Ep 1: The Drama - En Madrid

An interactive intrigue-mystery adventure in Madrid and beyond  in 22 episodes, 10 minutes each, covering basic learning points for Spanish beginners. These interactive videos, by the BBC, won the British Academy Television Award for Interactive Innovation. Click on the links below to watch, or learn about this episode.
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This page includes:
  • Fun, interactive 10 minute episode
  • Interactive practice of what you have just learnt
  • Full transcript
  • Info on what the episode teaches
  • Video-only version of the interactive episode
  • Extra Spanish content related to the video
  • Grammar notes (related to the episode)
  • List of vocabulary used in the episode
Episodio uno - Basics (Script)
The Drama - En Madrid
About the episode:
The start of your journey to Spain doesn't go as planned. You'll have to fend for yourself in Madrid - and in Spanish. 

A Spanish friend, Teresa, invited you to visit Madrid with her. But she's pulled out at the last minute, so you're on your own. 
It's the start of a holiday you won't forget. And you'll pick up some absolutely essential words.
Main topics of the episode:
- dealing with simple social situations
- saying 'yes, no'
- saying 'I don't understand'
Vocabulary from the episode: 
Hola - Hello 
Gracias - Thanks 
Adiós - Goodbye 
Perdón - Excuse me, sorry 
No entiendo - I don't understand 
Sí - yes
Soy - I am 
amigo, amiga friend (male/female)
Further vocabulary from the episode: 
quién - who
vale - ok 
de nada - you're welcome
también - also
la casa - the house
el piso - the flat
el dormitorio - the bedroom, una siesta - a nap
aquí - here
la calle - the street 
la puerta - the door, also gate  
el hermano - the brother
la hermana - the sister
el euro - the euro  
¡Pasa! - Come in! 
¡Hasta luego! - See you later! último, última - last
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Grammar from the episode - Key letters of the Spanish alphabet:
The good thing about spanish is that it has very simple rules of pronunciation. Here are some of the main ones:

  1. The letter 'c' sounds like the 'th' in thanks when it comes before an 'e' or an 'i' -  gracias (thank-you)  thanks
  2. 'H's are totally silent - hola (hello)  hermana  (sister)
  3. Double 'll' sounds like the English 'y' - calle (street)   llama (name)
  4. The 'j' sound is similar to an 'h' in English, but harder and stronger - embajadores (em-bah-ha-door-es) (ambassadors)
  5. The letters 'qu' sound like the English 'k'. The 'u' isn't pronounced at all - aquí (here)  quinto (fifth)
Grammar from the episode - Questions & Saying No:
To ask a question you just raise the tone of your voice at the end of a sentence. There's no need to change the word order as in English.

  1. ¿Eres amigo de Teresa? - Are you Tersa's friend?
  2. No has two uses in Spanish. It means 'no', but also 'not' when it's part of a sentence.            
¿Eres amigo de Teresa? - No  (Are you Teresa's friend? - No)                       
No, no soy soy amigo de Teresa (No, I'm not Teresa's friend)
Entiendo (I understand )
No entiendo (I don't (do not) understand)
    3.      You can also hear ¿no? at the end of a sentence, meaning 'isn't it', 'aren't you', etc. 
Eres amigo de Teresa, ¿no? (You're Teresa's friend, aren't you?)