Friday, June 22, 2012

What Are Immersion Language Programs?


An Immersion language program is a program facilitated by a school that is set in a country where that language is native.  Students of immersion programs not only attend formal school programs while in the foreign country, but they also live their lives alongside of the native people as well. This kind of learning is sometimes the fastest and most exciting way to learn a foreign language because you are forced to learn or walk around not knowing how to communicate.

Getting to experience the culture of another country is also a great motivational tool that will help propel students and prevent them from getting bored of mundane study routines. Being able to use all your senses in an effort to learn the meaning of words helps a student remember faster and with more clarity. In addition, immersion study programs are fun and offer a worldly experience that you might not get another chance to experience. Furthermore, meeting and talking to new people while you are abroad is the whole point of an immersion study program and one of the most beneficial aspects of the course.

If you are considering learning another language by means of an immersion study program there are few things to consider. First of all these programs can cost a lot of money so it is important to research your options thoroughly and to check their referrals as well. Second, not all programs are created equal. This means that if you are already enrolled in a college or university you need to participate in one of their programs in order to get the credits. This also means that some programs will include other courses of study as well. Be sure you understand fully what kind of experience you can expect to have before committing to a program. Additionally some programs will actually place you in someone’s home as opposed to a dorm or school facility. Lastly, you might need to find employment while overseas and studying. This can present a challenge since there will be some obvious language barriers. The most important thing to consider when planning on learning another language through an immersion study program is how you will get the most out of your experience. It is important to be active and participate while studying a language abroad as this is the point of the learning program. Immersion study programs will require you to be open to new cultures.

Bolder Languages immersion programs for those students who are involved in the study of spanish, french, etc. in the Denver, Colorado area. We are a unique foreign language school.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Pisco Sour


A Pisco Sour is a cocktail typical of western South American cuisine. The drink's name is a mixture of the Quechua word Pisco ('Bird') and the term Sour (in reference to the mixed drink family of the same name). The Peruvian Pisco Sour requires the use of Peruvian Pisco as the base liquor and the addition of lime (or lemon) juice, syrup, ice, egg white, and Angostura bitters.
Other variants of the cocktail include those created with fruits like pineapple or plants such as coca leaves.







The cocktail originated in Peru, invented in the Peruvian capital of Lima by Victor Vaughn Morris in the early 1920s. An American bartender, Morris left his native United States in 1903 to work in Cerro de Pasco, a city in central Peru. In 1916, he inaugurated in Lima his saloon, Morris' Bar, which became a popular spot for the Peruvian Upper class and English-speaking foreigners. Coincidentally, the oldest mentions of the Pisco Sour so far found come from a 1921 magazine attributing Morris as the inventor and a 1924 advertisement from Morris' Bar published in a newspaper from the port of Valparaiso, Chile.






 The Pisco Sour underwent several changes until Mario Bruiget, a Peruvian bartender working at Morris' Bar, created the modern Peruvian recipe of the cocktail in the latter part of the 1920s by adding Angostura bitters and egg whites to the mix. In Chile, historian Oreste Plath attributed the invention of the drink to Elliot Stubb, an English steward of a ship named Sunshine, whom allegedly mixed key lime, syrup, and ice cubes to create the cocktail in a bar in the port city of Iquique in 1872. Nonetheless, the original source cited by Plath attributed Stubb the invention of Whiskey Sour and not Pisco Sour.
Both Chile and Peru claim ownership of the Pisco Sour and denominate it their national drink. Peru considers that both Pisco and the Pisco Sour should be considered exclusively Peruvian. However, Chile contests this claim and, in turn, also claims ownership over both alcoholic beverages. Partially as a result of this controversy, the Pisco Sour holds international attention as a topic of popular culture.



La receta



Ingredients
  • 3 parts Pisco.
  • 1 parts jarabe de goma
  • 1 part lime juice
  • 1 egg white.
  • Crushed ice.



1.     Mix the pisco with the jarabe de goma in a blender. Add the lime juice.
2.     Add the crushed ice and blend.
3.     Add the egg whites.
4.     Blend until the texture is smooth and even. The egg white should be foamy.
Serve in small glasses. Add a few drops of angostura bitters and a pinch of ground cinnamon.

Tips
  • Jarabe de goma is cane syrup. If you don't have any, you can use a number of similar substitute, such a simple syrup; a couple of spoonfuls of sugar; a little corn syrup, or Sprite. Most pisco sour recipes use some form of liquid sugar, so that there are no sugar crystals left in the drink.
  • Alternate recipes call for substituting lime juice for lemon juice (use small, strong-flavored limes for best taste).

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

The Different Ways Learning Spanish Can Help You


How many times have you been out and overheard someone speaking Spanish and thought to yourself, “I wish I could speak Spanish?” Well if you live in the United States, particularly on either coast or anywhere in the southwest, the chances are extremely high. This is because the Spanish language is the second most widely spoken language in America. In some cities, particularly places in New Mexico, Arizona, and California, the Spanish language, predominately the Mexican dialect, is almost more common than English. Likewise in places like Miami, the Cuban dialect is very common, and in New York City the majority of Spanish that is spoken can be categorized as the Puerto Rican dialect.

Although there are many different dialects of Spanish that are currently spoken in the United States and all over the world, Castilian Spanish is what is generally taught. Knowing Spanish in places like the above mentioned is almost a necessity on so many different levels. Someone who can speak Spanish in the United States will have a distinct advantage over someone who cannot in terms of employment and cultural immersion. Overall, the benefits to learning Spanish can be measured and are much greater than that of almost any other language in the modern world.

Spanish is a very old language that was originally derived from Latin and is considered one of the main six Romance Languages. This language is the second most spoken language in the world and can be heard on nearly every continent. The Spanish culture has influenced almost every other culture over time and has significant historic relevance to the United States in particular. The Spanish explorers that came to the American continent brought with them the culture and the people, which for the most part remain even today, especially in the areas that have already been mentioned. Learning Spanish in America is great way for someone to get a better understanding of our culture and our people.

In addition to the cultural benefits of the language, knowing Spanish in the United States does give you a head’s up on others as far as career opportunities are concerned. This is because such a huge portion of the American population only speaks Spanish. There are special services that are needed to accommodate this ever growing population and if you do not have the skills you will be passed over. For this reason, most students choose to take Spanish in school over any other language in hopes to gain an advantage for their future.

Are you interested in learning spanish and are in the Denver, Colorado area? Consider contacting Bolder Languages. Our foreign language school offers spanish tutoring, spanish classes and a variety of other instruction in Denver, CO.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Benefits Of Learning Spanish In Colorado



There are many benefits to learning a foreign language, especially Spanish, if you live in Colorado. Colorado is known to have a rich Hispanic culture that dates back to early North American explorations. The history behind the formation of this state tells stories of Hispanic explorers, Native American Tribes, and Mexican immigration. All over Colorado, and particularly in the southern part of the state, this rich Hispanic culture still exists and thrives today. From Mexican cantinas, restaurants and carnicerias, to salsa clubs and museums, people living in Colorado can participate in and learn all about our Hispanic culture. As of 2010 there were roughly 1,038,000 people of Hispanic and Latin descent living in Colorado. With statistics like this, it only makes sense that Spanish is the most commonly taught language in Colorado.

The benefits to knowing Spanish in Colorado are literally endless. Simple things like getting to know your neighbors, speaking to your children’s school friends, and communicating with the second largest demographic in the state are all made easier by knowing how speak Spanish. It is extremely difficult for some people to break that communication barrier without at least the basic knowledge of the language. Without that knowledge, people who don’t speak Spanish are missing out on great opportunities to meet new people and immerse themselves in a rich culture. We live in a state where diversity and sense of community are embraced. This can be seen in the amount of people living in Colorado that are interested in learning, already know, or are currently learning to speak Spanish. Other cultural and racial barriers are also broken when communities come together and find common grounds by means of speaking.

Furthermore, the job opportunities that are available to people who speak Spanish in Colorado are extensive, simply because the need is great. This means that in our economy, knowing Spanish actually puts you ahead of someone who cannot speak it when competing for a position. Many companies, particularly those that are based in areas that have the largest Spanish-speaking demographics, actually mandate that their employees speak Spanish as a hiring requirement. Others that do not require it, will pay more to those who have the ability to communicate with more than one speaking group. Also, many industries especially hospitality have a large percentage of Spanish speaking workers in the area. Many of these folks have immigrated to the state in hopes to find better employment opportunities. Most managers of these kinds of establishments will see better job performance from their employees when they are better able to communicate with them.

There are many benefits to learning spanish in Colorado. Bolder Languages is a world languages school located in both Denver and Boulder, CO that can teach you Spanish for the workplace , travel or just to have casual conversation.  Options include Private Spanish Lessons, Group Spanish Classes, and Spanish Tutoring.

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