Language Learning in Class and on Your Own

At present I am practicing 20 languages: Spanish, Portuguese, French, Dutch, Haitian Creole, Guadaloupan Creole, Papiamentu, Catalán, Italian, German, Quechua, English Creole, Pennsylvania German, Chinese, Korean, Basque (aka Euskara), Gallego, Sicilian, Japanese and Guaraní. I list them more or less in the order that I know them, with everything starting with Quechua at a very basic level. I had started with Spanish, which I learned in the conventional way in school and then had the good fortune to study in Mexico and Colombia. Afterwards, I dabbled in Portuguese and French with cassettes and books. However, I had an "aha" moment about five years ago when I realized that, after listening to Dutch tapes in the car for two months, I knew that I had made progress. Then I figured out that with just a little time each day, I could do several languages as long as I was consistent. As I have a busy work schedule, I knew that I didn't have time to take classes and would have to do this on my own.  However, if you do have time to take a class, it's definitely a good idea. Even if you do take classes, there are things you can do on your own to supplement the classroom practice. Here I present what I have learned about my own quest in learning languages; it's in rough form now but I hope to edit it in the coming weeks and months into a "philosophy of language learning." These are principles that you can apply to your own language study, though you may find that certain things don't work for you and may have to adapt them to your own learning style. If you Google "language learning," you can find several websites and blogs on the subject. There is also a book by Barry Farber called "How To Learn Any Language," which still has good tips though it was written before the Internet really took off and made language information a lot easier to find. Language Learning Principles: Best advice from others: Talk to oneself in target language. Soliloquies in the long run become repetitive; it's best to get in a situation to respond to recordings as if one were having a dialogue with the speaker. Listen to normal speech in the language even if you don't understand it, so that your ear will get accustomed to it. However, it's not a substitute for the slower grammar and vocabulary building exercises. Use several methods (collectively they cover more vocabulary) Things I have discovered useful: Practice speech and writing with dictionary in front of me; write initial thoughts in English or Spanish if I'm really stuck and then translate.  Repeat phrases to build vocabulary After listening to text for which I have a transcript, schedule regular times to review Create dialogues when speaking to myself Put transcript close to where I listen; if it's buried in text, make photocopy that's easier to read Integrate the language info into my daily routine; one tape player in the kitchen, another where I do my exercises, etc. Listen in the car at least 5 minutes/day/language, ideally with myself speaking and responding to the recording Principles: In speaking or writing to others: Act like I'm walking a tightrope without looking down. Assume that anything is possible. Be fearless or at least control fear. (However, I do like to wait until I feel prepared before diving in completely to speaking or writing to others. Writing is a good start because one has a chance to correct some errors before sending.) Mixing languages in the beginning is not a crime, as vocabulary gaps are natural. Wrong guesses aren't bad either. As a matter of fact, mixing languages in speech, normally taboo, is not so bad as long as I continue to build vocabulary that will gradually allow me to wean myself off the other languages. Fluidity in speech is preferable to stopping because I can't think of a word. Fluidity builds confidence, and practice in fluidity, with feedback when possible, gradually strips away the rough spots in one's speech. No matter how many times I listen to something, when I go to create my own phrases I will need to draw on vocabulary that is not part of the scope of the method (book, tape, CD, computer software). Pimsleur's principle of "graduated interval recall" is good, but a lot of methods are not structured that way, particularly vocabulary building lists. Repeating the same method will approximate graduated interval recall to a certain extent. Studying similar languages at the same time reinforces some of the vocabulary of both languages. E.g. French "fromage" reinforces the Italian "formaggio" (cheese), Catalan "vuit" reinforces the French "huit" (eight). Confusion with similar languages happens, but not as often as I thought it would. Mark down your accomplishments, such as if you successfully wrote an e-mail in the language you're trying to learn; this builds confidence and provides a mental payback.

What to Avoid When Traveling to the Caribbean (guest post by Tiffany Mullins)

What to Avoid When Traveling to the Caribbean

Your Caribbean vacation is sure to consist of sun, sand and incredible memories that unite your family for many years to come. However, any time you travel to another country, you must remember a few pointers in order to keep your loved ones safe and happy. Thankfully, you can avoid a variety of potential mishaps by checking out the tips below – allowing you and your family to enjoy the vacation of a lifetime!

·        Unclean water and raw foods: Tempted by that friendly street vendor with the sumptuous-smelling jerk chicken? No matter how mouth-watering the local fare may appear, you should still exercise caution to avoid illness. Here’s a tip: only eat cooked foods and fruits that need peeling.

·        Painful sunburn: You may have gotten away without using sunscreen (tsk! tsk!) during that trip to the Jersey shore, but let’s face it, the Caribbean’s a little closer to the equator. Many travelers don’t realize that sunscreen is of the utmost importance, and wind up with painful burns or even worse, sun poisoning – so bring lots of SPF and reapply often.

·        Noisy festivals: Looking for a relaxing and quiet getaway? Make sure that your chosen destination isn’t celebrating a large festival during your vacation. Antigua parties it up for two weeks each summer during Carnival, and the normally-sleepy town of Negril hosts the JamFest concert series for spring breakers during the month of March.

·        Pickpocketing: If you plan on leaving your resort, remember to keep a close eye on your property and to limit the amount of cash you carry. While many locals are friendly and welcoming, others may want to take advantage of naïve tourists. Don’t give them the chance!

Keep these tips in mind while you prepare for your island getaway to guarantee a worry-free tropical escape. Travel safely and wisely, and you and your loved ones will have the time of your lives. Now that you’re ready, what are you waiting for? Hit the beach!

About the Author

As International Social Media Manager for Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts (Unique Vacation, Ltd.), Tiffany Mullins leads a team that creates new strategies for global, multi-brand social media. In addition to managing Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts’ online community, she also oversees the direction of Sandals and Beaches social media, including the Sandals Wedding Blog, which brings brides and inspiration together to truly create “Your Wedding. Your Style.” Tiffany now resides on Paradise Island in The Bahamas. For more information on Grand Pineapple’s all inclusive resorts, please call 1-800-327-1991 or visit www.grandpineapple.com

The island of Culebra, Puerto Rico

Culebra's airport

Culebra, a small island to the east of the main island of Puerto Rico, and one of its 78 "municipios" or districts along with the larger sister island of Vieques, is fascinating for a number of reasons. First, it is enough off the beaten path to have the feel of a remote place, but close enough to be accessible by ferry from Fajardo or by air from San Juan. Second, it boasts Flamenco Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches to be found anywhere. Third, there are interesting people there, including a small population from the mainland US that seems to have created a niche for themselves.

From a cultural standpoint, it has the Spanish language but is influenced by the culture of the English-speaking Caribbean in subtle ways, like when I listened to the radio there and heard a reggae concert. The reggae was sung in English, but the singer addressed his audience in Spanish. Another example of the mix was in the repertoire of local conga drummer Wiki Munet and his band WIKI Sound Machine, who plays at Mamacita's Restaurant in the island's lone town of Dewey (aka "Pueblo") but also plays with a religious music group at the local Catholic church. One of the rhythms he plays he calls "suki." I couldn't figure out what it was because it was the first time I had heard the name, but it may be a different way of spelling and pronouncing the French Caribbean dance rhythm of "zouk."

I met Wiki by striking up a conversation with him after Mass, and was immediately invited to the porch of his house after lunch to hang out with him and his family and neighbors, including the parish priest, and take a welcome cold beer to beat the heat. Wiki didn't want to play drums because one of his fellow musicians was off island, but he put on a CD of one of his performances at Mamacita's for us to enjoy.

Nothing is perfect, and the best reminder of that in Culebra are the mosquitoes. I didn't recall them being annoying at the beach, but I did get bitten on other occasions, so it's best to have repellent handy. However, the delights of Culebra far outweigh the itching of the mosquito bites.

Countrystyle Community Tourism experience in Jamaica

Shops in Mandeville

My wife Adriana and I went to Jamaica for a short visit from June 30 to July 4. Our visit had two phases: the first was our stay at the Sandals Carlyle in Montego Bay, and the second was a two-day tour in Jamaica's interior courtesy of Countrystyle Community Tourism. There were so many experiences wrapped up in such a short time that words fail to describe it adequately. It was evident to me that I would need some time to digest it.

This article will concentrate on our experience with Countrystyle. Diana McIntyre-Pike, who lives in Mandeville, the largest city in Manchester Parish (Jamaica´s administrative regions are called parishes), has spent more than 30 years of her life managing hotels and tours, was our host for the two-day tour. This customized tour was the result of quite a bit of preparation and communication over a two-month period, not to mention the fact that Diana and I first communicated via email in 2007 or so. Diana first welcomed us with a gift basket and also gave us some literature that highlighted the region´s attractions. The tour started from Montego Bay and followed the coast east to Falmouth, and then went toward the interior where the landscape changed frequently. First, after passing through some lowlands, we were confronted with the topography of the eastern end of the Cockpit Country, a hilly area that in some parts is still impenetrable. We passed through several towns on this eastern side such as Clark's Town, Clarence Town, and Albert Town. Diana found time to speak to a local herbalist who knew the medicinal properties of many of the area´s plants.

Albert Town is on the edge of the Cockpit Country in north central Jamaica.

Countrystyle Community Tourism director Diana McIntyre-Pike (left) with a local herbalist

After passing through this region, we noticed a few more changes in the surroundings. We first went to a lowland and back upwards toward Mandeville. The hills in this region featured some closed bauxite plants, a lot of new building of luxurious homes, and what looks to be a vibrant community. We stopped briefly at a plant that processed and packaged the famous Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. Continuing to the center of town, we had lunch in a popular locale that featured meat and chicken patties.

I invited a friend from Kingston, Cheryl Ryman, to take time out of her busy schedule and join Adriana and me in Mandeville. Diana was very accommodating and tailored the schedule so that we could fit in Cheryl in part of the trip. (Cheryl is the Executive Director of Outameni Experience, a popular attraction in northern Jamaica that provides an introduction to Jamaican culture for visitors.) After we met up with Cheryl we headed south toward a small village in the vicinity of Cross Keys, Manchester Parish, called Resource Village. The area has historical significance for a number of reasons, among them the Taino presence prior to colonization, and the activities of Marcus Garvey, whose vision prompted the construction of a United Negro Improvement Association "Liberty Hall," now in disrepair but with the hope of getting funds to make it serve the community again.

Diana's goal for this stop was for us to have for lunch the Jamaican national dish, ackee and saltfish. Ackee is a fruit, but looks and tastes (at least to me) like scrambled eggs in this combination. Having a local fruit called jackfruit, which looks like breadfruit but is delightfully sweet and sticky, finished off lunch nicely.

Ackee and saltfish with bammy or cassava bread

As lunch was winding down, we watched a local African-inspired dance. The young people who danced in a circle were fun to watch. I was invited to participate, which took me out of my comfort zone, but I made the best of it :) . Cheryl is in black, second from the right, and felt right at home dancing with the group.

Resource Village residents perform a local dance with Cheryl Ryman 

Then it was time to return to Mandeville. The villa we were to stay in, called Mountain Top Villa, was located in an area called Avondale Heights, and this is one part of Mandeville where many of these new palatial houses are being built. The villa is very nicely decorated inside and has a great view of the surrounding area. We managed to squeeze in a brief visit to the house of Valerie Dixon, who organizes a Marcus Garvey Festival every February, involving the Resource Village community.

The next morning it was breakfast at the Mandeville Hotel. The poolside setting was very nice. I remember having a dish called mackerel rundown and enjoying our chat with Diana, Valerie, and Mildred Smith-Chang. Mildred authored a book called The Mask is Off, which offers a frank look at the myths and realities for Jamaicans who decide to move to the United States.

We headed west past the town of Spur Tree and onward where we would see the south coast of Jamaica. One location we saw was called Middle Quarters, where the trees provided a lovely canopy over the road and many vendors sold local products. Diana likes her guests to get to know the people they meet and remember them on a first-name basis, so we stopped at one stand run by a woman named Marcie. The specialty, aside from the local fruits, was pepper shrimp.

Marcie at her stand selling fruit and pepper shrimp

Our next stop, in Westmoreland Parish, was the small town of Beeston Spring, which has distinguished itself by providing an example of what local community tourism can do. An article in the Jamaica Gleaner describes the award that the town received in 2010 as "best town in Jamaica" (http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100828/news/news4.html) . The community works hard to provide income, ensure a clean water supply, build or repair structures, and other essentials, with the help of The Sandals Foundation, and much assistance from Diana in the area of training. We picked up Astil Gage, president of the Beeston Spring Community Development Committee, on our way to the town. Our stop was brief by necessity, but we did learn a few things about the community and managed to see the group "The Mighty Beestons" perform traditional Jamaican mento music. This time it was my wife who was invited to dance and leave her comfort zone.

"The Mighty Beestons," mento performers in Beeston Spring

We wrapped up our tour with lunch at Sandals Whitehouse, not far from Beeston Spring. We were able to appreciate the beautiful views of the south coast from the resort just in time before an afternoon rain. (The resort warrants an explanation of its own.) On our way back to Montego Bay, we followed a road that hugged part of the south coast before turning inward and towards the north.

The south coast of Jamaica as seen from Sandals Whitehouse

There were many things that made the trip special, among them conversations with Diana and her friends about the political and economic state of Jamaica, local culture and the efforts to promote it, along with details that would generally fall under the radar in a brief visit, such as the best brand of bottled water, the resort chains that support the community and those that don´t, or the development of Mandeville´s downtown area which is currently too small to accommodate its rapid growth. For just two days, it was remarkable, and a tour of this type could easily be extended to include other local attractions, as has been the case for guests who had more time than we did. There was also no question that after knowing each other virtually for several years, Diana and I would continue to correspond and look for other opportunities to help each other. It is amazing and inspiring to witness how Diana and others in her community give of themselves unselfishly to promote their people´s well-being and build bridges of understanding with those fortunate enough to visit Jamaica.

Welcome website visitors!

Last weekend, I shut down my website and now the domain name www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com directs to this blog which, for those of you who are visiting for the first time, I started in 2007. The look of the blog may be different, but I hope you enjoy the content here as much as you enjoyed the content from my website.

Attack on the Palace of Justice in Bogota, Colombia (1985)

My wife had traveled to Bogota in November 1985 to visit her family. At the time she was expecting our first child. I was back home in Philadelphia working but I expected to join her in two weeks. During those two weeks two unspeakable tragedies took place in Colombia. The first was the M-19 guerrilla group's attack on the Palace of Justice in Bogota, which faces the Capitol and the Cathedral along the Plaza de Bolivar. The second was the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in the center of the country (about 100 miles away from Bogota), which claimed the lives of more than 20,000 people. You can imagine how worried I was, but my wife was well out of harm's way in both cases. When I finally did arrive in Bogota, I had occasion to visit the ruins of the Palace of Justice with my father-in-law. The angle of the picture isn't so hot, but in the back you can see the scaffolding where the army drove one of its armored vehicles into the Palace of Justice as part of its attempt to rescue the hostages and retake control of the building. There is a related article in Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Justice_siege.

Two years later, my wife, daughter and I had moved to Bogota and rented an apartment. To sign the lease, I went into the building to the left of the Palace in this photo to meet with the lawyer representing the owners. While there, I asked him about his recollections of the attack. He had some opinions regarding the conduct of the guerrillas and the army, but the part I remember most was that he and others were trapped inside his office while the hostilities played out in the plaza. He said to his colleagues something to the effect of: "Well, we can't go anywhere the rest of the day. I have a bottle of whiskey, so let's finish it off."

A quick update

After five years of maintaining both a blog and a website on Latin American and Caribbean travel, I've decided to focus on this blog and will be shutting down my website in June 2012. My goal is to provide my readers here with more information so that following the blog is an even more rewarding experience. Thanks to all of you who have read my blog and provided so many favorable comments.