreign language. These include; increased creativity; significant improvement in analytical skills; easy international travel and business; a competitive edge in career choices and the pleasure of being able to speak another tongue. There is no better time to embark on the journey as a language learner. But have you ever pondered why students are currently more eager to learn Spanish over other foreign languages? Spanish is the third most spoken language in the globe, and of late, all economically-minded language learners are keen to grasp the knowledge of this beautiful romance language. Here we list for you the top 3 reasons why individuals are considering taking Spanish lessons in London and why you might consider doing the same.
• Spanish is a Global Language
Spanish is the official (or co-official) language of Spain and 21 countries; it stands third after Mandarin and English in terms of the total number of speakers. It is spoken internationally and its knowledge can open up new doors for people wanting to shape a professional career. In this era of globalisation, more than 20 million students study Spanish as a second language, which is a clear sign of the impact of the Spanish language and influence as a global language.
• It’s Easy to Learn
Spanish is loved and appreciated a lot for the fact that it is relatively easy to learn for a native English speaker. With well-structured, simple and consistent grammar rules, developing an understanding of Spanish takes significantly less time than many other languages. Furthermore, you may be surprised to know, but approximately 30% of English vocabulary is acquired from Latin, hence it makes it easier to recognise and comprehend several Spanish words that share the same roots.
• Spanish Has a Lot to Do With International Business
Spanish is spoken in over 20 countries today and knowledge of Spanish is a great additional skill to excel in different fields. If you are in business then learning the language will help you build productive relations across clients of different countries and expand in your niche in an exemplary fashion. By taking Spanish lessons in London, it will help you to easily communicate in Spanish with prospects in numerous countries that speak Spanish and therefore help you engage in worldwide commerce.
Considering the aforesaid advantages, it is clear that Spanish is a language worth your time and monetary investment. Not only will learning the language help you clinch your next business deal, but it will also give you an intriguing view of Spanish culture. To start your language learning sessions, you can find and book a qualified Spanish tutor from our website. The Language Machine has been helping students connect with the best tutors that will get you speaking in a short span of time. All Spanish lessons in London are tailor-made to match the learning requirements of students. Get in touch with our team today to find a Spanish tutor!
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The countdown has begun! Only 24 more sleeps and Christmas day will be upon us.
For most people in the UK this day conjures up a warm feeling inside and thoughts of a cosy family gathering. Children and grown-ups get presents from Father Christmas, houses get decorated with pine trees and tinsel, while mince pies and chocolate fill the larders to the brim.
Christmas is celebrated in numerous countries around the world, but it is not all about roast turkeys and reindeers. In one country Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Father Spanker and the Christmas witch. In another children have to wait until 6th January to get their presents!
In the following post we explore how Christmas is celebrated in different parts of the world and what makes it different.
FRANCE
Christmas Eve is as important as the day itself, if not more. A long dinner which usually lasts after midnight called Le réveillon takes place on 24th December before Midnight Mass. There are no mince pies in sight. Instead, the French enjoy a variety of seafood and fish, typically followed by goose. As one might expect, champagne is the preferred drink at this time of the year.
Christmas gift giving is very much a children’s event. Kids get their presents on different days depending on what area of the country they live. The day of Saint-Nicholas, on 6th December is still celebrated in the north of France. In the rest of the country Père Noël brings gifts on 25th December.
Saint-Nicolas travels with a sidekick called Père Fouettard-Father Spanker- who is in charge of spanking those children who haven’t been good during the year!
COLOMBIA
In Colombia, Navidad is a mix of religious celebrations and partying. The festivities usually start on 7th December, Day of the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception when people light hundreds of little candles. There is a lot of dancing and eating well into the night.
Every day from 16th until 24th December people gather to have La novena. This is when families get together to pray at night.
People’s houses are decorated with Christmas trees and el pesebre, a nativity scene, where the letter to Baby Jesus, el Niño Dios, is left by children. He, and not Father Christmas, traditionally delivers the young ones’ presents by the pesebre on 24th December, Nochebuena. In fact, as well as in France and other European countries, Christmas Eve is a lot more relevant than Christmas Day itself. If you are lucky enough to spend Nochebuena in Bogota, you could indulge in the typical Christmas Eve dinner of Ajiaco Bogotano, a hearty potato and chicken soup. For dessert, natillas, arepas and empanadas are a must have.
Aguardiente, rum, champagne or micheladas (beer with salt and lemon) are the preferred drinks among Colombians.
SPAIN
In Spain, being a profoundly Catholic country, Christmas is one of the most important festivities in the year. Aside from the plunging temperatures one of the first signs of Christmas in Spain is the Loteria de Navidad, a special Christmas lottery. Most people, regular players or not, play this lottery as a Christmas tradition.
As well as in other parts of Europe, Christmas Eve, la Nochebuena, is as important if not more than Christmas Day itself, dia de Navidad. Families gather together and have a big meal in the early evening. Traditionally, after the meal Christmas carols, villancicos, are sung well into the night. At midnight people go to Midnight Mass, Misa del Gallo (Rooster Mass). As in France, seafood and fish are the highlight on la cena de Nochebuena. For dessert, nuts and dried fruits are very popular and there is a whole range of special Christmas sweets such as different kinds of turrón (nougat), mazapán and polvorones. Instead of champagne, most Spaniards prefer drinking cava.
Traditionally, Christmas presents, usually only for children, are brought by The Three Wise Men, los Tres Reyes Magos, on 6th January, Epiphany. Some children also get small presents on Christmas Day brought by Baby Jesus.In the old days, kids who had been naughty throughout the year would get coal instead of presents. Nowadays, everyone gets something including a sweet that resembles coals but it’s delicious!
ITALY
Traditionally Christmas Eve is the big day in these festivities. On this eve, family members gather for a special dinner. A traditional meal for this celebration is The Feast of the Seven Fishes (Esta dei Sette Pesci). This includes cod, clams, calamari, sardines and eel. For dessert, a well-known sweet both in and out of Italy, Panettone, is the traditional choice. After dinner everyone goes to Midnight Mass service.
The main day for present giving is on 6th January when the Befana fills the stockings left by the fireplace with gifts. The befana is a character that belongs to Italian folklore. She’s portrayed like an old lady, carrying a broomstick and covered in soot as she enters houses through the chimney. She’s also called the Christmas witch.
GREECE
Christmas Eve is a big event in Greece, especially going to Midnight mass. The typical Christmas meal includes lamb or pork often roasted in the oven. Other Christmas foods are Baklava, Kataifi and Theeples. These are usually eaten for breakfast or as starters. A traditional table decoration is Christopsomo, or Christmas bread. It’s a sweet bread decorated with a cross on top. It’s generally made on Christmas Eve ready to be eaten on Christmas day.
Greeks celebrate the Epiphany, on 6th January, which commemorates the date when Jesus received his baptism when he was an adult. In order to remember this day, young men jump into really cold rivers and even the sea where they try to get a blessed cross which is supposed to bring good luck for the new year.
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Who would have thought? There really are celebratory dates for anything! November 7th celebrates International Tongue Twister Day. As keen linguists, we love challenging ourselves with word games, and tongue twisters in your second language can be a fun way to test your pronunciation skills. Do some tongue exercise today with these amusing phrases in your second language.
Dutch tongbrekers
Onder de roomse kerk met drie droge doeken.
Below the Roman Catholic Church with three dry tea-cloths.
De koetsier poetst de postkoets.
The coachman cleans the coach.
De kat krabt de krullen van de trap.
The cat crabs the curls off the stairs.
Als vliegen achter vliegen vliegen, vliegen vliegen vliegensvlug.
If flies fly behind flies, flies will fly like lightning.
French virelangues
Je veux et j’éxige ; j’éxige et je veux.
I want and I demand. I demand and I want.
Papier, panier, piano.
Paper, basket, piano.
Je cherche Serge.
I am looking for Serge.
Trente-trois gros crapauds gris dans trente-trois gros trous creux.
33 fat grey toads in 33 big hollows.
German zungenbrecher
Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische.
The Fischer’s son Fritz is fishing for fresh fish.
Kluge kleine Katzen kratzen keine Krokodile.
Clever little cats don’t scratch crocodiles.
Esel essen Nesseln nicht, Nesseln essen Esel nicht.
Donkeys don’t eat nettles, and nettles don’t eat donkeys.
Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid und Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut.
A wedding dress remains a wedding dress, and red cabbage remains red cabbage.
Gaelic Rabhlóga
Cheannaigh cailín cliste ceanúil císte.
A clever, affectionate girl bought a cake.
Chuaigh ceannaí cneasta cliste thar chlaí crua chloch.
A smart, kind merchant went over the hard stone wall.
Cearc ag piocadh piobair de phláta Pheadair.
A chicken is picking peppers from Peter’s plate.
Bhí bean bheag bhocht breoite bruite leis an bhfuacht.
The poor little sick women was scaled with the cold.
Italian scioglilingua
Sopra la panca la capra campa, sotto la panca la capra crepa.
On the bench the goat lives, under the bench the goat dies.
Trentatré trentini entrarono a Trento tutti e trentatré trotterellando.
Thirty-three dwellers of Trent came into Trent, all thirty-three trotting and toddling.
Tre tigri contro tre tigri.
Three tigers against three tigers.
Se l’arcivescovo di Costantinopoli si disarcivescoviscostantinopolizzasse, vi disarcivescoviscostantinopolizzereste voi come si è disarcivescoviscostantinopolizzato l’arcivescovo di Costantinopoli?
If the archibishop of Constantinople debishopconstantinoplized himself, would you debishopconstantinoplize yourselves in the same way as the archibishop of Constantinople debishopconstantinoplized?
Polish łamaniec językow
W czasie suszy szosa sucha.
A way is dry when there’s drought.
Król Karol kupił Królowej Karolinie korale koloru koralowego.
King Karl bought Queen Caroline coral-colored bead.
Stół z powyłamywanymi nogami.
A table with broken legs.
We szwy płaszcza się zaszywszy w szyku marsza trzy wszy weszły.
Hiding in seams of a coat, three lice entered in a marching formation
Portuguese travalínguas
Sabia que o sabiá sabia assobiar?
Did you know that the thrush could whistle?
O rato roeu a roupa do rei de Roma.
The rat nibbled the King of Rome’s clothes.
O rato roeu a rolha da garrafa de rum do rei da Rússia.
The rat nibbled the cork of the bottle of rum of the king of Russia.
Um prato de trigo para três tigres.
One dish of wheat to three tigers
Spanish trabalenguas
El perro de San Roque no tiene rabo porque Ramón Rodríguez se lo ha robado.
Saint Roque’s dog has no tail because Ramón Rodríguez has stolen it.
El cielo está enladrillado. ¿Quién lo desenladrillará?
El desenladrillador que lo desenladrille, ¡buen desenladrillador será!
The sky is full of bricks. Who will put them out now?
The “unbricker” who could put them out, will be such a good “unbricker”!
Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en tres tristes trastos en un trigal
Three sad tigers were eating wheat in three sad (lousy) dishes in a wheat field.
Pablito clavó un clavito, un clavito clavó pablito.
Little Paul nailed a little nail, a little nail Little Paul nailed
Swedish tungvrickare
Sex laxar i en laxask.
Six salmon in a salmon-box.
Packa pappas kappsäck.
Pack daddy’s suitcase.
Sju sjösjuka sjömän sköttes av sju sköna sjuksköterskor.
Seven seasick sailors were nursed by seven beautiful nurses.
Klockan sju sitter en sjuk katt på skivan och sjunger.
At 7 o’clock a sick cat is sitting on a disc and singing.
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Traditional paella originated in the Valencia region of Spain. It’s believed that its origins are a blend of Roman and Arab influences. The Romans introduced irrigation in this area and the Arabs brought rice. The rest of the ingredients would be what was local to the region and accessible for the peasants who traditionally cooked paella whilst working in the fields. It was cooked on an open fire. That’s the reason why the pan developed its special shape, wider so as to cook evenly and aid the liquid absorption over the fire. Traditionally, twigs and wood from the local orange trees were used to build the fire.
Nowadays, paella is eaten all throughout Spain, especially on special family occasions or even Sundays as a treat. Usually it’s the men in the household who are in charge of making paella.
The following recipe is traditional paella. It’s a fairly easy dish to cook.There are many different variations, which include seafood, just chicken or vegetarian.
ENGLISH VERSION SPANISH VERSION
Ingredients for 12 people
5 tbsp. Olive oil
Salt
Water
1 tbsp. Pimentón (smoked paprika)
1 tin chopped tomatoes Tomate triturado
2 sprigs rosemary 2 ramitas de romero
1 chicken
½ rabbit
500grs green beans
500grs lime beans
6 artichokes (optional)
500grs snails (optional)
How to make paella valenciana
A good paella always starts by preparing a good base or “sofrito”. The sofrito is made by frying the chicken, rabbit and both kinds of beans in the olive oil. At this point, fry the artichokes and snails if using them. Add the salt and pimenton towards the end, when the meat is golden. Finally, add the tomatoes and let it simmer for a couple of minutes.
Then it’s time to add water to the sofrito. Add the saffron, put the heat up and let it cook for 25 to 30 minutes.The amount of water you need depends on how high the fire is and how big your paella pan is, but as a rule of thumb have three times the amount of rice you are using.
Then, add the rosemary and the rice and cook for approximately 20 minutes. The aim is for the rice to absorb all the liquid.
Turn the heat off, cover with a cloth and let it rest for 10 minutes.
ESPANOL
Ingredientes para 12 personas
5 cucharadas de aceite de oliva
sal
agua
1 cucharada de pimentón
azafrán
2 ramitas de romero
1 kilo y medio de arroz bomba
1 pollo
½ conejo
500grs alubias verdes
500grs garrofó
6 alcachofas (opcional)
500grs caracoles (opcional)
Cómo hacer paella valenciana
Toda paella que se precie comienza por un buen sofrito. Se sofríe en abundante aceite el pollo, el conejo, las judías, las alcachofas y los caracoles , sazonando con un poco de sal y pimentón hacia el final. Cuando esté bien dorado se añade el tomate triturado y se rehoga.
Con el sofrito listo se debe de añadir el agua. Las proporciones dependen mucho del fuego pero por regla general son tres veces la cantidad de arroz. Echamos ahora algunos troncos más al fuego para que suba de potencia, el azafrán y dejamos que se haga bien el caldo durante 25 o 30 minutos.
Luego añadimos el arroz y lo distribuimos por la paella. Lo cocemos durante 20 minutos, aunque aquí el tiempo lo marca de nuevo el grano de arroz y la potencia del fuego, que debemos ir dejando consumirse. Tiene que quedar completamente seco.
Por último, conviene dejar la paella reposar unos minutos tapada.
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Grammar terminology can be a bit overwhelming when students first start learning a new language. Whether you are a grammar novice or just need a bit of refreshing your memory, we have put together the following short list to help you to understand some of the terms used in the language learning environment.
(1) NOUN
A word that refers to a person, thing, place, concept, event or idea.
New York is very cosmopolitan
Peter works hard
(2) PRONOUN
A word that can be used in place of a noun to avoid repetition.
Peter works in New York → He works in New York
(3) VERB
A word that expresses an action or state. All sentences must contain one.
New York is very cosmopolitan
Peter works in New York
(4) ADJECTIVE
A word that describes a noun. It can describe colour, size, shape, etc.
New York is very cosmopolitan
(5) ADVERB
A word that modifies or describes a verb.
The train travels quickly
(6) INFINITIVE
The verb when it is not conjugated. In English infinitives are accompanied by ‘to’ and this is the form you will find in the dictionary, rather than the conjugated verb.
To be or not to be
(5) ARTICLE
A word that goes with nouns.
There are two kinds:
(a) Definite articles refer to something specific or known.
New York is the city where Peter works
(b) Indefinite articles refer to something non-specific or unknown.
New York is a city in the United States
(6) PREPOSITION
A word used to link other words. It can mean different things like direction, location, time, etc. For example: in, on, at, for, by, between.
Peter works in New York