Intermediate Spanish - Spanish Obsessed

Get this episode’s full transcript free, plus 2 more of your choice. Don’t miss a single word as Rob and Lis tell the story of their last weeks in Colombia, and get the English for every line, the Colombian word for a traffic jam, and what happened to Rob’s celebratory glass of cava on the plane: 👉 spanishobsessed.com/transcripts How do you pack up a life in Colombia with two small kids and move to Spain? Rob and Lis pick up where the last episode left off: a deal “signed in blood”, a visa approved by silence, house keys that vanish on moving day, and a shortcut through one of Bogotá’s toughest neighbourhoods that nearly leaves them stranded. Do you know what these mean? dejar en ascuas · el punto álgido · menos mal · trancón Claim your first free complete transcript here: 👉 spanishobsessed.com/go/last-days-colombia

Why swap Colombia's Coffee Region for the north of Spain? Rob and Lis get honest about safety, life in a bubble and parks you have to pay to use.

What are 3 things that Rob and Lis admire from each other's culture, and would like to introduce into their own? Check out our new Obsessives programme, for intermediate Spanish learners: https://www.spanishobsessed.com/become-an-obsessive/

Rob and Lis discuss how various "barrios" in Colombia's cities have undergone transformations, using tourism to rejuvenate themselves. We discuss the case of "Egipto" in Bogotá, and "Comuna 13" in Medellin. Have these projects been successful, and what are the tours like? For more Spanish materials, courses, and bonuses, head on over to spanishobsessed.com!

So, our time in Colombia is nearly up! After over 4 years living here, we're leaving. In this episode, we reflect on what we'll most miss about the country. Head to spanishobsessed.com to check out our "Obsessives" programme!

Rob and Lis break down 5 big areas that learners often go wrong when learning Spanish. For full transcripts, notes, and lots more learning material, head to spanishobsessed.com.

We talk about our opinions and philosophy of private and public schools (or "state and public" for our English listeners!). How do they compare in Colombia, and what's the perspective here? Don't forget to download your free Fluency Guide from spanishobsessed.com.

Rob and Lis share how they passed Christmas and New Year's in Colombia's Coffee Country region. We share strange, symbolic traditions, and discuss how weird it is to have Christmas in warm sun! You can access the transcription for this podcast by purchasing the Transcription Bundle here: https://www.spanishobsessed.com/lessons/transcriptions/ Check out all of our premium courses here: https://www.spanishobsessed.com/spanish-courses/

Following the shocking capture of Nicolás Maduro in Caracas last Saturday, we sit down to give our reaction. Is Colombia next in line? Also, on a lighter note, Rob discusses turning 40! Head to spanishobsessed.com to get your free Fluency pdf, and check out all courses (including transcription for this episode and all others).

We share a few anecdotes when our emotions got the better of us when learning or speaking a foreign language. What happened, and how can we deal with the frustration (and rage!!) that often accompanies communication difficulties in a foreign language?

Rob and Lis share news of what's coming for them next.

We give a quick "life update" - what's going on in our lives, and how did we get to this point?

Lis and Rob discuss their recent immersion trip in Colombia's coffee country. What went well, what could they improve, and what did the participants make of it all?

How do you say "no" in Spanish? Rob is fond of turning down invitations, and in this episode he discusses the hidden cost of saying "no" in Spanish-speaking cultures, and why many native speakers find it so hard.

Do you become someone else in another language? Lis reveals her "pub mode", and Rob has his first real argument in Spanish.

Mention Álvaro Uribe at a Colombian dinner and the room goes quiet. Rob and Lis explain why.

Comparing ourselves to others is natural, but is it always harmful? Rob describes his problems with self-comparison, and with Lis discusses how to turn negatives into positives. Head to spanishobsessed.com to claim your free Fluency Phrasebook!

We explore "la charla" - small talk. What is it, how is it used, and why? Find some tips for better smalltalk in Spanish in this episode! Don't forget to head to spanishobsessed.com to download your free gifts.

Why do we have fewer friends in our 30s, 40s and 50s? Rob and Lis do the maths of adult friendship.

The infamous "suegra" - in-law. In Latin cultures, the suegra plays a pivotal part in a couple's life. In this episode, we explore their role, the stereotype, and reveal how we get on with our suegras.

How much money does it take to be happy? Rob and Lis return after a year away, and Lis recalls living on 10,000 pesitos a day.

Por mí está bien or para mí está bien? Rob and Johanna tackle por and para with time and opinions.

Rob has por and para 95% sorted, but can't explain why. Johanna's fix: forget the dictionary.

Should you learn Spanish slang? Rob and teacher Johanna share the mix-ups, and one surprising piece of advice.

A padlocked gate, a six-hour owners' meeting, and one side of the complex branded criminals. Rob and Lis on classism.

A friend gave up Spanish, sure he was too old. Rob and Lis ask what really hides behind "it's my age".

Our experiences trying to teach our 2 year old daughter Spanish and English.

Ten learners, a week in Bogotá, Spanish only. Why did Rob's coffee tasting flop, and what baffled the market stallholders?

Should you chase a native Spanish accent? Lis once took accent-reduction classes, and Rob has been asked if he's from Bogotá.

Pumpkin soup on the Mona Lisa: do protests like this still work? Rob and Lis compare notes, plus some big family news.

A jar of positive affirmations, a family dinner in Bogotá, and a few extra notes Rob slipped in. Guess who drew one of his.

From Bogotá to the coffee country: Lis's street "antennae", a 20-minute coffee lesson, and what country life can't offer.

Rob and Lis stayed up late finishing Traitors. Could Rob survive as a traitor? Lis has her doubts.

Lis has a list of three toxic people. Rob asks: are they really that bad, or just having a terrible day?

Is there a soulmate out there for everyone? Lis once thought so. Plus a psychologist who tried to fall in love on purpose.

Three months to write a piece of music, and Rob started at 4am on deadline day. So why do we put things off?

Lis finds the simple watch she wants, and Rob's face says it all. So what counts as a status symbol in Bogotá?

Business cards before a business, a café for hangovers and a VIP jungle trip for tech CEOs: Rob and Lis on starting up.

A Bogotá neighbour screams "I hate you, go away!" at 2am. Rob and Lis finally find out who he's shouting at.

Why did a whole bus in Colombia wait for Rob and Lis? Plus 28 cousins, weekly birthdays and too many "I love you"s.

Lis planned to leave the baby with family and go partying. Rob pictured lazy café cappuccinos. Then their daughter arrived.

We've been living in Colombia over a year! Lis and Rob talk about what they most like about life in Bogotá.

Rob and Lis land in Bogotá: chaos outside El Dorado, a dream flat that isn't ready, and a Christmas Day fever.

Two went in, three came out. Rob and Lis on a first month of parenthood in Bogotá that no book prepared them for.

Rob and Lis talk about their arrival and first few days in Bogotá

One saucepan, one fork, a sofa bed and a forgotten folder: Rob and Lis relive their last hours in London.

Why swap London for Bogotá with a baby on the way? Rob and Lis explain why it had to be now or never.

Plane down, sole survivor, five minutes to save three things. What would you grab? Lis's last pick isn't a thing at all.

The same striking woman has crossed Rob's path three times. Then Lis tells of a taxi driver who saw an extra passenger.

A silly phone video made her famous. Another, filmed with a hammer, landed her in court. Meet "Epa Colombia".