Archive by Author
5 Authors of the Latin American Boom to Add to Your Spanish Reading List Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Nov 10, 2016
Latin America is one of the most socially, economically, and culturally dynamic regions of the world as we plunge deeper into the 21st century, one of the things that makes Spanish one of the definite ‘it’ languages of today. To improve your Spanish language skills while learning about the culture and recent history of the…
El Premio Nobel, el Plebiscito, y la Paz Colombiana Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Oct 17, 2016
Life in Colombia is more dramatic than any telenovela in 2016. With the recent signing of the acuerdos de paz and the subsequent rejection of the deal in last week’s plebiscito, this week took a tense turn when Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded el Premio Nobel de la Paz. With an intensely divisive impeachment process next door…
Paisa Pues: How to Speak Spanish Like Pablo Escobar Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Sep 28, 2016
This month a new season of Narcos took Spanish learners and narconovela addicts back to 1980s Medellín, home to Pablo Escobar and one of the bloodiest episodes of the 52 year-long conflict that formally ended on Monday. The Netflix original is a bingeable opportunity to learn Spanish with TV, but it’s missing more than colorful…
What the Colombian Peace Process Means for a Generation of Spanish Learners Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Aug 31, 2016
Since late last year, the Colombian Proceso de Paz has been marching forward, bringing Colombia ever closer to a peace that’s been hoped for for generations. This week, it’s again making international headlines, as the Colombian government and the FARC have just formally ratified a “definitive ceasefire” and the beginning of the end of the world’s…
12 Free Online Resources for Beginning Spanish Learners Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Aug 25, 2016
Earlier this month we released our new Beginner’s Guide to Spanish, a free resource we’ve put together to help beginning Spanish learners take their first steps along the path to Spanish fluency. For beginners who can’t get enough of free stuff, here are a few more free websites and online resources for getting started or brushing up…
5 Telenovelas That Were Way Better in Spanish Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Aug 8, 2016
Latin American telenovelas are famous for their face-slapping and hay dios mío-evoking dramatics, but they’re also the inspiration for many American and international hit series. For Spanish learners who love comedy, suspense, and yes, drama, give your listening comprehension and cultural fluency a tune-up with these Spanish-language originals. From Netflix originals to prime time hits…
4 Affordable Countries for Studying Spanish Abroad on a Budget Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Jul 28, 2016
Immersion is pretty much the gold standard of language learning, and with good reason. But if you hear your wallet weeping or laughing at you from your back pocket every time someone says you should study Spanish abroad, don’t give up hope, because many parts of the Spanish-speaking world are way more affordable than you think. One…