Ser vs. Estar at the Museum: Which One Do We Use to Describe Art?
Ser vs. Estar at the Museum: Which One Do We Use to Describe Art? Imagine you’re standing in front of a colorful mural with your middle schooler during Hispanic Heritage Month. The teacher asks, “Describe this in Spanish!” Your child bravely starts: “El mural… es… está…?” Then they freeze. Which verb is correct? This moment is a common hurdle for new Spanish learners. The verbs ser and...Read More
Colors, Shapes & Patterns in Latin American Art: 15 Words to Describe What You See
Kids this age learn best when their world feels playful, colorful, and alive. That’s where art comes in. Latin American art—from the dazzling Otomi textiles of Mexico to the intricate Talavera tiles of Puebla—is bursting with shapes, colors, and patterns. What better way to introduce Spanish than by talking about what your child can see? Instead of memorizing letters, they’ll point to a...Read More
Travel Spanish for Visiting Mexico & Central America: Key Vocabulary + Cultural Tips
Imagine this: You’ve just landed in Guatemala City with your daughter. The air is filled with the smell of tortillas cooking, your relatives are smiling warmly, and the streets are buzzing with buses, markets, and music. But suddenly, you freeze. You don’t know how to ask where the bus stop is or how to politely compliment your aunt’s tamales. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The...Read More
How to Break Through the Intermediate Plateau and Finally Feel Fluent in Spanish
The intermediate wall is real; here’s how to climb over it. If you’ve been learning Spanish for a while, you probably know the feeling: you can form sentences, you understand quite a bit, but conversations still feel clunky and unnatural. You might be stuck repeating the same safe phrases while everyone else seems to glide effortlessly through conversations. That frustrating “plateau” is one...Read More
Why Is “Me Gusta” So Tricky? 25 Simple Phrases You Can Use Today
Learning how to say “I like” in Spanish is one of the first big hurdles new learners face. At first, it feels like it should be simple. Just swap out the English words, right? But then you run into me gusta and me gustan… and suddenly you’re not sure which to use. I’ll never forget the moment it clicked for my daughter. After just two days of practice, she looked up from coloring and said...Read More
10 Spanish Phrases That Instantly Make You Sound More Natural at Family Gatherings
Stop sounding like a textbook and start sounding like family. If you’ve ever sat at a dinner table where Spanish is flying around faster than you can process, you know the feeling: you can form sentences, but they sound stiff, rehearsed, and not quite like what everyone else is saying. The good news? You don’t have to be perfectly fluent to sound natural. With the right everyday...Read More
How to Teach Spanish Grammar Without Spoiling the Fun
Yes, even preschoolers can learn verb conjugation—if you make it playful. If you’ve ever hesitated to introduce grammar to your Spanish-speaking preschooler because it sounds too formal, too hard, or too boring, you’re not alone. Grammar can feel intimidating, especially when you’re working with a child who still loves stuffed animals and finger paints. But here’s the truth: young...Read More
First Spanish Books for Middle Schoolers: Build Literacy and Confidence Fast
You don’t need to wait for fluency; your child can start reading Spanish now. If your middle schooler is learning Spanish, you may be wondering when it’s the “right time” to start reading in Spanish. The short answer? Now. You don’t have to wait until your child is fluent to introduce Spanish books. In fact, reading is one of the fastest and most effective ways to become fluent. It...Read More
Spanish YouTube Channels and Podcasts That Tween Beginners Actually Like
Screen time with a purpose? Yes, please. Here’s what’s fun and educational. If you’ve ever caught your tween glued to YouTube or zoning out to yet another Minecraft podcast, you’re not alone. But what if that same screen time could support their Spanish learning journey? Yes, you can turn passive scrolling into intentional language exposure without feeling like more schoolwork. Whether...Read More