El Boricua is an electronic monthly cultural magazine available on-line only. It is a bilingual publication for Puerto Ricans. Check out some of the recipes. One of my favorites is Monfongo.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Learn a new Language on Long Island
Where to learn a new language on Long Island
February 22, 2010 By SYLVIA E. KING-COHEN sylvia.king-cohen@newsday.com
Plenty of Long Island organizations offer classes in Spanish, French and Italian - some even give lessons in Eastern European and Asian languages as well.
Photo credit: Newsday | From Mandarin to Hindu, a wide variety of languages are taught across Long Island.
A vacation is a wonderful excuse to learn another language. Or maybe you want to connect with your heritage. Plenty of Long Island organizations offer classes in Spanish, French and Italian - some even give lessons in Eastern European and Asian languages as well.
Classes are generally held once per week over several months, and students are clustered by proficiency level. Groups whose lessons emphasize conversation will often welcome newcomers in the mid-cycle. In others, you'll get a taste of culture and history along with your serving of vowels, verbs and nouns. Be sure to ask about family classes and those geared toward kids.
Where to learn, by lanuage:
POLISH
When / where: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays in 12-session cycles, Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, 314 Great Neck Rd., Copiague, 631-842-3999, foreignlangschli@aol.com
Cost: $129, plus $40 textbook
Copiague has a vibrant Polish history - as evidenced by Polish delis, restaurants and bakeries that can still be found in town today. Learn the basics of Polish with Izabela Wojcicki and Marta Wesolowski at their weekly class. "You don't have to have an ear for languages," says Wojcicki. "But you will come out being able to carry on or follow a simple conversation after the first semester." For beginners.
HADASSAH HEBREW
When / where: 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays (ongoing), Mid-Island YJCC, 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, 516-822-3535, ext. 347, miyjcc.org
Cost: $36 ($25 members)
Organizers say those who have a basic knowledge of Hebrew will build on that base to be able to comfortably read, write and converse in the language. For advanced adults.
YIDDISH
When / where: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Mondays for six weeks (next session March 8), Suffolk YJCC, 74 Hauppauge Rd., Commack, 631-462-9800, ext. 140 or customer service
Cost: $86 ($72 members)
If you can read the Hebrew alphabet, you're welcome to join this adult group, which will, among other lessons, read and discuss "Fiddler on the Roof" in the original Yiddish by Sholom Aleichem. For advanced adults.
RUSSIAN
When / where: 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays or 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Sunflower Center, 262 Glen Head Rd., Glen Head, 516-277-1515, sunflower-center.com
Cost: $25 (group class), $40 private lesson
The Sunflower Center hosts several classes in conversational and beginner Russian. "These are small groups, usually not more than six people," says Marina Terentiev, owner and director. You can also take private lessons. For beginners-advanced.
IRISH
When / where: 7:15-10 p.m. Thursdays, Gerry Tobin Irish Language School, 27 Locust Ave., Babylon, 631-957-7776, scoilgaeilge.org
Cost: Free
Students start by learning basic conversations and progress to Irish language reading, says instructor Patrick Clifford. For beginners of all ages.
GERMAN
When / where: Beginning class for adults, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday; advanced adults 7:15-8:45 p.m. Monday; kids' lessons 4:30-6 p.m. Saturdays at Stony Brook University through Deutsche Sprachschule Long Island / German Language School Long Island, 631-589-9426, dssli.org
Cost: $30 per month
Adults who take German lessons typically want to visit Germany or come from German backgrounds, says school Principal Christa Siegel-Dittmar. Lessons incorporate aspects of German culture, too. For beginner-advanced students of all ages.
GREEK
When / where: Ongoing lessons for adults and families meet 6-7:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday program for kids in kindergarten through Grade 8; St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, 1 Shrine Place, Greenlawn, 631-261-7272, stparaskevi.org
Cost: Varies. $750 for family of four taking two classes per week for a semester; $550 for kid's program September-May.
The evening program breaks up students by skill level, tailoring lessons to student interest and needs. The more structured children's program teaches reading, writing and speech as well as folk dancing, Greek history and other aspects of Hellenic tradition. For beginner-advanced students of all ages.
Also: The Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons offers language classes for children as well as private tutoring for all ages (111 St. Andrews Rd., Southampton, 631-283-6169).
HINDI
When / where: By appointment, Saturdays and Sundays, Hindu Community Center, 80 E. Barclay St., Hicksville, 516-433-4388 or 626-808-5457, asamai.com
Cost: Donation
"We teach simple phrases, how to carry on a conversation, and about the culture and the history," says instructor and center religious leader Swami Adrish Anandn. Lessons are flexible and can touch on culture, meditation, yoga and religion. For beginners of all ages.
CHINESE (MANDARIN)
When / where: 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays for 10 sessions beginning March 8, Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Ave., 516-478-1070, www.gardencity.k12.ny.us
Cost: $75 ($60 residents)
Offered through the continuing education program. For adult beinners.
Also: The Dix Hills Chinese Cultural Association gives language lessons for all ages and skill levels 7-9:45 p.m. Friday evenings at Half Hollow Hills High School West. The evening includes two periods of language followed by a class on Chinese culture ($300 per semester, 631-882-3473 or e-mail principal@dhcca.org).
February 22, 2010 By SYLVIA E. KING-COHEN sylvia.king-cohen@newsday.com
Plenty of Long Island organizations offer classes in Spanish, French and Italian - some even give lessons in Eastern European and Asian languages as well.
Photo credit: Newsday | From Mandarin to Hindu, a wide variety of languages are taught across Long Island.
A vacation is a wonderful excuse to learn another language. Or maybe you want to connect with your heritage. Plenty of Long Island organizations offer classes in Spanish, French and Italian - some even give lessons in Eastern European and Asian languages as well.
Classes are generally held once per week over several months, and students are clustered by proficiency level. Groups whose lessons emphasize conversation will often welcome newcomers in the mid-cycle. In others, you'll get a taste of culture and history along with your serving of vowels, verbs and nouns. Be sure to ask about family classes and those geared toward kids.
Where to learn, by lanuage:
POLISH
When / where: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursdays in 12-session cycles, Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, 314 Great Neck Rd., Copiague, 631-842-3999, foreignlangschli@aol.com
Cost: $129, plus $40 textbook
Copiague has a vibrant Polish history - as evidenced by Polish delis, restaurants and bakeries that can still be found in town today. Learn the basics of Polish with Izabela Wojcicki and Marta Wesolowski at their weekly class. "You don't have to have an ear for languages," says Wojcicki. "But you will come out being able to carry on or follow a simple conversation after the first semester." For beginners.
HADASSAH HEBREW
When / where: 7:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays (ongoing), Mid-Island YJCC, 45 Manetto Hill Rd., Plainview, 516-822-3535, ext. 347, miyjcc.org
Cost: $36 ($25 members)
Organizers say those who have a basic knowledge of Hebrew will build on that base to be able to comfortably read, write and converse in the language. For advanced adults.
YIDDISH
When / where: 12:30-1:30 p.m. Mondays for six weeks (next session March 8), Suffolk YJCC, 74 Hauppauge Rd., Commack, 631-462-9800, ext. 140 or customer service
Cost: $86 ($72 members)
If you can read the Hebrew alphabet, you're welcome to join this adult group, which will, among other lessons, read and discuss "Fiddler on the Roof" in the original Yiddish by Sholom Aleichem. For advanced adults.
RUSSIAN
When / where: 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays or 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, Sunflower Center, 262 Glen Head Rd., Glen Head, 516-277-1515, sunflower-center.com
Cost: $25 (group class), $40 private lesson
The Sunflower Center hosts several classes in conversational and beginner Russian. "These are small groups, usually not more than six people," says Marina Terentiev, owner and director. You can also take private lessons. For beginners-advanced.
IRISH
When / where: 7:15-10 p.m. Thursdays, Gerry Tobin Irish Language School, 27 Locust Ave., Babylon, 631-957-7776, scoilgaeilge.org
Cost: Free
Students start by learning basic conversations and progress to Irish language reading, says instructor Patrick Clifford. For beginners of all ages.
GERMAN
When / where: Beginning class for adults, 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday; advanced adults 7:15-8:45 p.m. Monday; kids' lessons 4:30-6 p.m. Saturdays at Stony Brook University through Deutsche Sprachschule Long Island / German Language School Long Island, 631-589-9426, dssli.org
Cost: $30 per month
Adults who take German lessons typically want to visit Germany or come from German backgrounds, says school Principal Christa Siegel-Dittmar. Lessons incorporate aspects of German culture, too. For beginner-advanced students of all ages.
GREEK
When / where: Ongoing lessons for adults and families meet 6-7:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday program for kids in kindergarten through Grade 8; St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church, 1 Shrine Place, Greenlawn, 631-261-7272, stparaskevi.org
Cost: Varies. $750 for family of four taking two classes per week for a semester; $550 for kid's program September-May.
The evening program breaks up students by skill level, tailoring lessons to student interest and needs. The more structured children's program teaches reading, writing and speech as well as folk dancing, Greek history and other aspects of Hellenic tradition. For beginner-advanced students of all ages.
Also: The Greek Orthodox Church of the Hamptons offers language classes for children as well as private tutoring for all ages (111 St. Andrews Rd., Southampton, 631-283-6169).
HINDI
When / where: By appointment, Saturdays and Sundays, Hindu Community Center, 80 E. Barclay St., Hicksville, 516-433-4388 or 626-808-5457, asamai.com
Cost: Donation
"We teach simple phrases, how to carry on a conversation, and about the culture and the history," says instructor and center religious leader Swami Adrish Anandn. Lessons are flexible and can touch on culture, meditation, yoga and religion. For beginners of all ages.
CHINESE (MANDARIN)
When / where: 7-8:30 p.m. Mondays for 10 sessions beginning March 8, Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Ave., 516-478-1070, www.gardencity.k12.ny.us
Cost: $75 ($60 residents)
Offered through the continuing education program. For adult beinners.
Also: The Dix Hills Chinese Cultural Association gives language lessons for all ages and skill levels 7-9:45 p.m. Friday evenings at Half Hollow Hills High School West. The evening includes two periods of language followed by a class on Chinese culture ($300 per semester, 631-882-3473 or e-mail principal@dhcca.org).
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Dia de los ninos/de los libros
For those of you whose libraries are celebrating Dia - look to ala.org for downloadable resources such as a brochure which includes a bibliography of children's books ages 0-12.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Children & Libraries en Español!
Bienvenidos a Niños & Bibliotecas en Español!
Chiles, or Children & Libraries en Español, is a site dedicated to bringing together children's librarians who serve Spanish-speaking youth, but who do not speak Spanish themselves. This site is intended to be a resource -- for best practices, ideas, inspiration, language -- as well as a community where we can share ideas and resources with each other.
You can browse the many resources already available on the site, including Spanish-English vocabulary glossaries specific to children's librarianship, community outreach and programming ideas contributed by working librarians across the country, an interactive map to the Spanish-speaking cultures of the world, and much more.
If you like what you see, consider becoming a part of the Chiles community and contributing your own ideas. Together we can work to assure that the growing population of children growing up in Spanish-speaking and/or Latino families receive the best library services possible, and grow up to become the nation's next generation of library users and advocates
Bienvenidos a Niños & Bibliotecas en Español!
Chiles, or Children & Libraries en Español, is a site dedicated to bringing together children's librarians who serve Spanish-speaking youth, but who do not speak Spanish themselves. This site is intended to be a resource -- for best practices, ideas, inspiration, language -- as well as a community where we can share ideas and resources with each other.
You can browse the many resources already available on the site, including Spanish-English vocabulary glossaries specific to children's librarianship, community outreach and programming ideas contributed by working librarians across the country, an interactive map to the Spanish-speaking cultures of the world, and much more.
If you like what you see, consider becoming a part of the Chiles community and contributing your own ideas. Together we can work to assure that the growing population of children growing up in Spanish-speaking and/or Latino families receive the best library services possible, and grow up to become the nation's next generation of library users and advocates
Bienvenidos a Niños & Bibliotecas en Español!
Monday, February 1, 2010
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