The Magic Moves of Bachata Latin Dance: A Beginner’s Guide
Are you into bachata? Or have you never heard of it? Let’s learn more about the meaning, history, and development of the Latin dance craze sweeping the world: bachata! What Is Bachata? Bachata is widely known as a sensual dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. It actually started about 60 years ago, in the early 1960s. Today, it is wildly popular and danced across the globe in...Read More
Cesar Chavez Day: His Tireless Fight for Equality and Economic Justice
Let’s travel back in time to March 31, 1927, in the small city of Yuma, Arizona. On that day almost one hundred years ago, Cesar Estrada Chavez was born to Mexican-American parents. While his parents welcomed him to the world with joy, little did they know the huge influence that their baby boy would have on the United States. He was destined to change the rights of agricultural workers...Read More
Are Latins only in Latin America?
Are Latins only in Latin America? Short answer: no. For a more complete answer, keep reading! Who Put the Roman in Romance In Spanish, latino technically refers to someone (or their descendant) who was from ancient Latium, a region in central-western Italy, and whose language was Latin. Interestingly, Latium is the original name of the territory that eventually founded Rome,...Read More
The Latin American Tradition of Las Posadas
The airy notes of a wooden flute and the ting-tong of a tortoise-shell drum float down the cobblestone street and into the rest of the town. A small crowd promenades through the narrow roads and alleyways, its members dressed warmly to keep out the December night chill. Some carry torches to light the way while others rest poles on their shoulders, supporting the weight of a wooden, altar-like...Read More
A Brief History of Latin America
First of all, where is Latin America? It is the area consisting of Mexico, all of Central America and South America, as well as the Caribbean islands. Most inhabitants speak Spanish or Portuguese, but there are other languages in this region like Indigenous languages, French, English and Dutch. This is a vast area that cannot be defined simply. There are differences in...Read More
Translating Elderly Wisdom: Famous Proverbs in Spanish
The world we live in is a result of the decisions of billions of people across the globe. In one way or another, everything our ancestors did bears some level of influence in modern culture. One of the most compelling aspects of this influence is met through proverbs. The proverbs our grandparents and parents say have an impact on the way we, as a younger generation, think and speak. These...Read More
Guatemala: The Birthplace of Chocolate
The colonial city of Antigua is not only home to Spanish Academy, but it is also the best place in Guatemala to learn about chocolate! The locals have opened up gourmet chocolate shops on many esquinas where sweet-toothed travelers can try various forms of locally-made chocolates. Think spicy chili chocolate, authentic dark chocolate, cinnamon chocolate, and of course, coffee-flavored...Read More
Guatemala: A Glimpse at its Governmental Structure
The government structure is probably not a fun topic for most people. If you’re like me, it brings back memories of my least favorite class in high school – U.S. history. I just could not get interested in the different acts passed, what order the presidents were in, or how the government came to be structured as it is today. I was, however, fascinated by world history; I loved learning about...Read More