Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to understand younger folks speaking in a language that’s not native to you, and other times it’s extremely easy. Luckily, Zulbany falls into the latter category! Let’s listen while she tells us about her trip to Mérida, up in the Andes.
Difficulty: Newbie
Venezuela
Did you hear the one about the fat lady, the chicken and the drunk old man? Is it ok to say the word “drunk”? Let’s find out!!!
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Zoraida is a big fan of one of Spain’s newest exports, La Oreja de Van Gogh. Besides listening to “Van Gogh’s Ear”, let’s find out what else she likes to do for fun in her spare time… apart from giving interviews!
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Zoraida is a spunky young woman from coastal Venezuela who talks about her recent past and her hopes for the coming year.
Difficulty: Newbie
Venezuela
Zoraida tells us a little more about her plans, both in the coming months but also coming years. She’s interested in learning languages and traveling.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico, Miami
Veronica explains how analyzing situations separately, making conscious decisions and letting go can help us to achieve a sense of calmness in our lives in spite of the many stresses we all face.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico, Miami
Veronica explains to us about a type of therapy that she calls, "psychocorporal reprogramming," which aims to maintain balance within human beings by adjusting how much emphasis is given to their different needs at various times in their lives.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Manuel is a Mexican economics student. Here he tells us about what he likes most about his major, his future plans, and his pastimes.
Difficulty: Beginner
Mexico
Manuel, soon to be a lawyer, tell us about his dreams, his favorite activities, including singing, and about his career.
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Young Taimur’s Spanish is not quite as easy for the non-native as that of his neighborhood pal Zulbani, but he does have a lot of interesting things to say! Listen up, because our young friend presents an opportunity to hear some expressions and turns of phase you may have not heard before.
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Recently the song "Mesa Que Más Aplauda" from the Mexican group Climax had reached coastal Venezuela and was blasting from every bootleg music kiosk and bus stereo. Its catchy, inane, meaningless refrain za za za, yakuza, yakuza was on the lips of every impressionable child from 5 to 50. Taimur was no exception (nor were we!)
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: Beginner
Spain
Marta and her friend Marisa are going to teach us the secrets of a timeless classic of Spanish cuisine: the tortilla española or Spanish omelette. What do we need? How do we make it? Let’s listen to them carefully. It sounds yummy!
Difficulty: Beginner
Guatemala
Marriage and children bring with them needs and responsiblities that a soltero doesn’t have. Rafael hopes to grow his small pharmacy into a cadena of drug stores that he can use to benefit his wife and kids. To raise the necessary capital, Rafael is working abroad for a few years.
Difficulty: Beginner
Guatemala
Wicoy: como una calabaza pequeña, tal vez 15 cm de diametro, verde y blanco y es mucho mas fino que la calabaza. Para comer es parecido a un zucchetthi/zucchini. Bastante rico. (Thank you to Guatesol for info!) Rafael relates facts and myths of the natural environment in his native land.
Difficulty: Beginner
Guatemala
Our friend, Rafael, returns this week to talk to us about his homeland and its culture. As he explains, the Mayan culture continues to thrive in Guatemala via its language, clothing, and customs.
Difficulty: Beginner
Guatemala
In Guatemala, people of Mayan descent not only retain various native forms of dress, but they also speak dialects of the Mayan language, a language many people wrongly presume to be long lost to history. Rafael treats us to some examples of words and phrases in this language, and also explains some of the particulars of traditional dress.
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
With a difficult subject like math, it really helps to have a friendly, likeable teacher to help you through all the mental gymnastics required, and to give you a boost of confidence when needed. Andrés Valencia is just such a guy! Luckily for us, he agreed to chat!
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Hugo Chávez is divisive figure in Venezuela, as he is the world over, but the enthusiasm he generates amongst a large and vocal segment of the population is undeniable. Omar Vizcaya is a Chávez supporter, and was kind enough to agree to share some of his thoughts and ideas about the current situation.
Difficulty: Beginner
Venezuela
Barrio Adentro (Inside the Neighborhood) is a program of free medical clinics that have been established throughout Venezuela. Critics include the Venezuelan Medical Association, who claim that the Cubans who make up most of the doctors are not qualified, though the WHO and UNICEF are generally as enthusiastic as Omar about the program.
Difficulty: Beginner
Spain
We happened upon Pipita on the sidewalk in Madrid and she introduced us to her traveling companion, Nuria Gonzales. Nuria hails from Asturias, in the north of Spain, but now teaches Spanish at a university in the USA. Lucky for us, they both agreed to an on-the-spot exclusive interview.
Difficulty: Beginner
Colombia
Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori, an artist from Bogota, Colombia, takes us to his workshop, offering us some insight into the work he creates.
Difficulty: Beginner
Colombia
Artist Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori speaks about his latest project, a series of portraits that celebrate the nuances of black skin.
Difficulty: Beginner
Colombia
Despite having been inspired by a multitude of diverse subjects throughout his artistic career, Leonardo Rodriguez Sirtori's gallery owner asks him to compile an exhibition focusing on his dark-skinned portraits.
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