1. Spanish-English Interactive Student Guide
Free material developed for students of Professional Tutors of America

2. The Spanish and English Alphabets
As seen in the illustrations above, the letters of both
alphabets are the same. The sounds of the letters are very
different. Some vowels mean a different vowel in the other
language. That can be confusing. Learning the Letter A as an
A and suddenly learning it means an E in English could be
tricky. Practice writing and saying the vowels and you will
soon be a pro.

3. The Spanish Vowels
Spanish uses sounds familiar to English speakers, yet some of the same letters are used differently. Below are some ways to remember the pronunciation of Spanish.
Vowels Sound Examples
A (AH) father, Santa Barbara, latte
E (EH) bay, effort, self
I (EE) seeds, breed
O (OH) bone, only, toes
U (OO) Guru, truce

4. The Spanish Vowel Sounds
Let’s Repeat the vowel sounds in Spanish. Practice makes better. Repete Por Favor.
Chicano
Latina
Ariba
Arrivando A E I O U
Ecuador
Mexico
Esta
Usted
Iguana
Gracias
Dias
Puerto Rico
Como
Uraguay
Usted
Peru
Una un

5. Common VocabularyCommon Vocaunit ularyVocabu
Common Vocabulary Mistakes
Please note the common misuses of the words below
Although they sound the same, the words have different meanings .
1) piece - a unit or part of something
peace – harmony
3) write--to compose as in letter, right - correct
5) part - a unit, apart – as in distance
6) waste-squander foolishly, waist- anatomical body part
7) Board - bored restless, not motivated
8) Mist – fine dew-like coating, missed - absence

6. Common Language Word Misspellings
Spanish English
cero zero
uno one
dos two
hola hello
usted us
necesita/o need
recuerdo/a remember
claro clear
encuentra /o encounter

7. The three words un,una and uno are used as connectors.
one
These three little words are connectors in English. Although the words are either masculine or feminine in Spanish The connecting word and is neutral in English. The word “And “will bring ideas and parts of a sentence and meaning together.

8. Using Songs to Learn Words
Songs can help learners to understand better. Music is a universal language. The well-known song La Bamba by Richie Valens is a good teaching tool to learn English. Music can be used as another way to reinforce learning.

9. Songs can help us to learn and remember words in other languages.
“La Bamba “
The Lyrics in English
In order to dance the Bamba
A little humor is needed for you, for me.
Faster and faster
I’ll be for you.
I’m not a sailor, I’m not a sailor
I ’m a captain, I’m a captain, I’m a captain.

10. La Bamba in Spanish Lyrics
Para bailar la Bamba Se necesita una poca de gracia y arriba ya arriba por ti, por me y otra cosita arriba ire arribe ire arribe ire baila bamba Yo so no marinero You soyu no ,marinero Por yi se el capitan, el capitan
English
On order to dance the La Bamba . It is necessary to have a little grace, Faster and faster One other thing fast and faster to dace the bama I’m not a sailor ,For you I’ll be the captain

11. The vowels of La Bamba A Arriba fast Bailar dance
Bamba name of Spanish dance
Gracia grace
Otra other
Cosita thing
Para for
La It
Necesita necessary E
Necesita necessary
De of
Se way I
Marinero manner
Cosita thing
Necista necessary
Ti you O
Poca small, little
Soy am
Marinero captain U
Una One ( feminine)

12. Colors in English and Spanish
Practice writing and saying the colors above.

13. Palabras Interrogativas-QuestionWords
Espanol
Como ?
Cuando ?
A donde?
Que’?
Quien’?
English
How?
When?
Where, Where to?
What?
Who?

14. Mas Interrogativas: More Question Words
Spanish–English
De Donde? From where?
Por Que? Why?
Cual? Which?
Cuando? How Much?
Donde? Where?
De donde es usted? Where are you from?
Remember that a donde means to where someone is headed.
In English, the sentence starts off with the question Where.
Mas Interrogativas: More Question Words
Some common misunderstandings found in question usage from conversion of Spanish to English.

15. Spanish Resource Web links
Below are my favorite resources for understanding Spanish to English conversions

16. The Spanish English Guide
This informal guide is in the process of development. The supplementary material is in an infancy stage and meant to be used away from time spent with tutors of Professional Tutors of America. More content is being developed for further lessons. Please log onto the website from time to time for updated additions and new lessons. Thanks for the visit.