Cultural literacy for the Latin American history and language student is essential, especially if you plan on spending time in Latin America. Holidays, festivals, and official days to commemorate a battle or a saint fill the Spanish world’s calendar. In fact, I...
Hans Janke
History and ESL Teacher. Native English, Fluent Spanish. Cartagena, Colombia.
The Virgin of the Descamisados
Utilizing great speeches can lead to effective and engaging lessons for the language teacher. From Pericles in Ancient Athens to Martin Luther King in Washington DC, powerful orators still inspire and have changed the course of history. However, a casual perusal of a...
The Moors Got the Last Word
A romantic rendition of the dramatic events of the late 15th century that culminated in the fall of the last Muslim King of Iberia claims that a young Emir Muhammad XII, upon leaving his beloved Granada, released such a resounding and meloancholic sigh that his...
Of Love Letters and the Usefulness of Second Languages
Although Manuela Saenz recently won official recognition as a true heroine of the South American Wars for Independence, she is still in many ways considered just a footnote in history compared to her paramour Simon Bolivar. Both Manuela and Simon lived extraordinary...
Revolutionary Art for the Language Classroom
Effective teachers are always trying to stimulate and inspire their students. Over the years I have found that utilizing visuals can help motivate students. By using art and placing that art in historical context, the teacher can more easily ignite students’...