Learn Spanish and Go

Do you dread studying grammar, or do you embrace it? In this episode, Jim and May discuss whether or not grammar is necessary to learn a language.Listen as May describes the five stages of language acquisition so that you can identify the stage you are currently in.Jim explains so many key tools that he used in his Spanish learning journey, including Margarita Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish and his completion of one of Lingoda’s Language Marathons (now Sprint).Tune in to find out if the grammar is as important as people think, and what that means for you.Links:The Lingoda Marathon: An Honest ReviewDuolingo Short StoriesCheck out italkiLevel Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible:Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Adrian Major, Jenny, Christy Warne, Marisol, Russ Moore, Sallie Boden, Annette Baesel, Christian Gonzalez, Jill Heichelbech, Kim Kaleta, Jean Lorio, Cindy Sanchez, Rebecca D Robison, Simon Larsson, Wylie Hargrove, Kristin Royer, Deb Shroyer, Adam Tinkoff, RamPandaPuss, Amy, Hal Brookins, Josh Powell, Hoy Shih, Neil Moore, Craig Stenger, Jennifer Wilson, Paula Lisowsky, Joseph Scriba, and Kenneth Revelson.Support the show

Standing before the bus stops? The check at the restaurant never comes? In this episode, Jim and May talk about what cultural differences are and the ones that they have noticed between Mexico and the United States.Listen as they share stories of their experiences and interactions with each other’s cultures. They tackle differences in lifestyle, values, and even public transportation. Some things you might be familiar with, but others are sure to surprise you.Links:Culture Shock MX vs US: A first time visitor’s perspectiveLevel Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible:Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Rajano Gray, Adrian Major, Jenny, Christy Warne, Marisol, Russ Moore, Sallie Boden, Annette Baesel, Christian Gonzalez, Jill Heichelbech, Kim Kaleta, Jean Lorio, Cindy Sanchez, Rebecca D Robison, Simon Larsson, Wylie Hargrove, Kristin Royer, Deb Shroyer, Adam Tinkoff, RamPandaPuss, Amy, Hal Brookins, Josh Powell, Hoy Shih, Neil Moore, Craig Stenger, Jennifer Wilson, Paula Lisowsky, and Joseph Scriba.Support the show

In this episode, Jim and May discuss the concept of “neutral Spanish.” Does it exist? Who speaks it? Do some countries have a more neutral accent than others? Find out here.Links:Related BBC VideoLevel Up Your Spanish with our Podcast Membership Get the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a word Listen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrases Test your comprehension with a multiple choice quiz Thank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible: Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Rajano Gray, Adrian Major, Jenny, Christy Warne, Marisol, Russ Moore, Sallie Boden, Annette Baesel, Christian Gonzalez, Jill Heichelbech, Kim Kaleta, Jean Lorio, Cindy Sanchez, Rebecca D Robison, Simon Larsson, Wylie Hargrove, Kristin Royer, Deb Shroyer, Adam Tinkoff, RamPandaPuss, Amy, Hal Brookins, Josh Powell, Hoy Shih, Neil Moore, Craig Stenger, Jennifer Wilson, Paula Lisowsky, and Joseph Scriba.Support the show

Discover the enchanting Pueblos Mágicos of Mexico, where history and culture intertwine in small towns. The hosts share their love for towns like Comala and Bacalar, highlighting unique culinary traditions and experiences. They delve into the impacts of rising tourism, revealing the challenge of maintaining local culture while enjoying economic benefits. Plus, vibrant celebrations like Día de Muertos showcase community spirit. The discussion raises important questions about the future of the Pueblos Mágicos program and the role of artisans in keeping traditions alive.

In this episode, Jim shares some of his tips on what to do when a Spanish native speaker only talks to you in English. Listen in to practice your Spanish, and get even more tips so that you know what to do when you find yourself in a similar situation. Links:The Bioluminescent Bay at Mosquito Bay in Vieques, Puerto RicoLevel Up Your Spanish with our Podcast MembershipGet the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a wordListen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrasesTest your comprehension with a multiple choice quizThank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible: Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Rajano Gray, Adrian Major, Jenny, Christy Warne, Marisol, Russ Moore, Sallie Boden, Annette Baesel, Christian Gonzalez, Jill Heichelbech, Kim Kaleta, Jean Lorio, Cindy Sanchez, Rebecca D Robison, Simon Larsson, Wylie Hargrove, Kristin Royer, Deb Shroyer, Adam Tinkoff, RamPandaPuss, Amy, Hal Brookins, Josh Powell, Hoy Shih, Neil Moore, Craig Stenger, Jennifer Wilson, Paula Lisowsky, and Joseph Scriba.Support the show

In this episode, Jim and May talk about how it all started. May is a teacher with a bachelor’s degree in Foreign Languages Education. She was born in Manzanillo, a small port city of the state of Colima in Mexico. When May had just graduated from college she was looking for a way to keep practicing her English and improving her pronunciation. A friend told her about a website where she could do just that. Jim is a gringo with a passion for adventure. Born in Rochester, Minnesota. Jim is an audio and video producer who had built a fascinating career in the music scene of his city. Recording all kinds of musicians in his studio he felt like he needed a new challenge. That’s when a friend told him about the same website May has just signed up for italki. That’s how Jim and May met back in 2010. After months of chatting and Skyping, they finally met in real life in Guadalajara, Mexico for the first time.Traveling together through Mexico, Jim and May decided to combine their passions of traveling, teaching, and audio-video production to create Spanish and Go. Although they had the idea of starting a podcast back then, they decided to move to Minnesota and save some money before they could officially start their website. They created their YouTube channel where they inspire people to learn Spanish and travel the world.Links:Sign up for italkiLevel up your Spanish with our podcast membershipGet the full transcript of each episode so you don’t miss a wordListen to an extended breakdown section in English going over the most important words and phrasesTest your comprehension with a multiple choice quizThank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible: Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Rajano Gray, Adrian Major, Jenny, Christy Warne, Marisol, Russ Moore, Sallie Boden, Annette Baesel, Christian Gonzalez, Jill Heichelbech, Kim Kaleta, Jean Lorio, Cindy Sanchez, Rebecca D Robison, Simon Larsson, Wylie Hargrove, Kristin Royer, Deb Shroyer, Adam Tinkoff, RamPandaPuss, Amy, Hal Brookins, Josh Powell, Hoy Shih, Neil Moore, Craig Stenger, Jennifer Wilson, Paula Lisowsky, and Joseph Scriba.Support the show

Welcome to the Learn Spanish and Go podcast! In this episode, we talk about who this podcast is for, what topics we'll cover, and how to get the most out of each episode. Sign up for our Podcast Membership here!Follow us on social media to stay connected and up to date about new episodes @SpanishandGo.Links:Support us on PatreonLevel Up Your Spanish with our Podcast MembershipThank you to our patrons for making this podcast possible: Tiansheng Lian, Jennifer Wilson, Nicolas Romano, Rajano Gray, Adrian Major, Jenny, Christy Warne, Marisol, Russ Moore, Sallie Boden, Annette Baesel, Christian Gonzalez, Jill Heichelbech, Kim Kaleta, Jean Lorio, Cindy Sanchez, Rebecca D Robison, Simon Larsson, Wylie Hargrove, Kristin Royer, Deb Shroyer, Adam Tinkoff, RamPandaPuss, Amy, Hal Brookins, Josh Powell, Hoy Shih, Neil Moore, Craig Stenger, Jennifer Wilson, Paula Lisowsky, and Joseph Scriba.Support the show