April "Cool School" of the Month

ECELA – Spanish Abroad in Argentina, Chile and Peru
Learn Spanish and Travel in South America...

We LOVE the ECELA Spanish Schools because their schools are located in some of the most beautiful places in South America, they give students the opportunity to learn Spanish and earn academic credit while they are traveling and learning about different cultures and learning different accents.

We also love what they have to offer because their 5 locations happen to be in “can’t miss” places in South America.: Buenos Aires - Santiago - Bariloche (Patagonia) - Lima - Cusco (Machupicchu).

AND their programs at the 5 locations are completely connected. They set up the programs so the curriculums are closely integrated. This lets students study in different locations with ease and continue studying without a lapse in their program. This is such a great option for someone who doesn’t want to pick ONE place to study. If you want to study abroad AND experience a few different locations, this is the absolute best program to choose!

Here are some other things we like about ECELA:

ECELA schools and housing are located in safe and centralized neighborhoods. They have a professional, friendly team with a lot of experience in assisting international students of all ages. They offer 12 Spanish levels (from beginner to superior). And with their "mini class groups" of 6 students max; you are guaranteed personalized attention. They also have many wonderful activities and excursions planned, which is the best way to meet new friends and get immersed in the culture around you! As you can see ECELA is very accommodating. From their various locations, to the various levels... their schools truly have something for everyone!

Here are the five schools/locations they offer:

BUENOS AIRES - ARGENTINA: Buenos Aires is the most well-known capital in South America because of its nightlife and architecture. Another very important part of Buenos Aires that makes it so attractive is its low prices.

SANTIAGO- CHILE : Santiago is one of the most comfortable cities in Latin America, is clean, modern and safe. Next to the Andes mountain chain, Santiago de Chile is the capital of outdoor sports, you can easily practice rafting, trekking, skiing, etc. Because of the Chilean geography, Santiago has everything very near, beaches, mountains, vineyards, etc.

LIMA - PERU: Lima is located in the central cost of Peru, so you can learn Spanish in this beautiful colonial city and also enjoy the ocean. You can also enjoy Lima by participating in our different activities such as surf, rafting, paragliding, etc.

CUSCO – PERU: The city of Cusco is the starting point to travel to the Incan city of Machu Picchu; one of the seven world wonders of the modern world and an experience that you cannot miss if you’re traveling in South America.

BARILOCHE – PATAGONIA ARGENTINA: Bariloche, located in the south of Argentina in the Andes, provides our students with a very quiet environment to study Spanish. You will enjoy nature, the beautiful landscapes, and some of the best skiing in South America.

So as you can see it might be difficult to choose just one destination! But that's the beauty of ECELA.... you don't have to pick just one!

Here’s what a previous student has to say: I really learned a lot of Spanish in the different Ecela schools. Before I came to South America I never had Spanish before but after 3 months on both schools I could communicate very well. The classes are really professional and the teachers and staff were very friendly. The system that you have an exam every second Friday keeps you focussed to reach the next level and motivates you as well. I would never forget my time in Ecela schools. - Joost Bertels, The Netherlands

We highly recommend ECELA and feel great about referring our readers to study abroad at one of their locations. Go to their website to pick your next destination... or two.. or three! http://www.ecela.com/

Cool Verbs To Add An Authentic Flair To Your Spanish!

They're an essential part of learning to speak Spanish but if you're anything like I am, you also find them one of the most boring parts! I'm talking about verb drills of course and another problem with them is that many common verb uses aren't taught in formal language courses, uses that will add an authentic, polished edge to your spoken Spanish. Here's 5 really cool verbs (brought to you by Peter Christian, author of the really cool book Streetwise Spanish!) you can add to your vocab that'll help you make a fantastic impression with the locals!

Our first cool verb is a big favorite of mine. The reflexive form of Antojar, Anojarse, means to have a craving for something, to have a real desire for something. I use this a lot when it comes to food and on one memorable occasion I left a pretty waitress very impressed when I said:

"Se me antoja una hamburgesa con queso" - I really fancy a cheeseburger.

You can also use it to say you're not in the mood to do something, like this:

"Por qué no vas a ir a la fiesta?" - Why aren't you going to the party?

"Porque no se me antoja." - Because I'm not in the mood for it.

Like I say, I use it mostly when it comes to eating and if you use this in a restaurant you will make a very good impression - and get excellent service!

Dejar, "to leave" provides us with a couple of phrases that are really useful to have when you're being pestered by all manner of sales people and con-artists on the streets of major cities, like my home city Barcelona. In summer, there's hardly a week goes by without me saying these phrases:

Déjame en paz - Leave me alone

Déjalo - Leave it (You can also use this when you want to drop a subject from conversation.)

Next up is a power verb with a myriad of meanings. Quedar is sometimes called a "catch all" verb and with good reason! But here's a couple of nice and easy phrases relating to money that use the reflexive form that you can add to your vocab right now:

Me quedé con diez euros - "I kept ten euros."

Quédase con el cambio = "Keep the change"

which can be shortened to: Quédatelo - Keep it.

Seguir, a verb that means "to follow" or "to continue" gives you several cool phrases to sprinkle into your spoken Spanish, especially with the "to continue" meaning. No ceremony here, just a quick-fire list of "plug-and-play" dead-easy expressions for you to dial-in:

Sigo bebiendo - I keep drinking, ¿sigues creyendo en dios? - Do you still believe in God?, Pablo sigue comiendo - Paul keeps eating, Seguímos riendo - we keep laughing, seguís gritando - you all keep shouting, Ellos siguen cantando - They keep singing.

¿Muy fácil, verdad?

Finally, I'm sure your familiar with the common usage of Parecer, to seem, e.g. me parece bien - it's good with me. But the reflexive form, paracerse is another cool verb to master and it means "to look like." So, Me parezco a mi padre - I look like my father. Pero ¡cuidado! If you want to say "it looks like" then you need to use parecer que, like this: "Parece que va a ser un día calorazo" - it looks like it's going to be a very hot day or "Parece que va a llover." - it looks like it's going to rain.

So you now have 5 cool verbs that will help to add an authentic, polished edge to your Spanish. Sprinkle them into your conversations and you'll impress the locals and win many admiring new friends - ¡muy bien!

Hasta pronto,

Peter.

Barcelona-based writer Peter Christian is the author of the brand-new book "Streetwise Spanish". To discover how you can add an authentic flourish to your spoken Spanish along with practical, valuable insights into Hispanic culture, click here now!

Think Spanish Free Article

Explore the beaches of the Dominican Republic and the Ruins of Tulum... while learning Spanish! Click here for this month's free Think Spanish article and audio files.

Driving Signs in Spanish

Review the vocabulary below and take the vocabulary quiz on the following post!

ACOTAMIENTO: Soft Shoulders
ALTO: Stop
AREA DE DESCANSO: Rest Area
ASCENSO Y DESCENSO DE PEAJE A 250 m: Toll Booth Barrier Ahead in 250 m
CALLE SIN SALIDA: Dead End
CAMELLON CENTRAL: Center Divider
CAMINO CERRADO: Road Closed
CAMINO SINUOSO: Winding Road
CARRIL IZQUIERDO SOLO PARA REBASAR: Left lane Only for Passing
CASETA DE COBRO: Toll Booth
CEDA EL PASO AL PEATON: Give Way (Yield) to Pedestrians
CICLOPISTA: Bicycle Path
CON LLUVIA DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDAD: In Rain Reduce Your Speed
CON NEBLINA ENCIENDA SUS LUCES: In Fog Turn on Lights
CONCEDA CAMBIO DE CIERRE SU ESCAPE: Close Muffler By-Pass
CONCEDA CAMBIO DE LUCES: Dim Your Lights Approaching Traffic
CONSERVE SU DISTANCIA: Keep Your Distance
CONSERVE SU DERECHA: Keep to Your Right
CRUCE DE ESCOLARES: School Crossing
CRUCE DE PEATONES: Pedestrian Crossing
CUANDO TOME NO MANEJE: When You Drink Don’t Drive
CUIDADO CON EL TREN: Careful Rail Road Crossing
CURVA PELIGROSA: Dangerous Curve
DESPACIO: Slow
DESVIACION A 500 MTS: Detour in 500 Meters
DISMINUYA SU VELOCIDAD: Slow Down
ELIJA SU CARRIL OPORTUNAMENTE: Select Your Lane At Earliest Opportunity
ENTRADA: Entrance
ENTRADA Y SALIDA DE CAMIONES: Trucks Entering and Exiting
ENTRONQUE PROXIMO: Intersection Near
ENTRONQUE PELIGROSO: Dangerous Intersection
ESTA CARRETERA NO ES DE ALTA VELOCIDAD: This is Not a High Speed Road
ESTACIONAMIENTO SOLO PARA EMERGENCIAS: Emergency Parking Only
ESTE CAMINO NO ES DE ALTA VELOCIDAD: Not a High-Speed Road
EVITE ACCIDENTES: Avoid Accidents
EVITE LA INSTALLACION DE TOPES: Avoid the Installation of Speed Bumps
FELIZ VIAJE REBASE CON PRECAUCION: Have a Good Trip Pass with Caution
GRACIAS POR USAR EL CINTURON DE SEGURIDAD: Thanks For Using Your Seatbelt
GRAVA SUELTA: Loose Gravel
GUARDE SU DISTANCIA: Keep Your Distance
HOMBRES TRABAJANDO: Men at Work
LUCES: Dim Your Lights
MANEJE CON PRECAUCION: Drive with Caution
MAQUINA TRABAJANDO: Heavy Machines at Work
NO CIRCULAR POR EL ACOTAMIENTO: No Driving On the Shoulders
NO DE FRENTE: No Entry
NO DEJE PIEDRAS EL ACOTAMIENTO: No Driving On the Shoulder
NO DOBLE RODADO: No Trucks with Duals
NO ESTACIONARSE EN ACOTAMIENTO: No Parking On Shoulders
NO FRENE CON MOTOR: No Engine Breaks
NO MALTRATE LAS SENALES: Don’t Disregard the Signs
NO REBASE CON RAYA CONTINUA: No Passing on a Continuous Line
NO TIRE BASURA: Don’t Throw Trash
NO TRANSITE POR FRANJAS LATERALES: Do Not Drive on Shoulders
NO UTILIZAR FRENO CON MOTOR: No Engine Breaking
OBEDEZCA LAS SENALES: Obey the Signs
PARADERO: Bus Stop
PEREMENTO DERRAPANTE AL ESTAR HUMEDO: Pavement Slick When Wet
PLAZA DE COBRO: Toll Both
POBLADO PROXIMO: Town Near
POR TU SEGURIDAD REPETE LAS SENALES: For your Safety Respect The Signs
PELIGROSO: Dangerous
PRECUACION CRUCE DE PEATONES: Caution Pedestrian Crossing
PRECAUCION ZONA ESCOLAR: Caution School Zone
PRECAUCION ZONA DE GUANDO: Caution Livestock Zone
PRECAUCION ZONA DE TOLVANERAS: Precaution Wind Zone
PRINCIPIA TRAMO EN REPARACION: Main Highway Under Repair
PRINCIPIA ZONA DE DERRUMBES: Begin Rockslide Area
PRINCIPIA ZONA DE VADOS: Begin Area of Dips
PROHIBIDO ESTACIONARSE: No Parking
PROHIBIDO TIRAR BASURA: Throwing Thrash Prohibited
PUENTE ANGOSTO: Narrow Bridge
REDUCCION A DOS CARRILES: Reduction to Two Lanes
REDUCTOR DE VELOCIDAD: Speed Bumps
RESPETE LIMITE DE VELOCIDAD: Obey the Speed Limit
RETURNO A 2KM CARRIL IZQUIERDO: U-Turn In 2km Left Lane
RUTA DE CAMIONES: Truck Route
SALIDA: Exit
SEAMFORO EN OPERACION: Stop Light In Operation
SE USARA GRUA: Tow-Away Zone
SI TOMA NO MANEJE: Don’t Drink and Drive (If you drink, don't drive)
TERMINA AMPLIACION: End of Shoulders
TERMINA ZONA DE DERRUMBES: End Rockslide Area
TOPES: Speed Bumps
TRAFFICO PESADO: Heavy Traffic Go Right
TRAMO EN REPARACION: Road Repairs
TRANSITO LENTO CARRIL DERECHO: Slow Traffic Keep Right
UN SOLO CARRIL: Single Lane
VADO PELIGROSO: Dangerous Dip
VEHICULOS LIGEROS: Light Vehicles
VEHICULOS PESADO: Heavy Vehicles
ZONA DE FALLAS: Landslide Area
ZONA DE GANADO: Cattle Area
ZONA URBANA: Urban Zone Slow Down

Click here to check out some images of various Spanish Traffic signs.

Spanish Driving Signs Quiz

Think Spanish Recommends!

We highly recommend this company for all Spanish teachers: Ejercicios de Español is a company thought to help teachers solve the problem of teaching resources. We believe, that to buy thru the Internet, at your time convenience and with the possibility to buy the topics and functions needed without buying a whole book, it is a good idea that suits our times.

Visit www.ejerciciosdeespanol.com and you will permanently have new material for adults and children in three varieties of Spanish!!!

” March Cool School” – ECELA in Cusco

While researching schools in South America we keep coming back to Peru and it has become quite clear that Cusco is our favorite South American City! And studying Spanish at a school in Cusco is truly an unforgettable experience!

The Spanish School ECELA allows you to learn Spanish while learning all about the Incan Culture; the way the Incan people live and also how they think. While you’re studying at ECELA we highly recommend that you stay with a local family. At first, you might think that living with strangers is “not for you.” But, trust us!! Living with a family is the best way to practice your Spanish and to fully immerse yourself in the culture. The families that work with the ECELA school are trusted and kind. They will go out of their way to make you comfortable and they want your study abroad trip to be an educational and treasured experience. The ECELA school is located in the centre of Cusco 5 minutes from the well-known Plaza de Armas, in an Inca-Spanish house. Imagine talking a walk down the colorful streets with the llamas walking with you! Or take a break from your classes and practice Spanish with children at the main square.

ECELA has comfortable classrooms surrounding a courtyard creating a nice environment to learn and improve your Spanish. All of the ECELA teachers hold a University degree and have years of experience teaching Spanish as a second language. They often implement visual aids such as CDs, music, movies, and documentaries into the learning process.

In addition to the classroom learning, they provide the students with weekly outings to visit well-known places such as Incan temples and historical museums. They also have adventurous activities such as horseback riding, rafting and quads tours.

If interested, ECELA can offer academic credit to students. For those of you not interested in receiving Academic credit the Spanish + Volunteer program might be the best choice. With either program, you will leave Peru speaking better Spanish; and you will return home with a new found respect and admiration for this beautiful country, Perú.

Read what Barbara, had to say about her study abroad trip with ECELA:
“In ECELA Cusco I learned more spanish there than anywhere else. I absolutely loved my time there. Cusco is a perfect sized city which is very touristic, but still retains a lot of it's cultural herritage and charm. Both the student house and the school were in a great area and very close to Plaza de Armas. The staff in Cusco was so friendly and helpful!!. Everyday there was something fun planned, from horseback riding in the nearby ruins, to shopping at the local markets. At night I felt comfortable going out with the group, and the places we went to were very nice. I also went to Machu Picchu, and even though I didn't go with the school, they were so very helpful in helping me plan my trip. I highly recommend doing the entire Inca Trail as there are many impressive ruins along the way. But ending at Machu Picchu was the best. My only regret is that I wish I could've had more time there!" - Barbara Mislan, US.

Read what other students have to say about ECELA!