How to Use Your Phone in a Spanish-Speaking Country
When I was a kid growing up in Guatemala, cell phones were not as common as they are today. They were chunky, simple, and almost exclusively used for phone calls. I remember being blown away when phones came out with mp3 players and colored screens. Today, those features are basic on every smartphone. These devices have gone far beyond making and receiving calls, expanding the ways we’re able...Read More
Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Legacy and Impact in Latin America
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of many talents: a smart student, a brilliant speaker, and a peaceful leader to name but a few accomplishments in his life. Due to his brilliance and with respect to his legacy, former President Ronald Reagan signed a bill in 1983 declaring the third Monday of every calendar year to be Martin Luther King Day. Unfortunately, the process of establishing this...Read More
Feuding Fans of Fútbol: Soccer Culture in Latin America
Sports events are riveting and uplifting for spectators and players alike. Do you have a favorite football team? What do you like about them? In Latin America, the most famous sport is fútbol, which actually translates to “soccer.” As a false cognate in English and Spanish, it has a tendency to confuse new learners of both languages. (The cartoon Teen Titans GO has a funny...Read More
Why Missionaries Need Spanish
Working in a Guatemalan city where tourists often frequent has given me the chance to meet numerous different people from all over the world, each with their own unique story of how they ended up coming to the area. A vast majority of them came specifically to learn Spanish or to spend a good part of their time studying the language. These visitors’ motivation to learn Spanish generally falls...Read More
Tipos de música latina/ Types of Latin Music
Latin American music includes a wide variety of sounds that differ in many ways, from the instruments used to create unique sounds to the rhythm and associated dance moves. The music has evolved over the centuries and continues to change today. History of Latin Music Latin American music is influenced by indigenous, Spanish-European, African and, most recently, the United States...Read More
Tortilla Culture in Latin America
A staple of the Central American diet, and the star of every Taco Tuesday, is the modest (yet truly remarkable) tortilla de maíz, or corn tortilla. While we are all pretty familiar with its taste and utility, we may not know much of anything else about this marvelous food. Do you know where the tortilla originated? Or how it’s been made since its creation? And why did copying the corn...Read More
Spook your Spanish-speaking Friends with These Popular Costumes!
Halloween is a celebration of all that’s scary. It’s one of the oldest holidays we celebrate and a personal favorite of mine! Traditionally, Mexico and Central America only celebrated Día de los Muertos on November 1st. Halloween has been celebrated to a lesser extent, and it only became a big holiday in recent years. As the month of October creeps in, you can start to hear people...Read More
Why Bankers Should Learn Spanish
Understanding the American banking system is complicated –even to English speakers who are reading English documents. Banking and lending institutions, along with credit card companies, make it so darn confusing to understand their jargon that it takes research and good guidance (albeit from someone who has your best interest in mind) to understand what is being said and the...Read More
September 15: a Day of Collective Independence
September in Central America is as colorful as any other holiday should be. Weeks before the 15th, the streets, markets, houses, and cars become adorned with hundreds of flags. Cities are dressed in patriotic colors by their citizens. Schools start practicing for the parades and concerts, marching bands can be heard all around town getting ready for the big day when festivities will take...Read More