Monday, December 10, 2012

Why Boys Don't Study Abroad

Oye, chicos!! Check out this article:

http://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroad/where-boys-why-boys-dont-study-abroad

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Pueblo, the series

Check out this hilarious web series about teaching English in Spain.

http://www.pueblotheseries.com/

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Andalucia

A few videos of Andalucia in southern Spain...

And this last one is of Fuengirola, where I used to live.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

En 1492....

Image from: http://spanishyeah.tumblr.com/image/35688172475

A fun tumblr

Check out this awesome tumblr!

http://spanishyeah.tumblr.com/

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Mexico's president tries to change country's name

E. EDUARDO CASTILLO, Associated Press

Updated 6:42 p.m., Thursday, November 22, 2012

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's president is making one last attempt to get the "United States" out of Mexico — at least as far as the country's name is concerned.

The name "United Mexican States," or "Estados Unidos Mexicanos," was adopted in 1824 after independence from Spain in imitation of Mexico's democratic northern neighbor, but it is rarely used except on official documents, money and other government material.

Still, President Felipe Calderon called a news conference Thursday to announce that he wants to make the name simply "Mexico." His country doesn't need to copy anyone, he said.

Calderon first proposed the name change as a congressman in 2003 but the bill did not make it to a vote. The new constitutional reform he proposed would have to be approved by both houses of Congress and a majority of Mexico's 31 state legislatures.

However, Calderon leaves office on Dec. 1, raising the question of whether his proposal is a largely symbolic gesture. His proposal was widely mocked on Twitter as a ridiculous parting shot from a lame-duck president.

Calderon said that while the name change "doesn't have the urgency of other reforms," it should be seen as a relevant issue. "Mexico doesn't need a name that emulates another country and that no one uses on a daily basis," he said.

The United States looms larger than perhaps any other country in the Mexican cultural imagination: Mexicans follow U.S. sports teams, watch U.S. television shows and buy U.S.-made products. For many, however, there is also resentment of a larger and more powerful northern neighbor that's often seen as ignoring or looking down its nose at Mexico.

Calderon has tried to keep Mexico's international image, and its vital tourism industry, from being tarred by the waves of violence set off by his six-year, militarized offensive against drug cartels. At least 47,500 people have died in cartel-related violence during his term in office, although the number is believed to be far higher, since his administration stopped releasing an official count last year.

A poll released this week by the Vianovo consulting firm said that half of all Americans view Mexico unfavorably and more than 70 percent believe it's unsafe to travel south of the border. The poll of 1,000 adults had a margin of error of four percentage points.

"It's time for Mexicans to return to the beauty and simplicity of the name of our country, Mexico," Calderon said. "A name that we chant, that we sing, that makes us happy, that we identify with, that fills us with pride."

Thursday, November 1, 2012

"I Just Look Illegal"

Sergio Romo not afraid to speak his mind

Neal J. Riley

Updated 11:32 p.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Giants championship parade was a sea of orange and black, but it was Sergio Romo's blue T-shirt that had everyone talking.

"I Just Look Illegal," read the shirt Romo wore as he soaked in the cheers from fans along the parade route. Romo has referred to his Mexican heritage in the past by wearing a "Made in the USA With Parts From Mexico" T-shirt.

Though he didn't specifically mention the shirt, Romo praised the team's and the Bay Area's multicultural makeup while addressing the crowd at Civic Center Plaza.

"Look at the diversity ... the different faces from different places, the different strokes," said Romo, who was born in Brawley, about 30 miles north of the California-Mexico border, and played winter baseball in Mexicali. "We all had one, how do you say, dream. ... You should be proud. ... I am very proud."

The provocative shirt had parade viewers headed to eBay and other online vendors selling the design. More than 100 people ordered the $12 shirt Wednesday from Wicky Tees of Los Angeles. Founder Jack Chan said he usually only gets five to 10 orders a day.

"For some reason, my sales went 'boom,' " said Chan, who never even heard of Romo until Wednesday. "It's been a very busy

Supervisor John Avalos, a third-generation Mexican American and an advocate for undocumented immigrants, said Romo doesn't have to worry about being racially profiled in the city.

"It's not like he's in Arizona," Avalos said. "San Francisco's a sanctuary city."

Romo's political fashion statement was also praised by immigration activists on Twitter.

"You cannot tell who looks 'illegal,' " tweeted Jose Antonio Vargas, an undocumented immigrant, activist and journalist. "No human being is illegal."

Neal J. Riley is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: nriley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @realdealneal

1st Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle / SF
2nd Photo: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images / SF

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/giants/article/Sergio-Romo-not-afraid-to-speak-his-mind-3998592.php#ixzz2B10cf8NA

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Cafe Tacuba

In her blog for chapter 5, Sonia mentions she is going to a concert. The group is called Cafe Tacuba.

¿Cuál de estos videos te fascina? Please comment below.

Como te extraño

Eres

Monday, October 29, 2012

New Syllabus

Due to Hurricane Sandy, the syllabus has been changed. You will find the update version here:
https://www2.bc.edu/debbie-rusch/015.htm#October

La Sandy viene!!

Check out Hurricane Sandy en español!

http://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2012/10/29/5-cosas-que-debes-saber-sobre-la-llegada-de-sandy/

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Just for fun...

Feliz viernes y buen fin de semana. :)

Concordancia

What is concordancia?
Concordancia is the agreement between masculine and feminine, singular and plural of words. This applies to nouns and their articles, adjectives, subject and verb, etc.

Here are a few activities to practice concordancia:

http://www.spanish.cl/Grammar/Games/Adjetivos.htm

http://www.editorialteide.es/elearning/Primaria.asp?IdJuego=1769&IdTipoJuego=2

http://www.myspanishgames.com/fun-Spanish-grammar/adjectives.html

Please be sure to look at the activities on the Claro que si website (cengage.com).

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Paulina Rubio - Causa y efecto

Paulina Rubio is a Mexican singer who "has sold over 20 million of records around the world, and is considered one of the most influential Latin celebrities in the world" (Wikipedia). Check out two of Paulina's other hit songs, "Me gustas tanto" and "Boys Will Be Boys."

Enrique Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra - Cuando Me Enamoro

Enrique Iglesias is a Spanish singer, songwriter and occasional actor of Spanish and Filipino descent, popular in both the Latin market and the Hispanic American market in the United States. He is the son of the famous Spanish singer Julio Iglesias. (Wikipedia)

Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer from the Dominican Republic who has sold over 30 million records, and won numerous awards including 12 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards. (Wikipedia)

Monday, September 24, 2012

No hay 2 sin 3 - Cali & El Dandee - Fútbol al estilo español

Every four years the European national soccer teams compete for the Euro Cup. Spain won four years ago in 2008. The team then went on to win the World Cup in 2012. This song, "No hay 2 sin 3," the official song for the event, became widely popular before heading off to defend their title in the 2012 Euro Cup. The title translates to "there's not two without three," referring to the number of championships in a row they were aiming to win. In July 2012, the Spanish team did in fact win their third consecutive championship.

See all music videos Cali & El Dandee

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Study Abroad: Start Thinking About It Now!

Anyone who has studied abroad can tell you it was one of the best experiences of their life. I myself went to Sevilla, Spain for the academic year. That year changed my life; not only did I improve my Spanish, but I learned so much about myself. When you are abroad you face all new challenges. You'll learn to find your way across the city, how to catch a bus to visit a small pueblo, which bakery has the best bread, what to order in the local restaurant, etc. I cannot stress enough how important it will be as a part of your undergraduate career.

Start planning now! Depending on the program, you may need to meet certain requirements to be eligible to study abroad. Make sure you are on track now to avoid any predicaments.

BC Annual Study Abroad Fair, Wednesday, September 19, Conte Forum. Doors open at 6 pm.

Office of International Programs:
http://www.bc.edu/offices/international/

BC programs in Spanish-speaking countries:

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Don't forget the accents!

This week we are introducing the concept of accents. Have no fear! BC Spanish Accents is here! Check out this great website for extra practice:

http://spanishaccents.bc.edu/

If you think you can't hear the accent, try exaggerating the accent on each syllable till you get the right one. We will do this in class so you get the idea.

You may be wondering why accents are important anyway, but the truth is that a word written with or without an accent mark can completely change the meaning. Here is a website that lists a few key words that change depending on the accent (and therefore how the are pronounced).

http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/09/30/why-accent-marks-are-important-in-spanish/

Friday, September 7, 2012

Abecedario

Thought I would forward this on as a way to learn the alphabet. Maybe download it and listen to it in the gym? Just an idea... :)

Abecedario
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhYKuKA0qLo

Thursday, September 6, 2012

How to "mejorar" your Spanish

Things you can do to improve your Spanish (and therefore get a better grade!)

1. Do not translate! Try to think in Spanish. Let yourself absorb everything without fighting it.
2. Make flashcards. Do not use English on them! Instead, use pictures or keywords. For example: "pasta de dientes" and draw a picture of Crest; you'll know it's toothpaste without needing to translate.
3. Talk to yourself in Spanish. all. the. time. This may sound crazy, but if you keep a running commentary in your head of everything we are learning at the moment, you'll be practicing without needing to sit down and study.
4. Listen to music in Spanish and read along with the lyrics.
5. Watch your favorite TV shows in Spanish. You have already seen the episodes in English, so you will be able to follow what's going on - and learn new vocabulary while you're at it!
6. Change your Facebook, phone, etc into Spanish. Instead of "liking" something, you'll start to "me gusta" it!
7. Get an "intercambio" - a language exchange friend. There are plenty of BC students who come from Latin America, the Caribbean or Spain. Make friends with them and get together once a week. Speak only in Spanish for 30 minutes and then only in English for 30 minutes. You will both benefit from the experience and have a great time!
8. Volunteer in a Spanish-speaking community. You'll get to see first-hand the issues that exist right here in Boston and talk to local people who live a tough reality every single day. You'll learn that learning a new language doesn't just mean new vocabulary, but rather it will give you a whole new perspective on life.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Bienvenidos!

Hola a todos!

Just wanted to share the link to the syllabus:

https://www2.bc.edu/debbie-rusch/015.htm

You can find other useful links on the left side of the page. I will post videos, songs, extra activities, etc that you can explore.

I know we will all have a great year together! Please stop by Lyons 308 if you have any questions or just want to chat!

Emmalie