Spanish (page 17)

Beginners’ Spanish I (SPAN 201): Event Report

Philipp Francke

The first part of the event, which lasted for an hour and a half, showcased Poesía Hispana. Thirteen people presented poems—some they admired, others they had written themselves. I did my best to understand as much as possible, though it wasn’t always easy with poetry. Still, I picked up several words, which I’ll share at the end. One presenter, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. He delivered his poem with such emotion and intensity that it was truly captivating. I would have loved to fully grasp everything he was saying. Another presenter included a humorous part in his poem, but I didn’t catch it—though I knew it was funny because the entire room erupted in laughter. Later, after talking with some friends who understood more, I finally learned what the joke was about. What I noticed was that some people had excellent pronunciation and spoke at a pace that made them easier to follow. However, I also realized that Spanish can be spoken quite quickly, with fewer pauses, making it harder to understand—though this happened more during casual conversations afterward rather than during the poetry readings. After the poetry, the band Keltewe performed several Andean music (de música andina) pieces. Their slogan is, “Keltewe brings the sounds of popular Andean music from South America to Canada.” The band, made up of Chilean musicians from Calgary (Músicos chilenos de Calgary), focuses on a specific style of Latin American music known as Andean music. Most of their performance was instrumental, with only a few songs including vocals. When they did sing, the songs often centred around themes of dance (bailar). I really enjoyed listening to the traditional sounds of the Andes. During the cultural event, they also offered Spanish and Latin American food and drinks. There were empanadas and various Spanish/Latino beverages, each with a unique taste that added to the special atmosphere. The connection I can draw between my activity and the class is that we start by learning simpler, everyday words, rather than the more complex vocabulary typically used in poetry. Words I understood or recognized during the poetry readings: Gracias-thanks, nosotros, fotografía-photography, todo-everything, la puerta, mayor-more, primavera-spring, otoño-fall, princesa-princess, grandiso, personas-people, sombrero, niña-girl, Carrera-career, música romántica-romantic music, familia-familiy, corazón-heart, muchas gracias Words I understood or recognized during the songs: bailar-dance, fiesta-party, bailando-dancing, mundo bonito-beautiful world, melodía-melody, sol-sun, importante-important.

Bibliography

The band: https://www.keltewe.ca

Some of the poesías hispánicas: