Language teaching

La comprensión auditiva selectiva busca un dato concreto: selective listening comprehension is after one particular detail. « Comprehension » is right there, and it is very nearly the only place where it will be. La comprensión does three jobs. It is the classroom exercise, the one this list needs, and English matches it word for word. It is the act of grasping something, and there English much prefers « understanding »: nobody writes « I have no comprehension of the text ». And it is the forbearance one person shows another, which English does not file under this word at all — gracias por su comprensión, at the foot of a notice saying the lift is out of order, is « thank you for your understanding », and never for your comprehension. English keeps « comprehension » at the school desk; Spanish lets one noun stand at the desk, inside the head, and at the end of an apology.