The History of Guatemala’s Central Bank: El Banco de Guatemala
Did you know that a man named Orellana single-handedly restructured Guatemala’s economy by creating the Banco de Guatemala (the central bank of Guatemala)? He also created the Quetzal—Guatemala’s currency—and fought multiple people who were benefiting from a defeated financial system. What is a central bank? It is an entity that possesses the monopoly on the production...Read More
Why Can I Understand More Spanish Than I Can Speak?
Can you understand more Spanish than you can speak? I hear this often from my students. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people around the world can understand a language but not speak it. They fully comprehend others, watch movies, and read in the language, but when it comes to speaking, they’re not able to construct one correct sentence. Sound familiar? Does...Read More
What Is Spanglish? Is It a Real Language?
I bet you’ve heard of Spanglish, the language that mixes Spanish and English. This hybrid has three cultures behind it, and it’s actually a response to a communication need. Is it a real language? No! But even though Spanglish isn’t a language, it’s well known and accepted everywhere. Livin’ La Vida Loca, the famous Spanglish song by Ricky Martin, was a worldwide...Read More
8 Romantic Poems in Spanish for Valentine’s Day
Are you looking for a unique way to woo your loved one this February? There’s no greater romantic gesture than a heart-felt, or comedic, love poem. Spanish is one of the best tools when it comes to rhythmic and expressive writing. This language enabled great poets like Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca to create famous Spanish poems about love, romance, and loss. ...Read More
History of ‘Don Quixote’ Author Cervantes and His Buried Remains
Some might say that Miguel de Cervantes was even more interesting than his eternally famous protagonist Don Quixote. The Spanish author lived a life of action and danger: battling as a soldier, surviving as a slave, stealing as a tax collector, and then gaining fame as a writer. Cervantes was a novelist, playwright, and poet who changed the course of modern literature. Just as he did in...Read More
How Many People in the World Speak Spanish?
Have you ever wondered how much of the world speaks Spanish? According to Spain’s Cervantes Institute, close to 8% of the world’s population speak Spanish. Even more impressive is how Spanish ranks as the fourth most spoken language in the world, behind only English, Hindi, and Mandarin Chinese. Just think of the opportunities you’ll get from learning to speak...Read More
Tecún Umán: The National Hero of Guatemala
Since 1961, Tecún Umán has been celebrated as a Guatemalan National Hero. Every February 20, the government and other groups host celebrations and activities to honor this exceptional human. Keep reading to find out why! Who was Tecún Umán? Tecún Umán was born around 1500 in the territory today known as the Guatemalan highlands—there are some of the most beautiful volcanoes...Read More
Why Latin American Spanish Is Easier to Learn
Are you asking yourself, “should I learn Latin American Spanish or Spain Spanish?” This informative guide breaks down the subtle differences between the two styles to help you choose the right one! If you’re a new Spanish learner, Latin American Spanish is by far the best dialect to study. With its clear accents and slower pronunciation, Latin American Spanish is ideal for...Read More
Spanish vs Italian: Which One Should You Learn?
Are Spanish and Italian similar? Are there many differences between Spanish and Italian? Just how close is Italian to Spanish? Italian and Spanish have a lexical similarity of 82%, which means they’re highly similar. While I personally think that Italian sounds more romantic than Spanish, Spanish is more practical than Italian since it’s spoken in 21 countries and it is the...Read More