Language Link Online

Spanish Language Immersion Programs in Latin America and Spain
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Full details of all programs on our website

May 2001 Online Newsletter...
Tips and information about learning Spanish and the people who speak it. If you have any comments to share, please send them. Personal attention is what has made Language Link grow, and we appreciate your contributions.  We are redoing our online list and perhaps you may have been reincluded inadvertently.  Please accept our apology and resend your remove request to info@langlink.com  If you or a friend would like to be added to our online or printed mail (newsletters twice a year), please email us. If you have trouble with the format of this newsletter, please let us know and we will send you a text only version.
What's in this edition
On Line Lesson, Cocina Cooking
Culture Clips, Language Link's Latest - INCLUDING AVAILABILITY ADVISORY
OJO (special deals), Rhythm & Book Blurbs
Been There, Loved That (reports from participants), Likeable Links
On Line Lesson
In this lesson we'll point out some common mistakes which we've often heard.  To really have your Spanish shine, check to make sure you're not doing any of these:
1.  WRONG un otro - for "another".  This does not exist in Spanish.  "Otro" means both other and another.
    Example:  Quiero otro, por favor.  - I want another one.  Remember to make it "otra" if you're talking about a replacement for a feminine word such as "la cerveza" - otra.
2.  WRONG Estoy de (meaning origin).  To be FROM someplace is always "ser". De dónde es usted? or De dónde eres? Soy de los Estados Unidos.  You may hear "estoy de" in idioms such as to agree - estoy de acuerdo.
3.  All those words meaning "hot" - picante - spicy, calor - weather, caliente - temperature.  Asking if food is spicy - Es picante?  Asking if the weather is hot - Hace calor?  Asking if the soup is heated - Está caliente?  If you use estar caliente when referring to a person, it means passionate.  Note - sometimes you may hear, está picante.  This means that the food tastes spicy at that moment to the person tasting it.
4.  WRONG Estoy tratando hacerlo.  CORRECT Estoy tratando de hacerlo.  This is one of those pesky verbs which are always followed by de in this usage.  I'm trying to do it.
5.  WRONG (or at least Spanglish) Quiero tener un buen tiempo.  It's better Spanish to use divertirse.  Quiero divertirme.  I want to have a good time (enjoy myself).
6.  WRONG (or at least uncommon among native speakers) - Es Pablo (when identifying yourself in person or by phone).  CORRECT Soy Pablo.  or  Soy yo. (It's me.)  By phone - Habla Pablo.  (This is Pablo speaking.)
7.  NOT COMMONLY HEARD - Está María allí?  (for asking by phone if someone is there).  It's better to say simply, Está María?
7.  WRONG - para dos horas or gracias para todo.  Use por for periods of time - por dos horas - or when you can substitute "in exchange for" - you're giving thanks to someone in exchange for something.  Gracias por todo.
Cocina Cooking
Mexican Egg Salad - a nice twist for summer take alongs
12 peeled and chopped hard boiled eggs
4 ribs chopped celery, 5 sliced green onions, 2 minced jalapeño peppers, 1 diced red bell pepper, l clove minced garlic, 1 1/2 C. grated cheddar cheese.  Combine all these in bowl.
Mix 1 C. mayonnaise, 2 T. lime juice, 1 T. ground cumin (comino), 1 T. chili powder, salt and pepper to taste.  Toss with ingredients in bowl.  Add more mayonnaise if needed and taste for extra salt and pepper.  Refrigerate several hours.  Garnish with avocado slices (dipped in a lemon juice and water mixture to keep them from discoloring).
Culture Clips
A cultural alert!  PBS is airing a series on Wednesdays, starting May 9, titled "Conquistadors".  It is hosted by British historian Michael Wood, and he does very insightful programs.  You'll get all the bravery, endurance, greed, cruelty and suffering of the 16th century in Mexico, Peru, the Amazon and the North American continent.  "The story of the contact between the cultures of the Old World and the New ranks among the most dramatic events in all of history," explains Wood.

In Mexico archaeology is very much a living science, for you find evidence of Mexico's glorious past around you on all sides.  (And we have programs in all these areas.) It helps to have a basic frame of reference, as there are three accepted periods with significant groups and achievements in each one.  We're using the newer forms for dating - B.C. is now B.C.E. (Before Common Era) and
A.D. is now C.E. (Common Era)
Pre-Classic starts in 2,500 B.C.E. and continues to 300 C.E.
Classic Period is 300 - 1000 C.E. (including Early Classic of the Mayas going until 750 C.E.)
Post Classic Period is 1000 to 1519 C.E. (the conquest)

    The Olmecs are considered the first major culture, located on the Gulf Coast of Mexico.  They are most well know for their colossal stone heads, and their principal deity was the jaguar.  There is a major site of Olmec influence, Chaltcatzingo, in the state of Morelos, near our Cuernavaca program.  At this time also Monte Albán was occupied by the Olmecs in the Valley of Oaxaca.  This city existed for more than 1,000 years and had a population of 30,000.  In the building "The Dancers" there are carved stone tablets depicting many kinds of medical anomalies, an early physician's laboratory.
    Later, in the central part of Mexico Teotihuacán was the most important religious and cultural site, featuring the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoátl, the Plumed Serpent.  It was the largest and most influential city on the American continent, and its inhabitants were known as the Teotihuacanos.  In the south and including the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico, the Mayas had started their impressive achievements.  The Mayas excelled in mathematics and astronomical observations.  In Oaxaca the Zapotecs took over Monte Albán, with a complicated set of magic and religious customs including hallucinatory mushrooms.
    In the Post Classic period the outstanding Maya site was Chichén Itzá, near Cancún.  This city is know for its sacred wells and spectacular observatory.  In Oaxaca the Mixtecs rejuvenated the ancient ceremonial center of Monte Albán, filling tombs of their rulers with gold objects made by the lost wax method.  In central Mexico the Aztecs (they called themselves Mexica and spoke a language called náhuatl) built their city of Tenochtitlán, which was to be the foundation for Mexico City.  They created an immense commercial network and built a sparkling, sculpture filled city of 200,000 people.  They were also adept in poetry and literature.
In few places in the world has a country's cultural heritage been resurrected to create such a living element in its contemporary art, architecture, handcrafts, literature, food, music and dance, as in Mexico.  You can visit the original sites and immediately see their influences around you.
Language Link’s Latest
    ALERT!  At this time of year we have to unfortunately start dealing with wait lists.  PLFM of Antigua, Guatemala, is completely filled on July 2 and July 9 (July 16 is near capacity).  Saying - sorry, we're full - is one of the results of very popular programs.  We have full availability everywhere else, at least at the date of this newsletter.  But please do get summer registrations in as soon as possible.  There are registration forms in each school's section at www.langlink.com
    It's not too late for enrollment in our teen programs - Cuernavaca, Mexico - in June or July; Seville, Spain - in July; Heredia, Costa Rica starting July 30 and going into August.  Most teens come unaccompanied or with a friend, but some travel accompanied by a studying parent or relative.  What a great gift it is to get an early start toward mastery of another language, and they have such a super time doing it!  For information on teen programs go to www.langlink.com
"The truly educated never really graduate."  - Anonymous
OJO! (a commonly used symbol in Latin America for Keep an Eye Out!)
This will be our corner for bargain announcements.
Grupo Taca, the fourth largest airline in Latin America and participant in American Airlines mileage program, is offering great fares through Travelocity from eight U.S. gateway cities for travel before June 15.  Tickets must be purchased by May 31. Of course, there are always restrictions, but it's worth a look to see if there's a fit for you.  Sample fares are Dallas to San José, Costa Rica - $403, Los Angeles to Lima, Peru, New York to Guatemala City $438.  And we have spaces in all our programs in these countries in May and June!
American Airlines has extended its fare sale on travel from the U.S. to destinations in Mexico.  America West's sale offers 15 percent off fares between any city in its system and Mexico City.  In addition, United, Delta, and Aeromexico are also offering sales on travel to Mexico.
Rhythm & Books Blurbs
    Read the books before seeing the movies!  There's a movie "Frida" now being made about the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.  It will star Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, and Geoffrey Rush.  If you want some background about this fascinating artist who has become almost a cult figure, we recommend the stellar biography by Hayden Herrera, Frida, Harper & Row, 1983.  There's also a very readable fictional novel just out called Frida, a novel, by Barbara Mujica.  It's written through the eyes of Frida's sister Cristina and is quite a juicy read.  The word dull would never describe Frida's life.
Another movie now in production is "Antigua and My Life Before", based on the novel by Marcela Serrano from Chile.  Although mainly set in Chile, it captures the essence of Antigua, also.  It explores a long standing friendship between two women.  "Thanks to writers like Marcela, life will never speak its last word." - Carlos Fuentes
    The CD "Mexico" (Putumayo PUT 187-2) includes 13 tracks of mostly acoustic music which gives a good overview of all the musical styles of the country.  There is a good accompanying booklet giving insight into the history of the various traditions of national styles such as the ranchera and the son huasteco.
Been There, Loved That
Our students are so helpful to us in sending in evaluations of the schools they visit. We'd like to share these with you and in keeping with the theme of this newsletter, we're including comments on only our Mexico programs.
    Spanish Language Institute of Cuernavaca, Mexico "Enjoyed the 'extras'--salsa dancing, Mexican cooking, music and the trips.  The experience was very rewarding and I now have a rich understanding of the beautiful culture of Mexico and its lovely people!"  Manolita Latonero, Registered Nurse, New York
    El Bosque del Caribe of Cancún, Mexico "School was great, teachers very enthusiastic and helpful.  Thanks for the last minute registration effort."  Carol Knapp, Retired Public Welfare Administrator, New Mexico
    Becari of Oaxaca, Mexico "The teachers were excellent, held a high standard.  I had so much fun!  My Spanish truly improved.  Thanks Kay--great trip!"  Nevada Hanners, Outdoor Educator, Colorado
Likeable Links
Lots of valuable information on Mexico, including travel, history and culture:
www.go2mexico.com
www.mesoweb.com
www.albany.edu/%7emesmith/tlapeop.html
Check out today's date on the Aztec calendar:
www.azteccalendar.com
A timeline to give you a frame of reference:
www.differentworld.com/mexico/common/pages/history.htm
We hope you enjoyed our news. Please visit us at www.langlink.com.
Or if you like us live, call us at 800.552.2051. We're on Central Standard Time.
Kay G. Rafool, Executive Director/Marcy Slane, Assistant Director
Language Link, P.O.B. 3006, Peoria, Illinois 61612 USA
Fax 309.692.2926 Worldwide telephone 309.692.2961 Toll free 800.552.2051 info@langlink.com
Hasta luego!

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