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May 2006 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

Uh-h-h-h-h-h-h

An important thing to learn in another language is what to say to fill in the silences.  This is particularly important while your mind is scrambling for an illusive word, as it keeps the language flowing.  Some of these expressions are slang or quite idiomatic, and some are country specific.  Many are just varied expressions of agreement with what the other person has said.  Try to incorporate some of these phrases to fill in some perhaps awkward silences.

Vamos a ver – Let’s see. 

Entonces – Then, uh-h-h-h

Pues (often said in a long, drawn out way) – well, then…..

Vale (Spain) - okay

Sale (Mexico) - okay

Sale y vale (combination of both, used in Mexican slang) – really okay

Está bien – It’s okay.  It’s good.

Claro – of course

De acuerdo – agreed

Este……..este….este….when fumbling in your head to come out with a name or a specific word.

Fíjate (fíjese) – just imagine (notice)

Me imagino – I can imagine, uh-huh

¡Qué padre! (Mexico)  - How cool!

Dicho y hecho – Said and done.

Cocina Cooking

Coffee and cinnamon are traditional flavors of Mexico, and this is an easy dessert to celebrate la vida de verano.

Mexican Chocolate Sundaes with Cinnamon Tortilla Crisps

8 servings

Sauce – ½ C. whipping cream, ¼ C. hot water, 2 ½ tsp. instant expresso powder, 8 oz. chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

Can be made 3 days ahead.  Whisk cream, hot water and expresso powder in heavy small saucepan.  Bring to simmer over medium heat, then remove from heat.  Add chocolate and stir until melted and smooth.  Stir in cinnamon.  Cover and refrigerate.  Rewarm over low heat just until pourable before serving.

Tortilla Crisps

¼ C. unsalted butter room temp, 2 T. sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon, four 8” flour tortillas

Mix butter, sugar and cinnamon in small bowl to blend.  Spread mixture evenly over tortillas.  Cut each tortilla into 8 wedges.  Place wedges on 2 baking sheets, buttered side up, spacing apart.  Can be prepared up to 8 hours ahead.  Cover with foil and let stand at room temperature.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Bake tortillas until crisp and puffed, about 8 minutes.

Place large scoop of purchased coffee ice cream in each of 8 dessert glasses.  Drizzle warm chocolate sauce over.  Stand 4 tortilla crisps in each glass. 

Culture Clips

            Outside of Mexico City I am in the Dolores Olmedo Museum, featuring works of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.  Everyone in my group has delighted in first seeing the escuincle (Mexican hairless) dogs depicted in a large collection of Precolombian pottery, and then in the garden seeing the real live descendants.  They are sheltered in a shady area of the garden, as their skins cannot tolerate too much sun, and it is great fun to see them next to a very realistic statue of the dog.  It’s truly difficult to tell which ones are the real ones until they move…most amusing!  The word for these dogs is from the náhuatl word xoloitzquintli, and to this day it is used as a word for small children in Mexico, similar to the English slang word rugrats. 

Although the paintings are interesting and fine retrospectives of the artists’ work, what most catches my eye is the amazing collection of Mexican folk art.  This country is indeed a treasure trove of artisanry, and most of the pieces shown here are oversized representations of the very best.  A gigantic tree of life, árbol de la vida, is remarkable, and it reminds me of many I have seen in Mexico through the years.  The range of themes runs from pre-Hispanic cosmogony to the biblical Garden of Eden.  A history of this craft clearly demonstrates syncretism.  This is an elegant word often used to describe the culture of Mexico, and it means the fusion of ancient pre-Hispanic roots with European Catholicism.  Every culture has its creation myths, but there is a radical difference.  In the Judeo-Christian Genesis, the universe sprang from an event with a beginning and end.  In other creation myths (including those of the Mesoamerican cultures), the cosmos is the result of a constant movement of creation and destruction of death and rebirth.  Another way in which it is explained is that European time is vertical, and Mesoamerican time is circular and cyclical. 

All of the early Mesoamerican creation myths included a tree.  Among the Mixtecs it was a strawberry tree in a cave.  The tree comes out of the body of a woman lying down, Mother Earth.  The tree is cruciform, with serpents curled around the branches.  Among the Maya the ceiba or silkcotton tree is sacred,  There is an immense crocodile which dominates earth and water, and growing on top of his back is this huge tree.  In Palenque, Chiapas there is a Temple of the Cross, likewise a cruciform tree. 

After the conquest of Mexico in the 16^th century, every method possible was used to have Catholicism adapted to the conquered culture.  Initially Christian symbols were simply substituted for the indigenous imagery.  You can imagine that the creation myths trees were an easy leap to the apple tree of knowledge in the Garden of Eden.  The artistry continued to evolve through the years.  In Izucar de Matamoros, Puebla, candleholders were added.  In past years newlyweds would traditionally receive a wedding gift of a Tree of Life Wedding Tree, as a blessing for their new union and home.  These beautiful candleholders are still carried in processions during the town’s fiestas.  In these figures St. Raphael appears in front of the tree trunk.  There are arches coming from either side, giving the tree a heart shape.  Some other artisans have crafted trees of more than six feet in height.  When you happen across one this large, it can be a project of many hours to read the tree, starting from the top down.  Not only is it colorful, beautiful and interesting, the árbol de la vida symbolizes cultural fusion.  What a visual buffet of colors and symbols is fascinating Mexico!

 

Language Link’s Latest

            The summer season is particularly busy this year.  We’re at full capacity in several programs.  PLFM in Antigua, Guatemala and Lacunza in San Sebastian, Spain are at capacity from June 19 to July 14.  Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, has no more family stays available during those dates.  Intercultura at Sámara Beach in Costa Rica has no more family stays available in July, although they have hotel and residencia options.  This is always the price for popular programs! 

            We have a winner in our contest for two free weeks of study in Cuernavaca, Mexico!  Randomly chosen from over 800 entries and a former student of Language Link, fortune smiled on Sharlene Yuille.  She is in her 30’s and is a Secretariat Officer in the Ministry of Trinidad and Tobago.  Felicidades!

OJO (Special Deals)

            Another contest!  Starting with this newsletter we are announcing a new contest for two weeks of free study and housing, and this time it’s to Costa Rica!  Intercultura has two locations – Heredia in the mountains or Sámara on the beach.  This is one of our most popular programs, and we are so pleased to give you this opportunity.  Just enter your name and comment through our contest box on our website.  We will run the contest for several months.

            It is typical for most of our schools to raise their fees each year.  However, many (especially in Latin America) will grant 2006 lower fees if registration is made by Nov 1 for 2007 study.  If you’re planning on studying in 2007, please do consider registering before that cutoff date to save some money.

We’re extending an offer in a way to use your Spanish skills conducting tours.  See www.bepaidtotravel.com  If you do enroll in one of their courses, let them know you are a Language Link graduate and they will give you a discount of $100 off the tuition!

Rhythm & Book Blurbs

Book – The Hummingbird’s Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea – This amazing book is quickly becoming many readers’ all time favorite.  It is an engaging work of historical fiction and magical realism, and tells the story of Teresa Urrea, the author's own great aunt. Based on over twenty years of research, this epic tale follows the life of one girl and ends up telling the story of rural Mexico under Porfirio Díaz.  In Latin America instead of saying to give birth to, people say dar a luz, to bring to the light.  Urrea has most certainly brought to light his remarkable curandera relative.

Music – If you want your children to be exposed to Spanish, putting them to sleep with lullabies in Spanish gives them an additional advantage by hearing different sounds at certain crucial stages of sound imprinting and brain development.  We recommend highly Latin Lullaby and Cuban Lullaby, part of the Ellipsis Arts Lullabies Series.  Not only do these imprint sounds in growing heads, but they are delightful to listen to musically.  We often play them in the Language Link office (and try not to take a siesta!)

Purchase these selections easily through the Language Link Shop.

Been There, Loved That

From a contest entry – I have searched the internet far and wide for legitimately fun and educational programs and can say definitively that this is the #1 site on the net.  – Erin Duralde, Manhattan Beach CA      

Intercultura at Heredia and Sámara Beach, Costa Rica – I was able to attend Intercultura in Costa Rica, and I absolutely loved it.  – Robert Lapham, Student, Hampstead NH

La Janda of Vejer de la Frontera, Spain – Loved it at your school in Vejer de la Frontera, Spain.  And learned lots! – Gudrun Closs, Levack, Canada

Spanish Language Institute of Cuernavaca, Mexico – I knew very little Spanish when I arrived at the school, and the amount I learned in 9 days was incredible!  My three instructors were outstanding!  They were demanding, yet patient, and very knowledgeable in “reading” their students.  I do plan on returning. – Dr. Steven Kimball, Asst. Professor Education, Green Bay WI

Studying at SLI in Cuernavaca was one of the best experiences of my life.  Whoever wins your contest is in for a wonderful experience! – Terri Weintraub, Boynton Beach FL

The school at Cuernavaca was great.  We stayed with Palmira Torres, and she is the best cook in the world. – Herb and Laurie Evans, Attorney and Real Estate, Eugene OR

PLFM of Antigua, Guatemala – All my children and I have enjoyed your fantastic language school in Antigua.  We know we can trust your program for quality and safety. – Barb Roberts, Olney IL

Who could have guessed that learning a new language could be so much fun.  And learn I did!  - Jordan Levitin, Toronto, Canada

 

Likeable Links

www.mexicanceramic.com – interesting árboles de la vida with histories

www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/english  - an excellent cultural magazine about Mexico, go to the arte popular section under culture for specific types

www.furrycritter.com/resources/dogs/mexican_hairless_dog.htm - have a look at the escuincle dog

 

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/Meredith Butler, 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

Toll free: 800.552.2051 World telephone: 309.673.9220 email: info@langlink.com

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