Intermediate Spanish - Spanish Obsessed

Rob and Lis share news of what's coming for them next.

We give a quick "life update" - what's going on in our lives, and how did we get to this point?

Lis and Rob discuss their recent immersion trip in Colombia's coffee country. What went well, what could they improve, and what did the participants make of it all?

How do you say "no" in Spanish? Rob is fond of turning down invitations, and in this episode he discusses the hidden cost of saying "no" in Spanish-speaking cultures, and why many native speakers find it so hard.

Unlock the full transcript of this episode, plus 2 more, free. Don't miss a single word as Rob and Lis ask if a new language changes you, and get the English for every line, how to say "how embarrassing!" like a local, and the ten-year guarantee that didn't last ten days:

👉 spanishobsessed.com/transcripts

Do you become a different person when you speak another language? Lis remembers the "actress mode" she needed at the office in England. Rob has his first real argument in Spanish, over a ten-year guarantee that didn't last ten days. And they reveal the tiny word Spanish speakers use to dodge the blame.

Do you know what these mean?
¡Qué oso! · nos tumbaron · sin querer queriendo · si Dios quiere

Claim your first free complete transcript here:

👉 spanishobsessed.com/go/personality-change

Bonus: Can you spot Rob's pronunciation mistake? The answer's in the notes.

Still tripping over the subjunctive? Our free cheatsheet gives you the most common phrases and triggers, ready to use:

👉 spanishobsessed.com/cheatsheet

Mention Álvaro Uribe to any Colombian and watch their face change. Rob tested this at a family get-together. He and Lis unpack why the former president still divides the country: the man many credit with opening Colombia up, the questions about what it cost, and the recent court case Rob still finds hard to believe.

Do you know what these mean?
un tema caliente · por molestar · dejar una ventana abierta · los fines justifican los medios

Hear it, then see it. Follow along with the transcript and translations:

👉 spanishobsessed.com/go/uribe

Bonus: Rob calls Uribe "muy divisa". Why does Lis stop him? The answer's in the notes.

Comparing ourselves to others is natural, but is it always harmful? Rob describes his problems with self-comparison, and with Lis discusses how to turn negatives into positives.

Head to spanishobsessed.com to claim your free Fluency Phrasebook! 

We explore "la charla" - small talk. What is it, how is it used, and why? Find some tips for better smalltalk in Spanish in this episode!
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FREE: (Finally) master the subjunctive. Get our cheatsheet of the most common subjunctive phrases and triggers:

👉 spanishobsessed.com/cheatsheet

A Guardian article claims we're living through an epidemic of loneliness, especially among men in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Rob and Lis work out the "maths" of adult friendship, why the school gates have become their new social life, and how quickly Rob now decides whether someone could be a friend.

Do you know what these mean?
somos de lavar y planchar · hacer un plan · me raya un poco · caerle bien a alguien

Missed something? The full transcript, translations and meanings are here:

👉 spanishobsessed.com/go/loneliness

The infamous "suegra" - in-law. In Latin cultures, the suegra plays a pivotal part in a couple's life. In this episode, we explore their role, the stereotype, and reveal how we get on with our suegras.