Useful Links / Enlaces Útiles
Below are some of my favorite websites for using online dictionaries, brushing up on language skills and exploring culture.
Use these resources while working on projects or studying for upcoming tests and quizzes. I've also included links to websites that specifically focus on some of the Latin holidays that we will be discussing in class. If our discussions interest you, the links below can offer you more information and insight on each celebration.
ONLINE DICTIONARY
http://wordreference.com/
This website is my favorite online dictionary. Aside from being user friendly, there is also a discussion forum where you can ask a translation question and get replies from native Spanish speakers. This is especially useful if you are looking to translate slang that may not be in a traditional dictionary or if you have a question on the proper usage of a word in conversation.
VERB PRACTICE
http://studyspanish.com/verbs/
This site offers mini-lessons on how to conjugate Spanish verbs in various tenses. At the end of each lesson, the site generates its own practive quiz (but you can choose how many questions are asked). Great for studying or just refreshing your memory of past verb tenses we've learned.
http://www.spaleon.com/conj.php
This website allows you to type in the infinative of any Spanish verb and then conjugates it into a a verb chart in EVERY POSSIBLE TENSE. This is a great resourse to use during projects or for longer writing assignments.
VOCABULARY PRACTICE
http://freerice.com/category
This website is sponsored by the United Nations World Food Programme and is a trivia website that donates 10 grains of rice for every answer you get correct! Under the Language Learning category, click on Spanish and put your knowledge to use for a good cause!
DAY OF THE DEAD / EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/
One of my favorite cultural units (and one of the biggest celebrations in the Spanish-speaking world) is Día de los Muertos. This website, in my opinion, is the best one out there for bringing the holiday to life. Not only does it include articles on the history of the holiday and tons of colorful photos, it also offers recipes, craft ideas (for those of you who are artistic) and a video section specifcally geared for students.
CHRISTMAS / LA NAVIDAD
http://clearviewregional.edu/docs/hs/libra/christmas_in_mexico_and_spain.htm
This is an excellent starting point for exploring Christmas traditions in both Spain and Mexico. This site contains links to various pages full of articles and pictures that explain the unique tradtions that both countries observe during the Christmas season.
CINCO DE MAYO
http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm
Cinco de mayo is the story of a group of underdogs who triumphed against an army far bigger and more powerful than themselves. This site tells the real-life drama behind May 5th's history and also discusses how this holiday is now observed in both Mexico and the USA.
MEXICO'S INDEPENDENCE DAY / EL DÍA DE INDEPENDENCIA
http://www.inside-mexico.com/featureindep.htm
Think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day? Guess again! This site reveals the history, traditions and the date of Mexico's REAL independence day!
CARNIVAL SEASON / EL CARNAVAL
http://www.dominicanmasks.com/
In Spanish-speaking countries, the carnival season usually begins in February and continues on until Ash Wednesday. During this time, parades, music and costumes can be found all over Latin America, but the Dominican Republic has one of the most spirited celebrations. Check out the masks and costumes on this site!
EASTER / LA PASCUA
http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/1939-easter-in-mexico-semana-santa-and-pascua-a-mexican-holiday-resource-page
Easter isn't just celebrated for a day in the Spanish-speaking world. This site contains a photo gallery full of pictures taken during la semana santa (the week leading up to Easter Sunday) in various regions of Mexico. Also scroll down the page for the article titled "Pascua/Semana Santa" for a breakdown of traditional events held on each day of Holy Week.
A KID'S GUIDE TO MEXICO
http://www.seasidemexico.com/rockypoint/mexico-kids-guide/
A great and interesting article over Mexican history, geography and culture. (Muchas gracias to Jamie for finding this site for me and to Señora Torres for her email!)
