Blog | Ecela Spanish

Vista de Viernes: Lima Art Door

Testimonial: Sara Mokhtari-Fox

I studied in Cusco a little over 2 months and fell in love with the place. Starting with my host family, they were so sweet. My ‘mom’ always made the best food and after dinner we’d often play cards with my ‘brothers’ and ‘dad.’ I quickly felt like I was part of the family. The […]

Cultural Tidbit: Traditional Peruvian Dress

Peru has a rich tradition of folk art, which often combines indigenous and colonial methods and themes. One great example of the artistic fusion of old and new can be found in the clothing commonly worn by Peruvian women of indigenous descent. Their colorful, petticoat-stuffed dresses are a fusion of the traditional Incan anacu and […]

Modismo del Día: Hay mas felicidad en dar que en recibir.

Spanish Saying: Hay mas felicidad en dar que en recibir. Literal Translation: There is more happiness in giving than receiving. English Equivalent: It’s better to give than to receive. ¡Feliz Navidad!

Cultural Tidbit: Peruvian Retablos

Though it is a Catholic country, Peru’s own particular brand of Catholicism is an interesting fusion of indigenous and Christian traditions. One example is their Christmas decorations. Traditional Christmas trees are virtually unheard of in Peru. Instead, the main Christmas decoration for a Peruvian home is the retablo, or nativity scene. Retablos carry a special […]

Vista de Viernes: Buenos Aires Christmas Lights

Testimonial: Laura Gouw

I had an amazing time at ECELA spanish school in Cusco. The experience provided me with the perfect opportunity to advance my language skills and it definitely increased my confidence level when speaking to native Spanish speakers. My teachers Erik and Miriam were extremely professional and friendly. They did an outstanding job of challenging me […]

Cultural Tidbit: Argentine Christmas Traditions

Most South American countries are predominately Catholic, so Christmas is a very important cultural and religious affair. Here are some of the key Christmas traditions in Argentina, some of which are quite different from what goes on in other countries. Household decorations. In addition to the traditional Christmas tree, many Argentineans also decorate their homes […]

Modismo del Día: Cortesía de boca mucho consigue y nada cuesta

Spanish Saying: Cortesía de boca mucho consigue y nada cuesta. Literal Translation: Courtesy of the mouth achieves a lot and costs nothing. English Equivalent: You catch more flies with honey than vinegar; It costs nothing to be nice.

Language Learning: Is Chilean Spanish Bad?

Many people will tell you that certain places speak “better” Spanish or are easier for foreign students to adapt to. While it is true that accents and local slang can vary greatly from country to country–and even from city to city, that doesn’t necessarily mean that any one type of Spanish is better than another. […]

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