Chile | 4/13 | Ecela Spanish

The Completo: Gigantic Chilean Hot Dogs

Cultural Tidbit: Preserving the Mapuche’s Language

According to researchers, once every two weeks, one of our roughly 7,000 distinct world languages disappears forever. With over 7 million native speakers, Spanish isn’t in any danger of disappearing. But many of the unique languages spoken by indigenous peoples throughout South America are in danger. As indigenous people strive to assimilate (sometimes under significant […]

Testimonial: Eric Bravo

I would recommend ECELA for anyone looking to live in Santiago and experience a slice of life in Chile. I have made good friends and gone places that under normal circumstances would not have been able to. The students you meet seem to come from every corner of the world.

Vista de Viernes: Trenes de noche

Language Learning: Learn Spanish for a Mid-Career Boost

Learning a foreign language is a great way to add a marketable skill to your resume, no matter what stage of your career you may find yourself in. The ability to speak Spanish can help new college grads beat out the competition for their first job just as easily as it can help workplace veterans […]

Modismo del Día: Ando con la caña

Chilean Spanish Saying: Ando con la caña Literal Translation: I’m walking with a cane (as in a plant, like sugar cane) English Equivalent: I’m hungover

Vista de Viernes: Valparaiso Misterioso

Cultural Tidbit: Mapuche Comeback?

One a maligned, misunderstood, and even ignored part of Chilean culture, the indigenous Mapuche people are now enjoying a revival of interest in their beliefs and way of life. Mapuche cuisine is beginning to gain popularity, with a traditional spice made from a blend of smoked chile peppers now exported around the world. Mapuche herbal […]

Cultural Tidbit: Pablo Neruda Mystery

Pablo Neruda, a Nobel-prize-winning Chilean poet, died in 1973. But some feel that questions still surround his death. A devoted communist himself, Neruda died just days after Chile’s socialist president Salvador Allende was ousted in a coup and replaced by brutal dictator Augusto Pinochet. Did supporters or agents of Pinochet poison Neruda, an influential man […]

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