History of Spanish cinema, Guitar, Hospital de la Caridad and Literature class

Our class yesterday dealt with the history of Spanish cinema.  Our professor started from the beginning of silent films and went through many of the directors and actors as well as genres, which were greatly tied in to the systems of government in place at the time, something we also learned in the history of Spanish music.

Today we had our guitarist show the boys classic Spanish and Flamenco guitar samples and he explained how the compared.  After lunch we met up to have a tour of one of the true gems of Sevilla, the Hospital of Charity.  We then were treated to a quick literature class by a college professor from the University of Sevilla in his classroom, which is in the old tobacco building.

History of cinema

Spanish guitar up close

Prepping for Hospital de la Caridad

Lit class at the university

Toro, toro

This weekend had a definite bull theme.  On Saturday we headed to a cortijo, an Andalusian ranch, to see how fighting bulls are raised and have a class with a professional bullfighter.  The boys were also able to enter the ring and try their skills with some baby bulls.  On Sunday we caught a bullfight in the Maestranza, sort of like seeing a game in Fenway or Wrigley.

Quick gazpacho lesson at the ranch

Many tried their hand with the cape before entering the ring

The head of the cortijo explains how to breed the best bulls

Our torero

At the Maestranza, Seville Bullring

History of music in Spain

The boys had a good presentation by a local musician on the history of music in Spain with an emphasis on Seville.  The class got into some of the rhythms and was able to clap to the beats that are not common in what they normally listen to in the United States.

 

Today we had a soccer coach/ sports journalist explain the history of soccer and how the Spanish Liga works.  After classes we had a tour of Triana, the heart and soul of Sevilla.  History lessons and Tapas intermingled to create a great afternoon.

A funny add shows how an immersion program also includes having signs in Spanish is yet another way to be surrounded by the language

Juanma connects well with the boys, especially since sports is the topic

Triana has the view of Sevilla

Trying snails at La Cocina del Dr. X

More traditional tapas were served at Alcores (pisto and solomillo) and at this joint, Golondrinas (jamon iberico and montadito de lomo)

Pick up lines in Sevilla

We met yesterday to tour the city by foot and covered much ground.  The boys live across the Guadalquivir river from Sevilla in Triana and Remedios.  This is the best kept secret of Sevilla, the real heart and soul of the city, that is out of the way (15 minute walk- it's a small city) of the big monuments.    Today we had our classes which covered such topics as reading, food vocabulary and pick-up lines which were taught by a pair of Spaniards.

Guadalquivir and Torre de Oro

Cathedral

Giralda

Giralda

Santa Cruz

Little Plaza in Santa Cruz

Plaza Tres Cruces (as seen in Destinos, which our Spanish 1 uses in class)

Puerta del Pardon

Pick-up line class