Advanced Audio Blogs: Spain
Learn about Spanish history and culture with these all-Spanish lessons.
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Advanced Audio Blogs: Spain

In this 18 lesson series, you'll learn about Spain and different aspects of Spanish culture and society through audio blogs entirely in Spanish. Along the way, you'll pick up sophisticated expressions and advanced grammar in this Audio Blog series geared towards higher level students.

L# Title Topic Summary Cultural Fact Vocab
1 Real Madrid VS Barcelona (Spain) Soccer Importance of soccer in Spain, esp. of Madrid and Barcelona's teams Soccer-crazy Spain fútbol
fútbol americano
aficionado
seguidor
quedar con
tener la oportunidad
asegurar
relleno
2 All Souls' Day (Spain) All Souls' Day Recent addition of Halloween on eve of All Saints' Day, customs on All Souls' Day: grave visits (flowers and prayers), sweets, butterfly candles Spain's Catholic sentiment duradero, -a
tradición
costumbre
típico, -a
cementerio
tumba
difunto, -a
recordar a alguien
recordar
aconfesional
relleno
3 Esta noche es Nochebuena y mañana Navidad (Spain) Christmas "Villancico" carols, Catholic sentiment, Christmas eve (dinner), Christmas day (lunch, less formal than previous night's dinner) The most magical time of the year in Spain víspera
bota
emborracharse
estrofa
villancico
arraigado, -a
entrañable
reunirse
4 Nochevieja y Año Nuevo (Spain) New Year Resolutions, huge party (dinner till midnight, eat a grape for each bell toll, hit the bars) Why grapes? 'Cause there used to be too many intención
propósito
hacer balance
dejar de fumar
Nochevieja
Año Nuevo
víspera
campanada
se supone que
ser cansado
estar cansado
traje
fuerza de voluntad
5 The 3 Wise Men (Spain) Christmas Origin of gift-giving on 1/6 (wise men bringing gifts for baby Jesus), "King's Ring" sweet Kids still prefer the Wise Men, despite the disadvantages los Reyes Magos
basarse en
portarse
depender de
no hacer falta
inconveniente
una especie de
fruta escharchada
ponerse de moda
a lo sumo
6 January Squeeze and Markdowns (Spain) The January squeeze Need to squeeze, store participation (after the Wise Men come) Why people spend so much on Christmas no falla
de antemano
apretarse el cinturón
Dios aprieta pero no ahoga
hacerse cuesta arriba
evitar
proponerse
cumplir
rebaja
7 How to Make Paella (Spain) Paella Origin (Valencia), diversity of recipes (this time: mixed paella), ingredients, procedure Ubiquity and etymology receta
ingrediente
objeción
sartén
olla
cocer
langostino
pimiento verde
pollo
cerdo
azafrán
sangría
chiringuito
8 A Brief History of Spanish Cinema (Spain) Spanish movies International renown, 3 films: Un perro andaluz; Benvenido, Mr. Marshal; Los amantes del Círculo Polar; Oscar-winning films; Abre los ojos Director Pedro Almodóvar reconocido, -a
más allá
repaso
repercusión
impactante
desvelar
metáfora
aislamiento
destino
nombrar
merecer la pena
9 The Snowy Season (Spain) Skiing in Spain Rising standard of living has made more families able to ski; popular destinations (Pyrenees, Granada's Sierra Nevada) The economic reason for skiing's popularity invierno
disfrutar
nieve
si el tiempo lo permite
destino
nivel de vida
instalaciones
10 Los carnavales (Spain) Carnival When it's celebrated (weeks before Holy Week), costumes, street parties, dances, brass bands History of banning Carnival muy distinta
el disfraz
satírica
las máscaras
personajes
desfiles
música
baile
buscar
11 Las Fallas (Spain) Las Fallas Ritual burning of false, satirical works of art; scope of Valencia's Fallas Queens of the festival cartón
quemar
carpintero
barrio
alrededor
celebridades
salvar
la estatua
deportes
política
12 Holy Week (Spain) Spain's Holy Week Catholic pervasion, processions (Nazarenes, bearers, penitents) Images of Christ la muerte
la pasión
los creyentes
resurrección
sangre
sangrar
13 Televised Political Debates (Spain) Spain's televised political debates Pro: get people to pay attention to issues; con: influence people with other factors (appearance, voice, gestures, etc.) Spain's political structure campaña
elecciones
votar
debate
decantar
indeciso
influir
apariencia
14 Fama (Spain) Fama Popularity of reality shows in Spain (since Big Brother), Operation Triumph, Fame Abundance of channels extraño
surgir
bombazo
consurso
aliciente
concursante
expulsado
15 Eurovisión (Spain) Eurovision History of festival and its fluctuating popularity, resurgence thanks to Operation Triumph Spain's path to the EU atraer el interés
comienzo
dispararse
representante
recobrar
gala
ensayar
16 La Feria de Abril (Spain) April's Market Origin as farmers' market, evolution to revelry among temporary vendors' stalls Seville, your only April destination feria
impaciencia
ganadero
agricultor
diversión
recinto
carruaje
17 Refranes de Primavera (Spain) Weather proverbs "Windy March and rainy April make May flowery and beautiful," "In April thousands of waters," "Don't take off your smock until May fortieth" Vacationing in Spain's mercurial spring con ganas
terraza
refrán
ventoso
cumplir
corresponder
a persar
ropa de abrigo
18 Bull Season (Spain) Bullfighting Fiestas, running of the bulls, evening bullfights, controversy Origins and controversy polémico
la temporada
pueblo
a lo largo y ancho
protagonista
vallado
doblar una esquina
traja de luces
seguidor
detractor