Christmas is a festivity celebrated in more than 160 countries all over the world, and as Italy is by definition a Catholic country, it is certainly included in the list.

Christmas is a festivity celebrated in more than 160 countries all over the world, and as Italy&nbsp;is by definition a Catholic country, it is certainly included in the list.&nbsp; But have you ever asked yourself how Italians celebrate this special day of the year?&nbsp; And what do they eat to enjoy this special moment? (You know food plays a fundamental&nbsp;role in the country! )&nbsp;&nbsp; Italians start feeling the Christmas atmosphere at the end of November when shops and&nbsp;cities start adorning their windows and streets. For this reason, it is very easy to bump into a&nbsp;Presepe (Nativity scene) while strolling around, as well as be delighted by zampognari&nbsp;(bagpipe players) playing merry songs, or smelling caldarroste (roast chestnut) and vin brulé&nbsp;(mulled wine aroma) on every corner.&nbsp; But actually, the season officially starts on the 8th of December, that is il Giorno&nbsp;dell'Immacolata Concezione (the Day of Immaculate Conception), which - for this reason - is&nbsp;holiday in Italy. On this day Italians usually decorate their homes and trees, they also bake&nbsp;biscuits and wrap presents to put under the Christmas tree.&nbsp;&nbsp; Therefore, from this day on the Christmas atmosphere is very heartfelt and I personally really&nbsp;enjoy this period.&nbsp; On the 24th of December, they celebrate la Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve). <h3>1. No meat at Christmas Eve (la Vigilia)&nbsp;</h3>Italians do not usually eat meat on this day, rather they eat a wide variety of fish and seafood&nbsp;dishes. Christmas day and Christmas Eve are observed differently all over the country. Some prefer to have a light dinner on the 24th waiting for the huge Christmas lunch the&nbsp;following day, and others instead do the contrary. Of course, there are some others who eat a lot on both days indifferently! But, one way or another, it is time to brindare (to make a toast) with a nice glass of&nbsp;spumante. <h3>2. Sweet treats (Dolci)&nbsp;</h3>Typical sweet treats are Pandoro (a sweet bread from Verona) and Panettone (a sweet&nbsp;bread from Milan). You will recognize Panettone because is one garnished with raisins and sometimes also with candied fruit.&nbsp;Yet Italians also enjoy eating il torrone (that is a long rectangular bar of chocolate with nuts&nbsp;– usually hazelnuts).&nbsp;Of course, every region of the country has its own special treats, but I would say that these&nbsp;are like the must-haves on Italian tables at Christmas.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>3. Italian Saying at Christmas: Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi&nbsp;</h3>There is a saying in Italy that you may spend Christmas with your family, but Easter with&nbsp;whoever you want (generally with your friends).&nbsp;They say: Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi.&nbsp;It is very strong the concept of being with their loved ones, sitting around the table (almost&nbsp;all day long, trust me), eating, playing board games, unwrapping presents, and tasting Italian&nbsp;delicacies on Christmas day.&nbsp; But celebrations are not over yet! They continue celebrating also the day after, on the 26th of December, which is il Giorno di&nbsp;Santo Stefano (Saint Stephen’s Day). This day is another occasion to gather with their loved&nbsp;ones and taste other homemade specialties. &nbsp;And they continue up to the 31st of December, during La notte di San Silvestro (New Year’s&nbsp;Eve). This is another opportunity to meet with their parents and relatives but also with their&nbsp;friends to celebrate Capodanno (New Year) and have a big party all night long.It normally starts late in the afternoon with an aperitivo and is followed by the famous Cenone&nbsp;(literally, Big dinner), which most of the time includes cotechino which is like a gelatinous pork sausage together with lentils. Tradition wants that eating as many lentils as possible after the midnight countdown will make you richer in the year coming! And that is probably due to the round shape of the lentils, which reminds one of a coin.&nbsp; The following day, instead, so on the 1st of January, they usually enjoy some time to rest and&nbsp;stay with their families or friends. The bravest have a big meal also on the 1st!You might think now that the celebrations are over, but they are not yet!&nbsp; <h3>4. Epiphany (la Befana)&nbsp;</h3>Indeed, coming down the chimneys to leave gifts under the Christmas tree is not only a matter of Babbo Natale (Santa Claus). Right across Italy marking the end of the holiday season on the 6th&nbsp;of January, there is la Befana or l'Epifania (the Epiphany)!&nbsp; On this night, children wait for la Befana to come into their houses. She is depicted as an old&nbsp;witch-like woman, who arrives on a broomstick and comes down to chimneys looking forward to filling kids’ stockings with candies, chocolate, sweets, or even a lump of coal, for those who have been naughty.&nbsp; It is very funny to see children’s reactions while opening their stockings! Yet, also adults enjoy this moment because stockings are made for any age. It is a very nice moment to share.&nbsp; What do you think about these 4 Italian traditions to observe at Christmas? Do you find them similar to the way you celebrate (if you do) this festivity? Let me know in the comments below!&nbsp; If you would like to learn more about me, feel free to check out my profile! Ciao!&nbsp;

4 Christmas Traditions in Italy

Latin adage says: “ Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicu.” Seneca.

Latin adage says: “ Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicu.” Seneca.&nbsp; Making mistakes is human nature, but persisting in making the same mistakes is “demonic” behavior. Therefore, making mistakes is the best symptom that we are on track to managing the target language properly, but we need not fall at the same mistakes once and again.&nbsp; In this list, you can read, reflect and review fifteen sentences written with one mistake. Please read it and write down the incorrect or missed word. At the end of the list, check your answers by reading the correct sentences.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>Incorrect sentences</h3>1-&nbsp;Yo soy veinticinco años2-&nbsp;Este pan es bien&nbsp;3- a) No puedo ir al cine esta noche.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) No problema.4- ¿Qué es tu ciudad favorita?&nbsp;5- En la vida hay mucha problemas&nbsp;6- Esto pescado está mucho bueno.7- Nosotros vivimos en Madrid para tres años.8- Tengo quinicientos euros.9-&nbsp;Por favor, quiero un otro helado10- La gente somos muy trabajadoras11- La&nbsp;reunión está en el hotel Hilton12- Uno momento por favor13- ¿Cómo es la clima en invierno en tu ciudad?14- Madrid es en el centro de España15 -&nbsp;a) Señor, ¿quiere alguno de beber?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) Gracias quiero nada Now it’s the “learning” time. Please read the correct sentences and explanations.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>Correct sentences</h3>1-&nbsp;Yo tengo veinticinco años&nbsp;In the Spanish language we “have years”, not “are years”&nbsp;2-&nbsp;Este pan es&nbsp;bueno.Ser verb + adjective: bueno, bueno, buena, buenas (not the adverb ‘bien’)&nbsp;&nbsp;3- a) No puedo ir al cine esta noche.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) No hay problema.In English language : ‘No problem’ but in Spanish always: ‘No hay problema’4- ¿Qué es tu ciudad favorita?&nbsp;When we ask about different options to choose from, we use the interrogative pronoun: ‘Cuál’ not ‘Qué’5- En la vida hay muchos problemas.The word ‘problema’ is feminine (it’s a gender exception), so the adjective has to agree with the noun.&nbsp;6- Este pescado está muy bueno.Two mistakes:&nbsp;1) The demonstrative masculine is ‘este’ not ‘esto’ (it’s neutral demostrative)2) In front of an adjective, in this sentence ‘bueno’, we use and adverb like ‘muy’7- Nosotros vivimos en Madrid por/durante tres años.Expressing a period of time, we don’t use the preposition ‘para’.The best option is to use ‘durante’ although ‘por’ is correct as well8- Tengo quinientos euros.Cien. Doscientos. Trescientos. Cuatrocientos. But... Quinientos9-&nbsp;Por favor, quiero otro helado.When we want to ask for another thing, it’s not necessary&nbsp;‘un’10- La gente es muy trabajadoras&nbsp;Watch out,&nbsp;in the English language ‘the people’ is plural, but in Spanish ‘la gente’ is singular.11- La&nbsp;reunión es en el hotel Hilton.As you know, the ‘estar’ verb is used for locating people, animals or things. However, when we want to locate people at social events (meetings, weddings, parties, etc.) there is an exception, we use ‘ser’ verb instead of ‘estar’12- Un momento por favorIn front of a masculine noun, it’s used the short adjective ‘un’13- ¿Cómo es el clima en invierno en tu ciudad?In general, the Spanish nouns ending with the ‘ma’ syllable are feminine.14- Madrid está en el centro de España.For locating: people, animals, or things, we use the ‘estar’ verb (except for locating social events as we saw above)15 - a) Señor, ¿quiere algo de beber?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b) Gracias no quiero nada &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1) In front of an uncountable noun, we use the indefinite pronoun ‘algo’ (‘alguno’ is used as an indefinite pronoun referring people: ¿Alguno de vosotros quiere beber algo? ~ Any of you want to drink something?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2)In Spanish&nbsp;the double negation is common: no - nada&nbsp; Should you have any questions,&nbsp;feel free to type in the comments.Finally, let me have an idea that I bear in mind: “Your best teacher, it’s your last mistake.”Keep making mistakes!

15 Mistakes Most Spanish Students Make

When we learn a new language in a self-taught way, it is usual to focus on our speaking and  listening skills; especially in languages that share very similar alphabets, reading and writing tend  to be relegated, because their daily use is limited and as students, we don´t give it the importance it

When we learn a new language in a self-taught way, it is usual to focus on our speaking and listening skills; especially in languages that share very similar alphabets, reading and writing tend to be relegated, because their daily use is limited and as students, we don´t give it the importance it really deserves; added to the fact that most people learn another language for tourism reasons and for that the most basic level of reading and writing is perfect. So, one of the exercises that I consider the most complete to advance in learning is left aside because it is not the passion of many people.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>What makes reading so special?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Reading in your native language is in itself a highly beneficial activity, it reduces stress, feeds your imagination, exercises your mind and improves your analytical skills, among many other qualities that change according to the type of reading, you can be informed, learn about interesting topics,&nbsp;&nbsp;or have fun with fantastic stories. But when you read in your target language, to all those wonderful advantages we can add a few more: You acquire more and better quality vocabulary, improve spelling and grammar, learn different structures or phrases used for different types of communication, recognize the same words in different contexts, also you could improve pronunciation by reading aloud.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;If we can count so many benefits, why not give it a try? The main reason is that we have not formed the habit of reading from the native language and we think about it as something boring or very difficult; but I assure you that if you do it the right way it will be the opposite, one of the most enriching and fun activities you can implement in your study routine.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>How can I form the habit of reading?&nbsp;</h3>Same as any other habit that we want to form in our lives, the most important thing is to establish clear and realistic objectives in accordance with us, in order to create a routine that lasts over time and is not something that we will leave aside at the first obstacle.&nbsp;&nbsp; -look for a nice and quiet place&nbsp;&nbsp;You are going to need a lot of concentration, so a quiet, illuminated, fresh and very calm place where you can make yourself comfortable is essential.&nbsp;&nbsp; -set a reasonable time&nbsp;&nbsp;Something realistic that you can fulfill, do not set yourself to reading for an hour a day if you have never done so before... maybe just 10 or 15 minutes; remember that quantity does not mean quality.&nbsp;&nbsp; -be consistent&nbsp;&nbsp;Once you have a suitable place and a fixed schedule in your agenda, remember that the plan is to be carried out and not to leave it in mere ideas; respect the time you set aside for reading, stop procrastinating and do it.&nbsp;&nbsp; -be flexible&nbsp;Hand in hand with constancy comes flexibility, do not judge yourself if one day you are busy and do not fulfill your routine, the important thing is that as soon as possible your resume... it is not the end of the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>What to read?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h3>Here we have two important things to take into account, your tastes and interests and the level you have in the learning language; because starting this activity ignoring these aspects only guarantees one thing... that you will give up. So first of all identify your reading level, (for this you can use an online test) and then your topics of interest, and based on that you can choose the ideal reading class for you; my advice is to follow the following level guide:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A1-A2 If you’re able to identify simple structures, you should read something easy and children’s books like mi abuelo es poeta de Toño Malpica, Fray perico y su borico de Juan Muñoz or any book written for little kids are perfect for you, because of the simply way these books are written or you could try with translations of classic stories as El principito de Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.&nbsp;&nbsp;If your level is B1-B2 then you are able to understand the general idea in to a text, then you should read magazine articles and short stories; I usually recommend to read news, because you find a lot of topics and information according with your interests, but if you like to read a book, then como agua para chocolate de Laura Esquivel, Relato de un naufrago o doce cuentos peregrinos de Gabriel Garcia Marquez, La oscuridad de los colores de Martìn Blasco, would be great for you.&nbsp;&nbsp; If you recognize complex structures, specialized vocabulary, synonyms, etc., then your level is C1- C2 and you should be able to read novels, poetry, readings on specialized topics, basically any kind of reading, I really like magic realism and two awesome authors of this movement are Gabriel García Marquez and Isabel Allende, maybe you would like them too.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h3>Let's read!&nbsp;</h3>Don´t rush; accept that starting you´ll not understand 100% of the text, be patient and get the most out of this activity. And how to get the most out of reading? As I mentioned before, it is essential that you forget about perfectionism and high expectations to simply flow with the process, probably the first few times it´ll be difficult and even frustrating, but with practice, it´ll become easier and easier for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Start by, always having a pencil and paper with you to take note of all the words or phrases that are new to you and to clarify their meaning, let's try to avoid the dictionary…&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Yes! Forget about the dictionary for a while. Try to get the meaning from the context or looking for images, and only if you can't get it by other means use it; once the purpose is clear, write it down using several examples of everyday situations in which you would use what you have learned and go back to your notes periodically; this way both the quantity and quality of your vocabulary will benefit; on the other hand, if you want to improve your pronunciation you can try reading aloud, recording yourself, listening and comparing with native speakers.

Reading is the Best Exercise to Improve Your Language Skills

1.平素(へいそ)よりお世話(せわ)になっております/ Greeting at the beginning of an email to a customerThis phrase is used as a greeting at the beginning of an email to a customer with whom you are in regular contact. It is used for people from different companies. Other variations 

<h3>1.平素(へいそ)よりお世話(せわ)になっております/ Greeting at the beginning of an email to a customer</h3> This phrase is used as a greeting at the beginning of an email to a customer with whom you are in regular contact. It is used for people from different companies.&nbsp; Other variations are the more polite "平素より誠(まこと)にお世話になっております" and "平素より大変(たいへん)お世話になっております", as well as the simplified version "お世話になっております". <h3>2. 早速(さっそく)のご返信、誠(まこと)にありがとうございます/ Thank you very much for your prompt reply.</h3> Another similar phrase is "早速のご対応(たいおう)、誠にありがとうございます". The character "信" in 返信 originally means ‘letter’ or ‘contact’ , so "返信" means a response to the email. '対応' means taking action at the other person's request. For example, if you ask someone to fix an anomaly on your website and they do so immediately, you can use the phrase "早速のご対応、誠にありがとうございます". <h3>3.ご返信が遅くなり申し訳ございません/Sorry for the delay in getting back to you</h3> Sometimes it is difficult to get an immediate response when emailing Japanese people. In Japanese companies, especially traditional Japanese companies, young people have little discretion and need the decision of their boss or even their boss's boss, which often leads to late replies. <h3>4.ご教示(きょうじ) / to tell, to let know (respectful style)</h3> ・Xにつきまして、ご教示頂けないでしょうか。/ Could you please inform us about X? ・Xにつきまして、ご教示頂ければ幸(さいわ)いです。/ I would be grateful if you could provide me with information on X. ・ご教示頂き誠に有難(ありがと)うございます。/ Thank you very much for your information. Note that this is respectful language, so it cannot be used for your own actions, as in 'I will inform you about this&nbsp;later' - こちらにつきましては、のち程お知らせ致します. <h3>5. Xの程(ほど)、宜(よろ)しくお願い致(いた)します。/ Please do X.</h3> ・ご確認の程、宜しくお願い致します。/ Please check it. ・ご協力(きょうりょく)の程、宜しくお願い致します。/ Thank you very much for your cooperation. ・ご理解(りかい)の程、宜しくお願いいたします。/ Thank you very much for your understanding. <h3>6. ご査収(さしゅう) / to examin and receive (respectful style)</h3>The phrase is used more than 90% of the time when attaching files to emails. ・請求書(せいきゅうしょ)を添付(てんぷ)致します。ご査収の程、宜しくお願い致します。/An invoice is attached. Thank you very much for your inspection. ・先日のお写真をファイル共有サービスにてご送付致します。ご査収の程、宜しくお願いいたします。/I will send you the photos from the other day via a file sharing service. Please receive them. <h3>7. X頂けましたら幸いです/ We hope you will…/ Please do X (indirectly)</h3>・ぜひ、ご出席頂けましたら幸いです。/We would be delighted if you could attend. ・22日(金曜日) 16時までにご返信頂けましたら幸いです。/ We would be grateful if you could reply by 16:00 on Friday 22nd. ・お手すきの際に、ご確認頂けましたら幸いです。/We would be grateful if you could confirm it when you are free. <h3>8.&nbsp;恐縮(きょうしゅく) / I’m afraid/ I appreciate</h3>恐縮 is used to mean both 'thank you' and 'sorry'.&nbsp; ・お手数おかけし恐縮です。/ I am sorry to trouble you ・お忙しいところ、お時間頂き恐縮です。/Thank you (Sorry) for taking time out of your busy schedule. A: Bさんのプレゼンテーション、素晴(すば)らしかったです。/ Your presentation was amazing!B: 恐縮です。/ Thank you so much. (Your word is more than I deserve.) <h3>9. お手数（てすう）/ trouble&nbsp;</h3>・お手数おかけします。: I am sorry to trouble you/ Thank you for your cooperation. ・お手数ですが、金曜日までにご返信頂ければ幸いです。: I am sorry for the trouble but I would appreciate your reply by Friday. ・お手数をおかけしてしまい、大変恐縮です。: I sincerely apologize for the trouble I have caused you. <h3>10.宜(よろ)しくお願い致(いた)します/ Please take care of this/ I will leave this to you</h3>・引き続き宜しくお願い致します/I look forward to keep working with you (Please reply to this email) ・今後とも宜しくお願いいたします/ I look forward to working with you for the long term. ・何卒(なにとぞ)宜しくお願い致します/ More polite style of どうぞ宜しくお願いします When using honorifics, especially when you are speaking/ writing a message one-to-one, directly saying '-して下さい' is seen as a bit rude. Therefore, by using both contexts (I am having trouble with this/ I have this request) and 宜しくお願いします, you can indirectly say 'please do this' or sometimes ‘‘Please guess what you should do’ 例・会計の都合上、ご返信期限は金曜日とさせて頂きました。お手数ですが宜しくお願い致します。/ For accounting reasons, the deadline for replies is Friday. +宜しくお願い致します= Please reply by Friday. ・詳細は今月中に決定致しますので、宜しくお願いいたします。/ Further details will be finalised later this month.+宜しくお願いいたします= Please wait until the end of the month for further information.

The 10 Most Commonly Used Japanese Business Email Phrases

Have you always had a soft spot for the Italian accent? For words like amore, cuore, felice, ciao, pizza and buongiorno?  Would you like to speak like a real Italian because when you come to Italy for your vacation, you feel at home as you find yourself smelling food on the streets of Naples, lookin

Have you always had a soft spot for the Italian accent? For words like amore, cuore, felice, ciao, pizza and buongiorno?&nbsp;Would you like to speak like a real Italian because when you come to Italy for your vacation, you feel at home as you find yourself smelling food on the streets of Naples, looking at the monuments in Rome, going to the beach in Sardinia, spending a few days in the Dolomites in typical mountain cottages, while strolling through the romantic alleys of Venice or while having an aperitivo in&nbsp;Milan?&nbsp;&nbsp; Then today we are going to take a trip. A relatively short trip because it requires only a few stops, but each stop will be so important that it will leave behind knowledge and memories that you will carry with you, step by step, in your luggage for a&nbsp;lifetime. And in fact, if there is one thing that sets this trip apart from many others, it is that your backpack will need to be empty for departure so that you can fill it up as you go.&nbsp;&nbsp;Are you ready?&nbsp; You will have guessed from the introduction that in this article I will help you understand how to get started, or how to proceed stage by stage, on the journey through the study of this wonderful language.&nbsp;&nbsp; One of the most common questions that intimidated prospective students ask themselves before starting this journey is:&nbsp;is Italian an easy language to learn?&nbsp;&nbsp;The answer to this question cannot be the same for everyone, but I want to try to reassure you.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm not going to lie to you, certainly native speakers of Spanish, French or Portuguese start at an advantage by having in common with&nbsp;Italian the Latin origin and therefore some words or sounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;Then there are many other personal factors to take into account, such as the propensity to study languages, free time to devote to this passion, etc...&nbsp;&nbsp; But one thing is for sure, if you have asked yourself this question at least once in your life and you are reading this article it means that you are on the right track, I am sure that your native speaker friends, your Italian relatives, but also Italki, together with its tutors and teachers, can become the ideal traveling companions for the discovery of this fantastic world.&nbsp;Once you have overcome this first hurdle, and I am sure you who are reading this will do so with a pinch of courage and eagerness&nbsp;to learn, you will have to overcome the first stage of this journey: creating a study plan.&nbsp;The study plan should be as tailored as possible to your needs, it should not completely disrupt your life, and it should be a leisurely break from the usual daily grind.&nbsp;The time devoted to Italian should be as enjoyable as a chat with a friend, a sip of cool water during a long summer walk, or a&nbsp;steaming coffee sipped ahead of your favorite TV show as soon as you return from work.&nbsp;The second stage requires building a foundation.&nbsp;As with any journey, there will come a time when you will need shelter, a comfort zone, then a home. And as with any well-built home, it is important to start by creating a solid foundation that will later support your knowledge. So, I recommend that you start with the basics, which are the alphabet and the pronunciation of sounds, in this regard I recommend the book that I use with many of my students, which is called "Italian Project 1" and which starts from the very topics just described.&nbsp;&nbsp;As soon as the basic knowledge of the language, which we have talked about in the previous lines is clear, you can move on to basic grammar, and here you will advance by reaching the third stage.&nbsp;&nbsp; To be able to speak correctly in Italian, but I believe in any language, first, it is important to know the order of words in sentences, I remind you that in Italian the pattern is: subject-verb-object.&nbsp;&nbsp;When you have assimilated this concept and feel ready to proceed, it will be necessary to put the learned pattern into practice,&nbsp;articles, nouns, verbs, and commonly used adjectives will then have to be learned.&nbsp;&nbsp;You may be wondering: well is that all? Have I arrived at my destination?&nbsp;&nbsp;And here's where the beauty comes in: the journey of learning never ends! Or rather, it is potentially unlimited and only ends if you decide it does.&nbsp;&nbsp;Imagine living your whole life on vacation, traveling how, when, where, and with whom you want, for free and unlimited.&nbsp;An Italian song goes "you are a journey that has no destination or goal," and I feel like dedicating this phrase to language learning in general.&nbsp;&nbsp;But at this point you may ask: So what can I do when I get to this point in the journey?&nbsp;&nbsp;From day to day, through songs, videos, podcasts, lessons, books, websites, and you name it, you can devote a few minutes or all of your time to Italian to expand your vocabulary.&nbsp;&nbsp;How does that sound to you?&nbsp;I hope that in my own small way, with a nice comparison, I was able to charge you with positive energy and melt away some of your uncertainties. I wish you a safe journey! :)&nbsp;&nbsp; Talk to you soon.&nbsp;Ciao!

Learn Italian in a Few Simple Steps

Latin America is a region of varieties, landscapes, and traditions; where people like to celebrate and party. From Mexico with its "Día de Los Muertos" to Uruguay with its longest carnival in the world, you will be amazed by how important celebrations are in Latino's lives. We will always find an o

Latin America is a region of varieties, landscapes, and traditions;&nbsp;where people like to celebrate and party. From Mexico with its "Día&nbsp;de Los Muertos" to Uruguay with its longest carnival in the world,&nbsp;you will be amazed by how important celebrations are in Latino's&nbsp;lives. We will always find an occasion to celebrate and welcome&nbsp;foreigners to have fun with us. Let me introduce you to some of the&nbsp;most important festivals in the continents.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>1- Día de Los Muertos&nbsp;</h3>Imagine having a festivity where the main reason is to honor and&nbsp;pay respects to family and friends that have died. Usually, in most&nbsp;cultures, people mourn when remembering someone that has&nbsp;passed away. But in Mexico, the purpose of this multi-day holiday&nbsp;is to celebrate the lives of your loved ones. During these days you&nbsp;can expect to see "Calaveras" and “ofrendas" as well as thousands&nbsp;of people visiting graves. At the same time, it is common to&nbsp;decorate the graves usually with altars in a way to “guide” the souls onto a good path after death.&nbsp;Did you know that popularly usually November 1st is to&nbsp;commemorate deceased kids and November 2nd adults?&nbsp; <h3>2- Carnaval&nbsp;</h3>Carnaval can be considered one of the most popular festivals&nbsp;around the world. From Venice in Italy to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil it&nbsp;celebrates diversity and cultural variety where rhythms and&nbsp;costumes are its essences.&nbsp;&nbsp;In Uruguay, we celebrate the longest carnival in the world which is&nbsp;held between the end of January and the beginning of March. This party,&nbsp;where music and color are the main characters, lasts around forty&nbsp;&nbsp;days. I invite you to visit the country during these days to also&nbsp;experience “El Desfile de llamadas” which evoques the gatherings&nbsp;of slaves during the 18th and 19th centuries. I have attended it&nbsp;many times and seen people from all over the world enjoying it and&nbsp;it makes me extremely proud to see them dancing to the rhythm of&nbsp;the “Candombe” (typical Uruguayan style of music).&nbsp;In Brazil, each carnival group chooses a topic and creates a show&nbsp;of around 80 minutes duration. The contagious music, the costumes&nbsp;and the amazing choreographies make “El Carnaval de Rio” one of&nbsp;the most important celebrations around the globe.&nbsp; <h3>3- International Tango Festival&nbsp;</h3>You have probably heard about tango before: a sensual and&nbsp;seductive musical genre typical from Uruguay and Argentina which&nbsp;is currently considered intangible heritage by UNESCO. The International Tango festival is a yearly event held in Argentina&nbsp;where tourists and aficionados can enjoy live tango performances,&nbsp;shows, competitions, films, and exhibitions. I also encourage you to&nbsp;try taking Tango classes. You will love it! Make sure you are familiar&nbsp;with some Spanish expressions related to Tango: bacán (a&nbsp;person with a good life quality), malandra (thief), amarrete (stingy), and many more. In 2020, during my visit to Buenos Aires, I got amazed by how passionate Argentineans are about Tango so I&nbsp;decided to try a night Tango class at a local school. What an unforgettable experience! It made me appreciate local traditions and discover passions I didn’t even know I had.&nbsp;&nbsp; <h3>4- Día de la Diversidad Cultural&nbsp;</h3>On October 12th, 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in the&nbsp;Caribbean marking an era of expansion and cultural mixtures where&nbsp;different civilizations merged. For many years, this date was&nbsp;celebrated and considered a moment of conquest.&nbsp;Nowadays, Latin Americans are starting to approach this date with&nbsp;more respect and more carefully as millions of lives were lost and&nbsp;local traditions were lost. Every country is naming this occasion&nbsp;differently: Día del respeto a la diversidad cultural (day of&nbsp;respect to cultural diversity) in Argentina, Día de la Resistencia&nbsp;indígena (day of indigenous endurance) in Mexico, Venezuela&nbsp;and Nicaragua; and in some countries like Peru, Panama, and&nbsp;Cuba it is not a national holiday.&nbsp;If you happen to be visiting some countries in South America on&nbsp;October 12th you will witness colorful and emotional celebrations to&nbsp;honor our ancestors.&nbsp; <h3>5- Rock in Rio&nbsp;</h3>Probably you were expecting to find only historical celebrations in&nbsp;this article. But I really want to tell you about one of the largest&nbsp;music festivals in the world: Rock in Rio. Originally made in Brazil,&nbsp;nowadays the festival can be experienced in many cities, such as&nbsp;Lisboa, Madrid, and Las Vegas. On its first edition, 1.38 million&nbsp;people attended the 10-day-long festival.&nbsp;&nbsp;I was lucky enough to assist Rock in Rio in 2017 being able to see&nbsp;bands like Maroon 5, Aerosmith, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I will&nbsp;never forget that amazing moment where I got the chance to make long-lasting friends.&nbsp;&nbsp;“La Ciudad Maravillosa”, a marvelous city Brazilians like to call Rio&nbsp;de Janeiro, is among the most important cities in South America,&nbsp;being a very important economic hub, and also home to some of&nbsp;the most beautiful beaches on the planet. The Brazilian vibe plus&nbsp;the good weather, makes you want to stay in this city forever.&nbsp;Tell me what you think!&nbsp; How are the celebrations in your continent? Do you have any&nbsp;recommendations? Let me know :)

My Guide to the Best Celebrations in Latin America

Japan has finally opened its borders to international tourists! Check out these 10 tips in order to enjoy your stay in Japan to the fullest!!

<h3>1. You Need a Physical Credit Card and Cash</h3> Contactless payment by mobile phone has not yet been introduced in many shops, except in convenience stores. Many privately owned souvenir shops and izakayas (Japanese taverns), especially outside Tokyo, will only accept cash. It is highly recommended to carry cash and a physical credit card (Visa or Master).&nbsp; <h3>2. English Is Not Always Available</h3> Do not expect that young people in Japan, as in other developed countries, will speak English. But don't give up! If you speak English word by word, not sentence by sentence, and with a katakana pronunciation (Japanese-style pronunciation), you will often be understood. For example, If you want to ask ‘Does this bus go to Tokyo Station?’Say just ‘Tokyo-Steh-shon?’ (Tokyo station?) or ’Kamera okay?’ instead of ‘May I take pictures here?’. <h3>3. Uber Is Not the Option (in most cities)</h3> Unfortunately, Uber is not available in most Japanese cities. Even in Tokyo, the areas where it is available are limited and the number of vehicles is low. Another taxi app is often used in Japan. Try searching for 'タクシー' in the app store when you arrive in Japan. <h3>4. Lost Something? Go to Koban (交番：Police station)</h3> Have you lost something? Go to the police station! If you lose your mobile, wallet or anything, report the details of what you lost at the police station and you will usually get your lost item back within three days. In most cases, a kind-hearted person will deliver the lost item to the police station. My husband and I once dropped keys, wallet and passport in Tokyo, but got them back on the day or the day after. <h3>5. Limited Free-From Food Options</h3> Unfortunately, the free-from section is still very small in Japan, and Halal foods are also rarely seen. Sugar-free snacks are rarely sold and stevia is also hard to find. If you have strict dietary restrictions, you may want to bring snacks from your own country. However, check the Japanese quarantine before bringing them in. Meat, raw fruit and vegetables, and plants with soil on them cannot be brought into Japan. Dairy products such as natural cheese are also subject to quarantine. <h3>6. You Don’t Need to Bring Toothbrush and Pajama</h3> Hotels usually provide a toothbrush and pajamas as amenities. Other amenities often provided include disposable hairbrushes, razors, shaving foam and slippers. Check the amenities at the hotel where you are staying to reduce the amount of luggage you have to carry. To bring home as many souvenirs as possible...! <h3>7. Each Portions Are Small</h3> Japanese people generally eat small meals. In fact, Japan has one of the lowest obesity levels in the world. Many American men need to order a meal for two in Japan. And don't be surprised that the plates of food at izakaya (restaurants for enjoying sake) are too small! In such restaurants, each person usually does not order one dish as a main dish, but, for example, if two people go to an izakaya, they usually order five or six dishes and share them together. If you want to know how big a dish is, you can ask:&nbsp;これはなんにんまえですか？(kore wa nannin mae deska) - How many servings is this? <h3>8. Do you have $1? You Can Buy All Sorts of Stuff!</h3> You don't need to prepare a lot of travel items before you come to Japan. This is because in Japan you can buy a wide range of daily necessities at 100 yen shops. You can find everything from snacks and hygiene products to cute pens and notebooks, laundry products, cosmetics and tableware. <h3>9. Do Not Wear…</h3> International tourists often feel they are being gawped at in Japan. One reason for this is the cultural difference in dress. I personally believe that all people should be free to dress the way they want to and I hate to say this but it is not generally accepted to wear leggings on their own as a bottom item. If you walk down the street in a pair of tight-fitting leggings, you will unfortunately get stares. Likewise, if you walk around town in a T-shirt without a bra, you are likely to be stared at. In Japan, the idea that you have to wear a bra is still very strong. Also, when wearing perfume in Japan, it is recommended to limit it to only one push. This is because many Japanese people are sensitive to odours. It is considered bad manners to wear perfume when going to restaurants (especially fine dining restaurants). <h3>10. Wear Mask Indoors</h3>Most people in Japan still wear masks both indoors and outdoors. This does not mean that now is the peak of infection, but everyone is making an effort to reduce the number of infected people as much as possible. Wear a mask as much as possible, especially when spending time indoors. <h3>Tell Me Your Opinion!</h3>Do you have more questions about traveling to Japan? Do you have any advice for people traveling to Japan for the first time? Let me know in the comments section. Thanks for reading!

10 Things You Need to Know Before Coming to Japan

There is a general rule that words ending in A are feminine and words ending in O are masculine, but what about those words that do not follow the rule? Why is “el día” (the day) masculine and “la mano” (the hand) feminine?

There is a general rule that words ending in A are feminine and words ending in O are masculine, but what about those words that do not follow the rule? Why is “el día” (the day) masculine and “la mano” (the hand) feminine?&nbsp; The fixed gender assigned by origin and history can make grammatical gender in Spanish a controversial issue. As the learning process progresses, several exceptions will be found to the rules regarding gender. Fixed, variable, and even ambiguous genders can be assigned to nouns. Ambiguity will vary depending on the word's history, the region in which it is used, and social or meaning factors. El libro (the book): has a fixed gender - masculine.&nbsp; La frente (the forehead) / El frente (the front): will vary according to its meaning. El joven (the young man) / La joven (the young woman): the article will determine the gender in this case.&nbsp; El mar/La mar (the sea): can be used in masculine or feminine without changing its meaning. However, the ambiguity in the plural is not accepted. The correct is “Los mares” not “Las mares”.&nbsp; In this article, I would like to highlight some of the most common mistakes students make in the classroom so that they can be noticed from the beginning and ensure a solid foundation for language learning. For example, some students use the following words in the feminine mode because they end in A. But, they are not right.<img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cddjcrk0hbisq717i5n0.png">It is essential to know that a group of words ending in MA are of Greek origin and are used in a masculine mode in Spanish, it is not necessary to learn all of them, but here I list ten frequently used nouns of Greek origin:&nbsp;<img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cddjd42bl4b5eutv3qng.png">Sometimes, gender confusion is also generated by words ending in E. With this vowel, the gender is variable. However, words ending in AJE, ATE, ETE, OTE, ANTE, É, and other endings are masculine. Below are ten commonly used nouns:<img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cddjdac0hbisq717i5p0.png">Nouns ending in E are considered statistically masculine. In contrast, it is possible to find a significant number of feminine nouns. Here are ten common nouns. <img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cddjdjqbl4b5eutv3qpg.png"> As students learn the vocabulary, the article corresponding to each noun should be included to avoid doubts or confusion about gender. The genders of nouns play an important role in the fluency of Spanish conversations. In this way, we will avoid another recurring error in the use of adjectives. Adjectives have no gender. They adopt the gender and number of the nouns they accompany. La casa pequeña (The little house) / Las casas pequeñas (The little houses).El perro pequeño (The little dog) / Los perros pequeños (The little dogs).&nbsp; Also, there are invariable adjectives, which usually end in E and consonants. A variation only exists in the number. El niño inteligente (​​The intelligent boy) / La niña inteligente (​​The intelligent girl).Los niños inteligentes (The intelligent boys) / Las niñas inteligentes (The intelligent girls). El gato gris (The gray cat) / La gata gris (The gray cat).Los gatos grises (The gray cats) / Las gatas grises (The gray cats). To conclude, two informative tables with feminine and masculine endings are presented. Please note that there may be exceptions to these endings:<img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cddjf4abl4b5eutv3r4g.png">*Some exceptions: el análisis (the analysis), el ajedrez (the chess), el lápiz (the pencil), el arroz ​​(the rice)… <img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cddjg7c0hbisq717i6f0.png"> ﻿*Some exceptions: la imagen (the image), la vacante (the vacancy), la señal (the sign)… Please, consider the exceptions with E previously mentioned.

Masculine or Feminine?  Common Spanish Mistakes With the Use of Gender.

In this article, we are going to focus on a linguistic variety used in a large part of Argentina and all of Uruguay called Rioplatense Spanish.

As you know Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world used by approximately 475 million people which makes it second only to Mandarin Chinese, in terms of native speakers. Nevertheless, each country usually has its particular differences, expressions, idioms, and linguistic loans. In this article, we are going to focus on a linguistic variety used in a large part of Argentina and all of Uruguay called Rioplatense Spanish. Nevertheless, it is not the only one spoken in the country.So what differentiates Rioplatense Spanish from other varieties of Spanish? <h3>1.- It is the most prominent dialect to employ voseo in both speech and writing</h3>The most characteristic phenomenon of Rioplatense Spanish is the use of a special form for the second person singular, which especially alters the conjugation in the present. So instead of tú; you, we use vos (another equivalent for “you” singular in English). This form is used in many places in Latin America but Argentina is the one that uses it the most both in speech and writing. <h3>2.- "Vesre": Words spoken backward</h3>Another interesting characteristic of Rioplatense Spanish is that the order of the syllables or letters of some specific words is changed without altering the meaning. The changes can be small or large, sometimes making it extremely difficult to recognize the original word. This phenomenon is known as the "vesre" (reves which means backward by changing the order of the syllables). Here we share some common examples:garpar (pagar) (to pay)lleca (calle) (street)ñoba (baño) (bathroom)telo (hotel) (motel)jermu (mujer) (woman)jebru (bruja) (witch) <h3>3.- The famous “sh” :Yeísmo Rehilado</h3>The double LL and the Y with consonants are pronounced as “sh” as in the word “show”. This varies quite a lot as in most of the places where Spanish is spoken, native users pronounce it differently. The difference is that the air, instead of going out through the sides, does so through the central area of the tongue. <h3>4.-Words that are used&nbsp;but have other meanings in other spanish speaking countries</h3>bife: It’s used as a synonym of bife but also in our slang we say “dar un bife” or “estar&nbsp;a los bifes” which here means “to slap”.Una piña: in many countries it means pineapple but we use it as punch. We say “dar una piña”; to push someone or “comerse una piña”; be punched by someone.Chorro: literally means Waterjet but we use it as a synonym for “thief” or “robber”.Un mango: Literally is the fruit but we use it as a synonym for money. For example no tengo un mango; I don’t have money.Una banda: Literally means a band, but we use it as a synonym of lot or a lot . For example: Tengo una banda de sueño;&nbsp;I am really sleepy.Mina: Means literally Mine but we use it as a synonym of woman, e.g. ¡Qué linda mina!; what a beautiful woman! <h3>5.-More than Italian influence</h3>Due to the massive immigration of Italians towards Argentina in the last century many ‘’Italianisms’’ have been incorporated into the local slang called Lunfardo. One characteristic example is the word “laburo” from the Italian word “lavoro” which means 'work'.&nbsp;Despite the fact that the European settlements decimated Native American populations before 1810, and also during the expansion into Patagonia (after 1870), the interaction between Spanish and several of the native languages has left visible traces. Words from Guarani, Quechua and others were incorporated into the local form of Spanish and even from neighboring countries, especially Brazilian Portuguese. Incorporations of other languages, especially European, including French and English have also taken place. To sum up, lunfardo incorporates a large number of components into its lexicon. <h3>6.-Duplication of the direct object</h3>In Rioplatense Spanish, the direct object may appear accompanied by the corresponding unstressed personal pronouns (lo, la, los, las) in cases that are not allowed in other variants, as in "Lo vimos a Carlos; We saw Carlos" or "La encontraste a Marcela?; Did you find Marcela?" However, not all practitioners of this variety use this form. <h3>7.- Preferential use of specific tenses&nbsp;</h3>In this variation the native speakers prefer to use the preterito indefinido (similar to past simple) e.g. canté; I sang, over and the pretérito perfecto compuesto&nbsp;(similar to present perfect) e.g. he cantado;I have sung , to refer to past actions. This does not mean that we exclusively use only one of them but there is a preferential inclination towards the first. Also in terms of grammatical tenses we prefer the futuro perifrastico; periphrastic future e.g. voy a cantar; I'm going to sing over the simple future e.g. cantaré; I'll sing. <h3>8.- Aspiration or fall of the S and strongly rhythmic intonation pattern:</h3>When there is an ‘S’ at the end of a word and a consonant in the next, the sound of the ‘S’ is smoothened. In the case that the word that follows is a vowel, the S is connected to the following vowel as if it was the same word. Furthermore, particularly marked in Buenos Aires, there is a strongly rhythmic intonation pattern thanks to the frequent elision of vowels in diphthongs. To sum up every linguistic variety of a language has its own characteristic features and Rioplatense Spanish is not an exception. The famous ‘sh’, revered words, contracted words, metaphoric uses are only a part of the numerous phenomena that make our variety so unique and beautiful, enriching the Spanish language as all of its varieties do! So, what´s your favorite variety in Spanish? Which one is the most beautiful for you? What do you think about the differences between this variety and some others?

8 Things You Didn't Know About Argentinian Spanish

An important part of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of France resides in its abbeys. If you have the opportunity to visit France, don’t miss those fabulous sites, to improve your knowledge of French architecture and history.

<h3>Introduction</h3>An important part of the architectural, historical, and cultural heritage of France resides in its abbeys. If you have the opportunity to visit France, don’t miss those fabulous sites, to improve your knowledge of French architecture and history. Despite the fact that most of the abbeys of France and Europe were abandoned and have fallen into ruins, many of them are owned by the state or fortunately have been bought by private owners, who put efforts to restore the edifices and rearrange them for visits, exhibitions, concerts, wedding receptions and business meetings. Some ancient abbeys are still occupied by religious communities or have seen the return of new ones. <h3>Architecture and living</h3>The main structure of an abbey is organized in a square, where the cloister is central, delimited by 4 galleries and a garden in the middle, frequently holding a well. The leaf of “cistelle” (order eponym Cistel) commonly used in sculpture is the emblem of the Cistercian order. From the cloister, you have access to different parts of the abbey. First of all, the church, also called an abbatial church, is the common space most used by monks during their daily life, which was structured around religious services: prayers, mass, and lectures. Clerics and cantors stay in the choir, believers participate from the nave. Substantial time is also dedicated to studying in a library filled with precious books, particularly on spirituality, science, and literature, or to copy the Bible in the scriptorium of the monastery.&nbsp;&nbsp; Furthermore, the “chauffoir” (the heated room), notable for its chimney is often next to the scriptorium, allowing monks to come and warm up their inkwells and liquefy the ink for their work as copyists. The Abbaye de Sénanque, long abandoned, is currently occupied by monks and is being restored gradually. Its chauffeur was recently renovated with a functional chimney. One of the four galleries of the cloister is occupied by the chapter room, the only place where monks have the right to express themselves, during a general meeting of the community. Besides this rigorous spiritual life, gardening is also crucial for living. Monks developed technical tools to grow plants and fruits. They work in the orchard and vegetable garden. Their productive garden is marked into tiny squares, growing plants for consumption and medicinal plants for health care. To complete their diet, there was usually a nearby fish pond. The commendatory period changed the organization of some abbeys and their structure. New buildings appeared, with less strict observance of the rules in the 18th century, for example in Abbaye de l’Escaladieu.&nbsp; One of the most famous abbeys is on the top of the Mont Saint Michel, a magnificent rock outcrop surrounded by the sea, impressive work stable through time. Don’t miss its crypt composed of high columns sustaining the whole structure. Famous abbeys include Fontevraud (royal abbey), Noirlac, Saint Michel de Cuxa (pre-roman, a part of its cloister was dismantled and viewable in The Cloisters Museum in New York), Cluny, and Fontenay; each abbey has its unique features. Nowadays, we can add to the list The Abbaye de Clairvaux, formerly a penitentiary, now more accessible to visitors. <h3>Conclusion</h3>Abbeys are often established in serene places, fitting to their topology and environment, using natural local resources. As far as I am concerned, the Roman architectural period is the most significant, since the purity of the architecture and the plain decoration helped the spirit to find peace and elevate itself. Even though the structure of the abbey church and its columns appear to be massively compared to the Gothic style, the building is ordinarily well-proportioned and confers a profound global impression of harmony. If you are interested to go further in architecture, let me recommend this following website:<a href="https://espritdepays.com/bonus/glossaire-architecture-religieuse">https://espritdepays.com/bonus/glossaire-architecture-religieuse</a> <img src="https://ofs-cdn.italki.com/u/internal/galaxy/message/cd8bf2akfk98brqtlosg.png">

Visit an Abbey in France

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