Hi everyone!

Only five weeks to the exams… and the clock keeps ticking…

As far as the oral exam goes, remember the little sentence I created so you can practise (and perfect) your pronunciation skills: "She’s a very special woman". If you are still unsure as to how to pronounce it check out my previous post.

As for the contents of our classes, I’ve decided to write a few words about one of the topics we’ve tackled in the classroom over the past few days. Sorry Intermedio 1 students. Today’s post is for my Avanzado 2 crowd.

Okay. After some consideration I’ve realized that the subject of graffiti art deserves a comment in this humble blog. So, even at the risk of being redundant or even pretentious, here are some thoughts on the matter:

“Graffiti” is one of those catch-all terms that seem to cover too much ground. It defines many forms of expression ranging from the obscene scrawls and doodles in bathroom stalls or the worthless scribblings of a bored teenager who decides to spray-paint “Steve is a jerk” on the walls of his high school (not very different from certain texts found in Pompeii) to the thought-provoking creations by Banksy or the political drawings that denounce government corruption. Graffiti can be a regrettable type of vandalism, vulgar self-promotion or even an inspiring display of street art. It is therefore analogous to the cases of public speeches or literature (in a way). Think about it. A public speech can be an uplifting exercise of rhetoric or just sheer drivel. Books can contain beautiful thoughts or dull tales. The difference between spray-painting a wall and other forms of personal expression lies, of course, in the inherent public nature of graffiti. When we walk to work we don’t have to hear speeches nor do we need to read certain books but, whether we like it or not, we can’t help seeing the graffiti… Do graffiti artists consider the impact of their work on our daily lives?

Today I thought you may like to take a look at this insightful video, which explores the issue of graffiti from a rather unexpected angle. Have fun.

Hello, hello! Anybody out there?

The question is far from rhetorical. I've recently learnt that somehow I had neglected to mention the very existence of this blog to my morning Avanzado 2 students. How is that for self-promotion?

Anyway, I know some of you are already on "exam mode" so I'll try to be as practical as humanly possible. This time I've decided to revisit some pronunciation issues that still need fixing... It's really just a simple phrase that may help you master those pesky little transitions that make you sound too Spanish. I hope it's useful. Sorry about the picture and the nonexistent editing.