Si el norte fuera el sur
Ricardo Arjona
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General Information About Platiquemos

Platiquemos philosophy and some history
Introduction and Methodology: How the program works
What language proficiency is and how to get yours tested
Biographical information about Platiquemos's author
Details of the content of Platiquemos's 55 units
Music to help in learning Spanish
Free Samples - two full units of the Platiquemos program
Quizzes to help you determine where to start with Platiquemos
Platiquemos versions and purchase information
Frequently Asked Questions, questions from students and answers, reviews of Platiquemos
Comparisons of Platiquemos with some other Spanish programs
Where you can use the Platiquemos program in classes
Teachers and classes in the U.S.A.
Schools abroad that use the Platiquemos program
Readings to help with language learning and culture familiarization
Extra material - music and articles by Don Casteel
Articles about history, the Spanish language, and culture
More music to help with language and culture
Books in Spanish and English we think will help
Music for enjoyment and learning the language and about the culture
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Comments from people who have used the Platiquemos program



 

  

 

El norte sus McDonald's, The north with its McDonald's
basketball y Rock'N Roll basketball and Rock'nRoll
Sus topless, sus Madonas Its topless (bars), its Madonnas
y el abdomen de Stallone and Stallone's abdomen.
Intelectuales del bronceado, Intellectuals of tanning
eruditos de supermercado supermarket wise men
Tienen todo The have everything
pero nada lo han pagado. but have paid for nothing.(1)
   
Con 18 eres un niño At 18 you're a child
para un trago en algún bar for a drink in some bar
Pero ya eres todo un hombre But you're already fully a man
 pa' la guerra y pa' matar for war and to kill
Viva Vietnam Hurrah for Vietnam(2)
 y que viva Forest Gump and hurrah for Forest Gump
Viva Wall Street Hurrah for Wall Street
y que viva Donald Trump and Hurrah for Donald Trump
Viva el Seven Eleven. Hurrah for Seven-Eleven
   
Polvean su nariz The powder their nose[s]
y usan jeringa en sus bolsillos and keep a syringe in their pockets
Viajan con marihuana The travel with marijuana
para entender la situación so they can understand the situation
De este juez del planeta From this judge of the planet
que lanza una invitación who sends out an invitation
Córtaselo a tu marido cut it [off] of your husband(3)
y ganarás reputación. and you'll get a reputation.

(1) This is a pretty standard third world view of the U.S.  God created everything, including  McDonald's and Seven Eleven, and the sneaky gringos stole it all!  A little surprising coming from a supposedly sophisticated fellow, but I guess he hasn't known many norteamericanos who don't carry marijuana and syringes in their pockets, and have actually worked for worked for what they have.  I'd enjoy meeting him.

(2) Viva is really the command "Live", as in "Long live the King".  However, it doesn't scan right in English so I substituted hurrah.

(3) Maybe he doesn't know that the woman who got a reputation for cutting "it" off of her husband was from Ecuador?