Category Archives: Spain

Two Children’s Music Videos Celebrate Hanukkah Traditions From Around The World

Posted on December 6, 2012 | 2 Comments

This guest post is written by award-winning multicultural musician “DARIA-” Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou. Thank you so much for sharing these great music videos with us!

All over the globe, people of the Jewish faith are preparing to celebrate the festival of lights. This year, Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah, Chanukkah or Chanuka) begins at sundown on December 8 and ends on December 16. Although foods, traditions and music vary slightly from place to place and country to country, these two kids Hanukkah music videos share some of the joy and fun that is a universal part of this winter holiday.

Play the Dreydl (Dreidel) Game Continue reading →

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Posted in Around the World, Asia, Celebrations, Europe, Israel, Music, Spain

Tagged Chanukkah

Using Bilingual Stories to Teach “un Poquito de Español”

Posted on April 14, 2012 | 10 Comments

When people hear that I’m a Spanish teacher, or that we speak Spanish at home with our kids, I am immediately asked for resources that I recommend to introduce their kids to Spanish. When searching for bilingual books, you will find millions of books written- or translated into- Spanish. The huge majority of these books are at a language level that only Spanish-speakers would benefit from. How could an English-speaking parent read “Curious George” in Spanish, if neither she nor her child understands the language?

You will also find thousands of picture dictionaries… and one word per page boardbooks… and textbooks. There are also terrible translations (Azul el sombrero, verde el sombrero being my biggest pet-peeve!). What my friends are looking for are none of the above. They would like simple stories that teach a little Spanish (but are not too advanced that the parents can’t read or understand them!): here are my best recommendations. Continue reading →

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Posted in Belize, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, Language, Literature, Mexico, Panama, Spain, The Americas

Tagged fiction children's books, spanish

My “Documentary” on Semana Santa in Spain (Spanish video)

Posted on April 4, 2012 | 4 Comments

Semana Santa, or Holy Week (the week preceding Easter Sunday) is celebrated by Catholics around Spain. In the 1500′s, the church was looking for a way to explain and present the story of Jesus, and his resurrection from the dead to the common people. The elaborate processions that carry religious figures through the cities to churches and basilicas have grown and now draw tourists from around the world. Here is my first “documentary,” introducing the famous and beautiful processions from Andalucía, the southern region of Spain (I have included both Granada and Sevilla). I am working on subtitles for those who do not speak Spanish- but everyone can enjoy the imagery and music:

I made this 10 years ago, and it was the first movie I had ever edited on the computer- so please excuse any messiness:).

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Posted in Celebrations, Europe, Field Trips and Travel, Language, Movies, Spain

Tagged Catholic, Easter, education, multicultural, spanish

How do the Reyes Magos Get to Spain? via Helicopter, Skiis, Boat, Horse…..

Posted on January 6, 2012 | 3 Comments

Today in Spain, children woke up to gifts (books, DVD’s, games, stuffed animals, etc) left for them by “Los Tres Reyes Magos:” Gaspar, Melchor and Balthazar (aka the three wise men or the three kings). Christians (including Catholics in Spain) believe that 3 foreign dignitaries came to visit Jesus after his birth 2000+ years ago from faraway lands, bearing the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Different countries believe the kings came from different regions of the earth, however in Spain it is believed that King Melchor is a European, King Balthazar is from Africa, and King Gaspar is from Asia. The day before Epiphany (Epiphany is January 6th), children in Spain leave out their shoes and hope that the Reyes Magos visit them at night and leave them presents. Continue reading →