CULTURA: USA

Spanish is the third most studied and spoken language in the world. In the United States of America alone, Spanish is spoken by approximately  41 million native speakers and almost 12 million bilingual speakers. There are more Spanish speakers in the United States than in Spain or Colombia. The majority of speakers are from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. The Southwest concentrates the most Spanish speakers of Mexican origin while New York and New Jersey have a large population of Puerto Rican descendants. In Florida, the largest community is of Cuban origin. Several other nationalities are also represented in these same areas.

Selena Quintanilla (1971-1995) was an award-winning Latin recording artist, known as the ‘Queen of Tejano Music,’ a Mexican music style that mixes other genres like country.

Press play to listen to the pronunciation of the reading in the paragraph written below.

César Chávez (1927-1993) nació (was born) en Yuma, Arizona.

Chávez es el fundador de la Unidad de los Trabajadores Agrícolas (United Farm Workers -UFW), sindicato (union) que busca mejorar las condiciones laborales de los jornaleros emigrantes, en su mayoría hispano.

Mediante (through) marchas, huelgas (strikes) y boicots obliga a los patrones a pagar salarios mejores y otros beneficios.

En 1970 César Chávez y Dolores Huerta (co-founder of UFW´s Union), adoptaron la frase ¨Sí se puede¨ durante 25 días de ayuna (25-day fast)  en Phoenix, Arizona. (to organize farm workers to demand fair wages and better working conditions.

Preguntas de Comprensión. After reading the short biography of César Chávez, check if the following statements are Verdadero (V) or  Falso (F)

1. César Chávez es de California. V        F
2. Chávez es el fundador de la UFW.  V        F
3. César Chávez busca mejorar las condiciones de los trabajadores (workers) V       F
4. Chávez usa la frase ¨Sí se puede¨ para inspirar a los trabajadores.  V      F

¡Inténtalo!