Spanish Speaking Topic Cards

?

Immigration

- 140,000 Latin Americas live in Spain, easier to mix due to langauge but more difficult due to different cultural identities 

-700,000 Romanians live in Spain, this must be difficult as they come from a communist background whilst Spain still has 'la impresión' de la regimen franquista

-Due to poor employment in Spain attitudes towards immigration must be negative

-Many make their way over from Ceuta and Melilla which is on the North Coast of Africa (costa norte de Morroco), which means there are arab influences that come over which again show a difference of culture

1 of 11

Youth Unemployment and 'La Generación Pedida'

-the rate of youth unemployment in January 2018 was 36% 

- the student protests of 1968 are an important event in Spain history, and the memory of this is still imprinted in Spanish youth politics. They protested under Franco, at the University of Madrid for Workers Rights, Trade Union Rights and Education. In Latin America this was even more important as people were killed.

-It's difficult to find well paying 'trabajos bien remunerados' and even with a degree it's difficult to find a job that require the right skills (habilidad) 

ganarse la vida = to earn a living 

2 of 11

The atrocities of Franco and The Civil War

- 500,000 people killed during the war, just in military combat (combate militar) 

- 100,000 republicans killed and 200,000 imprisoned 

-The White Terror, 'La Represión Franquista' a series of assassinations (asesinatos) commited by Franco during and in the first decade of his rule.  

-Bombing of Guernica 'Bombardeo de Guernica' - the Basque government reported that there were 1,600 deaths

-The atrosities of the Civil War were never tried in court 

- El Caudillo - meaning leader - cult of personality, his legacy won't be removed so easily 

'Bajo la regla de Franco' = under the rule of Franco 

asesinar = to kill

3 of 11

The Arts in Spain

- Gabriel García Márquez, writer of Cien Años de Soledad(One Hundred Years of Solitude) - Colombian 

-Gabriel Lorca, persecuted by Franco and the nationalist forces in the 1930s, his poetry (poesía) is really famous in Spain because of this, persecution of the arts in any form doesn't work. wrote (impresiones y paisajes) his interest in Spain landscpaes

-Pedro Almódovar 'Mujeres al Borde un Ataque de Nervios, Hable con Ella, Volver' 

- Javier Bardem, Antonio Banderas, Penelope Cruz, but it's a shame that the film 'loving pablo' which starred Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz was in English, repression of Spanish Culture. 

-Daddy Yankee founded Reggatón and is the king of Reggatón, from Puerto Rico, and has a big influence on Western Culture

-The influence of dance in Spain, the Flamenco comes from Andalucia, La Pasadoble, La Jota, which is danced in all regions of spain but they change it to suit their national identitiy, for example in the North they use instrments such as 'tambores y panderetas' 

4 of 11

La Transición

- Took place from the death of Franco in 1975 to 1978 (when a new constitution was put into place)  I would argue, but some people say it continued into the 80s.

-Juan Carlos I began reforms after he was named the successor of Franco before his death. His liberal reforms helped to create a new constitution in which a constitutional monarchy (monarquía constitucional) was implemented.

-The legacy of Franco still exists today as there was 'una paz sin represalias' this has caused political turbulance (turbulencia) in the Basque Country, the rise (el surgimiento) de ETA highlights this. 

-This could be contrasted with the trials (juicios) in Germany after the Second World War.

-Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014 so that Felipe VI, his son could take over) they are seen in spain as celebrities and the Spain place far more importance on them.  

intento de golpe - attempted coup in 1981, possibly ended the transition = start of democracy 

there was an election in 1982 in which PSOE won by a landslide = la victoria asplastante 

5 of 11

Multiculturalism and Diversity

- 17 autonomous communities + 2 autonomous cities

-Under Franco multiculturalism suppressed, languages such as vascos, catalán and gallego. Castello was the only language allowed 

- immigrations grew in the 1980s as they imported workers from Africa (marruecos tiene una poplacion de 800,000 en España)

-Illegal immigration is a big problem in the Spanish world today with 90% of illegal immigrants coming from Africa

-12% of the population in Spain are migrants, this was under 2% 

-Could talk about the Spanish Colonies, las islas canarias and Melilla in North Africa (Spanish autonomous city) in the 15th century 

6 of 11

Culture in Spain, Regional Identity

- La Semana Santa, the most impressive festivals take place in Malaga and Sevilla

- Carnival takes place in Tenerife throughout February 

-La Tauromaquia - takes place everywhere, comes from Ronda y Béjar en Salamanca y Ronda

(vocab:) 'los toros, la tauromaquia, la corrida de toros' 

-El encierro (bull run: comes from encerrar, to close in) mostly in Pamplona, it's undertaken (se realiza) during Saint Fermin, nine day festival. 

-Las Fallas de Valencia, giant figures fill the streets

-La Alhambra en Granada 

-La Mezquita-Catedral en Corboda (shows influence of the moors, conflict between spaniards and moros)

-El Valle de los Caídos - monument to commemorate those who died in the civil war  

7 of 11

The Importance of Religion

La Reconquista = 'encompassed the darkest time in Spanish history', to expel all muslims from the iberian peninsular, Península Ibérica. Chrisitans started taking control of the Northern regions of Spain, until Muslims only had Granada, until they united and decided to take Granada. 

-Andalucia is the muslim name for Spain, big muslim roots there.  

Los Moros  = They invaded in the 7th Century, and were expelled, the conlict of the Reconquista and this plus the Spanish Inquisición española, finished off the Muslims in Spain.

-We can still see Moorish influences in architecture and the languages, La Mezquita-Catedral en Córboda.

El Catolicismo under Franco = -Catholicism was the only legal religion in spain, all others could be advertised, this could link to strict laws on abortion and religion. 

En La Actualidad = Now 70% of people identity themselves (identificarse) with Catholicism, 3% others faiths and the rest are atheists, agnostic (ateo, agnóstico), but 60% of people say they rarely go to mass (masa)

8 of 11

Sindicatos, terrorismo y manifestaciones

-Mariano Rajoy = Prime Minister  -Carles Puigedemont (catalan president) 

-La crisis de Venezuela es una crisis constitucional, porque pocos discutir que el gobierno no ha hecho suficiente en resolvar los problemas sociales tales como la vivienda, la otra partida (las Chavistas) han dicho que las otras son demasiado elitista. 

- Las problemas in Cataloña son muy similar, they have been resentful for a long time about their investment in the rest of spain. Referedum declared illegal by the Spanish constitutional court, Puigedemont will be tried for causing domestic unrest. (Disturbios domesticas) 

-ETA has finally dismantled (ha desmontado), una organizacion vasca, they were one of the most prevelant organizations in Europe, moreso than the IRA as they managed to kill the Spanish prime minister in 1973, Luis Carrero Blanco. 

Partido Popular = ruling party (partido de gobierno) - it was involved in a scandal in which was the first ever party to be accused of corruption illegal funding - young people fed up?? (power since 2011) - voted for in 2016 elections by over 65s whilst Unidos Podemos (la coalición) a left party was popular among young people.

El Pais said in 2017 that only half of people are actually interested in politics, due to ecnomic crisis, 20% believe that politicians want the best future for them. 

9 of 11

Subjunctive Starter phrases

conviene que … it is advisable that …

es aconsejable que … it is advisable that …

es bueno que … it’s good that …

es difícil que … it’s unlikely that …

es dudoso que … it’s doubtful that …

es fácil que … it’s likely that …

es fantástico que … it’s fantastic that …

es importante que … it’s important that …

es imposible que … it’s impossible that …

es improbable que … it’s unlikely that …

es incierto que … it’s uncertain that …

es increíble que … it’s incredible that …

es (una) lástima que … it’s a shame that …

 

10 of 11

Subjunctive Starter phrases

es malo que … it’s bad that …

es mejor que … it’s better that …

es menester que … it’s necessary that …

es necesario que … it’s necessary that …

es posible que … it’s possible that …

es preciso que … it’s necessary that …

es preferible que … it’s preferable that …

es probable que … it’s likely that …

es raro que … it’s rare that …

es ridículo que … it’s ridiculous that …

es terrible que … it’s terrible that …

más vale que … it’s better that …

ojalá que … if only he would …

puede ser que … it could be that …

11 of 11

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Spanish resources:

See all Spanish resources »See all Spanish Speaking resources »