September 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

What’s Mine is Yours

            Possessive words arise early in the learning of Spanish, and they can be demystified if you approach them correctly in the first place.  The trick is to first look at the object being possessed.  You must determine whether it is singular or plural and also, masculine or feminine.  In English this is unimportant, but in Spanish – all important.

Let’s first list the various forms:  mi, mis – my; tu, tus – your (familiar…and note no accent on tu); su, sus – his, her, your (formal); nuestro, nuestra, nuestros, nuestras – our; su, sus – their, your (plural)

Let’s take the simple phrase of my house.  Think about the house first – la casa is feminine and singular.  With the “my” words, you only have to choose between singular and plural…no worry about the gender.  Mi casa.  But if you change that to our house, you have to choose between four forms.  Choose the singular, feminine one – nuestra casa.  Note that the possessive word matches the noun or thing, and not the number or gender of the ones possessing the house. 

Now let’s move to someone else’s house.  His house – Su casa.  It’s just one house, so choose the singular form.  However, if you’re talking about a landlord with many houses – sus casas.  Note that in English this remains “his” in both cases, but it changes forms in Spanish. 

You may have noted that su and sus can mean many things – his, her, their and your (plural).  This usually falls into place through the context of what you’re talking about, and it’s clear to the listener.  However, if it’s not clear, then you need to express things in a different way.  Assume that you’re pointing out chairs.  If you just say su silla standing alone, it’s not clear what you mean.  In this case you would say la silla de él, la silla de ella, la silla de usted, la silla de ustedes.  But don’t do this unless the situation is ambiguous.

Notice that all the forms we have been using so far have all been used along with a noun.  That’s why they are called possessive adjectives.  If you want to indicate possession and make it stand alone, you use a possessive pronoun.  Once again, the proper form is indicated by the “thing” it represents, not by the possessor.

A man describing his house or “mine” would say la mía.  Notice that this matches the number and gender of the represented thing – la casa.  It has nothing to do with the masculinity of the speaker.  A woman describing her children or “mine” would say los míos, matching the number and gender of los hijos.

            This is all quite easy if you understand the basic concept right from the beginning.  Understanding a basic linguistic concept gives you a firm and solid foundation upon which to build your language skills, and you’ll sound wonderful!

Cocina Cooking

Easy Chiles Rellenos Casserole

½ lb. roasted green chiles (or even easier, two 15 oz. cans of whole green chiles), 2 C. grated Monterrey Jack cheese, 2 eggs, 1 C. milk, 1 C. green chile salsa either mild or hot), salt and pepper to taste

Slit chiles lengthwise.  Remove seeds.  Divide 1 ½ cups of cheese evenly among chiles and place in center of chiles.  Roll up each chile starting at pointed end.  Place rolls, seam side down, side by side in a greased 9” x 5” x 3” loaf pan.  Beat eggs, milk, and salt & pepper.  Pour egg mixture over chiles and top with remaining cheese.  Bake in preheated 375 degree oven 35 – 40 minutes until puffed, browned and firm.  Heat salsa and spoon over chiles when serving.  Serves 4.  For variation a thin slice of ham can be added to the cheese filling.

Culture Clips

La Mitad del Mundo - the middle of the world – what a provocative phrase!  It’s associated with the country Ecuador, which, of course, means equator.  I’m here with my adult son, 30 minutes north of Quito, and we’re anxious to do the ultimate tourist thing and see all the effects of this famed line. We cross Geodesic Avenue, where there are statues of the scientists who measured the line. The place itself is a complex of museums and shops that was constructed to mark the equator and celebrate this important geographic marking. The 96 feet high Equator Monument is the focus of the square, topped by a brass sphere representing the world, from where a painted line stretches out on either side marking the equator that divides the world into the northern and southern hemispheres. Also on the square is a set of weighing scales to illustrate the fact that one loses a bit of weight on the equator, being further from the center of the planet’s gravity than usual. The landmark is located here because a French geodesic expedition in 1736 did measurements and determined that it is in fact the location of the equator. In truth, they were off by about 250 meters, but it’s close enough.   We absolutely must have our picture taken, with one foot in the Southern Hemisphere and one foot in the Northern Hemisphere.  We also are guided to pose in a special way with our hands so that it looks as if the world sphere representation is poised on our hands.  What great pictures to take home!

Next we head to the nearby museum, Museo Solar Inti Nan.  The night before, in our Quito hotel, my son could hardly wait to flush a toilet and observe if the water really did go counterclockwise when you’re south of the equator.  It did!  And in the museum we see even more illustrations of this water movement.  On one side of the line the water drains clockwise.  On the other side it drains counterclockwise…amazing!  We even stand on the “true” equator (measured by GPS) in the museum and balance an egg on the head of a nail at Latitude O.  I feel as though I’m in a Mr. Wizard episode!

Tomorrow we will travel again outside of Quito, but this time to the renowned Saturday market of Otavalo.  We’re anticipating a spectacularly scenic drive with Andean vistas, and we plan to spend the night in a colonial hacienda, Hacienda Cusín, established in 1602.  Not only is my Spanish being stimulated on this trip, but I’m also seeing diverse geographical beauty and enriching my scientific knowledge…as well as just having a darned good adventure!

Language Link’s Latest

Lots of news for 2007!  We can now pre-arrange many excursions in Guatemala, including overnight visits to Lake Atitlán and Chichicastenango…even add canopy tours (zip lines) to our popular Tikal trips.  Lacunza in San Sebastian will now offer the option of a residence hall in July.  IH Barcelona is offering a creative arts course combined with intensive Spanish.  Another new program is called Spanish Out There.  This course provides students with the opportunity to learn expressions and phrases in the classroom and then immediately put them into practice “out there” in Barcelona.  Riviera Maya in Playa del Carmen now has a combo Spanish and Latin dance course.  They also offer a two week teacher training course for non-native teachers of Spanish.  Amauta of Cusco has moved its second location to Taray, a small village only 20 minutes from the famous market in Pisac, located in the Sacred Valley.  Academia Hispánica in Córdoba, Spain, will offer two new courses - Spanish and Flamenco Dance/Guitar, and a Buen Apetito Course of Spanish and Mediterranean Cooking.  Intercultura of Costa Rica now offers wi fi on its Heredia campus.  CLIC of Seville also offers wi fi, as well as a Flamenco Dance and Spanish course.  SLI of Cuernavaca offers a Medical Spanish course and a Legal Spanish course.  ILEE of Argentina has a new medical program, as well as an internship program.

OJO (Special Deals)

            It’s the last two months for our contest with a prize of two weeks of free study and housing in Costa Rica. Intercultura has two locations – Heredia in the mountains or Sámara on the beach.  Just enter your name and comment through our contest box on our website.  We will announce our winner in November.

            New 2007 prices will be posted on the website by Oct. 15.  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.

The International Guide Academy’s class (in English), which certifies international tour managers and will be held on the alternate campus of SLI in Cuernavaca in February 2007, is already half filled!  See www.bepaidtotravel.com  If you do enroll in IGA’s course, Language Link will waive your $100 registration fee to participate in SLI’s Spanish course either before or after the tour manager course of one week.

Rhythm & Book Blurbs

Book – The Mapmaker’s Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder and Survival in the Amazon, by Robert Whitaker.  Don’t be misled by the title. This is a well told account of exploration and scientific discovery in the Amazon during the 18th century. Most of the book is concerned with a team of French mapmakers' investigation to determine the exact size and shape of the Earth, which was a crucial scientific question of the day. The mapmakers' explorations, mainly around the Amazon, are brought vividly to life, and the book is beautifully illustrated with drawings of the exploration and other scenes of the times.

Music – Lunático (named after a horse owned by tango legend Carlos Gardel) by Gotan Project, a Franco-Suizo-Argentine trio of tech-friendly artists.  In this marvelous album electronic music meets tango excellence.  It’s fusion music with subtle percussion, hypnotizing acoustic guitars and seductive Spanish vocals.

To purchase these selections please go to the Language Link Shop. 
Been There, Loved That

PLFM of Antigua, Guatemala – I attended PLFM for three weeks, and every day I still think about my wonderful experience in Antigua and the outstanding instruction offered by PLFM. – Grant Kolb, Cameron NC

Intercultura of Heredia and Sámara Beach, Costa Rica - I went to Intercultura in 2002 and it remains one of the greatest adventures of my life. - Carrie Williams, Franklin, TN

Academia de Español Quito, Ecuador – As a high school Spanish teacher, I found the Academia in Quito, Ecuador to be just what I needed to sharpen my proficiency skills.  The one on one instruction and the homestay were wonderful!  - Jeanne DuLaney, VA

CLIC of Seville, Spain – I studied in Seville through Language Link, and I would love to make another trip there!  The city is beautiful. -  Krithi Rao, TX

Becari of Oaxaca, Mexico - I had my first study abroad experience in Oaxaca, Mexico at the age of 31.  Making my plans through Language Link was easy and reassuring.  I learned a lot of Spanish and had a truly life changing experience.  - Emlea Chanslor, Austin, TX

Spanish Language Institute of Cuernavaca, Mexico - I attended the Spanish Language Institute in Cuernavaca, Mexico, several years ago and still think of it as one of the best experiences of my life!  Now that I am teaching English as a second language I can truly appreciate how effective my SLI teachers were. - Terri Weintraub, FL

Likeable Links

http://geography.about.com/library/misc/blequator.htm   Basic facts about the equator

http://www.ecuador-images.net/monument.equator.htm  Great pictures of the monument

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador  General information on Ecuador

http://www.geographia.com/ecuador/index.htm  More general information on Ecuador, with geographical overview

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 Slater, Director Latin America Office/Meredith Butler, Director U.S. Office, Language Link, P.O.B. 3006, Peoria, Illinois 61612 USA, NEW Fax 309.673.9221 NEW Worldwide 309.673.9220       SAME AS ALWAYS Toll free 800.552.2051
info@langlink.com        ¡Hasta luego!