Blogamole › Education

By Michael Lopez

In today’s world, being multilingual is a huge asset. It can help increase your employment opportunities, open the lines of communication and save you from having to read subtitles for such amazing films as Biutiful. Although learning a new language can be difficult, Susanna Zaraysky’s book Language Is Music makes it a lot less painful and a lot more fun! Susanna sat down with Blogamole for an exclusive interview to discuss her unique process.

“My philosophy is that you first have to listen to a language before you start speaking it,” Zaraysky said. And she’s definitely one to know. So far Susanna’s mastered seven languages, including French, Russian, Spanish and Italian.

And if you think you’ll need to bury your face in boring textbooks or overpriced Rosetta Stone software to get to her level, think again. Susanna’s approach relies more on pop culture than pop quizzes.

“To learn a language, I wouldn’t want to be on a computer,” she explained.

“There are a lot of English speakers who are listening to Shakira, who are listening to Juanes, who are listening to music in Spanish. If they were to listen to it with the purpose of later on learning Spanish, it would help them a lot because they’ll pick up words without even realizing it.”

Language Is Music offers more than 70 different tips on how music, TV and film could help you stretch beyond your native tongue, including switching your iPad menu to a different language or listening to a foreign news broadcast.

Which music artists make the best idioma instructors?

“I try not to recommend artists too much because different people have different styles," Susanna said. "Although I really love Marc Anthony because he has really good elocution.”

We got plenty of other interesting techniques out of Susanna, but we’d hate to spoil the fun of reading the entire book. Visit her website for more tidbits on how to expand your worldwide vocabulary, and don't forget to add Language Is Music to your cart while you’re there.

What’s the next language that you’d like to learn? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Books, Cultura, Education, Exclusive Entrevistas, Language Is Music, Languages, Susanna Zaraysky

By Michael Lopez

Way back before Xbox Kinect remotes and Wii dancepads, electronic thrillseekers had to spend their time staring at green and black Apple II screens. Worse yet, the computer games of the early 1980s were oftentimes (dare we say it) “educational.” But they were still entertaining, so much so that two of the all-time classics, The Oregon Trail and Where In The World is Carmen Sandiego?, are making their way to Facebook.

Manufacturer Blue Fang Games hopes these old favorites will enjoy the same success as other Facebook gaming apps, such as Mafia Wars and Farmville. And they very well could. According to Yahoo News, web searches for Oregon Trail and Carmen Sandiego have jumped up to more than 500 percent in the past week.

YouTube trailers advertising both titles have certainly helped build buzz. Long gone are the shoddy graphics and drawn-out keyboard commands. The new versions of Oregon and Carmen feature colorful scenery, easy point-and-click features and plenty of the flair that made the originals great.

Based on the real-life adventures of American pioneers, the 1981 game The Oregon Trail let players take the role of wagon leader on a trek from Independence, Missouri, to the Pacific Northwest, providing great insight into the lives of 19th century settlers and plenty of cool ways to die (with dysentery being the most popular).

Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?, on the other hand, allows you to explore the entire planet. First released back in 1985, Carmen came with its own almanac and sent gamers on a globe-trotting journey based on geographic clues. And it was one of the first video games to feature a Latina lead character.

We imagine the new Facebook versions will be just as addictive and just as educational, particularly on the subjects of history and geography. The Oregon Trail hits the social network on February 2, followed by Carmen Sandiego exactly one week later.

Which classic video games would like to see rebooted? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Carmen Sandiego, Education, Facebook, Hot Stuff, The Oregon Trail, video games, Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego

By Michael Lopez

Want to know who's been capturing the hearts of starlets like Jennifer Garner and Zoe Saldana? No, it’s not that hunky dude from Avatar or Russell Brand, but rather Sesame Street’s googly eyed superstar Elmo. Zoe recently shared a scene with the fuzzy little red guy to teach the show's young viewers all about different kinds of “transportation.”

We know what you’re thinking: Sure, it sounds entertaining if you’re five years old. But this adorable skit really captures Zoe at her carefree best. Throughout the two-minute viral clip, she and Elmo imitate planes, trains and rocket ships blasting into outer space.

Zoe’s also sporting a pretty cool outfit. Her yellow and red t-shirt ensemble not only matches Elmo, but coordinates perfectly with that bright purple backdrop.

It’s unfortunate that Katy Perry’s Elmo adventure wound up on the cutting room floor, but actress Jennifer Garner did pick up a few "stretching" tips from the little guy. Maybe someone else will stop by the set to teach Elmo about the "telephone."

Which celeb would you like to see in an Elmo skit? Comment below or @MTV3.

Tags Education, Elmo, Sesame Street, Television, transportation, Zoe Saldana

By Wendaline Perez

Teens across the country are so eager to become reality TV stars that they're trying to get pregnant for a chance to be on MTV's 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom, according to Popeater.com. If that's true, that's a startling revelation.

According to a recent study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 82 percent of teens who have watched 16 and Pregnant said it helps them better understand the challenges of teen pregnancy and parenthood; 15 percent said they believe the show glamorizes teen pregnancy. And nearly 7 in 10 teen boys and 8 in 10 teen girls agree that "when a TV show or character I like deals with teen pregnancy, it makes me think more about my own risk of becoming pregnant or causing a pregnancy and how to avoid it."

Pregnancy isn't glamorous. It's hard, especially for teen parents, and it's even harder on their babies. In fact, babies born to teen parents are more likely to grow up in poverty and suffer from health problems, abuse, neglect and educational disparities. Expecting parents should be mentally, emotionally and financially prepared for such a big task — for the baby's sake and for their own. According to the National Campaign, 52 percent of Hispanic females get pregnant at least once before turning 20; 54 percent of those females don't graduate from high school.

That's why Tr3s has partnered with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy to get real about teen pregnancy in the Latino community. For the next two weeks, beginning Monday, we are proud to air the "Life As We Know It" campaign, a series of public service announcements featuring videos about the reality of teen pregnancy — and teen parenthood — created by and for Hispanic teens. Please join us next week, as these teens sound off about their challenges and their goals.

To learn more about preventing pregnancy, visit stayteen.org.

Image Source: [MTV]

We want to know what YOU think! Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags 16 and Pregnant, Life As We Know It, MTV, National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnan, PSAs, Teen Mom

By Michael Lopez

Be honest. With web videos, cell phones blaring, mp3 players, and more, it’s pretty hard to stay focused . Even when clicking on Blogamole, do you go through every word of an article or just scroll down to the good stuff? Don’t worry, you most likely don’t have ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), but there’s a good chance someone you know does. Studies just released claim that the amount of Latinos with ADHD has gone up 53% in the past five years.

Image : A Just Society

Classified as a neurobehavioral development disorder, ADHD affects roughly 10% of all children in the United States today. Symptoms typically include difficulties following instructions, forgetfulness, impatience, and the urge to constantly be in motion.

Though the rate of Latinos classified has gone up substantially, Anglos and African-Americans under the age of 18 are still much more likely to be diagnosed. According data from the survey, 10% of white and African-American children have ADHD. For Latino kids, it’s more along the lines of 6%.

That’s still quite a jump from the study conducted five years earlier. Notes from the report concluded that that the rise in Latino children with ADHD may be attributed to families having a better understanding of the disorder.

As the footnotes stated, “[The Latino increase] might indicate a shift in cultural acceptance of ADHD or changes in access to care.”

So in fact, the number of Latino children with ADHD may have already been at around 6%, it just so happened that families weren’t able to properly diagnose them. Another theory for the increase could be the assimilation of more Latino immigrants into the over-stimulated American culture.

With hundreds of television channels, video games, and flashy sites, how could you NOT have a hard time focusing on just one thing? Though there are medications for more severe ADHD cases, if you feel your attention is starting to wander, we suggest turning off those buzzing gadgets and honing in on a nice long Blogamole article.

Does anyone you know suffer from ADHD? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags ADHD, Cultura, Deep Thoughts, Education

by Wendaline Perez

Hope was at an all-time high yesterday (September 21) among youth, political and community activists around the nation who have been relentlessly advocating for the passage of the DREAM act - which would give the chance for thousands of undocumented students to remain in the U.S. legally and pursue a higher education – as they awaited to hear the Senate’s verdict on the passage of the Defense Authorization Act, which included passing the DREAM Act as an Amendment this afternoon. Unfortunately their DREAM evaporated when a group of Republican senators voted to block the defense bill in the Senate.

photo via Getty Images

The Senate failed to raise the necessary 60 votes to pass the Defense Authorization Act, but it was in no doubt a close call. The vote was uncertain all the way up to the vote as Democratic leaders were reportedly trying to negotiate an agreement with Republican senators who were against the bill to reach the 60-vote count they needed to proceed. In the end, the vote was 56 to 43 against proceeding to the Defense Authorization Act.

Deferral of the DREAM Act is a setback to DREAM Act advocates who were hopeful they had the votes to pass the bill this time. Mary Giovagnoli, Director of the Immigration Policy Center, responded quickly to the Senate’s decision stating:

"The Senators who voted 'no' today are ignoring unequivocal evidence that the DREAM Act is good for military readiness, the American workforce and the U.S. economy. The energy and enthusiasm of thousands of young people who have poured themselves into promoting the DREAM Act has not been wasted, however. Because of their efforts, more people today understand the importance of DREAM to our economy, our military, and the future of our country than ever before."

What do you think about the Senate’s rejection of the DREAM Act? Sound off in the comments below or @MTV3!

Tags Cultura, Education, Immigration, Politics, the DREAM Act

By Michael Lopez

Still dreading the start of the new school year? Leave it to Juanes to make back-to-school a cheery event! What could be cooler than taking notes on charitable paper? That’s right, amongst all the other charitable events he's responsible for, the Colombian rocker also has an artistic line of notebooks designed to benefit his charitable foundation.

Set up through Juanes’ Mi Sangre project, the new notebooks feature guitar imagery, doves, and lyrics from his most famous songs. And better yet, every time you purchase one, part of the profits will be donated to aid victims of Colombian land mines.

"The foundation hopes the product will increase visibility of the conflict and open the hearts of young people to messages of peace, love, and reconciliation", said Jaunes. “The notebooks have slogans including, ‘We have a right to live in peace’, ‘I beg you for one second of peace’ and ‘Change hate for love.’"

They’re also really unique and a heck of a lot more interesting than those Mead binders we’re all used to. Even if you’re done and graduated, the notebooks still make great tools for sketching, journaling, or coming up with lyrics we can send to Juanes for his next big hit!  We know we're dying to get our hands on one!

Source:[Colombia Reports]

Would you buy a Juanes notebook? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Agentes De Cambio, Back To School, Charity, Health, Juanes, Mi Sangria Foundation

By Michael Lopez

It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since we first met Dora, Boots, Swiper, and the Backpack. In the past decade, our little “Explorer” has made one heck of an impact. Since her series debut in 2000, the Dora franchise has taken in hundreds of millions of dollars, churned out tons of merchandise, and influenced a generation of young Latinos.

Now that she’s turning 10, Nickelodeon thought it would be a good idea to air a star-studded special highlighting the impact this little cartoon has had on the world. Believe it or not, her show airs in over 100 different countries and is translated into 30 languages!

There’s been live Dora stage shows, video games on virtually every system, educational books, plush dolls, handbags, DVDs, cosmetics, t-shirts…you catch our drift. And who can forget about “Go Diego Go!”? Yup, it’s all part of the Dora empire.

Interestingly enough, Dora was not created by Latinos, but rather three anglo TV writers. Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner definitely had the right intentions when came up with the concept.

“One of the things I love most about the show…is that viewers are asked to be active participants”, said Valerie. “Parents tell us they know when Dora is on because they’ll see and hear their kids playing along the show: counting, speaking Spanish, jumping, rowing, clapping.”

We definitely think the bilingual element was groundbreaking and truly a key to the show’s long lasting success. And it’s obvious a lot of famous Latinos feel the same way. Listen to who they’ve assembled to appear in the 10th anniversary special.

First there will be an hour-long TV movie based on “The Wizard of Oz” featuring Rosie Perez as the wicked witch, John Leguizamo as the flying monkeys, and Hector Elizando as the Wishing Wizzle. Then viewers will be treated to a mini-documentary featuring interviews with Shakira, Salma Hayek Pinault, and more!

Que bueno Dora! We are super proud of this milestone. Not even Swiper the Fox could spoil this celebration!

“Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure,” along with the special tribute, premieres Sunday, August 15th, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on Nickelodeon.

Source: [All Headline News]

Are you a fan of “Dora The Explorer”? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags anniversary, Dora the Explorer, John Leguizamo, Nickelodeon, Salma Hayek, Salma Hayek Pinault

In our latest installment of Deep Thoughts, Blogamole contributor Michael Lopez channels "Stand and Deliver" to remind you that knowledge is power.

By Michael Lopez

We know it’s still summer break and the last thing any of us want to think about right now is school. But let's get serious for a minute — the results of a new study have revealed that the number of Latino students expected to return to school this fall is way lower than we would have expected.

The American Council on Education (ACE) recently released their Gender Equality in Higher Education: 2010 report, a followup to studies conducted in 2000 and 2006. Unfortunately, the results are showing some very discouraging college stats for both Hispanic men and women.

Believe it or not, only 42% of Latino men ages 24 or younger are in college right now. And that figure has dropped since 2000, when the percentage was at 45. Yes it could be worse, but c'mon fellas! Don’t you think we’re more than capable of beefing that stat up?

College education leads to more opportunities, intellectual enrichment, and phatter paychecks once you grab that diploma! And don’t get us started on high school. Only 51% of Latino young adults born outside the U.S. have earned their diploma.

Male immigrants, who represent one out of every three Hispanic young adults, are at a particular disadvantage. But listen to this one: Only 81% of U.S. BORN Latino young adults actually complete high school. 81%? What’s up, all you in the remaining 19%? Get that diploma and keep it moving!

Remember, a person with a Master's degree earns about $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate — a difference of as much as 105%!

Things are a little bit brighter for American Latinas. According to ACE, while only 9% of Hispanic young men go on to earn their bachelor degrees, young women total 14% (the same percentage as African-American females).

The people behind the study take these figures seriously, and so should you. Jacqueline E. King, an assistant VP at ACE said, “Raising the attainment rate of Hispanic men-and women-looms as one of the most significant challenges facing American education.”

Blogamole doesn’t like going for the whole preachy vibe, but we KNOW Latino young people are capable of a lot better than that. So go ahead, enjoy your summer, but when you get back to school STUDY HARD! Work toward college and that degree, because if there’s anything we love, it’s showing all naysayers that we mean business!

For more information on how to pay for your college education, visit the Hispanic Heritage Foundation web site.

What do you think about the results of this study? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags College, Deep Thoughts, Education, Latinos, Surveys

By Michael Lopez

Wow… How quickly life can change. One minute you’re carefree, going on dates, or spending time with your “special someone” and the next minute you’re…. A PARENT?! Sounds crazy, but it happens a lot more often than you think.

This week, MTV Tr3s is getting serious with “Life As We Know It.” Beginning Saturday (July 3), we’ll be airing a series of Public Service Announcements highlighting teen and unplanned pregnancies, specifically within the Latino community. These PSAs were produced by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, along with 7 young & inspiring Latinos from across the country.

Guys and girls, ages 15 - 17, from Mexican, Puerto Rican, Colombian, Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Ecuadorian backgrounds participated in the project.

Before you start saying, “No way, that will never happen to me”, check out these stats. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, 52% of Latinas get pregnant at least once before turning 20 (giving them the highest teen birth rate of any US ethnic group).

And if that wasn’t bad enough, 54% of Latina teen mothers never finish high school. Add to that the fact that 8 out of 10 guys don’t marry their kid’s teen moms, and you start seeing how serious this problem can be.

Do yourself a favor and stay educated on the topic of unplanned pregnancies, because “Life As We Know It” can change in an instant.

The new PSAs will air Saturday (July 3) through the following Sunday (July 11).

Do you know anyone who had to deal with a teen pregnancy? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Life As We Know It, MTV Tr3s, National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnan, PSA