Radio and podcasts
Radio y pódcasts
- Vocabulary on radio
- Podcasts and streaming platforms
- Imperfect and preterite: past tenses
Explore the success of Iñaki Gabilondo's "Hoy por Hoy" while mastering the past tenses imperfecto and indefinido, including key verbs like "decía" (I was saying) and "dije" (I said).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
B1.11.1 Cultura
Iñaki Gabilondo y el éxito de "Hoy por Hoy"
Iñaki Gabilondo and the success of "Hoy por Hoy"
Vocabulary (12) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Imperfecto e indefinido: tiempos del pasado
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Imperfect and preterite: past tenses
Show translation Show answersescuché, comunicó, escuchábamos, Eran, emitió, comunicaba, fue, emitía
Grammar Share Copied!
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Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Escuchar to listen Share Copied!
Pretérito imperfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) escuchaba | I was listening |
| (tú) escuchabas | You were listening |
| (él/ella) escuchaba | he/she was listening |
| (nosotros/nosotras) escuchábamos | we listened |
| (vosotros/vosotras) escuchabais | You were listening |
| (ellos/ellas) escuchaban | they listened |
Comunicar to communicate Share Copied!
Pretérito imperfecto
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) comunicaba | I was communicating |
| (tú) comunicabas | You were communicating |
| (él/ella) comunicaba | he communicated/she communicated |
| (nosotros/nosotras) comunicábamos | we communicated |
| (vosotros/vosotras) comunicabais | You communicated |
| (ellos/ellas) comunicaban | they communicated |
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Lesson Overview: Radio and Podcasts in Spanish Learning
This lesson focuses on understanding and discussing popular Spanish radio programs and podcasts, with a special emphasis on the work of Iñaki Gabilondo and his successful show "Hoy por Hoy". The core grammatical content centers on mastering the two main past tenses in Spanish: the imperfecto and the indefinido.
Understanding Past Tenses: Imperfecto vs. Indefinido
Both the imperfect and the indefinido describe actions that happened in the past, but they are used in different contexts. Knowing when to use each is essential for expressing yourself clearly and naturally.
- Imperfecto: Used to talk about ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, or backgrounds. Example verbs: hablaba (I was speaking/I used to speak), tenía (I had).
- Indefinido: Used to describe completed actions at a specific point in time. Example verbs: hablé (I spoke), tuve (I had).
Key Vocabulary and Expressions Related to Radio and Podcasts
Learning thematic vocabulary helps improve listening comprehension and speaking skills about media topics.
- La emisora – radio station
- El programa – program/show
- La audiencia – audience
- El presentador / la presentadora – host/presenter
- El invitado / la invitada – guest
- Escuchar en directo – to listen live
- Descargar un podcast – to download a podcast
Language Differences and Useful Phrases
Spanish past tenses can be challenging for English speakers because English does not distinguish past actions as precisely as Spanish. For example, English uses "I was speaking" and "I spoke" but often relies on context instead of distinct verb forms.
Useful phrases include:
- ¿Qué escuchabas cuando era niño? – What did you use to listen to when you were a child?
- Ayer escuché un podcast muy interesante. – Yesterday I listened to a very interesting podcast.
- Durante el programa, Iñaki Gabilondo entrevistaba a expertos. – During the show, Iñaki Gabilondo was interviewing experts.
Understanding these differences will help you narrate past events and describe habitual past actions more precisely.
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