Advanced, Task 15

Simplified and native speakers:

• Simplified example
• Carlos U.
• Consuelo B.
• Marcela R.
• María M.
• Analucía M.

Click red links to download .m4v files for use in iPod:

• Simplified example
• Carlos U.
• Consuelo B.
• Marcela R.
• María M.
• Analucía M.

Subscribe to podcast: adv15

Key vocabulary for this task

Example phrases for this task

Grammar points for this task



		Simplified Example "A ver, el último evento que ha llamado mucho la atención es lo de la huelga..."



		Carlos U. México, Xalapa, Veracruz "Hace... la semana pasada, el sábado, tuvimos el segundo juego..."

		Consuelo B. Perú, Lima "Quiero opinar acerca de algo que está pasando ahora en Perú..."

		Marcela R. Chile, Santiago "A ver, uno de los últimos eventos importantes que hubo en este país..."

		María M. Bolivia, Oruro "Hace exactamente no lo recuerdo pero más o menos es tres semanas atrás..."

		Analucía M. Colombia, Bogotá "Este en mi primer - este es mi segundo semestre en la universidad..."

acontecimiento (m)		event
asalto (m)		robbery, assault, attack
comunidad (f)		community
controversía/polémica (f)		controversy
embajada (f)		embassy
encarcelar		to imprison
eventos actuales (m)		current events
hacer daño		to harm, to damage
homicidio (m)		homicide
huelga (f)		strike

huracán (m)		hurricane
incendio (m)		fire (forest fire)
manifestación (f)		social protest
narcotraficante (m)		drug dealer
pandilla (f)		gang
política (f)		politics
revolución (f)		revolution
terremoto (m)		earthquake
terrorista (m)		psychology
tráfico de drogas (m)		drug dealing

Leí en el periódico que hubo un terremoto en Colima, México ayer.	I read in the newspaper that there was an earthquake in Colima, Mexico yesterday.
¿Ya oíste hablar del ataque terrorista?	Did you hear about the terrorist attack?
Ayer un grupo de estudiantes hizo una manifestación en frente de la embajada.	Yesterday, a group of students had a protest in front of the embassy.
Cada año los trabajadores de transporte público hacen una huelga para pedir un aumento de sueldo.	Every year the public transportation workers go on strike asking for a raise in pay.
Vi en las noticias que encarcelaron al narcotraficante más importante del mundo.	I saw in the news that they imprisoned the most important drug dealer in the world.
Hace unos días una pandilla asaltó un banco pero fueron capturados por la policía.	A gang robbed a bank a few days ago but they were captured by the police.
Este tipo de acontecimiento hace daño a la imagen de nuestro país.	This kind of occurrence harms our country's image.
¡Qué lástima! Otro huracán destruyó partes de la costa de Oaxaca.	What a pity! Another hurricane destroyed parts of the Oaxacan coast.
¿Leíste sobre el incendio que sucedió en el parque nacional en Colorado?	Did you read about the fire that happened in the national park in Colorado.
¿Cuáles eventos actuales te parecen los más importantes?	Which current events seem most important to you?

Key Expressions

In addition to building your vocabulary and memorizing verb conjugations, an important part of mastering a language is learning ways to connect your ideas. Spanish has many short phrases which can help you sound more fluent. For example:

En cuanto a - is used like "regarding."

¿Qué vamos a hacer en cuanto a esos problemas? What are we going to do regarding those problems?

Acerca de / sobre - both of these are familiar terms which are equivalent to "about."

Quiero investigar acerca de los aztecas. I want to investigate about the Aztecs.

Yo no sé nada sobre este asunto. I don't know anything about this matter.

Por cierto / A propósito - these two terms are used like, "by the way."

Por cierto, necesito un millón de dólares. By the way, I need a million dollars.

A propósito, nuestra tarea es para mañana. By the way, our homework is due tomorrow.

Another group of short phrases is used when you need to explain something you've just said at greater length.

Es decir - is commonly used to mean, "that is (to say)," or "in other words," and is used both in familiar and formal language.

Hemos fracasado. Es decir, ya no tenemos ni un duro. We've failed. That is, we don't even have a single cent.

Bueno / Pues - these terms are used like "well" and are often used at the beginning of a sentence while one thinks of what to say.

Bueno, no sé, la verdad es que no lo he pensado mucho. Well, I don't know, the truth is I haven't thought about it much.

O sea - common term in speech (not usually in writing) to mean, "I mean," or "that is."

No me caes bien. O sea, me molestas bastante. I don't like you. I mean, you really bug me.

Vale / sale / anda / venga / de acuerdo - are all used in the same sense as "OK," or "alright." Whereas vale is common in Spain, sale is more prominent in Mexico. Anda and venga are also used in the sense of, "let's do it," or "that's right."

Sale, de acuerdo, nos vemos a las seis. OK, alright, we'll see you at six.

¿Te pago la mitad ahora y lo demás después, vale? I'll pay you half now and the rest later, OK?