Language Link
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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.

A notice that our Language Link offices in the U.S. and Mexico will be closed April 4 – 13 (Semana Santa). We will monitor email and messages.

Comment regarding your safety in Mexico – Please know that we continue to recommend all our Mexico locations in regard to your personal safety. We continue to receive large numbers of individual students and high school and university groups in Mexico, and there have been no problems whatsoever. In fact, the U.S. dollar is now quite strong against the Mexican peso. It’s a great time to study in Mexico!

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

For in Spanish Depends Upon What It’s For!
      It sounds so simple. You once see that para is the equivalent of the English for. So you start using it as an exact translation every time you want to say for. Sorry…it just doesn’t work that way. I’ve many times had to squelch the teacher in me and not correct someone who is saying Gracias para todo (it should be Gracias por todo) or when in a restaurant someone orders and says por mí (it should be para mí).
Para and por cannot simply be thought of as the English “for”, as they are both very rich in meaning. To use them successfully you must think beyond the surface word of for and think of the meaning. Para is the easier, more limited one. Think of it as handing something to someone, as destination of an object. Este regalo es para ti. Other uses are: 1. For the purpose of or in order to 2. Directed to (here’s the dinner order – las enchiladas para mí, por favor). 3. In the direction of when talking about a place. Voy para México este fin de semana. 4. Meaning by when it’s a time in the future. Necesito las camisas para el viernes.
      In a very broad sense you can think of por as being more inward and para with an arrow pointing outward. A really frequent thing to say is Gracias por todo. In this sense, it means in exchange for. Other uses with this exchange idea are in buying things. ¿Cuánto por el libro? Pagué 10 dólares por el regalo.
     Think of por as having these extended meanings: Movement along, through, around, by or about: Caminé por toda la ciudad. Háblame por teléfono. Time or duration when something occurs. Estudié por 2 horas. Cause (not the purpose) of an action: La compañía fracasó por la economía. Per: Diez por ciento. 10%  Supporting or in favor of: Voté por él como presidente. For the sake of: Se sacrificó por el honor. Agent of an action meaning by. Fué escrito por Shakespeare. Means of transportation: Me gusta viajar por tren.
       There are many idioms with por: por cierto – certainly, por primera vez - for the first time, por todas partes – everywhere, por fin – at last, por eso – therefore, por lo general – generally, as a rule, por dentro – inside, palabra por palabra – word for word, por supuesto – of course, por casualidad – by chance, por mi parte – as for me, por lo menos – at least, por allí– around there, that way, por adelantado – in advance
      And don’t forget to distinguish between Por qué, meaning why and Para qué, meaning for what purpose.

Cocina Cooking

      Calabazitas Mexicanas This is  a popular dish for Lent in Mexico. Just omit the sausage to make it meatless. Serves 4
      Ingredients: 2 cloves minced garlic, a diced medium yellow onion, 1 T. olive oil, 1 small red pepper cored, seeded and diced, 1 small green pepper cored, seeded and diced, one 81/2 oz. drained can sweet corn, one 15 oz. can tomato sauce, 1 lb. bulk Italian pork sausage, 2 medium zucchini 7-8 inches each, 8 oz. shredded Monterey Jack pepper cheese, 1 T. ground cumin, 1 T. chili powder, 2 T. chopped fresh cilantro, salt and pepper to taste
      Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Halve zucchini lengthwise and scoop out pulp, leaving a 3/8 inch thick shell. Pour half of tomato sauce in bottom of an oven proof baking dish. Place shells cut side up in dish. Heat olive oil in large skillet and sauté garlic, onion and peppers until softened. Crumble sausage into skillet and brown. Drain grease and combine all remaining ingredients and sausage except the cheese. Fill shells equally with sausage and vegetable combination, topping each with ¼ of the cheese. Place dish in oven and bake about 30 mins. until zucchini is tender. Enjoy…meatless or not.

Culture Clips

     We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open. -- Jawaharal Nehru 

Semana Santa in Antigua: Sawdust Carpets – Hold the Vacuum Cleaner!
      Meredith and I are in Antigua during Semana Santa (in 2009 it’s April 5 – 12), a long cherished wish! We’re meeting with all our friends at PLFM, but it’s this special week which is the biggest draw for us. It’s one of the most interesting cultural events either one of us has ever witnessed. People come from all over the world to experience Holy Week in Antigua. Tomorrow is the biggest day for processions, and we plan to start at 4:00 am to watch the making of the famous alfombras. So first, a carpet primer.
     There are two basic kinds of procession carpets, ones made from colored sawdust and ones made from just about anything else. This would include flowers, pine needles, fruit, vegetables, rocks, dolls, candles and other objects. In some cases there are combinations of all materials.
     The carpets are made by residents, friends, and families along processional routes. They are offered up as a sacrifice in anticipation of the procession that will destroy them by marching through the painstaking and fantastic creations. When one procession has gone by, a clean-up crew follows removing the remains. Almost immediately residents may begin to build yet another carpet in anticipation of the next procession later that day or the next. Carpets are also made inside churches. Carpets in the churches are made for the holy vigils [velaciones] and are made by brotherhoods [hermandades].
      The themes for the carpets are usually religious. Crosses and hearts are common symbols but the sky is the limit here. There are also political motifs and the occasional Mayan themed carpet.
      The custom of making carpets was brought from Spain and the Canary Islands. However, it is believed that in pre-Hispanic times the Maya made carpets for various ceremonial reasons. Possibly the carpets were used in altars to induce positive energies and absorb negative ones. Thus the constant destruction of the carpet is necessary to remove bad energies and bring new positive ones with the construction of a new carpet or offering. 
      Meredith and I are fascinated with the process. To build a sawdust carpet the first thing they do is get the materials. The sawdust comes in bags. If you are walking down a cobble-stone street and see a bunch of bags leaned up against a wall, there is going to be a carpet built there soon. When they are ready to build they block off the street. Before laying the base, the spot is washed with a garden hose. There are a number of reasons for doing this. Obviously it cleans the area prior to building. It also holds down the sawdust base, gluing it to the street. The Maya also believe that water absorbs evil energies, and then evaporates into the ethers.
      A frame of 2 x 4s is made, and a layer of raw sawdust is poured in to make the carpet level, as the streets are not flat. After the frame and base layer are complete it is time to put the design on. Some people work off the top of their heads while others have a drawing. It depends on how many carpets you have made. Templates are used for repetitive design elements and some of the pictures. Some pictures are done by hand without the aid of a template. The templates are laid down on the base sawdust and colored sawdust is poured in through the cut-outs in the template to produce the design element. The template is then moved and more elements made, until completed. Templates are quite often used for repetitive bordering. Each carpet making fraternity has its own tools. This consists of numerous pails, sifters, templates and small "cookie-cutters" to make design elements and a host of leveling devices akin to masons working with concrete.
      Quite often flowers are cut just prior to the building of the carpets. Some people have gardens with particular flowers planted to bloom during Holy Week. Most buy their flowers or get their fruits and vegetables from the market or family and friends with farms. Non-sawdust carpet builders do not use templates and usually eye-out their geometric designs or use a measuring tape.
       After a carpet is made it is sprayed with water again, to hold it together and remove any negativity. Size and complexity depends largely on the size of your workforce and the amount of money raised to buy materials. Some families gain notoriety for making their creations year after year. Although not a competition, the Antigüeños are a competitive people and one cannot wonder if the competitive process is not playing out here on different levels. 
       After a crew has made their carpet they often sit close by to watch the reaction of passerbys. Some areas turn into street-parties with the carpet makers tipsy with alcohol, but most often it is a family affair with devout Catholics at the helm. Stopping and taking pictures makes the carpet maker's day. Telling them that their creation is amazing brings warm smiles. Offering the carpet makers a donation for their outstanding work generally brings astonishment, and surprisingly most will not accept your money. 
       The two main cities that hold the greatest processions are Antigua and Guatemala City. Antigua is, however, the place to be during Holy Week. We’re so glad we finally made it here during this special time! It’s an amazing sight, just another one in our Language Link world.

Language Link's Latest

      If you’re a parent, we encourage you to give your child the gift of a second language. We have a full array of teen programs, and in some schools we also welcome younger children who are traveling and studying with their parents. Our independent teen programs are located in: Heredia and Sámara Beach, Costa Rica; Cuernavaca, Mexico, Tarragona, Seville, San Sebastián and Vejer de la Frontera in Spain. See all details under our Teen Section on our website.
     The winners of the annual Wanderlust Travel Awards, as voted by the readers of the magazine, were announced recently at Destinations travel show in London. Antigua in Guatemala grabbed the Top City accolade for the best city travel destination.  Way to go, Antigua! We’ve always known you were a fascinating place. You can read the full list of winners and runners-up here http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/.
      Our exciting contest for two weeks of free classes and homestay in one of our most highly rated programs, the Spanish Language Institute of Cuernavaca, Mexico, continues. Just enter your name and a brief comment through our contest box on the website, and cross your fingers that you’ll be the lucky one. You’ll enjoy six hours daily of Spanish group classes and a homestay with private room and two meals daily. We’re even including a dinner out in one of Cuernavaca’s fabulous garden restaurants with director Kay Godfrey as your culinary host. Dream of the sublime climate of Cuernavaca, excellent Spanish instruction, and enter your name!
      See all details of our new program in Guadalajara on our website under the Mexico section.

OJO (Special Deals!)

      Discount on teen program in Spain for siblings! Summer is finally coming and that means that it's almost time for International House Tarragona's Summer Program for Teens, among others. Don't forget, parents, that in times of economic turmoil speaking another language puts students a step ahead. Our program in Tarragona (operated through International House Barcelona) is now offering a 5% discount for siblings who book together, as long as they book before April 30th. To get a better look at what this program has to offer, check out the program’s podcast at http://blogs.ihes.com/tarragona/
      A program still continuing and offering you up to $1,500 to travel to one of our programs!  Make free travel part of your study-abroad program to Mexico (Cuernavaca, Guadalajara, Oaxaca) or Guatemala (Antigua). By participating in the TREK research study, you can take local language classes and cultural studies while helping others. In the cities above, a local physician’s office is participating in the TREK research study to determine if an investigational patch will prevent Travelers’ Diarrhea. Individuals or groups may be considered for participation in this study if they meet the following criteria:
• Male or female between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age
• In general good health
• Visiting Mexico or Guatemala for at least 7 days between May 2009 and June 2010
• Willing to maintain a daily study diary for 17 days
Qualified participants will receive travel compensation up to $1,500; either applied to travel plans/accommodations or provided to you upon completed study requirements
If you are interested in learning more about this research study, please contact the TREK Research Study Help Desk at 1.866.792.TREK, or log on to www.trekresearchstudy.com. Please mention that you plan to study through Language Link at your chosen location from those listed above.
     As a promotion for our new program in Guadalajara, Language Link will give a 5% discount on classes (private or group) at IMAC of Guadalajara for the first 20 Language Link students to enroll (minimum 2 week study). We still are within this first 20 number. It’s a little incentive, but enough to cover the cost of an excursion to explore this great area. Of course, you can also use this little bonus to do tequila sampling if you choose! If your study is in the summer months of June, July or August, you can add two free excursions – Tequila and Guachimontones. It’s IMAC’s way of welcoming you to their fine school. We might add that this discount makes your class cost cheaper than if you were to enroll directly with the school. Language Link never adds on any cost to your study, but this arrangement for the first lucky 20 makes it even a better value.

Rhythm & Book Blurbs

Book
Guatemala: A Journey Through the Land of the Maya (Paperback) by Michael Shapiro and Kraig Lieb
      Michael Shapiro's lyrical text paints a vivid picture of Guatemala and when combined with Kraig Lieb's evocative photography the result is a stunning portrait.
      This book makes me want to jump on the next plane to Antigua. --Robert Holmes, National Geographic Photographer and two-time Travel Photographer of the Year.
(This book makes a fantastic gift for all - globe trotter, armchair traveler, anthropology enthusiasts, photographers, and past students of PLFM. There are thousands of you out there!)
Music
Marimba Music of Guatemala by Chapinlandia
      Steeped in centuries of tradition, Marimba Chapinlandia and its music express the "modern" marimba sound that took shape around the turn of the 20th century. Its catchy melodies, sentimental harmonies, and dance rhythms are the signature of Guatemala's national musical instrument that drew from the African, Indian, and Ladino (Creole) roots of Central America's colonial past. For festive occasions or casual listening, the marimba expresses Guatemalan sentiment like no other music. 36-page booklet with photos, 19 tracks, 75 minutes
     All recommended books and music are available through the Language Link Shop on our website.

Been There, Loved That

     PLFM of Antigua, Guatemala – Because the teaching is one on one, I tailored my classes directly to my needs. I spent four weeks talking and being talked to with correction as needed and grammar exercises only for specific points. With my teacher I visited historical sites. It was a superior experience. - Dr. Jennifer Waelti-Walters, Artist and Retired Professor, Victoria BC, Canada
      My experience was Superior Plus. I’d been here 9 years ago and wouldn’t go to another school. This one is very professional, yet friendly. I know I'm getting my dinero's worth. These teachers know their stuff, better than many accredited English teachers know English in the U.S. My instructors were very professional and willing to accommodate my needs. – Brenda Loree, Newspaper Reporter, Ventura, California
      Academia de Español of Quito, Ecuador – My experience was superior. I am very glad that I did the Activa program. Not only did it extend the length of study because the teacher I went with was very helpful in further instruction, but I also got to see a lot of places in the shortest period of time. My host family was very good about interacting with me and invited me to go with them to a couple of evening events they were attending. – Steve Barrymore, Advertising Manager, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
       Intercultura of Heredia, Costa Rica - Our trip to Heredia, Costa Rica was fabulous... What we loved the most was the host family, The entire family was so kind and the hospitality was outstanding. We felt very safe walking to school every day and enjoyed the school's cleanness and beauty. In the afternoon I had a private lesson with another instructor and she was wonderful. Overall, we loved the experience, the food, the Ticos, the open air market and the local restaurants.... Thanks to Language Link, your service was top notch and very efficient!
- Van Sanders, Accountant, Plymouth, Minnesota
      Spanish Language Institute of Cuernavaca, Mexico – My experience was superior. We had great teachers who taught us extremely difficult Spanish very smoothly and very understandably. – Liri Berglund, Student, Sherman Oaks, California
     ILISA of San José, Costa Rica – Nearly 8 weeks in Costa Rica, longest time away from home, and I had an incredible time. I think this is the best school I have ever attended with the most personal attention and attempt to build a community of language learners. – Maggie McSwiggen, Retired Teacher, Portland, Oregon

Likeable Links

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/2940819.jpg - large picture of a sawdust carpet
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/2940802.jpg - another large picture of a sawdust carpet
http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Guatemala/Antigua/Antigua/blog-264152.html - a very complete blog with many pictures of all the activities of Semana Santa

      We hope you enjoyed our news. Please visit us at www.langlink.com. Call us at 800.552.2051. Central Standard Time with hours 9:00 to 5:00.
Meredith Butler, Director U.S. Office
Kay Godfrey, Director Latin America Office
Language Link, 2008 W. Kellogg Ave., Peoria, IL 61612 USA
Worldwide 309.673.9220, Toll Free 800.552.2051
info@langlink.com, ¡Hasta luego!
 

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