Radio y pódcasts
Radio and podcasts
- Vocabulario sobre radio (Vocabulary on radio)
- Podcasts y plataformas de streaming (Podcasts and streaming platforms)
- Imperfecto e indefinido: tiempos del pasado (Imperfect and preterite: past tenses)
This B1-level lesson explores the use of Spanish past tenses imperfecto and indefinido through the lens of Iñaki Gabilondo's successful radio program "Hoy por Hoy." Learners study how these tenses are used to narrate past events and describe habitual or ongoing past actions, with examples such as "Gabilondo hablaba" (he used to speak) and "Gabilondo lanzó" (he launched). The lesson highlights key grammar points and provides cultural insight into Spanish media. It also explains the important differences between Spanish and English past tense usage, aiding students in more natural and accurate storytelling.
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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Explore the World of Spanish Radio and Podcasts
This lesson focuses on the popular Spanish journalist Iñaki Gabilondo and his successful program "Hoy por Hoy". It provides a rich context to learn the use of the past tenses in Spanish, specifically the imperfecto and indefinido, which are essential for narrating past events and describing ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
Understanding the Past Tenses: Imperfecto vs. Indefinido
The lesson illustrates how to properly use these two tenses with real-life examples from the podcast content. For instance, "Gabilondo hablaba con su audiencia cada mañana" (imperfecto, describing a habitual past action) versus "Gabilondo lanzó el programa en 1986" (indefinido, describing a completed action in the past).
Key Learning Points
- Imperfecto: used for background descriptions, repeated actions, or ongoing states in the past (e.g., hablaba, escuchábamos).
- Indefinido: used for completed past events or actions with a defined time frame (e.g., lanzó, comenzó).
Beyond grammar, the lesson also familiarizes learners with authentic Spanish media culture, enhancing listening skills and cultural understanding.
Language Tips and Differences
In Spanish, the distinction between imperfecto and indefinido is more nuanced than in English, which generally uses the simple past for both contexts. For example, English speakers say "I was listening to the radio" and "I listened to the radio" without distinct forms as clear as Spanish. Understanding this difference sharpens your storytelling and conversational abilities.
Useful phrases include: "Cada día escuchaba" (I used to listen every day) and "Escuché la noticia" (I heard the news). Practicing with these forms will improve your fluency in describing past experiences naturally.
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