Teaching Actually

Jul 7, 2006 · andy in Spain · 6 replies · 5221 views

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From http://www.myfavoriteword.com/A.html

> Actually.

As an English teacher in Spain, I have a hard time convincing students that ?actually? is not the same as the Spanish, actualmente, which means ?currently?.

?Okay,? they say, arms folded. ?So what does it mean??

Struggling for a definition, I decide to give them an example:

A: Would you like to go skiing this weekend?
B: Actually, I have to go see my mother-in-law do community theater.

Their faces light up. ?Oooh. So it means, Of all the rotten luck??

Okay, let's try again:

A: Isn't Barcelona the capital of Spain?
B: Actually, it's Madrid.

I tell them it's a polite way to refuse an invitation, or to disagree with someone. The class has fallen silent. I reach out for help. ?Can anyone think of a Spanish translation?? A hand goes up. ?Yes, Pedro??

?No,? he says. His classmates seem to agree.

So there you have it. ?Actually? means ?no.?

Geonae Edwards

LOL :D

Aug 7, 2006 · JamesA

That?s a great story.

I always use "de hecho" for actually...maybe i use it too much.

May 27, 2007 · valenciavalencia

"por cierto" does the job too

Nov 6, 2009 · sally2

I am no expert.. but I would say "en realidad."

Nov 8, 2009 · Work In Spain

Por cierto - by the way
Actualmente - Nowadays

Actually - de verdad, de hecho, realmente

Jun 29, 2010 · marta1818

Students want to feel confident about their english as a second language (http://www.englishincome.com)

?want to improve their comprehension
?want to speak faster
?want to learn more english vocabulary (http://www.englishincome.com)
and slang
?and they want to have fun with you too!
If you can provide the above, you?ll do great! So being on online english teacher (http://www.englishincome.com)
(like with Skype) will make it possible for the student to speak with the folks they want?like you!