Introducing the Immersion Fund
The Immersion Fund has finally emerged… Since July, I’ve been working on a VERY exciting project, and it is finally ready! Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to introduce to
Spanish Immersion
High School Spanish
Is the Earth Round?
I will never forget my first flight into a foreign country. As I leaned against the window, our plane descended into the Lima airport, the sun was just beginning to
Medical Spanish Blog
Finished in Spanish… ¿Finito, Completado, Terminado?
If you’ve ever told someone finito in Spanish and you weren’t intending to say “finite”, you have to read this! As you read this blog post, you’ll self-identify with one of the
Medical Spanish Blog
6 Easy Ways to Build Confianza with your Spanish Speaking Patients
On the most basic level, confianza means trust in English. Contributing factors to establishing confianza with another person can vary depending on the situation and the environment of the interaction, but
Medical Spanish Blog
5 Tangible Differences Between Bilingualism and Qualified Interpreters in Healthcare
What is the practical difference between bilingual healthcare workers and those bilingual staff that are qualified to interpret in healthcare? On the surface the difference may seem negligible; but as soon as
Medical Spanish Blog
High Value Medical Spanish Topics
The CDC recently released some health statistics about the hispanic population that you should know about…and they’re super helpful for identifying medical Spanish topics to study. Do you ever feel
Spanish Immersion
Street Smarts in Central America
International travel to the developing countries in Central America offers amazingly rich opportunities to explore the tropical beauty of the Americas that you don’t see in other parts of the world,
High School Spanish
Tell me how to give commands in Spanish!
Tell me how to give commands in Spanish! Raise your hand! Don’t eat that! We give commands and instructions everyday…so how do I give commands in Spanish? Read these instructions
Bilingual Workplace
Typing in Spanish on PC and Mac Computers
When typing in Spanish – use the following tips to insert Spanish accents on your Mac or PC I used to use a PC and when I was typing Spanish
Spanish Teachers
Using Modified Target Language in Class: When & Why
I teach Spanish for specific purposes, and I teach a high percentage of beginning level students who are also adult learners. I don’t know about you, but I’m always trying
Medical Spanish Blog
Proper Words for Butt in Spanish
You’re definitely not the only one who gets uneasy about saying the word butt in Spanish. I wrote this post so you can avoid making a culo out of yourself
Medical Spanish Blog
Pregnant in Spanish – what’s the best word?
So, how do you talk about pregnancy and pregnant in Spanish? I can’t tell you how many clarifications I make in my classes on a regular basis – so don’t
Medical Spanish Blog
Pain in Spanish: Dolor vs Duele and how to use each properly
What is the difference between dolor and duele – Don’t they both mean Pain in Spanish? Dolor and duele aren’t too complicated to sort out. We have differences in meaning, and
Spanish Immersion
10 Bulletproof tips to maximize language growth on any travel experience
International travel is an amazing opportunity to get out and experience the world. But traveling itself doesn’t guarantee language development. In fact, a high percentage of university students who spend
Spanish Immersion
Indirect Communication Style – Straight Talk about Beating Around the Bush
Communication style is the way you say what you say – and it has huge implications on the results of a conversation between parties. Pay special attention to this post
High School Spanish
5 Simple Tips to Impress Your Spanish Teacher
How can you get your Spanish Teacher on your Side? We meet hundreds, maybe thousands, of Spanish teachers every year through our language training and Spanish immersion business. By and
Language for Specific Purposes
Language for Specific Purposes: The Curriculum Development Problem
If you teach any language for specific purposes courses, you have felt the pain of having to invent and feed the curriculum with hours and hours of creative energy in
Medical Spanish Blog
Bilingual Certification in Healthcare: Proficiency Standards
The healthcare industry desperately needs a bilingual certification for healthcare workers. What does it mean to be Certified Bilingual and how is that different from interpreter certification? Interpreter certification in
High School Spanish
Spanish Help: 4 Strategies for Success in Spanish Class
You know your student needs Spanish help – but you’re not quite sure how to help them….What can you do? Helping your student be successful in Spanish class is just
Spanish Immersion
Great Conversational Spanish Chit Chat Topics
Small talk is a big deal! Conversational Spanish topics that are sure to get people talking. Don’t let yourself be at a loss for words when you’re on Spanish Immersion!
Spanish Immersion
5 “Must Knows” when Staying with a Host Family
Keep reading, because the information below will keep you from thinking: “I wish someone had told me that earlier about my host family!” Okay, picture this… You have just touched
High School Spanish
6 Easy Steps to Improve your Spanish Grade
Are you struggling to thrive in your Spanish class like you do in others? There are several things you can to do help improve your Spanish grade – keep reading!
Spanish Immersion
4 Obstacles to Exponential Language Growth on Spanish Immersion
Everyone knows intuitively and experientially that Spanish immersion is the best way to learn Spanish. However, just because you’re traveling, doesn’t guarantee language growth on Spanish immersion! We love Spanish
Spanish Immersion
8 Surefire Tips to Have an Amazing Host Family Experience
The host family experience on our Spanish immersion programs in Costa Rica is always a highlight for the majority of our participants. At the same time, it’s also one of
Medical Spanish Blog
4 Tips to Study Medical Spanish for Free
When you can’t take a Medical Spanish Class at the moment, or you need to brush up between classes; what is the best way to study Medical Spanish on your
Spanish Teachers
An Argument Against Using Spanish Translator Apps
Ditch the Spanish Translator Apps – They Inhibit Learning! Important Note: this article focuses on Spanish translator apps because I’m a Spanish teacher and my business specializes in teaching Spanish
Medical Spanish Blog
Responsible Use of Medical Spanish & 3 Signs you may need a tune-up!
It’s tempting to assume that your medical Spanish is “good enough”… The fact that you can “get by” with Spanish in social contexts doesn’t necessarily mean that you should be relying
Learning English
Improve Your English Today with 3 Easy Tips!
3 Easy English tips – how to select the correct pronoun: Speaking English well always gives a positive impression. Whether you’re trying to move up within your current position or
Learning English
ESL Classes Improve More than Communication in the Workplace
Well-planned ESL classes can achieve more than just helping non-native speakers improve their communication skills. Companies that take the time to develop a staff, fully capable of communicating with one
Spanish Immersion
Reflection: The Summer High School Spanish Immersion trip
What did our participants think of learning to speak Spanish in Costa Rica? “I’m going to Costa Rica!” is a statement that brings to mind sun-filled sandy honeymoons or
Spanish Immersion
Medical Spanish Immersion Trips – What makes CGI unique?
There are many medical Spanish immersion programs and thousands of Spanish study abroad opportunities around the world – so what makes Common Ground’s Spanish immersion programs so unique? Several more things
Bilingual Workplace
S.O.S. – We Need a Spanish Translator! – Do you really?
Spanish Translator* – English Classes – Spanish Classes…What is the best solution for your organization? A familiar scenario: José is on line 3 and he doesn’t speak English, only Spanish.
Learning English
Workplace English Programs are GOOD for Business!
If you have any international or immigrant workers at your workplace, you have likely run into some English communication problems. Losing time and expending energy to keep everyone on the
Medical Spanish Blog
Best Free Spanish Dictionaries Online
The best free Spanish dictionaries are definitely better than Google Translate… Every language student wants a good resource for that quick translation to help you communicate your thought perfectly. The
Bilingual Workplace
3 Spanish Translation Tips
Spanish translation can be tricky, especially if you have a document that you’re trying to translate in-house. We all know that it’s important to write well because your documents being published out
High School Spanish
3 Christmas Traditions from Central & South America
And you thought that Christmas and Navidad were basically the same thing! A large majority of the Spanish-speaking population around the world celebrates Navidad (in lieu of Hanukkah or Kwanzaa) – but
High School Spanish
Online Spanish Tutors
Our online Spanish tutors are ready to work with you! Common Ground International has recently invested in an online Spanish tutoring system to provide extra contact time with professional Spanish
Medical Spanish Blog
3 Principles for International Medical Work
International medical work is rewarding for the healthcare professionals who travel abroad. Three guiding principles ensure your work is proper, ethical, and sustainable within your target communities as well. For
Bilingual Workplace
Onsite English Classes: 3 Necessities for Success!
3 Essential components for a successful English class at your workplace We’re always excited when a new client inquires about offering an English classes to their employees, and we’re equally
Bilingual Workplace
The Case for a Professional Translation
Professional Spanish Translation We don’t need to contract a professional Spanish translation for this document – we habla español! Unfortunately this reluctance to pay for a professional translation is common in the
High School Spanish
2 Effective Tips for How to Study Spanish (and really learn it!)
Two easy tips for how to study Spanish! Almost all Spanish tests, when you break them down to their most basic components, are a combination of vocabulary and grammar. If
Medical Spanish Blog
The case for Practicing Medical Spanish with patients
“The stakes are too high – I can’t practice medical Spanish with my patients.” We often hear this sentiment expressed in our Medical Spanish classes, and while it is a
Spanish Teachers
6 Quick Tips for Teaching Dyslexic Students Spanish
Teaching Dyslexic Students Spanish- Great tips to ease the struggle By this time in the school year, it’s clear which students are struggling in your Spanish class. Some students may
Medical Spanish Blog
Language Acquisition vs. Language Learning: Truly Acquiring a Foreign Language!
Ever wish you could acquire your second language as naturally as you did your first? True language acquisition is the idea behind immersion programs abroad and immersion-style teaching. “I’m not
Spanish Teachers
To tutear or not to tutear…the forms of you in Spanish
Tú and usted, using the forms of you in Spanish: In our work with professionals learning Spanish for workplace communication, we often encounter the patterns they learned in high school
Spanish Teachers
Current Spanish Class Debate Topics
Some relevant and interesting debate topics for Spanish Class Hopefully your Spanish students have been exposed to important historical themes through their classwork and readings. However, what better way to
High School Spanish
Spanish Research & Presentation Topics
Need some interesting, relevant Spanish class presentation topics? Let us help you get started with unas ideas: Light Topics: Common Slang Expressions Every day you say things that don’t translate
Spanish Teachers
High School Spanish: An Effective Immersion Model
An effective immersion model is educational, fun and inserts students into the community There are a lot of summer programs out there for high school students, with different approaches to
High School Spanish
Day of the Dead: An old tradition updated
Day of the Dead: A Tradition of Celebrating Deceased Loved Ones The Day of the Dead (celebrated Oct. 31 – Nov. 2) is one of the most colorful and meaningful
Spanish Teachers
Shakira Teaches Spanish Verbs: Future Tense and Gerunds
A fun and useful activity for learning Spanish verb tenses; have Shakira help you out with planning an easy classroom activity: Spanish Teachers – Don’t let practicing Spanish verb tenses