COSI-Costa Rica Spanish Institute

Archive for the ‘Actividades’ Category

Celebration of the National Hero of CR!

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity, Costa Rica Happenings, Ejercicio de español, Holiday

Hello COSI friends,

We invite you to come to COSI´s Culture Night tonight at 6pm. We’ll celebrate Juan Santamaría’s Day, he is officially recognized as the national hero of the Republic of Costa Rica.
Below you can find more information in Spanish about “La Batalla de Rivas” and how Juan Santamaría become our national hero. When you finish you can try a true or false exercise.

La Batalla de Rivas (11 de abril de 1856)

En esta fecha se conmemora el día en que Juan Santamaría quemó el llamado Mesón de Guerra, acto que permitió a los costarricenses vencer a los filibusteros de William Walker y quedarse con la ciudad de Rivas en su poder.

Se conoce con el nombre de Batalla de Rivas a una batalla que se dio durante la Guerra de 1856, entre las fuerzas del ejército de Costa Rica, dirigidas personalmente por el Presidente Juan Rafael Mora Porras, y el ejército filibustero estadounidense dirigido por William Walker, en la ciudad de Rivas, Nicaragua.

Con toda esta motivación los costarricenses tomaron la ofensiva y en pleno combate el General Cañas exclamó: – “Muchachos, ¿No habría entre tantos valientes alguno que quiera arriesgar la vida, incendiando el Mesón para salvar a los compatriotas?” El soldado Juan Santamaría contestó en el acto: – “Yo iré, pero les encargo a mi madre” De inmediato se le improvisa una tea, partió a la carrera y la aplicó al alero suroeste del Mesón, fue herido en el brazo derecho, pero siempre tuvo oportunidad de quemar el mesón, cayó en tierra mirando al cielo, con el convencimiento de que su obra había sido consumada.

Fue así como los filibusteros no lograron su objetivo y huyeron del mesón. Posterior a la toma de la ciudad, el ejército costarricense tenía planeado asegurar primero el control sobre Rivas y los puertos de La Virgen y San Juan del Sur y posteriormente, atacar Granada. Sin embargo, estos planes se frustraron por la llegada de una epidemia de cólera.

Falso o Verdadero. Marque con una “F” si el enunciado es falso o con una “V” si el enunciado es verdadero.
( ) Durante la Batalla de Rivas Juan Rafael Mora Porras diría el ejército costarricense.
( ) Esta Batalla se dio en el año 1865.
( ) William Jackson dirigía a los Filibusteros.
( ) El ejército de los Filibusteros era de Estados Unidos.
( ) “Yo iré pero les encargo a mi madre” Esto lo dijo William Walker.
Juan Santamaría fue herido en el brazo derecho.
( ) Juan Santamaría se convirtió en un héroe Nacional por haber quemado el Mesón el día 11 de Abril de 1856.
( ) William Walker tuvo éxito y logró apoderarse de la ciudad de Rivas tal como lo planeó.
( ) Los planes de los costarricenses se vieron frustrados por una epidemia de cólera.
( ) Juan Rafael Mora Porras aparte de dirigir el ejército costarricense también era el presidente de Costa Rica en ese momento.

Visit to San José

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, Student Trip, Wonderful Costa Rica

Today our students will visit some cultural and historical sites of San José, like the Parliament, National Museum, Parque Morazán, Plaza de la Cultura, afterwards they will visit the National Theater (Completed in 1897, the theater is a masterpiece in art and architecture) and a brief stop will be made in Mercado Central.

Festival Internacional de las Artes

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, Arts, Costa Rica Happenings, Uncategorized, Wonderful Costa Rica

Hello COSI friends!

This is the time to enjoy international art in Costa Rica at the most important cultural event starting March 18th and running until April 1st.

The International Arts Festival (FIA) is a program organized by the Ministry of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica. It is celebrated every two years. It gets together national and international groups of artists, from 20 countries in Europe, Africa and America.

This year, the traditional Festival will have three locations: San Jose (Parque Metropolitano La Sabana, public spaces and various theaters), Alajuela and Limón.

The FIA program includes 115 presentations by 53 foreign artists and groups. We can count on the National Ballet of Spain, Argentinian singer-songwriter Fito Páez, Iberian singers Ismael Serrano, Rosario Flores and Luis Eduardo Aute, the Peter Brook Company of Switzerland, the renowned Catalan singer Buika, the Odin Theatre in Denmark and the Puerto Rican salsa star Gilberto Santa Rosa. 62 Costa Rican artists will also take part in this event, including Son de Tikizia and the National Symphony Orchestra.

On March 18th the National Ballet of Spain will be performing at the inauguration ceremonies. Also the renowned dancer María Pages will dance Flamenco.

On March 19th Ismael Serrano, Luis Eduardo Aute and Rosario Flores will be performing. The National Symphony Orchestra will honor the legendary Star Wars movies with music, presentations and special effects.

A long-awaited concert will be performed by Argentinian singer Fito Páez on Saturday the 27th . The big finale to be held on the 28th will feature Salsa Sinfónica by Gilberto Santa Rosa and the Youth Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, you will have the pleasure of watching theatre plays by Dualia and The Legend.

This festival will also be presented in the provinces: In Alajuela from the 18th until the 28th of March. In Limón FIA will present concerts from the 25th untill the 28th of March.

This is the link with the list of artists and programmed events: http://www.festivaldelasartes.go.cr/imagenes/sala_prensa/Programacion%20SJO.pdf

Come and join this international festival!

Visit to Orosi Valley

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity, Student Trip, Uncategorized, Wonderful Costa Rica

Today our students will visit Cartago. This region provides a flashback in time, with ruins dating back to the 16th century found here, reminding visitors of a time when pre-Columbian inhabitants formed what was once the country’s breadbasket region.

Summer festival: Transitarte 2010!

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, Costa Rica Happenings, Uncategorized, Wonderful Costa Rica

Transitarte is one of the many artistic and cultural events organized by the Municipality of San José. For the seventh consecutive year, the Cultural Service Department will have this festival in four of the capital’s main parks in the summertime (March 12th, 13th and 14th)

This year Transitarte, as well as the entire artistic program, will seek to recognize the valuable contributions that Costa Rican women have made in the cultural field. The inaugural festival will begin with a concert by the “Banda de San José” on Friday at 7:30 pm, and will close at 8:30 p.m. with a performance by an internationally recognized artist from the city of Mendoza, Argentina, who will present a show of tango through music and dance, thus providing a tribute to the women for their contribution to humanity .

Both shows will be held at Parque Morazán. They will also be honoring some valuable women in the country like: Julieta Pinto (a pioneer Costa Rican writer), Diana Valverde Bermudez (the only female engineer at the Ad Astra Rocket), and Hanna Gabriel (the national and Central American boxing champion).

Noche Tica at COSI Manuel Antonio!

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity, Uncategorized

This is an invitation to all of our students in the Manuel Antonio school. Today March 1oth at 6pm you can come and try some Costa Rican food, listen Marimba (our national instrument) and enjoy Costa Rican folkloric dancers performed by a group of the community.

Asian Night!!

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity

Come to cook and meet our student from Japan, Shige! This Wednesday March 10th at 6:00 pm at COSI San José. Shige will teach us how to cook two different types of Asian Food.

Time for Tamales!

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity, Holiday

Its December in Costa Rica and that means tamales are in season! These delicious treats are a big part of the Latin culture, especially around Christmastime.

Tamales are corn flour based, wrapped in a banana leaf, and stuffed with rice, veggies, and most typically pork, but can be substituted with any meat or even made vegetarian. In many families it is a tradition to make tamales on Christmas Eve.

Here at COSI we’ll be making our own tamales. Tomorrow, Thursday, at 1:15p staff and several mama Ticas will show students how tamales are made. It’s a great opportunity to get in the holiday spirit Tico style. Come hungry and ready to do some cookin’!

Culture Night!

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity

Come to COSI´s Culture Night and try some Costa Rican food and watch typical dancers. You can even participate in some of the dances! The theme is based on the Columbus day celebrations so come learn something you maybe didn´t know before too.

The festivities start at 6:30pm tomorrow night, Thursday the 15th, here at COSI. Its free so come enjoy the food and the show!

Cooking Class- October

Posted by admin | Filed under Actividades, COSI Activity

Hello everyone.

Time for another cooking lesson! Come to the cooking class with Doria and learn from the best. You will learn how to make some delicious typical food that you get to try afterwards.

Meet at COSI tomorrow, Thursday at 3:15. Come hungry!

Let us know what you made and how it turned out!