Let's start from Zero

Challenge your Pinyin skills

TRANSCRIPTION
 
Juan: Hola Carmen ¿Dónde vamos esta Semana Santa?
 
Carmen: A mí me gustaría ir a la playa porque hace mucho calor
 
Juan: Yo prefiero ir a Madrid porque me gusta la ciudad
 
Carmen: ¡Ah! Qué buena idea! Aunque Madrid está un poco lejos!
 
Juan: Entonces ¿Vamos en autobús, tren o avión?
 
Carmen: Yo prefiero en avión; es más rápido. Aunque también podemos ir en coche
 
Juan: Sí, pero en avión es más caro y yo no tengo dinero.
 
Carmen: De acuerdo! ¿y dónde vamos a dormir?
 
Juan: Podemos realizar una reserva ¿Qué prefieres, reservar en un hotel, un albergue o un camping?
 
Carmen: Prefiero el hotel, pero el albergue es más barato y este mes tú no tienes mucha plata...
 
Juan: Bien, yo llamo al albergue para saber cuánto cuesta y dónde está.
 
Carmen: Vale, yo llamo a la estación de tren!!
 
 
Eres libre de repetir cada oración en voz alta, tratando de imitar la pronunciación lo mejor posible. Repítelo en voz alta muchas veces durante 1 semana o 1 mes, hasta que las frases queden registradas en tu memoria de largo plazo.

Read along: A1 - A2 Spanish Conversations

Semana Santa A1-A2

Vocabulary
buckle up: put on seatbelt
giblets: organs inside turkey
gobble gobble: what turkeys say in written English
throttle: the lever that controls the engine

Learn English with Stories

Thanksgiving messages on the highway

By the end of this episode, students will have a better understanding of eye examinations, improved listening skills, and an expanded vocabulary related to vision. Get ready to dive into the world of eye care! 👁️🏥😊 

Everyday Dialogues

Going to an Eye Doctor

If you see someone sitting alone in a restaurant, you might assume they're waiting for someone, or perhaps they're grabbing a quick lunch on their break.

But more and more people around the world are purposely dining alone.

Japan has a special word for this: ohitorisama, which refers to people confidently doing things alone without worrying about what others think.

A recent survey found that 23% of Japanese people eat out alone, up from 18% in 2018. And in the US, solo dining reservations have risen 29% over the last two years, according to restaurant reservation site OpenTable.

OpenTable CEO Debby Soo thinks remote work is one reason for the increase, with people looking for a break from their home offices.

The increasing popularity in solo dining comes as more people are living alone. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 38% of US adults ages 25 to 54 were living without a partner, up from 29% in 1990. In Japan, single households now make up one-third of the total; that’s expected to increase to 40% by 2040, according to government data.

Growing interest in solo travel — particularly among travelers ages 55 and over — is also leading to more meals alone.

But Soo thinks there could be more to it than that.

"I think there's a broader movement of self-love and self-care and really … enjoying your own company," Soo said.

As a result, many restaurants are redoing their seating, changing their menus and adding other special touches to appeal to solo diners.

But some aren't always happy to seat one diner. A Michelin-starred London restaurant caused a stir last year when it started charging solo diners the same price as two customers. The restaurant, which has 34 seats, offers an eight-course menu costing about $280 per person.

Other restaurants say it's worth seating one person because solo diners will often come back and eat there again.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Party of One: Solo Dining Increasing in Popularity

Con motivo de día de Muertos, hoy quiero compartir con ustedes el cuento de Francisca y la Muerte. Esta historia fue escrita por el autor cubano Onelio Jorge Cardoso. Nació el 14 de mayo de 1914 y murió el 29 de mayo de 1986, muchas de sus obras han sido adaptadas a la televisión, obras de teatro y la radio.

Español con Patty Intermediate Level B1-B2

Francisca y la Muerte

For the first time, Curtis takes the guest seat as he’s interviewed by radio and podcast expert Matt Cundill on the You May Also Like Podcast.

In this candid conversation, Curtis shares how his passion for radio in Edmonton eventually led to launching the Real English Conversations Podcast — and building an online coaching business that helps professionals around the world speak English clearly and confidently at work.

They talk about:

The story behind Real English Conversations and its global impact

What makes a podcast grow and connect with international listeners

How Curtis helps professionals become confident English communicators using real conversations—not grammar drills

If you’ve ever wondered about the story behind the mic, or want to hear what it takes to build a meaningful business in the ESL space, this episode delivers insights, real talk, and inspiration.

Book a Lesson with teacher Curtis on Italki - https://www.italki.com/teacher/4672521/english