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After reading SLOW

 A book review After reading SLOW I just read : *Slow: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Hectic World* by Jo Peters  — its deliberate, unhurried pace isn’t just a feature, it’s the philosophy. This book doesn’t rush you. It invites you to breathe, to pause, to notice.   Like a gentle walk through a leaf-strewn path (fittingly echoed on its serene cover).   Each chapter unfolds with quiet intention.   Peters doesn’t bombard you with productivity hacks or frantic self-help mantras; instead, she offers reflections, stories, and gentle prompts that encourage you to slow down—not as a luxury, but as a necessity for reclaiming peace and purpose. The pacing you enjoyed is intentional: it mirrors the book’s core message. You’re not meant to race through it. You’re meant to linger—to let ideas settle, to journal, to sit with discomfort or stillness. That’s where the transformation happens.   For readers overwhelmed by modern life’s noise, this slowness feels like a bal...

Learning Spanish the difference of Dar (to give) and Recibir (to receive) verbs to use in Celebration contexts.

Reflecting about: Dar (something) to (someone) / Recibir (Something)

Lately, I realise a consistent errors into the use of Dar (to give) and Recibir (to receive) for students in basic level.

In this post I explore and explain the use of two verbs dar and recibir, taking a look in some common errors in Spanish in Basic Level.
Dar y recibir — Verbs used in celebrations

Both dar (to give) and recibir (to receive) are useful when talking about gifts, parties, and other celebrations like birthdays or Christmas.

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🔹 DAR (to give)

This verb shows who gives something and who receives it.

Basic sentence (usully performed by students in basic level):
Mis padres dan regalos en Navidad.
(My parents give presents at Christmas.)

But to say who gets the presents, you need to use an indirect object.

Step-by-step:

Add “a + person” to show who receives the gift:
→ Mis padres dan regalos a mí.
Replace “a mí” with an indirect object pronoun:
→ Mis padres me dan regalos (a mí).
(“Me” = to me; “a mí” can be added for emphasis but isn’t required.)

Common indirect object pronouns:
me (to me)
te (to you — informal)
le (to him/her/you formal)
nos (to us)
les (to them / you all)

Past tense (preterite) example:
El año pasado, mis padres me dieron regalos en Navidad.

🔹 RECIBIR (to receive)

This verb is simpler! It focuses only on what is received. You don’t need to include who gave it unless you want to.

Present tense:

Yo recibo regalos en Navidad.
(I receive presents at Christmas.)

Past tense (preterite):

El año pasado recibí regalos en Navidad.

📝 Tip: If you’re not sure how to use dar with two people (giver + receiver), try using recibir instead — it’s often easier for beginners!

For more practice: Think in situations where you can include a side-by-side comparison chart if possible (e.g., dar a alguien vs. recibir algo).

This is a simple version and uses simpler vocabulary, clearer steps, positive framing, and accurate grammatical terminology appropriate for IGCSE/IB MYP or early IB learners.
It also scaffolds the learning process and empowers students with a practical strategy (switching to recibir when unsure).

That’s all for now!

🙏
Thank you for your Interest!
¡Gracias por tu interés!
Comments and questions are welcome, it helps to learn each other.

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