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Newsletter 1 - September 2023

Welcome to the Base Language Services newsletter! Here you’ll find all of our news, fun facts, and learn more about the work we do!


Students’ work:

Pedro is one of our English students. He’s a high school teacher and sociologist, and he loves discussing topics related to his field of work in class. So, after discussing archeological research in class with his teacher, Callie, he had to prepare a presentation on some other archeological site he knew about. He made an amazing presentation about the Llullaillaco children, so we’ve decided to share it with you!


The Llullaillaco Children

The place

Lullaillaco Volcano is located in the Salta Province, in the borderline between Argentina and Chile. It is more than 6700 m in height.


The research

Since 1964 there were many different scientific expeditions in order to find ancient sanctuaries of the Inca Empire.


The finding

Finally, in 1999 a group of archaeologists from USA and Argentina found a chamber with three Inca children mummies who had been sacrificed.

This finding allowed us to see how these kind of rituals were part of a great system of beliefs as the Inca religion. According to it, it is supposed that these practices were a kind of offering to the gods and to ask them for food in bad times of the community.

The mummies were called la doncella, la niña del rayo and el niño, and they were considered the best well preserved mummies in the world.

Since 2007 they have been shown in the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology in Salta city.


Controversy

Many people argue that the exhibition of these human bodies (remains) is injuring the rights and the history of native people.

So we can ask ourselves: is displaying their dead people in a museum the best way to understand a culture or would respecting their rituals be better to know them?


His conclusion

This homework allowed me to speak with my teacher Callie about the children of Llullaillaco and the ethical problems in science. The main question we tried to answer was if it is possible to know a culture seeing its people like only objects, and we arrived at the conclusion that it is very important that museums set their displays respecting native communities and that we should have a critical point of view when we visit them.


Thanks for sharing your research with us, Pedro! Keep up the great work!


Teachers’ and Students’ Day

Did you know that Argentina celebrates both Teachers’ Day and Students’ Day this month?

The first one, on the 11th of the month, is celebrated to commemorate the death of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, author, politician and teacher whose progressive (albeit controversial!) ideas contributed greatly to the creation and development of Argentina’s public education system. The second one, on September 21st, coincides with the first day of spring, so high schools and universities traditionally give students the day off, and the parks and green spaces of every city in the country fill up with young people playing sports, having picnics and blasting their music.


Survival guide for your very first language class at Base.

Learning something new can be challenging, especially when you first start. But if you want to start taking classes with us, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Here are five tips for your first language lesson at Base.

  • Write, write, write! Learning a language is about speaking, but it’s hard to keep steady progress if you don’t keep track of what you’ve learned before. If you like taking notes on your computer, you can create a word document or use a notes app to make sure you’re writing down anything you don’t want to forget. If you’re more of a paper person, bring along your pen and notebook – you can add some colors for extra-cute notes. Finally, make sure you go over your notes in-between classes, to refresh your memory and make the next class even easier to follow!

  • Know what type of learning works for you. We’ve talked about writing, which works amazingly for visual learners, but, did you know some people learn best by hearing words instead of reading them, or by moving their bodies? If you know which kind of learner you are, it will be easier for your teacher to find a method that fits you. Maybe you need to record the class so you can listen to it later, or you could record a small recap audio at the end of the class.

  • Minimize distractions, maximize comfort. Design your study space like a focused oasis: decluttered, organized, and free from distractions. Include a comfortable chair and back support pillow (or maybe a standing desk!) and good lighting to create an environment that promotes both concentration and contentment. If you feel good, you’re going to be focused on your classmates and teacher rather than the noises of life. Minimize distractions by turning off notifications, silencing your phone, and closing other unrelated websites during class time.

  • Ask questions. Whether you want clarification on class material or want to go deeper into a topic, asking questions is a proactive way to enhance your understanding and engage more deeply. If you’ve got a question, it’s likely that another classmate is asking themselves the same thing. Questions are a great way to connect your experience with those around you.

  • Be patient. Learning a new language takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself as you gradually build your skills. Sometimes it might not feel like you’re not making progress, but your teacher would probably say differently!


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