Photo: Gildardo Sánchez, CC BY 2.0
Telenovela Spanish: Drama, Love & Betrayal
A playful, live hour of Spanish through the over-the-top world of the telenovela. You will learn the big dramatic lines (¡No puede ser! ¿Cómo pudiste?), how to say what you feel, the family words every plot needs (la suegra, el gemelo), and the gasps and comebacks of every good slap scene, then perform a short scene in a breakout room. Complete beginners welcome: the drama does half the work, and the phrases are genuinely useful for expressing surprise and emotion.
After this hour you can
- React to shocking news with natural Spanish exclamations
- Say how you feel: angry, jealous, devastated, in love
- Declare love, and hate, in a few dramatic lines
- Accuse, deny and refuse to forgive like a telenovela villain
- Talk about the family members every plot needs, from la suegra to the evil twin
- Perform a short original scene in Spanish with other students
- 0′–5′
Welcome
Know how the class works and get into telenovela mood.
- 5′–10′
Warm-up: the dramatic voice
Say the key dramatic words with pure vowels, the J, the R and the right stress.
¡Ay!
say eye
Oh! / Ow! / Oh no!
¡Dios mío!
say DYOHS MEE-oh
My God! / Oh my God!
+ 4 more on your phrase sheet
- 10′–16′
Shock and disbelief
React to shocking news with the classic lines.
¡No puede ser!
say noh PWEH-deh SEHR
It can't be! / No way!
¡No lo puedo creer!
say noh loh PWEH-doh kreh-EHR
I can't believe it!
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 16′–22′
How I feel
Say how you feel with the big telenovela emotions.
Estoy furioso. / Estoy furiosa.
say ehs-TOY foo-RYOH-soh / foo-RYOH-sah
I'm furious.
Estoy celoso. / Estoy celosa.
say ehs-TOY seh-LOH-soh / seh-LOH-sah
I'm jealous.
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 22′–28′
Love lines
Declare love, and hate, in a few dramatic lines.
Te amo.
say teh AH-moh
I love you (deep, romantic).
Te odio.
say teh OH-dyoh
I hate you.
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 28′–34′
Betrayal and accusations
Accuse someone, deny everything and refuse to forgive.
¡Eres un traidor! / ¡Eres una traidora!
say EH-rehs oon try-DOHR / OO-nah try-DOH-rah
You're a traitor! (to a man / to a woman)
¡Me engañaste!
say meh ehn-gah-NYAHS-teh
You cheated on me! / You deceived me!
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 34′–41′
Family and secrets
Talk about the family members and secrets every telenovela plot needs.
Tengo que decirte algo.
say TEHN-goh keh deh-SEER-teh AHL-goh
I have to tell you something.
Estoy embarazada.
say ehs-TOY ehm-bah-rah-SAH-dah
I'm pregnant.
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 41′–47′
Slaps, gasps and comebacks
React to the big moment and deliver a comeback.
¿Cómo te atreves?
say KOH-moh teh ah-TREH-behs
How dare you?
¡Cállate!
say KAH-yah-teh
Shut up!
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 47′–57′
Practice: act out your telenovela
Write and perform a short original scene in Spanish with other students.
- 57′–60′
Recap and this week
Remember the key lines and know what to practise this week.
Spanish is written almost exactly as it sounds and has only five clear vowels, so dramatic lines are easy to read aloud from day one. Telenovelas, made mainly in Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, are a famous way people learn: actors speak clearly, the emotions are huge and the same phrases come back episode after episode. The Spanish in them is real everyday Spanish, just said with much more feeling.
- Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone
- A microphone; headphones with a mic are best
- Somewhere you are happy to speak out loud
- Pen and paper, if you like. No Spanish needed.
Do I need to know any of the language already?
No. Every class is for complete beginners. We start from hello, and everything is explained in English. If you already know a little, it will be a good warm-up, but it will feel easy.
What happens in the hour?
A short welcome, then the sounds (or, for Japanese and Korean, a first look at the writing), greetings, introducing yourself, numbers to ten, ordering at a café and the phrases that get you out of trouble. Then you practise in small breakout rooms and we finish with a recap. Each class page shows the hour minute by minute.
Will I have to speak?
Yes, that is the point, but gently. Most of the time the whole class repeats together with microphones on, so nobody is singled out. Near the end you practise in breakout rooms of 2 or 3. Your camera is up to you.
How big are the classes?
At most 12 people, so everyone gets to speak and ask questions.
How much is a class?
One class is one payment, and you see the price before you pay. Nothing renews and there is no subscription.
Can I cancel or move my class?
Yes. Write to support@bunevents.com at least 24 hours before the start and we will refund you in full or move you to another time, whichever you prefer.
