Video resource: Spanish language video series

[Scott G. McGINNIS]

Teach Spanish with Sabor Latino! Ruth Kunstadter, a Spanish 
teacher in Montclair, NJ, has just released the first in a 
series of videos that teach Spanish through the celebration 
of the Latino cultures in the US. 

The videos are ideal for heritage language learners. They 
feature native speakers speaking at an unscripted, 
conversational pace. And rather than showing people and 
places in other Spanish-speaking countries, they celebrate 
the richness and diversity of Latino cultures here. It's 
wonderful for heritage language learners to see themselves 
represented on screen, and heralded as an ideal resource for 
learning Spanish! 

The first DVD is entitled "La Chispa del Béísbol," and 
features four charismatic young peloteros from the minor 
league team, the New Jersey Jackals. Two are Dominican, one 
is Venezuelan, one is Puerto Rican and the coach is Cuban! 
They talk (at a native, unscripted pace!) about where they're 
from, how old they are, how many brothers and sisters they 
have, who their favorite players are, what their favorite 
music is, etc. They also show the parts of the uniform, the 
bases, the equipment, etc. And they give a brief background 
on the history of baseball in Latin American countries, what 
it's like to grow up playing baseball there (often without 
shoes or gloves, as one player noted), and speak straight 
from their hearts about the Latino legacy in baseball and 
what Latinos bring to baseball in the United States (key 
word here: sabor). 

The DVD comes with a 12-page Teacher's Guide that includes 
activity sheets, listening comprehension activities, 
enrichment suggestions, and many other teaching ideas for 
before, during and after watching the video. A complete 
transcript is also provided – great for reading activities 
and to assist in lesson planning. For more information, visit 
www.ChispaProductions.com or contact Ruth Kunstadter at 
info at chispaproductions.com. 
 
Scott McGinnis
Academic Advisor & Associate Professor

Defense Language Institute, 
  Washington Office
201 12th Street S., Suite 507
Arlington, VA 22202-4306
phone:  703-604-0464  fax:  703-604-0466
e-mail: Scott.McGinnis at belvoir.army.mil
  OR smcginni at umd.edu