Univisión Android App

Droid does Apps

While I'm not a big fan of most of the shows from "Univisión," I'd like to acknowledge that watching (listening to) them might have value for the study of Spanish. I'm doing a test run of the Univisión app on my Droid.

How else might you use your cell phone/mobile device to study Spanish. The textbook might even offer some MP3's that you can download to your Ipod or cell phone (or computer). I'll check into it.

Los Aslándticos

Acabo de "descubrir" la música del grupo musical Los Aslandticos. La primera canción que escuché fue "El Primer Día." Escúchala. Te va a animar!

If you don't like the first song you hear, try another! This band really "mixes it up" with big band, reggae, rap, rock, and more.

They aren't the only terrific sound out of Córdoba either.

Juan Antonio Samaranch

In the news today...Juan Antonio Samaranch, long-time president of the International Olympic Committee, passed away today. I heard the announcement this morning on National Public Radio. The npr web site carries a story about the changes to the Olympic Committee under his leadership.

I'll be watching Twitter today to see what the newspapers and individuals might be saying. You can follow me (tweets in Spanish)at Profejulia.

Farm Hands

If you are local to the GLOW region supported by Genesee Community College, you might like to attend a book signing and talk by Tom Rivers, local reporter and author of the book Farm Hands.

Weds. April 7, 2010, 7 p.m.

This is a free program. Please register by calling 585-589-4246.

I just finished reading Farm Hands, although I've been following Tom's journey to live and document farm life and labor issues (including immigration issues) for some time. The book is an easy, enjoyable read and it is very informative.

Fiesta!

The following questions are from a "typical" Spanish 102 assignment designed by the FL Department. Students are asked to research a holiday or festival in a Spanish-speaking country and then complete a study guide.

I highly recommend that students conduct their research in Spanish. This is not meant to be a translation exercise. Similarly, starting in Spanish will give them the correct grammar and all of the vocabulary they need, saving time in the long run.

Use an "Advanced" Google search to find pages written in a particular country and pages written in Spanish.

As always, the basic grammar to answer the question is already "found" in the question itself. Take question #1:

1. ¿Cómo se llama el festival?

El festival se llama __________________.

Notice that you didn't have to modify the verb one little bit! It's a "fill in the blank" sort of thing.

Note: Remember to be aware of the gender of the word you choose for "holiday" such as la fiesta, el festival, el día de fiesta, etc.


2. ¿Dónde se celebra?

Se celebra en ___________________.

3. ¿Cuál es la fecha del festival?

La fecha es________________.

4. ¿Es un festival secular o religioso?

Es_______________ (ALL the words you need are already in this question)

5. ¿Cuál es el motivo del festival? ¿Qué celebra el festival?

Which verbs will you employ and which forms? Es and celebra....easy.

More to follow, provided there are comments and questions.

Study Guide Questions - Forming Answers

One CRUCIAL skill that I work to teach my students is "to take words and grammar from a question and use them to form the answer."

Let's look at this practice as it relates to a common SPA101 assignment, the Travel Essay Study Guide.

Study Guide Questions
SPA 101 Cultural Project

1. ¿Adónde vas a ir?

The answer to this question is basically, "fill in the blank" with the name, in Spanish, of the country you are traveling to.

Of course, you have to answer in the "yo" or first person form so you also need to adjust the verb.

Voy a ir a _______________ (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, etc.)

2. ¿Cómo prefieres viajar? ¿Vas en tren? ¿autobús? ¿avión? ¿barco?

ALL the words and grammar you need to answer this question are right there! Only a small verb-form adjustment required.

Prefiero is the "yo" form of preferir. Are you using the resource "500 verbs in Spanish?" Look up the verb and then its present tense forms. There are many, many on-line resources that list Spanish verb forms.

Prefiero viajar en tren. OR Prefiero viajar en barco.

3. ¿Con quién vas a ir?

Again, this is a "fill in the blank" answer. Follow the "ir + a+ infinitive formula to express the future.

Voy a ir con __________________ (mi esposo, mi prima, mi amigo, etc.)

Tomorrow, I'll speak to the next few on the list. Or, perhaps you'd like to ask about a specific question?

Remaining questions:
4. ¿Cuándo es la salida? y ¿Cuáles son las fechas del viaje?
5. ¿Qué tiempo hace en este sitio (this place) en esta estación (season)?
6. ¿Qué necesitas traer?

7. ¿Dónde quieres quedarte (to stay)?
8. ¿Cómo es el hotel?
9. ¿Cuánto cuesta el hotel usando la moneda del país o la región?
10. ¿Cuáles son dos atracciones que vas a visitar? (Un museo, un parque, un monumento etc.)
11. ¿Por qué quieres ir a estas dos atracciones? ¿En tu opinión por qué son interesantes o divertidas?
12. ¿Qué vas a hacer por la noche? (ir al cine, a una discoteca, comer, caminar, explorar etc.)

13. ¿Cómo se llama un restaurante famoso en este sitio (place)?
14. ¿Vas al restaurante para el desayuno, almuerzo o la cena?
15. ¿Qué comida típica de la región vas a pedir?
16. ¿Qué vas a beber en el restaurante?
17. ¿Cuál es la cosa más interesante de tu viaje?
18. ¿Qué aprendes de la cultura de la región que visitas?

El Móvil

You might be someone who still considers the cell phone a luxury. Or, perhaps, you consider it a "necessary evil" or even a good "friend."

I've heard many English words for "cellular device" including cell and mobile phone as well as the brand-specific names like "I-Phone," "Droid" or "Intensity."

In Spain, we refer to the cell phone as "el móvil." IN the States and Mexico, the word "celular" is more popular.


One of my favorite podcasts, "Spanish as a second language" has a wonderful episode where the narrator comments on the many features available on today's cell phone.
Camera. Blue Tooth. Video. Apps. Navigation.

You can read the Spanish version of Verizon's current offers and handheld devices. It's interesting to see how app titles and offers are translated from English to Spanish.

Verizon (Español)

I'm very interested in the ways that students might use their cell phones to learn Spanish. Podcasts and MP3's might be downloaded to the cell in order to study vocabulary and listen to grammar on the road.

Tienes tú celular?

- "Pop" Song in Spanish about the cell phone called "El Celular"