Tengan Cuidado Con La Salud

There are some things that the Spanish do way better than we do and there are some places where our culture has the upper hand - it goes both ways.  For example, Spain is a safe country in terms of crime and violence.  They don't have pistol-waving maniacs causing mayhem nor do they have the gang and drug violence.  You are very safe from those sorts of things.  But, on the other hand, it is the little things that get you.  A fellow student tripped on a little rise in a doorway the other day and took a nasty tumble.  I had an incident my third day here where I stumbled and there was no handrail on the staircase, so I fell and bruised myself up terribly.  It was a precursor to the really serious injury I had last Saturday in Barcelona.

So why am I telling you this?  I'm hoping that next year's NSE scholarship winners will stop by and read this article because I have some important advice for you in the matter of healthcare and reduced mobility issues.

1. Your health insurance is probably not going to be accepted here.  So, if you should find yourself in a serious situation, you need to know you can pay for your healthcare out of pocket.  Get a credit card with some room on it, just in case.  Your insurance company back home will probably reimburse you later, but make sure you have cash or credit on hand to pay your costs up front.  My trip to the emergency room, including X-rays, shots, and prescription medicine cost about $600.  This is a bargain compared to what we pay in the US, but it still can pinch when it comes out of pocket.

2. If you are experiencing ANY orthopedic issues, please please please see your doctor ahead of time and let him/her know that you will be walking a couple miles two and from school every day on hilly terrain.  If you have hip, knee, or feet problems this can be very difficult.  Get your braces, orthotics, and whatever else you need ahead of time.

3. Most of Madrid was put together a long time ago, before universal access was a consideration.  In other words, many places are not handicap-friendly.  They are making an effort and there are many places with elevators and ramps, but others have frighteningly long staircases and sometimes no handrails (as I mentioned above).

Depending on the route you take and whether or not the elevator is working, this is one of the staircases on the way to and from your classes each day.

Staircase I had to climb to my hotel in Barcelona (with suitcase in hand!)

4. The public transportation in Madrid is excellent in almost every way, but it does have a few downsides you should be aware of if you are having health issues.  Most subway stations have stairs that have to be climbed to get in and out.  Some have elevators to the surface, but most do not.  And, whether it is the bus or the metro, you are likely to be standing for most of your journey.  One of the things about great public transportation is that the public wants to use it a lot - so there will be crowds of people on the subways and busses during certain hours and seats will just not be available.

5. If you are sensitive to the heat, please know that it is hot here - very hot.  Every day has been 90 or higher and many days have been up at 100 or more.  And at home you probably get around in an air conditioned car (I do anyway), but here you will be out and about walking in the heat every afternoon.  Heat doesn't bother me so much, but I know that some folks are really struggling with it.  Short sleeves or sleeveless tops are the way to go with shorts or skirts on the bottom.  Bring your water bottle and keep it filled up and on hand.  And, since you will have a lot of exposed skin, bring your sunblock and use it.

I think that is about it, friends.  Most people will get along fine here with absolutely no problem whatsoever.  And, in case there is one, you are in good hands - very good hands.  But that doesn't mean you shouldn't plan ahead.  You know your health and your limitations better than anyone.  You also know if you get vertigo or if you're just clumsy and prone to accidents.  Bring what you need and make sure you have a little money set aside - just in case.

Hasta pronto,

--AnneK

Barcelona Bella

This past weekend I took a trip north to visit Barcelona . . . beautiful, beautiful Barcelona.  I was so impressed with everything about the place.  Everywhere you look there is something amazing - a diversity of architecture, public art, monuments, parks, museums, a beautiful beach, so much!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went to the Joan Miró museum - but that is just one of the many things there are to do and see in Barcelona.  I only had one weekend there but I could have easily filled a couple weeks.

I love that there is so much humanity in the city, like the ping pong tables in the picture above.  They are just there to make people happy.  Everywhere there are parks filled with gardens, birds, palm trees, and people wandering around together enjoying themselves.  There are also benches all over the city so you can just stop a moment and enjoy the day.

You might notice that I don't have pictures above of the famosísima Cathedral of the Sagrada Familia or of Gaudi's Güell Park - when one goes to Barcelona those are the pictures that are usually brought back.  Unfortunately on my way to see those things I managed to injure a tendon in my heel, and was not able to walk around for the remainder of the trip.  In fact, I had to make alternate arrangements to get back to Madrid - which was a bit of drama but ultimately it all worked out.

But, if I ever get the chance again, I will get back to Barcelona because it is probably the most beautiful and most entertaining city I've ever been in.

Hasta pronto,

--AnneK

La Obra de Joan Miró

Ever since I was first given the chance to teach Spanish three, I have been teaching about the work of Joan Miró.  There is a great chapter in our textbook about art and he features prominently there - among Picasso and other greats, of course.

Even if the name is not immediately familiar, you probably have seen some of Miró's work before without being aware of it.  He did the poster for the '92 Olympics in Barcelona, for example.

And this famous España poster too:

So it was a unique thrill to be able to go and see his work with my own eyes at the Fundación Joan Miró in Barcelona this past weekend.  Miró is not for everyone, but his bold use of color and his sense of whimsy have to bring a smile to your face - even if you are a fan of more representational art.

The museum was cleverly designed all in white so that Miró's colorful work stands out.

This sculpture is pictured in our textbook but it isn't clear from the photo the dimensions of the work.  This is actually a very large sculpture - quite a bit taller than me.

I took this picture with the heads of the museum guests in it so you could get an idea of how large this piece is - it stretches from the ground floor to the second floor of the museum.

Oh no.  I think there might be a depiction of female anatomy in this one, so I suppose I won't be sharing it with my students.  It's a shame because it is very representational of his work.

And, just for the fun of it, here are a couple shots of some work that my students did back during our art chapter in Spanish III last year.  They had a number of projects to choose from, but the ones who do the Miró-inspired sculpture always seem to impress.

Hasta pronto,

--AnneK

Lección: El tiempo futuro y el Poema "Novia del campo, amapola"

Last week we had a wonderful class on using literature in our language classes.  We talked specifically about poetry, narrative, plays, and essays.  And then on Friday we each presented a lesson to our classmates to share what we had learned.

I don't know who might be reading this blog, but I figured I would share my work here in case anyone might find it useful.  There is a lesson plan (in Spanish), a PowerPoint, and a student activity sheet.  The PowerPoint has the poem itself, links to vocabulary slides so students can resolve vocabulary issues without resorting to English translations, and a brief grammar guide to the future tense.  It is not meant as an introduction to the tense, but rather an activity to enhance your teaching of the tense or to recycle it so students keep it fresh in their minds.

Here is a link to the lesson plan:

Common Core standards don't really align here so I did not include them.  Your state standards for foreign language will vary, of course.  As far as the ACTFL Standards go (my favorites!), this lesson touches on a couple of them, especially Interpretive Communication and Language Comparisons.


Here is a link to the PowerPoint:

And here is a link to the student activity sheet that accompanies the PowerPoint and the lesson (above).

It was curious to see how similar the lessons were in terms of design and use of multimedia among the three American teachers in the class: Cathy, Mike, and myself.  We focus on keeping things moving, varying activities, color, and fun while learning.  We have to keep our students motivated and involved, which is sometimes no easy task.

The lessons by the European teachers in the class reflected a very different cultural viewpoint and were put together quite differently.  It is safe to say that here in Europe there is an academic and societal expectation that students will actually learn the language and gain proficiency in it.  In the US, we foreign language teachers seem to be the only ones on board with that philosophy.  (Consider: How many times has a parent told you that they studied Spanish for years in school and now they don't speak a word of it?  What message does that send to the child of that parent?  What societal values are being espoused in that statement?)

Remember that the future tense shows up on the National Spanish Exam at level 2 (and above).

Hasta pronto,

--AnneK