Review: Bueno, entonces… Learn Spanish

As a longtime Spanish learner I have tried many different methods of learning. I’ve gone to classes, tried many software programs, audio lessons, read books and workbooks, conversed with native speakers… you name it and I’ve tried it.

One thing I have discovered is that oftentimes, as learners, we’re often using only one of our senses and not truly being forced to understand what we’re learning. We’ll repeat or rewrite and go on with our lives. With audio, we’re left to wonder how things are written, and with written exercises we’re often wondering how you might pronounce the words.

The great thing about Bueno, Entonces… is that we’re given the opportunity to incorporate more than one learning style. We can read, speak, AND write as we learn (yes, don’t forget the pause button!) As all good teachers know, the more senses you can incorporate into a lesson the better you’ll learn. The “Magic White Board” (Pizarra Mágica) displays the words as the action takes place. Beginning students will learn from the lessons and more advanced students will find a lot of value in listening to the conversations that occur between “lessons”. Jimena and David have great chemistry and make the lessons fun.

Read more on buenoentonces.com/blog

Argentina To Offer To Settle Paris Club Debt By Issuing Bond

BUENOS AIRES (Dow Jones)--The Argentine government will try to settle its roughly $6.5 billion debt with members of the Paris Club by offering to issue a new bond, the Economy Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

Economy Minister Amado Boudou will pitch the idea to club members at a G20 meeting in Scotland later this week.

Before leaving for the trip, Boudou shared the idea with officials from the French Embassy in Buenos Aires. He said the plan entails issuing a new bond whose value would be equivalent to the debt owed to club members.

While in Scotland, Boudou will try to convince other Paris Club members that they ought to accept the proposal instead of a typical repayment plan, the statement said.

The bond would reportedly have the same payment structure as the loans owed to the Paris Club.

Argentine officials had previously given few details of how they planned to reschedule the debts owed to the Paris Club, which have been in default since Argentina's financial meltdown in 2001-02.

Around 14 months ago, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez announced a plan to settle the debt by making a lump sum payment.

But that bold plan fell apart within weeks as the global financial crisis clobbered world markets and crimped credit.

News of the new proposal comes a day after Argentina's House of Representatives passed a bill reopening a debt swap for the holders of about $20 billion in defaulted bonds.

The Senate has yet to debate the bill authorizing the offer, which requires congressional approval because a 2005 law expressly blocked a new swap.

The country is preparing a proposal to end the conflict with the holdouts who refused to accept terms of the 2005 swap. That swap involved a 65% discount, and any new offer will be on terms "more advantageous to Argentina," Boudou has said repeatedly.

To read more go to Google News.

Subway workers announce new 24hr strike for Tuesday 11/10

Subway workers will go on strike on Tuesday to condemn the violent eviction of the home of one of their union leaders, Néstor Segovia.

"A gang of 10 people came along with the police, shot my son with rubber bullets and attacked my girlfriend," said Segovia during a televised interview. One of his sons, aged nine, had to be hospitalized because of the injuries he sustained, but is out of danger, the unionist said.

A judge of the province of Buenos Aires ordered the eviction of Segovia's family this morning, as the Segovia family was living in a property that had been occupied. Segovia said the property had been donated by the municipality of Moreno and noted there were "politcal motivations" behind the eviction. He also claimed that a canteen for the poor had been set up in his home.

Segovia reported he had received threats against his family from unionists of the UTA transport workers' union during clashes with workers of the subway yesterday.

Segovia, is the leader of subway workers who are demanding that the government grant legal status to their union, to splinter from UTA. UTA has resisted the initiative and scuffled with Segovia's loyalist in Constirución yesterday.

"There was a long-haired bus driver, who I have seen in the past, who threatened me and said they were coming after my children," Segovia noted today, claiming it is "usual" to recieve threats after the strikes. He also said he had received a threatening phone call last night, and that he would press charges against UTA members for the threats.

“We apologize to commuters, but we will strike again next week,” said union leader Roberto Pianelli.
Hugo Yasky, head of the CTA union umbrella group, expressed support for Segovia and urged the government to grant legal status to the union the workers want to establish away from the UTA. Vilma Ripoll, a leader of the far left Socialist Workers Movement MST, also spoke at the press conference.
A Buenos Aires province judge ordered the eviction of Segovia’s family this morning alleging they did not own the land they lived in. But Segovia argued that the property had been donated by the municipality of Moreno and noted there were “political motives” behind the eviction.

Read more on Buenos Aires Herald.

Teaching English in Buenos Aires

Despite the Poor Economy in Argentina, English Classes Are Popular

By Cara Pulick

If you think Argentina's recent economic woes make it difficult to find a job teaching English in Buenos Aires, think again. The worldwide truth is that English is becoming more of a necessity and less of a luxury to be chopped when budgets get tight. Thus, despite an economy that is struggling to right itself, EFL jobs are out there in Buenos Aires. And you needn't look far to find them.

Native English speakers are a prized commodity in this stretch of the world and, with just a little legwork, can find placement in classrooms around the city in a matter of weeks or even days. Assignments cover an astounding, and entertaining, array of classroom environments, curricular programs and student demographics. Recent placements for new TEFL teachers in Buenos Aires have included a class of employees of a local brewery, at-home conversation practice for teenage brothers moving to the U.S., and private lessons on fishing terminology for a man preparing for an upcoming vacation.

Work in Buenos Aires can be found in a number of ways. A highly effective one is simply to contact the dozens of English institutes located throughout the city. Usually a resume and an interview are all you need to get started, though experience and/or a TEFL certificate certainly won't hurt.

While institutes often offer new teachers several classes at once, don't be afraid to accept a random class here or there, or even to substitute for another instructor; these short-term or one-time deals often turn into more substantial assignments, especially if you prove to be a reliable teacher. Do check into the hourly pay, as well as whether transportation time is included. Wages tend to vary significantly by institute and by class (sometimes group classes actually pay more), generally ranging from 7 to 16 pesos ($3-$5) per hour.

To read more go to Transitions Abroad.

Bueno, entonces... Spanish Class 2 video

Easy way of Learning Spanish with Bueno, entonces...



There are more video on Youtube.

WHAT IS Bueno, entonces... exactly?

Bueno, entonces... is the best selling language-learning program for the iPhone, now available on DVD and instant download! Featured by Apple as New & Noteworthy, tens of thousands are already learning Spanish with Bueno, entonces…

Taking the most effective elements from traditional audio books and software programs, Bueno, entonces... has revamped language-learning by incorporating those features into a 1-on-1 Spanish lesson format, where you sit in on private classes with fresh audio/visual teaching tools, a huge improvement over programs currently available on the market.

Bueno, entonces... takes you inside 30 private Spanish lessons with Jimena, a gorgeous Spanish instructor, and David, her jackass student from London as he learns Spanish in beautiful Buenos Aires. Like learn-Spanish reality TV, but without the guilt of getting addicted, because in just 5 weeks you'll be speaking Spanish conversationally.

Developed by world-class linguists and seasoned comedy writers, Bueno, entonces... is the most entertaining, effective language program available. Instead of your Spanish lessons being torture, you’ll look forward to every class and want to watch them over and over again!

Bueno, entonces… is the only learn-Spanish program offering true Spanish language immersion. We relocated personnel from 6 countries to produce on-location in Latin America so students get a taste of authentic language and cultural immersion.

To learn more about Bueno, entonces, go to General Linguistics.

US dollar ends at ARG$ 3.83

Local exchange market

The American currency traded for ARG$ 3.83/ARG$ 3.79, remained unchanged compared to yesterday's close in the main banks and foreign exchange houses in Buenos Aires downtown.

The US dollar increases 10.4 percent since January.

Read more on Ambito.