What idiomatic expressions are related to nature?

A few days ago, our students enjoyed a different kind of experience in one of the most magical corners of Salamanca: the Huerto de Calixto y Melibea.

This garden, full of history and literary references, is much more than a romantic spot overlooking the city walls. It is a living space filled with plant species that allow us to learn new vocabulary, connect with our surroundings, and reflect on the role each of us plays in caring for the environment.

As a Socially Responsible ELE School, we believe in learning that goes beyond the classroom—learning that can be experienced in the streets, parks, and gardens of the city. For this reason, during this visit we proposed a small observation project to our students:

What plant species can we find here? How can we contribute to preserving spaces like this?

Through this activity, we not only strengthened Spanish learning through a meaningful experience, but we also encouraged respect and appreciation for nature—values that are deeply connected to the identity of Salamanca.

The Huerto de Calixto y Melibea reminds us that sometimes the most important lessons are not found in books, but in what surrounds us.

In addition to discovering the plants, aromas, and history of this place, it was also the perfect opportunity to plant the seed of environmental awareness.

This garden, beyond its literary and cultural value, offers an ideal setting to talk about nature, sustainability, and commitment. As a Socially Responsible ELE School, we believe that learning should always be accompanied by values, and respect for the environment is one of them.

During the visit, we observed the garden’s plant diversity, reflected on the impact we have on our environment and, of course, continued learning Spanish through a short questionnaire.

At the end of the activity, our students completed a survey where we were able to measure their level of satisfaction with the visit: everyone rated this initiative positively! 

Do You Know Any Idioms Related to Nature?

Taking advantage of this visit, today we would like to remember some idiomatic expressions connected with this experience.

General Nature

• Plantar la semilla (de algo)-To plant the seed (of something) → To start a process or an idea.
• Dar frutos –To bear fruit → To achieve positive results after effort.
• Estar en la flor de la vida –To be in the prime of life → To be at the best stage of life.
• Echar raíces- To put down roots → To settle in a place and feel connected to it.
• Cosechar lo que se siembra- You reap what you sow → You receive the consequences (positive or negative) of your own actions.
• Ser un brote verde –To be a green shoots → A sign of recovery or improvement (often used in economics or ecology).

Weather and Natural Elements

• Hacer un sol de justicia –A blazing sun (hacer un sol de justicia) → When it is extremely hot.
• Estar en las nubes –To have your head in the clouds → To be distracted or absent-minded.
• Llover a cántaros – To rain cats and dogs → To rain very heavily.
• No hay mal que por bien no venga – Every cloud has a silver lining → Something negative may bring something positive.
• Ser un viento fresco – A breath of fresh air → A person or idea that brings renewal and energy.

Animals and the Natural World

• Ser un bicho raro –To be a rare bird (ser un bicho raro) → To be different or unusual.
• Buscarle tres pies al gato– To look for three feet on the cat (buscarle tres pies al gato) → To complicate something unnecessarily.
• Estar como una cabra –To be as crazy as a goat → To be eccentric or a bit crazy.
• Ser más terco que una mula – As stubborn as a mule → To be very stubborn.
• Tener pájaros en la cabeza –To have birds in your head → To have unrealistic or fanciful ideas.

Plants and Flowers

• Ser la flor y nata – The cream of the crop (ser la flor y nata) → The best or most outstanding people in a group.
• Ser como una rosa – Fresh as a rose (estar como una rosa) → To look healthy and feel great.
• Tener mala hierba – Bad weeds never die (tener mala hierba) → Said about people who are difficult to get rid of or who always come back.
• No todo el monte es orégano –Not everything is oregano on the mountain (no todo el monte es orégano) → Not everything is easy or pleasant; there are also difficulties.

Are you in Salamanca? Come and discover it for yourself. And if not, keep following our blog to learn how Spanish can be learned through real-life experiences.

La entrada 20 Spanish Idioms to Learn Spanish Through Nature se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

6 Colloquial Expressions with the Word Love

1. For the Love of God! (¡Por amor de Dios!)

An exclamation used to express exasperation, pleading, or reproach.

For the love of God, be quiet once and for all and stop talking nonsense!

In the past, this expression was used as a formula when begging for alms. This is where the Spanish word pordiosero (“beggar,” literally “one who asks for God’s sake”) comes from.

2. With Great Pleasure (De mil amores)

An adverbial phrase meaning “with great pleasure.”

María has asked me to accompany her on the trip, and I will gladly go with her.

In this context, love represents something noble, elevated, and sublime.

3. In Love and Harmony (En amor y compañía)

Meaning “in harmony, together.” It is normally applied to couples.

There they are — I have never seen them apart. They are always together, in love and harmony.

4. Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Obras son amores)

In other words, what truly matters are actions, not words.

Don’t make me promises. Behave as you should and show me what you need to show me — actions speak louder than words.

This expression is the first part of a proverb:
“Obras son amores, que no buenas razones” (“Actions are love, not fine words”), quoted by authors such as Lope de Vega in La Dorotea (1632) and Baltasar Gracián in El Criticón (1651).

5. For the Love of Art (Por amor al arte)

Selflessly. For pleasure or enjoyment. Without receiving any benefit or payment.

Every afternoon I give guitar lessons to a group of students, but they don’t pay me — I do it for the love of art.

Throughout history, there have always been artists who, even knowing that their work did not guarantee their livelihood, continued their creative labour. This expression refers to them.

6. Platonic Love (Amor platónico)

A spiritual, intellectual, unattainable love — and therefore never physical.

Times change, and so do ideals of men and women. But a stunning woman like Sophia Loren was, is, and always will be my platonic love.

We are referring to the type of love described by Plato in his Dialogues and faithfully followed by Renaissance knights — to such an extent that anyone who crossed the boundary from the spiritual to the physical could pay with their life, like Calisto in La Celestina, for example.

Heartbreak in Times of Saint Valentine

What colloquial expressions are most commonly used to talk about heartbreak?

Ah, love! Dear readers, love has served as inspiration for many artists: novelists, playwrights, poets, musicians, painters… Both love and heartbreak have inspired humanity’s finest creations. The muses appear when we are happiest or when sadness overwhelms us. And what drives both happiness and sorrow? Love — although, more often than not, it is heartbreak that stirs our deepest emotions.

During the first half of February, hearts and the colour red fill the streets of every city and town. Shop windows dress in their finest displays and tempt customers to buy that special gift that will make love blossom once again in couples’ hearts.

But all that glitters is not gold, and many people find themselves facing the bitter experience of heartbreak. Perhaps they have just broken up with their partner — the one who pulled away from a kiss (hacer la cobra) after discovering that their partner had cheated on them (poner los cuernos), breaking their loving heart into a thousand tiny pieces.

Recovering from romantic disappointment is not always easy. I still remember the day my last partner stood me up (dar plantón) in the Plaza Mayor. I was waiting under the clock with a bouquet of flowers. We were going out to dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Then came the fateful phone call in which they told me we needed to “take a break” (darse un tiempo).

What? They had just stood me up and now wanted time apart? At that moment, I thought I would die. I downloaded a dating app (ligar) — all I wanted was to make them jealous — but all I received were rejections (dar/recibir calabazas).

Finally, I spoke to my best friend — who is now my current partner. I told her everything I had suffered for love, and she replied that I shouldn’t worry because “there is always a lid for every pot” (siempre hay un roto para un descosido). At that moment, I didn’t quite know how to take that expression, but it did manage to bring a smile to my face and helped me forget that relationship forever.

What Do These Expressions Mean?

• All that glitters is not gold: not everything is what it seems.

• To break up with someone: to end a relationship.

• To pull away from a kiss (hacer la cobra).

• To cheat on someone (poner los cuernos).

• To break someone’s heart: romantic disappointment.

• To stand someone up: to miss a date.

• To take a break: to pause a relationship temporarily.

• To flirt / to try to meet someone romantically (ligar).

• To give or receive the brush-off (dar/recibir calabazas).

• There is always a lid for every pot: there is someone out there for everyone.

But dear reader, I do not want today’s post to focus on heartbreak. Instead, I would like to take this opportunity to teach you some colloquial Spanish expressions that include the word love and form part of Spain’s popular heritage.

Before we begin, do you know the legend of Saint Valentine?

In the year 270 AD, Claudius II, Emperor of Rome, prohibited marriage because he believed married men made poor soldiers. In times of war, they would not want to leave their families.

If you would like to learn more about the legend of Saint Valentine, click on this link.

Dear reader, I hope love has knocked on your door, because when we are in love, we see everything through rose-coloured glasses¹.

So tell me — are you in love?

¹ To see everything through rose-coloured glasses: to be very optimistic. For you, there are no problems; everything is good, everything pleases you, everyone behaves kindly… You see everything in a positive light. Warm colours convey positive connotations, and the colour pink is associated with love and optimism.

La entrada Colloquial Expressions in Spanish About Love and Heartbreak se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

Maybe one of your resolutions for New Year is to improve your Spanish and obtain an official title which certifies your knowledge. As many of you might know, the official title is the DELE (Diploma of Spanish as a Foreign Language) granted by the Cervantes Institute on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education.

How do I obtain a DELE Diploma?

To obtain the official accredited diploma, you should pass the examinations designed according to the guidelines given by the Council of Europe and published in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages : Learning, teaching and assessment (CEFR). The linguistic contents of the DELE examination are collected in the Curricula Plan of the Cervantes Institute.

Why is the DELE useful for me?

The DELE has indefinite validity and international recognition. It will offer you a high geographical mobility both in the professional as in the academic areas: it will open the doors of important companies worldwide; it will help you to obtain scholarships; in Spain, it allows you the access to universities, schools of business and job posts in the Public Administration (from level B2 upwards); it easens the process to obtain a student visa in Spain… Furthermore, the DELE Level A2 is an indispensable requirement to obtain Spanish citizenship.

Which levels of competence and mastery do the DELE diplomas certify?

The DELE Diploma cover all levels included in the CEFR:

• Diploma for Spanish Level A1.
• Diploma for Spanish Level A2.
• Diploma for Spanish Level B1.
• Diploma for Spanish Level B2.
• Diploma for Spanish Level C1.
• Diploma for Spanish Level C2.

How are the DELE examinations structured?

The test of these examinations are structured in four blocks with different tasks for each one of them (depending on the level), excepto for level C2, which only has three blocks.

The general structure of the DELE Examinations for levels A1 – B2 is the following:

Tests of the Examinations DELE A1-B2

The general structure of the DELE Examination for Level C1 is the following:

The general structure of the DELE Examination for Level C2 is the following:

The tasks of each test are placed into its personal, public, educational and professional context, and the aim is to certify the degree of general linguistic competence of Spanish.

From level B1 upwards, the DELE examinations include in its comprehension tests the principal variations of Spanish, which are also considered to be valid during the tests of expression of the candidates.

More information on the structure and contents of the tests of the DELE examinations.

How much does the examination costs?

The price of the inscription depends on the level of Spanish you choose and the country where you will take the examination. Each candidate should consult the price of the diploma chosen at DELE Exam Centre of the country where he/she will take the examination.

The current prices (2026) in Spain are the following:

• A1: 112 euros
• A2: 138 euros
• B1: 173 euros
• B2: 204 euros
• C1: 225 euros
• C2: 240 euros

Where can I find information on how to prepare the examination?

On the following link Prepare the examination you can find examples of answer sheets and examinations.

Where can I take the examination?

At our school, apart from taking the examination (we are an official exam centre), you can prepare for the exam, we offer specific courses throughout the whole year.

Our DELE Preparatory Course are taught by teachers, accredited by the Cervantes Institute as official examiners, and a wide experience preparing the DELE examinations. We can also help you withe inscription and we will give you all information you might need.

If you are not in Salamanca, you can take the examination in many centres all around the world.  For more information here.

How long does the examination lasts?

The duration of the written part, to which you should add a 30-minute break, varies according to the level:

• A1 (1 hour and 35 minutes)
• A2 (2 hours and 30 minutes)
• B1 (2 hours and 50 minutes)
• B2 (3 hours and 10 minutes)
• C1 (3 hours and 40 minutes)
• C2 (4 hours and 15 minutes)

The oral exam normally takes place two or three days before the written exam, nevertheless in some cases, it might take place the same day. The duration of the oral part also depends on the level :

• A1 (10 minutes plus other 10 to prepare)
• A2 (12 minutes and 12 to prepare)
• B1 (15 minutes and 15 to prepare)
• B2 (20 minutes and 20 to prepare)
• C1 (10 minutes and 20 to prepare)
• C2 (20 minutes and 30 to prepare)

Do you feel like taking the examination?  In that case, count on us!

La entrada The best guide to learn more on the DELE Examinations se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

«I have only taught them to express themselves, while they have taught me how to live.»

—Lorenzo Milani.

A visit to the Lorenzo Milani Centre

This week, our students enjoyed a truly special experience during their visit to the Lorenzo Milani Center in Salamanca, an educational space with a strong social and environmental mission that allowed us to learn first-hand about the world of birds and the importance of protecting them.

Throughout the day, we had the privilege of being guided by Miguel Blanco, the center’s environmental education coordinator, who explained in a clear and engaging way many fascinating aspects of birds of prey and their care. Our students learned about different species such as vultures, owls, eagles, crows, and storks—discovering curious details such as their eye color, diet, and flight characteristics, including the kite’s distinctive V-shaped tail.

We also learned about the art of falconry, the work carried out at CREAS (Wildlife Recovery Center), and how birds in need of help arrive there. It was especially interesting to discover the difference between daytime and nighttime birds of prey, as well as to meet impressive species such as the eagle owl, the little owl, and the tawny owls cared for at the center.

One of the most remarkable moments was meeting Lola, the eagle owl and first resident of the school. One of our students had the unique opportunity to hold her in his arms. Miguel also showed us how she can turn her head an astonishing 270 degrees. Amazing!

A day full of unique stories and discoveries

Another story that left us speechless was that of Salma, a bird sadly found with a broken leg, indicating she had been chained in a pen for a long time. As a result, she became accustomed to human presence—allowing us now to observe her up close.

A particularly striking moment was seeing the new owl observation hide being built, as well as the hexagonal aviary and the materials used for its construction, all designed to ensure animal welfare.

In addition to learning, this visit encouraged us to reflect on the importance of respecting the environment, understanding the phenomenon of migratory birds and why they travel, and appreciating the work carried out by committed centers like Lorenzo Milani.

As a socially responsible school, these types of experiences strengthen our commitment to an education based on values, respect for nature, and ecological awareness. Without a doubt, it was an enriching excursion that sparked curiosity, sensitivity, and interest among our students in caring for the planet.

We are deeply grateful to the team at the Lorenzo Milani Center, and especially to Miguel, for his dedication, warmth, and passion for sharing knowledge in such an inspiring way.

We remain committed to an education that connects with life and with nature.

La entrada A trip to learn, care for and connect with nature se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

This morning it was very hard for me to get on my bare feet and get out of my cozy bed; the cold has comfortably been installed in our homes.

Many are those who associate winter with a romantic, melancholic or even nostalgic season. For some it is their favorite time of the year because they can go skiing and spend time at home with their families. Others will have the memories of a chimney in a corner of the living room, full of burning firewood, giving off a nice heat while huddling together on the couch under a pleasant blanket and enjoying a movie. This all sound very good, but I am estoy harta de este frío infernal¹ .

I am always shrunk, my bones are numb and I walk on the streets of Salamanca to go to the  Colegio de España, covered with thousand layers so that I would not notice the two degrees under cero which we have this morning.

We wrap ourselves so much that we look like walking onions² . Onions? You might think why we talk about onions. Yes, dear reader, taking off the cap, scarf, gloves, coat, sweater, thermal shirt.., we take off layer after layer all clothing we do not need once we go into some warm place where the heating sweetly warms the room. How pleasant!

It is not surprising that in Spanish, as in other languages, we have some expressions using the word frío. Nor will it surprise you that frío is mainly used in a negative sense, because when you think of cold, what does it suggest to you?

Would you like to learn some of these expressions?

Let’s see them.

“A sangre fría”.

This phrase means without any feelings. The novel of Truman Capote comes to my mind, In Cold Blood, a novel which is a very hard testimony of the North-American journalist and author where he explains how an entire family from a rural town in the United States is murdered without any sense.

In the same way, if we want to express that something is done without any feelings, we can say that it is done a sangre fría. But we can also use this phrase with verbs like: tener, demostrar o mostrar.

Let’s see an example: El piloto demostró sangre fría y aterrizó de emergencia en condiciones atmosféricas terribles. 

“Tener sangre fría”.

Tener sangre fría can be have a negative connotation, but, sometimes, we need doctors, pilots, police men, firefighter and other professionals to be cold-blooded, so that they won’t be nervous in a complicated or dangerous.

Let’s see some more phrases.

“En frío”.

What do you think “en frío” migh mean?

Let’s take a look at an example: Tendrías que haberle reñido cuando lo hizo, ahora ya, en frío, no te va a servir de nada.

This means that when the due moment has already passed, the desired impact will no longer take.

Another example: No sé, me resulta muy difícil tocar así, en frío, porque primero tendría que afinar la guitarra, pero bueno…tocaré.

This means suddenly, without any preparation. As a curiosity, I would like to add that this phrase has to do with a way to forge iron, taking it off the forge before due time, letting it cool and hitting it when it is no longer hot.

“Quedarse frío”.

On the other hand, the phrase quedarse frío is used when you are surprised, scared or dazed. It is definitely used to indicate that you have experienced a disgusting feeling, which you didn’t expect, namely something you weren’t prepared for.

Example: Cuando me he enterado de lo del accidente me he quedado frío. And whoever experiences this feeling will remain still, as if he/she were frozen, and something even might feel cold.

“Sentar como un jarro de agua fría”.

Sentar como un jarro de agua fría, this is a very common phrase in colloquial Spanish, it means that something has disappointed or distressed you. It provokes sadness and demoralization.

Example: Estaba muy ilusionado con mi traje nuevo, pero, la verdad, cuando me dijiste que no te gustaba me sentó como un jarro de agua fría.

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que algo te sentó como un jarro de agua fría?

“Tener más frío que siete viejas”.

Tener más frío que siete viejas, this phrase is based on the exaggeration, so you can replace the seven old ladies by any other complement that has a cold feeling; it is used to express that you are very cold.

An example with this phrase is: Voy a ponerme otro jersey, porque estoy pasando más frío que siete viejas.

I know that some of you might thinking why I am writing this article when living in land of sun, but, dear friends, you might be mistaken, here, in Castile, it is cold, yes, very cold. In fact, in Salamanca we use a phrase that: “Nueve meses de invierno y tres de infierno” which means that winter last for nine long months and the other three we have an unbearable heat, a hard but safe ground.

¹This refers to a nice oxymoron seeing that hell is related to heat. Nevertheless, in the Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri, its author refers to a freezing place.

²Ser una cebolla (be like an onion): literally it refers to someone who is wearing a lot of clothes and to undress, he/she should take off layer after layer, garment after garment.

La entrada 5 PHRASES USING THE WORD FRIO IN SPANISH se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

It is seven o’clock of a spending afternoon in Spring. I sit alone on the terrace of a bar, enjoying a deserving beer after an intense working day.  All tables around me are taken. I decide not to take my cell phone out of my bag and leave my mind blank. I cannot avoid hearing the conversation of a group of youngsters who sit closet o me. They are talking too loud driven by the enthusiasm appropriate to their youth. I pay attention to the conversation and …. Awful!: they speak Spanish, but I am unable to understand a great part of what they are saying.  There is no doubt: I am sitting next to a group of millennials!

It is not easy to determine with any certainty the age group we refer to when talking about millennials. Without going into an in-depth analysis, and in general, we can say that under this label, we can include all those born between 1982 and 2004 approximately, that have in common having grown up in a globalised world and being the first digital and hyperconnected generation. These circumstances have a decisive impact on their way of expression, seeing that a great part of their lingo comes from English and the social networking, which they share with other from all over the globe.

Which generations can we distinguish?

Throughout the twentieth century youngsters have been grouped in different generations according to the social and political circumstances of the concrete period they were born and have grown up:

• The Silent Generation (children in post-war): those born between 1930 and 1948, which grew up in the year after the Spanish Civil War. The hard living conditions forged austere and hard-working persons, raised with values such as effort and sacrifice.

• Baby Boom Generation: including those born between 1949 and 1968, children who grew up during an epoch of peace and certain welfare with regard to the deprivation of the previous generation anterior. It is the period during which people emigrated from the countryside to the city and the roads started to fill up with the first cars.

• The Generation X: made up by those born in the seventies until 1982. This period coincides with a progressive political openness in Spain, Franco’s death and the advent of democracy. On one hand, those years were marked by the urge for freedom and hedonism, and on the other end by the consumerism and the search to triumph at all costs.

• The Millennial Generation: covers a quite extensive period, therefore many distinguish two periods:

– The Generation Y (1983-1993): the first generation born in full process of globalization, consequently many Western youngsters share the same values and have grown up with the start u of digitalization. These youngsters are also known as “ninis” (youngsters who do not study nor work) and have been called lazy, individualists, bourgeois…, but we also owe them the impulse to healthy living, healthy eating or environmentalism.

– The Generation Z (1994-2004): this is the generation that we can consider post-millennial. These youngsters are digital natives, the first ones to be born in the digital age, consequently they master completely the new technologies, which are their natural environment and they spend a great part of the day connected (we speak between 6 and 10 hours daily).

On this millennial generation, technological and globalized, the future of our world depends; therefore the smooth intergenerational comprehension and communication is indispensable. Here, we wish to make our contribution, explaining the meaning of some of the most common words used by our millennials youth.

Dictionary to understand the millennials:

BAE: This word, formed by the acronym of the English expression “Before Anyone Else” is one of the most caring a teenager can use to refer to someone he/she loves very much.  It can both refer to a sentimental or fraternal love: “He is my bae”.

CRUSH: A sudden and captivating falling in love, what we have been calling love at first sight or even platonic love: “Pablo is my crush”. Nevertheless, the crush can disappear at the same speed as it appears.

INFLUENCER: Those persons who become popular (they reach a lot of followers) in the social networks, generating contents on an ability, a hobby or a special skill they might have (music, fashion, humor, videogames, etc.) and convert this into their way of life.  Their survival depends on the amount of likes they achieve with their publications.  They are the celebrities of the twentieth century.

GHOSTING: It consists in ignoring someone in a radical way and cut, without any notice, any type of communication with that person both by phone as on the social networks.  It is aggressive and immature attitude, characteristic of those incapable to deal with conflicts as a grown-up.

HATER: The “hater” is the social network user who criticizes destructively someone or something, even reaching the defamation, for irrational reasons.  The hater, when he has a fixation on someone, attacks mercilessly everything the other person says, does or publishes on the social networks.

LOL: This is used when something is so funny that a hahahaha is too short.  LOL, acronym proceeding from laughing out loud  or lots of laughs, means to burst out laughing, It can also express sarcastic laughter.

MAINSTREAM: Something that is into fashion, a trend that everyone should follow, sometimes so common that it may be found vulgar.

MOOD: One of the most common words used by millennials worldwide. It is an English term which means “state of mind”. In many occasions it is used to indicate that you are not in the mood to do something: “ I am not in the mood”.

OUTFIT: With this word the millennials refer to clothing and accessories someone is wearing, what previously we used to call clothing, dress and, more recently, “the model”. Also, as an adjective, it is used to refer to the clothing of a season, a clothing line, or that is used in certain occasions: summer outfit, part outfit, wedding outfit, etc.

POLIAMOR: Before we used to say we were having an open relationship, and it consists in having love affairs and/or sexual relationships with different persons simultaneously, with the consent and with the knowledge of all involved in the “poliamorosa” relationship.

POSTUREO: The “postureo” is the “pretending to be” we used before, but in the digital era it is extended to the social networks to generate envy among our contacts: those incredible pictures we enjoy seeing spectacular sunsets or sunrise on marvelous beaches, delicious meals, outrageous outfits …

RANDOM: This word is used as a wild card, seeing that its significance has evolved. First it was used to refer to something aleatory, something depending on chance, unexpected; its use has extended that much that something or someone simple, vulgar or ordinary, can be converted into random. Sometimes, it is also used when something is inappropriate.

SALSEO: Millennials use salseo to refer to any controversy or discussion taking place on the social networks. You can participate actively or just enjoy watching their development looking at your device screen.

SHIPPEAR: It consists in linking two persons you consider should be together under the same name, without having any connection between them. Regular targets of shippeo are fictional characters, movies o entertainment programs, those whose followers would like them to be a couple. The shippeo “Almaia” (Alfred and Amaia from Operación Triunfo) became reality.

SPOILER: To do spoiler is to anticipate the end of a series, movie or book. We all have the typical friend who loves to reveal the ends.  If you are one of those jokers, who enjoys, for example, revealing the end of a series, be careful because more and more start to detest this practice.

STALKEAR: It consists in opening someone profile in a social network to see their pictures, publications and anything possible.  This practice has always existed, but we used to call it gossip.  We could say that a stalker is a digital gossiper on the social networks.

TRAP: It is a music genre which has reached Spain standing strong among youngsters and has passed the borders of the suburbs to enter the most modern neighborhoods of the cities.  It is a mixture of rap, hip-hop and dubstep.

YOLO: An English acronym “you only live once“. In some way it is equivalent to the classic and very well known Carpe diem of Horacio, which invites you to seize and enjoy the moment, without giving a thought to the future. Millennials use it to justify their actions, even if these entail risks or do not make any sense.

Do you know any other words and their meanings in Spanish? We would love to hear from you?

La entrada Dictionary to understand the millennials in Spanish se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

Instructions of Don Quijote de la Mancha in six quotations

Without any doubt Don Quijote de la Mancha, written by the most known Spanish author all times, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, is one of the greatest creations of universal literature.  The work, which had a great influence on the European narrative, is not only considered as the first great modern novel, but as well as decisive for the consolidation of Spanish: not in vain in many occasions, when we talk about our language, we talk about the “language of Cervantes“. Great part of expressions and proverbs used in Spanish language nowadays can be found originally in Don Quijote de la Mancha.

But together with the folklore, represented in the character of Sancho Panza, the reflections found in don Quijote on human values, virtues and shortcomings, such as freedom, justice, honor, solidarity, love, fury, envy, etc., constitute authentic instructions which are still applicable nowadays.

Although the number of quotations we can give from  Don Quijote de la Mancha is enormous, we have chosen some of the most representative reflections, taken from the system of values Cervantes transmits us through El Caballero de la Triste Figura.

1.-Los nobles objetivos en la vida

“Unos van por el ancho campo de la ambición soberbia, otros por el de la adulación servil y baja, otros por el de la hipocresía engañosa, y algunos por el de la verdadera religión; pero yo, inclinado de mi estrella, voy por la angosta senda de la caballería andante, por cuyo ejercicio desprecio la hacienda, pero no la honra (…) Mis intenciones siempre las enderezo a buenos fines, que son de hacer bien a todos y mal a ninguno.”

(Capítulo XXXII)

2.-La libertad

“La libertad, Sancho, es uno de los más preciosos dones que a los hombres dieron los cielos; con ella no pueden igualarse los tesoros que encierra la tierra ni el mar encubre; por la libertad así como por la honra se puede y debe aventurar la vida, y, por el contrario, el cautiverio es el mayor mal que puede venir a los hombres.”

(Capítulo LVIII)

3.-La virtud

“Mira, Sancho: si tomas por medio a la virtud y te precias de hacer hechos virtuosos, no hay para qué tener envidia a los que padres y agüelos (1) tienen príncipes y señores, porque la sangre se hereda y la virtud se aquista (2), y la virtud vale por sí sola lo que la sangre no vale.”

(Capítulo XLII)

(1) abuelos

(2) conquista

4.-La belleza

“Advierte, Sancho –respondió don Quijote–, que hay dos maneras de hermosura: una del alma y otra del cuerpo; la del alma campea y se muestra en el entendimiento, en la honestidad, en el buen proceder, en la liberalidad y en la buena crianza, y todas estas partes caben y pueden estar en un hombre feo; y cuando se pone la mira en esta hermosura, y no en la del cuerpo, suele nacer el amor con ímpetu y con ventajas.” 

(Capítulo LVIII)

5.-El desagradecimiento

“Entre los pecados mayores que los hombres cometen, aunque algunos dicen que es la soberbia, yo digo que es el desagradecimiento, ateniéndome a lo que suele decirse: que de los desagradecidos está lleno el infierno. Este pecado, en cuanto me ha sido posible, he procurado yo huir desde el instante que tuve uso de razón; y si no puedo pagar las buenas obras que me hacen con otras obras, pongo en su lugar los deseos de hacerlas, y cuando éstos no bastan, las público; porque quien dice y publica las buenas obras que recibe, también las recompensara con otras.” 

(Capítulo LVIII)

6.-La humildad

“Haz gala, Sancho, de la humildad de tu linaje, y no te desprecies de decir que vienes de labradores, porque viendo que no te corres (1), ninguno se pondrá a correrte, y préciate más de ser humilde virtuoso que pecador soberbio. Innumerables son aquellos que de baja estirpe nacidos, han subido a la suma dignidad pontificia e imperatoria; y desta (1) verdad te pudiera traer tantos ejemplos, que te cansaran.” 

(Capítulo XLII)

(1) avergonzarse

(2) de esta

With these phrases and others you will be understand that El Quijote is a timeless book, that even though it was written in 1615, all its instructions can be applied nowadays.

Without any doubt, a book everyone should read at least once in a lifetime.

And you, have you read El Quijote?  We would love to know which chapter has been more interesting for you.

La entrada The 6 instructions of the Quijote you cannot miss out on se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

As of from Today in the centre of the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca you can enjoy the exhibition “Rostros del olvido”, which reunites 22 faces of women who have been pioneers as students as the University of Salamanca and reached great achievements during the last century, in spite of the obstacles the society they were living in, imposed to the women.

With this exhibition, elaborated by female artists, Salamanca wishes to pay tribute to those women and all those who have been forgotten, and repair a historical unfairness, filling up in a symbolic way the 22 medallions of the Plaza Mayor which are still empty.

The Plaza, for many the most beautiful one in Spain, has, between the arches around the square, more than sixty medallions where you can see the busts of different important persons of the history of Spain and Salamanca: kings, saints, writers, etc.

LUCIA DE MEDRANO

Without any doubt the most famous one, she was an authentic pioneer when she became the first professor of the University in history. Lucía occupied the professorship of Classic Languages of the University of Salamanca in 1508, only 24 years old. Our admiration grows even more when reminding that the first female professorship of the Sorbonne was occupied by Marie Curie at the beginning of the 20th Century.

TERESA IGLESIAS RECIO

She was one of the pioneers in obtaining a university degree: she graduated Medicine in 1913, overcoming all difficulties women encountered those day to accede studies, especially those aimed towards men. As a mother of five children, she always worked as a doctor.  One of our children reminded that she was always prepared to help out with a labour or autopsy, no matter what time of the day it was.

MARIA ACISCLO TAPIA VICENTE

One of the women, of whose life  we do not know anything, represents the invisibility, imposed by society, of all those women, trained at the university, which have worked in all kind of disciplines, contributing with their intellectual capacity and achievements to the development of science, mathematics, law, humanity, art, business, etc.

What is your opinion on this beautiful tribute of Salamanca to the International Women’s day?

Leave your comment in our blog and tell us if your city has also organized some tribute for this important day.

La entrada International Women’s Day se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

If you study Spanish in Spain, you should make the most of your stay and go back home with an official certificate of Spanish, a good idea would be to take the DELE examinations.

Do you know what the DELE examination is?

If you are familiar with Spanish Language Teaching, you have probably heard, in many occasions, your teachers or friends talk about the DELE examinations, acronym of Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera.

DELE is an official diploma issued by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, and granted by the Cervantes Institute which certifies your degree of knowledge and of Spanish language.

Which levels can you take?

You can take any of the levels (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2), established by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). To be able to sit one of the exams, it is not necessary to have taken another DELE exam before or any other Spanish exam of a lower level.

What does the exam consist of?

The exam has four parts: written and oral comprehension, written and oral expression and the duration depends on the level you will take.

How can you prepare for the exam?

To sit one of the DELE exams, you should have previous knowledge of Spanish language and it is advisable to get familiar with the structure and functioning of the tests.

At our school, Accredited Centre of the Cervantes Institute, apart from being able to sit the official exam, we are an Exam Centre for the DELE exams, if you wish to do so, you can prepare for the exam taking our DELE Preparatory Course, taught by accredited teachers by the Cervantes Institute as DELE examiners.

During this course, apart from getting familiarized with the different parts of the exam, seeing that the didactic materials we use in class are similar to the ones you will find in the exam and solving the linguistics questions you might have, we will work on a series of strategies  which will be very useful for your during the exam.

At our offices, we will help you out with any issue you might need, we will help you sign up for the exam and we will inform you on the day and hour of your exam.

If you would like to receive more information, you can also check out the website of the Cervantes Institute.

Why should I take a DELE exam?

DELE is an official certificate which has a valid international recognition by companies, universities, institutions, etc. and certifies your level of Spanish.  Its validity does not expire, so you can use it throughout your professional career.

If you would like to take a Master or a university degree, with this certificate you can access any private or public university.  Also, if you are in the process of obtaining the Spanish nationality, one of the requirements you need is the certificate of Level A2 (only for citizens of non-speaking Spanish countries).

You will obtain a certificate of the second most spoken language worldwide.

Do not hesitate anymore and make the most of your stay, you will not regret it!

La entrada Why should I take a DELE exam? se publicó primero en Colegio de España.

María Moliner “was able to realize a work as never before: she wrote it by herself, at home, hand-written, the most complete, most useful and most amusing dictionary of the Spanish Language”, defined this way by García Márquez himself. She wrote her Diccionario de Uso del Español “during her free time after her work as a librarian, and what she considered as her real profession: darning socks”.

María Moliner (Paniza, Zaragoza, 30th March 1900 – Madrid, 22th January 1981) starting writing the dictionary when her youngest son started his studies to be an industrial engineer, and finished when her children were raised in 1950: “When I was at home alone, I took a pencil, a sheet of paper and started working on a dictionary which I wanted to finish in a short time, in about six months, and finally it took me fifteen years”.

In spite of the reductional image she had as a traditional housewife darning socks, raising her children and writing a dictionary during her free time, Moliner was trained to be and worked as a philologist and lexicographer and graduated at the Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad de Zaragoza, with the highest qualifications and Extraordinary Reward.  After having passed an exam, when she was twenty-two years old, she started working in the team of registrars, librarians and archaeologist. After getting married and already with her children, she moved to Valencia during the years of the II República, where she would work as the director of the University Library of Valencia and the project of public libraries. She also collaborated with the Cossío School, inspired in the Free Institution of Education and especially for the organization of rural libraries. After the Civil War, as a consequence of the reprisals of the régime of Franco, eighteen jobs of the team of Registrars and Librarians were suspended and would be recuperated in 1958.

The high value of María Moliner and her Diccionario de Uso del Español, is that, using a simple and precise language, offer the reader not only the definition of each meaning of the word – normally included in any dictionary in general-, but also information on the its constructions with prepositions and its most usual complements, numerous examples, notes on the uses, numerous synonymous and related words, grammar and etymological indications, and even the frequency of the use of the words and its acceptance.

These few words have been written to show our admiration for this woman, thanks to her love for our language and a titanic effort (she used to get up at dawn and worked all morning without any beaks and after a small siesta she continued working until night), she was able to build the universe of words which nowadays are included in the indispensable Diccionario de Uso del Español.

La entrada The woman who wrote a dictionary se publicó primero en Colegio de España.