Spain Wins the 2026 World Cup

Spain has won the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a long, hard-fought match against Argentina, the previous World Champion, Emma Smith reports for BBC Sport in her article "Victory for football? Spain beat Argentina to win World Cup", where B2 students can pick up interesting expressions like: trite, cliche, to slam, extra-time, [to slam in/ to score] a winner, endurance, to derserve [the trophy], a [goals] tally, a goalkeeper, a clean sheet, to concede [one goal], metrics, to stumble, out of the gate, the opener, a squad, a spoiler, [commander] in chief, to be booked, to wilt, [Torres'] strike, a save, to somersault,[involved in] scraps, [to throw] a punch, a [BBC] pundit, to outplay, to get in their face, to wind up, to be wronged. [to be] on your back.

Becky Sullivan writes a less critical report of Argentina's performance for NPR in "Spain is the 2026 World Champion, defeating Argentina for its second title", with contributions by Jasmine Garsd and Russell Lewis, where B2 students can encounter expressions, some of them American, like: to defeat, extra time, a squad, to mark, a run, to concede [a goal], [to be] ecstatic, flabbergasted, [Argentina's magic] to run out, back-to-back, [Spain's penalty] box, to hold firm, [Spain's] crosses, [Spain's] attempts, to break up, a shin, a clean, seemingly, a save, to seal [a victory], stoppage time, a tackle [on a player], a midfielder, to flip [into the air], [to earn] a yellow card, dissent, to break through, to knock [the ball] in, nothing short of [unbelievable], an assist, a heart-stopping [semifinal], sencond only to [Kylian Mbappé], to shrug, [to be] ranked [number 1], to be draped [in Spain flags], a bagel, the get-in [price], five figures, to pile [into] the stands, [to be] treated [to a halftime show], a nod [to American audiences].

Finally, you can watch the BBC News report of the match plus the subsequent celebration of Spain's victory in the streets of Madrid in the video "Spain beat Argentina to win 2026 World Cup" (5':42") which can be recommended for C1 students and above:

A Tapas Crawl with Chef José Andrés

 

Chef José Andrés offers a tapas guide & crawl in Spain in the BBC News article Chef José Andrés teaches you how to enjoy tapas like a Spaniard, written by Eva Sandoval after the publication of Mr Andrés' book Spain My Way: Eat, Drink and Cook Like a Spaniard. This is a straight-forward report with some food & drink vocabulary, so it can be easily read by B2 students, who may incorporate new synonyms and collocations like: a Spaniard, a Michelin-starred [chef], tapas, a tip, culinary [customs], a restaurateur, an eatery, to be credited, cuisine, a [snack-sized] plate, a Trojan horse, a commitment, a humanitarian, a lively [bar], a bowl of [olives], fine [dining places], an anchovy, to pour [a bottle of wine], a [tapas] crawl, a bite, a snack, to tell somebody how to live his/her life, to pick, a prawn, a spicy [sauce], a croquette, creamy, a gin-tonic, cider, a toothpick, a skewer, the story goes, to check out, an outsider, a mushroom, to set [your destination to a place], to wander, grilled [bread], a bubble, a razor clam, a clam, an artichoke, cured [pork shoulder], crispy, lacy, a fritter, a shrimp.

C1 learners can try Alison Stewart's radio interview on WNYC, Spanish Cooking, José Andrés' Way, where, the always flamboyant Spanish chef talks about the "tapas way of life" for 14 minutes.  As there is no script available, students can use this list of words (some of them in Spanish) as a listening guide: to revolve around, mojo, paella, gazpacho, a churro, baked [bread], sautéd [mushrooms] parsley, a tavern, a cover, to celebrate [life], [hand] motion, a melting pot, ahead of his time, [money]wise, to belong [here], to paraphrase, jamón, a cured [meat], the goodness, preservation, rotten, to slice, delicate, [to act] funny, semiwild, acorn, an oak tree, unique, a bite, iberico ham, a ripe [tomato], a purist, a controversy, over [the years], astonishing, a fried cutlet, a cachopo, beef, floured, crunchy, creamy, a librito, [pork] loin, a butcher, soggy, a crust, olive oil, a pot [of hot oil], croquetas, the leftovers, béchamel, fritters, a pay check, to stretch, [hot] gazpacho, mind-blowing, a launch [party].

Below, C1 students can find a longer video interview (49') and see José Andrés' hand motion when he describes his crush on "ibérico ham" (acorn-fed ham) at 9':34", on "tortilla española" at 16':38", on "fabada asturiana" at 27':53", his views on traditional Spanish cuisine and Ferran Adriá's innovative cooking techniques at El Bulli (36':22") or his description of "gazpacho" at 46':45", among many other interesting explanations. The interview, Spain My Way with Chef José Andrés, by Francis Lan, was released yesterday and is the latest episode of the Minnesota Public Radio show The Splendid Table.

Hope & Faith in Turmoil: the Negro Spiritual "Ain't Got Time to Die" at San Carlos de Borromeo

Sometimes life gets tough on you. You may have personal or family problems. You may suffer heartbreak, loneliness or alienation and when you listen to the news you only hear reports about war, massacres, polarization, political violence, climate apocalypse and, on top of that, your favourite football team has lost again, all the odds are stacked against it and it is doomed for relegation to the semi-professional league... When you are in deep emotional turmoil, it is always good to remember that your only enemy in life is Death, and that singing together can raise your spirits. 

Here you can listen to the Negro spiritual Ain't Got Time to Die, performed by The Chancel Choir of the Village Church from Rancho Santa Fe (Ca), and the local Zaragozan choir Hiberi Voces at the church of the Real Seminario San Carlos Borromeo (Zaragoza) as an encore of their concert last Thursday. You can do a fill-in-the gap listening exercise and check it with the key (if you prefer to use alternative versions of the hymn, you can use the Concordia Choir, or the Howard University Chamber Choir interpretations, but the Zaragoza live performance is really friendly and vibrant). B2 students can pick up some expressions like: to praise [my Jesus], it takes [all of my] time, to cry out, the Kingdom, to feed [the poor], to give my all, to get out of your way. 

Below, you can watch the encore of the concert by The Chancel Choir of the Village Church and Hiberi Voces last Thursday, April 30th, 2026:

Guernica: a Masterpiece against War

Witness History from the BBC World Service has recently dedicated its latest episode to Guernica, the iconic painting by Picasso in the podcast Spain Welcomes Picasso's Guernica. In this documentary, Picasso's masterpiece is shown as the symbol for Spanish democracy and a permanent call against the madness of war. The podcast is around 11 minutes long, and there are no subtitles, but the speakers use very clear English and their pace is not fast, so, it can be recommended for C1 students -with this list of words as a listening guide, and for C2 students without this kind of support: a witness, [to give] a try, a [news] archive, to hand to [Spain], to stress, care, a masterpiece, to freeze [the blood in our veins], troops, to overturn, an aerial [attack], a mural, to commission, nightmarish, to stare on, [to go] on show, an artwork, on loan, to rule, dictator, to claim [the painting], to restore [democratic freedoms], to reclaim [the Spanish throne], a handover, a golden rule, to bear in mind, an inheritance, proof [of the ownership of the painting], the [paper] trail, [to end] the loan, stalemate, to bluff, to skate on thin ice, a widow, a sum [of money], a civil guard, an [attempted] coup, to fail, the canvas, the utmost [secrecy], to arrange [protection], to roll up, to stand in line, the bloody [fascist bombing of Guernica], to set foot [on Spanish soil], bulletproof, on display.

If you want to find out more about the symbology of Guernica, you can check out the Wikipedia entry on Guernica (C2 level), or read Dominic Witek's short and sharp interpretation of the art piece in Artsper Magazine, which is entitled Artwork Analysis, Guernica by Picasso. This text can also be accessible to C1 students and above. 

As for a visual alternative, you can watch Picasso's Guernica: Great Art Explained, a thorough 13:40 video with subtitles for C1 students and above, which delves into the iconographic structure of the painting and compares Guernica to other works or art:

Steph Davis, Rock Climbing in Rodellar (Sierra de Guara) & Flow State

Steph Davis is one of the world's leading rock climbers, a BASE jumper and a wingsuit flyer. She was the first woman to summit all the peaks of the Fitzroy Range in Patagonia, among other amazing exploits in her career. 

B2 students can browse her Wikipedia entry, read the introduction and "early life" sections for some  background information, and they will get familiar with words like: a BASE jumper, to free climb, to free solo, a wingsuit flyer, to summit, a straight-A [student], an asset, sheer [will], brainy, a flawless [technique], an [English] major, a lift up, to [get] sucked in, a [school] break, to boulder, to pursue [climbing], a bacherlor's degree, the canon [of mountaneering literature], disparate shifting [reality], to decide against [it], to quit, to relate to [climbing].

If you want to listen to an old radio interview to Steph Davis, you can try Rock climber Steph Davis on KSJD, (Cortez, Colorado, 2016) by Tom Yoder, a (17':13") phone interview without a script. The vocabulary is not particularly difficult, but the nature of the phone interview makes it harder to understand every single word at some points, so this recording is recommended for Experts, and, perhaps, for C2 students. The following list of words might help learners to follow the interview: a venture, a memoir, an avid [reader], an infatuation, an essay, to jump [into a project], a proper [book], [all] from scratch, to accomplish, funnily [enough], to free solo, attached, to figure out, awareness, to go about [things], a sustainable [life], arguably, to highlight [the fact that], to make an attempt on [a climb], BASE jumping, [to go for] a hike, a lifestyle [really], the tagline, to pass away, to follow in your footsteps, to get into [it], to parachute, wingsuit [flying], to skydive, to blow me away, [to get] stuck [on that], to dive [down], a [climbing] clinic, she-[climbers], to see how it goes, [to learn] stuff [on my own], to live by, to take on [risks]. 

Rodellar, in Sierra de Guara Natural Park, is one of Europe's top rock climbing destinations -in the picture on the left you can see a view of El Delfín (F7c+), whereas in the link above, by Climb Europe, B2 students can find details about the location, gear and accommodation to get to Rodellar, as well as interesting & technical expressions like: a gorge, limestone, steep, stamina, to find your way [out], overhanging [caves], an arch, a tufa, a pinnacle, split, a single pitch [route], trad [gear], a rope, a quickdraw, a multi-pitch [route], a twin rope, accommodation, self-catering [bungalows]. For further information about adventure sports, you can check the Somontano Tourism website. 

If you want to learn how rock climbers and other athletes can concentrate so sharply and overcome their fear, you can read this National Geographic article by Shayla Love: What's flow state? Here is the science behind top athletes laser focus. This story is recommended for B2 students and above, who will encounter expressions like: flow state, laser [focus], to tap into, peak [focus], slim, sandstone, grip, free solo [climbing], harness, a parachute, engrossed, a mindset, to leverage, impervious, a javelin [thrower], to accomplish [a goal], to come up [with a theory], to ramp up, [your skills] to take over, the frontal lobe, a seasoned [jazz player], to rely upon, to let go, drywall, your expertise, to tackle [a difficult challenge].

Finally, you can watch this short video about cragging in Rodellar on Jorge Packer's channel, and enjoy the incredible views of the Mascún canyon and El Delfín in the heart of beautiful Sierra de Guara:

The Best Tech in the Mobile World Congress, 2026

The Mobile World Congress 2026 has been held in Barcelona from March 2nd to 5th. In the picture you can see the Home Assistant Robot by Grup Saltó which provides robotic care to more than 600 elderly people in Barcelona.  

Next, you can read a short corporate press note about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which has won the "Best in Show" at the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO Awards). This short text has plenty of technical terms, colourful marketing adjectives and adverbs, so it is recommended for C1 students and above who can find interesting words and collocations like: groundbreaking, impactful, consumer-focused [products], [to set] a benchmark [for technology], the gold-standard, across the [digital] landscape, a seamless [blend] [of hardware and software], a built-in [Privacy Display], a breakthrough, vibrant [viewing], a [customized] chipset, to power, effortless [mobile experiences], compelling [technology], [to push] the boundaries, a meaningful [impact], to address [the needs], a [judging] panel, an agentic AI phone, ongoing [commitment].

Finally, you can watch the video the Best Tech of MWC 2026! (14:19, without subtitles) by Android Authority, which shows the coolest smartphone prototypes in the fair.  The speech is fast, dense and packed with technical jargon and brand names, so it is recommended for C2 students and Experts, who might pick up expressions like: weird, a concept, modularity, a ton of, accessories, a power bank, bulky, modules, to fancy, cool, at first glance, a tagline, a [hidden] display, to prop it up, pixels, textures, [so much] hype, amulet display, glare, coatings, a refresh [rate], a prototype, a [camera] gimbal, footage, gimmicky, a lens, [200] frame [a second], a [camera] rig, to stick with [phones], a foldable [smartphone], flagship [style phones], coating, bizarrely, specs, a grid, gamers, a built-in [cooling fan], by-pass charging, a pop-up [fire starter], wireless, an upgrade, an update, a bargain, to make up for [the not massive battery], a headphone, affordable, a [battery] to run out, padding.

You can read a written article about the Best of  MWC Awards 2026 by Bogdan Petrovan. Or else, you can just relax, watch the images, forget the technical jargon and enjoy the video:

Sirat: a Gripping Road Movie to Hell

Sirat is a Spanish film that is competing for the Oscars (Best International Feature Film & Best Sound), after having won the Jury Prize of the Cannes Film Festival. Here you can listen to an 8-minute review of the film by NPR & The New Yorker critic Justin Chang.

Film reviews often feature a dense, florid prose, which can prove really tough for EFL students, and indeed, Justin Chang's review is rich in synonyms and precise with collocations, yet, it does not go over the top with cinema or literary references, so the text can be recommended for B2 students, who can expand their lexical base, whereas the audio version is more suitable for C1 students, who can pick up interesting words and collocations like: a gripping [film], a raver, a fitting [title], exhilarating, devastating, an unlikely [traveling companion], to make your way [through a godforsaken stretch of the Sahara Desert], the setting, derivative, a reveler, a dystopian [thriller], to sweep [you up], the propulsive [beat], an unruly [desert], a bacchanal, to vanish, to show up, to break up [the party], the ensuing [chaos], to drive off, bound [for another rave further south], to chronicle, a perilous [journey], the cast, mesmerizing [ability], to feel for [somebody], an off-the-grid [daredevil], a [dangerous] trek, a camper van, treacherous [terrain], reluctantly, to tag along, to help [each other] out, to ford [a small river], a steep [mountain road], an overwhelming [experience], propelled [by that thrillingly percussive score], to strike, a nail-biter, wary, mistrustful, at his bleakest [moments], [his driving skills] to come in handy, tenderness, unrelenting [in its ferocity], [apocalypse] to loom, a pitiless [world]. 

You can watch the official trailer below:

For futher information, you can read the Wikipedia entry for Sirat, which includes its locations in La Rambla de Barrachina (Teruel), in Er-Rachidia and in Erfoud (Morocco). Below, you can also watch director Oliver Laxe talking to Dennis Lim at the 63rd New York Film Festival and actor Sergi López struggling with English to explain his trade with the help of an interpreter. This conversation is recommended for C2 students:

Rosalía talks about "Lux"

Rosalía talks to New York Times critics Jon Caramanica and Joe Cascarelli on Popcast about her latest avant-guard pop album, "Lux" and her creative process to produce innovative sounds in flamenco, reggaeton or in pop music. In Lux, Rosalía sings about spirituality, feminine sainthood, words and poetry in 13 different languages. "There has to exist another way of making pop", Rosalía claims.

The New York Times Popcast is very long (1':30"), so it is recommended for C2 students (machine subtitles are available). Some interesting expressions you can come across along the conversation are: to butter [you] up, to break out, lush [string arrangements], to swerve, a [white] canvas, an abyss, to honour, to relate [to an idea], realm, to wrap your head around, hagiography, a [blank] slate, to crave, to haunt, back and forth, [cultural] appropriation, to pursue, to jot down, to anaesthetize [my pain], a relic, to kick up, a rigorous [task], to hang out with, brutalist, breakthrough, to hit a wall, auteur, fair enough, [to lead me] astray, picky, train of thought, haiku, to have an impression, duende, to commit [yourself], to flip [it], a bodega, to grab, a pantry, a wafer, a raspberry, a nuance, puffy, mealy.

Lux is coming out on November 7th, you can also watch the official video of her lead single Berghain.

The Worst Wildfire Season in Spain & Portugal

 

BBC News reports on the worst wildfire season ever in the EU, led by the blazes in Spain & Portugal. In total, one million hectares have burnt in the whole of Europe, due to climate change and an unprecedented heat wave. 

The article contains a few technical terms, so it can be recommended for B2 students who can pick up expressions like: a wildfire, on record, to scar, to scorch, a severe [fire], a forested [area], pilgrimage, to trigger, a vicious cycle, to release [CO2], to surge, a blaze, [fire]-prone, flammability, [rural] depopulation, to be overgrown, a fire break, [fire]-hardy [ecosystems], to struggle, a hare, a cork oak, [to keep] in check, to offset, a [climate] feedback loop, to pose [a threat], soil [erosion], ash, a reservoir.

Below you can also watch a longer report (11:27) broadcast by DW News nine days ago during the worst moments of struggle against the blazes, which is recommended for C1 students:

Jaialdi/ San Inazio, the Basque Festivals in Idaho

Jaialdi is a major Basque Festival held in Boise, Idaho, every five years. Thousands of Basques migrated to the Western states of the U.S. in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, to work as shepherds or farm labourers in the cattle ranches. In 1987, the first Jaialdi festival began to celebrate Basque heritage in Boise and now it is the largest and most popular festival in the Basque diaspora. San Inazio is a smaller festivity that takes place every year, both events are organised by the Basque Center in Boise.

Jaialdi 2025 runs from July 29th to August 3rd. B1 students can read the article "Drinks and dancing though the decades: Boise's Basque Festival Jaialdi returns this week" written by Jaime Gear on Boise State Public Radio, and they will find interesting expressions like: to chop, an attendee, a [basque] staple, the Gold Rush, a tight-knit [community], a garb, buoyant, to toss, a hay bale. For B2 students, George Prentice's story "Dancing, wagon lifting, chorizo and kalimotxo. Hey Boise, here's your Jaialdi 2025 preview" is more suitable, as the text summarizes a more complex (13':06") radio interview to Lael Uberuaga in "Morning Edition" (C1 level). Some of the expressions in the article are: an overstatement, to skip, to date back [to 1987], a footprint, to stretch, naively, to reconvene, to gather, a vendor, to get underway, an attendee, to ramp up, to dub, herri kirolak, a hay bale, to hoist, an anvil, to be hard-pressed.

If you want further information about Basque culture in Idaho, you can check The Basque Museum and Cultural Center (BMCC) in Boise, which includes Esther Ciganda's The Immigrant All Around podcasts -where Pedro Ciganda's bilingual account of how he picked up English and how he adjusted to the American way of life, is highly recommendable, and the BMCC Oral Histories, a library of interviews to numerous Basque migrants like José Ramón Larrea, or their desendants like Juan Pablo Aramburu who talk about their experiences in the U.S.A. You can also watch a Visit Idaho video about the Basque Block in Boise or another short video from Idaho News 6 about San Inazio 2024, the smaller festival which is held annually.

Finally, C1 students can watch the KTVB report with subtitles below about Jaialdi, where they will find expressions like: a gamut, a thunderstorm, to honour [the culture], to head [to], a closure, to check out, to shape, seating.

England Wins the Women's Euro Title, 2025

England beat Spain in the penalty shootout to retain the title at Euro 2025, Emma Sanders reported for BBC News. The match ended 1- 1, and then England scored 3 goals in the penalty shootout, whereas Spain scored 1. 

The report contains many football technical terms, so it is recommended for C1 students who will find interesting expressions like: the score, a fixture, an assist, a venue, stunning, penalty-shootout, the winner, a spot-kick, to seal, [to miss three] in a row, to save, soil, [single-]legged, comeback, to trail, to concede, [a] knockout [match], feeble, a header, to dampen, unwavering [belief], to come on, struggling, the build-up, a [whipped] cross, to pick out, to dig [deep], to have what it takes, to bounce back, to backfire, resilience, the limelight, to whirl, the wake, sexual assault [case], to stumble, free-flowing [football], to pull away, to prove [costly], a stumbling block, to stand out, a [long-ball] outlet, the backline, to dribble, to set up [a goal], to slot [back into team].

Below you can watch the highlights of the match and the penalty-shootout: