Blog | Ecela Spanish

Cultural Tidbit: Coffee in Argentina

Although Argentina’s traditional hot drink is mate, coffee also plays a big role in local culture. If you want to look like a local, you’d better learn how to order coffee! If you walk into a Buenos Aires cafe and simply ask for “un café,” you will be brought a shot of espresso in a […]

Modismo del Día: Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr

Spanish Saying: Agua que no has de beber, déjala correr Literal Translation: Let water that you don’t have to drink run. English Equivalent: Don’t meddle in affairs that have nothing to do with you.

Cultural Tidbit: Desserts in Argentina

The cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires is known for its cafe culture. As in many European cities, Buenos Aires residents enjoy passing the hours with a cup of coffee, a newspaper, or a few friends at their neighborhood cafe. If you study Spanish in Buenos Aires, you will soon find yourself gravitating towards these pleasant […]

Cusco’s Museums: Museo Inca

Vista de Viernes: Cuy in Costume

Testimonial: Martin Endicott

What stands out to me is the quality of ECELA’s team in Lima. They are very friendly and make a lot of effort to welcome and get to know their students. At the same time, they are very professional. The school is in a spacious building on a quiet street, walking distance from the sea […]

Cultural Tidbit: Cuy

Cuy, or guinea pig, is a staple dish in many Andean countries, including Peru. If you come from a country where these little animals are kept as pets and never eaten, seeing a crispy cuy on your plate for the first time may come as a shock. However, if you can get past your culture […]

Modismo del Día: Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente

Spanish Saying: Camarón que se duerme se lo lleva la corriente. Literal Translation: A sleeping shrimp is swept away by the current. English Equivalent: Stay alert or else circumstances will overwhelm you.

Cultural Tidbit: Virgen del Carmen Festival

Today marks the high point of a spectacular four-day festival held each year in the small Peruvian village of Paucartambo.The festival honors the village’s patron saint, the Virgin Mary, known to the locals as “mamita de Carmen.” Like many Latin American festivals, this one features processionals, parades, and dancing. What makes it unique is the […]