If you are going to Buenos Aires, you would find most tango classes are in Spanish, so some basic knowledge of Spanish would be essential for your learning.
In this blog post we will be focusing on asking questions in the class. However, you may wonder what if after asking the question, you can’t understand the Spanish explanation from the teachers?
The good news is that tango is a corporal activity, and very often steps and techniques can be explained in body language and movement. But if you can’t ask the right question, the teachers wouldn’t know about your doubt and help you to work on it. So asking the right question is important for your learning, and it’ll help you to make the most out of the class instead of taking the questions with you back home.
Don’t know how to say the questions in Spanish? Don’t worry! We have a Youtube video to help you with the pronunciation.
Youtube video: Survival Spanish for Tango Class
To begin there are a few essential words you’d need to learn:
El paso (The step)
La secuencia (The sequence)
Marcar (To lead)
La técnica (The technique)
How to ask essential questions in Spanish in a tango class:
In the class we may be unclear about how to do a step or sequence, so we can ask:
¿Cómo se hace este paso/esta secuencia?”
(How to do this step/this sequence?)
For example: “¿Cómo se hace un boleo?”
(How to do a boleo?)
For the leader they may want to know more about the leading, so they can ask the question:
“¿Cómo se marca este paso/esta secuencia?”
(How to lead this step/sequence?)
For example: ¿Cómo se marca un sandwich?”
(How to lead a sandwich?)
Usually when the teachers teach a new step or sequence they would demonstrate, but if you didn’t get it and want to see it again, you can ask:
“¿Podés mostrarme el paso/la secuencia, por favor?”
(Would you show me the step/sequence, please?)
Sometimes we may take a private class so to receive more personalized suggestions on improving our technique, and you may ask the teacher:
¿Cómo puedo mejorar mi técnica/el paso/la secuencia?”
(How can I improve on my technique/the step/the sequence?)
If you get lost in a class or don’t understand the teaching, you can say:
“No entiendo.”
(I don’t understand)
You may also ask the teacher to repeat the explanation by saying:
“¿Podés repetir, por favor?”
(Would you please repeat?)
Are you going to Buenos Aires soon? Book a Spanish class with our Argentine Spanish teachers to prepare for your tango trip! Our teachers are tangueras from Buenos Aires and will understand your Spanish need for tango.
Also check out our book “Tango Spanish and Buenos Aires Travel Tips” which contains many useful advices on going milongas, accommodation and transportation, staying safe and saving money!
Youtube video: Survival Spanish for milonga