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Llegó el nuevo número del newsletter de Mero Spanish. Muchas gracias por suscribirse y por leerlo. La idea es que disfrutes del español, y que aprendas algo en el camino.

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In today’s email:

• Feature Article: Passive vs. Active Learning in Your Spanish Journey.

• Spanish Toolbox: 10 Idiomatic Expressions with hacer

• Life in Two Languages: Tensiones inesperadas, una escena para practicar las expresiones con “hacer”, que tiene el drama de una telenovela:

💡 FEATURE ARTICLE

Spanish Passive vs. Active Learning

When learning Spanish, you'll come across two big methods: active and passive. Knowing each one and how to use them together can help you get a solid grip on the language. It's all about finding the right balance.

Passive Learning: Absorb, Listen, and Immerse

Passive learning, at its core, is about soaking in the language without actively trying to produce it. It's listening to a Spanish podcast on your daily commute or playing Spanish music as background noise.

It involves reading Spanish novels or watching movies and telenovelas without English subtitles. Over time, this exposure helps your brain become familiar with Spanish's rhythm, tone, and structure.

Remember, every minute you expose yourself to the language counts. The passive approach is about laying a foundation, and getting ready for the actual learning to kick in.

Active Learning: Speak, Write, and Engage

On the other side, we have active learning. This is where you roll up your sleeves and dive into the language head-on.

Speaking with native speakers, writing daily journal entries, or actively participating in Spanish classes or online forums. Here, mistakes are your goldmine. Each error is a lesson, guiding you closer to fluency.

As you push boundaries and step out of your comfort zone, you'll notice improvements in your confidence and skills.

Blending Both Passive and Active Learning

So, when it comes to your learning Spanish, think about combining both passive and active methods: listen to the language when you can – maybe during your free time or while commuting. But don't stop there. Take time to speak and write in Spanish too actively.

When you mix listening with practicing, you'll find that you understand and remember the language better. Give it a try and see how it boosts your progress.

🧰 SPANISH TOOLBOX

10 Idiomatic Expressions with hacer

Hacer in Spanish isn't just like another verb. It's super versatile and has loads of different meanings.

That's precisely why it can be a bit tricky to get ahold of.

Beyond its regular meanings, hacer pops up in a lot of Spanish idioms.

Let's check out ten of the most common hacer idioms you'll hear on the streets of Madrid or the cafes of Buenos Aires.

1. Hacer falta

It's about missing or needing something.

Me haces falta

2. Hacer caso

To pay attention or listen to someone or something.

No le hagas caso

3. Hacer buen/mal tiempo

A classic when discussing weather.

Hoy hace buen tiempo

4. Hacerse tarde

Used when time is flying.

Se me hace tarde

Be careful with this expression because using hacerse makes the verb become reflexive, and when we conjugate it, we have to place the pronoun before the verb.

5. Hacer daño

Talking about causing harm or pain.

Eso me hace daño

6. Hacer la vista gorda

Pretending not to notice something.

El maestro hizo la vista gorda

7. Hacer de

Indicating a role or function.

Mi primo hace de chef en un restaurante

8. Hacerse de rogar

For someone who's playing hard to get.

Se hace de rogar

Like in Hacerse tarde, be careful with the pronoun.

9. Hacer falta

Talking about something necessary or required.

Hace falta más tiempo

10. Hacer frente a

Facing or confronting a situation.

Tienes que hacer frente a tus miedos

When mastered, Spanish is filled with expressions that can really set you apart from the crowd.

Just remember, it's not about direct translation. It's about getting the vibe of Spanish chats.

Keep at it, and soon you'll be making friends, or as they say, haciendo amigos.

 💬 LIFE IN TWO LANGUAGES

Tensiones inesperadas

Welcome back to our bilingual section! Our goal here is to enhance your grasp of Spanish by immersing you in scenarios that resonate with real-life experiences in both Spanish and English.

Today, we're taking another step in our character’s life in the vibrant Latin American city.

We're weaving in three idiomatic expressions from our last section. Read and discover which ones they are!

Tensiones inesperadas - Nivel B1

Mientras trabajaba intensamente en un café, sentí una oleada de emociones al ver a mi exnovia, Laura, entrar con un nuevo amigo. Me hacía falta hablar con ella desde nuestra última discusión, y aunque muchas veces había ensayado en mi mente qué decir, no esperaba estar en esta situación.

Unexpected Tensions - B1 Level 

As I was deeply engaged in work at a cafe, I felt a rush of emotions when I saw my ex-girlfriend, Laura, walk in with a new friend. I needed to talk to her since our last argument, and although I had often rehearsed in my mind what to say, I didn't expect to be in this situation.

Decidí hacer la vista gorda y concentrarme en mi trabajo, intentando convencerme de que lo mejor era no prestar atención. Pero cada risa, cada susurro y mirada que escuchaba y veía me distraía más y más.

I decided to turn a blind eye and focus on my work, trying to convince myself that it was best not to pay attention. But every giggle, whisper, and glance I overheard and noticed kept distracting me.

Después de un rato que pareció eterno, sentí que alguien tocaba mi hombro. Era Laura. "¿Podemos hablar?", preguntó con voz suave. Sin decir palabra, me llevó afuera, donde el sol brillaba intensamente. Comentó, "Hoy hace buen tiempo, ¿no?". A pesar de la aparente ligereza de la conversación, ambos sabíamos que no era del clima de lo que necesitábamos hablar.

After what seemed like an eternity, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Laura. "Can we talk?", she softly inquired. Without a word, she led me outside, where the sun was shining intensely. She remarked, "The weather is good today, isn't it?". Despite the superficiality of the conversation, we both knew the weather wasn't what we needed to discuss.

Conversamos sobre lo que había sucedido entre nosotros, y las cosas que no se dijeron. Ambos sentíamos el peso de la historia que compartíamos y, aunque todavía había tensiones, sabíamos que era una conversación que hacía falta. A veces, enfrentar el pasado es necesario para poder avanzar.

We talked about what had happened between us, and the things that went unsaid. We both felt the weight of the history we shared, and even though tensions remained, we knew that this conversation was needed. Sometimes, confronting the past is essential to move forward.

Were you able to identify the cases of idiomatic expressions with "hacer"?