Spanish Retention

Watching telenovelas is always a good way to retain Spanish.

Most are in Spanish, so that is beneficial to me. Since I do like
reading and writing fiction as well, the frame of a telenovela is
a creative way to keep it up. This time around, instead of a Venezuelan
novela, I chose a Brazilian one. As a result, I became acquainted with Portuguese
as used in the language, culture, setting, and the program was dubbed
in Spanish.

The story lines and plots are presented differently based
on where it is from, so they are always unique. Some plots seem
to be universal themes that have to do with love,tragedy,survival,and having
strength to carry on. It is good that it is a story for television, so I can
watch it as that, and it has no bearing on any real people or situations
that I know.

Sometimes, the real world inspires the telling of the story, so
you walk away with a portrayal of trials that humans suffer universally. So, I view
it that way, and I can't worry about people telling me that it is too dramatic or melodramatic or whatever they have against the genre. Mostly, the immersion that you find in it is crucial for retention. When a novela ends, you have mixed feelings, because you had a regular time slot to follow it, or you got into the story of it,
but the channels always have something new to add for their viewers.

The radio is great, also, but there is not that "regular" routine you find as to a program that I want to follow, and so I forget to tune in, or I just listen randomly on any given station. I like the stations that play Spanish pop music or contemporary music. There are two I hear advertised a lot.

The Calle and The Ley

So I will give you the call letters on those soon, if you like music more
than drama. Acquainting your ears to the language you are learning is of
utmost importance.


SOUND IMMERSION ACTIVITY: Try to listen to words on television or the radio
and see how many you can understand. Jot them
down and look up later all at once. Pick a few.


Tonight, I will try to watch "Corazon Salvaje" again. They are already at the
scene where Juan's brother marries Aimee. So, it is a suspensful part. The
wedding scene was beautiful. The wedding garb was exiquisite, for those of you
who love following period fashion. Even the minor characters are dressed to the
tee.

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Note: For followers of the Brazilian telenovela: "America"

This is the last full week for the program. Monday is the last day.
So, make sure you see the end.

I found this link (paper) on the Brazilian genre for your research.

http://lass.calumet.purdue.edu/cca/gmj/sp03/gmj-sp03-rego.htm

I found another site where there is comparison and contrast of stories from
all over the world. So, if you want to study the research on novelas, this is a
great topic in which to immerse yourself.

Contact me on the comments page below, if you want to see that link.