Views #774 | Low-Intermediate 4

Spanish or English

Lupe is bilingual, so she talks about when she uses English or Spanish.

Kara: So, Lupe, being bilingual you have a lot more choices than say I do with things like movies, music, books. When you go to the store and buy a book, do you normally buy it in English or do you buy it in Spanish or does it just depend on the book?

Lupe: I think it depends not only on the book: it depends on the mood. You know there are times when I really feel that I'm forgetting certain things if I'm not speaking enough Spanish or practicing it, so therefore I'll decide to go and buy a Spanish book so I can keep up on that, but you know, there's times when I just really want to read a really good book and sometimes the translations are not exact so if I know the book was originally written in English, I'll buy it in English just because I want the real thing.

Kara: Now, as far as music goes do you listen to both English and Spanish? Do you have a preference, and what is your favorite type of music?

Lupe: OK, so when it comes to music, my favorite singer in Spanish is Luis Miguel. I listen to him all the time. I love his music and in English my favorite singer in Mariah Carey so I listen to her all the time, and even though they're different types of genres they're still, you know, both my favorite types of music of the singer and he just happens to sing in Spanish. I love his voice. She happens to sing in English. I love her voice, but I can listen to all types of music in English and in Spanish. Sometimes, I'm in the mood for Spanish music if I'm going out to maybe a Mexican dance where I'll be listening to more Spanish music and there's times when I go out with my other friends and I know we're going to be dancing to English music so get in the mood, I'll put on English CD's.

Kara: And movies. There's not a lot of Spanish movies that play in the United States, but when one does come out every once in awhile, they'll have them at the theaters, do you like to go watch them, or do you just prefer the normal movies that come out here?

Lupe: I really enjoy going to the movies, and you're right, Spanish movies don't come out very often, so when they do I get really, really excited that they're actually gonna have something in my primary language so I definitely go and watch the movies and you know, I'm very happy and proud that there's finally a Spanish one coming out and that they're showing it in this country even though it's in Spanish and they normally just use subtitles, so yeah, when they do I'm definitely one of the first people there to watch them.


Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

keep up on that

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If I'm not speaking enough Spanish or practicing it, so therefore I'll decide to go and buy a Spanish book so I can keep up on that.

'Keep up on that' refers to the way in which the speaker tries to stay ahead with their learning of Spanish by making sure that they have a lot of practice.

Notice the following:

  1. I need to make sure that I keep up on my revision, as I want to pass my exams.
  2. You say you want to be a good runner, well you need to keep up on that and make sure that you do lots of training.

as far as music goes

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As far as music goes do you listen to both English and Spanish?

'As far as music goes' means with regards to music or in the area of music.

Notice the following:

  1. As far as music goes, what would you say was your favorite type?
  2. I think, as far as music, goes she is proficient at playing most instruments.

when it comes to music

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When it comes to music, my favorite singer in Spanish is Luis Miguel.

'When it comes to music' means with regards to music or 'as far as music goes.'

Notice the following:

  1. When it comes to music, I have no idea about who is top of the charts.
  2. When it comes to music, I much prefer to listen to classical rather than pop.

I listen to her all the time

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In English, my favorite singer is Mariah Carey, so I listen to her all the time.

I listen to her all the time refers to the way in which the speaker listens to Mariah Carey regularly as she is his/her favorite recording artist.

Notice the following:

  1. I like Madonna, I listen to her all the time.
  2. He says that he listens to her all the time and that he has all of her records at home.

subtitles

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Even though it's in Spanish and they normally just use subtitles.

'Subtitles' are words that appear at the bottom of a television screen and translate the language that is being spoken into a different language.

Notice the following:

  1. I have to read the subtitles when I watch a French film, as I don't speak French.
  2. She likes those really old movies with subtitles.

Vocabulary Quiz

keep up • as far as • comes
listen • subtitles
  1. When it to sports, I prefer to play them rather than watch them.
  2. I love this new CD. I to it all the time.
  3. You work, go to school, have a family and exercise. How do you on that?
  4. food goes, I really like Korean dishes.
  5. We need a bigger TV. I can't read the .
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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