I recently had the opportunity to test drive a new software program that’s designed to make it easier for people to learn Spanish verbs. It’s called the Verbarrator. What a fantastic program! This little piece of software (well, maybe not “little” since it contains more than 30,000 audio files) lets you drill yourself on all common Spanish verbs in all tenses. There’s English and Spanish audio plus an “immersion mode”. You can study the verbs on their own or in Spanish phrases.

It takes quite a bit of time and repetition to learn Spanish verbs. That’s why I think Verbarrator will be a great help to a lot of people who are trying to learn the language — it makes it easy to focus on the verbs that give you the most trouble.

Product developers say that Verbarator was more than three years in the making.

There’s more information about this verb drill program at Kim’s Verbarrator review.

The Spanish spoken in the streets of Mexico is a far cry from the Spanish you learn in school. It’s dirty, vulgar and loaded with colorful expressions. Today I’d like to tell you about my current favorite Mexican slang word, a word I find myself fitting in to every other sentence. That word is pinche.

Pinche is not a nice word. It is most similar to “damn” or “damned” or “f—ing”. Here’s how you might use it in a sentence:

Gabriel es un pinche idiota. (Gabriel is an f—ing idiot.)

Dame el pinche dinero o te mato. (Give me the damn money or I’ll kill you.)

You can learn more Mexican Slang here.

Did you know that many top Spanish courses offer free lessons? That’s right, you can download or access free lessons right from your computer.

Take advantage of their generosity. Here’s a list of popular Spanish courses that offer free trials.

I’m a big fan of Skype tutors. I’ve used them a lot. They’re cheaper and more convenient than regular, live tutors. But there are some unique problems and challenges associated with Skype tutors that you need to be aware of if you are planning on using one.

Connection problems

If you’ve ever used Skype or similar voice-over-internet services you know that it’s not unusual to lose the connection from time to time, or to have a poor connection. In fact, it happens quite regularly.

Audio problems

It’s hard if not impossible for students to understand every word a tutor is saying. It’s even harder when the tutor has a poor quality microphone, or if the microphone is too far from their mouth, or if there is a lot of background noise.

Interruptions

The online tutors I’ve used have all conducted classes from their homes. So it isn’t unusual for an interruption from a child or spouse or delivery man, etc.

Scheduling difficulties

Sometimes setting up your class schedule can be difficult. You may need to send emails back and forth with a coordinator to find times that work for you and the tutor. If the coordinator is slow in responding, the simple task of planning your next class can be much less simple than it should be.

Punctuality

Some Skype tutors are better than others when it comes to starting a class on time.

Time zones

Your tutor will probably be in a different time zone than you. Plus some areas use daylight savings time while others don’t. This can lead to confusion about your class time and missed classes.

Comprehension

It’s more difficult to understand someone speaking Spanish over the phone (or internet) than in person. The reason is simple: you can’t rely on facial cues or gestures to help you understand.

As you might expect, Cacho is a cheap man. They would call him “codo” in Mexico.

Maybe you’re cheap too. Or maybe you just don’t see the point in spending a ton of money to learn Spanish when so many free or cheap resources are at your disposal.

“So, Cacho, tell me how I can learn Spanish for cheap,” you say.

Here’s how:

You’re going to need a dictionary. There’s no way around that. The good news is that they cost less than ten bucks. Or you can use one of these free online dictionaries and not spend a dime.

Do you have a television? You probably do. Watching Spanish shows is a great way to develop your listening skills and comprehension. Also try turning on the Spanish subtitles if available when you watch English shows. Watching TV has to be one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to learn Spanish.

Grammar books are important. Can you borrow one from a friend? No? Don’t worry. There are tons of free grammar lessons on the web. Here’s a few to get you started.

Now you need to practice speaking Spanish with real people in real-life situations. But how? Well, you could hire an expensive tutor (no way!) or you could go to a free Spanish Meetup group (yes!). There are groups like this in cities all over the world where you can meet native Spanish speakers and other people like you who are learning the language. It’s a great way to socialize too.

If you do decide to hire a tutor, here’s a way to save a few bucks. Typical one-to-one Spanish tutors in North America charge anywhere from $15 to $60 per hour. But you can get private tutoring on Skype for much less. I’ve seen some Skype tutors offering unlimited classes for $99 per month. Good deal!

Did you know you can get free Spanish lessons by signing up for trial offers? Here’s a list of courses that offer free trials.

Another way to learn is to set up a language exchange with a Spanish speaker who wants to learn English. Nobody pays, everyone learns. It’s a win-win situation. Craigslist is the place to look for language partners.

Got any other tips for learning Spanish without spending money? Post them below.

Time to go shopping for some new playeras (t-shirts). In Argentina, they call them remeras. Don’t confuse that with rameras which are prostitutes.

For example, if you walk into the local negocio (store) and tell the clerk, “busco una ramera negra” (I’m looking for a black prostitute), she will likely hace una mueca (make a face). 

But you aren’t here to learn about rameras, you’re here to learn Spanish. So let’s get to phrases and vocabulary you’ll need to go shopping, starting with a little scenario in a shoe store.

In the Shoe Store

When you enter the store la dependienta (clerk) may say “¿en que puedo servirle?” (how can I help you?) Less formally, she might say “buscas algo en particular” (are you looking for something in particular?)

Now you might say “solo estoy mirando” (I’m just looking) or “sí, busco zapatos de cuero” (yes, I’m looking for leather shoes).

“¿Qué número?” She wants to know your size. The size of a shoe is el número. The size of a shirt or pants is la talla.

When you try on the shoes, they are too tight. “Son chicos” (they are small).

She brings you another pair. The fit perfectly: “me quedan bien”. You’re going to buy them. The price is listed on la etiqueta (the tag). You will pay at el cajero (the cashier).

If you later decide you don’t like them you will need to devolverlos (to return them) and pedir reembolso (ask for a refund).

Useful Expressions

• ¿Puedo probarmela? - Can I try it on?
• ¿Dónde están los vestidores? - Where are the fitting rooms?
• Prefiero este modelo - I prefer this style
• ¿Quién sigue? - Who’s next?
• ¿Algo más? - Anything else?
• ¿Tarjeta o efectivo? - Credit card or cash?
• Puedo ofrecerte un descuento de 10% si pagas en efectivo - I can offer you a 10% discount if you pay in cash

Words to Know

• ATM - la caja electrónica
• store hours - las horas de abrir
• cash register - la caja
• change - el cambio
• discount - la rebaja, el descuento
• special offer, sale - la oferta, la promoción
• refund - el reembolso
• traveler’s check - el cheque de viajero
• cash - efectivo
• coins - las monedas
• bills - los billetes
• wallet - la cartera
• purse - el bolso, la bolsa
• pocket - el bolsillo
• shopping cart - el carrito
• shopping basket - la canasta, la cesta
• article of clothing - una prenda
• tax - el impuesto
• self-serve - autoservicio
• shoplifter - el mechero
• free - gratis
• receipt - el recibo

Verbs to Know

• to exchange - cambiar
• to return - devolver
• to buy - comprar
• to go shopping - ir de compras
• to shop - hacer las compras
• to try on - probarse
• to wear - llevar
• to put on - ponerse
• to order - pedir
• to choose - escoger, elegir
• to line up - hacer cola

Hola amigos. I’m writing to you from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’ve spent quite a bit of time here over the past couple years and in this post I’d like to make a few observations about the language of Buenos Aires.

The main things that set Argentine Spanish apart from, say, Mexican Spanish is that:

1) They use “vos” instead of “tú”. Here’s more about vos if you are curious.

2) They pronounce “y and “ll” as “sh”. For example, “calle” sounds like CAshay.

3) They don’t call Spanish “español” they call it “castellano”.

The Spanish accent is quite a bit different from that of other Spanish speakers. To me it sounds like they are speaking Spanish with an Italian accent. Many of the people here have Italian roots.

“Argentinos” don’t speak as quickly as some other latinos and I find them easier to understand than “cubanos”, “panameños” or “colombianos”. But you do need to adjust to the accent and the use of “vos”. You see, it’s not simply a matter of using “vos” in place of “tú” because all the related verb conjugations change too.

In Buenos Aires it’s more common to hear “buen día” than “buenos días”. And “hola qué tal” is also popular. A popular informal goodbye among men is “suerte” or “suerte, viejo”. Of course, “suerte” means luck, and in this case “viejo” means buddy or dude, not old man.

The most popular insult is “boludo” which means idiot or jerk. And when something is cool it is “bárbaro”.

If you’re considering a language study trip to Buenos Aires, here are some personal experiences studying Spanish in Buenos Aires.

Bueno, voy al cafe para tomar un cortado. Hasta luego.

To most people cars (coches, carros, autos, vehículos) are simply a means of transportation. But to those who appreciate the ingenuity of the internal combustion engine, they are much more, perhaps even a modern marvel. Yes, I consider myself a car lover. So let’s take a look at the Spanish words for the parts of a car, inside and out.

• hood=el capó
• windshield=el parabrisas
• windshield wipers=los limpiaparabrisas
• side window=la ventanilla
• rear window=la ventanilla trasera
• rear view mirrow=el espejo retrovisor
• side mirror=el espejo lateral
• headlights=los faros
• tail lights=las luces traseras
• brake light=la luz de freno
• signal lights=los indicadores, las luces direccionales, los intermitentes
• antenna=la antena
• license plate=la placa
• front seat=el asiento delante
• back seat=el asiento de atrás
• seat belt=el cinturón de seguridad
• arn rest=el descanso para el brazo
• steering wheel=el volante
• door=la puerta
• door handle=la manilla de la puerta
• speedometer=el velocímetro
• odometer=el cuentakilómetros
• dashboard=el panel
• glove compartment=la guantera
• key=la llave
• accelerator=el acelerador
• brakes=los frenos
• hand brake=el freno de mano
• emergency brake=el freno de emergencia
• pedal=el pedal
• clutch=el embrague
• horn=el pito, la bocina
• tire=la goma, la llanta, el neumático
• wheel=la rueda
• lugnuts=las tuercas
• hubcap=el tapón
• jack=el gato
• spare tire=la llanta de repuesto
• shocks=los amortiguadores
• trunk=el maletero, el baúl
• tank=el tanque
• gas cap=el tapón
• bumper=el parachoques
• motor=el motor
• spark plug=el bujía
• gasoline=gasolina
• motor oil=el aciete
• antifreeze/coolant=el anticongelante
• fan belt=la correa del ventilador
• transmission=los cambios
• gear shift=la palanca de cambio
• radiator=radiador
• battery=la batería
• ignition=la ignición, el arranque
• air filter=el filtro de aire
• oil filter=el filtro de aceite
• exhaust pipe=el tubo de escape
• muffler=el silenciador
• jumper cables=los cables de arranque

Do you know the Spanish words for all the things in the bathroom (el cuarto de baño)? How about the verbs that describe the things you do in the bathroom? Let’s review them today.

• bathtub=la bañera, la tina
• bath mat=la alfombrita de baño
• bath plug=el tapón
• shower=la ducha
• showercap=el gorro de baño
• toilet=el inodoro
• toilet paper=el papel higiénico
• toilet seat=el asiento de inodoro
• sink=el lavabo, el lavamanos
• faucet=el grifo
• taps=las llaves
• towel=la toalla
• towel rack=el toallero
• washcloth=la toallita para lavarse
• hand towell=la toalla de manos
• soap=el jabón
• soapdish=la jabonera
• shampoo=el champú
• conditioner=el acondicionador
• sponge=la esponja
• mirror=el espejo
• shower curtain=la cortina de baño
• curtain  rod=el cortinero
• drain=el desagüe
• plunger=el desatascador
• medicine cabinet=el botiquín
• bathroom cabinet=el gabinete de baño
• comb=el peine
• razor=la navaja de afeitar
• electric shaver=la máquina de afeitar, la afeitadora eléctrica
• make-up=el maquillaje
• perfume=el perfume
• scissors=las tijeras
• toothbrush=el cepillo de dientes
• tooth paste=crema dental
• safety pin=alfiler con cierre, imperdible
• grout=la lechada
• shaving cream=la espuma para afeitar
• tile floor=el piso de baldosas
• steam=el vapor
• scale=la báscula
• nail clippers=la cortauñas
• hair gel=el gel para el pelo
• mouthwash=el enjuague
• hair dryer=el secador de pelo
• fan=el ventilador
• deodorant=el desodorante
• dental floss=la seda dental
• curtain hook=el gancho

I’m a big fan of using Skype tutors to improve your Spanish. I’ve used them in the past with great success. Generally, you can expect to find a good qualified tutor for around $10 for a one hour lesson. It’s highly convenient and the price is right.

Last year I found a Skype tutor on Craiglist. She was based in Buenos Aires, charged $10 per lesson, was really organized and genuinely enjoyed teaching.

I’ve seen some tutors charging upwards of $30 per hour for lessons via Skype. That’s too much. If you’re paying that much, shop around. There are much better deals out there.

This week I decided to resume my Skype lessons with a new tutor as part of my never ending quest to master the Spanish language. I sampled classes with two different Skype “schools”: 1to1languages.com and idiomax.net.

So far, both seem good. The teachers are skilled and friendly and the lesson materials seem okay.

My teacher at idiomax is a Spaniard living in Argentina. He’s an experienced teacher and very structured in his teaching approach.

My teacher at 1to1languages is based in Columbia.

I’ll provide more information on these services after I have had an opportunity to take more classes and evaluate them. In the mean time, feel free to post links to any other good, cost-effective Skype tutors you know about.