Difficulty: Intermediate
Mexico
Sergio from Monterrey, Mexico tells us about the handmade jigsaw puzzles he makes.
Difficulty: Beginner
Puerto Rico
Luis López Nieves' short story "Seva" takes place during the 1898 US invasion of Puerto Rico, in the fictional town of the same name, Seva. The story, first published in the newspaper Claridad, and which many readers mistook for fact, has sparked a very real debate about culture, identity, history and truth amongst Puerto Ricans of all stripes. The documentary Seva Vive explores these themes.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
History tells us that the 1898 U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico occurred in June and from the south. The fictional short story, Seva, tells a different story, one of an invasion from the east that came a month earlier. A type of musical oral history known as a "copla" mirrors the fictional story.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Historians discuss the extent to which popular myths such as Seva affect people's perception of history in Puerto Rico.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Historians continue to point out logical gaps which call the tale of Seva's accuracy into question.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
What is history? What is fiction? Is history fact? Do people believe history or fiction more readily? These are the kinds of questions critics ask as "Seva Vive" continues.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Puerto Rico
Historians continue to discuss the subjective nature of recorded history and the fine line between fiction and fact.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
Ángeles Morales de las Heras, a.k.a. Shaila Dúrcal, the child of pop stars Rocio Dúrcal and Antonio Morales Barreto, grew up in Madrid but spent much of her life on the road touring the world with her mom. No stranger to the limelight, she debuted on Spanish television at 12, singing for Nikka Costa, who was then 19. Adult success was not immediate, but came quickly with the release of the highly sentimental, Recordando, her second album.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Colombia
The most famous Colombian hips belong to Shakira. In this video we see a lot of the sensual dance and catchy music that have made Shakira’s name known throughout the whole world. Beware the full moon when this lovely she-wolf is on the prowl.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Colombia
Lo hecho está hecho means “What’s done is done,” and what’s done is another international hit from the bilingual diva from Barranquilla. The English language version is called “Did It Again,” and what it did was to give Shakira her 10th consecutive top-40 hit in the UK.
Difficulty: Beginner
Colombia
Shakira certainly knows something of the change-up life. A Colombian, she lives in the Bahamas, dates an Argentinian, switched to English, was a brunette, is now a blonde. In this video for “Gitana” (Gypsy), watch her flirt with Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal as she tells us what fans already know.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Colombia
Shakira serves up another smoking, upbeat song. This one’s about a love triangle, as seen through the eyes of the other woman.
Difficulty: Beginner
Dominican Republic
Si*Sé brings together musical languages such as hip-hop, funk, rock, jazz and even classical violin. Singer Carol C, who grew up in a Spanish language household within an English language city, adds bilingual vocals that pull together the group’s electrifying sound.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
Mexico
Bienvenido al sueño is the first solo effort by the artist formerly known as Rubén Albarrán—of Café Tacuba / Café Tacvba fame. (‘Tacuba’ became ‘Tacvba’ after a lawsuit, according to this Wikipedia entry.) Check out Sizu’s wild video to the album’s title track. Nice hats, no?
Difficulty: Intermediate
Colombia
Take it from the boys in Skampida, the best ways to learn a language are 1) to watch a lot of tv (yabla!) and 2) to find yourself a native girlfriend/boyfriend! Skampida is one of the best bands ever from Bogotá, and we caught up with them while they were spending some time hangeando in The Big Manzana.
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