French or Spanish: Which is Easier to Learn, Master, and Speak?
Salut tout le monde! Or should I say hola, instead? If you’re here, it’s because you’re wondering which foreign language to study and to finally answer your burning question once and for all: which language is easier to master, Spanish or French? Undoubtedly, gaining fluency in any foreign language is a considerable task, no matter which language you choose. The good news is that French...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
Spanish for Youth Group
If you grew up (or are still growing up!) in the church, you know that youth group is a big part of the church community. It is a place where teens and pre-teens can come together, find community, have fun, and learn about God in a more relatable way. I personally remember attending several different youth groups because it was a great way to find friends outside of school. One youth group...Read More
Using Sight Words in Spanish
Teaching your little ones to read and write can be hard. My son is not quite that age yet, but I did teach an English as a Second Language class to kids aged 5-8. Some of them could read and write in Spanish, some of them couldn’t. Teaching them the letters and how to sound out words in their second language, English, was quite a struggle! When you’re teaching your own children to learn...Read More
Diphthongs, Triphthongs, and Hiatus
When I was just starting to learn Spanish, I remember that my Spanish teacher told me that each letter has only one sound, and you always pronounce every letter in a word. That was incredibly reassuring when I was just starting to learn the language. However, when I immersed myself in the language, I discovered that when pronouncing some words, you do not enunciate each individual letter....Read More
¿Qué animal es este? Guess Animal Names in Spanish!
A couple of years ago, a friend and I were on a stakeout. We sat in her car for hours on end, eating hotdogs and looking for clues. We found what we were looking for halfway through the second hotdog. A big brown dog was walking in the streets of the neighborhood where we were parked. My friend, Gaby, rescues stray dogs as a hobby. Her house always has at least 5 dogs running around! We were...Read More
You’re Never Too Old to Learn Another Language
We have all heard that if you don’t learn a second or third language when you’re young, then it’s too late. I’m here to tell you that’s not true! The latest research from Brown University has debunked the theory that older people cannot learn new things as easily as younger people. These studies have found that adults can retain information too, they just do it in a different part of the...Read More
Loving Spanish Phrases for Your Significant Other
Whenever you’re learning another language, you may often hit a common stumbling block – being able to truly express what you are feeling. I often struggle with this in both languages now, instead opting for my own version of Spanglish. Unfortunately, not everyone I talk to understands my Spanglish ramblings… including my husband. I have had the amazing opportunity to be completely...Read More