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Love in the Time of Cholera

Submitted by Nikki on

Title:Love in the Time of Cholera (El amor en tiempos del cólera)
Released:2007

Movie and Plot Summary

I'm still not sure why this movie, based on the magical realism classic by Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Márquez, is in English. It's not just in English, but characters have Spanish accents perhaps only authentic in the case of Spaniard Javier Bardem, while the background dialog is in Spanish. For as authentic as other aspects like scenery and costumes may have been, changing the language that created this beautiful opening line seems like a mistake:

Era inevitable: el olor de las almendras amargas le recordaba siempre el destino de los amores contrariados.

It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love.

Topics: 
Cine - Movies

XXY - Argentine Film About Gender in the Modern World

Submitted by Nikki on

Title: XXY
Released: 2007

Movie and Plot Summary

Being different is rarely easy, especially if you're a 15 year old hermaphrodite. This Argentine film deals with teenage angst and how the decisions we make alter our path.

Fifteen year old Alex faces having to make a decision about her gender when her mother invites a plastic surgeon and his family to stay at their family home by the sea. Alex's father resents the surgeon's presence, and accepts Alex completely as she is. Witnessing the difficulty Alex faces in personal relationships, her father comes to understand the complexity of the situation and society's inability to accept the undefined.

While certainly an interesting film concept, I would recommend XXY to people who like fringe independent movies, not Hollywood moviegoers.

Spanish Language Learning Notes

Topics: 
Cine - Movies
Tags: 
Argentina

Teaching English Worldwide: A New Practical Guide to Teaching English

Submitted by Nikki on

This teaching manual by Paul Lindsay is a wonderful resource not only for people interested in teaching English worldwide, but also people teaching in the US. It's an easy to read step-by-step guide for new language teachers, but I imagine it could be useful for seasoned teachers as well. The content of most Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) courses is covered in this book. So many language books are overly theoretical and academic while Teaching English Worldwide is extremely practical in teaching how to be a language teacher.

Topics: 
libros
Tags: 
Teaching

the house of paper (la casa de papel)

Submitted by Nikki on

I've recently promised myself to stop buying books, even though perusing the shelves of my favorite bookstores is a favorite pastime now bordering a guilty pleasure. I couldn't resist purchasing when I ran across Carlos María Domínguez's short book, the house of paper. It's only fitting that the story is about book lovers, and just so happens to have a Latin American twist.

As readers, we spy on our friends' libraries, if only as a pastime. Occasionally we hope to find a book we want to read but do not have, or to find out what the animal opposite us has devoured. And at home, we leave a colleague sitting in the living room, and return to find him standing there, without fail, sniffing at our books.
-from the house of paper

Topics: 
libros
Tags: 
Uruguay

Welcome to the Denver Spanish House Newsletter!

Submitted by Nikki on

The goal of these newsletters is to share information about relevant Spanish-language cultural events happening in Denver and to recommend movies, books, music and wine from the Spanish-speaking world. Among the events in the Denver area are classes and events offered through the Denver Spanish House.

You can expect:

  1. To receive no more than one newsletter per month.
  2. To never have your email address shared with an outside party.
  3. To get high quality content in each issue and the ability to easily unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive the newsletter.

Denver Spanish House is a language and cultural center with the goal of sharing the Spanish-language and culture of Latin America and Spain in the Denver area.

Summer music recommendation!

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Denver Spanish House newsletter

Advanced Spanish

Submitted by Nikki on

If you've been studying Spanish for a while, take your ability to a new level through the advanced Spanish class. This course will review and practice advanced grammar topics (conditionals, imperfect subjunctive, etc.) and students will be able to speak more in-depth about a wide variety of topics. You will also learn common idioms and expressions in Spanish, and will hear and read authentic materials from native-speakers.

Topics: 
Classes by Ability

Intermediate Spanish

Submitted by Nikki on

If you have a background in Spanish and are proficient with the present tense, take the intermediate series. You will continue getting more comfortable with conversational Spanish, while being able to talk about the past and future. You will also become more proficient in dealing with day-to-day activities and will become able to speak on a simple level about most topics.

Topics: 
Classes by Ability

Spanish for Beginners

Submitted by Nikki on

If the only Spanish you remember from high school is no hablo español, sign up for beginner Spanish. This class is for students with some prior knowledge of Spanish who want to refresh and add on what they know. After taking this class, you will be able to:

  • have simple conversations and interactions
  • handle day-to-day activities
Topics: 
Classes by Ability

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