SpanishPod101 Advanced Audio Blog S1 Curriculum
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 |
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| 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 |