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Grammar Tips ~ The Subjunctive

Grammar Tips ~ The Subjunctive

Nothing in the Spanish language can seem quite as confusing to English speakers as the subjunctive! It’s not surprising, as this is one area of grammar in which English and Spanish are very different. The use of the subjunctive in English is very limited and can often sound arcane or old-fashioned whereas it is a fundamental part of everyday Spanish […]

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Biography ~ Shakira

Biography ~ Shakira

Shakira is a very popular Colombian singer. She was born in Baranquilla in February 1977. Her father’s family is of Lebanese origin and her mother’s family comes from Catalonia and Italy. Their ethnic roots have had a great influence on the music of Shakira.

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Che Guevara

Che Guevara

Ernesto Che Guevara was born on June 14, 1928 in Argentina. After studying medicine, he became a Marxist revolutionary and fought during the Cuban revolution of 1959 with Fidel Castro.

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Biografía ~ Celia Cruz

Biografía ~ Celia Cruz

Celia Cruz was born on October 21, 1925 in Havana, Cuba. She was a very positive person and a great singer.

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Cultural Corner: Latin Countries Trivia Challenge!

Cultural Corner: Latin Countries Trivia Challenge!

Name the Spanish speaking country these people are from!

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Biography ~ Pablo Picasso

Biography ~ Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was born in 1881 in Malaga, Spain. His father was an art teacher and drew very well. Pablo began taking classes from his father when he was ten. Just a few years later he was drawing better than his father!

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Weihnachten ~ German Christmas

Weihnachten ~ German Christmas

Weihnachtsabend ist der 24. Dezember. Weihnachten ist ein Familienfest.

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Biography: Porfirio Diaz

Biography: Porfirio Diaz

José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz was a Mexican soldier and politician Born in Oaxaca Mexico in 1830. Diaz was of mixed Spanish and indigenous blood. His father died when he was only three years old and he was sent away to school at the age of six. His family was devoutly Catholic and he began training for the priesthood but he was called out to serve as a soldier during the Mexican American war.

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Further Learning: English Language Podcasts

Further Learning: English Language Podcasts

What a great time to be learning English! There are so many apps, podcasts and other resources out there to help you. The most important things when learning a language are: speak as much as possible to native speakers, read as much as possible but make sure the books are appropriate for your level or you’ll get bored or frustrated […]

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Film Review – The Woman with the Five Elephants (in German)

Film Review – The Woman with the Five Elephants (in German)

Last night I had the pleasure of watching the German film the Woman with the Five Elephants. Filmed in 2010, this documentary showcases the life of the famous Russian to German translator Svetlana Geier. It is predominately in German with English subtitles with the small portion in Russian occurring when she finally returns to her place of birth some 60 years after she was forced to flee during the second world war.

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