Light Speed Spanish

One of our Videos.

2011-11-13T19:26:00.001Z

Our New Site. Free Podcasts

2011-11-13T18:36:00.003Z

Cynthia and I are absolutely thrilled to present our latest venture:

www.lightspeedspanish.com

This is a site designed for Spanish students of any level. It's packed with free, ten minute podcasts that can be downloaded to your PC, Ipod or MP3.

In addition to the podcasts, we have videod each of the podcasts for those who like to be able to see people as they talk.

Each level comes with a full range of Helpsheets that explain in clear, understandable language all of the points discussed within the podcasts.

We are currently developing the next 40 podcasts and are very excited to hear the comments from our ever growing group of students.

In line with our teaching principles, we offer full support to each of our students and we have set up a Facebook page and Forum (links on our site) where they can ask questions, seek advice or just have a chat with like-minded fans of the Spanish language.
We wish you every success in your future learning! ¡Buena suerte!

2010-09-15T22:38:00.001+01:00

Young students make a fun video.
Here is the link to a great video we made with some of our younger students. It’s entitled:
“Castigos y Chicas Malas.”
It’s based on a story about two boys who sneak out of school and go to the park to escape their English class, only to find themselves in big trouble…

The best free audio download site available.
This is a great site called Audiria with free podcasts as well a massive range of other ways of learning Spanish.
We’ve been using it in some of our classes and are very impressed by it.

Most sites will charge you for the transcription. This one not only provides it for you freely, but also gives you games and exercises to help deeper your understanding.

Why spend money when you can have it for free!

La Cena en Voodoo. Junio 2010

2010-06-07T17:02:00.000+01:00

Some heat (at last!) and dinner with students. / Calor (¡por fin, leches!) y cena con estudiantes.

2010-06-06T20:24:00.004+01:00

Written by Cynthia.

When I lived in Spain my idea of summer was: sleeping badly, with the sheets sticking to you, the swimming pool, being outside in a terrace bar with your family or friends, kids playing until twelve at night while their parents continue having a drink, the sounds of laughter, people talking, ice-cream, gazpacho, water melon, and, well, extreeeme heat.

Escrito por Cynthia.

Cuando yo aún vivía en España mi idea del verano fue: dormir mal con las sábanas pegándosete en el cuerpo, piscina, estar en una terraza con mi familia o con los amigos, niños jugando hasta las doce en la calle mientras los padres siguen en las terrazas, mucho ruido de risas, gente hablando, helados , gazpacho, sandía y, en fin, muuucho calor.

I don’t like the heat (as you can appreciate by the white British skin tone that I flaunt) and those 40-45ºC in Madrid were, for me, often unbearable.
I came to the UK ready for a bit of cool weather... But not this much, for goodness sake!

A mí no me gusta mucho el calor (como se puede apreciar por mi color de piel blanco británico que luzco) y los 40-45 grados en Madrid eran, para mí, insoportables muchas veces.
Vine a Inglaterra lista para un poco de fresquito… ¡¡Pero no tanto, narices!!

In Spain I would get up wishing we’d have one of those summer storms so that it cooled down and now I get up, draw the curtains and think “long or short sleeve today?”
I was astonished when I used to see Newtonians taking their tops off and wearing mini-skirts and skimpy t-shirts with appearance of the slightest ray of sun...Now I do the same hehehe. We need to make the most of the good weather, people! We don´t know how long it’ll last.

Antes me levantaba deseando que hubiese una lluvia de verano para que refrescase y ahora me levanto, corro la cortina y pienso “¿manga larga hoy o manga corta?”
Me asombraba al ver a los newtonianos quitarse la camiseta y vestir mini faldas y apenas una camiseta con el mínimo rayo de sol… Ahora yo hago lo mismo jejeje. ¡¡Hay que aprovechar el sol, señores! No sabemos cuánto va a durar.

But the best English comments are: “Make the most of it now!” or “It won´t last” hahaha.
So, following your advice, let´s make the most of it now. We are in need of some Vitamin D.
I´d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who could make it to the dinner in Darlington at the Voodoo Café last Wednesday.
For those who couldn´t make it, there will be many more.Any comments about the dinner or ideas for the future would be welcome, thanks.

Pero, los mejores comentarios ingleses son: -¡Disfrútalo mientras puedas!- o -¡No va a durar!- Jajaja.

Así que, chicos, siguiendo vuestro consejo, disfrutemos mientras podamos, que nos hace falta un poco de vitamina D.

Quiero aprovechar este boletín para daros las gracias a todos los que vinisteis a la cena en Darlington en el Café Voodoo este miércoles.
Para los que no pudieron, habrá más J
Cualquier comentario sobre la cena o ideas son bienvenidas, gracias.

El volcán..The Volcano.

2010-05-03T11:56:00.006+01:00

Bueno, parece que después de sólo un par de semanas, toda la disrupción que causó el volcán ya son viejas noticias. Sin embargo, todavía se nota el hueco que el viaje de vuelta a nuestros países ha dejado en las cuentas bancarias.
Well, it seems that after only a couple of weeks, the disruption that the volcano caused is old news. However, the hole that the return journey has left in our bank accounts is still very noticeable.
Durante mi viaje de vuelta de unas cuarenta horas, podía hablar con muchas personas que también intentaban volver a casa a través de varios modos de transporte. Me contaron historias terroríficas de haber pasado días y días esperando en aeropuertos sin dinero, comida o esperanza.
During my return which lasted some forty hours, I was able to speak to lots of people who were also trying to return home by various means of transport. They told me horrific stories of having spent days and days waiting in airports without money, food or hope.
Tuve la suerte de tener familia allí en España y pude pasar seis días con ellos, utilizando internet para encontrar una manera fiable de volver a Inglaterra. Resultó que me costó quinientos libras y tuve que utilizar trenes, autobús y coche para llegar a casa pero de verdad, mucha gente pagó un huevo por lo mismo.
I was lucky enough to have family in Spain and so I could spend six days with them, using the Internet to find a trustworthy way of getting home. It turned out that it cost me five hundred pounds and I had to use trains, a coach and a car to get back but in truth, many people paid a fortune to do the same.
Frente el pánico de la gente y la necesidad de cruzar ´The Channel´, los directores del Eurostar nos ayudaron muchísimo con un aumento de precios escandaloso, de unas treinta y nueve libras por un billete de ida, hasta llegar a cuatrocientas.
In face of the peoples panic to cross the channel, the directors of Eurostar helped us a lot by raising the prices to shocking levels, from around thirty-nine pounds for a one way ticket to four-hundred.
Pero ahora estamos todos en casa, contentos otra vez y trabajando como esclavos para cubrir los gastos imprevistos que tuvimos. Fue una experiencia por lo menos interesante pero una que no me gustaría revivir de nuevo.
Yet now we are all at home, happy again and working like slaves to cover the unforeseen costs we incurred. At least it was an interesting experience but one I wouldn´t like to have to relive again.

Navidades en España

2010-05-03T11:48:00.003+01:00

In this video, Cynthia describes Christmas in Madrid.
En este vídeo, Cynthia describe las Navidades en Madrid.

¿Cómo se comparan las navidades de vuestro país?
How does Christmas from your country compare?

All comments are welcome and will be replied to.
Todo tipo de comentario será bienvenido y lo comentaremos.

¡Que tengáis un muy buen día!

El Presente Perfecto y Gustar

2010-04-13T20:04:00.003+01:00

In this video you can hear Cynthia and I chatting about pets and using the Present Perfect tense as well as the verb Gustar. Turn up your volume!

En este vídeo puedes escuchar a Cynthia y a mí charlando sobre mascotas y usando el Presente Perfecto tanto como el verbo Gustar. ¡Sube el volúmen!

Los estudiantes de viaje en Madrid

2010-04-13T09:21:00.008+01:00

Pasamos un fin de semana en Madrid con un

grupo de estudiantes. Visitamos Toledo y aquí

tienes una foto de esa visita.