As a Latino father of two beautiful girls, I know what I’m talking about.

Our culture puts a lot of pressure on fathers, and traditional gender roles and stereotypes do not let us adapt easily to the challenges of today’s world.

That said, Latino fathers love a good laugh and tell typical dad jokes, just like other fathers from around the world. 

Keep reading to learn more about the cultural significance of Latino fathers and the gender roles and family dynamics in Latino culture.

And you read that right; here, you’ll learn 13 of the most hilarious Latino dad jokes!

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Cultural Significance of Latino Fathers

Being a father in any culture isn’t an easy task, but Hispanic dads often struggle more. 

In a typical Hispanic family, obedience and respect for adult authority are core values, and Latino dads tend to be “control freaks.” 

Additionally, 64% of Latino fathers living in the U.S. are immigrants, often finding themselves in a more open society than the one they left behind. 

This situation puts pressure on them and their parenting practices, as the values of American society aren’t the same as those from their countries of origin. 

However, statistics show that 73% of Latino fathers in America live at home with all their children, and 85% have children with only one partner. 

These characteristics promote child well-being.

About Hispanic Gender Roles and Family Dynamics

First, if you want to know the definition of “Hispanic,” it’s important to remember that that term was created by the U.S. government back in the 1970s. 

They tried to “provide a common denominator to a large but diverse population with connection to the Spanish language or culture from a Spanish-speaking country.”

It was a flawed proposition. 

About gender roles, Latinos often hear that “Latino male is the economic provider, while the Latina women are responsible for the domestic roles, like taking care of the children.” 

Also, research has shown that “machismo and patriarchal authority characterize the male role.” 

Such is the role and prejudices that Latino men often face, and they also shape family dynamics. 

13 Hilarious Latino Dad Jokes

Although Latino fathers face plenty of challenges, it’s also true that the bond between a Hispanic father and their kids is one of the strongest out there. 

So, let’s have a laugh with these hilarious Latino fathers. 

1. A Cuban Dad in Mexico

• Papá cubano: ¿A dónde va este autobús? 
• Papá mexicano: A Tacuba. 
• Papá cubano: ¡Ha’ta allá!

Translation: 

• Cuban dad: Where does this bus go? 
• Mexican dad: To Tacuba. 
• Cuban dad: All the way there!

I know this is a Latino dad joke because my father, a typical Mexican dad, always said it.

The key to understanding this joke is to know a little bit about different types of pronunciation in Latin American countries. 

Cuban people tend to “skip over” the letter “s” when talking. 

So, when hearing the Mexican dad telling him that the bus was going a Tacuba (a Mexico City neighborhood), he took it as if a Cuban person had told him, “Hasta Cuba.” But because Cubans don’t pronounce the “s,” it sounds like Ha’ta Cuba.

That’s why he responds, “¡Ha’ta allá!” Because you can’t go from Mexico City to Cuba by bus. 

2. Handsome Son

• Papá, ¿qué se siente tener un hijo tan guapo?
• No sé hijo, pregúntale a tu abuelo. 

Translation: 

• Dad, how does it feel to have such a handsome son?
• I don’t know, son; ask your grandpa. 

This is the perfect joke to say on the next Father’s Day, as it involves a Latino father, a Latino son, and even a Latino grandfather. 

Try to determine who’s the most handsome of the three. Just don’t take it personal. 

3. Feeling Ill

• Papá, me siento mal.
• Pues siéntate bien. 

Translation: 

• Dad, I feel ill. 
• Well, sit properly. 

Latino fathers love a good grammar joke. 

The conjugation of the first person of the verbs sentir (to feel) and sentarse (to sit down) is the same: siento. The Latino dad is playing with that to tease his son. 

4. Who Are You?

• Papá, en la escuela dicen que soy huérfano. 
• ¿Y tú quién eres?

Translation: 

• Dad, at school, they said I’m an orphan. 
• And who are you again? 

Yes, Latino fathers can be cruel too, but they love teasing their children more than anything. 

5. Yellow Eyes

• Oye papá, ¿cómo se dice “ojos” en inglés? 
• Eyes.
• No, “ice” es hielo.
• No, “yellow” es amarillo. 

Translation: 

• Hey Dad, how do you say “ojos” in English?
• Eyes. 
• No, “ice” is ice. 
• No, yellow is yellow. 

Typical silly dad joke, but really hard to translate. 

Ojos means “eyes,” which sounds like “ice,” which means hielo in Spanish. Hielo sounds like “yellow,” which means amarillo. Dizzying, right? 

6. Keep Rowing

• Papá, ya no quiero ir a Europa. 
• Silencio. Sigue remando. 

Translation: 

• Dad, I don’t want to go to Europe anymore. 
• Be quiet and keep rowing!  

One more of those cruel jokes. Does anyone want to row to Europe? 

7. Watching TV

• Papá, ¿puedo ver la tele?
• Vale, pero no la enciendas. 

Translation: 

• Dad, can I watch the TV?
• Ok, but don’t turn it on.

In Spanish, “watching TV” literally translates as ver la televisión, which can also be understood as “watching the TV.” Again, another cruel joke just to have fun with his child. 

8. Eleven Anclas

• Papá, ¿cuántas anclas tiene un barco?
• Once.
• ¿Cómo sabes?
• ¿Nunca has oído eso de “eleven anclas”?

Translation: 

• Dad, how many anchors does a ship have?
• Eleven.
• How do you know?
• Haven’t you heard that shout of “eleven anclas”?

One more untranslatable dad joke. 

In Spanish, ship captains traditionally shout ¡leven anclas! before leaving the dock. It translates as “anchors aweigh” and means the trip is about to begin.

Latino dad just confused leven with “eleven,” which means once in Spanish.

9. Fun Dad

• Papá, ¿qué es una brigada?
• Una mujer con ropa muy calientita. 

Translation: 

• Dad, what does brigada mean?
• A woman wearing very warm clothes. 

This is a silly Hispanic dad joke. 

Brigada means “brigade.” However, a Latino dad understands abrigada as a woman wearing warm clothes. 

10. Fun Dad

• Papá, ¿qué había antes del Big Bang?
• Cómo conocí a su madre.

Translation: 

• Dad, what was there before the Big Bang?
• How I Met Your Mother. 

Latino fathers can be funny when they just want to tease their kids. 

The child asks a scientific question about the Big Bang, and the Latino dad replies with a pop culture answer. 

Before the TV show “The Big Bang Theory,” there was another one called “How I Met Your Mother.”

11. Princess Mom

Translation: 

• Papá, después de tantos años sigues llamando “princesa” a mamá. Dime, ¿cuál es el secreto?
• Olvidé su nombre y me da miedo preguntarle.

• Dad, after all these years, you keep calling Mom “princess.” Tell me, what’s the secret?
• I forgot her name, and I’m scared to ask her. 

This joke isn’t exclusive to Latino fathers but is still funny. 

12. Silly Manolito

• Papá, ¿por qué el nombre que me pusiste significa “monumento de piedra de una sola pieza”?
• De verdad que eres bobo, Manolito. 

Translation: 

• Dad, why does my name mean “a single block of a stone monument?”
• Geesh Manolito, you’re really silly.

Manolito looked for the meaning of his name and instead found the definition of monolito, “monolith,” in English. 

13. Silly Dad

• Papá, ¿qué haces frente a la computadora con los ojos cerrados?
• Nada hijo, es que la computadora me dijo que cerrara todas las pestañas. 

Translation: 

• Dad, what are you doing in front of the computer with your eyes closed?
• Nothing, son, it’s just that the computer told me to close all my tabs. 

The “tabs” on your browser are called pestañas in Spanish, which means “eyelashes.”

A Word From a Latino Father

As a typical Mexican dad, I can tell you that my involvement in my daughters’ education is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. 

Also, sometimes stereotypes about gender and family roles are just that, stereotypes. 

Being a dad isn’t easy, and every culture often faces challenges.

Latino fathers have their own specific challenges, and reflecting on them is an excellent way to overcome them. 

Learn Spanish and Tell More Latino Dad Jokes

If you liked these Latino dad jokes and would like to learn more and laugh with your children, learn Spanish and immerse yourself in this fascinating language!

At Homeschool Spanish Academy, we help thousands of students each month through our individualized lessons and flexible scheduling.

Sign up for a free class with a certified, native Spanish-speaking teacher from Guatemala and start making jokes in Spanish today! 

Wink, wink. 

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want to learn more about Hispanic and Latin American culture? Check these out!

• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• 13 Hilarious Latino Dad Jokes
• Languages in Spain: How Many Languages Are Spoken in Spain?
• What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
• Which Languages Do They Speak in Brazil?
• 6 Unique Festivals in Spain You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
• The Best Spanish Learning Podcasts for Kids
• 12 Contemporary Spanish Female Artists Who Will Empower You

The post 13 Hilarious Latino Dad Jokes appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

It seems like a small and pretty insignificant word, right? 

Well, you’ll be amazed to discover how many different ways you can use it and how its meaning changes depending on how you use it.

“What?!” you may say. 

Yes. Just look back at the title. 

So, keep reading to learn about the extraordinary que, the different ways you can use it, and how a little accent mark on it can change the meaning of a sentence.

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Say What?

The little word que is one of those ubiquitous pieces of language that seem to hold everything together. 

You can find que everywhere, from questions to conjunctions and interjections. It’s just a fundamental piece of the Spanish language. 

Therefore, you must learn how to use its different meanings properly. 

The best you can do is expose yourself to the language and speak it regularly. You can do that with one of our certified Spanish teachers. We’re sure they’ll be happy to help you master que.

Or you can try to learn the tidbits of grammar here first and apply the theory in your everyday Spanish conversations.

Que and Qué

When looking for the meaning of que, you have to consider if the word has an accent or not.

The word is the same but can be used differently, and the accent plays a critical role.

In a minute, we’ll explore the different meanings of que, but now you must understand that when que has an accent, as in qué, it is because it’s part of a question, an exclamation, or an interjection. 

Look for question or exclamation marks in a sentence; if they are there, it’s likely that the que has a written accent. Spanish speakers call this accent a tilde. 

However, it’s important to mention that the accent means that the word plays a different role in the sentence. 

Let’s dig deeper. You’ll see what I’m talking about. 

What Does “Que” Mean in Spanish?

As explained before, que in Spanish has different meanings. Let’s explore ten of them.

1. What

This might be the definition that people use the most. However, just as in English, you can use “what” in different ways. 

In Spanish, you can also use this version of que in different situations. 

Most times, when que means “what,” it’s part of a question or exclamation and, as such, should be written with an accent.

¿Qué me compraste?

What did you buy me?

¿Qué le pasó a María?

What happened to Maria?

¡Qué gran película!

What a great movie!

¡Qué decepción!

What a disappointment!

Sometimes, qué with an accent and question mark can mean “which,” and qué with an accent and an exclamation mark may mean “how.” 

Those are the next two meanings of que that we’ll focus on. 

2. Which

Although most of the time questions starting with ¿Qué…? translate as “what,” sometimes the proper translation is “which.” 

Take a look at the following examples: 

¿Qué color prefieres, el rojo o el azul?

Which color do you prefer, red or blue?

¿Qué auto es?

Which car is it?

The key to identifying if ¿Qué…? means “what” or “which” is in the Spanish word cuál. 

If you can change qué for cuál in the question, then it definitely means “which.”

¿Cuál color prefieres, el rojo o el azul?

Which color do you prefer, red or blue?

¿Cuál coche es?

Which car is it?

3. How

When you use qué with an accent, it usually means that your sentence is an exclamation or an interjection. 

In the cases mentioned above, ¡Qué…! usually translates as “What…!”. But there are some cases when “How…!” is the best translation. 

Look at these examples: 

¡Qué hermoso!

How beautiful! 

¡Qué maravilloso!

How wonderful!

The actual meaning of que here depends on the adjective used in the sentence. 

So, if you translate a sentence and use “what,” but it sounds off, try “how” to see how that works. 

4. That

One of the most common ways to translate que (without an accent) is as “that.” In this case, the role of que is that of a pronoun used to define a subject or object. 

Esta es la casa que quiero para nosotros. 

This is the house that I want for us. 

La ciudad que más me gustó fue Londres. 

London was the city that I liked the most. 

In some cases, you can also use que in a subjunctive phrase to express a desire or suggestion, and it also translates as “that.”

Te sugiero que te quedes donde estás. 

I suggest that you stay where you are. 

Desearía que nunca te hubieras ido. 

I wish that you’d never left. 

5. Than

When used in a comparison, que in Spanish can also mean “than.”

Su casa es más vieja que la mía. 

His house is older than mine. 

El Real Madrid ha ganado más campeonatos que el Barcelona. 

Real Madrid has won more championships than Barcelona. 

6. To

Another translation for que in Spanish is “to,” and you use it when you compare two different things or more. 

Prefiero Buenos Aires que Montevideo. 

I prefer Buenos Aires to Montevideo. 

Prefiero tacos que hamburguesas. 

I prefer tacos to burgers. 

In some situations, you use que to express a need or requirement. In these cases, que comes after the verb tener or “to have,” which translates as “to.”

Tengo que ir a casa por mi hermana. 

I have to go home to pick up my sister. 

Erika tiene que repetir el año escolar.

Erika has to repeat the school year. 

7. Who, Whom

Other times, que may also mean “who” or “whom” when used to define the subject. 

Este es el hombre que me salvó la vida. 

This is the man who saved my life. 

Hoy vi a una chica con la que solía trabajar. 

I saw a girl today with whom I used to work. 

8. May

In some subjunctive phrases that express wish or desire, you can use que, which translates as “may.” Are there any Star Wars fans out there?

Que la Fuerza te acompañe. 

May the Force be with you. 

Que Dios te bendiga. 

May God bless you. 

9. So

You can use que to talk about cause, finality, or consequence. In this case, it would work as a conjunction that connects two phrases, and it translates as “so.”

Canta un poco, que te escuchen.

Sing a little bit, so they hear you. 

Quería pasar por mi temprano, que mejor madrugué.

He wanted to pick me up early, so I woke up early.

10. Let

Finally, you can also use que to give an order or express a command. 

Que empiecen los juegos.

Let the games begin. 

¡Que lo dejes terminar!

Let him finish!

Some Grammar Structures That Use Que in Spanish

As you can see, there are many ways to use que, and its meaning vary accordingly. 

You can also find que in some compound grammar structures and phrases. This means even more ways to use this word. 

Let’s learn some of them and their meanings in English: 

These are just some of the ways to use que.

¿Qué te parece?

This means, “What do you think?” It isn’t that hard, right? 

We know. Sometimes you may confuse one use with another, but you’ll get them all right with time and practice. 

Remember that the important thing is to practice. The best way to learn is through experience. 

So, we invite you to sign up for a free trial class with one of our certified, native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala and start using que in all its different ways from day one.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

The post 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

In every language, transition words are beautiful tools that help us to connect our ideas and give a natural flow to the rhythm of our speech—and they’re vital to learn to improve your Spanish fluency. 

Keep reading to learn all there is to know about transition words in Spanish, what types of transition words exist, and how to use them.  

What Are Transition Words?

Transition words are all those words and phrases that you use to connect ideas between sentences. These words allow you to “transition” from one sentence to other in a smooth way. They provide a sense of normalcy to the language, since without them, our ideas would instead be separated by harsh breaks and a robotic-kind of speech. 

Every language has its own share of transition words, and Spanish is not the exception. Learning these words and phrases will help you to sound more natural in your speaking or in your writing. 

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Watch our video on 50 Transition Words in Spanish!

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Types of Transition Words in Spanish

In Spanish, you can use transition words for different purposes. Depending on your purpose you get a different type of transition word: 

• For time
• For place
• To emphasize
• To explain an idea
• To add an idea
• To show a result
• To contrast and compare
• To summarize

Let’s see each one of them in detail, to learn how you can easily introduce them in your Spanish speaking and improve your writing too.

Transition Words in Spanish

If your goal is to be fluent in Spanish, transition words are a crucial area of study. For that reason, it might be a good idea to keep the following list at hand, as you will always need a good transition word to make your speech sound more natural. 

For Time 

These words let you connect ideas regarding the moment in time when they occurred. 

primero, segundo – first, secondly

Used often in recipes, processes or algorithms, these words are a good way to keep the chronological order in mind.

Primero, unta la mayonesa en el pan. Segundo, agrega el jamón. 
First, spread the mayonnaise onto the bread. Secondly, add ham. 

en primer lugar, en segundo lugar – In the first place, secondly

Similar to the previous one, but more common in formal speeches or everyday conversations. 

En primer lugar, eso no es cierto. En segundo lugar, yo ni siquiera estaba aquí. 
In the first place, that’s not true. Secondly, I wasn’t even here. 

después (de) – after, afterward

Carlos hizo la tarea después del partido de fútbol. 
Carlos did his homework after the football game. 

ya – already

Ya is useful to express that something has already happened. 

Terminé el trabajo y ya lo mandé por correo electrónico.
I finished my work and I already sent it by email. 

todavía – still

To express that something is still happening at the moment, you use todavía. 

Cuando se despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba ahí.
When he woke up, the dinosaur was still there. 

todavía no – not yet

However, to say that something has not happened yet, you have to use todavía no. 

¿Ya empezó el partido? Todavía no. 
Has the game started already? Not yet. 

Other useful transition words for time:  

Mientras
While

Por fin
at last

Al final 
At the end

Finalmente  
Lastly

Al mismo tiempo 
At the same time

Para continuar
Next, further

Por último
Lastly

En conclusión
In conclusion

For Place

These transition words allow you to connect ideas regarding their position in space.

aquí, acá – here

Ven a casa, aquí te espero. 
Come home, I’ll wait for you here. 

ahí, allí – there

Ya casi llegamos, ahí está mi casa.
We’re almost there, that’s my house.

al lado de – next to

Mi casa está al lado del parque. 
My house is next to the park.

afuera – outside

Estoy afuera de la escuela. 
My house is next to the park.

Other Useful Transition Words for Place:  

Allá 
Over there

Más allá
Beyond, further

De
Of, from

Desde
From, since

To Add an Idea

Use the following transition words when you want to add a new idea to what you were just saying.

además – moreover, additionally

Estudiar español es muy interesante y, además, te abre muchas puertas. 
Learning Spanish is very interesting and, additionally, it opens a lot of doors. 

aparte – besides, apart from

Eso no es cierto, aparte de que ni siquiera es lo que yo dije.
That’s not true, besides that’s not even what I said.

asimismo – also, likewise

Asimismo is a perfect way to start a new paragraph building up on what you just said on the previous one. You can also use de igual manera or de la misma manera, to express the same idea.

Asimismo, las ideas de la Ilustración condujeron a la Revolución Industrial. 
Likewise, the ideas of the Enlightenment sparked the Industrial Revolution. 

también – also, too

Me gusta el fútbol y también el básquetbol. 
I like football and basketball too. 

más aún – moreover

No debiste mentirme, más aún cuando quieres que te ayude. 
You shouldn’t have lied to me, moreover when you want my help.

Other Useful Transition Words to Add an Idea:

De todas formas (maneras, modos) 
In any case, anyhow

De cualquier manera
In any case, anyhow

Sobre todo
Above all, especially

Y
And

To Explain an Idea

Sometimes you don’t want to add a new idea, but explain better the one you were just talking about. These transition words will help you with that:

es decir – that is, I mean

La comida mexicana es muy interesante. Es decir, me encanta como mezcla diferentes sabores.
Mexican food is very interesting. I mean, I love how it mixes different flavors.  

por ejemplo – for example, for instance

Me gusta mucho tu estilo, por ejemplo esos zapatos están increíbles. 
I like your style a lot, for example those shoes are amazing!

en otras palabras – in other words

En otras palabras, hiciste un gran trabajo. 
In other words, you did a great job. 

así – thus, thereby

Trabajé de mesero y así pude pagar mi universidad. 
I worked as a waiter and thus I could pay my tuition fees. 

To Contrast and Compare

When you want to contrast or compare to different ideas, you can use one of these transition words in Spanish: 

aunque – although, even though

Me gusta mucho el básquetbol, aunque el fútbol es mi deporte favorito. 
I like basketball a lot, although football is my favorite sport. 

pero – but

Sí quiero ir al cine, pero tengo mucha tarea. 
I do want to go to the movies, but I have a lot of homework. 

sin embargo – however, nevertheless

Me gustaría aprender francés, sin embargo prefiero el español.
I’d like to learn French, however I prefer Spanish. 

a pesar de – despite, in spite of

Ganamos el partido, a pesar de que éramos menos jugadores.
We won the game, in spite of having less players. 

Other Useful Transition Words to Contrast and Compare:  

Al contrario
On the contrary

Aun así
Even so

Sino 
But

En cambio
On the other hand, instead

To Summarize

These transition words are useful to conclude your idea. 

En resumen – to sum up

En resumen, se trata de uno de tus mejores trabajos. 
To sum up, this is one of your best works. 

Para terminar – lastly, finally

Para terminar, debo aceptar que fue una gran experiencia. 
Finally, I have to accept that it was a great experience. 

En conclusión – in conclusion, in a nutshell

En conclusión, es la mejor decisión que he tomado. 
In a nutshell, it’s the best decision that I’ve ever taken. 

Other Useful Transition Words to Summarize:

En síntesis
In short

En otras palabras
In other words

Al fin y al cabo
All in all

Después de todo
After all  

En Conclusión

Now that you know how useful transition words in Spanish can be, start using them in real life conversations and see how much your speaking in Spanish improves. Sign up today for a free trial class with one of our certified teachers from Guatemala, and impress them with the natural flow of your speech thanks to the smart use of transition words!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar and vocabulary? Check these out!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• How to Build a Spanish Practice Routine That Sticks (And Doesn’t Spark Eye Rolls)
• Why Learning Spanish Feels Harder as an Adult, And What You Can Do About It

The post 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

I’m not exaggerating—if you master today’s post, you’ll master all Spanish conjugations and with that, most of your current mistakes when writing and speaking in the language will be gone.  

Keep reading to discover what the Spanish tenses are, how to conjugate the 18 of them, and what you can express with each one of them. 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What are the Spanish tenses?
• Which are the Spanish moods?
• Master the 18 Spanish tenses

What Are the Spanish Tenses? 

Just as their counterparts in English, the Spanish tenses refer to time. The reason for their existence is “to inform about the moment in time when an action takes place.” The most common tenses are present, past, and future, but in Spanish you have up to 15 more tenses to express yourself.

These 18 Spanish tenses in total are divided into simple and compound tense. Simple tenses only have a main verb, while compound tenses include the auxiliary verb haber before the main verb in past participle: he estado (I have been). 

Which Are the Spanish Moods? 

The other reason for having so many different Spanish tenses is the existence of three moods: indicative, subjunctive, and imperative. Moods indicate the intention of the speaker and help you distinguish between different tenses. 

The good news is that the imperative doesn’t use any tenses, so we can forget about it for now. The indicative is thought of as the “normal” mood, you usually write or speak in the indicative mood. In the indicative mood, you express the meaning of the verb as a reality. 

The subjunctive mood, on the other hand, has nothing normal about it and requires a deep understanding of how it works before Spanish learners are able to master it. I strongly recommend you to read about the Spanish subjunctive.

Master the 18 Spanish Tenses

Find in the following lines an introduction to each one of the 18 Spanish tenses, divided by mood and between simple and compound tenses. 

In its “natural” form (infinitive), every verb in Spanish ends either on -ar, -er, -ir. For that reason, I’m including a conjugation of one regular verb for each tense and ending. These verbs are: comprar (to buy), correr (to run), and vivir (to live).

Indicative Mood Simple Tenses

This is the most common combination of mood and tenses, which means these are the conjugations that you’re going to use more. 

Present 

Also known as the “present simple.” Use this tense to talk about things that happen in general, or about habits. 

Corro todas las noches. 
I run every night.  

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Preterite

The preterite is one of the Spanish tenses used to speak about the past. The imperfect is the other one. If you want to learn more about these two Spanish tenses check out our post about All You Ever Needed to Know About Spanish (Simple) Past Tense Verbs.

Use the preterite to talk about events that occured at a certain time in the past.  

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Imperfect

The imperfect is that “other” simple past tense in Spanish. Use it to talk about “past actions without a definite end,” when you put an emphasis on the process of the action, or habitual events in the past.

Future

There are two Spanish tenses to talk about the events that will happen at any moment after the present moment: the future and the conditional. The future translates to English using the word “will” and it straightforward expresses events that are about to happen or will happen at some point after right now. 

It has the characteristic of changing the whole verb, and because of that it’s easier to learn as all verbs have the same conjugation regardless of their infinitive ending.

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Conditional

The conditional is basically the Spanish equivalent of the “would + verb” construction in English, but for a deeper understanding of how it works please read What is the Conditional Tense in Spanish?

The conditional is one of the easiest tenses to conjugate as it keeps the verb in its infinitive form and only adds an inflection at the end of it, for the three types of regular verbs (-ar, -er, -ir).

Indicative Mood Compound Tenses

As I said before, the indicative mood is the most commonly used since we use it to express things that happen in reality. Compound tenses include two verbs, an auxiliary one which always is haber (to have) and the main verb in its past participle form. Learn more details about How to Use the Past Participle as an Adjective in Spanish.  

Present Perfect

The present perfect is the first one on this list of Spanish tenses that’s made up of two verbs: haber + main verb in past participle. Use the perfect present for:

• Events that started in the past, have continued until the present, and may continue into the future.
• Events that occurred in a non-specific time in the past. 
• Events that just took place in the recent past. 

Translate to English as “have/has + past participle verb.” 

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Preterite Perfect

Also known as past anterior, preterite perfect helps you to talk about an action in the past that took place before another action in the past. Its use is minimal and limited to formal language and literature mostly. In other words, don’t spend too much time trying to memorize and use this verb tense.

Translate to English as “had + past participle verb.” 

Past Perfect 

The dreaded pluscuamperfecto also helps you to explain something that “had happened before something else happened.” Read this post to Master the Past Perfect Spanish Tense (El Pluscuamperfecto). 

The pluscuamperfecto is the reason the preterite perfect isn’t as commonly used anymore. 

Translate to English as “had + past participle verb.”

Conditional Perfect

Use the conditional perfect to talk about suppositions in the past, complete or finished requests, invitations, or suggestions, and future actions from a past perspective. 

Translate to English as “would have + past participle verb.”

Future Perfect

The future perfect is one of the most complex Spanish tenses there are. It allows you to “look back to the past from a point in the future.”

Translate to English as “will have + past participle verb.”

Take Note

Did you notice how all the compound tenses have the exact same conjugation of haber, the helping verb? Meanwhile, the main verbs (comprar, correr, vivir) morphed into their past participle forms. 

My point is—while, yes, these are a lot of conjugations to learn, they’re not as many (and difficult) as you think at closer inspection! 

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Subjunctive Mood Simple Tenses

If the indicative was the “normal” mood, then the subjunctive is the “weird” one. You use the subjunctive to talk about things that are not part of reality, such as wishes and desires, among many other things.

Present

Use the present subjunctive to express uncertainty, doubt, and hope. 

Imperfect 1

There are two imperfect tenses in subjunctive. Both are correct and you can use whichever you prefer and it makes no difference. Use the imperfect subjunctive to express a point of view in the past. 

Imperfect 2

Same situations apply, it’s just a different way of expressing the same idea. If anything, this imperfect tense is more used in Spain than in Latin America. 

Future

This Spanish tense is almost obsolete these days, but it’s still used in formal language when a verb in present or future requires the subjunctive in the main clause and refers to a future action. 

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Subjunctive Mood Compound Tenses

These are arguably the most complex Spanish tenses that exist. So much that some of them don’t even have a direct translation to English. 

Present Perfect

Use the present perfect subjunctive when a verb requiring the subjunctive in the main clause is in the present, future, or present perfect. The only difference with the present subjunctive is that you have to use the present perfect subjunctive when the dependent clause is in the past, while you use the present subjunctive when the dependent clause is in the present or future. 

Past Perfect 1

Use the past perfect subjunctive to talk about hypothetical situations, regrets, or hindsight. This is the equivalent subjunctive compound tense to the imperfect, so there are also two versions of it. 

Past Perfect 2

Same case as the imperfect, this version is more widely used in Spain. Besides that, there’s no other difference between the two subjunctive past perfect tenses. 

Future Perfect

Another rarely used tense in modern Spanish. You can use it to talk about actions that have happened, should have happened, or could have happened at some point in the future.

Practice Your Spanish Tenses

I know that was a lot of information to digest in one single post. But, when you analyze the Spanish tenses closely, you can see that many of them change only slightly from one to the other, and that perfect tenses are quite easy to master as their conjugations are the same for every verb. 

Do you want to know the good news? There are no more tenses or conjugations! Now, you know them all and you can focus on introducing them one by one to your daily conversations in Spanish. Sign up for a free class to work through all 18 tenses with native Spanish teachers from Guatemala!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies? Check these out!

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The post Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You) appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Pink Floyd

Did you know that one of the most famous lyrics in the history of rock is grammatically incorrect? 

What a bummer, right? 

However, if Pink Floyd were a Spanish band suddenly this problem would simply go away. 

Why? 

Because in English double negatives aren’t considered correct, but we love double negatives in Spanish!

In today’s post, we’ll explore the weird but fascinating universe of double negatives in Spanish. If you’re not sure what’s a double negative, don’t worry we’ll start there. Then, we’ll discuss why double negatives are accepted in Spanish but not in English, and finally we’ll learn how to form your own double negatives in Spanish. 

Forget about what Pink Floyd says, we do need education. 

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What’s a Double Negative? 

According to the Oxford Learner’s dictionary a double negative is “a negative statement containing two negative words.” For example, that famous phrase from Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick on the Wall”: 

We don’t need no education.  

The statement is negative because what they’re expressing is that education is not needed. To say this, the legendary British band uses two negative words: “don’t” and “no.”

However, Oxford also tells us that “this use is not considered correct in standard English.”

Meaning that Roger Waters may be a great musician, but not so great in grammar. Apparently, this is a common trait among legendary musicians: 

“I can’t get no satisfaction.” Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones.

“Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone.” Bill Withers (that song from the “Notting Hill” film).

“I wasn’t looking for nobody when you looked my way.” Rihanna (Don’t Stop the Music).

Double Negatives in English

Using double negatives in English can even trigger international political crises, so it’s better to understand why their use isn’t accepted as grammatically correct in English. 

According to Lexico “two negative elements cancel each other out to give a positive statement instead.” In theory, this would mean that when a whole generation of young people was singing with Waters “we don’t need no education,” they were actually meaning that they needed education. 

That would also mean that Mick Jagger can get satisfaction, which would render the whole meaning of his life—pointless.  

But I’m digressing. 

Double Negatives in Spanish

After learning all that about double negatives in English, you may be surprised to discover that double negatives in Spanish are not only accepted, but sometimes they’re even required. Moreover, you can have perfectly correct triple negatives in Spanish with no problem at all. 

While in English “two negatives cancel each other out,” in Spanish the negatives reinforce each other, rather than canceling themselves out. This is not so rare, it happens also in other languages, and even in English up to the 16th century.  

How to Use Double Negatives in Spanish

In order to properly use double negatives in Spanish, there are a couple of rules to consider: 

1. Don’t mix positive and negative words in statements. 

2. Don’t use more than one negative term before the verb. (As an exception to this rule the words nunca jamás or “never ever” can be used together before verbs).

Following these two simple rules, all you need now to create your own double negatives in Spanish are: 

1. Adverbs of Denial

2. Indefinite Pronouns

Adverbs of Denial

Linguists like to say that “adverbs are to verbs, what adjectives are to nouns.” Weird people, I know. But in this case they have a point. Adverbs help you to express when, where, how and for how long an action takes place. 

Adverbs of denial allow you to form double negatives in Spanish by reinforcing the negative meaning of your sentence. 

The most common adverbs of denial in Spanish are: 

• No – no, not
• Ni – neither, nor
• Nunca – never
• Jamás – never
• Tampoco – neither, either

Using these adverbs of denial all you need to do to form double negatives in Spanish is to follow this formula: 

No  + verb + adverb of denial + complement

Let’s see some examples: 

No te quiero ver nunca más. – I don’t want to see you ever again. 

No iré ni al cine ni a la fiesta. – I’m not going to the movies or to the party.

No he estado jamás en Argentina. – I’ve never been to Argentina. 

Yo no estoy de acuerdo tampoco. – I don’t agree either.  

If you have an adverb of denial before the verb, you can’t form a double negative. As in the following examples: 

Nunca quiero volverte a ver. – I never want to see you again. 

Jamás he estado en Argentina. – I’ve never been to Argentina. 

Yo tampoco estoy de acuerdo. – I don’t agree either. 

Indefinite Pronouns

Sometimes, to substitute a noun you can use an indefinite pronoun. These useful words make only a reference to the quantity and in some cases gender of the noun.

The most common indefinite pronouns in Spanish are: 

• Nadie – nobody, no one
• Nada – nothing
• Ningún, ninguno, ninguna – none, any, anyone

To form double negatives in Spanish using indefinite pronouns you should use this formula: 

No + verb + indefinite pronoun + complement

Examples: 

No tienes nada que temer. – You shouldn’t be afraid of anything.

No vino nadie a la fiesta. – Nobody came to the party. 

No tengo ninguna camisa blanca. – I have no white shirts. 

Yo no sé nada de eso. – I know nothing about it. 

No quiero ningún problema. – I don’t want any trouble. 

Again, if you see an indefinite pronoun before the verb, you can’t form a double negative: 

Nadie me quiere. – Nobody loves me. 

Nada es más importante que esto. – Nothing is more important than this. 

Ninguna persona debería hacer algo así. – Nobody should do anything like that. 

Nunca and Tampoco

One final way of creating double negatives in Spanish is by substituting the initial no in the sentence with nunca or tampoco and then using an indefinite pronoun as follows: 

Nunca/Tampoco + verb + indefinite pronoun + complement

Examples: 

Nunca viene nadie a mis fiestas. – No one ever comes to my parties. 

Nunca he viajado a ningún país de Sudamérica. – I’ve never traveled to any country in South America. 

When you use tampoco in Spanish you normally have previous information and you are responding to that. 

Yo tampoco quiero saber nada de ella. – I don’t want to know anything about her either.

Tampoco he viajado a ningún país de Europa. – I haven’t traveled to any country in Europe either.  

No Tienes Nada Que Perder

That’s a good example of a double negative in Spanish which means “you have nothing to lose.” Now that you’re learning all this useful information about Spanish grammar and that you know how to create double negatives in Spanish, sign up for a free trial class with one of our native Spanish speaking teachers and apply all that knowledge into a real-life conversation. 

Because it’s free, you have nothing to lose or as you would say now: no tienes nada que perder. And you have a lot to win.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“It’s great being able to interact with native speaking people and having a conversation with them not just doing all the work on paper. It’s also an amazing opportunity to speak with native Spanish-speaking people without having to travel to a native Spanish-speaking country.”

– Melanie

“Getting to know wonderful teachers who care about me and my growth in language and education. Evelyn Gomez and Erick Cacao are two of the most extraordinary people I have ever met, and talking with them in Spanish at the beginning of classes is always so fulfilling and greatly contributes to my happiness, joy, and wellbeing.”

– Abby

“I love that my children have the opportunity to speak with a live person. They get to practice Spanish in a 1-1 setting while improve their speaking, writing and reading skills during their lessons. HSA is a great way to learn Spanish for all ages! My children are 6, 9 and 11. My oldest two (9 and 11) have been taking classes with HSA for almost 2 years now. They love seeing their teacher each week. They understand the importance of learning several languages. I’ve seen them grow and learn with HSA. I’m excited to see how they will improve the more classes they take. I highly recommend them. You can’t bet learning and speaking with a live teacher. I’ve tried other programs. It’s just not as motivating.”

– Karie Ann, Parent of 3

Want more free Spanish lessons, grammar guides, and easy learning strategies? Check these out:

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
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• Real Spanish for Real Life: Top Beginner Phrases
• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
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The post A Guide to Double Negatives in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Really, this is one of the trickiest issues in the language, as it touches on delicate cultural assumptions. Trust me, you don’t want to mess this one up. 

Today, we’ll learn why the señora vs señorita debate is so important in Spanish-speaking countries, the difference between the terms, and why people might get offended if you use them in the wrong way. 

We’ll also discover other “courtesy titles” that exist in Spanish and their abbreviations, as well as how to adapt your verb conjugation for both formal and informal situations. 

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Señora vs Señorita: a Heated Debate in Spanish

If you’ve ever lived in a Spanish-speaking country or visited one as a tourist, chances are that you’ve heard someone calling a woman señora or señorita. Perhaps you’ve even been called one of these terms. 

What’s behind them? In other words, what makes a woman a señora or señorita? Age? Social position? Marital status? 

The answer is not as straightforward as one would like; thus, the señora vs señorita debate is a heated one in Spanish-speaking countries. So much, that you can insult a woman if you don’t get it right. Hence the importance of understanding what all this is about. 

Courtesy Titles in Spanish 

Courtesy titles are terms that do “not have legal significance but rather are used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility.” This definition refers mostly to titles such as Lord, Duke, or Marquis. These titles are still in use in Europe and other countries around the world. 

However, sometimes the term “courtesy title” is used to encompass a broader concept to show respect, esteem, or courtesy when referring to a person. When used like this, courtesy titles are also known as honorific. For example: 

• Mr., Mrs., Miss, or Dr. in English
• Señor, señora, or señorita in Spanish 

Why Do People Use This Kind of Language? 

The Spanish-speaking world is full of formalities and underlying levels of complex relationships. The way we write and speak is definitely more formal than the way people write and speak in the United States, and that has a lot to do with the history of our countries. 

People use courtesy titles due to custom and tradition, but also because even in the 21st century people consider society to be comprised of classes that need to be differentiated. 

Take, for example, the Quinceañera celebration that takes place in many countries in Latin America. It used to mean that a girl had become a señorita, entered society, and was ready to entertain marriage proposals. At the age of 15! 

The Quinceañera tradition stayed, but the background and meaning of the celebration has changed as societies have evolved. Nowadays, Mexican parents who throw a Quinceañera party for their daughter are not expecting her to get married anytime soon.

The señora vs señorita debate is a perfect example of this formal language still widely used in Latin America. If you were to include Spain in this discussion, that formality just grows in importance. 

Learning a language is not only an exercise in grammar acquisition but also a deep exploration of a different culture. Learning when to use señora or señorita is more about understanding how the Spanish-speaking culture works, than about which word goes where. 

Other Courtesy Titles in Spanish

Notwithstanding the importance of the Señora vs Señorita debate, there are other courtesy titles in Spanish that you should also learn. Some of the most common ones are

Señor – Mr., Sir

Used to refer to an adult man. 

Gracias por su compra, señor. 

Thank you for your purchase, sir. 

Don 

The origins of Don come from ancient Rome and the Latin word for owner or sir: “Dominus.” These days, you can say Don to an adult man, usually of advanced age as a sign of respect. 

Don José ha comprado la casa de mamá.

Don José has bought Mom’s house.

Caballero – Gentleman

Also reserved for adult men, this one is more formal and implies a high social position. 

El caballero ya se va. 

The gentleman was leaving. 

Dama – Lady

The equivalent of caballero for women. 

Las damas primero. 

Ladies first. 

Licenciado, Doctor – Professions

In certain Latin American countries, it’s common to call someone by their professional degree. Particularly, Licenciado is used to refer to lawyers and Doctor for medical doctors or PhDs. 

El licenciado no se encuentra en este momento. 

The attorney isn’t here at the moment. 

Hola, doctor, ¿cómo estás?

Hello, doctor! How are you doing? 

Señora vs Señorita

Now, let’s get into the tricky Señora vs Señorita issue. It seems like an easy thing to solve, but for cultural reasons you’ll see that it’s not that simple. 

What’s the Difference? 

In this señora vs señorita debate, the first thing you need to ask is: what’s the difference between one term and the other? 

According to the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, señora is used to refer to married or widowed women, while señorita is reserved for single women. 

Another way to understand the señora vs señorita debate is to simply translate the terms into English: 

Señora – Mrs., Madam, ma’am

Señorita – Miss, young lady

However, if it were so easy, we wouldn’t call it a debate and a tricky issue, right? 

When is it an Insult to Use Either Term?

It’s about age mostly, but not always. For example, if you call a twenty-something girl señora, she might get offended, as that term implies a certain age. It’s as if you’re saying she’s old.

However, that same twenty-something girl can get offended if you call her señorita and she’s already a married woman. 

That’s the tricky part. 

Even the RAE is not sure about it. On its Twitter feed, it says that in the señora vs señorita issue, different factors are taken into consideration, including age and marital status. 

To make matters worse, nowadays señorita can be considered a discriminatory word. It can even be considered an expression of machismo. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t go that far, as the word  is widely used and usually accepted as a compliment in Latin America. 

Actually, if you want to make a grown up lady smile, call her señorita even if you know that she’s over forty and married with kids. 

What About Doña? 

Doña, like Don, comes from the Latin “Dominus” and signals an important social position. Its use is less extended than señora, but sometimes it can be used in the same situations. 

Basically, you call Doña an important lady, an adult woman who is a boss, an owner, or a woman with power. It’s used in the same circumstances as Don for men. 

Abbreviations

Just as in English you have abbreviations for these terms, they also exist in Spanish. Let’s see some of the main ones: 

Señora – Sra. 

Señorita – Srta. 

Doña – D.ª

Don – D. 

Señor – Sr. 

Licenciado – Lic. 

Doctor – Dr. 

Ingeniero – Ing. (engineer)

Formal Language

To end this señora vs señorita debate, it’s important to remember that you use these terms when speaking in formal language. 

If you call a woman either señora or señorita, it is because you’re treating her with the formal “you” in Spanish—usted—and all the accompanying conjugations should reflect that. If you call a woman by her name, then you would be using the informal word for the second person: tú, and the conjugations of your verbs should adapt accordingly. 

Practice Your Formal Language Today

The señora vs señorita debate is a tricky issue for many Spanish students, but I think that now you’re better prepared for that moment of truth when you meet a woman for the first time and need to choose one of the two terms in a fraction of a second. When in doubt, señorita is the safer bet!

Sign up for a free trial class with one of our certified Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala, and practice your formal language in Spanish today!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

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“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

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That’s just one of the many uses of past participles, and today you’ll discover how easy it is to do it. 

Don’t worry if you’re not sure what the past participle is or even what adjectives are. I’ll explain these terms and others that arise along the way. 

By the end of this post, you’ll know what a past participle is, what the perfect tenses are, and how they are formed. You’ll also learn what adjectives are and how they work in Spanish. 

Most importantly, you’ll discover how to use the past participle as an adjective in Spanish!  

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What’s the Past Participle? 

The past participle behaves in a similar way both in English and Spanish. It’s a verb form used with perfect tenses. 

A Quick Perfect Tense Lesson

What are the perfect tenses?  

We use perfect tenses to indicate one of two things: 

1. A completed (perfect) action or condition. 
2. A continuous action that’s been happening and is still happening in the present. 

Perfect tenses make use of an auxiliary verb. In English, it is “to have,” while in Spanish it’s the verb haber. 

Examples 

Has hablado mucho.
You have talked a lot. 

He comido en casa.
I have eaten at home.

Me he quedado en la escuela. 
I’ve stayed at home. 

Back to the Past Participle

The past participle in those examples are hablado, comido, and quedado. You can easily identify the past participle in Spanish by its -ado and -ido endings. 

All -ar verbs have a past participle that ends in -ado: 

-ar

Hablar (to talk) – hablado (talked)

Comprar (to buy) – comprado (bought)

Besar (to kiss) – besado (kissed)

All -er and -ir verbs have a past participle that ends in -ido:

-er

Comer (to eat) – comido (eaten)

Beber (to drink) – bebido (drunk) 

Leer (to read) – leído (read) 

-ir

Ir (to go) – ido (gone) 

Dormir (to sleep) – dormido (slept)

Pedir (to ask) – pedido (asked)

Finally, some irregular verbs end in -to, -so, or -cho.

For example:

• Escrito (written)
• Harto (fed up)
• Roto (broken)
• Impreso (printed)
• Hecho (made)
• Dicho (said)

What’s an Adjective?

Adjectives are one of the 8 parts of speech, and they serve to describe nouns. In Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe. 

Examples: 

La casa es roja.
The house is red. 

El perro está viejo.
The dog is old. 

La ciudad es interesante.
The city is interesting. 

Los niños están felices.
The kids are happy. 

For a better understanding of how adjectives work, you can read here over 100 sophisticated adjectives in Spanish. 

How to Use a Past Participle as an Adjective

After this lesson on past participles and adjectives, it’s time to learn how to use a past participle as an adjective. 

In Spanish, just as in English, you can form past participles as adjectives, as long as you remember to match the number and gender of the noun that it’s modifying. This means that for plurals you have to add an extra s, and in the feminine form the -ado and -ido endings become -ada and -ida. 

If you follow these simple rules, you can use the past participle as adjective in several situations: 

1. After the Verb Estar 

This is perhaps the most common way of using the past participle as an adjective. All you need is a sentence with the verb estar (to be) followed by a past participle, and it will work as an adjective. 

Examples 

Jorge está cansado.
Jorge is tired. 

María está cansada.
María is tired.

Los niños están cansados.
The boys are tired. 

Las niñas están cansadas.
The girls are tired. 

Notice how in these examples, the past participle matches the number and gender of the noun it’s modifying. It’s easy to use the past participle as an adjective. 

Let’s see examples with some other nouns: 

Mis amigos están enojados conmigo.
My friends are mad at me. 

Estoy dolido por lo que pasó.
I’m hurt by what happened. 

Fernanda está aburrida.
Fernanda is bored.

Tus hijas están emocionadas por el viaje. 
Your daughters are excited by the trip. 

2. Accompanying the Noun

You can also add the past participle right after the noun, and it works as an adjective. 

La casa abandonada asusta a los niños pequeños.
The abandoned house scares the little kids. 

Erika harta, se fue de la casa.
Fed up, Erika left the house. (irregular verb)

Dales de comer a los chicos hambrientos.
Give some food to the hungry kids. (irregular verb)

La niña dormida desapareció. 
The sleeping girl disappeared.

This last case is a good example of how sometimes the translation in English uses the gerund (-ing ending) instead of the past participle used in Spanish (-ado, -ido). This is due to the differences between both languages, but it doesn’t affect how you can use the past participle as an adjective in Spanish. 

Use the Past Participle as an Adjective Today

Now you know what the past participle is and how it works in Spanish. You took a quick lesson on perfect tenses and adjectives. And you learned to use the past participle as an adjective in Spanish, either coming after the verb estar or accompanying the noun.   

It’s your turn to put all this new knowledge into practice. Sign up today for a free trial class with one of our native Spanish-speaking teachers and start using the past participle as an adjective in real-life conversations! 

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more fun Spanish lessons? Check out these posts!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

The post How to Use the Past Participle as an Adjective in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

Well, you’re not alone. Pretty much every Spanish student has gone through the same situation during their learning process. Part of learning Spanish is discovering these special characters and finding out how to use them. 

Today, we’ll discuss why you need to learn the Spanish punctuation rules; discover the most commonly used punctuation marks in Spanish; find out how to type the Spanish special characters; and see what other symbols in Spanish exist. 

Why Learn to Use Punctuation Marks and Other Symbols in Spanish?

Although some “international” punctuation marks and special characters are used and recognized in different languages, every language has its own punctuation rules and unique symbols. Learning them is a crucial part of your language acquisition process, as they are vital to developing your writing skills in the new language. 

These unique punctuation marks and other symbols in Spanish generally work in similar ways to how they behave in English, which make it easier to understand their use. Some slight variations and different special characters are the main issues to focus on, and that’s what we’ll do in the following sections. 

Join more than 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today.

How to Use Punctuation Marks in Spanish

The correct use of punctuation marks and other symbols in Spanish is a sign of advanced writing and reading skills. These special characters tell you when to pause, how to adapt the tone of your voice, and other important information. 

A hidden benefit of learning punctuation rules in Spanish is that by mastering them, you’ll start thinking more about the structure of your sentences and the parts of speech you’ll use with them. In other words, you’ll become more “grammar conscious,” and your Spanish will improve as a result. 

Punto – Period 

The “period” is one of the symbols in Spanish that works just like in English, only it’s called by slightly different names. 

To explain the three types of periods in Spanish, we’ll use the following passage:

El español es un idioma popular. No solo se habla en Latinoamérica, sino también en muchas partes de Estados Unidos. (punto y aparte after “Estados Unidos”)

Sin embargo, es importante recordar que existen diferentes maneras de hablar el español. 

Spanish is a popular language. It’s not only spoken in Latin America, but also in many parts of the United States. 

However, it’s important to remember that there are different ways to speak Spanish. 

1. Punto y seguido

Translated literally, this means “period and continue.” It’s the one you use when you continue writing in the same paragraph after the period. Every time you see a period in the middle of a paragraph, it’s a punto y seguido. 

For example, there is a punto y seguido after the word popular at the end of the first sentence in the passage.

2. Punto y aparte

The “period and aside” is the period you use to end a paragraph. After using this period, you have to start a new idea in a new paragraph. 

A punto y aparte comes after Estados Unidos in the passage.

3. Punto y final

The “final period” is the period you use to end a chapter, article, or letter. You use punto y final when you have finished writing. 

In the passage, the punto final comes at the end, after the word español.

In all cases, the Spanish punto plays the same role as the English period. It simply tells the reader to make a long pause. 

Coma – Comma

The comma indicates a brief pause to be made within a sentence. Its use in Spanish has three key differences to how it’s used in English. 

1. In Spanish, we don’t use the Oxford Comma. This means that when you’re listing a series of things, you don’t write a comma before the word y (“and”).

Compré pan, leche y tortillas. 

I bought bread, milk, and tortillas. 

2. When you use quotation marks in English, and need to add a comma after them, you add the comma before the last quotation mark. In Spanish, you add it after the last quotation mark. 

“Te amo”, le dijo con una sonrisa en la cara. 

“I love you,” he said with a smile on his face. 

3. In Spain, people use the periods and commas in numbers in the opposite way as in Latin American and the United States. They use periods for numbers in the thousands and millions and a comma as a decimal point. 

1.987.654,32 (Spain and Europe)

1,987,654.32 (Latin America and U.S.)

Punto y Coma – Semicolon

The semicolon is formed by a period and a comma, hence its name in Spanish. It indicates a longer pause than a comma, but a shorter one than a period. It’s mostly used to separate different ideas within a single sentence, in complex lists, and before conjunctions and transition words. 

En la reunión se discutirán los avances en el programa de pagos automáticos; las nuevas ideas de producto; los ganadores del premio de puntualidad y las propuestas para la cena de Navidad. 

At the meeting, we’ll discuss the automatic payments program advances; the new product ideas; the winners of the attendance; and punctuality prize and the proposals for the Christmas party.

Dos Puntos – Colon

Just as in English, los dos puntos are used to indicate that an explanation, a list, a numeration, or a quote is coming next. Also, use a colon after the initial greeting in a business letter or email. 

Los signos de puntuación son los siguientes: el punto, la coma, el punto y coma, etc.

The punctuation marks are as follows: period, comma, semicolon, etc. 

Estimados padres de familia: 

Dear Parents: 

Puntos Suspensivos – Ellipsis

This is one of the symbols in Spanish that works exactly the same as in English. We use puntos suspensivos to express suspense, create expectation, or indicate hesitation. You can also use it to indicate an omission or represent a trailing off of thought. 

Si tan solo… bueno, ya no importa. 

If only… well, it doesn’t matter anymore. 

Signos de Interrogación – Question Mark

You use the question mark in Spanish in exactly the same situations as in English, with the only difference being that in Spanish you need to add a signo de interrogación at the beginning of the question. This symbol doesn’t exist in English, but it’s basically an upside down question mark. 

¿Cómo te llamas?

What’s your name?

¿De dónde eres?

Where are you from?

Signos de Exclamación – Exclamation Point

Same thing with question marks. You need to add an upside down exclamation point to the start of the exclamation sentence.

¡Me gané la lotería!

I won the lottery!

¡Conseguí el trabajo!

I got the job!

Paréntesis – Parentheses

These symbols in Spanish also work exactly the same as in English. You use parentheses to clarify an idea aside from the main point, to add abbreviations or their meaning, and to add places and dates. 

La Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) celebró su Asamblea General. 

The UN (United Nations) celebrated its General Assembly. 

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) fue un gran poeta chileno. 

Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) was an outstanding Chilean poet.

Comillas – Quotation Marks

Use the quotation marks to reproduce textual quotes, to indicate that a word or expression is being used ironically or that it comes from another language, and to quote titles of movies, books, articles, etc. In Spanish, the punctuation mark goes outside the quotation marks, unlike in American English.

La llamada “Oxford comma” no se usa en español. 

The so-called Oxford comma is not used in Spanish. 

El presidente señaló que la economía está “mejor que nunca”.

The president said that the economy is “better than ever.”

Guion Largo o Raya – Em Dash

The raya is used to clarify something, in a similar way to parentheses. It can also be used to indicate each person’s speech in a dialogue. 

— Este libro es mío.—dijo María con calma. 

— Lo siento, no lo sabía.—respondió Carlos. 

“This is my book,” said María calmly. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” answered Carlos. 

Guion Corto – Hyphen

Shorter than the raya (corto means “short”), this guion is used to unite words to form a complex term and to serve as a link between two numbers that form an interval. A good way to differentiate between both guiones is to remember that we use the raya to “separate” and the guion corto to “unite.”

Post-modernidad

Post-modernity

Mexico-americano

Mexican-American

How to Use Special Characters in Spanish

When learning about punctuation marks, special characters and other symbols in Spanish, you discover the challenge involved in typing them on an electronic device. 

At the beginning of the computer age, this was a real challenge. Nowadays, it’s still an issue but not as complicated as it used to be. If you want to be able to type anything in Spanish, I recommend reading this post.

Acentos – Accent Marks

The accent marks are the most common special characters and symbols in Spanish that you need to learn. We write them on top of vowels to mark where a word is stressed.

Árbol

Tree

México

México

País

Country

Avión

Airplane

Número

Number 

Diéresis – Umlaut

In Spanish, you only use the umlaut when you have a gue or gui syllable and you want to include the sound of the letter u. In other words, if you don’t add the umlaut, that u between the g and the e or i, would be silent. 

Pingüino

Penguin

Bilingüe 

Bilingual

Ñ, ñ

This letter doesn’t exist in English, but it’s important in Spanish. Its sound is similar to the “ny” sound of an English word such as “canyon.”  

Español 

Spanish

Niño

Boy

How to Use Other Symbols in Spanish

Besides the special characters mentioned above, there are other symbols in Spanish that you need to master. These symbols are mostly related to money or the internet and are pretty much the same as in English. 

I’m talking about symbols such as $, €, #, @, *, and /. In all these cases, their use in Spanish is exactly the same as in English, although the way to type them can vary depending on your keyboard settings. 

¿Quién Hablará con el Niño Bilingüe?

Who will talk with the bilingual boy? That question may not make a lot of sense to you, but please notice how many of the new punctuation marks, special characters, and other symbols in Spanish it includes. 

You learned all of them just by reading this single blog post. Imagine what you could do, if you were to engage in real life conversations with native Spanish speaker teachers. Learn to write and speak like a pro by signing up for a free class!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Learning Spanish? Check out our latest posts!

• 25 Essential Spanish Phrases for Everyday Conversations
• Avoiding Embarrassing Mistakes: Common False Friends in Spanish
• Llegar vs Llevar in Spanish: What’s the Difference?
• 10 Essential Ways to Use “Que” in Spanish
• Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
• 50 Useful Spanish Transition Words for Everyday Speech and Writing
• Master the 18 Spanish Tenses (and Take Our Cheat Sheet With You)
• All About Adverbial Clauses in Spanish

The post Punctuation Marks, Special Characters, and Other Symbols in Spanish appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

If you’re still in the decision-making process, this blog post is ideal for you. In it, I’ll discuss why Spanish is the right language to learn, the main benefits of studying Spanish as a second language, and how to do it. 

You’ll also discover helpful learning strategies to use on your learning journey, take a look at some of the most useful resources on the web, and discover one of the most comprehensive Spanish online courses on the market right now. 

What’s more, you’ll also learn about the pros and cons of some of the main Spanish certification tests out there. 

¿Listo?

Join more than 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today.

Why Spanish?

So, you’ve decided to learn a second language and now you have to choose one. How do you proceed? What makes one language more desirable than another? How do you know which one is the right one for you? 

Each language has its pros and cons, and you need to find the one that best suits your specific situation and preferences. 

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, just behind Mandarin. This helps to explain why studying Spanish as a second language has become a popular choice around the world, and specifically among students from the U.S. 

Benefits of Learning Spanish as a Second Language 

The pros of learning a language spoken by over half a billion people in the world are plentiful. Let’s check out some of the main ones: 

1. Lots of Opportunities

The Spanish as a second language boom has been particularly noticeable in the U.S., due to the huge number of Spanish speakers there (around 50 million). It’s no wonder that 88% of elementary schools with language programs teach Spanish and that 70% of K-12 students choose to study Spanish as a second language. 

The opportunities available for Spanish speakers are found everywhere with so many people speaking Spanish in the U.S., as well as just south of the border in Mexico and Latin America. 

Speaking Spanish as a second language also boosts your career and gives you a competitive edge.

2. Discover a New Culture

Studying Spanish as a second language means not only learning a new language, but also discovering a fascinating new culture. Languages hold the key to understanding endless cultural expressions, and the Spanish-speaking world is rich in them. 

Learning Spanish gives you a whole new perspective on Latin American culture. It provides you with the tools to better understand cultural expressions such as Día de Muertos in México, the traditional Tango dance in Argentina, or Pamplona’s running of the bulls in Spain. 

3. Easy to Learn

Of course, learning Spanish as a second language has its challenges, such as those pesky conjugation charts, but overall it is a simple, straightforward language to learn. You don’t have to learn a new alphabet as you would have to do if studying Russian, or new symbols if Chinese were your choice. 

Secondly, as Spanish is Latin-based, it has many words that are similar to those in English. For example: aire – air, submarino – submarine, and extraordinario – extraordinary. Plus, once you have learned Spanish, it will be easier for you to learn another Latin-based language such as French, Portuguese, or Italian. 

4. Get Smarter 

Scientists in Sweden discovered that learning a second language makes for a larger brain. It also improves your creative thinking, mastery of your mother tongue, and sense of empathy. Bonus!

How to Learn Spanish as a Second Language

By this point, you have decided to learn a second language, and Spanish is your choice. The next step is finding out how to learn Spanish as a second language. 

Learning Strategies

From learning Spanish with a teacher or on your own, to becoming fluent as an adult or supporting your children to learn Spanish, many strategies can help you achieve your goal of learning Spanish as a second language. 

1. Maximize Exposure

If you can’t move to a Spanish-speaking country for a few months, this is your second-best option to learn Spanish as a second language. Maximizing your exposure means to switch as much as possible of your life to Spanish. 

Yes, I’m talking about watching movies in Spanish, listening to Spanish music, switching your devices to Spanish, and anything else that can keep you thinking in Spanish all the time.  

2. Talk with Native Spanish Speakers

You can do this in many ways. Find a language partner, hire a private online tutor, look for Spanish conversation clubs, or visit a Latino community center in your community and make some new friends. 

The important thing is that you speak with native Spanish speakers, as nothing can give you what real-life conversations provide. 

3. Set a Schedule and Define Your Goals

I’m not going to lie to you, learning Spanish is a long process that takes time and challenges your willpower. Make sure to define clear goals before embarking on this journey, and set up a schedule to guide your efforts along the road. You don’t want to lose your focus in the middle of your learning process.

Learning Resources

The good news is that there have never been more resources to learn Spanish than there are today. Here are some suggestions to make the most of them. 

1. YouTube Videos

By watching YouTube videos in Spanish you achieve two of your main goals: listening to native Spanish speakers and learning about the language. Moreover, YouTube is a huge library where you can find a Spanish video on any subject you may be curious about. 

Check out our Spanish Academy TV channel for tons of Spanish-related videos with an easy-to-understand Spanish accent. 

2. Apps

Nowadays, everything seems to come in an app, and languages are not the exception. There are excellent language learning apps for all levels, and they are a great complement to your Spanish learning efforts. 

3. Podcasts

Listening to Spanish podcasts is a fun and effective way to train your ear to the speed and different accents of the language. Listen while commuting to work, in the dentist’s waiting room, or on your jog. 

4. Blogs and Worksheets

You can get lots of useful tips and hacks about the Spanish language in specialized blogs such as this one. Some posts even include online exercises or PDF worksheets. 

Online Spanish Courses

Homeschool Spanish Academy offers a wide range of online Spanish courses for all levels and with a flexible schedule. You can sign up for a free trial class and see for yourself how it works by engaging in real-life conversations with a native Spanish-speaking teacher. 

You can choose from preschool and elementary courses, a course that offers high school credit, or courses for adults. This complete program assigns homework specific to your own needs, quizzes and exams, and report cards. 

Spanish as a Second Language: Tests

Just as there are certifying tests for English students, Spanish also has its own body of tests designed to certify your mastering of the language. 

DELE

DELE is the internationally recognized standard bearer in the world of Spanish tests. It stands for Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language and certifies the level of Spanish proficiency of students. 

It’s issued by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports. Each exam consists of four sections measuring the four language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. 

SIELE

A new test, SIELE is supported by the Instituto Cervantes, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of Buenos Aires, and the University of Salamanca. It stands for International Spanish Language Evaluation Service and also consists of four segments. SIELE is more international and flexible than DELE. 

CELU

The Certificate of Spanish: Language and Use is promoted by the Ministry of Education of Argentina and has the great benefit of not expiring. Its downside is that it’s not as internationally recognized as DELE or SIELE.

CELA 

CELA means Certificate of Spanish as an Additional Language and it’s the Mexican answer to DELE and CELU. If your focus is in Mexico and Latin America, it is be a valid option, but again it’s not as widely known as CELE or SIELE. 

Not Convinced Yet?

Studying Spanish as a second language is a decision that will open new opportunities in your life and give you a better understanding of the world. Learning a new language is an amazing adventure, and with today’s endless resources, it’s easier to achieve than ever before. 

If you’re still not convinced, sign up for a free trial class with one of Homeschool Spanish Academy’s certified teachers from Guatemala and experience the thrill of speaking Spanish today!

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Want more amazing Spanish learning resources? Check out our latest posts!

• Can Middle Schoolers Really Learn Spanish Without Flashcards?
• Your Child Knows Spanish Words, Now What? How to Turn Vocabulary into Real Conversations
• From Snacks to Dinners: Spanish Vocabulary for Food That Teens Actually Talk About
• Why 2-on-1 Spanish Classes Work Better for Beginners (Especially Middle Schoolers)
• From YouTube to Fluent: How to Use Media to Boost Your Child’s Spanish at Home
• 7 Online Spanish Classes for Kids Offering Free Trials
• 5 Fun and Engaging Ways to Introduce Spanish to Your Preschooler
• Your Child’s First Spanish Conversation: How to Prep, Practice, and Cheer Them On

The post All You Need to Know About Spanish as a Second Language appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.

If your answer is yes, keep reading to learn every curriculum option we have available for you at Homeschool Spanish Academy (HSA)! 

Our programs have been voted “Best Overall Online Spanish Classes for Kids in 2022” and this guide will show you all the details of what we offer.  

In order to give you the most in-depth insider’s view, I interviewed Rosa Menchu, our Production Manager at HSA, who has worked with us for over 10 years, and who best understands our teachers and curriculum. 

What Are the Curriculum Options at Homeschool Spanish Academy?

We offer 6 curriculum options aligned with the educational system in the United States. Click any programs you’re interested in to jump to the section with more details: 

1. Preschool
2. Elementary
3. Middle School
4. High School
5. Adults
6. Schools

Besides those programs that we’ll explore in detail in a minute, we also offer the option of working a “Free Style” type of program adapted to the needs and requirements of our customers. 

There’s also a Summer Program for students interested in improving their Spanish conversation skills while they learn more about the world and its different cultures. 

What Can You Expect With Each Option?

Each program adapts to your student’s level of comprehension and learning speed. In line with this, classes provide an “English support” option where the teacher will reinforce concepts in English—or avoid using English altogether, depending on your preference. 

In fact, you can choose on a scale of 1 to 10 how much English you want involved in your child’s Spanish lessons! 

What more can you expect?

Tests and Exams

The quizzes and exams are applied during the session with the student, while the teacher shares the screen and registers everything in a PDF file. 

Materials and Resources

All the materials used are digital, the lessons come in a PDF file, and there are PowerPoint presentations, reading links, as well as online games to make the class more attractive for the students. 

Adaptable Teaching Methods

HSA teachers have been trained to use a variety of teaching methods in order to adapt to the specific characteristics of every student or group.

6 Online Spanish Programs and Homeschool Curriculum

Let’s now take a closer look at each of the 6 programs aligned with the States system. Both the Free Style program and the Summer program are flexible and unique in their own way (for more information about these 2 program options please get in touch with our customer support staff at info@spanish.academy. 

Preschool 

The preschool program is divided into four sub-levels 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B, and it’s suggested for children aged 5 and 6. The curriculum focuses on building a solid Spanish foundation through the study of colors, objects, greetings, numbers, and basic conversational phrases. 

The classes have a duration of 25 minutes and our curriculum experts highly recommend your student take 2 sessions per week.

If that’s not your preference, we also provide 1-session or 3-session per week courses. 

While the lessons are individual, there’s an option to have paired sessions too if you’d rather have both of your kids taking a class at the same time.

Preschool Program Goals: to learn the Spanish phonetics and introduce the students to basic Spanish vocabulary and common expressions. 

Elementary

The elementary program is designed for students aged 6 to 10 and is centered around developing the Spanish speaking skills of every student. The materials are age appropriate for this level, consisting of more pictures than text. 

As with the preschool program, classes have a length of 25 minutes and it’s recommended to take 2 lessons per week. The elementary program is aimed at students who want to achieve Spanish speaking and listening fluency.

Elementary Program Goals: students will learn the phonetics of the Spanish language, increase their vocabulary, ask questions, as well as correctly use adjectives, regular and irregular verbs.

Middle School

The middle school program is for students between 10 and 13 years old. It focuses on expanding vocabulary and applying the students’ Spanish knowledge through conversations. At this level, the students will learn to form sentences in all tenses and will be able to understand, read, write, and speak Spanish. 

At this level, the session length is of 50 minutes and if the recommended frequency of 2 lessons per week is followed, the student finishes each one of the program six sub-levels in 14 classes, with 3 quizzes, and 4 exams included. 

Middle School Program Goals: the students will become familiar with regular, irregular, and intransitive verbs, nouns and articles, possessive pronouns, prepositions, and idiomatic phrases. According to Rosa, “successful completion of this course will allow students to understand and utilize the nuanced usage components of the Spanish language in speech, writing, and reading.” 

High School

The high school program has been designed for students from 13 to 18 years of age. It’s a more rigorous curriculum than what you can find in any public high school and it’s focused on applying the students’ Spanish knowledge through conversation. 

The high school program “satisfies the high school foreign language requirement for college admissions” and allows you to earn a high school foreign language credit. Following the recommended frequency of 2 classes per week, students complete each one of the eight sub-levels of the program in 14 lessons, 3 quizzes, and 4 exams.  

High School Program Goals: at the completion of this program students will achieve Spanish speaking and listening fluency. They will master complex Spanish tenses such as the future perfect, the formal imperative, and the imperfect subjunctive, as well as the direct and indirect style, and will master the Spanish accents, among many other topics.

Adults

HSA’s adults program is for students ages 19 and older. The curriculum is tailored to the student’s needs and adapted to their level. This program can also be adapted to the specific industry of students (medicine, accounting, etc.) in order to help them advance in their careers faster.

The adult Spanish program allows for the rescheduling or cancellation of a lesson if the student needs it and offers a lot of flexibility in the scheduling of recurring sessions. 

Adults Program Goals: due to its flexibility, the goals of this program are the goals of the student who requires it. We can adapt it to help you prepare for a trip, learn useful vocabulary for your industry, or improve your conversation skills. 

Schools

Homeschool Spanish Academy also offers its services to public, private, hybrid, or online charter schools across the US which may need Spanish support or want to completely delegate the Spanish language courses to them. 

Depending on the needs of schools, HSA offers different options of group classes. In one modality, we only provide tutoring sessions. In the second option, we provide curricula plus the teachers. Finally, in the third type of arrangement, we can provide curricula plus the teachers, plus tutor sessions. 

Schools Program Goals: in this case, the goals are determined by the needs and wishes of the schools hiring the services of HSA. The only goal here is to satisfy the goals and objectives of the schools. 

Choose the Best Program for Your Children and They Can Start Speaking Spanish Today!

As you can see, Homeschool Spanish Academy is one of the best options in the Spanish learning market that offers a wide array of curriculum options. Choose the right program for your child and give them the gift of bilingualism. 

HSA has been teaching Spanish for over 10 years, they teach over 40,000 classes a month, and parents rate their experience with them 5 stars out of 5. Sign up today for a free trial class with one of their certified, native Spanish speaking teachers from Guatemala. They teach over 24,000 actively enrolled students every month, offer flexible scheduling, and tailored Spanish programs.

Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…

“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”

– Sharon K, Parent of 3

“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”

– Cindy D, Parent of 3

“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”

– Erica P. Parent of 1

Start learning Spanish right now with our free lessons!

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