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Showing posts from February, 2022

What is a VALENTINE in Spanish?

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"Don't have one... Ask me again in 2023, please."       The answer is nothing. To call or consider someone our Valentine is not something we do over Latin America.       We do offer presents and gifts to our beloved ones, but we do not assign them any specific term.       A similar thing is a game called El Amigo Secreto (Secret Santa), but for that, you need to keep your identity concealed until the moment you deliver your present onto your friend's hands. It is only then that you reveal your identity to your friend. so it's not really the same idea!      In any case, in both English and Spanish speaking countries this is not a holiday, but some sort of tradition that gives us the perfect excuse to give away presents to people who are special to us.     Happy Valentine!         

How do you say UNA DOCENA DE HUEVOS in English?

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Another difference is the color: in the U.S. they seem to prefer white eggs. The answer is simple A DOZEN EGGS, but there is a problem. Once Spanish speakers learn that a DOCENA DE HUEVOS is a DOZEN EGGS, they tend to add the word OF like this: A DOZEN OF EGGS. It occurs more often than not. This curious phenomenon is called Mother Tongue Interference which happens when students transfer from L1 to L2. In Spanish we say: "UNA DOCENA DE HUEVOS" Unconsciously, then students fill that inexistent gap between the words DOZEN and EGGS by adding OF. If you are a teacher, be aware of this little thing and assume it is going to happen before it actually happens. You will save yourself and your students time and avoid unnecessary frustration!