What Language Learning and Martial Arts Have in Common Last week I went to a Muay Thai kickboxing class for the first time in months. I was comfortable until the last part of the class when the teacher had us go up in pairs for light sparring rounds (practice fights). I do Muay Thai f
Everyday Spanish Words with a Peruvian Twist Spanish is spoken a little differently in each country, as I explain here. I have lived in Mexico and Spain, and travelled to various countries throughout Central and South America. Now I live in Peru and I have noticed that Peruvians use c
An Introduction to Runasimi Quechua (known as Runasimi, “people’s language”, in Quechua) is an Indigenous language spoken by 8-12 million people throughout South America, mainly in the Andean regions of Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador, as well as some speakers in Colombia
Using Comics for Language Learning Reading comic strips can be a really fun way to practice a new language. As with illustrated books and graphic novels, the visual stimulus of the pictures can help learners to understand the story even if they do not recognize all of the vocabulary.
Translating Citizen Media for the World What is it? “Global Voices is a community of more than 700 authors and 600 translators around the world who work together to bring you reports from blogs and citizen media everywhere, with emphasis on voices that are not ordinarily heard i
Using Illustrated Books as a Learning Tool A few years ago I was at a boutique shop in the Kensington Market area of Toronto. There was a book section and I was excited to see some Spanish language books. I randomly pulled an illustrated Spanish version of the Odyssey off the shelf &
My First Visits to Intercultural Bilingual Schools in the Cusco Region Last week I ventured into rural Cusco with the local UNICEF team to visit schools that we have shortlisted for our study on Intercultural Bilingual Education. Several rural schools in Cusco are among those with the
How a General Strike in Peru Represents What I Love about This Country (Written on September 26, 2013) I was working in my hotel room today because there is a general strike in Cusco, meaning transportation to the office would be impossible. I am here to coordinate a study on Intercul
Authentic Cultural Materials for Spanish Teachers and Learners What is it? Zambombazo is a self-described “explosion of language and culture”. It is a website which offers hundreds of activities for Spanish learners and teachers that are based on authentic cultural materia
Practical Resources for Progressive Education What is it? Rethinking Schools is a publisher of education materials that is “committed to equity and to the vision that public education is central to the creation of a humane, caring, multiracial democracy”. They put out a be
