Sunday, December 7, 2008

Best Resources- Books

We post lots of online resources here at Maestros Mejorando but there is a lot to be said for a good, old-fashioned book. We don't know about you, but we find comfort in the dog eared pages, impromptu sticky note book marks, and margin scrawlings of a trusty old tome. Here are some of the best that belong on any Spanish teacher's book shelf.

New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish

English Grammar for Students of Spanish

Saturday, December 6, 2008

A Commanding Presence

One of the toughest aspects in Spanish class is using commands. Often times, we've heard commands in a mix of tu/usted/ustedes/vosotros forms so it is understandably difficult to recall and use commands on the fly in class. Here are some sites to help you practice and refine your command techniques.

Classroom Flashcards

Command Activity Potpourri

Command General Information

Friday, December 5, 2008

Feeling Unsure? Inadequate? Under-prepared?



We all have days when the students' ask one too many "por qué" or "cómo se dice" questions. Through your gritted teeth, remember to say "I'll get back to you on that," and then run, don't walk, run to these sites:

Spanish Teachers
Word Reference

Still got the blues? You're not alone, read
Even Teachers Get the Blues: Recognizing and Alleviating Language Teachers' Feelings of Foreign Language Anxiety

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Test Yourself

Here are some websites that have grammar practice with instant feedback on your performance. Get your past subjunctive on!




Interactive Exercises: Trinity
Study Spanish

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Grammar/Vocabulary Resources



Here are some of our favorite websites for getting answers on grammar and vocabulary questions.

Word Reference Forums
Real Academia Española
Teachers Net

Monday, December 1, 2008

Favorite Podcasts

This post is designed to help you fill your MP3 player with outstanding Spanish podcasts that you can listen to on the bus, during the commute, or over lunch break. Many of the sites offer podcasts in bite size pieces so you can take in culture and language, as one of the sites says, while sipping a latte. These sites have all been tried and tested by Maestros Mejorando so you can download and go in minutes. Happy listening!

Notes in Spanish*
Coffee Break Spanish*
Spanish Pod

*free content