Do you know Benny Lewis? You should!

The Subjunctive in English?!?!

Hola! Have I ever told you how much I love The Economist? I love The Economist so much! When I first saw it on the newsstand, I figured it was a boring magazine about economics. But, it’s way more than that! It talks about current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. It’s a great way to keep up with what’s going on in the world (not just the one or two storylines most news sources focus on). The Economist has helped me start so many great conversations as I’ve traveled through Spanish-speaking countries. So, even though it’s in ENGLISH, The Economist has helped me tons with my SPANISH! I’ll tell you more about The Economist in the future. Right now, I want to talk about a specific article I just came across. Every two weeks in the Culture section, they have an article called Johnson, which talks about something language-related (so, Johnson is my favorite article in my favorite magazine). And, recently… Johnson talked about “the subjunctive”… in ENGLISH! https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/06/16/far-be-it-from-the-english-to-use-the-subjunctive (if you register, you can read the article for free). Have you heard of the subjunctive? If not, just know, it’s the bane of every Spanish student’s existence (if you continue with Spanish, you’ll inevitably run into the subjunctive). Regardless, did you know we have the subjunctive in ENGLISH too?!?! For the longest time, I didn’t! But, we do! We have the subjunctive in English! When we say, “God SAVE the queen” or “God BLESS America” – that’s the present subjunctive (instead of “God SAVES the queen” or “God BLESSES America”). Those phrases might look like the imperative (commands) but they’re not. As The Economist points out, “the faithful do not order the creator of the universe around”. “God save the queen” is basically saying, “MAY God save the queen” (it’s a desire, not a command) And, “God bless America” is basically saying, “MAY God bless America” (desire, not command). When we say, “If I were you…” instead of “If I was you…” – that’s the past subjunctive! I’m not going to get into all the technical grammatical mumbo jumbo here. The main point now is… we have the subjunctive in English too (though, it’s not nearly as common as it is in Spanish). Nothing earth-shattering here, just something I found interesting–and thought you might too. Hasta luego, Jordan P.S. Keep an eye out for a video dedicated to the subjunctive [in Spanish] before the end of the year.

Studying at Tico Lingo in Heredia, Costa Rica

Hola! I’m excited for my third day of Spanish classes here at Tico Lingo in Costa Rica! You might think of me as a Spanish TEACHER, but I’m also still a Spanish LEARNER [for life]. The truth is, my Spanish isn’t nearly as good as I want it to be. When I made my first Spanish video almost TEN years ago (what???) – improving my Spanish was still a big goal. But, my videos, my business and life got in the way. Sure, I’ve learned lots from making my videos… And, on my own, I’ve studied tons of grammar and had iTalki partners… But, we can only progress so much by studying grammar and speaking Spanish for an hour a week. You’ve probably heard me say this before: the #1 best and fastest way to improve your Spanish is TOTAL IMMERSION. And the easiest way to totally immerse yourself is to attend a Spanish immersion school and live with a Spanish-speaking family. So, that’s what I’m doing! I chose Tico Lingo because it’s a smallish, family-style school (I’m not into big companies or institutions). Plus, it’s located in a town that has almost ZERO tourists. Which means, I’m experiencing the real Costa Rica–not influenced by gringos or tourism. More importantly, it means, when I order lunch at the market, nobody responds to me in English (because they don’t speak it). So, I’m speaking Spanish at breakfast with my Costa Rican family… I’m speaking Spanish in the streets, at the market and in restaurants… I’m speaking Spanish in class, four hours a day… I’m speaking Spanish when I get a haircut… I’m speaking Spanish when I eat dinner with my Costa Rican family… TOTAL IMMERSION. The #1 best and fastest way to improve your Spanish. Tomorrow, I’ll post about how these Spanish immersion schools work (they’re all over the Spanish-speaking world). So, if you have any questions, ask away at [email protected]. Until then, PURA VIDA (something they say all the time in Costa Rica). Jordan

Spanish Immersion Schools: How They Work

Hola! If you missed yesterday’s post, I’m at a Spanish immersion school in Costa Rica: Studying at Tico Lingo in Heredia, Costa Rica Today, I’m going to tell you how these schools work. –They’re all over Latin America & Spain–in big cities, medium cities and small cities. –After you enroll, they give you a written and oral test, in order to place you in a group at your level (1-6 people). –You can also take private, 1-on-1 lessons or a mix of private and group lessons (I prefer the group lessons because I learn so much from the other students, and the conversation is usually better). –All levels are welcome–from total beginners (zero Spanish) to advanced students. –Some schools have specific programs for young people and some schools have summer camps for young people (2-4 weeks). –At most schools, you can start on any Monday (though, some schools only let beginners start on specific weeks). –You can attend for one week or a zillion weeks, it’s up to you. –Classes usually run from 8am to 12pm, M-F. Though, sometimes they go from 1pm to 5pm. –Classes are a combination of grammar and conversation (I think it’s fun to have conversations about grammar–killing two birds w/ one stone). –There are usually activities available after class (cooking, dancing, yoga). –Some schools set up language exchanges (intercambios) with people from the local community that want to practice their English (they practice English, we practice Spanish). –Almost all schools offer the option of a homestay where you live and eat with a local family. Other schools offer rooms in apartments with Spanish speakers. You can also stay in your own accommodation. –I’ve done all types of accommodations but the best for learning Spanish are living in a family’s home or sharing an apartment with a Spanish speaker. –Prices vary, but generally, four weeks of class is usually around US$1,000 and four weeks of accommodation is usually around US$1,000 (which includes breakfast and dinner, sometimes laundry and other stuff). –I’ve studied at five schools so far (three in Spain, one in Argentina, and one in Costa Rica). Some are better than others, but all have been wonderful experiences. –Bottom line: I don’t know any easier way to fully immerse yourself in a Spanish-speaking world. If you want to improve your Spanish, I highly suggest attending a Spanish immersion school–or multiple. If you have any questions, send me an email at [email protected] Hasta luego, Jordan

Talk To Strangers in Spanish!

For a few years, I felt completely stuck—trapped in my own head, held back by a fear I couldn’t even name. That’s why I vanished for a while 👻. Determined to figure out what was really holding me back (and finally conquer it), I enrolled in an intense, 8-day program designed to dismantle mental blocks. It was way outside my comfort zone. But the real kicker came at the end. Each participant had to dress up and “embody” a specific persona—then dance 💃🕺 in front of everyone. Knowing that dancing was my kryptonite—my #1 phobia—they gave me the persona of a famous Russian ballet dancer. (Mikhail Baryshnikov, anyone?) I spent the day scouring thrift stores for leggings that fit and the most ballet-ish top I could find. Then I had to perform in front of 15–20 people, all of them staring at me for a solid five to seven minutes. 👀😱 I leapt, twirled, and spun—trying every ballet move I knew (three, learned from YouTube). By the end, I was drenched in sweat 💦 and gasping for air 😮‍💨. And you know what? I did look ridiculous—but I didn’t care. The feeling afterward was exhilarating. ✨ When you stare one of your greatest fears in the face and survive, it rewires something in you—suddenly, everything else feels possible. ✨ I’m fortunate that speaking to strangers in Spanish has never been a big hurdle for me. But after a decade of making videos and sending these emails, I’ve learned that for many of my students, random Spanish conversations are their kryptonite. Maybe you’re fine chatting with your teacher or iTalki partner… but does the idea of striking up a conversation with a taxi driver—or an old man on a park bench (my personal favorite)—feel like leaping off a cliff? I get it. It’s scary. But here’s the tough truth: your willingness to speak with strangers directly affects how quickly your Spanish improves. Teachers and iTalki partners often speak in ways you’ll easily understand (which is great!), but if you only talk to the same people, you miss out on a world of new vocabulary, accents, slang, and real-life pacing. The good news? Talking to strangers is a skill. The more you do it, the less terrifying it feels, and the better you get at it. And the reward can be life-changing. I’ll never forget my first conversation with strangers in Spanish. I was 22, broke, sitting on a bench by the water in Barcelona, backpack at my feet, with nowhere to sleep that night. A young couple came up and asked, “¿Tienes mechero?” (Do you have a lighter?) My heart was pounding, hands shaking, but I managed to say, “Sí, sí, tengo mechero.” Just like that, I was having a real conversation in Spanish—with total strangers. It was short, clumsy, but so beautiful. I got up from that bench and danced my way through Barcelona (not literally) and had countless experiences that left me buzzin’. Because I knew I could… because I did… which showed me I could… A virtuous circle! That’s exactly what I want for you. If speaking with strangers in Spanish is your kryptonite, please—lean into it. Embrace it–especially if it scares you. It’s so worth it. You’ll speak better Spanish, faster, and get the “Spanish High” that always keeps you coming back for more. 😉 So, get out there! Talk to strangers. Then, dance your way through the day (whatever that looks like for you). Hasta luego, Jordan

Who That? Lesson/Reality Mismatch.

This video is different than all my past videos. This clip is from Day #3 of my recent live Subjunctive Workshop. During the workshop, I always encourage attendees to ask me anything. But this time, a question came up not once, but twice—and it was something I hadn’t expected. Honestly, it caught me off guard. It kind of triggered me, but in a good way. I knew I had to respond. So, I took a moment, gathered my thoughts, and created an outline. Then, I opened Day #3 with this video. Just a heads-up… This video is unlike anything I’ve shared with you before—it’s raw, unscripted, and live. By this point in the workshop, I had already spent two full days debunking what “The Spanish Authority” says about the subjunctive. Like a physicist debunking flat Earthers. (hello ego) This video is about way more than just the specific examples I go over. As I mention at the end, I’d love to hear your thoughts if you feel like sharing. Hasta luego, Jordan P.S. I’m really enjoying this live format and have big plans to do more of it. Stay tuned for exciting news coming soon…