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February 2004 Online Newsletter...sent every other month
Tips and information about learning Spanish and the people who speak it. Personal attention is what has made Language Link grow, and we value your contributions. Please send an email to the address above to remove if you do not want to receive our news. If you or a friend would like to be added to our list, email us at info@langlink.com.
What's in this edition
Online Lesson, Cocina Cooking, Culture Clips, Language Link's Latest, OJO (special deals), Rhythm & Book Blurbs, Been There, Loved That (reports from participants), Likeable Links
Online Lesson

A great deal of language learning is knowing how to “sing the song”. After all, language is sound, just as is music. How do to take a romantic song and turn it into a grammar lesson and why? Memorizing words to songs definitely helps your Spanish. Not only does it help pronunciation, but it provides a wealth of effortless grammar examples. You receive the repetitive examples stuck in your head so that they reach that realm of “it just sounds right”, which is often your guide in your native language.

BESAME MUCHO Bésame, bésame mucho, (perfect example of a Tú affirmative command of an ar verb. You can extend this to dame, cómprame, pásame la sal, salúdame a tu novio – say hello to your boyfriend for me)

Como si fuera esta noche la última vez (example of a contrary to fact past subjunctive with the irregular form of fuera from the verb ser, as if it were/ also a reminder that vez is feminine)

Bésame, bésame mucho, que tengo miedo perderte, perderte después. (example of when there’s no change of subject, you don’t use the subjunctive after tener miedo, as opposed to saying Tengo miedo que él venga a la fiesta.)

Quiero tenerte muy cerca, mirarme en tus ojos, verte junto a mí. (example of a mí, a ti after a preposition)

Piensa que tal vez mañana yo ya estaré lejos, muy lejos de ti. (Another good tú AR command, good reminder that lejos is followed by de)

EL RELOJ Reloj, no marques las horas porque voy a enloquecer (example of a negative tú command as opposed to positive marca las horas, - no marques las horas)

Ella se irá para siempre cuando amanezca otra vez. (para siempre – para in front of a time word when it is in the future, after cuando when it means whenever, requires the subjunctive of amanecer, requiring the addition of the z.)

No más nos queda esta noche para vivir nuestro amor y tu tic-tac (tick tock in English!) me recuerda mi irremediable dolor. (Quedar is used like gustar..me quedan diez pesos, nos queda mucho tiempo/ to remind of…me recuerda with no word in Spanish for the “of”)

Reloj, deten tu camino porque mi vida se apaga, ella es la estrella que alumbra mi ser, yo sin su amor no soy nada. (Great reminder of an irregular tú command as in tener and ten, detener and deten/ no soy nada, a good example of the double negative.)

General comment – the best thing about learning examples this way is that they become automatically set in your brain. For instance, if you’re ever stuck on using vez in a new way and you can’t remember if it’s masculine or feminine, just start singing the song. Como si fuera esta vez la última vez – will come in your head without thought, as the sound and rhythm carries your mind along.

Cocina Cooking

What fun when a Spanish learning adventure turns into a romance, and it happens more often than you might think. Several years back two lovely people, Dewey and Tammi, met in Cuernavaca and continued on to do more of our programs. They’re still together and sent us this recipe which they said is always a big hit with guests. Happy Valentine’s Day to them!

Chicken, Tortilla, and Avocado Soup with Pico de Gallo - 2 T. corn oil, 10 corn tortillas cut into thin strips, 1 finely chopped red onion, 4 chopped garlic cloves, 2 chopped and seeded jalapeño peppers, 1 (28 oz) can chopped tomatoes with juice, 2 T. chili powder, 1 T ground cumin, ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, 6 C. chicken stock, 1 (8 oz) can red enchilada sauce, 3 C. cooked shredded chicken, ¾ C. chopped fresh cilantro, 4 ripe avocados cut in chunks, 1 C. shredded Monterey Jack cheese. In large pot (4 ½ qt), heat the corn oil until sizzling. Add tortillas, reduce heat to medium and cook until they are golden brown. Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeños. Cook until onion is soft, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cover for 10 minutes. Then stir in chicken stock and enchilada sauce. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir in chicken and cilantro. Cook until just heated through. Add avocado just prior to serving and more cilantro for color. To serve ladle into individual bowls and top with pico de gallo and cheese. Serve with fresh tortillas on the side.

Pico de Gallo – 2 ripe tomatoes seeded and finely chopped, 1 finely chopped onion, 2 T. peanut oil, 1 jalapeño seeded and finely chopped, 3 T. finely chopped fresh cilantro, 3 T. lime juice, salt and fresh ground pepper. In a medium bowl mix all ingredients together. Let sit at room temperature before using to allow flavors to meld. Refrigerate unused portion for up to 5 days. It is important to do all chopping by hand. A food processor will make the salsa too watery.

Culture Clips

Romance is everywhere in both Spain and Latin America. A little of everything…

La amistad es lluvia de flores preciosas. Friendship is like a shower of precious flowers. – An Aztec poem

Mexicans regard friendship very highly, considering it a precious gift of life. February 14 is called El Día del Amor y la Amistad and extends beyond just lovers. You will observe men giving each other a big abrazo and giving Valentine wishes to each other. As in other parts of the world, red roses, chocolates, cards and dinner reservations are always popular.

And since Valentine’s Day usually includes chocolates, you should know that chocolate really is divine. According to Aztec myth, cacao (from which chocolate is made) is the gift of their god Quetzalcoatl. Before Quetzalcoatl brought the divine fruit from heaven, chocolate had been reserved only for the gods. For this crime, Quetzalcoatl was banished from heaven. Even today, chocolate means “food of the gods”. Cacao originally was cultivated by the Maya as far back as 250 A.D. It was drunk in religious, betrothal and marriage ceremonies. In 1400 the Aztecs obtained cacao through trade with the Maya and regarded the beans as a form of money. The Aztecs liked their chocolate with black pepper and vanilla beans, and it was unsweetened. Chocolate (and the Nahuatl word is chocolatl) was revered for its ability to confer wisdom and vitality upon the drinker. For this reason, in addition to its monetary value, only the elite could drink it. Moctezuma, the last Aztec emperor, reportedly consumed 50 goblets of hot chocolate a day, and an extra one before lovemaking.

A lovely romantic legend surrounds the twin volcanoes of Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl in the south end of the Valley of Mexico. (You may be fortunate enough to see these on a clear day en route from Mexico City to your study at SLI of Cuernavaca.) The Nahuatl names mean the Smoking Mountain and the White Lady. The Aztecs believed the two volcanoes were lovers who could not bear to be out of each other’s sight. The profile of Ixtaccihuatl looks like a reclining woman, while the Smoking Mountain keeps guard over his lady while holding a torch.

Who really was Don Juan? (And a note here that Don is a title used to show respect. It’s a way of being able to use a person’s first name, but maintain respect for status or age. The female counterpart is Doña.) The earliest known version of the Don Juan legend was written in 1630 by Tirso de Molina. Don Juan was a legendary Spanish nobleman and chaser of women. At the height of his licentious career, he seduces the daughter of the commander of Seville and kills her father in a duel. When he later visits a statue of his victim and jeeringly invites it to a feast, the statue comes to life and drags Don Juan off to hell. In later years many authors and composers also depicted him: Mozart, in the opera Don Giovanni; Lord Byron, in the long poem Don Juan; and George Bernard Shaw, in the play Man and Superman.

Travel is like falling in love. There’s a bit of fear of the unknown, the tingle of anticipation, the thrill of connecting with the new, the bliss of learning and the satisfaction of accomplishment. – Barbara Malley

Language Link’s Latest

Eureka in Madrid now offers new shared flats (apartments) which are located in the same building as the school. They have internet connections in each bedroom. This is a great location, only a few blocks off the Puerta del Sol.

There have been two great articles about our programs. (Guatemala) Poco a Poco: What sweet folks, taskmasters and a parrot can do for your Spanish, South Bend Tribune, Jan 4. Mil gracias, Joseph Dits, and we’re glad you had a grand experience. An article on Cuernavaca’s Executive Program will appear on Feb 29 in the Sun Sentinel of South Florida. Mil gracias, Krishna Thomas.

Christina Henderson is our new Assistant Director, and we give her a big bienvenida! Her international experience and database management skills will be very helpful to ensure that you have a smooth experience.

A FREE TRIP! We are continuing our contest for a free trip (tuition and lodging for 2 weeks) to Córdoba, Spain and will announce a winner soon. Keep entering through our contest box on our website!
OJO (Special Deals).
The Academia Hispánica in Córdoba has a specially reduced tuition rate through June 30 of 2004. Two weeks of classes is only $339 regularly, so take your 10% discount and you have 4 hours daily of group classes for $305…a great price for Spain! Homestay costs are also reasonable in this program.
Rhythm & Book Blurbs
Music – A long time romantic Mexican singer is Luis Miguel. The album Todos Los Romances has many of the greatest oldies. The liner notes have all the lyrics, and this popular artist handles the lyrics in such a way that it is very easy to clearly hear and comprehend the words.

Books – A good edition of Pablo Neruda’s poetry is 100 Love Sonnets, Cien sonetos de amor, translated by Stephen Tapscott, 1986, University of Texas Press. The Spanish poem is on the left, with the English translation on the right. The book is described as “sensual as a tropical night swirling in honeysuckle and jazz”.
Been There, Loved That

Quito, Ecuador – I had a wonderful time on your program in Ecuador. The two weeks definitely helped me to pass the Foreign Service Institute telephone fluency exam! – Erin Eddy, Diplomacy Candidate, Minnesota

Cuernavaca, Mexico – My son and I studied in Cuernavaca and it was a wonderful time for both of us. He made friends, was exposed to another culture, and my old, rusty brain was challenged. My goal is to keep it up at home, as well as, God willing, some more study in other countries. – Kent McNair, Episcopal Priest, California

Antigua, Guatemala – I love to look at your site to bring back wonderful memories of my stay in Antigua and to fantasize about studying in other parts of the globe. I am so grateful for my time at your school. It has opened the world to me. – Elizabeth Newman, Public Defender, California

Barcelona, Spain – The school is great…very organized, great school tours and additional activities. My nice host mother had a great house with an excellent view and location near the metro. – Aron Montgomery, College Student, Texas

Heredia, Costa Rica – Once again a great experience, as everyone at the school works hard to make it a learning experience. This is my third time at Intercultura and I highly recommend it. – Hayden Green, Retired Educator, Illinois

Oaxaca, Mexico – After 5 weeks in Mexico I was able to enroll in Spanish III at the university here, with an instructor dubious about my chances in his class, since I had bypassed 10 credits of university classes. Well, I got an A in the class, and I have Becari and the incredible instructors to thank for it. Also the insurance plan was great. They reimbursed me for doctor visits and also an acupuncturist. – Chris McGuire, Teacher, Colorado
Likeable Links

http://iafrica.com/highlife/goodlife/features/207710.htm About chocolate and its origins

www.inside-mexico.com/featuresan.htm About romantic tradition in Mexico

www.poemas-del-alma.com/amor.htm Romantic poetry in Spanish

www.lyricscafe.com/i/iglesias-julio.htm, www.lyricscafe.com/m/miguel_luis.htm, www.lyricscafe.com/e/estefan_gloria.htm

Lyrics to romantic songs in Spanish

We hope you enjoyed our news. Please visit us at www.langlink.com. Or if you like a real voice, call us at 800.552.2051. We're on Central Time with office hours 9:00 to 5:00. ¡Feliz día del amor y la amistad!
Kay G. Rafool, Exec. Director/Christina Henderson, Asst. Director, Language Link, P.O.B. 3006, Peoria, Illinois 61612 USA, Fax 309.692.2926 Worldwide 309.692.2961 Toll free 800.552.2051
info@langlink.com ¡Hasta luego!