Tomarle el pelo a alguien
This wonderful Spanish colloquial expression means to “to fool someone” or “to kid someone”, probably with the intention of teasing them. In English, we might say “to pull someone’s leg”. The origen of the expression “tomarle el pelo a alguien” is uncertain. Some say it has to do with pulling someone’s beard, but others contend […]
Spanish Idiom: “Ver las estrellas”
WHACK!! OUCH!! *&!*%$!! It’s happened to all of us. The culprit might have been contact sports, a low-hanging branch, a rough-housing sibling or a telephone pole that leaped into your path as you wandered along the sidewalk, staring intently at your smartphone and minding your own business. That´s right. I am talking about receiving a […]
Infants Display Surprising Intuition at Identifying Languages
Researchers at the University of British Columbia, Canada, have demonstrated that 11-month old infants can associate the words and phrases they hear with the ethnicity of the speaker. The research was carried out in Vancouver, where 9% of the population speak Cantonese. Researchers played English and Cantonese audios to English-learning Causcasian infants and showed them […]
Major League Baseball Players are Learning Spanish to Communicate with their Latino Teammates
For a very long time, the expectation in the Major League Baseball (MLB) community was that Latino players would learn English upon arriving in the United States. This is still true, but there is now an added element to the communication game. According to an article in the Washington Post, many American baseball players are […]
The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) is Helping Supply China’s Demand for Spanish Speakers
According to an article published by ADN Cultura, there are currently about 50 thousand people studying Spanish in China. Spanish is taught at 135 universities and the Chinese government included it as an optional foreign language (along with French, German and English) in the secondary school curriculum, and in some primary schools. UNAM’s Center for […]
The Need to Learn Spanish in English-speaking Caribbean Islands
People in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago – two Caribbean nations where English is the official language – are starting to recognize the importance and practicality of learning Spanish as a foreign language. In an recent interview with JIS News, the Jamaican Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando […]
What is the SIELE exam?
The SIELE is an international evaluation exam of the Spanish language. Is a unique multilevel test that allows you to obtain the SIELE certificate, a document that includes the score obtained in each of the four tests and their equivalence with the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), as well […]
“I speak Spanish fluently… after a few drinks”
You´ve probably heard this old joke more than once, and maybe you have even cracked it yourself when asked how your online Spanish classes were coming along. The joke is comical because it conjures up the image of an otherwise self-conscious Spanish learner who transforms into an eloquent, inspiring orator after a couple of cocktails. […]
Cincinnati Police Officers Learning Spanish
CINCINNATI – There are few scenarios where conveying clear, concise information is as important as the situations faced by law enforcement officials. It can be a matter of life and death on the street, or it can be building crucial ties with vulnerable elements in the immigrant community. That’s why we were thrilled to read […]
“One can never have enough socks,”
“One can never have enough socks,” said Dumbledore. This is but one of many clever quotes taken from J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”, and if you are both a fan of Harry Potter, and a student of Spanish, you’ll be tickled to learn that you can finally download the first Spanish-language Harry […]