Learn These Spanish Phrases. They're really useful!

Read more phrases at Go South Expat

J'apprends l'espagnol !

Ça suffit les folies. Je me mets sérieusement à l’étude de l’espagnol. Depuis le temps que je reporte ce projet aux calendes grecques !

Il faut dire que je m’obstinais à vouloir d’abord maîtriser le chinois (OK, « maîtriser » est peut-être un peu ambitieux… lol). Mais même après un an et demi d’immersion et environ trois mois de leçons intensives, je n’arrive toujours pas à soutenir une conversation dans la langue de Mao (par contre, si vous voyagez un jour avec moi en Chine, je pourrai vous éviter l'humiliation de devoir mimer une poule ou un poisson au resto pour vous nourrir !).

Comme j’ai besoin d’un coup de pied au bon endroit pour entreprendre un projet personnel de cette envergure, je m’en suis auto-infligé un en m’organisant un voyage éclair (cinq grosses journées !) à Buenos Aires. Je pars samedi. J’ai trouvé ce qui me semble être la meilleure manière de me faire entrer quelques notions de base dans le crâne : Bueno, entonces…

Ces 30 leçons d’espagnol peuvent être visionnées à l’aide d’un ordinateur, d’un Blackberry, d’un iPod ou d’un iPod Touch (c’est ce dernier que j’utilise – j’ai acheté les premiers épisodes sur iTunes à 2,99$ chacun plutôt que d’acheter le cours en entier). Des DVD sont également en vente.

La publicité présente Bueno, entonces... comme « the Grand Theft Auto of Spanish Classes ». Plus proche de la série pour ados que du cours magistral, on me promet même quelques gros mots ! Le ton des extraits visionnés me rappelle vaguement celui de L'Auberge espagnole (probablement à cause du personnage masculin, un Anglais qui a une certaine parenté avec William, incarné par Kevin Bishop). Les cours se déroulent toutefois dans la capitale de l'Argentine.

Je n'aurai probablement pas beaucoup de temps pour « étudier » avant mon départ, mais tant pis : les 17 h passées dans l'avion et à l'aéroport de Toronto seront bien rentabilisées ! Pas le choix : les travaux pratiques débuteront dès mon arrivée. Je vous en reparle…

P.S. : Au cas où mon cerveau afficherait les mêmes messages que mon ordinateur en ce moment (« mémoire pleine » !), j’ai aussi téléchargé deux applications de traduction… ;-)

Read more reviews about Bueno, entonces... on En Transit.

Bueno, entonces review on Facebook

I have been a student of languages for many years now, and this is far and away the best language tool of any type that I've seen. It's highly entertaining as well as educational... clearly intended for those who want to have fun while learning a language. You'll be laughing in Spanish in no time...

Waiting anxiously for the next language to be released!

Check out more reviews on facebook.com/buenoentonces

Learn Spanish in BA Plus Spanish School

• Why Spanish?

Spanish is spoken by more than 450 million people today (native or as a second language). Also Spanish is the official language on four different continents. The ability to speak this beautiful language will serve to enrich your travel experiences. Spanish lessons will be your door to new advantages and important opportunities.

• Why Buenos Aires, Argentina?

The second largest country in Latin America (and the biggest among Spanish - speaking Latin American countries), Argentina is a continent in its own right. With its deserts, jungles, mountains, beautiful beaches and wide plains, it's not enough to decide to visit this amazing country; you will have to decide what destination in Argentina is best for you. Its capital city, Buenos Aires, is the gateway to Latin America: incredible food, an unbeatable cultural scene, a friendly environment and an intense nightlife are just a few of the attractions that make this thriving city a traveler's must.

• Why B.A. Plus Spanish school?

Learn Spanish with a select group of language experts in Buenos Aires, each possessing extensive teaching experience with students from all over the globe. Our Spanish School will permit you to choose the program that best suits your needs (Intensive, Extensive, Basic Spanish Course for Travelers and other Special Courses), which you can take in a relaxed atmosphere and comfortable classrooms, while meeting friendly people. The content of our syllabuses has been carefully revised so that each Spanish level satisfies one fundamental step in the student's conversational, grammatical and linguistic ability. Our courses are also flexible enough to be adapted to each student's particular needs. What better way of studying Spanish than by having the chance to practice it with locals? Buenos Aires and BA Plus Spanish School are waiting for you.

Learn more about this school on BA Plus Spanish School.

Music to help you learn Spanish - Agua (jarabedepalo)

Check out a a mini lesson based on this video: http://bit.ly/1WTPjv
This is the General Linguistics method to teach foreign languages in action! You'll see the lyrics of the song Agua by Spanish band Jarabe de Palo in the "Pizarra Mágica" or Magic Whiteboard and will be able to sing along. Bueno, entonces... is like Rosetta Stone meets South Park! The new generation of language learning.



Check out more videos to learn Spanish on Youtube.

Day 5 or 6 in Buenos Aires. Yeah, it's like that.

Ok, so... I’m having a hard time being coherent today because yesterday essentially spilled over in today and well, suffice to say that there’s a never ending supply of places to go out in this city and it never stops. I haven’t even made a dent in it, nor have I done many of the touristy things... I did see the big metal flower that opens and closes and is the place to hang out underneath and drink a mate in the sun. I also went to Malba which is a gorgeous art gallery and it has a great cafe.

Winetasting last night, and after that we went to a restaurant that’s so underground that it’s only open once a week and only twenty people know about it and the food is thai.. the best thai I’ve ever had.

We went to another bar after that, basically I didn’t sleep very much, so this morning in the bus I really wasn’t with it and almost got robbed in the bus. I was hanging on with one arm staring out the window in a full ‘colectivo’ and then got rather annoyed as a little man who kept kind of pushing upto me. I looked down and literally caught him red-handed with my bag clip opened and his hand IN my bag. I was so baffled I forgot all my Spanish and yelled lots of expletives at him in English. He told me "You’re crazy", IN ENGLISH and got off in a hurry. I stood there seething but figured out pretty quickly he didn’t take anything. When I got to my class my teacher was so kind to fill me in on what words I should have used to ‘make a scandal’, as they say here.

Get to know more Vibe's experience on beadventuresinba.blogspot

Spanish Language

LANGUAGE Spanish (Castellano or Castillian) is spoken by approximately 275 million people in 19 countries and it is the official language in Argentina, but Argentinian Spanish have some differences from the Spanish spoken in Spain and other areas.

In the areas around the Rio de la Plata, including Buenos Aires, is spoken the Rioplatense Spanish dialect, that is Castellano language with influences of French/Italian/English and pronounced with a slight Italian Accent, it is one of the things that differentiate the city of Buenos Aires from the rest of the Spanish-speaking world; to the north out of Buenos Aires, the type of accent is most related with Latin American style Spanish.

Other languages spoken in Argentina are: Italian, German, English, and French. Indigenous communities have retained their original languages, like Tehuelche, Guarani, Quechua and Aymara. Also, exists immigrants communities whom speak their native languages until today

PRONUNCIATION

The accent of the Porteños, as the inhabitants of the Argentine city of Buenos Aires are called, has similarities with the Neapolitan dialect of Italia. This match with immigration patterns. Argentina, and specially Buenos Aires, accepted an ample number of immigrants from Italia in the beginning of the 20th century. The Italian immigration had a profound influence on Lunfardo. Before that, the Argentine accent was similar to that Andalucia, Spain.

You could try to learn about Argentine pronunciation, watching Argentine films, like "El Hijo de la Novia", "Nueve Reinas", "Valentin" and listening to Argentine radio stations in Internet.

Some features in the Argentine Pronunciation are:

• In Buenos Aires, "ll" = "y", and it is uttered with a sound between "sh" (shop) and "s" (pleasure). Effect known as "yeísmo", nowadays, "yeismo" is becoming "zeismo", with the increasingly use of the "zh" instead "sh", almost an English 'j'.
• The "v" = "b" = In some Spanish-speaking countries the "v" is like the English sound (as in "very"). In Argentina, this rule is not full-filed, with one exception: when someone is spelling a word they may pronounce it as in "very" for clarification.
• The "j" and "g" (before an "e" or "i") can also be pronounced like a German "ch" in "ich".
• There is no "th" sound (as in "thick") in Argentinian Spanish.
• "s", in the end of a word, before a consonant, is uttered with a sound like the "h" in Hardware, except at the end of a word before a pause or a vowel.
• "cua" is pronounced as in "quantum".
• "qu" is uttered like the "c" in cat;
• "z" sounds like "s".

To read more go to Argentina Travel.

The Bueno, entonces Formula: Engaging + Interesting + Funny = Retention

1. Make The Classes Interesting & Engaging
Engaging students is crucial to learning and remembering material. Using wit and charm, Bueno, entonces… not only engages; it keeps you thinking about the last lesson and looking forward to the next one. Like your favorite teachers, David & Jimena know learning doesn’t have to be dry and boring.

2. See The Words As You Hear Them
Some people are audio learners, others learn visually – most people need both, absorbing different concepts in different ways. With Bueno, entonces... every word is on-screen so you see the spelling while hearing it pronounced.

3. Color-Coding.
Words on-screen are color-coded in Spanish and English to help you understand word usage and sentence structure. You’ll quickly see, hear, and understand how words in Spanish correspond with English ones, and how they are used in sentences.

4. Symbols & Illustrations.
Verb tenses and grammatical concepts are represented by clear symbols so you quickly learn and understand their usage. Iconic illustrations easily associate images and words, burning vocabulary into your brain.

5. REPETITION - The Key To Languages.

Any teacher will tell you this, and here’s the problem with old audio books and language software – they’re mind-numbingly boring, making them painful to repeat. Bueno, entonces… is engaging, fast-paced, and fun. You’ll repeat all 30 classes over and over, learning more each time – as your Spanish progresses, you pick up more of the humor, making it easier to repeat.

To get more info, go to General Linguistics.

2nd Semester of Spanish, Spanish Love Song starring Erik Estrada

This is hilarious!! Check it out one more time on Youtube.

Images of Argentina

More of theses pics on Flickr.

VISA FOR STUDENT

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

A.1. (Private Universities -or Private Schools- and short studies) LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE FROM THE UNIVERSITY, specifying the studies you are accepted for. This letter is always necessary for studies to be followed in a private university and also for short studies in a public university (Seminars, Pos. Degree, Isolated subjects, etc.).

(*) For minors (less than 18) or in exchange programs organised by Rotary Club, AFS, Youth for Understanding and similar systems: Such letter of acceptance must be also a warranty:

a. Taking moral and financial responsibility for the minor whom the visa is requested for.

b. Certifying that the minors will go and return with paid tickets.

c. Certifyng the family name, surname and address with whom the minor will live in Argentina.

or A.2. (Complete Careers in a Public University) You do not need the letter of acceptance only if you will follow a complete career in a public university.
In such a case you should get in contact with the Argentine Embassy -Cultural Section- before November (to begin your career in March the following year). Your registration will be done by the Argentine Embassy after having evaluated your secondary school certificates and your level of Spanish.

B. Valid Norwegian ( or other from other countries) Passport.

C. Police Certificate (it is a form that certifies your lack of record). It is possible to get it in Spanish directly from the police (most of police stations have it) and thus avoid translation expenses.

D. Medical Certificate with statement you are not suffering from infectious disease or psychic ailments and informing your RH factor.

E. Birth Certificate. Given by the Folkeregister. It is also possible to get it in Spanish directly from the Folkeregister and thus avoid translation expenses.

F. All the documents in Norwegian or English must be translated into Spanish by a certified official translator (for example: Mr. Francisco García Mora: 2223 5888 in Oslo).

G. All the documents must be legalised by a Notarius Publicus and the local Fylkesmann (The Fylkesmann’s seal is called “APOSTILLE”).
In fact, the Argentine authorities require just the APOSTILLE. But some Norwegian Fylkesmann request legalisation by a Notarius before signing the APOSTILLE. Ask your Fylkesmann what she/he considers necessary.

H. One photograph (4 x 4 cm).

I. Minors (less than 18 years) must go to the Argentine Embassy accompanied by their parents one week before travelling.

After getting the above mentioned documents and -minimum- one week before travelling. (Please arrange a meeting in advance with Jesse or other visa officers in the Embassy):

J. Lack of international records declaration (possible to be made at the Embassy).

K. Request of Visa forms: to be fulfilled at the Embassy.

Read more on Argentour.

"One semester of Spanish" video. Really fun!!!

Check out more videos on Youtube.

Learn Spanish at Don Quijote School

Our partner school in Buenos Aires is located in the Palacio San Miguel, one of the most valued buildings in the historic downtown area. Surrounded by gorgeous, beautifully preserved 19th century architecture, the school is conveniently located in the city center. You’ll have no trouble exploring the town using the school as your starting point, finding the best restaurants and bars, and seeing the most important sites. The school will provide an exciting yet safe environment for studying Spanish, with all the modern amenities you’ll need to feel comfortable, while you improve your Spanish by leaps and bounds.

School facilities include 20 spacious classrooms with large windows, a roof deck where you can relax after class, a common room for socializing and drinking mate (Argentina’s national drink), a video room, a computer room with free internet access, a cafeteria and air conditioning.

Spanish Courses in Buenos Aires

• Intensive group course: 20 group classes/week
• Super-intensive group course: 30 group classes/week
• One to One private course: 10 classes/week*
• Immersion: 20 group classes/week + 5 One to One
• Intensive Spanish + Tango: 20 group classes/week + 10 dance classes
• Volunteer program: 4 weeks of Intensive course is required.

Your course includes a free welcome brunch and a guided city walk to get you acquainted with the city, your teachers and your fellow students.

* The school reserves the right to change a group course into One to One in case there is no other student at the same level. If this happens, there will be a reduction of class hours of 50%.

To get more info, go to Don Quijote.

Media in ARGENTINA - News in Spanish

Argentina is one of South America's leading media markets. The country has well over 150 daily newspapers, many hundreds of commercial radio stations, dozens of TV stations and one of the world's highest take-up rates for cable TV.

Large media conglomerates have emerged. Public broadcasting plays a minor role. Television is the dominant medium. The main national free-to-air networks - Telefe, America, Canal 9 and Canal 13 - are privately-owned.

Argentine readers are among Latin America's most voracious newspaper consumers. Clarin and La Nacion are the best-selling national dailies.

Media freedom is guaranteed by the constitution. However, Reporters Without Borders maintained in 2008 that "direct attacks on the media and obstacles to press freedom... remained high". It said former President Nestor Kirchner had shown "great hostility" to the media - and particularly the conservative La Nacion daily - while in office.

By December 2008, Argentina had 16 million internet users, comprising nearly 40% of the population (Internetworldstats.com) and giving the country the second-highest number of surfers on the continent, after Brazil.

The press

· Clarín - popular daily
· La Nación - respected conservative daily
· Crónica - tabloid daily
· El Cronista - business
· La Prensa - Argentina's oldest newspaper
· Pagina 12 - left-wing daily
· Buenos Aires Herald - English-language daily

Television

· Telefe (Canal 11) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Telefe
· Canal 13 (El Trece) - leading national network, operated by Grupo Clarin
· Canal 9 - popular national network
· America (Canal 2) - popular network
· Todo Noticias - cable/satellite news channel owned by Grupo Clarin
· Canal 7 - state-run cultural, educational network

Radio

· Radio Mitre - private, speech-based, operated by Grupo Clarin
· Radio Nacional - state-run, cultural
· Radio America - private, news
· Radio Continental - private AM (mediumwave) speech-based network
· Los 40 Principales - private FM music network

News agencies

· Diarios y Noticias (DYN) - partly owned by Grupo Clarin
· TELAM - state-run
· Noticias Argentinas - set up by privately-owned newspapers

Check out more info on BBC News Argentina.

Spanish in Salta

SALTA

Salta is a city in northwestern Argentina and the capital city of the eponymous province situated at the foothills of the Andes mountains.
It has more than 464,000 inhabitants as of the 2001 census, making it Argentina's 8th largest city. The city is located in the Lerma Valley, 1,152 meters above sea level. The weather is warm and dry, with annual averages of 756 mm of rainfall and an average temperature of 16.4 °C(20.4 °C in summer, 10.8 °C in winter). January and February are the months with greatest rainfall. During the spring, Salta is occasionally plagued by severe, week long dust storms.
Nicknamed Salta la Linda ("Salta the Beautiful"), it is a tourist destination in part due to its architectural attractions, such as the 18th century Cabildo, the Cathedral, and the Plaza 9 de Julio city park. It has also a number of museums, including the Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña, which houses the bodies of 3 Inca children found frozen at the summit of Mount Llullaillaco. Salta is also the starting point of the "Train to the Clouds" (Tren a las nubes), and on the way to red-soiled Cafayate, as well as to other nearby tourist destinations.
The Martín Miguel de Güemes Airport(IATA: SLA, ICAO: SASA), at coordinates 24°51′S, 65°29′W, 6 kilometres southeast of the city, has regular flights to Buenos Aires, Tucumán, Jujuy, Córdoba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia).

SPANISH SCHOOL IN SALTA

Patagonia School is in the center of Salta, just 5 minutes from the terminal bus and two blocks from the Cathedral.


Study and learn Spanish:

Spanish Courses:
with 1 student: 15 hrs:125 u$s p/week with 2 students: 15 hrs: 100 u$s p/week
Group & One-to-one lessons, tailored for each student.

You do not need to pay registration fees.

Levels:
Basic
Advanced Spanish
Intensive courses for tourists

Spanish Course include:Textbook and other materials Certificate of attendance Volunteer work (Optional) Theater lesson on Saturdays

Learn more on spanishinsalta.blogspot.com

Review: Learning Spanish in a Buenos Aires way

I stumbled across B.E. about a month and a half ago, I watched one episode and was hooked…David is an absolute riot…Jimena is a doll…and together, they are the perfect teacher/student combo…my husband gets annoyed bc I will not put my phone away…

Because you are hearing conversations and not sitting in front of the computer or with your nose in a book, each time you listen to an episode you learn both vocab and grammar without even knowing it.

Yes, it is fast paced but if you are truly dedicated to learning the beautiful language that is Spanish, and you want to do it quickly, it doesn’t matter….I listened to each lesson twice before moving on to the next…I had to make myself do this because not only are you learning Spanish quickly but at the same time you are dying to know what is going to happen btw David and Jimena…

B.E. is a new and engaging, revolutionary and hilarious approach to learning Spanish that I believe (and hope) will end up making history!

-Shelley, Birmingham Alabama, USA

Read more on buenoentonces.com/blog

VISA TO ARGENTINA

Passports

Passport valid for 6 months required by all except nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay who, for journeys that do not go beyond Argentina and these five countries, may use their national ID cards.

Visa

Required by all except the following:

(a) nationals of EU countries, Australia, Canada, Japan and US for stays of up to 90 days;

(b) nationals of Andorra, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Liechtenstein, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela and Serbia for stays of up to 90 days;

(c) nationals of Hong Kong (British Nationals Overseas), Jamaica and Malaysia for stays of up to 30 days;

(d) transit passengers holding confirmed onward or return tickets for travel provided continuing their journey within 6 hours and not leaving the airport.

Note: Visa exemptions mentioned above are for tourist and business purposes only. However, business travellers are advised to contact the Argentinian Consulate before departure.

Required documents for visa

Tourist visa:
(a) Passport.
(b) Application form.
(c) 1 passport photo.
(d) Fee; payable by cheque or postal order.
(e) Return ticket.
(f) Letter from employer.

To finish reading the text, go to Allo' Expat.

Bueno, entonces... Spanish Classes video

And check out more Bueno, entonces... videos on Youtube.