spanishisfun

Repasando

2007-07-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hola clase!
Ahora que todos saben español 1, vamos a probar si aún lo recuerdan. Empezaremos con los verbos en tiempo pasado:
Leyendo a Faulkner
“Al día siguiente Zilphia, abandonó la escuela. Con un delantalito de hule se sentó en la ventana que daba a la plaza; a su lado zumbaba y zumbaba la máquina de coser de la señora Gant. La ventana ya no tenía rejas. A través de esa ventana Zilphia vio cómo los niños con los que había ido a la escuela se agrupaban en parejas inevitables que entraba y salían de su campo de visión, algunos hasta que llegasen al cura y al altar; un año, hizo el vestido blanco para la chica con la que había jugado; cuatro años después hizo los vestiditos para su hija. Estuvo sentada junto a la ventana durante doce años.”

PREGUNTAS
¿Cuántos verbos en pretérito perfecto hay?
¿Cuántos verbos en pretérito imperfecto hay?
¿Qué verbos no conocen?
¿Cuántos advervios de tiempo hay?
¿Reconocen este párrafo?
¿De qué trata este texto?

El examen 2

2006-06-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

Exam 2 is divided in five sections:

Section 1. Comprension Auditiva: I will read a passage about the family of Carlos. He is a UF student from Mexico. I will read twice. Then you will indicate with a C (cierto) if the statements are true or with F (falso) if they are false. (5x2=10 points)

Section 2. Preguntas orales: You will hear five questions. They will be read twice. answer each question with a complete sentence in Spanish. (5x3=15 points)

Section 3. Vocabulario: You will have Marcela's family tree (Carlos' girlfriend) You will need to complete the five statements according to Marcela's family tree. (5x1=5 points.)

Section 4. Situaciones: Using complete sentences, write in Spanish what 'you' would say (not Carlos) in the following situations. Do not translate the situations. (4x3=12 points)

Section 5. GRAMATICA

Grammar (A): Carlos is telling you about his daily routine on a regular weekday. You will need to complete the passage below with the correct form of the verb in parenthesis. (14x2=28 points)

Grammar (B): Carlos is late for class. You will have to look at the drawing and then underline the correct word in parenthesis. (10x1=10 points)

Section 6. Lectura: Read this text about Carlos. Then indicate with C (Cierto) if the following statements are true, or with F (Falso) if they are false. (3x5=15)

Good luck in the exam!!!

CAP 2 --> Seccion 6: Expressing to be / Present Tense of SER

2006-06-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

Hola clase!!!

We missed today Seccion 6: Expressing to be --> Present Tense of SER. Tomorrow, we will go over it and also over Seccion 7: Possessive Adjectives (Unstressed). Both are very related and need to be tough one after another so it will be better if I teach them the same day.
Well, nos vemos en clase!.

Sección 6: Uses of SER

Introduction:

Diferences between SER and ESTAR (TO BE)

Whole books have been written about the two important Spanish verbs: ser and estar. This will be the subject of our discussion for the next few lessons. Soon, you will have a very good understanding of how these two verbs are used.
Ser and estar can both be translated as "to be." Here is the English verb, fully conjugated: to be

I am

you are

she/he is

we are

you-all are

they are

Notice that these two sentences can have different meanings in English:

The apple is green. (Meaning the apple is not ripe.)

The apple is green. (Meaning the color of the apple is green.)

In the first case, our example speaks of the condition of the apple. The apple is green because it has not yet ripened. When the condition of the apple changes, that is, when it has ripened, it will no longer be green, it will be ripe.

In the second case, our example speaks of the essential characteristics of the apple. The apple is green in color. This particular apple remains green even after it has ripened.

In English, the verb "to be" can be used to tell how something is (the condition) and what something is (the essence).

How is the apple?

- It is unripe.

What color is the apple?

- It is green.

In Spanish, a different verb is used to express "to be" depending on whether the speaker intends to address a condition or an essential quality.

La manzana está verde. The apple is green. (condition)
La manzana es verde. The apple is green. (essence)

Note how the adjective "verde" actually changes meaning, depending upon whether it is used with ser or estar.

La manzana está verde. (condition: verde = unripe)
La manzana es verde.(essential characteristic: verde = color green)

To address condition, use estar. Estar is an irregular verb. It does not follow the standard rules of conjugation for regular -ar verbs. Therefore, you must memorize it.

yo estoy

tú estás

ella/él/ usted está

nosotras/os estamos

ellas/os / ustedes están

To address an essential quality, use ser. Ser is also irregular and must be memorized.

yo soy

tú eres

ella / él / usted es

nosotras/os somos

ellas/os / ustedes son

If you are talking about what something is, use ser.
If you are talking about how something is, use estar.

What is she like?
- She is quiet.
Use ser: Ella es callada.

How is she acting?
- She is being quiet.
Use estar: Ella está callada.

Now that we know some of the differences between SER and ESTAR, let's work with SER. Go to Puntos de Partida, página 71.

Sección 6: Uses of SER

SUMMARY OF USES OF SER

1. To Identify. (Para identificar)

2. To Describe. (Para describir)

3. Origen. (Orígen)

4. Generalization. (Generalización)

5. Possession. (Posesión)

6. Destination. (Destino)

1. To Identify: Para identificar gente y cosas. Se usa con sustantivos o pronombres que funcionan como sujeto (subject)

Saad es una persona feliz. (Con Noun - sustantivo)

Nosotros no somos fumadores activos. (Con Subject Pronoun - pronombres)

Esto es un libro. (Con Demonstrative Adjectives - adjetivos demostrativos)

2. To Describe: Para describir gente y cosas. Se usa con adjetivos que expresan las características del sujeto (color, forma, etc.)

La clase es grande.

Las faldas son negras.

3. Origin: Para expresar orígen. Se usa la preposición de+adjetive = posesión, orígen (para decir de qué material es algo - made of).

Esas bolsas son de plástico y son de Elizabeth.
Dane no es de Colombia.

4. Generalization: Sirve (it's useful) para expresar generalizaciones o expresiones impersonales. Solo (only) se usa con la conjugación en tercera persona: ES.

Es importante estudiar, pero es necesario estudiar todos los días.

5. Possession: Sirve para expresar posesión. Se usa la preposición de.

El perro es de Jessica.

6. Destination: Sirve para decir para quién y para qué algo está hecho. Se usa con para. También sirve para indicar el lugar y la fecha de un evento.

El libro Romeo and Juliet?. Es para la clase de inglés. La conferencia es en el auditorio. Las entrevistas son a las 8:00.

Now we need to go to Supplementary Materials pages 16, 17 and 18 to fill into the blanks.

CAP. 2 --> Seccion 5: Describing * Adjectivess: Gender, Number, and Position

2006-06-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Hola clase!

Today, the calss will be divided in two parts:

During the first part, we are going to work on your homework about La familia. You are going to explain how your family is and how members are in your familia, then you will start adding characteristics to them.

During the second part, we will practice our pronounciation with a song from JUANES (Un grupo de musica colombiano), aqui esta la letra de la cancion:

Canción: Para tu amor

Para tu amor lo tengo todo
Desde mi sangre hasta la esencia de mi ser
Y para tu amor que es mi tesoro
Tengo mi vida toda entera a tus pies
Y tengo también
Un corazón que se muere por dar amor
Y que no conoce el fin
Un corazón que late por vos
Para tu amor no hay despedidas
Para tu amor yo solo tengo eternidad
Y para tu amor que me ilumina
Tengo una luna, un arco iris y un clavel
Y tengo también
Un corazón que se muere por dar amor
Y que no conoce fin
Un corazón que late por vos
Por eso yo te quiero tanto que no s é como explicar lo
Que siento
Yo te quiero porque tu dolor es mi dolor
Y no hay dudas
Yo te quiero con el alma y con el corazónte venero
hoy y siempre gracias yo te doy a ti mi amor
por existir
para tu amor lo tengo todo
lo tengo todo y lo que no tengo tambiénlo conseguiré
para tu amor que es mi tesoro
Tengo mi vida toda entera a tus pies
Y tengo también…

CAP. 1 ---> Seccion 4: Getting Information

2006-05-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

Cap. 1: Seccion 4 --> Questions (Getting Information)

In Spanish, there may be several ways to ask the same question. Note the inverted question mark that begins each question.

¿Chris habla español? (Does Chris speak Spanish?)

¿Habla Chris español? (Does Chris speak Spanish?)

¿Habla español Chris? (Does Chris speak Spanish?)

The following questions mean exactly the same thing:

Does Chris speak Spanish?

¿Chris habla español?

¿Habla Chris español?

¿Habla español Chris?

Possible answers would be:

Sí, Chris habla español.

No, Chris no habla español.

Another method of forming questions is to add a tag question to the end of a statement.

Chris habla español, ¿no? (Chris speaks Spanish, doesn't she?

Chris habla español, ¿verdad? (Chris speaks Spanish, right?)

Common words used to introduce other questions are:

¿Adónde? / ¿Dónde? / ¿De dónde? / ¿Cómo? / ¿Cuál (-es)? / ¿Cuándo?

¿Cuánto (-a)? / ¿Cuántos (-as)? / ¿Qué? / ¿De qué? / ¿Quién (-es)?

¿A quién (-es)? / ¿Con quién (-es)? / ¿De quién (-es)? / ¿Por qué? / ¿Para qué?

Note: Each has a written accent mark.

Notice how the subject and verbs are inverted. That is, the subject comes after the verb.

¿Qué estudia Andrea? (What does Pilar Andrea?)

¿Cuándo comen ustedes? (When do you-all eat?) or

¿Dónde está mi lapicero? (Where is my pen?) or

¿Cuánto cuestan los pantalones? (How much does the pants cost?)

¿Dónde? means "Where?" ¿Adónde? means "To where?" Thus, dónde asks for a location, while adónde asks for a destination.

¿Dónde está la biblioteca? (Where is the library?)

¿Adónde va Sarah? (Where is Sarah going?)

(Literally: To where goes Sarah?)

¿De dónde? means "From where?"

¿De dónde es Enock? (Where is Enock from?)

¿Cómo? means "How?"

¿Cómo está usted? (How are you?)

¿Cuál? and ¿Cuáles? mean "What?" or "Which?"

¿Cuál es tu nombre? (What is your name?)

¿Cuáles son tus clases favoritas? (What (Which) are your favorite classes?)

¿Cuándo? means "When?"

¿Cuándo van a ir ustedes? (When are you-all going to go?)

¿Cuánto(-a)? means "How much?"

¿Cuánto dinero gana Randy? (How much money does Randy earn?)

¿Cuántos(-as)? means "How many?"

¿Cuántas chicas hay en la clase? (How many girls are there in the class?)

¿Qué? means "What?"

¿Qué es la democracia? (What is democracy?)

¿Qué estudias? (What do you study?)

¿De qué? means "About what?" or "Of what?"

¿De qué material es el escritorio? (What is the desk made of?)

Literally: Of what material is the pen?

¿De qué hablan ustedes? (What are you-all talking about?)

Literally: Of what do you-all speak?

¿Quién(-es)? means "Who?"

¿Quién es July? (Who is July?)

¿Quiénes son esos chicos? (Who are those boys?)

¿A quién(-es)? means "Whom?"

¿A quién buscas? (For whom are you looking?)

¿A quiénes vas a dar tantas mochilas? (To whom are you going to give so many knapsacks?)

¿Con quién(-es)? means "With whom?"

¿Con quién hablo? (With whom am I speaking?)

¿Con quiénes estudia Saad? (With whom does Saad study?)

¿De quién(-es)? means "Whose?"

¿De quién es aquel libro? (Whose book is that?)

¿De quiénes son estos lápices? (Whose pencils are these?)

¿Por qué? means "Why? (for what reason)"

¿Por qué estudias español? (For what reason do you study Spanish?)

Possible answer: Porque es un requisito (Because it's required)

¿Para qué? means "Why? (for what purpose)"

¿Para qué escribes una carta a tu madre? (For what purpose do you write a letter to your mother?)

Possible answer: Para saber cómo está ella (In order to know how she is doing)

When used with the verb ser, cuál and qué can both mean "what," but they are not interchangeable.

Cuál is more common, and is used to indicate a selection, or choice of possibilities.

Qué is used to elicit a definition or an explanation.

¿Cuál es la capital de Peru? (What is the capital of Peru?)

¿Qué es la capital? (What is the (definition of) capital?)

Pronunciacion - Consolidacion

2006-05-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hola clase!
Aquí una canción para el día de hoy. Vamos a practicar nuestro castellano (español) en clase. ¡Todos vamos a cantar!

La gallina turuleca

Yo conozco una vecina
que ha comprado una gallina
que parece una sardina enlatada.
Tiene las patas de alambre
porque pasa mucho hambre
y la pobre está todita desplumada.
Pone huevos en la sala
y también en la cocina,
pero nunca
los pone en el corral.
La gallina
turuleca
es un caso singular.
La gallina
turuleca
está loca de verdad.

La gallina turuleca
ha puesto un huevo
ha puesto dos
ha puesto tres.

La gallina turuleca
ha puesto cuatro
ha puesto cinco
ha puesto seis.

La gallina turuleca
ha puesto siete
ha puesto ocho
ha puesto nueve.

¿Dónde está esa gallinita?
¡Déjala a la pobrecita!
¡Déjala que ponga diez

(Back to the beginning)

-----------

¿Dónde está esa gallinita?
!Déjala a la pobrecita!
¡Déjala que ponga diez!.

Yo conozco una vecina
que ha comprado una gallina
que parece una sardina enlatada.
Tiene las patas de alambre
porque pasa mucho hambre
y la pobre está todita desplumada.
Pone huevos en la sala
y también en la cocina,
pero nunca
los pone en el corral.
La gallina
turuleca
es un caso singular.
La gallina
turuleca
está loca de verdad.

La gallina turuleca
ha puesto un huevo
ha puesto dos
ha puesto tres.

La gallina turuleca
ha puesto cuatro
ha puesto cinco
ha puesto seis.

La gallina turuleca
ha puesto siete
ha puesto ocho
ha puesto nueve.

¿Dónde está esa gallinita?
¡Déjala a la pobrecita!
¡Déjala que ponga diez

(Back to the beginning)

-----------

¿Dónde está esa gallinita?
!Déjala a la pobrecita!
¡Déjala que ponga diez!.

El programa

2006-05-16T14:58:00.000-07:00

SPN 1130: Beginning Spanish 1. Student Course Packet Summer “C”
Department of Romance Languages and Literatures
University of Florida

Instructor: Ericka Ghersi
Office Hours: Tuesday (4), Wed. (2) & R. (4)
Office: Yon Hall #323
Telephone: (352) 392-9222
E-mail: spanish1130@yahoo.com

Department of Romance Languages and Literatures home page: http://www.rll.ufl.edu
Ericka P. Ghersi’s home page: http://plaza.ufl.edu/eghersi/

If you want to check the syllabus, please click here.

Hola clase de verano 2006!

2006-05-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Aqui tengo una lectura para ustedes. Lean la lectura mientra (while) yo leo sus Language Background Information:

Hola clase:

Mi nombre es Ericka Ghersi y soy una estudiante graduada. Yo estudio Literatura Latinoamericana y estoy escribiendo mi disertacion sobre poesia, violencia simbolica y discursos feministas latinoamericanos. Me gusta mucho el tema que trabajo y me gustaria (would) ensenar (to teach) una clase sobre este tema.
Yo soy de Peru, naci en Lima, la capital, pero creci en las costas del norte de Peru, en Piura y Tumbes. Mi familia vive en Lima, tengo dos hermanos y una hermana. Mi hermano mayor, Paul, esta casado (is married) con Gisselle y tienen dos hijos (Bruno y Mauricio), mi tercera hermana, Rita, esta casada con Juan Manuel y tienen dos hijos (Edu y Mariagracia), mi hermano menor, Mario, no esta casado porque tiene 21 anos. El es muy joven para casarse.
Y ustedes, de donde son?, que estudian en la Universidad de Florida?, tienen hermanos y/o hermanas?

Preterite (Part II)

2006-04-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

Preterite: Part I

In the last lesson, you learned that the preterite is used for past actions that are seen as completed. You also learned how to conjugate regular -ar verbs. In this lesson, you will learn how to conjugate -er and -ir verbs, and become more familiar with the uses of the preterite.

To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

é
aste
ó
amos
aron

To conjugate regular -er and -ir verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending (-er or -ir) and add one of the following:

í
iste
ió
imos
ieron

Here are all three regular preterite verb forms together:

hablar / comer / vivir

hablé / comí / viví
hablaste / comiste / viviste
habló / comió / vivió

hablamos / comimos / vivimos
hablaron / comieron / vivieron

Note: the nosotros forms for -ar and -ir verbs are the same in both preterite and present tenses:

hablamos, vivimos.

The preterite is used for actions that can be viewed as single events.

Ella caminó por el parque.
She walked through the park.

Ellos llegaron a las ocho.
They arrived at eight o'clock.

The preterite is used for actions that were repeated a specific number of times, or occurred during a specific period of time.

Ayer escribí tres cartas.
Yesterday I wrote three letters.

Vivimos allí por cuatro años.
We lived there for four years.

The preterite is used for actions that were part of a chain of events.

Ella se levantó, se vistió, y salió de la casa.
She got up, dressed, and left the house.

The preterite is used to state the beginning or the end of an action.

Empezó a nevar a las ocho de la mañana.
It began to snow at eight in the morning.

The above examples all fall within our general rule for using the preterite:

* The preterite is used for past actions that are seen as completed.

Let's add two more flashcards for regular -er and -ir verbs in the preterite tense:

Verb Flashcards

Preterite: regular -er

-í
-iste
-ió
-imos
ieron
comí, comiste, comió, comimos, comisteis, comieron

Preterite: regular -ir verbs

-í
-iste
-ió
-imos
ieron
viví, viviste, vivió, vivimos, vivisteis, vivieron

Preterite versus Imperfect (Part I)

2006-04-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Preterite vs Imperfect: Part I

Spanish has two past tenses: preterite and imperfect. Most verbs can be put into either tense, depending upon the meaning. In this lesson, you will learn to conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterite and the imperfect. You will also learn the basic difference between the preterite and the imperfect, so that you can begin using them correctly.

To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the preterite, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

é
aste
ó
amos
aron

To conjugate regular -ar verbs in the imperfect, simply drop the ending (-ar) and add one of the following:

aba
abas
aba
ábamos
aban

Compare the verb "hablar" conjugated in the preterite and the imperfect.

Preterite / Imperfect

hablé / hablaba
hablaste / hablabas
habló / hablaba
hablamos / hablábamos
hablaron / hablaban

Generally speaking, the preterite is used for actions in the past that are seen as completed. Use of the preterite tense implies that the past action had a definite beginning and definite end:

Juan habló de la una hasta las dos.
Juan spoke from one until two o'clock. (clearly stated beginning and end)

It is important to realize that the beginning and the end may not always be clearly stated:

Juan habló dos horas.
Juan spoke for two hours. (implied beginning and end)

Juan habló con la estudiante.
Juan spoke with the student. (implied beginning and end)

Generally speaking, the imperfect is used for actions in the past that are not seen as completed. Use of the imperfect tense implies that the past action did not have a definite beginning or a definite end.

Las chicas hablaban en inglés.
The girls used to speak in English. (no definite beginning or end)

You have now learned the basic difference between the preterite and the imperfect:

* The preterite tells us specifically when an action took place.
* The imperfect tells us in general when an action took place.

Note: Although this difference may appear simple, this is actually a complex topic, and you will learn the finer points in later lessons.

Let's add two more flashcards, one for regular -ar preterite, and one for regular -ar imperfect:

Verb Flashcards

Preterite: regular -ar verbs
-é
-aste
-ó
-amos
-aron
hablé, hablaste, habló, hablamos, hablasteis, hablaron

Imperfect: regular -ar verbs
-aba
-abas
-aba
-ábamos
-aban
hablaba, hablabas, hablaba, hablábamos, hablabais, hablaban

Practiquemos para el examen # 3

2006-03-31T10:05:00.000-08:00

The exam covers Chapters 5 and 6. It is three pages long.

Instructions:

I. Comprensión Auditiva.: You will read six statements, then listen to a passage in Spanish which will be read twice. Then you’ll indicate whether the statements are cierto o falso: (6 x 2 = 12)

II. Preguntas Orales: You will hear five questions. They will be read twice. You will answer each one with a full sentence in Spanish. You can’t take any notes. (5 x 3 = 15)

III. Vocabulario: You will identify what’s happening in 2 drawings, using words from the new vocabulary. (10 x 1 = 10)

IV. Situaciones: You will write in Spanish responses in a dialogue described in English, from the point of view of the one of the people in the dialogue. (5 x 3 = 15) V. Gramática: There are 4 sections that concentrate on different grammar topics: You have to write 4 commands; you have to answer questions using direct object pronouns; you have to make 3 comparisons; and in the last section there are a variety of grammar points and you must choose one of several words in parenthesis to complete a paragraph. (36 points)

VI. Lectura: You will read a passage then answer 4 comprehension questions. Some are multiple choice, some are cierto-falso. (4 x 3 = 12)

Vamos a practicar!!!

SPAN 1115 EXAMEN 3 (Práctica) Primavera 2005

I. Comprensión Auditiva.: You will read six statements, then listen to a passage in Spanish which will be read twice. Then you’ll indicate whether the statements are cierto o falso: (6 x 2 = 12) (Go to Supplementary Materials page 70)
Ask a classmate to read this text to you, and listen to her/him:

Buenos días, radioyentes de Dallas. Ahora el boletín de las ocho. Otro día soleado aquí en Dallas, con temperaturas máximas alcanzando los ochenta y cinco (85) grados y las mínimas tal vez bajando hasta los cincuenta (50) grados esta noche. Para mañana, se espera otro día muy agradable, despejado, con vientos leves del norte.
Buenos días, Philadelphia. El servicio nacional climatológico les trae las últimas noticias sobre la primera tempestad del invierno. Está nevando fuertemente ahora, con acumulaciones en algunas partes de Philadelphia de hasta 14 pulgadas, con temperaturas máximas solo alcanzando los treinta y cinco (35) grados. Esta noche, se espera temperaturas bajando hasta los quince (15) grados. Por suerte, mañana va a dejar de nevar. Va a hacer sol, pero continuará el frío intenso.
Buenos días, Miami. Les traigo el boletín del mediodía. No salgan hoy sin impermeable, porque se esperan lluvias torrenciales para hoy, continuando por la tarde. El frente tropical llegó, y ya está lloviendo a cántaros en algunas partes de Miami. Debido a las lluvias, la temperatura ha bajado desde un alto de noventa y dos (92) grados hasta la temperatura mínima actual de setenta y cuatro (74) grados. Para mañana se espera otra vez lluvia y muchísima humedad.
Buenas tardes, Los Angeles. El servicio nacional climatológico advierte que, otra vez, los niveles de smog han alcanzado niveles peligrosos. Hoy se espera que el tiempo va ha seguir igual que ayer, nublado, con temperaturas máximas llegando tal vez a los sesenta y cinco (65) grados y las mínimas bajando hasta los cincuenta (50) grados. Para mañana, se espera un día de sol con una leve subida de temperatura.
Buenas tardes, Chicago. Aquí en la ciudad ventosa se espera un día típica de invierno, con un viento fuertísimo del lago Michigan y un frío intensísimo. Se espera que la temperatura máxima alcanzara los veintiséis (26) grados, con temperaturas mínimas bajando a los doce (12) grados esta noche. Mañana va a estar nublado, con posibilidades de nieve en la tarde y en la noche.
Answer in your S.M. (p.70) El boletín metereológico

II. Preguntas Orales: You will hear five questions. They will be read twice. You will answer each one with a full sentence in Spanish. You can’t take any notes. (5 x 3 = 15)
Ask a classmate to read this questions to you, and answer each question as soon as she/he finishes each of them:

¿Cuál es tu estación favorita?
¿Qué haces cuando estás nervioso?
¿Cuál es el plato que se come después del plato principal?
¿Qué platos sabes preparar?
¿Qué restaurante recomiendas para una cita romántica?

III. Vocabulario: You will identify what’s happening in 2 drawings, using words from the new vocabulary. (10 x 1 = 10)

Look at your blackboard

IV. Situaciones: You will write in Spanish responses in a dialogue described in English, from the point of view of the one of the people in the dialogue. (5 x 3 = 15)

1. Prof. Ghersi asks a student from the class for his homework, and he explains that he just got the e-mail she had sent two days ago with the assignment.
………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. A student from the class is going to have a party at his apartment for the end of the semester. What kind of advise you give to him?, using a command.
………………………………………………………………………………………………...

3. One of your classmates is going to Cusco (Peru) to do hiking during Summer vacations. She asks you if you know the country, how do you answer at her questions?
………………………………………………………………………………………………...

4. The same classmate asks you if you know anything about Cusco. How do you answer?
………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. You know South America has more places than The United States to do outdoor activities, how do you say that in Spanish using comparisons?
...................................................................................................................................................

V. Gramática: There are 4 sections that concentrate on different grammar topics: You have to write 4 commands; you have to answer questions using direct object pronouns; you have to make 3 comparisons; and in the last section there are a variety of grammar points and you must choose one of several words in parenthesis to complete a paragraph. (36 points)

Sección 1: Your friend is coming to Gainesville to visit you, write 4 commands saying what kind of weather we have these coming days and what kind of clothing she/he needs to bring to Gainesville.

Sección 2: You are buying cloths (unos pantalones, unas sandalias, una camisa y un cinturón). How do you say:
I want (querer) them in a bag………………………………………………………..
I am going to put (usar/llevar) them (los pantalones) on right now…………………
I want (querer) it (la camisa) in white with pink flowers……………………….……
He is going to put (llevar) it (el cinturón) on…………………………………………
I am not going to buy (comprar) them (las sandalias)……………………………….

Sección 3: Make tres (3) comparisons:
¿Qué te gusta más: el hígado o el pescado?..................................................................
¿Quién es más bonita: tu novia o tu hermana?.............................................................
¿Qué clase te gusta más: la de español o la de inglés?..................................................

Sección 4: Grammar points to be checkeb in class: Supplementary Materials pages 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 and 93.

VI. Lectura: You will read a passage then answer 4 comprehension questions. Some are multiple choice, some are cierto-falso. (4 x 3 = 12)
Lecture will be one of the texts from Puntos de Partida, chapter 6 (p.220)

Commands (Imperative Form)

2006-03-27T14:40:00.000-08:00

Formal Commands

Commands are used when ordering, or telling someone to do something. This is often referred to as the "imperative" form of the verb.

Compre Ud. el anillo.
(You) Buy the ring.

Venga a clase mañana.
(You) Come to class tomorrow.

Compren Uds. los libros.
(You-all) Buy the books.

Vengan a clase mañana.
(You-all) Come to class tomorrow.

By now, you are well acquainted with the fact that Spanish has both a formal and an informal style of speech (tú / Ud.). This distinction applies to commands.

Compre Ud. el anillo.
Buy the ring. (formal)

Compra (tú) los dulces.
Buy the candy. (familiar)

Informal, or familiar, speech is used among friends, coworkers, relatives, or when addressing a child. Formal speech is generally used to be polite or to express respect. For that reason, the formal commands are often referred to as polite commands.
The formal commands are formed the same way as the present subjunctive:
1. Start with the yo form of the present indicative.

2. Then drop the -o ending.
3. Finally, add the following endings:

-ar verbs:-e (for Ud.), -en (for Uds.)

-er and -ir verbs:-a (for Ud.), -an (for Uds.)

The following examples of formal commands use three regular verbs: hablar, comer, and escribir.

Hable Ud. más lentamente. / Hablen Uds. más lentamente. ---> Speak more slowly.

Coma Ud. la cena. / Coman Uds. la cena. ---> Eat the dinner.

Escriba Ud. la carta. / Escriban Uds. la carta. ---> Write the letter.

Remember, if the first person singular (yo) form is irregular, that irregularity is carried over into the formation of the formal command.

Tenga Ud. un buen viaje. (yo tengo)
Have a good trip.

Traigan Uds. dinero para ir a Oaks Mall. (yo traigo)
Bring money in order to go to the Oaks Mall.

Vengan Uds. temprano a Gainesville para ir a Saint Augustine. (yo vengo)
Come early to Gainesville in order to go to Saint Augustine.

This also applies to stem-changing verbs.

Cuente Ud. conmigo. (yo cuento)
Count on me.

Vuelvan Uds. pronto. (yo vuelvo)
Return quickly.

Pidan dinero a sus padres para venir a Gainesville. (yo pido)
Ask for money to your parents in order to come to Gainesville.

As with the present subjunctive, the following verbs are irregular:

dar
dé Ud.
den Uds.

estar
esté Ud.
estén Uds.

ir
vaya Ud.
vayan Uds.

ser
sea Ud.
sean Uds.

saber
sepa Ud.
sepan Uds.

Note that affirmative and negative commands use the same verb forms.

Hable Ud. ---> Speak.
No hable Ud. ---> Don't speak.

Coma Ud. ---> Eat.
No coma Ud. ----> Don't eat.

Escriba Ud. ----> Write.
No escriba Ud. ---> Don't write.

Also note that the subject pronouns Ud. and Uds. may or may not be used. Using them adds a degree of formality or politeness to the command.

Hable. ---> Speak.
Hable Ud. ---> Speak (sir). (more respectful)

Coma. ---> Eat.
Coma Ud. ---> Eat (sir). (more polite)

Let's add two flashcards for the formal commands:

Verb Flashcards

Formal Commands (Imperative)
Use the present subjunctive forms

Hable Ud. ---> Speak.
No hable Ud. ---> Don't speak.

Coma Ud. ---> Eat.
No coma Ud. ---> Don't eat.

Escriba Ud. pronto. ----> Write soon.
No escriba Ud. pronto. ---> Don't write soon.

Irregular Formal Commands (Imperative)
Same irregulars as the present subjunctive forms

Dar ---> dé Ud. / den Uds.

Estar ---> esté Ud. / estén Uds.

Ir ---> vaya Ud. / vayan Uds.

Ser ---> sea Ud. / sean Uds.

Saber ---> sepa Ud. / sepan Uds.

Homework: Write a paragraphe telling your friend what she/he should wear when she/he comes to visit you to Gainesville, and send it to me via e-mail to spanish1115@yahoo.com, I will help you with your grammar. Have fun!

PRACTICA PARA HOY VIERNES

2006-03-24T07:07:00.000-08:00

Hola clase!
As we planned on Wednesday, today we are going to work with the following song: ELLA. Follow all the instructions posted:

CHAPTER 6

This song is played by the rock band Bebe. I would like you to go over the English version and then fill in what you think should belong in the blank. In this song, you will see two different kinds of blanks. First, you will go over this kind of blank: (_______), you need to find a verb for it. Two, once you are done, go over the blank: (……..), for this kind of blank you need to think of all the reflexive verbs, Direct Object Nouns and Pronouns. I will attach my PowerPoint about Direct Object pronouns in order to help you. Have fun learning!

SHE by Bebe

She’s gotten tired of throwing in the towel
She is removing little by little her spiderwebs
She has not slept this night, but she is not tired
She did not look at any mirror, but she feels pretty anyway.

Now, she has put on mascara
Now, she likes being happy, she feels a new woman
Now, she dreams what she wants without worrying about anything
Now, she is a woman who realizes she has a soul

Now, you are going to find world is only for you
That nobody can hurt you, nobody can hurt you
Now, you are going to understand that fear can be broken with a single slam
Now, you will make other people smile because you got tired of weeping, of weeping
Now, you are going to be able to laugh at yourself and see that you have achieved your goals

Now, you are going to be the woman that you want to be
Now, you are going to love yourself as you never knew you could
Now, you are going to look forward because you already have been hurt enough
A brave woman, a smiling woman, !look how it goes!, !ha!

Now, was born the perfect woman I was expecting and she has broken the established rules
Now, she wears heels so everybody knows about her steps (she is getting her goals)
Now, she knows her life nevermore will be a failure.

Now, you are going to find world is only for you
That nobody can hurt you, nobody can hurt you
Now, you are going to conquer heaven without looking how high is from earth
Now, you are going to be happy though winter is cold and is long, and it is long
Now, you are going to be able to laugh at yourself and see that you have achieved your goals

Now, you are going to find world is only for you
That nobody can hurt you, nobody can hurt you
Now, you are going to understand that fear can be broken with a single slam
Now, you will make other people smile because you got tired of weeping, of weeping
Now, you are going to be able to laugh at yourself and see that you have achieved your goals.

ELLA por Bebe

Ella ......(1) ha cansado de tirar la toalla
va quitando poco a poco telarañas.
No ha dormido esta noche, pero no ______(2) cansada
____(3) miró ningún espejo, pero .....(4) siente "toda" guapa.
Hoy, ______(5) .....(6) ha puesto color en las pestañas.
Hoy le _________(7) su sonrisa, ____(8) .......(9) siente una extraña
____(10) sueña lo que _________(11) sin preocuparse por _______(12)
Hoy es una _________(13) que ........(14) da cuenta de su alma.
Hoy ____(15) a descubrir que el mundo ____(16) sólo para ti
que ______(17) puede hacerte daño, ______(18) puede hacerte daño
_____(19) vas a comprender que ___(20) miedo
____(21) puede romper con un sólo portazo.
Hoy vas __(22) hacerte reír porque tus _______(23)
se han cansado de ser llanto, de ____(24) llanto.
Hoy vas a conseguir reirte hasta de ____(25) y _____(26) que lo has logrado.
Hoy vas ___(27) ser la _______(28) que te de la gana de ser.
Hoy .......(29) vas a querer como _______(30) .......(31) ha sabido querer.
Hoy vas a mirar pa´lante que pa´ atrás ya .......(31) dolió bastante
Una mujer valiente, una _______(32) sonriente, ¡mira como pasa!, ¡já!

Hoy, nació la mujer perfecta que esperaba y ha roto sin pudores las reglas marcadas.
Hoy ha calzado tacones para hacer sonar sus pasos.
Hoy sabe que su vida ______(33) más será un fracaso.
Hoy vas a descubrir que __(34) mundo ___(35) sólo para ti
que _____(36) puede hacerte daño, nadie puede hacerte daño.
Hoy vas a conquistar ___(37) cielo sin _____(38) lo alto que queda del suelo.
Hoy vas a ser ______(39) aunque el invierno sea _____(40) y sea largo, y sea largo.
Hoy vas a conseguir reirte hasta de ti y ver que lo has logrado.
Hoy vas a descubrir que el mundo es sólo para ti que _______(41) puede hacerte daño, nadie puede hacerte daño.
Hoy ____(42) a comprender que el miedo se puede romper con un sólo portazo.
Hoy vas a hacerte reír porque tus ojos se han cansado de ser llanto, de ser llanto
_____(43) vas a conseguir reirte hasta de ti y _____(44) que lo has logrado.

Links to contact people from Latin American countries

2006-03-08T16:20:00.000-08:00

Do you want to practice your Spanish?
Get in touch with this people. Open these links:

http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/

http://www.lingozone.com/

http://www.polyglot-learn-language.com/

http://www.tandem-schools.com/index.php

http://www.eslbase.com/language-exchange/myhome.asp

http://www2.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/cultura/cultura.pl

CAP 5 Section 15 (Present Progressive)

2006-03-01T06:14:00.001-08:00

Hola clase!

Hoy miércoles primero de marzo, vamos a trabajar la sección 15 del CAP 5 [Present Progressive]. These are the steps you need to follow in class:

- As soon you enter to the classroom, go over pages 73 and 80 in your Suple. Mater. Do the exercises with a 'companero de clase'. Use your Puntos de partida if you do not understand section 15 (pp. 165-166).

- Once, you are done with it, start with the following exercises:

a.- Select the correct form of "estar": http://www.studyspanish.com/practice/presprog.htm
b.- Rewrite each sentence using the present progressive: http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/spain/puntos/graphics/puntos_6e/ch05/others/gram5_1.htm

- By the end of the class, you will have learned how to work with Present Progressive in Spanish.

Buena suerte a todos, nos vemos en clase!

CAP 5 Section 15 (Present Progressive)

2006-03-01T06:14:00.000-08:00

CAP 5 Section 15: Present Progressive

2006-03-01T05:11:00.000-08:00

A Edú y a Mariagracia les gusta ir a los juegos mecánicos. Todos los fines de semana, ellos salen con su mamá y su papá al parque y luego a los juegos mecánicos. A Edú no le gustan los dulces (chocolates y caramelos), pero a Mariagracia sí le gustan, especialmente los chupetines (lolypops). ¿Qué está haciendo Edú?, y ¿qué está haciendo Mariagracia?. A Rita, la mamá de Edú y Mariagracia, le gusta tomar fotos de sus hijos, ¿quién está tomando esta foto?, ¿a ti también te gusta tomar fotos?

CAP 5 Seccion 15: Present Progressive

2006-03-01T04:41:00.000-08:00

Al papá de Mariagracia y Edú, Juan Manuel, le gusta jugar con sus hijos durante su tiempo libre. En esta foto, ¿qué está haciendo Juan Manuel con Mariagracia y Edú?, ¿qué está haciendo Edú?, y ¿qué está haciendo Mariagracia?.

CAP. 5 Section 15: Present Progressive

2006-02-28T20:42:00.000-08:00

Edú y Mariagracia están en McDonald's. Ellos ordenaron (order) una hamburguesa de pollo con papas fritas. ¿Qué están haciendo Edú y Mariagracia?, ¿dónde están comiendo?.

Capitulo 4: En casa

2006-02-15T06:16:00.001-08:00

Today, we are going to learn about "La casa". Get prepare to learn some vocabulario and to apply the current verbs we have already learn. Click here and enjoy it!!!
If it does not work with that link, then click here.

Capitulo 4: En casa

2006-02-15T06:16:00.000-08:00

Where to go for Spring Break or Sumer? Take a look...

2006-02-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

Remember Class I told you I was born in Lima, but I grew in the notrh part of Peru. Well, this is the place where I spent my first twelve years, I invite you to visit it, perhaps for this Spring Break or Summer. This is a safety place to go, it is not full of crazy tourists. I would say that it is a place to have fun and meet other people from the world intereted in surfing, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, eating good seafood (I love their grouper) and drinking different kinds of natural juces (pineaple, papaya, mango, guava, lime, banana, etc), and why not, speaking Spanish. Below, I describe three of the several places you can visit:

Here some pictures...

Punta Veleros:

Located in the town of Los Organos, this beach has begun slowly to be a great option for vacations. It has two good points for surfing, one of them in front of a place called "Casablanca" and the other point is known as "Los Organos" or "La Vuelta". A pair of new lodgings and restaurants has recently begun offering their services in Punta Veleros. Los Organos has not been exploded for tourism, however, its beaches, its beautiful pier and its low rates conquest the tourists that are more adventurers.

Cabo Blanco:

The literature Nobel Prize winner in 1954, Ernest Hemingway used to come to this beach looking for the fishing of the Black Merlin. The natives say that this beach was the divine inspiration for its novel "The Old Man and the Sea". Cabo Blanco is known worldwide for its fishing (with a lot of world records) and for its big waves for surf, catalogued as "for experts only". Panic Point is one of the best-catalogued beaches of Cabo Blanco by the surfers and their boards. You can get there via El Alto town,located in the 1137 km of the North Pan-American Highway. Cabo Blanco is a little inlet of fishermen and it only offers two hotels for the tourists.

Punta Sal:

Located north from Mancora, in the province of Tumbes, Punta de Sal is, in few words, a high category tourist center. It has a big number of hotels and good restaurants. Its warm and crystalline waters attract people from Lima in the hot months of January and February. The entrance to Punta de Sal is located in the 1187 km of the North Pan-American Highway. Hotels like Caballito de Mar and Hotel Punta Sal are the favorites.

Visit Mancora (Peru) for Spring Break

2006-02-14T13:41:00.000-08:00

Other pictures from where I come from

Only two kilometers south of Mancora you encounter Las Pocitas, one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Peru. The curious name comes from the natural pools that form inside the craters of rocks on the beach at low tide. This characteristic, unique to the coast of Peru, along with the beautiful houses and hotels that line the shores makes this place paradise and a safe haven for the whole family to enjoy.
La Pocitas beach has only one central road (which was originally the Panamerican North Highway) that goes between the beach and sloping hillside. Asphalt doesn't exist in Las Pocitas and the green vegetation surrounding the houses in this beachfront community demonstrates the care of the inhabitance. Las Pocitas offers everything for the tourist; good quality hotels, bars and restaurants. All good quality services waiting for your visit to one of the most interesting tourist centers on the coast of Peru. If you want to see some hotels in Las Pocitas, click here.

This Summer go to Mancora (Peru)

2006-02-14T12:58:00.000-08:00

Remember Class I told you I was born in Lima, but I grew in Máncora. Well, here it is the place...

If they told you of a lost beach, where you can view dolphins at a far, see girls surfing longboards and palm trees that cast a perfect shade to cover you while you bask on the sand, with the lift of a hand you order a grouper Ceviche that's as spicy as they come... would you believe it?
And if they told you that the water is almost hot, that the sun shines all year long (cloudy days can be counted on one hand) and there are no stoplights or office buildings, only juice bars and surf shops... would you believe it?
Believe it or not it exists. This beach town is called Mancora and it is located in the north of Peru. If you don't believe that such a paradise exists, visit it and bring sun block, sunglasses and best bathing suit in case it becomes reality...
Located 110 kilometers from the boarder of Ecuador, Mancora has changed little by little into the most appetizing beach destination for people from Lima and tourists from all corners of the planet, along with families who are looking for extraordinary vacations or the simple backpacker passing through who, without realizing, stays for weeks as if trapped by the magic of Mancora.For the traveler in transit from the boarder in Huaquillas-Aguas Verdes (Peru and Ecuador), Mancora is the perfect place to rest and recuperate.
In Mancora there is lodging and restaurants to accommodate any budget. You will also be able to find surfshops to rent surfboards and beautiful stores with handcrafted artwork. The people are warm, calm and kind to the traveler.
In Mancora you will find everything necessary to satisfy a wide variety of tourists: ATM machines, hospitals, bank, local police, Internet, parking and mini supermarkets. To see hostels in Mancora, clic aquí.To see a detailed map of the area, clic aquí.

CAPS. 2 y 3. New Vebs

2006-02-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hi class!!!

Welcome to my blog!

Here you have lyrics from a song written by Juanes. The tittle is "Tengo la camisa negra". Tomorrow Wednesday, we are going to sing and dance this song, so get ready (!prep[a]rate!). Also, try to get a suitable translation from any of the translation webpages we have searched already.
Enjoy the song!

Bring this printed by tomorrow, Wednesday 15 of February!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!! /// Happy Friendship's Day!!!!
Feliz d[i]a de San Valent[i]n!!! /// Feliz d[i]a de la Amistad!!!

Tengo la camisa negra
hoy mi amor esta de luto
Hoy tengo en el alma una pena
y es por culpa de tu embrujo
Hoy sé que tú ya no me quieres
y eso es lo que más me hiere
que tengo la camisa negra
y una pena que me duele
mal parece que solo me quedé
y fue pura todita tu mentira
que maldita mala suerte la mía
que aquel día te encontré
por beber del veneno malevo de tu amor
yo quedé moribundo y lleno de dolor
respiré de ese humo amargo de tu adiós
y desde que tú te fuiste yo solo tengo…
tengo la camisa negra
porque negra tengo el alma
yo por ti perdí la calma
y casi pierdo hasta mi cama
cama-cama-come on-baby
te digo con disimulo
que tengo la camisa negra
y debajo tengo el difunto
tengo la camisa negra
ya tu amor no me interesa
lo que ayer me supo a gloria
hoy me sabe a pura miér...
...coles por la tarde y tú que no llegas
ni siquiera muestras señas
y yo con la camisa negra
y tus maletas en la puerta.

Learning Spanish in Peru

2006-02-01T15:25:00.000-08:00

There are several places in Peru where you can learn Spanish and at the same time you can enjoy Peruvian culture at all the levels. Peru is a wonderful place to do outdoors activities, if you like snorkeling, diving, surfing, delta or swiming, you have several places to choose on the coast of Peru. If you like canooing, hicking or skying, you can go to the Andes, and not only enjoy doing sports but also looking at the scenery. Jungle in Peru is dangerous, but beautiful, if you want to go, you will need a guide so don't get lost. I mean dangerous because there are too many kind of insects that sciences have not discovered and they still don't know the impact on human beings.

Here I am posting a few Spanish Schools you may be interested if you want to travel this coming Summer. Remember, Peru is one of the most cheapest countries in Latin American, so take advantage of that and go and enjoy the Summer down the south and learn Spanish:

Academía Latinoamericana de Español

Caminante Spanish School

Juanjo Spanish Language School

Mundo Verde Spanish School

Spanish Activities

2006-01-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

SECCION "CUENTACUENTOS"

Vamos a escuchar algunos cuentos:

Un cuento sobre un cocodrilo

Un cuento sobre una tortuga

Un cuento de un bebe que no le gusta banarse

Un cuento sobre cinco bebes

SECCION "PONTE EN MOVIMIENTO"

Vamos a practicar con los siguientes juegos:

El bebe necesita ayuda, vamos a ayudarlo

El bebe quiere jugar con nosotros, vamos a jugar con el

Spanish Grammar

2006-01-29T23:31:00.000-08:00

Spanish Grammar seems to be easy, but as soon as you start learning more about it, you realize that is difficult. In order to help you with it, here there is a link to go a webpage where you can read about main verbs you will need during the first classes:
Regular Verbs: "... ar", "... er", and "... ir"
All Spanish verbs are either "regular" or "irregular." In this lesson we will look at three completely regular verbs:

hablar (to speak)
comer (to eat)
vivir (to live)

Cusco - Machu Picchu - Peru

2006-01-29T23:18:00.000-08:00

Cusco - Machu Picchu - Peru

2006-01-29T23:10:00.000-08:00

It's remarkable that Machu Picchu was first brought to the attention of the world in 1911. The Spanish invaders at the time of the Conquest and during certuries of colonial rule, never discovered the city, and nobody ever led them there, suggesting that the site had long since been abondoned and forgotten.

In the nineteenth century explorers like Eugenie de Sartiges, George Ephraim Squire, Antonio Raimondi and Castelnau never reached Machu Picchu, although most of them crossed the Andes to the almost inaccessible ruins of Choquekirau, built high above the Apurimac river. In fact, the outside world simply stumbled upon Machu Picchu, for it had never been lost to those who lived around it. Those same people eventually led the American explorer, Hiram Bingham, and his team to the site in 1911. Hiram Bingham, now world-famous as the discoverer of Machu Picchu, did not initially travel to South America to explore the land of the Incas. In fact, the Hawaiian-born Yale and Harvard educated historian first journeyed south from the United States to complete his study of the great nineteenth century liberator, Simon Bolivar.

In December 1908, Bingham attended the First Panamerican Scientific Congress in Santiago, Chile. It was there that he decided to follow the old Spanish trade route from Buenos Aires to Lima, and it was to that end that he traveled to Lima and hence to Cusco.

In Cusco Bingham made the acquaintance of one J.J. Nunez, then prefect of the Apurimac region, who invited him on the arduous trip to the ruins of Choquekirau, thought at the time to be the site of Vilcabamba, the much sought "last resting place of the Incas."

On his return to the USA, Bingham decided to organize another expedition to Peru. He arrived in Lima in June 1911 where he began to study the seventeenth-century chronicles of Antonio de la Calancha and Fernando de Montesinos. The writings of these two men first inspired Bingham to seek the last two capitals of the Inca, Vilcabamba and Vitcos. Leaving Lima in July, Bingham returned to Cusco from where he journeyed on foot and by mule through the Urubamba Valley, past Ollantaytambo, and on into the Urubamba gorge.

On July 23, Bingham and his party camped by the river at a place called Mandor Pampa, where they aroused the curiosity of Melchor Arteaga, a local farmer who leased the land there. Through Sergeant Carrasco, the policeman who was his guide and interpreter, Bingham learned from Arteaga that there were extensive ruins on top of the ridge opposite the camp, which Arteaga, in his native Quechua, called Machu Picchu, or "old mountain".

According to Bingham, "The morning of July 24th dawned in a cold drizzle. Arteaga shivered and seemed inclined to stay in his hut. I offered to pay him well if he showed me the ruins. He demurred and said it was too hard a climb for such a wet day. But when he found I was willing to pay him a sol, three or four times the ordinary daily wage, he finally agreed to go. When asked just where the ruins were, he pointed straight up to the top of the mountain. No one supposed that they would be particularly interesting, and no one cared to go with me."

Accompanied only by Seargeant Carrasco and Arteaga, Bingham left the camp around 10 am. After a short while the party crossed a bridge so unnerving that the intrepid explorer was reduced to crawling across it on his hands and knees. From the river they climbed a precipitous slope until they reached the ridge at around midday.

Here Bingham rested at a small hut where they enjoyed the hospitality of a group of campesinos. They told him that they had been living there for about four years and explained that they had found an extensive system of terraces on whose fertile soil they had decided to grow their crops. Bingham was then told that the ruins he sought were close by and he was given a guide, the 11-year old Pablito Alvarez, to lead him there.

Almost immediately, he was greeted by the sight of a broad sweep of ancient terraces. They numbered more than a hundred and had recently been cleared of forest and reactivated. Led by the boy, he re-entered the forest beyond the terraces. Here young Pablito began to reveal to Bingham a series of white granite walls which the historian immediately judged to be the finest examples of masonry that he had ever seen. They were in fact, the remains of what we call today the Royal Tomb, the Main Temple, and the Temple of the Three Windows.

According to Bingham, "I had entered the marvelous canyon of the Urubamba below the Inca fortress. Here the river escapes from the cold plateau by tearing its way through gigantic mountains of granite. The road runs through a land of matchless charm. It has the majestic grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, as well as the startling beauty of the Nuuanu Pali near Honolulu, and the enchanting vistas of the Koolau Ditch Trail on Maui, in my native land. In the variety of its charms the power of its spell, I know of no place in the world which can compare with it. Not only had it great snow peaks looming above the clouds more than two miles overhead; gigantic precipices of many-coloured granite rising sheer for thousands of feet above the foaming, glistening, roaring rapids, it has also, in striking contrast, orchids and tree ferns, the delectable beauty of luxurious vegetation and the mysterious witchery of the jungle. One is drawn irresistibly onwards by ever-recurring surprises through a deep, winding gorge, turing and twisting past overhanging cliffs of incredible height

Above all, there is the fascination of finding here and there under swaying vines, or perched on top of a beetling crag, the rugged masonry of a bygone race; and of trying to understand the bewildering romance of the ancient builders who, ages ago, sought refuge in a region which appears to have been expressly designed by nature as a sanctuary for the oppressed, a place where they might fearlessly and patiently give expression to their passion for walls of enduring beauty."

Other people saw and even lived at Machu Picchu before Hiram Bingham even set foot in Peru, but had neither the means nor the opportunity to bring the "lost city" to the attention of the outside world. Bingham himself found two families living at the ruins and was led to the main plaza by a young boy. As early as 1894, a local farmer called Agustin Lizarraga led one Luis Bejar Ugarte to the ancient city. This same Lizarraga took his friends Gabino Sanchez and Enrique Palma on a treasure-seeking trip to the ruins on July 14, 1901, visiting all the accessible parts of the then uncleared site. When Bingham arrived at the ruins he found the rock that the three friends had signed with their names and the date of their visit. In his later writings, however, he downplayed this discovery.

The three treasure hunters met Anacleto Alvarez (whom Bingham later encountered) who told them that he had been living among the ruins for 8 years, where he grew his crops of corn, yucca, sweet potatos and sugar cane on the fertile soil that the Incas had carried up from the river valley to build Machu Picchu's magnificent 300 meter high series of terraces!

Cusco - Machu Picchu - Peru

2006-01-29T23:04:00.000-08:00

2006-01-29T22:55:00.000-08:00

This picture was taken after the 'solo', everybody decided to have a memory of the great meeting. Most of the writers are from Lima, and they came to Cusco invited by Carlos Paz and the Centro Cultural Cusco.

Encuentro de escritores peruanos (Cusco - Machu Picchu)

2006-01-29T22:39:00.000-08:00

After the first reading of prose and poetry, these Peruvian female writers decided to go apart and get a 'solo' in front of The Lost City. Karen, Roxana Crisologo, Cecilia Podesta and Ericka Ghersi are writers from Lima, and they were invited by the organizers of the Festival of Poetry in Cusco. They stayed in Cusco for a week, and enjoyed the pluricultural city and some ruins and alive towns around it. The weather was wonderful in the mornings (July), but after 5pm a glass of wine or 'calentito' was neccesary.

Encuentro de escritores peruanos (Cusco - Machu Picchu)

2006-01-29T22:16:00.000-08:00

Some friends and I decided to climb Huayna Picchu!

This was the capital of the Incan Empire before 1400 (our days). The mountain behind the city is Huayna Picchu, it is one of the higest places in the area.

The silence among us is palpable. It is 6 am and we are perched on a high ledge at Peru's greatest attraction, Machu Picchu. The Lost City of the Incas, located at an altitude of 2,400 metres, has us lost in deep thought. Why was the city built in a remote mountain location? What was its precise function? How did it remain a secret during 300 years of Spanish rule? Dawn dissipates the clouds hovering over the stony ruins and brings the city into grand focus. Cameras click, the spell is broken. Peru draws you within its magnetic field like few places in the world. You can feel the vibes of an ancient land, here at Machu Picchu in the High Andes, at the magnificent Sacred Valley near Cuzco, at coastal Nasca which has huge, baffling drawings in the desert. The early Peruvians' profound knowledge of the elements had endowed them with strong mystical attitudes. The Incas, who claimed to be direct descendants of the sun, represented the final, splendid phase of a 3000-year-old culture.

Located along the Pacific coast of South America, Peru is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east and Chile to the south. Most tourists crisscross the land by local airlines, treading the vestiges of ancient civilizations. I had a few days to visit the highlights: Cuzco, Machu Picchu, and Arequipa. My journey, from the 21st century to the 16th century, becomes a heady adventure when I put myselve in the hands of the director film and writer Carlos Paz.

Where I belong

2006-01-29T20:45:00.000-08:00

Hi!

My name is Ericka Ghersi (Peru) and I teach Spanish at The University of Florida (Gainesville). I have been teaching Spanish in The United States since 1998, and I still enjoy it!
I love seing my students into it, especially here in Florida. Most of my students have either friends or relatives from a Spanish speaking country, and each time I meet more and more people interested not only in learning the language but the culture. I think that is what I like most, i.e. in my family, I can see how my female and male cousins and nephews and nieces borned in The United States want to get closer to their parents culture, and their friends also get interested about it.

For me, talking about Peru is talking about a magical place, untouchable, and I belong to it. If you ask if I am proud of being peruvian, the answer is more than proud. And if you do not believe it, go to Peru, visit its towns, and Incas ruins, also learn about its geography, and history; and you will see what I am talking about. Here I am posting some pictures of MachuPicchu (one of the main Incan ruins).