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March 2005 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 –  All PRESENT and accounted for

Many of you know the present tense verbs in Spanish, but there are many subtleties involved in its use.  There are some significant differences between the use of the present tense in English and in Spanish. 

1.  Save the present progressive tense (this is a form of the verb estar plus a present participle – they usually end in “ing” in English) for something which is actually occurring at the moment and in action.  For instance, in English you might ask someone, Where are you working?  You’re using the present progressive, even though the person you’re talking to might be having a beer in the bar at the time.  In Spanish under this situation you would use just the simple present tense, ¿Dónde trabaja(s)?  This is because he’s not actually physically working at that very moment. 

2.  Often Spanish uses the simple present for something that is going to happen in the very near future.  In English, a phrase such as I will let you know (future tense in English) is expressed very simply with Te aviso (avisar – to notify, let someone know).  An English I’ll call you (future tense) would be simply Te llamo muy pronto, if it will be happening soon.  I’m going to pick you up, or I will come by your house at 3:00 – Paso por tu casa a las tres. 

3.  Another use of the present tense in Spanish sounds as though it might be a future tense in English.  This is the idea of “will you”.  Here the “will” in English is not like the future tense will, but asking about your willingness to do something.

At the dinner table, ¿Me pasa(s) las tortillas, por favor?  This is the equivalent of “will you pass me”, but expressed very simply with the present tense. 

4.  And one other comment, not on use, but a handy little thing to consider when you’re dealing with all those stem changing verbs in the present tense.  These are the ones where you will see the infinitive listed this way, to want –

querer (ie).  You probably know that in almost all of the present tense forms, the first “e” changes to “ie”.  Quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, quieren.   You may not have realized that the change takes place in all the forms where that syllable (next to last one) gets the stress.  This is because all those which change end in a vowel, n or s, and the natural stress falls on the next to the last syllable.  That first e in all except the nosotros form of queremos is a syllable which is stressed.  It’s just simply easier to say them with the change.  They just roll off your tongue easier. Sometimes these are called “shoe” verbs.  Lay them out in singular and plural next to each other, like this.

quiero        queremos

quieres

quiere        quieren

In one line draw around all those which change, and you will have the shape of a shoe!

Cocina Cooking

Mexican Pozole Casserole – serves 6

Pozole is a type of dried corn used to make this specialty dish in Mexico.  Canned white hominy is a perfect substitute, and don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.  Mexicans consider this a dish to bring good luck.

1 pound ground beef (TexMex style) or 1 pound cubed pork tenderloin (more authentic), 1 chopped medium sized onion, 4 ozs. chopped green chiles, 2 T. chile powder, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp. oregano, 1 tsp. comino (cumin) powder, 4 ozs. grated mixed Mexican cheese, 4 corn tortillas quartered, 3 ½ C. canned white hominy, drained, salt to taste, 2 chopped green onions.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown the ground beef or pork.  Add a little vegetable oil if needed.  Add the onion and cook until translucent.   Add the chiles, garlic, spices, 2 ozs.of the cheese, the tortillas and drained hominy.  Mix well.  Season to taste with salt.  Place in greased 2 qt. casserole and bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  Remove from oven, top with remaining 2 oz. cheese and chopped green onions.  Return to oven until top cheese melts.

Culture Clips

Many of our students who attend the excellent Academia de Español Quitoin Ecuador combine their study with a long hoped for trip to the Galapagos Islands, arranged by the school at very favorable prices.  We always say you learn much more than language on our trips, and in this mix, you get some biology, also. To reach these enchanted islands a three hour flight is required.  A five day trip is the usual minimum, and travelers live on the boats used to transport them between islands. Perhaps more so than any other place in the world, the fauna of the Galapagos are unique.  As a young man, Charles Darwin (born 1809 in England) served as a naturalist aboard the H.M.S. Beagle on a British science expedition around the world and visited the Galapagos in 1835.  His observations of the unique animals, their remarkable adaptation to their environment, and the subtle variations between races of the same species living on different islands led directly to his theory of natural selection, the single most important theory in biology.  It explains how the vast multitude of species have evolved from a simple, single celled ancestor.  The primary mechanism for evolution was the process of natural selection, stating that the survival or extinction of each organism is determined by its ability to adapt to its environment.  Darwin was particularly struck that each island had developed its own species of tortoise, birds and plants.

Hood (Española) Island has one of the highest rate of endemism, meaning that there are species found only here.  Take a walk on this island, and this is what you will experience.  As you land on the beach, sea lions noisily greet you.  Curious mockingbirds will peck at your shoelaces.  If your trip is between April and November, you will see waved albatross performing mating rituals.  Colonies of blue-footed boobies will be engaged in sky-pointing, while the masked boobies busily care for their young.  Under the cliffs swallow-tailed gulls and red-billed tropicbirds take shelter under the cliffs.  A unique species of marine iguana runs across your foot.  If it’s the breeding season, these iguanas turn a brilliant turquoise and red.  The shoreline is dotted with colorful lightfoot crabs.

 

One of the more interesting characters of the Galapagos is Lonesome George, a giant tortoise in his 80’s who weighs about 400 pounds and is five feet in length.  He is the last remaining male of the Pinta race tortoise, and the Guinness Book of Records named him the earth’s loneliest animal.  His mate was killed 30 years ago, and despite all attempts to mate him with females from islands close to his, he just wasn’t interested.  Scientists worked diligently to identify his most closely related female candidates, but so far the genetic matchmaking has not produced a baby.  It is theorized that the females are too different morphologically.  Scientists have made DNA scans of tortoises all over the world without finding a match. If all these efforts are unsuccessful, when Lonesome George eventually dies, his race will end with him.  At one time there were 15 different subspecies of tortoise in the Galapagos, but now only 11 remain.  If Lonesome George goes, this will mean one less amazing race of creatures on our earth.

 

Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. – Mark Twain   

 

Language Link’s Latest

Our 2005 print newsletter Language Link Line is now available on our website in a PDF format.  This is published once yearly, and it has more in-depth articles than our online newsletter.  It also has a handy overview of costs and description of all programs.   You can easily print out your own 8 page copy by going to the Print Archive .

 

Playa del Carmen, Mexico– Since many students like to view their study at the beach as a combination vacation-education trip, IH Riviera Maya will be opening a new school residence on June 4.  This will be a five minute walk to school, and it’s quite close to the beach.  There will be 21 air conditioned bedrooms with private baths. Breakfast and an evening meal will also be available.  A private room with breakfast will be $28 per night.

 

Martin Luther College is heading off for Ecuador, including the Anaconda program, for a month in May.

Severn School of Maryland is heading off for an all girl high school trip to Córdoba, Spain in July.

¡Buen viaje!

 

Wait lists are coming soon!  Please register early if you’re considering summer dates.  Often our programs fill to capacity starting in mid May and continuing until early August.  This is especially true of Guatemala, but other programs have filled up as well.

 

We have added a new section called Language Link Shop to our website, in association with Amazon, a very reputable online retailer.  In our shop you can easily purchase past recommendations of books, music, films, as well as materials such as the excellent Pimsleur tapes. 

OJO (Special Deals).

Announcing our contest winner who will enjoy two weeks of study and lodging in sunny Spain at the outstanding CLIC of Seville…Jan Manis of Westminster, Colorado.  She is beginning a new career in nursing and needs Spanish to explain procedures to Spanish speaking patients.  Congratulations, Jan!

 

We’re pleased to announce that we will be starting even another contest!  This round’s prize is free two weeks of study (3 hours daily) and stay with a Mexican host family (breakfast only included) at one of our most popular schools, Becari of Oaxaca, Mexico!  If you haven’t experienced Oaxaca, you’re in for an exceptional treat.  It’s one of the most indigenous areas of the country, and it’s filled with local tradition, fine handcrafts, impressive archaeological sites and colonial architecture.  It has a lovely mountain climate year round.  We’ll start with a new entry box on this one, so go to the contest box on our website, enter your name, a brief comment, and dream of Oaxaca.

 

Rhythm & Book Blurbs

Recommended CD – a new boxed set called Hecho en Cuba.  It’s a three disc box and has tracks by all the big names of Cuban music, including many of the oldtimers you may have heard in the Buena Vista Social Club album and video.  Both music and book available through our new Language Link Shop

On Mexican Time – by Tony Cohan.  If you’ve ever fantasized about living in Mexico, this is a must read.  Even though San Miguel de Allende is now overrun with foreigners and this book has been out for a while, it is still a great account of one couple’s decision to move there and restore a house.

Been There, Loved That

Antigua, Guatemala  It exceeded my expectations: family, climate, school organization, instruction, professionalism, school environment, attitude, friendliness, students, helpfulness, interesting walk to and from school.  V. Ray, Retired, WA

My overall experience with the school, the family, and Antigua was excellent.  The one-on-one format of the school is an incredible learning format.  K. Lillis, Educator, OR

Madrid, Spain.  We were treated like family.  Everyone at the school was concerned about every aspect of our time there from the moment we walked in the door.  J.R., Writer, CA

Seville, Spain  It was awesome.  It was great and it helped my Spanish a ton; the professor was really fun.  S. Webb, Student, TX

Heredia, Costa Rica The instructors here were excellent, and we went to school 4 hours a day, which was great.  The school is very nice and has a very friendly staff.  M. Bachman, Student, MN

Quito, Ecuador The teachers I had at the Quito school were especially accomplished in teaching.  My instructors explained grammar – particularly advanced grammar – well.  M. Zehr, Washington DC

Cuernavaca, Mexico  Cuernavaca was perfect for our first experience.  And the family could not have been better…we felt right at home.  Thanks for everything – it was a wonderful experience!  C. Lowe, Computer Professional, DE

Oaxaca, Mexico I got everything out of it that I had hoped to get…I was communicating adequately when I left.  The school was very responsive to my level, needs, and requests.  P. Penczer, Lawyer/Real Estate Developer, CT

Likeable Links

1.  http://www.galapagos.org. 
The Charles Darwin Foundation - a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting conservation, education, and scientific research.
2.  http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/Galapagos.html
A site done by Cornell University on the Galapagos.
3.  http://www.galapagos-islands.net/ 
Information on each of the Galapagos Islands.
4.  http://www.galapagosonline.com/Galapagos_Natural_History/Birds_and_Animals/Fauna.html

 - Learn about the wildlife found on the Galapagos Islands

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.  
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!

Contact Language Link: Kay Godfrey, Director Latin American Office Meredith Butler, Director US Office 2008 W Kellogg Avenue West Peoria, IL 61604 USA

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