Argentina’s goal!

by Chao María Paula

Juan José Campanella, the Argentinian film director, has scored a goal for his country with his 3-D animated movie “Metegol”.  With very positive press opinion and over two millions of cinema-goers, it was the first national cartoon that threatened the giant Disney Pixar leadership in Argentina. A football player may say, “In your face, Mickey!”

The film, inspired in the Roberto Fontanarrosa’s tale “Memorias de un Wing Derecho”, won the Goya award from the Spanish Film Academy and many other prizes around the world. Its success is remarkable in most Spanish-speaking countries and it has been also dubbed into English with similar public acceptance. In the best way possible, Metegol presents Argentinian idiosyncrasy to the world.

Plenty of hilarious situations, the story depicts several characteristics of the average Argentinian.  This melting pot society is portrayed by many different stereotypical characters, some of them not a whit exaggerated. For instance, “El Beto”, one of the funniest characters, is a mix of charm and arrogance, who speaks about himself in third person.   This could be considered extremely weird by non Spanish- speakers who never listened to Maradona or Riquelme speaking about themselves in the same way.

One essential feature of the characters’ identity is the language they use. A noticeable local accent and lots of idiomatic expressions make them unmistakeably Argentinian. Idioms such as “pecho frio” or “lo tengo de hijo” may don´t find their equivalent in English, possibly missing the essence of some jokes in dubbed versions of the film. Nevertheless, its success in different countries is an indicator that the movie´s theme has overcome any cultural distance. The fanaticism of football supporters is shared by people of all nationalities, no matter their language.

Let´s reflect upon Carlos Tevez career. He was born in one of the poorest towns in Buenos Aires and twenty four years later, he was playing football in Manchester.  Taking into account that both cities are like water and oil and that the only phrase in English he was able to produce was “It’s very difficult”, we arrive at the point of admitting that a kind of metaphysical force has operated on his life.  Of course, that understanding between so different cultures has its origins in a millionaire business, but I prefer a more romantic explanation of the facts.  At the very moment that Tevez scores a goal, the public vibrate with emotion. They communicate perfectly and no language is needed.

As a mosaic, Argentinian society has been built by immigrants from every corner of the globe that added their weaknesses as well as their strengths.  This kind of pluralism could be found in any stadium of the world, where people congregate to watch a match putting aside any difference. In other words, football leads people to fraternize all around the world, because it has no other language than passion.

Why Metegol succeeded is the big question.  Despite its good technical quality might have differentiated it from other local productions, it is not a convincing explanation on its own.  Naturally, the presence of humour throughout the movie is one of its main attributes. But, there is something more important that makes the film attractive. Actually, different societies could identify with any of the characters embodying Argentinian idiosyncrasy.

Colourful minds

Students: María Paula Chao and Mariela Álvarez

Twenty four years ago a street artist created Piñón Fijo, a colourful clown who captivated children and parents. Who could think at that moment that he would become a Latin-American phenomenon? Fabián Alberto Gómez, the man under the mask, chose the name Piñón Fijo connecting his bike and his one-track mind. Like fixed–gear bicycles move easily forward, his career has moved from Cordoba streets to the whole of Latin America.

Music and respect seem to be the keys that this man, whose real face is not known, has found to delight children and stimulate them intellectually. During his shows, Piñón interacts with the young audience exchanging anecdotes with them. While many shows for children underestimate their intelligence, Piñón takes children seriously. Merging music, poetry and dance, he contributes with the development of his little fans fertile imagination.

Baring in mind that, for several years, our children´s minds were contaminated by certain TV shows which were conducted by blond and brainless girls like ‘Las trillizas de oro’ or ‘Panam’, Piñón came to our screen to give the young audience a new breath of fresh air. With an innovative and funny way to entertain, the clown, through his mime routines and juggling, catches the kids´ attention and teaches through play.

Furthermore, the clown employs recreation to amuse toddlers and adults. He has designed a musical instrument, called by himself `Saxo Cloacal´, that accompanies the singer in his shows. Not only with his sax and his guitar Piñón fascinates his young spectators, but also over the lyrics of his songs he transmits didactic messages. For example, the importance of cleaning the hands and teeth, taking care of the environment or learning the vowels.

The originality of Piñón´s acting and music too, helps infants to leave out the pacifiers and the baby bottles. Children could drop them through games, interacting with the clown and listening songs like `Basta de mamadera´ or `Nene, dejá el chupete´. Of course, this is something that parents really appreciate because sometimes it is not easy to convince a child to leave behind the dummy and the feeding bottle.

With a great sense of humour, Piñón Fijo embodies a funny and joker clown who spreads joyfulness in each play, show and presentation in public. He has won through his sympathy and his magic young and old people´s heart. Definitely, he contributes significantly to enrich our children´s mind. 

The Gingerbread boy (review)

ALBARRACIN, Patricia
CHAO, María Paula
                                                                                              
Debby Slier is one of the most famous publisher adapter, author, illustrator and photographer of children´s books. She retells The Gingerbread Boy, a Read Along With Me book. Through humour and tenderness, the writer captures children's attention during the whole narration.

Slier presents the narrative describing an old couple with no children. One day, when the old lady is baking gingerbread cookies, she makes one of them in shape of a boy.  At the precise moment she opens the oven, he comes to life and runs out of the kitchen singing "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can’t catch me! I'm a Gingerbread Man. I am! I am!” He gets away from the old man, the little old woman, a horse, a cow and a mouse .Next, he comes to a river and trying to cross it, he is cheated by a clever fox that, finally, eats him all up.  In all likelihood, this sharp unhappy ending spices up the story.

All sequences of events described in the story, repetitions of words and phrases encourage children to follow the Gingerbread Boy’s adventures with enthusiasm until the last page. In addition to this, there are words replaced with drawings in the margins of each page.  Adults can help children to identify the symbols that stand for these words and figure out grammatical structures. The book would serve as a bridge to join playing and learning.

The story will keep children amused at the time they pick up reading. Don´t miss the opportunity for sharing this outstanding work with them. Take my word for it: you will enjoy this marvellous tale as much as kids will!

The gift of God

Once upon a time there were two old ants’ Kingdoms. One was called ‘The Black’ and the other was named ‘The Red’. They used to live in harmony sharing the goods of the nature but after a dried season, things changed a lot.

As the food was not enough for all of them, they started fighting for the only tree that was alive. Days went on and the situation got worse. Many of them died because of the little food on the land. This is why one little red ant proposed to share the tree in place of keeping on with the cruel struggle. The other group was against the idea since ants were too many.

What’s wrong with that? - Said little red ant. It makes room for new people, too. This simple words changed the minds of the ants and understood how important is to share whatever you have. At this moment, the rain began falling down and hundreds trees grew up around them as a gift of God.

Exquisite cadaver

Love was you and me together. We used to be one soul. Even though, I didn’t want this to change, our fate was already written. I assume the pen was held by her. I would have never figured out that she used to visit me and her eyes were not upon me but on my grandmother. It was a pleasant breezy evening, I opened the door and I found them not drinking tea, not talking, not cooking but kissing. The passion in their lips was extreme. Her wrinkled hands held her skinny face that used to be mine. The disgusting scene made me feel shocked and I was only able to close the door. The noise let them know that they were not alone. As I left, I realized that my reality was not what I thought. It was a dark day and there was smog everywhere. Anxiousness was running through Dan´s veins. He felt nervous about his first experience piloting, and the weather was not helping.

He turned off the engineer, got off the car and went to the instructor´s office. There was music on, but no one answered when he knocked the door.  Raindrops began to fall on his head while he paced the landing track, his opportunity vanishing as the hours passed.

Dan decided to walk towards his car. But suddenly he heard a noise on the sky and turned his head up. It was his instructor in the plane he had been waiting for all day long. It was late anyway. The plane arrived late, so the pilot returned home.  The passengers had been waiting at the airport for ten hours and started to complain. As I was the check-in receptionist, everybody shouted at me angrily. The situation got worst when people destroyed the airport hall. All the employees were evacuated by the police. I decided to quit my work, because it wasn´t the first time that such dangerous disorder took place. The only person I would miss was my boss, William. I was in love with him, though I wasn´t sure if he felt the same.   That day, when I was at home he called me and I decided to start again.

It had been two years without seeing each other. He had gone to study abroad and I didn't want to follow him. At that time our relationship wasn't as good as the beginning of it. He had changed pretty much the last years. He priorized his carrer more than our relationship. I still was with him but I felt lonely. During these two years I went out, met new people even I got a new job. My life was normal, stable. I almost believed that I had forgotten him but last week he called me and we met each other. As soon as I saw him my heart exploded in happiness. All my feelings woke up again.He stared at me and at that moment he said: " Love was you and me together."

Flash fictions

Ice-cram rain and me on diet.
(whole class)

I´ll miss you pencil. The sharpener.

Troubles in the sky. Batman frowns.

Brains off, we are on Earth.

(Nahir P., Amílcar F., Mariana F.)


Pill forgotten. Baby's born. Game over.

New house. Single bed. Who´s out?.

Young lover. Discovered. Rest in peace.

(Lorena B., María Paula Ch., Patricia A.)



Joyful weekend gone; lifeless Monday on.

Freedom of thought? Vote for me!

Never mind. My coffee’s already cold.

Smoking… pencil with its top on.

Just a sheep following the herd.

(Gabriel C., Evelyn M., Daniela U., Jessica V.)


No money=no marriage=no boyfriend

No money=no marriage=avoid divorce

No boyfriend=no marriage=no money.


(Melina A., Carina C., Fedra DB., Florencia P.)