A Brief, Intriguing History of the Spanish Royal Family
Did you know Spain is the only Spanish-speaking country with a monarchy? The history of the Spanish royal family is as fascinating as it is complex—full of drama, power, and money. In fact, it not only took me two years of college courses related to Spain’s history to understand the intricacies of this old monarchy, but also another five years of living in Madrid. After which I began to...Read More
Who Won the Spanish Civil War? Dates, Leaders, and Battle Facts
The Spanish Civil War was a tragic time period filled with loss, chaos, and destruction. This historic event continues to shape Spain and its future with the important lessons that it has to offer. Dive into Spanish history in this guide that details the civil war’s key players, timeline, and important events. Read on to discover who emerged victorious at the end and how this war...Read More
An Abridged History of St. Francis of Assisi for Your Spanish Learner
Every year on October 4th, people around the world celebrate the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He is one of the most famous and loved Catholic saints. Whether you’ve celebrated the Feast of St. Francis de Assisi all your life or this is your first time, there’s so much to learn, especially in your second language! In this blog post, we’ll briefly review the life of St. Francis,...Read More
5 Beautiful Places to Visit in Antigua Guatemala When Quarantine Ends
The unique beauty of Antigua, Guatemala is hard to match. This old Latin American city, seemingly frozen in time with its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It acquired the heritage status by having been “the cultural, economic, religious, political and educational centre for the entire region until the capital was moved,” according to...Read More
Miguel de Cervantes: The Fascinating History of a Literary Genius
Miguel de Cervantes is the most important and celebrated figure in Spanish literature. His novel Don Quixote has been translated into over 60 languages with editions still printed regularly. Miguel de Cervantes wrote much more than his famous masterpiece, however; he dabbled in a variety of major literary genres. He was a notable short-story writer, and a few gems in his 1613 collection...Read More
The Spanish Philippines: Its History and Influence on 7,000 Islands
When you think of the Spanish language and countries that have been influenced by Spanish, what countries do you think of? Are there any countries outside of Latin America that come to mind? Some areas of the world have endured extreme cultural changes due to colonialism by the Spanish crown, including what once was called The Spanish Philippines. The Spanish Philippines The 7,000...Read More
Hispanic Flags: Symbolism Vocabulary in Spanish
It’s National Foreign Language Week! With so many ways to celebrate this exciting week with your Spanish students, make sure you set aside time for exploring the Hispanic flags. Each flag represents so much, and your students will have a blast with the cultural and historical lessons built into these hands-on, visual activities. Let’s first look at the key vocabulary you need to teach the...Read More