Aventura

I've recently discovered the music of "Aventura." Their official web site (available in English and Spanish) describes their musical style as...their nouveau sound fuses bachata (a guitar-based Dominican folkloric music sometimes called the “Dominican blues”) with R & B, hip hop and other American pop and urban styles.

I particularly like the series "Amor de Madre" (Parts I and II). The songs tell the story of a fatherless boy who runs with the wrong crowd and lands in jail, only to find himself face to face with his father, who suffered a similar fate.

Escucha aquí

NPR Mexico

NPR is my preferred source for information and news surrounding the drug wars in Mexico.

I find it difficult (but important) to teach on this topic, if merely for the fact that it is such a horrible, sad situation

WORLD
Mexico Drug Cartel Territory
Mexico is the top supplier of marijuana — and also a major supplier of methamphetamines — to the United States. In addition, it is a major transit country for other drugs, including cocaine and heroin, coming from other countries. Mexican cartels have now displaced Colombian groups as the dominant cocaine traffickers in the world. Several drug cartels in Mexico have a part in the process, and often war over territory. As Mexican President Felipe Calderon's administration has attempted to clean up the country and to rid Mexico of the top narco-traffickers, other cartel members have killed thousands in an effort to swoop in on the territory and trafficking routes left behind.

Foreign Service Institute Course Material

The foreign Service Institute has made its foreign language training materials public. The audio of taped courses as well as texts and workbooks have been digitized. These are available free to the public.

My first glance is that some of the material is rather dated. But you might find something helpful in there or at least, feel like a future ambassador or better yet, a spy!

Find it here. Choose Spanish or another language from the extensive list. I can't recommend one Spanish course over another.

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.