Learn Spanish con Salsa | Spanish lessons with Latin music and conversational Spanish

In this episode I’m joined by a new member of our team at Spanish con Salsa, Language Coach Celín Mesa. 

She was born and raised in Cuba and now lives in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Celín shares the expressions she had to learn from scratch after moving, the pronoun that threw her off completely, and the exact moment at a hotel bar in Varadero when she realized she was actually bilingual.

Then she tells us what Guantanamera means — and once you hear it, it’s so obvious you’ll wonder how you never knew.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🇨🇺 What the word “Guantanamera” actually means — and the simple pattern Cubans use to describe people from any province

🗣️ The pronoun that you’ll hear all over South America but won’t find in most textbooks (hint: it's not not tú, usted, or vosotros)

💬 3 Uruguayan expressions a native Cuban speaker had to learn from scratch, including one that means “I’m into it”

🏝️ Why Cuban Spanish and Uruguayan Spanish can feel like two different languages

🎯 Why you shouldn’t expect to understand every accent — and what to focus on instead when you’re starting out

🎓 Celín is teaching a full class on this song — sign up at spanishconsalsa.com/liveclass

Can’t make it live? Sign up anyway and you’ll get the recording.

🗨 FREE SPANISH CONVERSATION GUIDE

[DOWNLOAD] Quick Guide to Your First Spanish Conversation 

Your step-by-step guide to know *exactly* what to say when you meet a native Spanish speaker in less than 30 minutes!

>> Click here to download or go to www.spanishconversationguide.com 

Support the show

⭐Leave us a rating & review and we just might  give you a shout out on a future episode ;)

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Is love a thing of the past? In this episode of the Learn Spanish Con Salsa podcast, we analyze a powerful cross-generational collaboration between the queen of urban music, Karol G, and the legendary Marco Antonio Solís.

We break down the lyrics of their emotional ballad, "Coleccionando Heridas", exploring the grammar and vocabulary used to express heartbreak, self-doubt, and resignation. 

This song is perfect for intermediate learners because the pronunciation is super clear and it's packed with phrases you can actually use to talk about feelings and relationships.

In this episode, you will learn:

🧠 How to talk about hypothetical situations in Spanish

🤔 A common Spanish phrase used in everyday conversation to express doubt

🗣️ Idiomatic phrases for natural conversation like "No se me da", "Hacer compañía", and "No para de..."

🗨 FREE SPANISH CONVERSATION GUIDE

[DOWNLOAD] Quick Guide to Your First Spanish Conversation 

Your step-by-step guide to know *exactly* what to say when you meet a native Spanish speaker in less than 30 minutes!

>> Click here to download or go to www.spanishconversationguide.com 

Support the show

⭐Leave us a rating & review and we just might  give you a shout out on a future episode ;)

📩 Join our e-mail list and be the first to know when new episodes are released, plus get access to exclusive listener discounts + giveaways

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Grammar drills. Verb charts. Pronunciation practice. All useful — and all a little tedious after a while. 😴

Here's what changes everything: talk about something you actually care about.

In this episode, we're practicing how to talk about your passions in Spanish — your favorite food, the music you love, the place you'd go back to tomorrow, the things you do just because they make you happy.

When you talk about what you love, your energy goes up, the words stick, and you're learning vocabulary you'll actually use instead of memorizing a word list you'll forget by Friday.

I'll walk you through a handful of questions you can ask (and answer), share my own responses as examples, and show you how to turn a one-word answer into a real conversation.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

🍽️ How to answer "what's your favorite food?" in a full sentence instead of one word

🎶 A simple way to talk about the music you love — and why it's one of the easiest topics to practice with a native speaker

✈️ How to describe a place you love and why you'd go back

📚 Everyday vocabulary for hobbies, books, and movies you can start using today

🔄 The small move that turns your answer into an actual back-and-forth conversation

💡 Why talking about your passions helps you remember new words better than any vocabulary list

🎯 The question that gets people talking every time — no matter their Spanish level

🗣️ Ready to practice these questions with real people? Join our Spanish conversation community at spanishconsalsa.com/join

📞 Not sure where to start? Schedule a call with our team at spanishconsalsa.com/chat

🗨 FREE SPANISH CONVERSATION GUIDE

[DOWNLOAD] Quick Guide to Your First Spanish Conversation 

Your step-by-step guide to know *exactly* what to say when you meet a native Spanish speaker in less than 30 minutes!

>> Click here to download or go to www.spanishconversationguide.com 

Support the show

⭐Leave us a rating & review and we just might  give you a shout out on a future episode ;)

📩 Join our e-mail list and be the first to know when new episodes are released, plus get access to exclusive listener discounts + giveaways

Connect with us...
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👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Join our Facebook Community
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📜 Get transcripts when you sign up as a show supporter

In this episode, Tamara Marie responds to listener Jo-Anne’s challenges with forgetting words and feeling nervous speaking Spanish with adults. 

Tamara shares actionable tips for consistent practice, reducing anxiety, and building fluency.

In this episode, she covers:

• Daily Practice: Learn how to schedule consistent, structured conversations with adults in Spanish.
• Stress-Free Learning: Discover techniques like meditation and yoga to ease speaking anxiety.
• Real-Life Tips: Practice everyday Spanish with grocery lists and common conversation phrases. 

🗨 FREE SPANISH CONVERSATION GUIDE

[DOWNLOAD] Quick Guide to Your First Spanish Conversation 

Your step-by-step guide to know *exactly* what to say when you meet a native Spanish speaker in less than 30 minutes!

>> Click here to download or go to www.spanishconversationguide.com 

Support the show

⭐Leave us a rating & review and we just might  give you a shout out on a future episode ;)

📩 Join our e-mail list and be the first to know when new episodes are released, plus get access to exclusive listener discounts + giveaways

Connect with us...
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In this episode, we follow up on our lyrics breakdown of "Somos Más" — the official Telemundo anthem for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by Carlos Vives, Emilia, Wisin, and Xavi.

We're reviewing 7 Spanish phrases from the song that you can use in daily conversation. Plus, I'll reveal the answer to our trivia question about Carlos Vives.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🗣️Conversational phrases that go beyond soccer — from expressing excitement to describing community

👚 How "ponerse la camiseta" means much more than putting on a shirt

🔄️ An easy way to memorize how to use reflexive verbs

Listen to this episode to build vocabulary you'll actually use — in the World Cup and beyond.

Related Links:

🎧 Episode 244: Learn Spanish with the World Cup Anthem "Somos Más"

🏆 Listen to all World Cup episodes

🗨 FREE SPANISH CONVERSATION GUIDE

[DOWNLOAD] Quick Guide to Your First Spanish Conversation 

Your step-by-step guide to know *exactly* what to say when you meet a native Spanish speaker in less than 30 minutes!

>> Click here to download or go to www.spanishconversationguide.com 

Support the show

⭐Leave us a rating & review and we just might  give you a shout out on a future episode ;)

📩 Join our e-mail list and be the first to know when new episodes are released, plus get access to exclusive listener discounts + giveaways

Connect with us...
📲 Follow us on Instagram
👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Join our Facebook Community
▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel
📜 Get transcripts when you sign up as a show supporter