Language Link Online

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

November 2001 Online Newsletter...sent every other month
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.  If you do not want to receive our news, please send 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
OJO (special deals), Rhythm & Book Blurbs
Been There, Loved That (reports from participants), Likeable Links
On Line Lesson
In this lesson we'll review command forms.  You can't be functional in a language until you can give someone an order (politely, of course!).  The easiest way to start is to remember one phrase, and then add an infinitive (no conjugations!).  When speaking formally to one person, Hágame el favor de + infinitive.  You're literally asking someone to do you the favor of doing something.  Remember to attach object pronouns on the end of the infinitive.  Hágame el favor de pagar la cuenta.  Hágame el favor de pagarla.  In using the informal "tú", adapt to - Hazme el favor de + inf.  When speaking to more than one person - Háganme el favor de +.  This is an easy, grammatically correct form.  You'll want to move on to a more complex level, however, as you progress.  With these forms, you need to sound them out, think them often, and think a whole package of sounds.  There are logical rules which apply, but there seem to be a lot of them.  To simplify - when speaking to a "tú" person, just think in your mind that you're more formal when you're bossy, so use the Ud. form of the regular present tense.  For instance, when talking to your best friend, you say - Pablito, habla español, por favor!  Add pronouns at the end - Háblame español, por favor.  The irregular forms are most often short one syllable words (faster to order around your children!):  Haz (do)  Pon (put)  Di (say, tell)  Ten (have)  Ven (venir).  Practice these in combinations such as:   - Hazlo ahora!  Ponlo aquí.  Dime la verdad.  - Ten cuidado!  - Ven aquí!  If you're talking to an "usted", think switchy endings.  If it's an AR verb, but an E on the end of it.  If it's ER or IR, put an A on the end of it.  Señor, (hablar) hable español, por favor.  Señora, (pagar) pague la cuenta (note that the spelling has to change somewhat to accommodate the "e" here).  Señor, (regresar) regrese aquí a las ocho, por favor.  (Note that these forms do NOT have an accent on the end, so they should not sound at all like regresé, which means I returned in the past...completely different!!)  Señora, (dar) déme el cambio en dólares, por favor.  Señor, (comer) coma el pan, por favor.  Most of the irregular forms come from the irregular first person "yo" forms in the present tense.  Venga (from venir, yo vengo).  Ponga (from poner, yo pongo), Tenga (from tener, yo tengo),  Diga (from decir, yo digo).  But do notice that these are all affirmative commands, or telling someone positively to do something.  In negative commands, things are a bit different.  The easiest ones are the "usted" commands.  Use the same verb, but remember to put those pesky little pronouns in front.  +Hágalo, por favor.  -No lo haga, por favor.  +Hábleme en español.  -No me hable en inglés.  +Olvídelo. -No lo olvide.  The "tú" negative commands are a little trickier.  They use a completely different verb form than the positive commands.  But they're easy - just tack an "s" on to your switchy usted ending.  +Hazlo ahora, Pablito.  -No lo hagas más tarde.  +Háblame en 5 minutos, Pablo.  -No me hables ahora. Make a game of thinking of a negative command every time you make an affirmative command.
Cocina Cooking
A nice winter dish...Lomo de puerco con naranja al chipotle - serves 4
Pork Tenderloin with Chipotle Orange Sauce
2 peeled oranges, cut in quarters, juice of one grapefruit, 1 C. chicken broth, 5 1/2 tsp. adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers (not hard to find), 5 tsp. sugar, 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, juice of one orange, one 1 lb. pork tenderloin, cut in 4 prices, 2 cloves garlic minced
1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Put oranges, grapefruit juice, broth, 1 tsp of adobo sauce and 1 tsp sugar in blender.  Puree until smooth.
2.  Heat 1 Tbsp of oil in medium skillet over high heat.  Pour in orange mixture and cook over medium high heat until reduced by half (about 6 mins).  Strain sauce into small pan.  Add remaining 4 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp adobo sauce and orange juice.  Cook over medium heat for about 3 mins until sauce thickens.
3.  Rub each piece of pork with remaining 4 tsp adobo sauce and set aside.  Heat remaining 2 Tbsp oil over medium high heat in skillet.  Add garlic and brown.  Add pork and brown on all sides over high heat, about 5 minutes.  Place in pan and put in oven for about 12 minutes.  Pork will be slightly pink.  Slice and add orange sauce to coat meat.  Serve topped with remaining sauce. M-m-m..sabroso.
Culture Clips
The tango - they really do dance it in the streets in Buenos Aires!  ....and then pass a hat for contributions.  The tango is perhaps the best known manifestation of Argentine popular culture.  Its legendary name is Carlos Gardel who is credited for making the tango an international sensation and who died in a plane crash in 1935.  Before that time the dance was the vulgar dance of the brothels and tenements of BA, and it originated about 1880.  In the late 19th century, Buenos Aires was becoming an elegant immigrant city, and the tango-song summarized this new urban experience.  The music is permeated with nostalgia and can be quite melancholy at times.  It has been compared to the North American blues.  In the past few years it has experienced a huge resurgence, and Buenos Aires is filled with tango schools and clubs presenting shows.  It is quite common for Spanish students to also work in some tango dance classes, as it is such a popular thing to do among people of all ages.   The dance is sensual, very emotional, and has a whole series of steps and complicated moves.  In Buenos Aires currently there is a theater piece called Bocca Tango, choreographed and danced by professional classical ballet dancers.  From the streets to the formal theaters, tango is everywhere!  The two best areas to view performers in the streets are La Boca and the San Telmo Sunday market.  For a tango website and a copy of a monthly tango newsletter, see www.planet-tango.com.
Even better - come to Argentina and study at ILEE of Buenos Aires, as they have a tango program which can be added to their Spanish programs.  It's authentic and not one designed for tourists.  See details in the Argentina section at www.langlink.com
Language Link’s Latest
    New programs! You probably can't guess, but we now have two new programs in Argentina.  Buenos Aires is such an exciting city....the "Paris of the Americas".  It has all the sophistication and culture of a European city, and yet it is a very easy city to navigate.  The metro system is superb, and it is also a great city for walking.  We have chosen two excellent schools - Bridge-Linguatec and I.L.E.E.  They have solid reputations, and our director was very impressed with the teaching methods and the staffs.  We now have full information (pictures coming soon) on the website under a new section Argentina (look for the tango dancer!).  Mysterious, exciting, cosmopolitan.....and you can even safely drink the water from the tap in this South American urban dynamo.
    And if you want even more of South America, we have a new program also in Santiago, Chile.  In the brief span of a few hours, you can be skiing in the glorious Andes, enjoying a seaside resort, or touring a world class vineyard.  This narrow strip of geography has unparalleled diversity.  Look for our new Chile section (with pictures coming soon) at www.langlink.com.
    From Condé Nast magazine, Dec 2001 issue - "Countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Peru are considered to be among the safest international travel options."
"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure,  to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." - Alan Cohen
OJO! (a commonly used symbol in Latin America for Keep an Eye Out!)  Our bargain corner
    PLFM of Antigua, Guatemala, is offering reduced tuition in the month of December 2001.  Seven hours daily of one on one instruction is only $120 per week, and the four hour per day program is $70.  This is valid through classes starting December 24 (and there will be half day classes on that date.)
   Amauta of Cusco, Peru has just announced that they will honor their significantly lower 2001 prices for study in 2002, as long as the registration is made before Dec. 15 and comes through Language Link.  A good deal!
    The Academia de Español Quito, Ecuador, also has some price reductions in effect until the end of December.  They're fully open during December holidays, so it's not too late to squeeze in some study (all one on one classes) at reduced prices.
    SLI of Cuernavaca, Mexico is reducing the size of its classes from 5 students to only 3 until the end of December.  Another opportunity for personal attention in this beautiful school, and the mountain climate there is perfect in December.
    Intercultura of Costa Rica is offering the chance to watch an eclipse at their beautiful beach location Playa Samara!  Arrive the weekend of Dec 8, enjoy a week of classes in Heredia, travel to Samara for the eclipse weekend, then stay on at the beach for one more week of classes.  Only $705 including classes, homestay in Heredia, accommodations at the beach.  If you only have one week to study, you can arrive by Dec. 12 and start classes following Monday at Samara - $425.  If you only have one week and less time, arrive the weekend of the eclipse,and the school will do a phone interview for class placement to start the next Monday.  They advise that space is limited, so call us right away.
   All details of these programs are found at www.langlink.com.
Rhythm & Books Blurbs
Instead of music and a book this time, we're going to recommend a film out on video with the background of the magic of poetry.  First become familiar with Pablo Neruda, the world class Chilean poet.  He has many books published, and there are versions with side by side English and Spanish versions.  His poems of love are exquisite, and he also wrote powerfully in striking language of social conditions.  After you know him a bit, rent the video "IL Postino" or it may be in English as "The Postman." (This is not the American film with Kevin Costner of the same title.)  Neruda is a major character in the film, but played by a skilled actor.  The film may be in Italian, as that is where the events take place, as he was in exile on Capri, Italy.  But it's a good introduction to this Nobel prizewinner, gifted man of letters who is of immense importance in Latin America, especially in Chile.
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...
      PLFM of Antigua, Guatemala  "I absolutely fell in love with Antigua and do plan to go back there after finishing a nursing degree.  PLFM had a more serious clientele than a lot of the others schools - professionals, public service personnel.  You would not regret attending PLFM, I assure you." Monica Stutzman, Social Services, Hillsboro, Oregon
       Becari of Oaxaca, Mexico    "This is the third school I've attended that you represent and they have all been high quality."  (rated her experience as Superior) Cooki Messmer, School Counselor, Portland, Oregon
      Formula SI of Madrid, Spain  "Formula SI was very professional, organized and attentive to my needs as a student and visitor to Madrid.  The family was very kind, warm and accommodating.  They made sure I was comfortable and had plenty to eat, and Lío (the dog) made sure I was never lonely."  Kimberly Dixon, Strategic Planner, Evanston, Illinois
Likeable Links
  Some websites about Argentina -
www.clarin.com/diario/hoy
www.buenosaires.gov.ar
www.abcfutbol.com
www.monumentos.org.ar
www.cyber-tango.com
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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