Intermediate Notes in Spanish Podcast 2 - Mitos de Madrid

[Ben]

Ben and Marina discuss the myths surrounding the city of Madrid. Is it really true that there are more bars in Madrid than in Belgium?

Listen here (http://www.notesinspanish.com/2006/09/14/intermediate-notes-in-spanish-podcast-2-mitos-de-madrid/)

The worksheet including the full transcript of our conversation, a list of invaluable vocab and phrases, and useful exercises, is available here. (http://www.notesinspanish.com/store/)

[Marbella]

This was about perfect for me, thanks. I'd be very interested to know how other people who rate themselves 'intermediate' coped with it.

I haven't looked at the transcript yet, and I got 7 minutes through the first listen and I would say I understood 100%. I have zero confidence in my listening and speaking skills so I thought, "Ben and Marina are making it too easy for me: if I can understand this then it must be too easy."

And then the last 3 minutes I think I might have lost concentration or you speeded up/introduced some more challenging vocab and I started to lose the thread. My comprehension level went down to about 50%. I'll listen to the last 3 minutes again to see if it was just weariness that switched me off and then I'll take a look at the transcript.

Thanks again Ben and Marina, I enjoyed it.

[Stu]

Great podcast. Listened to it several times in the train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and back. Marina's phrase "no pasa nada" leapt out at me and I remembered hearing it lots of times but never being too sure of what it meant. Literally "nothing happens" of course, but does it mean something like "Es ist egal" in German, "it doesn't matter" ? Could you give a few more examples please.

[richardksa]

Stolen from Word Reference. I hope they don't sue me!!

Me gustaria verte pero si no se puede no pasa nada, nos veremos en BCN
I´d love / like to see you but if it´s not possible, no worries / no big deal, we´ll see each other in BCN.

[Ben]

Great example Richard, here's another:

B: No puedo quedar contigo a medio dia para comer, tengo mucho trabajo.
M: No pasa nada, nos vemos esta noche en casa.

In this case No pasa nada = It doesn't matter/no problem.

[Stu]

Thanks for that guys. I suppose another translation might be "Never mind" which we say quite often in Scotland.

[Dobbin]

This was about perfect for me, thanks. I'd be very interested to know how other people who rate themselves 'intermediate' coped with it.

I'd rate myself as better than a beginner but not quite intermediate. Generally I'm better at reading Spanish than listening to it. For me the first two Intermediate podcasts have been spot on. I've only listened to the second one once so far, and understood about two thirds of it.

[Ben]

Great to hear from you again Dobbin, and thanks for the feedback, I'm glad the new level is about right for you. Another one out later this week!

[landlady]

Great. I think I learn new words and phrases by listening to them in a dialogue far better than reading or using other memorizing techniques, like repeatedly writing the word, or repeating the word over and over to myself. I guess different folk learn in different ways. The podcasts make it much easier and enjoyable for me by putting the new words in a natural conversation. I just listen to the podcasts when I have a moment to spare, look up any word or phrase I don't fully understand, and before I know it I can remember the new phrase or word without having to try too hard.;D

[Pauloitis]

For me i hear no pasa nada a lot of times per day some examples

If i do something wrong in work and it doesnt matter, no pasa nada.

If you spill a drink on someone, sorry sorry, o no pasa nada.


Well ok no pasa nada for me means it doesnt matter.
Can no pasa nada also be used here...


PauLo
Have you seen the keys? (¿Has visto las llaves?)
(i see them on the table)

Other person
What? (¿Qué?)


PauLo
Doesnt matter (no pasa nada)