A mild-mannered homeschool mom who is faster than a speeding flash card, more powerful than a mega-workbook, and able to leap tall unabridged bilingual dictionaries in a single bound! Look! Up in cyberspace! It's a flamenco skirt! It's an irregular verb chart! No, it's just me, and it's time to learn Spanish. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:07:00 -0600 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:07:00 -0600 A frequent mistake that Spanish learners make is to assume that when they see a Spanish word that looks like an English word, the two words have the same meaning.  There are numerous false cognates between English and Spanish, and it helps to make a special note of these when they show up on a vocabulary list.  Assistir may look like “assist”, but really means “attend”.  Actualmente may look like “actually”, but really means “presently”.  Probar is similar to “prove”, but actually means “try”.  Often, these words have similar roots, but evolved differently to have varied meanings over the centuries. Check out this extensive list of false cognates: http://spanish.about.com/cs/vocabulary/a/obviouswrong.htm My favorite false cognate funny…. When you clean your house, you always vacunar la carpeta, right?  Sounds right to our English-speaking ears, but in Spanish that means vaccinate the folder!   stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/746048/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:07:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/746048/ My friend Katie and her husband packed up their boxes, kids, and dogs, and moved to a small city in Chile.  It has been one adventure after another since they arrived there several months ago.  Sometimes their experiences have been amazing, and sometimes frustrating.  They spoke very little Spanish when they arrived, but have been picking it up rapidly using the real immersion method. I've been so envious as I've read about them wandering through Chile and Argentina, doing everything from exploring natural wonders to tasting local wines and foods.  I'm not so envious as they do laundry in the sink and figure out how to cook on a wood stove (Katie's pretty good at that now!) Join this homeschooling family on their adventures by visiting Katie's funny and brutally honest blog: Our Faith Adventure. The area in South America where Katie and her family live and are traveling is called El Cono Sur (The Southern Cone) in Spanish. stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/744861/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:52:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/744861/ In 2007, it was estimated that there were 1.1 million Hispanic veterans in the U.S.  Today, our thanks go out to them, and to every veteran who has served our country.  Regardless of the problems we see on the news, it does us good to remember that there are millions of Hispanics who are first and foremost Americans, and that they too love this country and the lives they have here. Thanks to ALL veterans!  stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/743824/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:02:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/743824/ Another great, free web resource is available to help you with your Spanish.  On Forvo, you can hear words in Spanish, or any language, pronounced by native speakers.  Click here to go to the home page. In the upper right corner of the page, you'll notice a search box that allows you to look up a word you want to hear pronounced.  Let's give it a try using the word "abanico".  When you enter the word you will get a results page.  You'll notice that your results options include Portuguese.  This is not unusual, you will find that there is a definite overlap between Spanish and other Romance languages. When you click on the Spanish results, you will have two options.  You can hear a female speaker from Costa Rica or a male speaker from Argentina pronounce the word for you.  Although there will be differences due to regional accents, the basic pronunciation will be the same. Bookmark this site and enjoy hearing the pronunciation of words you may have been unsure of in the past! stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/743128/ Sun, 8 Nov 2009 18:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/743128/ Mini Word Reference is an exciting new widget I found that I can't resist bringing to your attention.  I have long used and relied on the Word Reference site, and recommend it at every opportunity.  It is now available as a widget that you can conveniently use while on this site, or place on a site that you use frequently.  Check out the Word Reference site at www.wordreference.com for more freebies, including Iphone apps and toolbars to add to your browser window.  Please Word Reference people - make a Blackberry app! I can honestly say that as I've grown more dependent upon Word Reference and its forums, my big unabridged Spanish-English dictionary has been gathering dust.  Maybe I can refinish it and use it as an end table? stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/741183/ Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:43:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/741183/ It is customary on Day of the Dead to make an "ofrenda" or offering for the spirits of departed loved ones.  While this has roots in the belief that the spirits actually visit the ofrenda, most people today consider it a way to celebrate and remember departed loved ones.  A typical ofrenda will contain candles, marigolds, bread, tequila, a pitcher of water, candy, sugar skulls, fruit, items that belonged to the departed ones, and photos of them.  My family doesn't really celebrate Day of the Dead, but I set this up as a lesson for my kids, and for other homeschoolers who visited us that day.  It turned out be be a lovely way to set aside a day to remember and celebrate family members who I miss!         stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/740610/ Mon, 2 Nov 2009 08:37:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/740610/ Phrase of the Week: Son como dos gotas de agua (sohn COH-moh dohs GOH-tahs day AH-gwa) They're exactly alike! / They're two of a kind (Literally: They are like two drops of water) stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/740608/ Sun, 1 Nov 2009 12:25:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/740608/ Thanks to Debbie at http://unafamiliaalaskena.blogspot.com/ for this fun little blog award!  I am now supposed to answer the following questions using one word only (a rule which I will probably break), and then pass the award on to three more blogs.  Here goes.... 1. Where is your cell phone? nightstand 2. Your hair? fine, thank you 3. Your mother? MSRIP 4. Your father? MHRIP 5. Your favorite food? Mexican 6. Your dream last night? complicated 7. Your favorite drink? water (well, really margaritas, but it is not practical to be swigging those all day) 8. Your goal? successful homeschooling 9. What room are you in? office 10. Your hobby? knitting 11. Your fear? Alzheimer's 12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? somewhere with trees 13. Where were you last night? home 14. Something you aren’t? judgmental 15. Muffins? orange-cranberry 16. Wish list item? more books 17. Where did you grow up? Indiana 18. Last thing you did? made breakfast 19. What are you wearing? workout clothes 20. Your TV? big 21. Your pets? cute hammy & cranky rabbit 22. Your friends? wonderful 23. Your life? good-busy 24. Your mood? is brain fog a mood? 25. Missing someone? family 26. Vehicle? Suburban Assault Vehicle (Nissan Quest) 27. Something you’re not wearing? stupid question!?!!? 28. Your favorite store? mega Barnes & Nobles and Kohl's 29. Your favorite color? blue 30. When was the last time you laughed? last night 31. Last time you cried? do you really care? 32. Your best friend? is a blast 33. One place that I go over and over? the store 34. One person who emails me regularly? ummmm...Facebook notifications 35. Favorite place to eat? anywhere but fast food/buffet/cafeteria I am passing on this award to... Sandra at http://mariposamontessoriblog.blogspot.com/ Katie at http://ourfaithadventure.blogspot.com/ Adriana at http://mybilingualboys.blogspot.com/ stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/740597/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:57:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/740597/ It's just around the corner, Mexico's traditional celebration of El Día de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.  Not to be confused with Halloween, this celebration celebrates death as part of the cycle and process of life.  It is not a time to fear death, but to mock it, while remembering the lives of loved ones who are gone.  Yes, the roots of this celebration come from pre-Christian ancestor worship, but today focuses on remembering the lives of the departed.  Pagan roots still mix freely with Christian aspects that were added later, and the result is a beautiful and uniquely Mexican celebration. Read more about this amazing celebration here.  *Bonus!  Don't miss Adriana over at My Bilingual Boys - she's devoting this week to blogging about her family's celebration.  Check it out here! stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/737906/ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:29:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/737906/ "El Noticiero Univision con Jorge Ramos y María Elena Salinas es la fuente principal de noticias para los hispanos en Estados Unidos. Todos los días a las 6 PM Este / 5 Centro por Univision." "The Univision News Bureau with Jorge Ramos and Maria Elena Salinas is the main source of news for Hispanics in the United States.  Daily at 6pm Eastern/5 Central on Univision" From the Univision Website. Jorge Ramos has been called by some "The Hispanic Peter Jennings".  This man, and the station he represents, are a force to reckoned with not only in the business of News ratings, but in politics and the shaping of contemporary culture.  In some markets in our country, Noticiero Univision beats out rating for the three major networks combined.  So without further ado, I'd like to share some words and phrases I have learned by watching the news in Spanish: maremoto - an earthquake at sea terremoto - earthquake on land sequestro - kidnapping rehenes - hostages con las manos en la masa - red-handed detenido - arrested tras las rejas - behind bars presentador/a - newscaster Irak - Iraq gases lacrimogénos - tear gas manifestaciones - riots, demonstrations huelga - strike francotirador - sniper sicario - hit man chocó - crashed los detalles más adelante - details coming up later influenza porcina - swine flu indocumentados - illegal aliens bomba casera - homemade bomb coche bomba - car bomb ataque terrorista - terrorist attack vocero/a - spokesperson en manos de la justicia - in the hands of justice bajo fianzas - on bail stenium_url = location.href;stenium_title = document.title;stenium_style = 'classic';stenium_widgets = 'print,email,bookmark,share';stenium_layout = '1'; http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/736057/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:35:00 -0500 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/elrinconespanol/736057/