Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Spanish in Argentina
Teaching Spanish in Argentina
Learning Spanish, or expanding your language knowledge in Argentina is highly recommendable. This country is regarded as having a long-standing teaching tradition during the decades in which the Argentine state was created, and once the civil wars had come to an end and the territory currently identifying our country had been consolidated. (1880-1900)
The endeavours intended to foster the learning of the Spanish language are contemporary to the widespread literacy process inspired by the Common Education Act N°1420, which was enacted in July 1884. Such act set forth that the primary school was compulsory, and required students to acquire a minimum knowledge and develop basic skills.
The above mentioned endeavors were not only targeted at school-aged children, but also at adults, some of whom had been involved in growing urbanization processes and were part of the immigration groups that began to arrive in our country in the 1880-1890 decade.
Such a process together with free-of-charge teaching programs and a widely-known hospitality tradition characterizing our people turned our country into an open society, which rapidly regarded the second generation of Asian and European (not having a Spanish descent) immigrants as hispanic speakers and it allowed the third generation to enter university.
Admission at Higher Education Institutions was followed by migratory movements led by neighboring countries students who therefore managed to have access to a qualified teaching system and to come back to their home country to be professionally engaged, in most of the cases, on an outstanding basis. Such a distinctive mark has been preserved until today and the Argentine state aims at extolling the trust placed upon its higher education institutions.
Read more on Ministerio de Educacion Argentina.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Tango is a feeling
Much has been studied about its origin, and although historians and investigators have researched and have entered in heated discussions, the mystery of its origin remains unrevealed.
The word TANGO 's etymological definition has contradictions, some say it comes from African dialects, for example, "Tang" would mean "touch, get close to..", among the Bantus, there are two dialects, one "Tanga" and the other "Tangui". In Spanish, the word Tango is similar to the African "Tang" in its definition of the old Spanish word "Tangir" ot "Tañir", and in Latin "Tangere", meaning "Touch".
The slaves brought it to the River Plate from the "black" continent called their percussion instruments "Tangó", accenting the last syllable.The word Tango appears in the River Plate (Rio de la Plata) in the mid XVIIIth century, and was the name given to a House and Place of Tango, located on a lot belonging to the Concepción (neighborhood) Parish.
Read more on Buenos Aires Times.
Ski Centers in Argentina
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Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Buenos Aires Custom Itinerary, from $5
Leave those out-of-date travel guide books that only lead you to overpriced and overcrowded tourist traps behind! Order your custom itinerary from LandingPadBA.com, and our Buenos Aires experts work with you directly. After learning a little about you, we’ll build a personalized itinerary that includes:
✓ Only the best day and night activities that fit both your interests and your wallet
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✓ Links to LandingPadBA.com guides and maps so you’ll know exactly where you’re going and what to expect
✓We’ll even include tips to some of our favorite restaurants and night spots that we love so much we won’t publish them on our site!
Our custom itineraries are a bargain at just US$5 per planned day.
Not only will we save you the time and stress of choosing your Buenos Aires activities blindly before your arrival, but we’ll also suggest money-saving activities and recommend restaurants and nightspots that won’t give you jacked up tourist prices.
Ordering your custom itinerary is easy! Just follow these 3 steps:
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Check out this new way of travelling around Buenos Aires on LandingPad BA.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Argentinian Traditional Food
A Barbecue can be made al “asador”. In this case a fire is made on the ground or in a fire pit and surrounded by metal crosses of around 1, 30 mts (asadores) that hold the entire carcass of an animal splayed open to receive the heat from the fire. Generally this style is used for cuts of meat of about 10 kg and its baking is made with wood since the metal crosses are placed at 45 degrees on the fire and is the heat of the flame which cooks it. Cooking time is of 5 hours approximately. It is begun to cook on the side of the bones for three hours and a half, after this, it is turned over, to cook the fat side.
Learn more about te Argentine Asado on visitargentina-arg.blogspot
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
HOUSING IN ARGENTINA
Finding reasonably priced accommodation to rent will be relatively easy in Argentina depending on the area you are looking in. This section gives you information about the Argentinean housing market, as well as a wide range of tips and tricks for your housing search.
Latin America has a high percentage of its inhabitants living in big cities. Argentina is no exception to that. The downtown areas are mainly characterised by apartment buildings. When moving away from the centre a wider variety of housing is found. Argentina is an immigrant country which is clearly noted by the architecture of its housing. For example, in the outskirts of Buenos Aires you are likely to come across English style houses, whereas the downtown area resembles Italy and Spain. Near Cordoba and in Bariloche you will often have the feeling of being in Southern Germany or Switzerland.
Things to bear in mind on your search
Accommodation prices in Argentina are determined by the size and location. This holds for both renting and buying. Accommodation is measured in square meters. Furthermore, and this may come as shock to some, buying a house or apartment in Argentina means most of time that payment in cash is required. With the economy improving this is slowly changing again.
Another factor to bear in mind is that in Argentina apartment and houses are described by the number of rooms or ambientes. This includes the living room and the bedrooms. Take into account that there can be several living or sitting rooms in a house or apartment. Kitchen, bathrooms and toilets are not included in the room count.
Housing in Argentina is either let furnished or unfurnished. The availability of one or the other ranges from where you want to live. In a mayor city like Buenos Aires or Cordoba both furnished and unfurnished are readily available. In a smaller city like Comodoro Rividavia finding a furnished place will be very hard.
The Rental Market
For many foreigners coming to Argentina finding a place will not turn out to be that difficult since prices are still relatively low. Renting a place also means paperwork.
For Argentineans finding a place to rent is becoming increasingly difficult. Since many Argentineans are not in the position to buy property (anymore) the demand for places to rent is high. To get an idea of rental prices, in the most solicited neighbourhoods in Buenos Aires a two room apartment will have an average monthly rent of AR$ 900 in Recoleta whereas in Belgrano it will range from AR$ 550 to AR$ 2000 a month. In the popular neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires a small place to live will hardly be found below AR$400/month. (Source: ReporteInmobiliario.com).
A development that is taking place in the mayor tourist and business areas in Argentina is the increase in short term rentals aiming at foreigners. Places offered in neighbourhoods like Recoleta in Buenos Aires as well as apartments in places that receive many tourists like Bariloche and Villa Langustura, are offered fully furnished at prices lower than the better hotels. Many of these places can be booked online.
Supply and demand can also vary considerably in the course of the year, particularly in cities with a large student population such as Cordoba and Buenos Aires. At the beginning of the academic semesters, which is around February/March and August/September demand tends to be high.
Read mlore on this on Allo' Expat Argentina.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
HOTELS DIRECTORY IN ARGENTINA (BUENOS AIRES)
Alvear Palace Hotel
1891 Avenida Alvear,
Recoleta,
Buenos Aires C1129AAA,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4808 2100
Fax: 54 11 4804 0034
Email: info@alvearpalace.com
Website: www.alvearpalace.com
Aspen Tower Hotel
857 Paraguay,
Buenos Aires C1057AAK,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4313 1919
Fax: 54 11 4313 2662
Email: sales@aspentowers.com.ar
Website: www.aspentowers.com.ar
Caesar Park Buenos Aires Hotel
1232 Posadas Street,
Capital Federal,
Buenos Aires 1011,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4819 1296
Fax: 54 11 4819 1121
Email: aaairoldi@ceasar.com.ar
Website: www.caesar-park.com
Claridge Hotel
535 Tucuman,
Buenos Aires C1049AAK,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4314-7700
Fax: 54 11 4314-8022
Email: inforeservas@claridge.com.ar
Website: www.claridge.com.ar
Emperador Hotel
420 Avenida Del Libertador,
Recoleta,
Buenos Aires C1001ABR,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4131 4000
Fax: 54 11 41313900
Email: info@hotel-emperador.com.ar
Website: www.hotel-emperador.com.ar
Faena Hotel Plus Universe
445 Martha Salotti Street,
San Telmo Quarter,
Buenos Aires C1107CMB,
Argentina
Phone: 30 6290 1111
Email: res@designhotels.com
Website: www.designhotels.com
Feirs Park Hotel
1366 Esmeralda,
Barrio Norte,
Buenos Aires C1007ABT,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4131 1900
Fax: 54 11 4131 1950
Website: www.feirspark.com.ar
Four Seasons Hotel
1086 Posadas,
La Recoleta,
Buenos Aires 1011,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4321-1200
Fax: 54 11 4321-1201
Website: www.fourseasons.com
Hilton Buenos Aires Hotel
351 Macacha Guemes,
Puerto Madero
Buenos Aires C1106,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 48910000
Fax: 54 11 48910001
Website: www.hilton.com
Nh Florida Hotel
839 San Martin Florida Street,
Buenos Aires C1004AAQ,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4321.9850
Fax: 54 11 4328 4855
Email: nhflorida@nh-hotels.com
Website: www.nh-hotels.com
Park Tower Hotel
1193 Avenida Leandro N. Alem,
Buenos Aires 1001,
Argentina
Phone: 54 11 4318 9100
Website: www.starwoodhotels.com
Read more on Allo' Expat Argentina.
J'apprends l'espagnol !
Ça suffit les folies. Je me mets sérieusement à l’étude de l’espagnol. Depuis le temps que je reporte ce projet aux calendes grecques !
Il faut dire que je m’obstinais à vouloir d’abord maîtriser le chinois (OK, « maîtriser » est peut-être un peu ambitieux… lol). Mais même après un an et demi d’immersion et environ trois mois de leçons intensives, je n’arrive toujours pas à soutenir une conversation dans la langue de Mao (par contre, si vous voyagez un jour avec moi en Chine, je pourrai vous éviter l'humiliation de devoir mimer une poule ou un poisson au resto pour vous nourrir !).
Comme j’ai besoin d’un coup de pied au bon endroit pour entreprendre un projet personnel de cette envergure, je m’en suis auto-infligé un en m’organisant un voyage éclair (cinq grosses journées !) à Buenos Aires. Je pars samedi. J’ai trouvé ce qui me semble être la meilleure manière de me faire entrer quelques notions de base dans le crâne : Bueno, entonces…
Ces 30 leçons d’espagnol peuvent être visionnées à l’aide d’un ordinateur, d’un Blackberry, d’un iPod ou d’un iPod Touch (c’est ce dernier que j’utilise – j’ai acheté les premiers épisodes sur iTunes à 2,99$ chacun plutôt que d’acheter le cours en entier). Des DVD sont également en vente.
La publicité présente Bueno, entonces... comme « the Grand Theft Auto of Spanish Classes ». Plus proche de la série pour ados que du cours magistral, on me promet même quelques gros mots ! Le ton des extraits visionnés me rappelle vaguement celui de L'Auberge espagnole (probablement à cause du personnage masculin, un Anglais qui a une certaine parenté avec William, incarné par Kevin Bishop). Les cours se déroulent toutefois dans la capitale de l'Argentine.
Je n'aurai probablement pas beaucoup de temps pour « étudier » avant mon départ, mais tant pis : les 17 h passées dans l'avion et à l'aéroport de Toronto seront bien rentabilisées ! Pas le choix : les travaux pratiques débuteront dès mon arrivée. Je vous en reparle…
P.S. : Au cas où mon cerveau afficherait les mêmes messages que mon ordinateur en ce moment (« mémoire pleine » !), j’ai aussi téléchargé deux applications de traduction… ;-)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Argentina national football team
The
Keep reading about Argentina's football league on Wikipedia.
Nightlife Etiquette in Buenos Aires
A night on the town in Buenos Aires is reliably fun-filled. But before heading out for your first night, here are a few guidelines to ensure that you enjoy the night as thoroughly as possible:
Don’t plan on arriving to a club before 2am. Although this is typically when bars and clubs close for the night in other countries, dance clubs typically don’t begin to get busy before this time in Buenos Aires.
Don’t balk at having to pay a cover charge (entrada) at major bars and clubs here in Buenos Aires. Often these charges will come with a free drink or two (consumisión).
Don’t hesitate to immediately hop onto the dance floor and start shakin’ that thang! Most visitors to dance clubs are there to dance (not just to drink). So get out there and enjoy yourself!
Tipping the bartender more than a peso or two is not standard practice in Buenos Aires. An exception to this rule, however, is a request for a stiff drink (bien fuerte or bien cargado). In these cases, be sure to be a bit more generous with your tipping.
Be aware of the fact that it is considered poor form to drink too much, especially in fancy night clubs. Sloppy drunkenness and scrappy bar fights are frowned upon entirely, and almost never occur.
Single women should be prepared to meet a myriad of interested suitors who seemingly won’t take no for an answer. Women should never hesitate to frankly tell an unwelcome on-comer to buzz off. Don’t worry, it won’t be perceived as rude.
Finish reading about it on LandingPad BA.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Keeping Fit in Buenos Aires!
How to eat right, fit exercise into your day and avoid the foreigner 15
Arriving in Buenos Aires can be like arriving as a freshman to college. Promises of big parties, all night affairs and schmorgasborg-style eating that seem too good to be true eventually become reality. It’s all fun and games until somebody puts on 25 pounds. Here are a few ideas to help you enjoy Buenos Aires without needing to buy overpriced new jeans because you popped the zipper on your old ones.
How to eat cow and not look like one!
Buenos Aires cuisine is delicious, but really fattening. From steak with all the juicy fat attached to plump empanadas to salads made of mayonnaise and potatoes, it’s hard to stay trim while enjoying the local delicacies.
Here are 10 tips on how to eat and enjoy in Buenos Aires:
1. Order lean cuts of meat, such as bife de lomo, and avoid too much choripan (chorizo sandwiches). Yes, those are chunks of fat if you were trying to convince yourself otherwise.
2. When invited to an asado, bring vegetables that are tasty when grilled, such as pumpkin, corn, sweet potato and bell peppers.
3. When invited to an asado, bring a big salad with a homemade dressing.
4. Shop at organic markets to support small organic businesses and eat healthy! My favorite is the Galpon Organico located by the Subte B Federico Lacroze at 4171 Federico Lacroze Ave. (and Corrientes Ave.) Be sure to plan ahead, though, they’re open Wed. 9am-1pm and Sat. 9am-3pm
5. Don’t order pizza or empanadas to your house – just don’t make it an option. Don’t keep the magnets on your fridge, no matter how cute the delivery boy is. If you’re craving empanadas go to Cumaná, El Sanjuanino or 1810 Cocina Regional and make it worth it!
6. Share entrees when eating out. Buenos Aires restaurants are (in)famous for their big serving sizes.
7. When you need monedas (coins) to catch the bus, go to a fruit stand and buy a few apples or bananas instead of buying an alfajor cookie at a kiosko.
8. Drink mate! Enjoy this traditional tea drink that’s also a great digestivo!
9. Remember what dulce de leche is made of.
10. Order a café or cortado instead of café con leche (most cafes don’t have reduced fat milk)
Exercising porteño Style!
Porteños love to look good and stay fit. This is proven by a phenomenon I call “that hot chick turned around and she had the face of a 70-year-old.” You’ll be walking down the street and spot a trendy looking young girl from behind. She’s trim and has all the right accessories. She looks like she was born on a Stairmaster and has beautiful shiny hair. All of a sudden, girlfriend turns around. The combination of wrinkles and botox is shocking, but damn! She takes good care of her body. She fills me with hope for the future and a desire to work out.
The men and women of Buenos Aires are very concerned with their appearance, take pride in their bodies and thanks to them, Buenos Aires is full of gyms.
From mega-fashion Megatlon to the rinky-dink Average Joe’s style gym, everyone can find one that fits their style. My style was the overpriced Sport Club (190 pesos per month) until I decided I’d never achieve the buns of the girl with the steal tush implants, so now I’m heading to the dive gym on the corner (65 pesos a month). Most gyms that have a pool are slightly more expensive. Just splurge during summer months. Don’t pay for the pool access during winter, you won’t use it. Those looking JUST to use the pool can also sign up for exclusive pool use at many gyms.
Tip: Many big gyms have “promotional plans” where if you pay with a debit or credit card you have a reduced price. Any special like this has a catch, so always read your contract carefully. I learned this lesson when I signed up at Sport Club a few months ago. Instead of the regular 350 peso a month membership I signed up for the 190 peso a month deal. Soon I realized it wasn’t for me and when I went to quit, the manager said that my contact was for 12 months and to quit I’d have to pay 2-months worth of membership. Turns out, if you drag it out enough, use the word abogado (lawyer) and one other reasonable excuse they’ll waive the fee. This isn’t a country where taking someone to court is a solution, so don’t give up all your money at first. Quitting the gym shouldn’t be an express kidnapping.
Finish reading this usefull article on LandingPad BA.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
What could you do at Conviven? Volunteering Programs
What can you do at Conviven?
Centro Conviven is a place in constant development. There are different options and activities one can do while working with us.
Teach English
If you wish to teach English, we have a steady Teach English Programme, taking place every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
But not only – there’s also a constant lack of private teachers who would have private language classes during other week-days.
Teach math or help children with their homework
Children who come to Conviven have difficulties with learning and understanding. Therefore you could also help them understand math. We urgently need a new teacher since the volunteer who did that left recently.
Learn more about these programs on centroconviven.blogspot
Thursday, December 10, 2009
ACCOMMODATION IN BUENOS AIRES
- Fully equipped furnished apartment (individual or shared).
- Host Family House.
In any case above, you will be placed near the school (Downtown Buenos Aires) or will be just a quick subway trip away. If instead you would prefer to stay at a hostel or hotel, cntact us and B.A. Plus will offer you a wide variety of options to choose from. Once you find the one you like, we will make the corresponding reservations for you.
For more info go to BA Plus Spanish School.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Music to help you Learn Spanish - Pasos de Gigante (Bacilos)
Check out more videos to learn Spanish on Youtube.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
National Universities
National universities hold the largest share of the entire Argentine university system: counting over 80% of the undergraduate population and with campuses stretched throughout to all provinces comprising our national territory, they account for over 50% of the country's scientific research while additionally providing technical assistance to both the public and private sectors.
National universities, currently amounting to 38, are attended by an estimated 1275000 undergraduates.Their Presidents sit on the Consejo Interuniversitario Nacional (CIN -National Interuniversity Council), a stage of coordination and concurrence provided for by the 24521 Higher Education Act No. 24521.
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Monday, December 7, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Learn Spanish in BA Plus Spanish School
• Why Spanish?
Spanish is spoken by more than 450 million people today (native or as a second language). Also Spanish is the official language on four different continents. The ability to speak this beautiful language will serve to enrich your travel experiences. Spanish lessons will be your door to new advantages and important opportunities.
• Why Buenos Aires , Argentina ?
The second largest country in Latin America (and the biggest among Spanish - speaking Latin American countries),
• Why B.A. Plus Spanish school?
Learn Spanish with a select group of language experts in
Learn more about this school on BA Plus Spanish School.