Category Archives: Learn Spanish

5 things you should know before planning for DELE

The D.E.L.E. exams are the most widely recognised Spanish language qualifications in the world. To put it short- if you want to add “I speak Spanish” on your CV, that means having a DELE. It’s definitely not an easy exam to pass, but it’s worth getting the diploma if you would like to work or even to boost your resume for work at home.

So if you are interested, here is some information and advice you should know before planning for DELE !

1.What is the DELE Exam?

The DELE Spanish exam is the only official and internationally recognized exam of Spanish as a foreign language and it can be written at any level, from beginner (A1) to mastery (C2). It has 5 parts: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing ability, grammar and vocabulary, and an oral exam. The first thing to do is check out the DELE Cervantes website and look at some of the past exams. This will help you to familiarize yourself with the different levels, and based on that you can decide which level exam you want to write. If you’re not sure which is the best DELE exam for you, you can also take Habla Ya’s Spanish Placement Test (at no charge) and they’ll get back to you with your current Spanish level, and then they will be able to “predict” how many hours of Spanish lessons you’ll need to prepare for each DELE Test.

2.Who can register for the DELE Exam?

The DELE certificate is an exam that you should take if you want an official evaluation of your Spanish language skills. Lots of employers and universities consider the DELE as the one Spanish level test which reflects a good evaluation of your ability to use the language.

Also the Registration fees for DELE vary. It depends on the level of the test as well as the country where the examination is taken.

The candidates willing to obtain the DELE certificate must, however, prove the citizenship of a country where Spanish is not the official language. If you are a citizen of a Spanish speaking country living in another country where Spanish is not the official language, you must satisfy at least two of the following conditions to register:

  • Spanish is not the mother tongue of either of your parents.
  • Spanish is not the first language that you learned.
  • Spanish is not the habitual language you use for communicating.
  • Spanish has not been the principal language in total or part of your primary or secondary education.

You must declare that you satisfy two of these conditions in a written document.

3. DELE Exam Levels

The DELEs are divided into three levels depending on the language level:

  • DELE A1
    This accredits the sufficient linguistic competence to understand and use daily expressions frequently used in any part of the Spanish-speaking world, aimed at satisfying immediate needs; asking and giving basic personal information about yourself and daily life and interacting on a basic level with speakers, whenever they are speaking slowly and clearly and are willing to cooperate.
  • DELE A2
    This accredits that the candidate is capable of understanding daily phrases and expressions frequently used related to areas of experience which are particularly relevant to them (basic information about yourself and your family, shopping, places of interest, occupations, etc.).
  • DELE B1(Intermediate-mid/threshold level) 
    This accredits sufficient knowledge of the language to allow control in situations which require an elementary use of the language.
  • DELE B2 (High-intermediate level)
    This accredits the necessary knowledge of the language to allow communication in everyday situations which do not require specialized terms.
  • DELE C1
    This accredits the sufficient linguistic competence to cope in common situations of daily life which require a specialized use of the language.
  • DELE C2 (Superior level)
    This accredits an advanced knowledge of the language allowing communicaton in all situations requiring advanced use of the language and a knowledge of cultural background.

4.DELE test format

Although the test differs in its exact format depending on the level, it tests the four language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The test lasts about 3 hours, and is sent to Spain for grading which takes about 3 months. You have to receive 70% in each section in order to pass the test, so you have to make sure all of your skills are strong.

There are plenty of practice tests on their website, which are a great resource for people preparing to take the test as well as Spanish learners who want to test their skills.

5.How to prepare for DELE?

Spanish learning will be fun and exciting once you start using the online lessons and courses . You can prepare with CultureAlley that have courses for people taking the DELE. With CultureAlley  you can learn languages for free while browsing Facebook, and playing games. You get several free audio-visual lessons! You can learn Spanish for free while browsing your friend’s conversations on your own Facebook feed! It is the most immersive, fun, and contextual way to learn Spanish. You can Play fun games to master what you learn. You get over 70 free lessons to build your concepts on http://new.culturealley.com/ . Master conversations, grammar, vocabulary and more. Whether you are a traveler looking for quick vocabulary or a professional looking for some serious learning – we have the right lessons for everyone!

5 tips for preparing for DELE – Acing DELE 101

Have you ever found yourself just so damn frustrated with your progress in Spanish? Maybe you’ve decided to take the plunge and sit for an official D.E.L.E exam and now the nerves are building. The D.E.L.E. exams are the most widely recognised Spanish language qualifications in the world. To put it short- if you want to add “I speak Spanish” on your CV, that means having a DELE. Today we give you 5 key tips for preparing for DELE

1.Set Yourself Goals:

TOP TIP! Setting goals helps you focus and setting a time limit helps you keep that focus. Setting a hard deadline is an important first step. Be realistic – if you can’t put in the time needed to adequately prepare, don’t pay to do the exam.

CultureAlley is an online platform with interactive Spanish lessons, and fun vocabulary tools that sets a daily task plan and achievable goals for you. It has the most fun way to help you master Spanish vocabulary. CultureAlley lets you learn Spanish vocabulary while your browse your own Facebook newsfeed. It progressively replaces a few words from English to Spanish and provides you with their pronunciation and meaning . It provides 1 important lesson, and 1 practice game session everyday to help you learn a little Spanish everyday and sends your daily reminders for the tasks waiting for that day!

2. DO Find the right materials

The first thing to do is check out the DELE Cervantes website and look at some of the past exams. This will help you to familiarize yourself with the different levels, and based on that you can decide which level exam you want to write. It should come as no surprise that there are books made especially for the exam, much like the standard GRE or LSAT books.

And if you are looking for a free effective resource online, then you can find about 70+ lessons with CultureAlley covering grammar, conversations, vocabulary, lessons with native (Spanish) voice-overs, and practice exercises with fun games. CultureAlley covers all the domains required for language learning,i.e: reading,writing,listening,and speaking.

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3.DO consider taking a course

Doing simple google search for DELE courses nets hundreds of places to get exam prep, both online and in person. Most are costly (around 300€), but come with the practice book and tips to doing the exam. You can’t study completely on your own so you should consider hiring a Spanish teacher to help you with the writing and speaking part of the exam.

For hiring a good experienced tutor for 1-1 on coaching with native tutors who can mentor and guide through DELE preparation, you can book classes with CultureAlley. You just have to mail your query to contact@culturealley.com, and we will provide you with the tutor profiles and we can book your sessions!

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4.DO practice writing prompts like crazy

The writing section is a large part of the DELE, consisting of two parts: in the first, you’ll be asked to pick one of two options regarding a formal letter or email. It’s important to know formal salutations, advanced vocabulary and to include all of the parts asked for in the prompt. The second part is more personal, and you’ll have to choose between three different prompts. These could be about personal opinions, experiences or anecdotes.  Keep in mind you will have 60 minutes for brainstorming, drafting and re-writing your two pieces of 150-200 words in pen. Your pieces should also be clear. Practice with your clock ALWAYS.

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5.DO practice outside of the book:

Make sure that while you study the academic side of Spanish you continue to practice outside of class in the informal ways (watching TV, listening to music,speaking to local people) – it will take you from “classroom Spanish” to really using it as a second language. On the writing and speaking sections, and general knowledge of Hispanic culture is 100% important, as is being able to listen to different accents. The exam may call for you to read a quote and take a stance on it, talk about the economic crisis or the necessary knowledge of the language to allow communication in everyday situations.

CultureAlley helps learners to learn outside of courseware from daily conversations as learners can listen to the native pronunciation while learning vocabulary on the Facebook. A few relevant words on the Facebook feeds are converted into the language one wants to learn and one can listen to its pronunciation for better understanding as often as they want. You can listen to them, play games on them, practice your accent, and more! It helps one to speak Spanish fluently, and master the vocabulary and pronunciation just by logging into their Facebook account with CultureAlley. You also get over 70+ free audio-visual lessons to build your basic concepts.


Conjugation of verb Existir in Spanish

In today’s blog we will learn about the conjugation of verb Existir in Spanish

The verb ‘Existir‘ means ‘to exist or to be’

For more verbs with ‘ir‘ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-8%29+Forms+of+verbs+II

Take a look at the conjugation of the veb Existir

 pronoun Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo existo existí existía existiría existiré
existes exististe existías existirías existirás
él/ella/Ud. existe existió existía existiría existirá
nosotros existimos existimos existíamos existiríamos existiremos
vosotros existís exististeis existíais existiríais existiréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. existen existieron existían existirían existirán

Thus,

I exist = Yo existo

We exist = Nosotros existimos

He exists = Él existe

She exists = Ella existe

You exist = Usted existe

Here are the examples using the verb

There is a lot of poverty

Existe mucha pobreza

There’s no such thing

No existe tal cosa

The company has been in existence for 90 years

Esta empresa existe desde hace 90 años

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley

 

Conjugation of verb Entrar in Spanish

Today’s blog will make us familiar with conjugation of verb Entrar in Spanish

The verb ‘Entrar‘ means ‘to enter, to go in or to come in’

For more verbs with ‘ar’ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-6%29+Forms+of+verbs

Take a look at the conjugation Entrar

pronoun Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo entro entré entraba entraría entraré
entras entraste entrabas entrarías entrarás
él/ella/Ud. entra entró entraba entraría entrará
nosotros entramos entramos entrábamos entraríamos entraremos
vosotros entráis entrasteis entrabais entraríais entraréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. entran entraron entraban entrarían entrarán

Thus,

I enter = Yo entro

We enter = Nosotros entramos

He enters = Él entra

She enters = Ella entra

You enter = Usted entra

Here are examples of its usage

I got in through the window

Entré por la ventana

window

I can’t get this ring on my finger

Este anillo no me entra 

ring

I can’t get this shoe on

El pie no me entra en el zapato

shoe

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley

Conjugation of Verb Decir in Spanish

The conjugation of verb we cover in today’s blog is Decir

The verb ‘Decir’ means ‘to say or to tell’

For more verbs with ‘ir‘ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-8%29+Forms+of+verbs+II

Take a look at the conjugation of verb Decir

pronoun  Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo digo dije decía diría diré
dices dijiste decías dirías dirás
él/ella/Ud. dice dijo decía diría dirá
nosotros decimos dijimos decíamos diríamos diremos
vosotros decís dijisteis decíais diríais diréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. dicen dijeron decían dirían dirán

Thus,

I say = Yo digo

We say =  Nosotros decimos

He says = Él dice

She says = Ella dice

You say =  Usted dice

Here are the examples of its usage

How do you say “estación” in English?

¿Cómo se dice “estación” en inglés?

Who told you that?

¿Quién te lo ha dicho?

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley

 

Conjugation of verb Contar in Spanish

In today’s blog we will learn about the conjugation of verb Contar in Spanish

The verb ‘Contar‘ means ‘to count, to relate or to tell’

For more verbs with ‘ar’ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-6%29+Forms+of+verbs

Conjugation of the verb ‘Contar :

pronoun Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo cuento conté contaba contaría contaré
cuentas contaste contabas contarías contarás
él/ella/Ud. cuenta contó contaba contaría contará
nosotros contamos contamos contábamos contaríamos contaremos
vosotros contáis contasteis contabais contaríais contaréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. cuentan contaron contaban contarían contarán

Thus,

I count = Yo cuento

We count = Nosotros contamos 

He counts = Él cuenta

She counts = Ella cuenta

You count = Usted cuenta

Here are the examples of its usage

She can count to ten

Sabe contar hasta diez

You can count them on (the fingers of) one hand

Se pueden contar con los dedos de una mano 

fingers

Tell me, how are things?

Cuéntame, ¿cómo te va la vida? 

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley

Conjugation of verb Mirar in Spanish

The conjugation of verb we cover in today’s blog is Mirar

The verb ‘Mirar‘ means ‘to watch or to look at’

For more verbs with ‘ar’ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-6%29+Forms+of+verbs

Take a look at the conjugation Mirar

PRONOUN Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo miro miré miraba miraría miraré
miras miraste mirabas mirarías mirarás
él/ella/Ud. mira miró miraba miraría mirará
nosotros miramos miramos mirábamos miraríamos miraremos
vosotros miráis mirasteis mirabais miraríais miraréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. miran miraron miraban mirarían mirarán

Thus,

I watch = Yo miro

We watch = Nosotros miramos

He watches = Él mira

She watches = Ella mira

You watch = Usted mira

Mirar is used to express:

  1. To indicate deliberate looking rather than mere seeing
  2. To indicate the orientation of something

Here are some examples using the verb:

I gazed at you from afar

Yo te miraba desde lejos

The hotel faces the sea

El hotel mira al mar

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley

Conjugation of verb Tratar in Spanish

Today’s blog will make us familiar with conjugation of verb Tratar in Spanish

The verb ‘Tratar‘ means ‘to treat or to handle’

For more verbs with ‘ar’ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-6%29+Forms+of+verbs

Take a look at the conjugation of verb Tratar

pronoun Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo trato traté trataba trataría trataré
tratas trataste tratabas tratarías tratarás
él/ella/Ud. trata trató trataba trataría tratará
nosotros tratamos tratamos tratábamos trataríamos trataremos
vosotros tratáis tratasteis tratabais trataríais trataréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. tratan trataron trataban tratarían tratarán

Thus,

I treat = Yo trato

We treat = Nosotros tratamos

He treats = Él trata

She treats = Ella trata

You treat = Usted trata

Tratar is used to express:

  1. To provide a medical treatment
  2. To treat someone or something (a specified way)

Here are some examples using the verb:

Lyme’s disease is treated with antibiotics

La enfermedad de Lyme se trata con antibióticos

They treated us like animals and sometimes worse

Nos trataban como a animales y en ocasiones peor

How were you treated?

¿Qué tal te trataron?

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley

Learn Spanish while browsing your Facebook Feed!

At CultureAlley, we are working hard to make language learning the most effortless, and delightful experience for you!

So we thought, what if we could let you learn a new language while you do what you love the most – like browsing Facebook or playing games! Sounds crazy?

Presenting a whole New Culturealley for you: now you can learn Spanish while you browse your own Facebook feed and play games!

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What happens at the Alley? 

1. Learn Spanish while browsing Facebook : Now you can learn Spanish from your Facebook wall. While you browse Facebook we progressively replace  words from your feeds into Spanish.
Amazing, Isn’t it? :)

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2. Yummy Quests : You can play mini quizzes on words learnt right on your feed. Earn jelly beans for discovering new word

3. Unlock audio-visual lessons: As you finish fun filled Facebook challenges, you unlock interactive lessons to build your basics

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4. Play games, have fun : Our fun games – Taco and Sangria will make you remember everything you learn while you have fun!

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What are you waiting for?
Fill up that jelly jar and master Spanish while doing what you Love!
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What are you waiting for? GET STARTED NOW

Learn Spanish while browsing your Facebook Feed: Visit new.culturealley.com for unlimited fun and learning!

 

Conjugation of verb Sentir in Spanish

Today’s blog is on Conjugation of verb Sentir in Spanish

The verb ‘Sentir‘ means ‘to feel or to regret’

For more verbs with ‘ir‘ ending here is the lesson on CultureAlley

http://culturealley.com/Spanish-Learn+Spanish-8%29+Forms+of+verbs+II

Take a look at the conjugation of Sentir

 pronoun Present Preterit Imperfect Conditional Future
yo siento sentí sentía sentiría sentiré
sientes sentiste sentías sentirías sentirás
él/ella/Ud. siente sintió sentía sentiría sentirá
nosotros sentimos sentimos sentíamos sentiríamos sentiremos
vosotros sentís sentisteis sentíais sentiríais sentiréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. sienten sintieron sentían sentirían sentirán

Thus,

I feel = Yo siento

We feel = Nosotros sentimos 

He feels = Él siente

She feels = Ella siente

You feel = Usted siente

Sentir is used to express:

  1. To describe emotional feelings
  2. To describe physical sensations
  3. Is used as a noun to refer to feelings or sentiments

Here are some examples using the verb:

I feel angry and frustrated

Me siento enojado y frustrado

angry

I’m sorry

Lo siento

I'm sorry

I’m sorry you can’t come

Siento que no puedas venir 

I feel sick

Me siento mareada 

sick

He feels superior

Se siente superior

To learn more Spanish, for free, go to CultureAlley