El Salvador Spanish Schools

August 21, 2011

USES OF THE VERBS “SER” AND “ESTAR”

Filed under: Spanish Grammar — Licda. de Pacheco @ 7:47 pm

SER

1. Phrases begining with de:

  • Origin:                                ¿De dónde soy/eres/es/somos/son?                                   
Soy de los Estados Unidos.
I’m from the United States.
  • Possession:                        ¿De quién es el/la …?                        
La cartera es de Mario.                       
The wallet is Mario’s.
  • Material:                             ¿De qué es?  ¿De qué está hecha/o el/la…?                             
La mesa es de madera.
The table is made of wood.

2. Expressing a characteristic:

  • Nationality
Mi profesor es salvadoreño.
My teacher is Salvadorean.
  • Age
El es jóven.
He is young.
  • Physical and Moral attributes
El es alto.
He is tall.
  • Personality
Andrea  es  graciosa.
Andrea  is witty.
  • Religion
Ellos son católicos.
They are Catholic. 
  • Color
La casa es blanca.
The house is white.
  • Profession   Unlike English, Spanish omits the indefinit article un/una with professions.
La Señorita Pacheco es una enfermera.
Ms. Pacheco is a nurse.
Ellas son enfermeras.
They are nurses.

3. Time of the day, dates, days of the week,  and where an event takes place:

  • Time of the day
¿Qué hora es?  
What time is it?
Son las diez.     
I’ts ten o’clock.
  • Dates
¿Cuál es la fecha de hoy? 
What’s today’s date?
Es seis de agosto.
It’s August 6th.
  • Days of the week
¿Qué día es hoy?
What day is today?
Es lunes.
It’s Monday.
  • Where an event takes place
¿Dónde es la reunión?
Where is the meeting?
Es en el salón de usos multiples.

ESTAR

  • Estar is used to express location or position

1. Location

Joya de Cerén está en El Salvador.

Joya de Cerén is in El Salvador.

2. Position

El gato está en  la silla.

The cat is on the chair.

  • Estar is use to indicate condition

1. As a result of a physical or an emotional change.

–¿Cómo está tu mamá?.………………How is your mom?
— Está enferma y triste.……………….She is (has gotten) sick and sad .
La ventana está cerrada.…………….The window is (has been) cosed.
 
2. The condition is the sudjective impresion of the speaker.
 
 –No reconoces a  Adriana?.…………Don’t you recognize Adriana?
–¡Está muy delgada!.…………………She’s so thin! (She’s gotten very thin/She looks so thin to me.)
 

  • Estar is used as a part of the  progressive tenses

Estar + the gerund (ing)
Nosotros estamos trabajando en Santa Ana.
We are working in Santa Ana.
.
El está comiendo pupusas.
He is eating pupusas.
.
Yo estoy viviendo en San Salvador.
I am living in San Salvador.


August 5, 2011

Spanish in El Salvador

Filed under: Uncategorized — Licda. de Pacheco @ 3:30 pm
Hello and Bienvenidos.
 We operate Spanish-language study abroad programs for students and travelers in all parts of El Salvador, with our headquarters in Santa Ana.  We offer 1:1 Spanish language immersion classes in Santa Ana, San Salvador, San Miguel, and in El Sunzal and Puerto La Libertad, and other coastal surfing destinations. 
 
We offer Spanish language instruction at all levels, and our basic lesson plan consists of twenty hours of study a week, four hours day.  You can begin on any Monday, and will be given a placement exam upon your arrival to determine your level of instruction. Our class size is limited to 8 students, and one-on-one instruction is available.
 
  College credit is generally available through your home institution.  We issue grade transcripts and written evaluations and have had students from UC Davis, SUNY Stonybrook, and other universities.
  We are a unique program in that we offer students the option
of studying in La Libertad, with the Escuela Sihuatehuacan, in the coffee country of Santa Ana, or through the Escuela Cuzcatlan in the capitol, San Salvador.  You can study at one, two, or all three locations which allows you to really get to know the country.  You can study a day, a week, or enroll in our full academic semester or summer programs.
  Our program is designed around a full-immersion pedagogy which includes intensive Spanish instruction and the chance to put what you learn into practice through a homestay with a Salvadoran family. Students also have the option of a hotel.
  We also offer three excursions per week to Mayan ruins, waterfalls, a highland coffee village, volcanoes, and museums.  Flexible scheduling options are available, and discounts are available for groups.
  Our instructors are experienced language teachers with degrees from the national universities, and our Director, Nelson Evelio Pacheco Martínez, is bilingual and has fifteen years of teaching experience.  He can also help to facilitate your visit, helping with tasks which are difficult for foreigners, such as renting a house or car, making travel arrangements, or just getting your food the way you like it.
Please contact us if you would like more information or to enroll.
Nelson Evelio Pacheco Martínez, ESV Director & Founder
8° Calle Oriente entre 1/3 Avenida Norte # 8A
Santa Ana, El Salvador CentroAmerica
011(503) 78422483 in El Salvador

Brian Oelberg, US Director & Founder
(207) 232-2524 USA, Europe & Canada

Blog at WordPress.com.