Visual Link Spanish Newsletter (V:1; I:32)

Why Visual Link Spanish™-----

Most Spanish courses teach a lot of vocabulary and grammar rules but after you've finished the course, you can't actually speak Spanish. Visual Link Spanish™ teaches you to build sentences, ask and answer questions, and truly communicate in Spanish! Click here to purchase .

Another Success Story:

Hello,

Just wanted to let you know a few things.
I purchased the cd-roms, outstanding, very easy to learn. It actually makes learning a new language enjoyable. I also enjoy receiving your newsletters...

Gracias,

Christine

E-mail your Visual Link Spanish™ success stories to: dave@spanishprograms.com

Remember our web site: www.spanishprograms.com!

Learn Spanish Words of the Week -----
Words taken from the "Communication" Section of our Complete Course.

	English	Spanish
Monday	He needs	El necesita
Tuesday	She needs	Ella necesita
Wednesday	to call	llamar(le/les)
Thursday	them (f.)	(a) ellas
Friday	you	(a) usted
Saturday	my brother	(a) mi hermano
Sunday	my sister	(a) mi hermana
Remember to Review!!	Remember to review the words you learn in the Visual Link Spanish™ complete course each week here in our newsletter! Click here to learn Spanish.

Spanish Culture ----- Right in the Streets??!!

This week, I'd like to talk about a distinct cultural difference in Latin America. As you learn Spanish it is important to learn culture as well. If any of you think you might be offended by seeing it, I'll help you avoid it the next time you visit Latin America.

It's very common to see men "take care of business" right in the streets. Fortunately, they usually aren't blatant about it; they generally turn to the side so most of the public can't see them, but they urinate (pee) right in the streets. I understand this is done in a few parts of the U.S., parts of Europe, and a few other parts of the world -- those of you from other regions, please correct me if I'm wrong.

It was a little shocking for me the first time I realized what was happening. Where I'm from, people just don't do that right in the middle of the street. I can truly say that this is one cultural trait that I have never wanted to adopt or try.

When I was living in Latin America, something happened that I will never forget. I was in a small to mid-sized city that had a large main street with an island that ran down the middle of the street. The island was beautifully decorated with plants and trees. Towards the center of the city, in the middle of the island was a huge sign that read "SHOW YOUR CULTURE, DON'T PEE IN THE STREETS!!" . . . Can you imagine a sign like that in your home town?!

I began to laugh when I saw the sign. I could imagine a city council meeting together to discover ways to improve the reputation of their city. What they came up with was a sign that advertises to the world that people in their city pee in their streets and that they are trying to cut back!

I wanted to let you know about this so you wouldn't be as culturally shocked as I was the first time I saw this distinct cultural difference. The next time you are in the streets of Latin America, if you see a man turned away, standing in the same spot, you now know what he is probably doing and can now turn away if it offends you. My advice to those of you learning Spanish where this happens is to not make it a big deal. Just look away.

 

Click here if you want to speak Spanish now.

¡Hasta luego! (Until later!)


David S. Clark -- President
U.S. Institute of Languages
dave@spanishprograms.com
http://www.spanishprograms.com