Santiago de Compostela

From don Quijote, we offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims that lost their lives in last Wednesday’s train derailment that occurred just outside of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. We also offer our sympathies to those who were injured in the tragedy.

The accident comes as a shock in a country with a railway system that was described this week by NBC news as “one of the most modern and successful in Europe, following decades of investment”. Over 570 million passengers travel by rail here per year, making Spain 10^th in the world in terms of countries with the most rail travelers. The Washington Post wrote yesterday that Europe’s trains are among those with the “highest safety rates in the world”. The paper went on to quote the head of the European Railway Agency’s safety unit Chris Car who said that Spain has a “better-than-average safety record”.

Many on board the train heading to Santiago Wednesday night were going to celebrate the city’s annual St. James festival. St. James’ shrine in this city is the final destination of the popular spiritual pilgrimage el Camino de Santiago, which has attracted Christian pilgrims since the middle ages. Today tens of thousands of people come each year to follow the historic pilgrimage route. This year’s St. James festivities were cancelled after the tragedy, Spain’s worst train accident in four decades. Three days of national mourning were also declared. Many world leaders have publicly expressed their condolences including Spanish President Mariano Rajoy, U.S. president Barak Obama, and Pope Francis.

Although these types of tragedies do happen, Rail News editor Sim Harris has reminded observers that “accidents like this are incredibly rare”. The train driver is currently being investigated for exceeding the speed limit, implying that the accident was likely caused by human error and could have been avoided. National safety authorities, as required by the European Union, closely monitor all aspects of the safety of the railways in Spain.

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The following is largely a translated exerpt of an article that appeared this week in the online periodical El Confidencial:

They are 20 years old, they are Chinese and Spanish is their chosen profession. What brings these young people to move 10,000 kilometers away from home to learn a language that isn’t even very popular in their country? The answer is in their ambition to find a good secure job with a generous salary.  Developing trade between China and Latin America represents a wealth of opportunity that young Chinese professionals are not willing to miss.

“A few years ago nobody studied Spanish in China, now it is becoming a really important asset to find a job” reflects Sung Rong, or Patricia, the western name that was assigned to her. Like most of her classmates, she has only studied Spanish for two years.  She comes from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, located in northeastern China near the border with North Korea. She speaks Spanish using the youthful slang words she has learned from her host family’s son and assures that she feels really comfortable in this small provincial city and would like to return next September.

Wang Shuo, or Filomena as she is known by here, is Sung Rong’s university classmate. Her motivation for studying here is more poetic: “The pronunciation in Spanish is pretty” she explains.  When she finishes, she wants to study Law in China and in Spain. Whan Zehao (Jaime) started to pursue the degree of Spanish in Changchung (northeastern China) without knowing much about it. “It is easier to get a good position if you study Spanish, Italian or Arabic. French and English are more popular languages”.

Far from the economic situation: These 20 year olds have a bright future without limits and far from the pessimistic environment of their country. Rong wants to be an interpreter in Latin American, although her parents would prefer that she become a teacher. “I would definitely earn a lot of money in China”.  Shuo wants to be a lawyer and Zehao a translator or to work in public relations.

Living with a host family: “My family in Spain” is the most repeated expression when describing their accommodation in Spain.  Some live with families on a full-board basis. “I have a really great relationship with them, they treat us like their kids”, says Rong about her host-parents Teresa and Jon.   

With her real family thousands of miles away, Teresa and Jon, “her Spanish parents”, are a great support. They are their primary contact with the language. “In my free time I watch television in Spanish and listen to Spanish music. I am very shy and I would like to get more involved and make friends”, says Shuo. Zehao is the only one who participates in activities after class. “I go to the gym and the swimming pool. I would like to volunteer at the Red Cross but I barely have time because I study so much”.

Where to study Spanish in Salamanca?

don Quijote offers Spanish courses for every level featuring grammar, conversation and culture classes perfect for improving every aspect of their Spanish skills.  With students from all over the globe, the school offers a completely international environment with the opportunity to make friends from around the world.

don Quijote can arrange accommodation in student residences, student apartments or host families depending on the needs and preferences of each student.

The city of Salamanca is famous for its beautiful Plaza Mayor, enchanting golden cobblestone streets and lively student atmosphere. The city has been drawing the attention of foreign students for many years and has become a leading destination for learning Spanish.

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Top 10 National parks in Spain and Latin America

In Spain, we’re preparing to dive head first into spring and all the natural splendor that comes along with it, and we’re suggesting a few of Spain’s most treasured places for appreciating nature. Keeping in mind that the southern hemisphere will soon be welcoming autumn, we’ve included suggestions of natural paradises to visit on both sides of the equator, in Spanish.

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The Camino de la Lengua Castellana is a private foundation that was created in February 2000 with three overarching intentions. Firstly, to encourage, develop and expand knowledge and awareness of the Castilian language (Castellano = Spanish).  Secondly, to publicize the “Route of the Castilian Language” as a historical journey that started thousands of years ago and to display the global spreading of the language. Lastly, the Foundation serves to educate people about the cultural and ancient origins of the locations that the Route of the Castilian language encompasses and the affect that these places had on the evolution of the Spanish language.

The Foundation operates through a Board of Governors which consists of a variety of members from different public institutions. The institutions include regional governments, councils as well as the country council of the city of Valladolid. The role of Chair and Deputy Chair alternate biennially between the autonomous communities that are controlled by the Board of Governors. The Board convenes bi-annually, with the first meeting dedicated to the approval of the previous year’s accounts, and the second to decide and sanction the budget alongside the Program of Activities for the forthcoming year. These meetings are hosted in different cities along the route of the Castilian Language.

The foundation is responsible for organizing different activities to promote the three general aims that were established in 2000 upon its creation.  To this end, tourist packages are available for those who want to travel around the places that make up the route of the Camino. The institution provides eighteen distinct travel packages to cater for people who want to visit the entire route, or just a couple of destinations, to those who want to travel in big groups or alone. Local cuisine is considered to be an important aspect in the promotion of the Camino de la Lengua Castellana, with a number of popular, delicious dishes to be found in the Spanish cities. The website even offers the possibility of downloading a document that contains some of the traditional recipes that you might encounter for those who want to try and cook for themselves.

The Route of the Castilian Language passes through many fascination locations that have played a crucial role in the creation, expansion and development of the Spanish language; including Santo Domingo de Silos, San Millán de la Cogolla, Alcalá de Henares, Ávila, Valladolid and Salamanca. Four of these intriguing, beautiful locations are World Heritage Sites demonstrating the monumental importance they have in Spain. Visitors will come across an enormous wealth of places of cultural significance, from cathedrals, old-towns and monasteries to squares, old streets and local traditions and many other fascinating locations. 

It is not only Spain where the Castilian language exists. In the Mediterranean there are communities of Sephardic Jews who left Spain in the fifteenth century settling, and keeping the language alive in cities in Greece, Morocco, Turkey and Israel.

The historical and cultural significance of the route accompanied by the plethora of interesting places to visit meant that it became part of the European Cultural Itinerary in 2002 and then in 2004 it was recognized as being a Major Cultural Route of the Council of Europe.

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The Official Spanish Proficiency Exam

The DELE exam has seen some recent changes. Its formatting is different and this year it’s being offered for the first time during 5 different examining periods (instead of only 3). Registration is now open for all five periods. Check out this handy DELE infograph and get all the details on when you can take the exam and how long each exam section lasts for all 6 of the levels that candidates can choose to take. The different sections are designed to test different language skills including reading and listening comprehension and oral and written expression.  

Job / scholarship seekers take note

The DELE certificate officially confirms your level of Spanish to employers and scholarship committees. Self-evaluation of your language skills may not prove very convincing to hiring managers swamped by mountains of resumés from job candidates who have greatly exaggerated their foreign language abilities. You know how well you can speak, but they don’t. A DELE diploma certifies your level and clears all possible doubt of overstated language claims. The Cervantes Institute administers the exam, an institution responsible for promoting the Spanish language around the world and one that takes great pride in the language itself; certification from them is solid confirmation of how well you know Spanish.

The certificate is recognized around the world and it never expires.

Students may also need official confirmation of this type to be eligible to study in certain programs at universities in Spain and other countries.  

Which of the 6 levels should you go for?

It’s important to sign up for the right level. You will take the exam at the level that you’ve signed up for and if you pass, you’ll be given a certificate that shows you passed it at that level. 

Anyone from a “breakthrough level” A1 learner to a mastery level C2 speaker may take the exam to earn their own DELE certificate. Keep in mind however that not all levels are offered during every examining period.

Levels adhere to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. You can find more information on each of the 6 different levels on www.dele.org.

Students looking to fulfill specific requirements will likely be most interested in signing up for the minimum level required by their program, thus improving their chances of passing. Those looking to enhance their resumé should of course take the highest level they realistically think they can pass.  

Where can you take the test?

There are 850 examination centers located in 100 countries. Take a look here for more information on the closest center to you.

Are there classes available that are specifically designed to help candidates pass?

Yes. In fact a DELE preparation course is highly recommended for anyone planning on taking the exam. In these classes, teachers work closely with students to prepare them to successfully pass the exam.

Remember to stay positive when you go in to take your test.

Good luck!  

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A Special Month for Romantic Getaways

Valentine’s day is right in the heart of February, and it’s a day that makes this a special month for anyone with a special someone in their own heart. Allow us to suggest ten places where romance fills the air and mingles with Spanish… the perfect language for talking about love according to Bob Dylan.

Join don Quijote and immerse yourself in the real-life settings of these timeless tales of love!

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Anxious revelers in many parts of the world are gearing up to party at carnival festivals this weekend. It’s a time when expressive excitement fills the electrically charged air, mingles with magical music, and inspires multitudes of merrymakers masquerading in multicolor costumes to move to lively rhythms. Every year, Colombia’s Barranquilla carnaval attracts countless party goers eager to experience the vibrant celebration, where Caribbean cadences and cumbia accents accompany vibrant day festivities and sizzling nights.

Carnival celebrations in Colombia date back to at least the 17^th century, a time when local authorities in political centers such as Bogotá and Cartagena were unimpressed by the unrestrained amusement of the masses. Although authorities in these cities quickly banned carnival festivities, the annual musical merriment would grow elsewhere in Colombia, in areas removed from the watchful eye of strict government officials. Vibrant carnival traditions have flourished ever since in areas such as the south western city of Pasto (celebrated in January), the western town of Riosucio (celebrated every other year and in January), and in the far north in the city of Barranquilla (celebrated the weekend before Ash Wednesday). UNESCO accredits both Pasto and Barranquilla’s vivacious varieties of the event as Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.  Short lived carnival customs in Bogotá appeared and disappeared in the 20^th century, and today the country’s capital has celebrated the event (in August) since 2005.

Barranquilla’s carnival

In Barranquilla, the “battle of the flowers” takes center stage on Saturday, a parade that features carefully crafted carrozas (floats), troops of dancers decked out in striking costume, and the carnival queen herself tossing flowers amidst her grand court of princes and princesses; it’s a salute to color and joy, where polychromatic glory and a wonderful medley of melodies invites participants and observers to indulge in the senses. The sensorial feast continues the following day with the great parade, when dance competitions will determine who gets to perform in the following year’s battle of the flowers.

Other popular events at the carnival include a children’s carnival, La Guacherna parade, the Fiesta de Danzas y Cumbias, the festival of orchestras, the fantasy parade, and special guest performances, this year by Juan Luis Guerra.

Festivities draw to a close on Tuesday (the day before Ash Wednesday) with the symbolic funeral of the fictitious personage Joselito. It’s a seemingly solemn ceremony which reminds burial attendees that the yearly carnival fun has expired until next year, when Joselito will come to life again along with animated party action. Lent begins the following day, recalling the festival’s religious origins.  

Barranquilla’s carnival is a joyous celebration of life and diversity, where the area’s Indigenous, African, and European cultural heritage is showcased in the form of vibrant expression. Everyone is welcome here, as attested by the fact that the event attracts an estimated 200,000 to half a million visitors each year.

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The 2014 winter Olympics are in full swing in Sochi, Russia, and team Spain is striving to ski, sled, skate, and snowboard their way to Olympic glory. The 20 athlete team is representing Spain in its 19^th winter Olympic appearance since 1936, hoping to bulk up their country’s winter games medal count. Spain has won only 2 medals in the history of the winter Olympics. Curiously, a bronze and a gold were won for Spain 20 years apart (1972-1992) by a brother-sister pair, both in slalom skiing.

Spanish Athletes in Sochi

Figure skater Javier Fernández appears to be Spain’s biggest hope of winning a medal this year. The young Spaniard took home bronze from the 2011 Grand Prix Final in Quebec and he has the distinction of being the second skater from Europe to successfully perform 3 quads in a single program, in which he pulled off a spectacular salcho-toe loop jump combo.

Team Spain fans will also want to watch Spanish ice dancers Sara Hurtado and partner Adriá Díaz, who will also be competing. The pair have won 4 medals together at international level including a bronze at the Bavarian Open and a silver at the MNNT cup.

2 women are competing in half pipe competitions: Queralt Castellet (snow board) and Katia Griffiths (skiing). Castellet competed today and despite catching some major air, displaying impressive highflying on-board aerial artistry, a couple of untimely falls compromised her overall score.  

Ander Mirambell is going for the gold in the fast paced skeleton event, a high speed sledding competiton in which riders slide face down on an icy track enduring up to 5 g’s of force. This fast sliding sport, often considered something of a stepping stone sport for bobsledding, has been included in the winter games since 2002. Mirambell also competed at the 2010 winter games in Vancouver, becoming the first Spaniard to participate in the skeleton event at the Olympics.   

Despite winning a bronze medal in the 2013 Biathlon World Championship, in Sochi, Victoria Padialt came in 52^nd in the biathlon sprint event and 46^th in pursuit. Olympic biathlete Victor Lobo finished the men’s biathlon sprint event in 84^th place.

Paul de la Cuesta, possibly the most ironically named athlete (the Spanish word "cuesta" means "slope") competing in the 2014 winter games, came in 28^th in the downhill skiing event. He is still set to compete in the giant slalom event, where anxious Team Spain fans will be hoping he earns a surprise victory and a third slalom medal for Spain.

3 Spanish cross country skiers did not come very close to reaching medal range. Skiathlon competitor Laura Orgué cross country skied her way to 25^th spot.

There is still plenty of Olympic action scheduled to take place and who knows, we could see some exciting surprises for Spain. The Olympic Games will go on until February 23^rd.    

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In the early hours of Saturday 1st February, Spain lost one of their must influential footballing figures. Luis Aragonés, at the age of 75, passed away in a Madrid hospital after losing his battle with leukaemia.  Condolences came in from throughout the footballing world and a special tribute was paid to him on Sunday night at the home of his beloved Atletico Madrid. A minute´s silence preceded the kick off before his name was chanted repeatedly throughout the match, particularly after each of Athletico’s four goals.

The Hero of Atletico Madrid

This footballing giant was once famously asked about his footballing philosophy, and his response summed up so much about his career; “win and win and win and win again,” (and this is the shortened version of his answer.) He certainly lived up to this philosophy, both as a player and a manager. Having been signed for Athletico Madrid in 1964, he won the Copa del Rey in his first season and again in 1972. He then helped his team win the league title in 1966, 1970 and 1973. He is the highest goal-scorer in Atletico’s history. His legendary status was to be elevated yet further by his achievement as a manager at this club. Over four different spells at the club, Aragonés won 8 trophies, making him the most decorated manager in the club’s history. 3 Copa del Reys and a La Liga title, alongside other major honors are evidence for the managerial success he enjoyed at club level. He managed 791 first division football games, which is more than anyone else in history.

His most notable contribution to Spanish football however, was arguably the success he achieved with the national team. Spain had not won a major tournament in 44 years. Aragonés was concerned that his team would not be able to outmuscle more physical opponents so he adopted a style of football known as “Tiki-Taka” (Short passes and quick movement.) This decision changed the nature of Spanish national football and brought with it unprecedented rewards. He won the 2008 European Championship and laid the foundations for future Spanish triumphs. The current manager of the Spanish national team, Vincente del Bosque, who won the 2010 World Cup and 2012 European Championship with Spain said that “Luis paved the way”, which underlines the importance of Aragonés’ influence in this Spanish footballing revolution.

So as Spain woke up in mourning on Saturday February 1st, the flag at “Cerro del Espino” (Athletico’s training ground) flew at half-mast. Aragonés wore the number 8 shirt during his time as a player at the club and this number was significant in tributes paid to him over the weekend. Fans left flowers, shirts, candles and scarves at gate 8 of the stadium, in the dressing room a No8 shirt with his name printed on the back, hung from a peg alongside those of the team. An enormous shirt was paraded onto the pitch by former players and an immense portrait was unveiled in the stand behind one of the goals. It was a fitting tribute, and a chance to say a sad goodbye, to the hero of Atletico Madrid.

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Cristiano Ronaldo

On 13th January 2014, having waited patiently since his last Ballon d´Or win in 2008, Portugal´s Christiano Ronaldo was crowned the best footballer of the past year. This will be a particularly enjoyable victory for Ronaldo as he managed to overcome his nemesis Leonel Messi who had won the award for the previous four years. These two astonishingly gifted footballers, in recent years, have turned this prestigious award into a personal duel.
Two of the most talented footballers to have ever graced the planet are different in so many ways. The diminutive Leonel Messi whose balance, vision and dribbling ability have seen him break countless records for his club Barcelona. Ronaldo of Real Madrid has also sent records tumbling with his raw pace, power and finishing ability considered to be his strongest attributes. Both players have the invaluable ability of being able to win a football match single-handedly, creating a goal out of seemingly impossible situations.

El Clásico

This intense personal rivalry is on show every single weekend in Spain as the two players battle it out for their respective clubs in pursuit of the “La Liga” title. One of the most ancient footballing rivalries in the world is that of Madrid and Barcelona. The two biggest clubs from the two biggest cities in Spain have won 157 major titles between them. The rivalry stems from historical roots and the broadly different ideologies the two institutions are deemed to represent. Barcelona are seen as representing Catalanism whilst their bitter rivals are seen to be a pillar of Spanish nationalism which throughout the course of history has contributed greatly to the hatred between the clubs. The current strength of the two sides that make up “El Clásico” is shown by the fact that 6 of the 11 players that made up the Fifa world team of the year come from either Real Madrid or FC Barcelona.

At a personal level, with Messi at times struggling with injury, 2013 was all about Ronaldo. Many of the voting panel, that consists of coaches and captains of international teams, as well as journalists from around the world voted for the Frenchman Franck Ribery who guided his club-side Bayern Munich to a highly impressive treble. Ronaldo on the other hand didn´t win a single major trophy; however it was the way in which he played, in particular his remarkable goal scoring record that ensured he was selected as winner of the FIFA Ballon d´Or. The stats speak for themselves; 66 goals in 56 appearances represents an astonishing strike rate of over a goal a game. This is more goals than Messi and Ribery managed between them.

So an emotional Ronaldo collected the award that he had waited so patiently to re-gain and with neither he or Messi showing any sings of slowing down; supporters of Real Madrid and Barcelona, and lovers of football from across the globe have got an incredibly exciting 2014 ahead of them as they wait to see the next chapter of La Liga, and the personal duel between Ronaldo and Messi unfold.

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