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.

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.