BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/07/2008

Belarus has passion for Spanish

By Nacho Temiáo.

Minsk, Jul 21 (EFE).- Spanish is studied enthusiastically in Belarus - there is even an annual prize for the best students, who receive photos of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara as a poor sort of incentive that does not really measure up to the passion for the language of Cervantes in this former Soviet republic.

School 17 is in the city of Borisov, in the middle of nowhere, lost in the backwoods north of Minsk, the Belarus capital, in one of the most unknown countries in Europe and the most repudiated by the United States, ruled with an iron fist by Aleksander Lukashenko, considered by many as the last dictator on the continent.

Some 660 students between six and 18 years of age study Spanish there at the republic's biggest center, founded in 1970 thanks to the push the Cuban revolution gave to the study of Spanish throughout the old USSR.

"Today the study of Spanish is increasingly important because of our friendship with Venezuela," principal Larissa Zholnerovich told Efe.

What is clear is that in this country whose chief ally continues to be Russia, the close relationship with the Venezuela of Hugo Chavez has been a veritable life-saver, and at the same time, the reason why Spanish is back in style.

"Spanish unites us, nothing is more noble or more beautiful," Larissa said while showing the schoolrooms, a trip back in time to the communist universe in which most of the nation's installations seem stranded.

Today the school is excited, it is a holiday because the students are electing the center's most popular and talented boy, who will not be awarded the title of "Mister" but rather of "Caballero 2008."

The scene is set and naturally the Spanish flag waves over the proceedings, in which four boys must display their knowledge of Spanish language and culture as well as their talents in singing, dancing and poetry, while other students enliven the election process with a variety show.

The only aid the center has received in recent years has come from the Spanish charitable organization Sonrisas de Papel (Paper Smiles) based in Zaragoza, which has provided books and some audiovisual equipment.

"We don't understand why Spain doesn't promote its language more in our country," teacher Nelli Skarinova said, comparing the non-existent Spanish aid with that provided by France and Germany.

"In the language competitions held every year in Belarus, the children who speak the best German and French receive a trip to those countries, while those who are outstanding in Spanish get photos of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara from the Cuban Embassy and some tourism leaflets from the Venezuelan Embassy," she said.

Despite the lowly rewards, Stanislav is happy today - he won the Caballero 2008 award and proudly displays his prize, an umbrella, something no teenager can do without.

Stanislav recited a poem by Becquer, sang a song in Spanish, danced with the grace of a bullfighter and successfully answered questions on Spanish geography. If he is lucky in the national competition he may win a photo of Fidel Castro and, if he is very lucky, the picture will be in color. EFE

Source:

http://calibre.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=314696501

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