Dia de los Muertos Resources

This week we celebrate Day of the Dead 2016! Each year I post a few resources about the holiday so here are some great ones for this year!

This gif describes the significance of different levels of an altar in Spanish.

Oaxaca: The Day of the Dead from Bob Krist on Vimeo.

Check out this article about how Mexico City will now host a Day of the Dead parade inspired by the 007 film Spectre.

This was not shot in Mexico, but it inspired Mexico City to host for the first time ever a parade similar to it!

A short video cartoon

La Santa Cecilia's music video to the song "Calaverita"

Hot Tamale Activities

Create a blog post on your Spanish blog and include at least 2 of the following

• A summary in your own words what Day of the Dead celebrates, where is it celebrated, and how it is celebrated.

• Who would you honor on Day of the Dead? What would you put on an altar for this person? What is their favorite food? Passtime? Include a photo of this person and explain why they are important to you.

• How do you remember friends and family that are no longer living?

• Include images that you have found of Day of the Dead and explain what is happening.

• Include a video that explains/shows something about Day of the Dead and summarize the video in your own words.

• Compare Day of the Dead and Halloween. How are they similar? How are they different?

4 Reasons to Learn a New Langauge

click here to read the transcript

Above is a 10 min. long video about reasons to learn a new language. They are

1. In order to really understand a culture you need to be able to speak their language
2. Speaking more languages has been shown to delay dementia, and multi-lingual speakers are better at multi-tasking than speakers of just one language
3. Languages are fun! Learning to speak in different word order is like driving on the different side of a street in another country.
4. It's never been easier to teach yourself another language. 

"It won't change your mind but it certainly will blow your mind"

Hot Tamale Activities

Create a new blog post in your Spanish Blog Portfolio and complete one of the following tasks

• Which of the reasons John McWhorter gives was most convincing to you? Explain your answer
• What are you personal 4 reasons you want to lean another language? 
• McWhorter ends his presentation with the quote "It won't change your mind but it certainly will blow your mind" - give details about a time learning Spanish has blown your mind.
• What makes this presentation good? Identify 5 things McWhorter does that makes his presentation good/great.