Synergy Spanish Systems Blog

I’m a RN in rural Africa, Ghana to be precise. The doctor-patient ratio here is anything but encouraging. For that reason, the government has contracted Cuban doctors to close this yawning ratio. The problem is that most of these doctors don’t speak any good English. As a local, I’ve been tasked with a translator’s role in addition to my primary role as a nurse. I must admit that Synergy Spanish has helped me immensely in managing basic communication with these doctors. I am fervently looking forward to receiving this package. I strongly believe that it will go a long way to save more lives since a misinterpretation in health has dire consequences.

Gracias y saludos

This category was full of altruistic people doing wonderful things. However, I just couldn’t look past the possibility of lives saved.

Felicidades Ishak

I call this the Sideways Approach. It’s a tiny twist that takes difficult Spanish verbs and makes them simple.

In Spanish the verbs are not the same as in English. For most students this grinds their Spanish to a screeching halt.

Here’s how to shortcut all the intimidating grammar rules and slice through the conjugation charts.

With a simple sideways turn to the verbs anyone can dominate this language no matter their age or background.

Here is a typical verb chart:

I guess it’s OK as a reference tool. Except for the overuse of pronouns, especially yo. I’ll tell you why yo is so bad en un momento.

However, that chart as a foundation to speaking Spanish in real situations, making friends, doing business or pursuing a romance…

Olvídalo! (Forget it!)

Here’s what’s wrong…

If you rely on the chart you’ll always be at the mercy of the chart before you can speak.

Imagine if you had to stop and think about theory before you spoke in English.

…………..…Imagine if……………………………………………………….. you had………………to stop and………………………………….think about a bunch of theory before……………………………………………you spoke in English

That’s how most teachers train you to speak Spanish.

It’s no wonder the majority of students struggle, month after month… and many give up before they reach anything close to fluency.

Fortunately there is an easier way.

All you do is turn the verbs sideways.

Let’s turn the chart sideways and take a look at the first person pattern. That’s the one you use to talk about what you do.

Yo hablo
Yo como
Yo vivo

Now lets get rid of the pronoun yo. Spanish speakers mostly use yo for emphasis. Do you really want to go around emphasizing yourself?

(Yo, yo, yo, I, I, I, me, me, me) It’s not a good look. (It’s all about me!)

So let’s ditch yo.

Hablo
Como
vivo

Notice anything?

Let’s make it a bit easier.

HablO
ComO
VivO

Look at that!

All the first person verbs end in then letter “O”

Hablo = I speak

Como = I eat

Vivo = I live

All of a sudden something big and intimidating becomes an easy and manageable pattern. Can you understand these phrases?

Hablo español con mi amigo Francisco.

No como chile.

Vivo en Argentina.

Hablo con muchas personas en Facebook.

Vivo en México pero no como chile.

It’s that easy to bring life to Spanish verbs.

The exciting thing is it doesn’t take many of these sideways patterns to start speaking great Spanish.

Get a handful of them under you belt and the language will suddenly open up for you. You’ll quickly speak Spanish that delights your amigos.

One more very important point…

Even though we eliminated the fear of verbs, just reading this lesson can be a bid dry and dull.

Hearing and using the language is when things become vibrant and lively.

That’s why I have prepared this audio lesson for you.