I ran across an idea-inspiring article from a US newspaper on the web today. A Spanish teacher from New Jersey took her high school Spanish students on a 20 minute bus ride to a largely Hispanic town, and then sent them off to practice their Spanish with the locals.

"Si te acuerdas de ella, es que no estuviste allí."

"If you remember it, it's because you weren't there."

So goes the slogan Madrid is using for this year's homage to La Movida Madrileña, the explosion of art and irreverence that marked Spain's transition from the Franco era, 30 years ago.

Cafe Babel pays tribute to Madrid's 70s cultural revolution in a multi-article section this week, in English and Spanish. One article profiles three of  the period's most iconic characters: Pedro Almodóvar, Fabio McNamara and Alaska.

photo from Cafe Babel

We're paella lovers, as it turns out.

I can't say that I voted with the majority this time around. It's not that I don't love a good paella. It's just that I can't for the life of me remember when I last ate one. Now a perfect, golden tortilla de patatas....that I cannot go a month without. Pair it with a cup of gazpacho, and I'll sign anywhere, that I am never leaving Spain.

62 of us responded to the poll:

A new, international exam and proficiency certificate for the Spanish language was unveiled by Spanish language experts at last month's Congress of Spanish Language Academies in Medellin, Colombia.

The new proficiency program will be titled "International System of Spanish as a Foreign Language, or SICELE for its Spanish initials.

In this article, we'll tell you a bit about the new test, and give you all the current details on the current Spanish proficiency exam, the DELE, and don Quijote's guaranteed prep courses.

 from our April 2007 newsletter:

Rob Dorlin of don Quijote talks with Canal Malaga about immersion Spanish courses in Spain. Rob comments on the growing number of British expats moving to Spain, or already settled along the coasts, who opt for an immersion Spanish course to explore, understand and give themselves the opportunity to become more of a part of the culture of their new home.
 

This year we launched a new Executive Spanish course designed for business people and, well, any student of any level wishing to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible, or wanting to tackle industry-specific vocabulary. Study groups are extra small (never more than 4), students can easily add private lessons "a la carte" and some courses include lunch (in Spanish, of course) with the teacher.

As part of that program we also added a brand new class of student accommodations: Executive class.

Well, we are all abuzz in the office...(click through to see more photos)   more »

Learn Spanish in Valencia and watch the sailing event of the year!
Join us in don Quijote’s Spanish School in Valencia for an unforgettable experience.

Learn Spanish while you explore this beautiful Mediterranean city, enjoy its famous beaches and watch the sailing event of the year, the America’s Cup which will be held in Valencia this year.

From April 7th until July 14th, we offer you a special Valencia Package including a two-week Spanish course with accommodation in a student flat for a price of 650 Euro.

Places are limited, so act quickly and request more information now!

According to an article published in El Pais a week or two ago (to which I unfortunately cannot link since it is in the paid archives section of the website), work on Gaudí's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is going quickly, and will be completely finished during 2008.

I wonder if it will attract as many tourists as a completed church as it does as a stunning work-in-progress?

March 19th marked the 125th anniversary of the laying of the first stone for the church.  

Rigol also talked about a contest, to be launched in June, of ideas about just how to put the final touches on the Sagrada Familia. Now that could be fun...

If you haven't yet discovered Pandora, or you didn't know it was well-stocked with Spanish language music, you're in for a treat.

Pandora is a free web-based juke-box that lets you set up your own radio stations, each playing tunes musically similar to the artist you choose.

It makes a great language learning tool, too. Just select one of your favorite Spanish speaking (Spanish-singing?) artists, and let the language of Cervantes float gently through your brain while you work at your PC or laptop.    more »