Spanish enthusiasts participate in ¡Hola Amigos! Cultural Evening at Eton Institute

Cervante’s immortal Don Xiote tales, Picasso’s abstract masterpieces and Shakira’s universal anthems, the Spanish speaking world has a strong influence global culture, art and literature. UAE residents spent an evening yesterday immersed in Spanish and Latin American culture, language and tradition at a unique cultural event titled ¡Hola Amigos!, hosted by Eton Institute, the UAE’s largest language institute. Free for the public, the cultural evening was a memorable two-hour session about the way of life of Spanish speakers including social anecdotes and essential language phrases to a mini-dance presentation and a piñata full of candy and prizes.

Spanish, the second most commonly spoken native-language in the world, is the official language of over 20 countries. Over time, the language has interestingly evolved into various dialects which have differences in the pronunciation and vocabulary but have the same grammar structure. This makes the dialects mutually intelligible while retaining their own unique flare and feel.

Moaz Khan, Marketing Manager of Eton Institute commented: “Flamboyant, friendly and football-loving are just a few adjectives that immediately spring to mind when you think of the people from Spain and Latin America. From the food and festivals to the dance and music, the Spanish culture is full of colour and spice. Missing out on experiencing this is missing out on a lot of fun!”

The Spanish cultural evening, hosted by the Spanish language department at Eton Institute, gave attendees the opportunity to interact first-hand with native-speakers about their culture and language while debunking common stereotypes and sharing amusing anecdotes. The event included a historic introduction, a 10 minute language lesson and a quick Latin dance presentation. Visitors also enjoyed traditional snacks such as alfajores and walked away with loads of prizes and candy from the piñata.