English Commentary

Spanish language teaching via an intriguing drama. Follow journalist Merche Munoyerro from Madrid to the plains of Castilla y Leon and finally to Gran Canaria on the trail of a corrupt property developer. Suitable for beginners and end-of-first-year revision. In six ten-minute parts. Commentary in English. Subtitles in Spanish.

Part One: You arrive in Madrid and find your way to your friend Teresa's flat. But someone else is there already, Teresa's sister, Merche. She is happy to show you around Madrid, but she's uneasy because someone seems to be following her. Revision of basic grammar and vocabulary of ordering drinks and snacks, directions, addresses and greetings.

Part Two: You meet up with Merche and her friend Jorge in a rooftop café near the metro station. She's constantly on the phone and Jorge reveals that she's a journalist. You all go off for tapas together when a pickpocket targets Merche and seems to have stolen her tape recorder. Topics include introductions and names, ordering tapas, buying a present and getting advice at the tourist office.

Part Three: Merche has fled Madrid to stay with a friend of hers in the countryside of Castilla y León. You follow her there, but when you arrive in the small market town of Medina de Rioseco, she's nowhere to be seen. After a night in a country inn, she and her friend Esther, a Spanish teacher, find you. You go shopping. Is it your imagination or is that the mystery man from Madrid at the local market? Topics include buying a bus ticket, booking into a hotel, giving information about yourself, shopping in a market.

Part Four: Over lunch in the nearby village you break the news to Merche about her pursuer from Madrid. She's distraught, and to calm her down, Esther's brother Carlos takes you to a winetasting in Rueda. Merche decides to give up her investigation. Before leaving for Madrid she invites you to take a trip on the local canal, but the mystery man is lying in wait, and she leaves in a rush. Topics include understanding a menu and ordering dishes, likes and dislikes, inquiring about times of transport.

Part Five: Merche has not given up her investigation at all, but has headed off to the Canary Islands to continue the research for her article. She invites you to join her once again. You arrive and check in to your hotel in Las Palmas, where Merche's photographer, Raúl, picks you up and takes you to a local fiesta. The next day, Merche goes to an important meeting in the south of the island, and you take the bus with Raúl to join her in the tourist heartland. You hire a car to join her but, just as you catch up with her, she is kidnapped by her pursuers. Topics include hotel information, car-hire, and viewing a house.

Part Six: Raúl finds a map the kidnappers have left behind which points towards the Tirajana gorge. You head there straight away and rescue Merche. The next day, she carries on with her interviews. Merche explains the focus of her investigation and why she's been pursued. Topics include more personal information, asking questions and giving opinions.