Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Learning. Show all posts

Sep 29, 2010

You Can Learn Spanish Online Very Easily With Many Resources

There are so many people all over the world who like to learn foreign languages. Besides English, Spanish is one of the most popular languages, which the people from different countries like to learn. It is no longer a constraint for you to be far off from Spain. It is possible to know language online. Internet has eliminated the distances and its innovation is a blessing in many respects.


If you want to learn Spanish, it could not have been possible for you to know language online sitting at home, if internet were not there. Then, you had to sit in a classroom in some institute teaching the foreign languages or Spanish.


Here we give you a couple of simple tips to proceed to know language online. Of course, being motivated is the first requirement to know language as is true for anything else.


You can accomplish your goal to know language online, if you keep up your motivation even in your difficult times. You will learn Spanish on line. You get additional benefit by visiting Spain on your holiday trip. It is worthwhile visiting the native countryside where you can talk to the people who speak the real Spanish language.


People in Spain are very cordial and they will honor you with a warm reception when they know you are learning Spanish and try to converse with them. No one is perfect. All of us do some mistakes. When you learn Spanish online, do not worry if you make some errors, people will appreciate your motivation and effort. You will soon get fluent in the language.


When you understand this and know that you have your own dignity and values, you will unquestionably be determined to put all your efforts in learning the language. If you opt to learn Spanish online, you get many choices, including the different Spanish sites and software to choose from. Learners should try to master over the flow of the language when it is spoken. If you follow this step, it becomes simpler to pronounce Spanish words and you can be expert to follow the accent.


To get better job opportunities in the United States, knowledge of Spanish is very important as it is the second most commonly spoken language. The number of people who know language is increasing very fast day by day. It is estimated that in next ten years there will be about 20% increase in Spanish speaking people in USA alone.


When you are in employment, it is not feasible to join a regular class to learn Spanish because of shortage of time; to learn Spanish online is the best option for employed people. Moreover, it does not restrict you anyway and you can learn it at any convenient time on internet. You are free to multitask. You can learn Spanish online at home, or while traveling or camping somewhere. If you learn from a recognized institute approved by Spanish authorities, you receive a certificate after completion of your course and that certificate authenticates your qualification in the Spanish language.


You can now learn Spanish online. The following link is a very helpful resource if you are looking for help in learning Spanish for kids!

Sep 28, 2010

How to Learn Spanish Pronunciation - 4 Techniques to Help You Speak Spanish Fluently

Learning proper Spanish pronunciation is a key part of gaining fluency. If you want to know how to learn Spanish pronunciation then here are some great tips:


- Listen to your favorite TV shows or movies with Spanish audio where available. Turn on the Spanish subtitles to see exactly which words are being said, and pay careful attention to the way that they are spoken out loud. Sometimes the pronunciation is quite different from the way that you would assume just from reading the word.


- Interact with native speakers. If you are living in a foreign country, and talking to native Spanish speakers in their own environment, the chances are that you will learn to speak Spanish with the correct pronunciation, however audio courses often feature people speaking slowly with a deliberate pronunciation that will not sound natural. Try to find people nearby who are native or very fluent Spanish speakers and practice your pronunciation with them.


- Repeat the alphabet. This may seem like a simple exercise, but it is a proven way to help you improve your pronunciation in a foreign language. If you can master your pronunciation of the basic elements of Spanish, your pronunciation of words will come a lot more easily.


- Don't be afraid of talking out loud. Too many new students are intimidated by speaking new words or phrases that they have learned, but this is the only way that you will become comfortable enough to really master your fluency. Repeat words that you hear but are unsure how to pronounce properly in Spanish until they sounds as close to the original native speaker as possible.


Alejandra K. Legarda is a free lance Spanish instructor. She is also a contributor to the Learning Spanish Like Crazy course. If you would like to get immediate access to 7 free learning-Spanish videos lessons from Aleja and the first 2 lessons of Learning Spanish Like Crazy, then go here now: LearningSpanishLikeCrazy.com

Sep 27, 2010

When You Need To Learn Spanish Fast - Know Where To Turn To

You just got a memo from the boss. He wants you to be in charge of the company's division in South America. This is that promotion that you have been working so hard for. Unfortunately, you don't speak a word of Spanish and you ship out in six months. Here are some things you need to know if you want to learn Spanish fast.


Take a class: Almost every community college in America has an introductory course for people who want to learn Spanish fast. Most institutions have very accredited teachers who know what they are talking about. Most teachers spend their entire summer in a Spanish speaking country to stay fluent and up with the new terminology. For example, ten years ago, who in America knew what a 'blog' was? Not many. Chances are that 'blog' is a word that has been given a Spanish name, and is something that most people won't know if they don't interact with other Spanish speakers.


Buy an audio program: An audio program is a good idea for those people who don't have time to take a class, but still need to learn Spanish fast. An audio program goes at your own pace and at your own time. If you want to learn Spanish at 3 AM, feel free to do so. Make sure you buy a good audio program, though, as there are many out there on the market. Just taking a few minutes to read reviews can save you time and money.


Full Immersion: If you have the time and the money, then total immersion is for you. It is a proven and guaranteed method for anyone to learn Spanish fast. For this method, you travel to a Spanish speaking country and surround yourself with only locals. That means you must stay out of tourist destinations! You can't be around English speakers at all. Besides, when locals find out whom you are and that you are trying to learn their language and culture, they will be more than happy to help you learn to speak Spanish. Plus, you may make some friends for life!


As you can see, if you want to learn Spanish fast, it is entirely possible. These tips can take anywhere from three weeks to six months to work, but they do work. Try them out. What do you really have to lose?


If theses tips have helped you and you want more help on how to learn Spanish fast, check out http://www.squidoo.com/learnspanishfast101/ and get the information you need to learn the Spanish language in a super fun and quick way!

8 Reasons to Use an Online Spanish Language Course

A great way for learning to speak, read, write, and understand Spanish is to use an online Spanish Language course. Because an online Spanish language course is so versatile, and interactive, it is highly effective for today's learning style.


Actually, I am fluent in Spanish, but I had to learn on my own, with a lot of trial and error, mostly error! This was due to the fact that I lived in Spain with non-English speaking people and had almost no instructional material to use. The only thing I had was a first-grade Dick and Jane type book.


Different way to learn Spanish


If you are unable to immerse yourself in the language and culture by actually living in a Spanish speaking country, you need to find another way to learn. There are courses offered at community colleges, high schools, and private schools, plus you can always listen to tapes and CD's. I have personally used all these methods since returning to the US, but found them greatly lacking.


I found the classroom setting a big distraction and also quite boring. One of my classes was a little exciting though: we had a Cuban exiled criminal who was quite interested in the pretty American teacher. We all watched out for her, especially after class. This was part of president Carter's amnesty for them.


The tapes and CD's were also rather monotonous and quite out of date. I really was not interested in how to buy a brown umbrella, or hail a taxi. Probably the biggest benefit of the tapes and CD's was the fact that I could listen to native speakers, though even that was out of date as well.


One time I loaned a Spanish language cassette tape course to a female friend, who told me she didn't like it at all. Turns out that most of the dialog was in a bar, with a man trying to pick up a woman! Funny, I hadn't even noticed!


Another series I own focuses on a businessman trying to get an apartment in a big city. This was OK, but I'm not a big businessman, and I don't like big cities. So, a lot of the dialog just was irrelevant.


Interactive, relevant and up-to-date


This brings up the fact that an online Spanish language course is up-to-date and relevant. Because it is interactive and updated, you get fresh information and terminology. So, rather than learning how to leave a big tip and hail a taxi, you learn how to use the internet and a cell phone.


These interactive courses teach you things like slang words, jokes, riddles, games, and how everyday people might speak. This is much more useful than elephants, and desks! In the real world, people just don't talk like a book.


With the emphasis on up-to-date usage and interactive participation, you will be in a much better position to actually be able to carry on a conversation. For example: if you can talk about futbol, you automatically have a connection!


Because an online Spanish language course is kept current, you will get things like updated grammar and dialog. This keeps the program more interesting and motivating.


It is a known fact that learning on a computer is much different than a conventional style of learning. People have much shorter attention spans online and tend to browse and skim much more, looking for the main points. This type of course meets that need very well.


8 reasons for using an online Spanish language course


Interactivity-you participate Fresh and current Self-pacing Designed for internet users Costs are kept at a minimum Good to the environment-no packaging Learning materials are updated Fits all levels of competency


These are just a few of the many very good reasons to use an online Spanish language course. Overall, if you cannot immerse yourself in the language and culture by living abroad, this is the best way to learn a language.


Since living in Spain and traveling in South America, Randy Hough has continued to learn Spanish and test program after program to find the best. You can read his reviews and comments on his site: http://CompareSpanishLanguageCourses.com. You can compare the benefits of many Spanish language courses and find what fits your learning style. Ask me about the time the drug lords henchmen almost cut me in pieces in Mexico! I was very glad I spoke fluent Spanish that day!

Steps to Learning Spanish Online

Learning a foreign language is both challenging and exciting. The sense of accomplishment after you've successfully passed a language course is indescribable. There are benefits derived from learning other languages - in business, for example, it;s easier to close deals when you know the language of your client. For job seekers. It's a great advantage to speak multiple languages, as well.


Spanish language courses have increased in popularity in recent years - maybe because more Spanish soap operas are available on cable! Fortunately for those who want to learn the language, Spanish courses are available online. You can of course, try and learn Spanish on your own, but you'll see better results if you take proper Spanish course.


If you'd like to translate Spanish text online, it's simple:


1. Using a search engine, find a language translation page on the web. There are many to choose from.


2. After selecting a translation page, choose the appropriate translation format - say, Spanish-to-English - indicate the languages you are translating.


3. If you'd like an entire web page translated into English, simply paste the URL into the space provided and then press the submit button. A translated version of the page will then appear.


4. If you want other text translated, you have to simply paste the text instead of the URL into the space provided and then press the submit button.


Things to remember:


o Bear in mind that the translations produced are quite rough - usually an intermediate Spanish student could do better.


o When pasting in your own text, you may be limited to one or two paragraphs.


There are also tutorials available online, offering tips on how to speak Spanish:


1. In speaking the Spanish language, remember to pronounce the letters B and V the same way they are pronounced in English. This is easy to remember.


2. Don't bother to learn verbs in anything other than the present tense.


3. Don't forget to pronounce the letters D, G, H, J, L, Q and Z the same as they are pronounced in English. Again very easy.


4. If ever you don't know the Spanish word just add "o" or "a" at the end of the English word in order to make into a noun or "ar" at the end to make it into a verb.


5. Remember that if a Spanish word looks like an English word, it probably means the same thing.


6. Also bear in mind to forcefully pronounce all consonants and to muddle the sounds of vowels.


7. Don't forget to study courtesies such as "por favor" (please) and "gracias" (thank you) are important in Spain and Latin America.


8. Speak using the "tĂș" form of "you"


9. Avoid redundant pronouns


10. Hopefully, learn something!


It is still recommended that you take a professional Spanish course in order to learn correct grammar and pronunciation. Be sure to practice what you've learned in order to become more fluent in the language.


Jeff Linaker has an interest in Recreation & Hobbies and Learning Spanish Online, for more FREE information and articles please visit Learning Spanish Online Resources

Quickly Learn A Language By Thinking In It

It can be tedious to learn a language. There will always be a certain amount of rote memorization required. However, there are also many little techniques for more easily learning a language. Labeling things around the house in the language you want to learn comes to mind. Listening to tapes while in the car is another. Then there is a technique I used to learn Spanish.


How I Quickly Learned Spanish


I studied Spanish books for six weeks before going to Ecuador. I didn't speak a word of the language during this time - a big mistake. Still, I was able to converse with the locals in the hostel in Quito the day after I arrived. Within a few days I was discussing philosophy, politics and more with Ana, who is now my wife.


How did I learn a language so quickly? I didn't really. I had a very limited vocabulary when I arrived in Ecuador, and a very limited vocabulary when I left. However, I could use what little Spanish I knew to express myself. This I credit to a habit that fortunately is also a great technique for learning a language.


I have conversations in my head. I think of what I am about to say, and have always played out future discussions in my imagination. I found myself doing this in Spanish too. The result was that I learned how to speak the language quickly, and say a lot with few words.


Learn To Think In A Language


People imagine that they have to be fluent to think in a language. This just isn't true. You can choose to think "I am walking to the store," so there is no reason you can't think "Yo estoy caminando a la tienda," as soon as you know those six words. If you don't know the word "caminar" (to walk), but you know how to say "Yo voy a la tienda," (I go to the store) you can think that. Alternately, you can look up a word or two as you get "stuck."


One reason this is a great way to learn a language is that it helps you remember the words. Repetition works, and saying the words, even if only in your mind, works better than reading or hearing them. When you make a point of translating your thoughts into your new language, you are always practicing.


It is more than just good practice, though. Putting your thoughts into your new language forces you to learn not just words and rules, but also specific ways to express what you want to say. We all talk about different things and have different interests, right? A doctor might want to know how to say "where does it hurt?" while I may want to ask where the mountains are. Often, you learn what others think you should know. This helps, but your thoughts are uniquely yours, and when you think in your new language, you are learning exactly what YOU need to learn.


Speaking a language is perhaps the best way to learn it, and thinking it is just speaking it in your mind. You'll learn your most important words, expressions and sentences quickly if you are thinking them continually. Another tip: Carry a language dictionary with you to use whenever your thoughts stop flowing. This is a powerful way to learn a language and start speaking it quickly.


Steve Gillman has been working on his Spanish with his wife Ana Blum, a native of Ecuador. Together they have built a website where you can get free lessons in Spanish. Visit: http://www.TheSpanishLesson.com

Learn Spanish Course - 3 Important Tips to Help You Choose

So you want to take that first step to speaking fluent Spanish and for that I applaud you and the fact your reading an article like this shows your serious about wanting to find a learn Spanish course that will actually help you learn Spanish. So all you need now is some basic tips to help you come to the right decision.


The tips I am going to give you are very obvious to those who have already started a learn Spanish course but maybe not so obvious to those who are just starting to find out about learning Spanish.


TIP 1 30 to 60 Day Money Back Guarantee.


This is a must pick a product that has a no nonsense money back guarantee. You will never have to use it if the product says does what it says but by the very nature they are prepared to give you a money back guarantee tells you everything you need to know about the company offering the product


TIP 2 Make Sure The Product Uses Accelerated Learning Techniques.


Again this is pretty obvious but when you're buying a brand new product you want the best and most modern techniques available. I learnt using Accelerated learning techniques and it does make basic Spanish stick in your head. However there are also very good learning products that also use interactive learning.


TIP 3 Beware Of Free Lessons.


If someone is offering you a free lesson the obvious question is why? In reality there trying to hook you into there product probably because this is the only way they can get customers. The reality is you will never learn Spanish with a free product you will have to sign up to get a full course eventually. So why not stick to tip one from the start and you will always get your money back if it doesn't work out.


I hope you found the tips useful and it helps you decide which learn Spanish course is right for you. The reality is you can be speaking the language within 10 weeks for as little as $40.00 Dollars.


If your really want to know which LEARN SPANISH COURSE is right for you then contact Fiona Gonzales at her blog where you can see her exclusive review of all the best learn Spanish products and courses currently available. alternatively have a look at these EASY SPANISH LESSONS for only $40.00 surely worth a click of a button. FIONA IS HERE TO HELP YOU SO DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK.

Tips On How To learn A Foreign Language

A very interesting article :)
When referring to the languages I speak they are English, French, Spanish, Italian and Polish which to many may seem like an impressive number but before some get the idea that I should be admired for my linguistic skills. I would like to say that this is due more to circumstances then skill. First of all I was born in New York City where I spent the first 3 months before being sent away to live with my grandparents who spoke both Spanish and Italian, so unsurprisingly the languages I started speaking were Spanish and Italian. By the time I was five years of age I spoke both these languages well however I did not speak English at all so it was with this in mind among other things that my parents brought me back to New York where I started learning English. It was strange to me at first; going to school in a country that was my own hearing people speak a language that I did not understand. With time however since I was still at that early age in which languages come with ease; English started becoming more and more comprehensible and in a bigger way it was the cartoons I watched on television which I had already seen in Spanish that helped me. It is because of this factor which I experienced when I learned English at the age of 5 that I can lay claim that those who are in their very youthful years need not to have languages taught to them as they will learn them their own. It is with this in mind that I urge parents whose wish it is for their children to learn a foreign language or two to simply expose their child to the language as I was by my parents who sent me to a school where everybody spoke English.
Of course when giving this advise I have not lost sight of the fact that not all parents have at their disposal the chance to send their child to a school where the language they want their child to learn is spoken either because they do not live in a country where it is spoken or they don't have the funds to send their child to a school in which all subjects are carried out in that language. It is to these parents that I suggest that constant exposure to that language by all means at their disposal would be the most appropriate. When I say this I have in mind that parents naturally if they speak the language in question should do so with their children; this basically being the way most people get to speak a language at the start; from their parents.
However to those parents who are not speakers of the language they wish their child or children to learn then I would suggest exposing their child or children to that language by way of television such as "Cartoon Network" or perhaps films on DVD. As an idea to follow first have the child watch the film in his or her first language and then in the second one; repeating this process as many times as possible everyday. To many parents it may seem that their children only waste time when they sit in front of the TV set and to a large degree they do but time spent watching TV need not be a waste of time specially if it can help their child learn a foreign language. I recall in my many years as an E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) teacher; a five year old child. It was this child who spoke fluent English. Naturally making grammatical errors but then again what child his age does not. Regarding his accent I can say in earnest that this child from Warsaw, Poland spoke English with no traces in his accent that would have given away even to a foreign accent trained ear like mine that he was not an American. One might think as I did that this child had spent time in America or another English speaking country or that his parents were English speakers but when I asked the child's mother she informed that this child had neither set foot in an English speaking nor did she or her husband speak any English what so ever. As far as lessons were concerned he had only had those which were offered at the public school which he attended which did not exceed those that would have taught him the very basics. My curiosity took over my actions at this point making me ask how it was possible for their son to speak English fluently like any American child his own age even without the slightest trace a foreign accent. To this question I was met with the answer that this child watched "Cartoon Network" in English practically 24 hours a day.
If there is an unfortunate side to learning languages it is that those who did not start at a very early age in life for the most part will always be at a disadvantage to those who did. They will tend to speak with an accent that will classified as foreign and for the most part struggle with grammar however I say this not with the aim of dissuading but of informing those who start past the age of 10 that they will have to work harder. Of course this is not to say that they will not learn and learn well but perhaps certain nuances of the language will be lost to them.
Many are the reasons for wanting or needing to learn a language from living in a country to seeking a job to so many others that I will not go over all of them however as many as there be reasons there also be methods. If the later be the case I have found that the "target method" to be the most efficient when the matter be simply learning to communicate. As this is what most people seek to get when they study a language. By communicating I have in mind learning how to understand and be understood in a second language which by its own virtue does not concentrate so much on grammar's rules but on how one should speak a language using correct grammar without the need to necessarily go over a lot of rules that would not necessarily make one a better speaker. I in my fourteen years as an ESL (English as Second Language) teacher have come to discover that those who know more rules regarding for instance when to use "present perfect" as opposed to when to use "past simple" do not always speak more grammatically correct however it is important to have a basic understanding of the tenses if one is to use them correctly. During the course of this time there is a lot I have taught my students but also a lot which I have discovered for myself from both my students and from teaching them and here are some tips which I would like to provide those who are seeking to learn a language:
1. Find a teacher or a school; this is of more importance to total beginners as languages are not like history which can be learned solely by reading it. Languages require the spoken part which involves learning how words are pronounced in languages that are not always systematically phonetic so for this reason I recommend getting a teacher. For total beginners I also suggest starting in a group because at the start what people are most in need of is repetition. For instance a teacher might begin with each student saying "My name is ___." and if there should be 20 students in the class then we should hear this sentence repeated just as many times and therefore making it more provable that the sentence will stick in our mind then if we had just heard it repeated twice. Granted groups advance more slowly but the speed in which we cover the material is not the issue but what is, is how much of it we absorb and I noticed specially when I was studying French and Polish how much easier it was to learn things because of the repetitive nature to be found in groups.
2. When learning a second language we must think in the language we are trying to learn. There are those however who may say that for beginners this is the neither possible or recommendable but to those I would say that on the contrary it is. The reason I say this is for instance if a person is learning Spanish and the first sentence he is presented with is "Yo me llamo ___." (My name is ____.) then he or she should say this sentence not translating in to English and then repeating it in Spanish but knowing what the sentence means and simply repeating it. This method perhaps may be slower at first but will pay off in the future because if the student can say the sentence in the language he or she is learning without having to translate in his or her mind this will make it possible for that student to become fluent as that person will be able to speak without thinking of the words. Fluent speaking is when a person gets an idea and can put that idea in to words without thinking of the words because they come automatically. Naturally this does not mean that if a person speaks a language fluently he or she will speak that language correctly as these are two different things. Fluency dealing with how much time passes from the moment the thought enters the mind to the moment the words come out and only this. Many of my students on many occasions have asked me how can they think in the language they are speaking and to them I tell the following. When speaking or repeating a sentence or word in a language one should pretend that the only language one speaks or knows is the language one is trying to speak. In other words one should forget all other languages that one may speak and if one does so speaking a foreign language fluently will be easier ; reason being that translating as one goes along slows one down. This even holds more true when listening to a language for if we had to stop and translate every word in to another language that is being said to us by the time we translated the first word the whole sentence would have gone by so with this in mind I say we should only think in the language we are speaking or listening to forsaking all others.
3. To learn a language when we wish to translate a sentence what we should do is translate the general idea of the sentence and not word per word but as a whole for it is there where we see the general idea. For instance in Italian we say "Io me chiamo Gianni" which when translated word per word would be "I call myself Gianni" which in English does not have the same meaning. This however if translated not word per word but the general idea we would get "My name is Gianni". The reason this stands as truth is that every language is different and not only that words are different but their grammar. Grammar being the order in which we place words. Sometimes however it is not a matter of grammar which in an of itself differs one language from another. As an example I can give that Polish only employs three tenses (present, past and future) and does not have articles, definite or indefinite but the way people speak. For instance in French it is correct to say "J' ai 40 ans" which when translated directly in to English would be "I have 40 years" which in proper English would be "I am 40 years old". This proving my point that is not always a question of grammar but of the way people in different languages speak this making it that the same thing is expressed in a different way. As an added example I can give that in Polish the sentence "happy birthday" does not exist but in its place Polish people say (from a literal translation) "all the best wishes".
4. Never ask why! In languages it is not important to know why Polish does not use articles or why English does not have articles that differentiate genders like French which has them in the form or "le" and "la" or why Spanish and Italian do not use the letter "k" to spell any of their own words. What is important is to understand how the language is and speak it as such and not waste time analyzing why it is one way or was made one way and not another. Knowing this; if we could even find out why will not help us speak the language we are trying to learn anymore then knowing why most of us have two instead of three eyes would help us see better. So in short do not worry about why it so just accept it and speak it or write it as such.
5. Languages do not require thinking or least none that be analytical but the ability to understand a situation and repeat the sentence that explains it to another person. For instance when we say "This is a pen." we establish what something is and if the object we were establishing were a table then the structure would be the same "This is a table". These two sentences only requiring us to change one word but not the structure which should not change since the situation has not.
6. Do not be afraid to make mistakes. When learning a language mistakes are as unavoidable as is falling down to a child who is learning to walk. If that child or his parents were afraid of their child falling down that child would never learn to walk; same thing with languages. I always tell my students that if they can not avoid mistakes at least they should try to learn from them. One of the reasons people are afraid or perhaps embarrassed about mistakes is what other people might think. This if one logically thinks about should not represent a problem as those who are mindful will understand that the person who is speaking is not a native speaker of that language and will not only understand if that person makes some mistakes but will not think less of that person for doing so.
7. Using good grammar is not the most important thing! Unless we are teachers of that language or writers in that language; then grammar is not the most important thing if we just want other people to understand what we are saying. Grammar only becomes an issue when we are misunderstood or not all. For instance if I heard someone say "I had bought a book, yesterday" I would understand that this person bought a book yesterday. This despite the fact that he or she used "past perfect" in a situation when he or she should have used "past simple". So my advise to those who are speaking a foreign language is to not worry about what is grammatically correct and just to speak.
8. Practice as much as possible! To learn to speak Spanish fluently or any other language well we need to have at least 20 hours of contact a week with the language. By this I mean taking lessons but they are not enough. For instance if a person took piano lessons this would not be enough to learn the piano as that person would have to have a piano he or she could practice on at home otherwise lessons would not be so beneficial. Having said this what I recommend to those who do not live in a country where the language they want to learn is spoken is to look for as much contact with the language in question as possible. May be in the form of watching television in that language, making friends with people who speak that language or just having a romantic acquaintance that would also contribute to one's linguistic needs apart from all the rest.
9. The four parts to languages are the following: the spoken one, the read one, the written one and listening. To practice the last one all we need is to watch films in that language maybe even with subtitles. With regard to reading this we should practice for the reason that it is the best way for us to expand our vocabulary in the language as we have time to look up the words we do not understand. Writing should be improved by reading because after seeing the words many times this should teach us how to spell them. The speaking perhaps is the hardest to practice as it is most advisable to not do this alone as this would force one to answer oneself.
In all my years as a language teacher and learner of languages it has been my experience that has taught me that when speaking or learning a language as in life all we can do is our best and hope for just that so with this in mind I leave those who should read this with the following thought. It is better to speak a language badly then not at all because if we really think about it how many people speak a language with grammatical perfection even their own let alone a second or a foreign one.
My name is Gianni Truvianni, I am an author who writes with the simple aim of sharing his ideas, thoughts and so much more of what I am with those who are interested in perhaps reading something new. As for the details regarding my life I would say that there is nothing that lifts them above the ordinary. I was born in New York City in 1967 on May 21st and am presently living in Warsaw, Poland because my wife happens to be from this particular country that was also the birthplace for my only daughter. My daughter being the star of "Little Opera Singer" which was my first ever completed story.

Sep 26, 2010

The 1000 Most Common Spanish Words And Phrases Make Up 80% Of Everyday Speech

Studies show that the 1000 most common Spanish words make up approximately 80% of everyday speech.  Interestingly enough, this figure holds steady in pretty much all languages, not just Spanish.  Furthermore, the 2000 most common Spanish words account for approximately 95% of all speech.
This is good news for learners.  Inevitably, beginners who would want to learn to speak Spanish fluently observe the amount of vocabulary unknown to them and begin to feel like it’ll take years to learn enough to be able to carry on a conversation.  The 1000 number above, while it sounds like a lot, really isn’t.  Following my vocabulary card approach, most students should be able to learn an average of 10 new vocabulary words per days in an average of 20-30 minutes scattered throughout the day that would otherwise be wasted and unproductive anyway.
Knowing which words are most useful is another trick entirely.  Most decent vocabulary card sets more or less contain to the most useful words to know, but not always.  Similarly, I have seen some vocabulary lists in the past with seemingly no connection to reality;  the FSI program in particular is bad at this (just how many ways are there to ask for a cigarette, anyway?).  Fortunately, the most useful source I’ve come across is also the cheapest.  There is a book called 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words (Beginners' Guides)s that sells for just $2 on Amazon, brand new and contains the most accurate list of common Spanish words I’ve seen yet.  Realistically, an $18 total investment between 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words and a good set of vocabulary cards is probably all you’ll ever need, because it’s much easier to absorb new vocabulary organically once you’ve reached an advanced Spanish level.


Ready to get started?  Buy 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words and Modern Spanish Bilingual Vocabulary Cards from Amazon today and get stared on the road to fluency!
Complement the handbook with this simple Spanish Learning system.
View the original article here

501 Spanish Verbs with CD-ROM and Audio CD (501 Verb Series)

501 Spanish Verbs with CD-ROM and Audio CD (501 Verb Series)The world's bestselling Spanish verbs reference book has just gotten better! The authors focus directly on a command of Spanish verbs--and fluency in Spanish starts with knowledge of verbs. This new seventh edition shows students and travelers exactly how to use the 501 most common and useful Spanish verbs in all 15 tenses and moods. Each verb is alphabetically listed in easy-to-follow chart form, one verb per page with its English translation. Enclosed with the book are two discs, a CD-ROM with language-learning aids, and an audio CD that reviews the formation and usage of Spanish verb forms.

New features include--
  • Formation and usage of Spanish verb tenses and moods summarized as they relate to their English equivalents
  • The 55 most essential Spanish verbs used in context
  • Another 2,200 regular verbs conjugated like the book's 501 model verbs
  • Verbs in idiomatic phrases

  • Passive and active voice formations
  • Sentences demonstrating Spanish verb usage in all tenses
  • Exercises in Spanish verb usage with answers
  • Appendixes covering impersonal verbs, weather expressions, and English-Spanish verb index . . .and more

    501 Spanish Verbs plus software--the best language learning program of its kind!

    It's a must have for language classes, a self-teaching guide for international travelers, and a handy reference volume for translators. In addition to the 501 verb tables the book with software includes a wealth of additional features to help students develop a truly comprehensive command of Spanish for speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension. There's a reason other publishers imitate Barron's 501 Spanish Verbs. After almost 50 years on the market, Barron's verb books are still the best. Choose the original!

    (sidebar)
    Enclosed with each book
    A CD-ROM

    It's filled with sentence completion exercises, dialogue exercises, word completion exercises, word puzzles, and more. Barron's CD-ROM is more adaptable than those from other publishers because you can download it on any PC® or Mac®.
    Brand-New with This Edition--an Audio CD
    It emphasizes Spanish pronunciation and listening comprehension. Here's an audio feature that presents the true sound of spoken Spanish



    Price: $16.99


    Click here to buy from Amazon

  • Rosetta Stone V4 TOTALe: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1-5 Set

    Product Shots

    Develop your command of the language. From the simple to the complex, gain the confidence to share your ideas and opinions in your new language. Develop the conversational skills to plan adventures, care for your health and move abroad. Talk about government, work, movies, family, and more. Includes everything you need to learn at home and on the go.

    What Will I Learn

    This level will help you:
    • Build your vocabulary and language abilities
    • Read, write, speak and understand your new language
    • Speak without a script
    • Retain what you've learned
    • Practice unscripted conversations in your new language
    • Negotiate complex situations with confidence and accuracy
    Sample topics include:
    • The basics, such as age and family relations
    • Questions, greetings, introductions
    • Telling time, calendar terms, the weather
    • Directions, locations, dining out
    • Emotions, opinions, ideas
    • Political, media, business terms
    • Arranging home repairs
    • Planning to move abroad
    • Discussing the arts and tourism
    • Careers and conducting interviews
    • Problem-solving and commercial transactions

    What Do I Get?

    Interactive Software

    Our Lets award-wining version, complete with proprietary speech recognition technology.

    Audio Companion

    For your CD or MP3 player so you can review while on the go.

    Headset with Microphone

    For use with our state-of- the-art speech-recognition software.

    Live Online Lessons NEW

    Practice sessions led by native speaking tutors.

    Games & Community NEW

    Language-enhancing games move you towards real-world proficiency.

    Mobile Companion NEW

    Learning application for your iPhone or iPod Touch device.

    Our Method

    Our Method

    Recreate the natural way you learned your first language and reveal skills that you already have using Dynamic Immersion. This award-winning method has been adopted by countless organizations, schools and millions of users around the world.

    Learn Naturally: Discover how to speak, read, write, and understand--all without translating or memorizing. Our award-winning solution recreates how you learned your first language, unlocking your natural abilities.

    Speak Confidently: Perfect your pronunciation with speech-recognition technology. Gain the confidence in your new voice as you practice with other learners in our exclusive online community and participate in online sessions coached by native tutors.

    Immerse Yourself: Be surrounded by your new language. From core lessons to online sessions, Rosetta Stone gets you engaged and interacting with others.

    Stay Motivated: Experience accomplishment with each moment of achievement; with dedicated success agents you will never lose sight of your language-learning goals.

    Your Natural Ability. Awakened.

    Natural Discovery

    Learning your first language is as natural as smiling. Effortless. Rewarding. Every step in Rosetta Stone feels like that. Clear, compelling images appear precisely, in juxtaposition, conveying meaning. Intuitively, you just know what it means.

    • Our puzzle-like environments--a systematic presentation of sounds, images, and text--help learners absorb meaning intuitively.
    Natural Discovery
    Rosetta Stone's award-winning software, where you will interact by speaking, clicking, selecting phrases and writing.
    Speech Activation
    Speech Activation
    Rosetta Stone's proprietary speech-recognition technology provides immediate and ongoing feedback.

    Build your confidence and polish your pronunciation skills with state-of-the-art speech-recognition technologies and success-filled dialogues.

    • Our software provides immediate and ongoing assessments of your speech through Actionable Feedback, which helps you pronounce syllables, words and sentences correctly and easily.
    • Based on a collection of literally millions of speech samples, our proprietary speech-recognition algorithms and speech models were engineered with a singular purpose--to help you communicate with accuracy, confidence and ease.
    Native Socialization
    Native Socialization
    Language-learning games will keep you motivated along the way.

    Practice with native speakers in our live interactive sessions and our online community. Every conversation gives you the confidence to communicate in your new language.

    • For many, traditional language-learning fails because it lacks real conversation. With Rosetta Stone you'll play games and chat with native speakers and other learners in our online language community.
    • Hundreds of native-speaking tutors trained in the Rosetta Stone method are ready to help reinforce the language you're learning through live, online conversations. From Day One you'll be speaking your new language with confidence and ease.

    Price: $749.00


    Click here to buy from Amazon

    Tips on How to Learn Spanish Fast

    If you're in a hurry to learn to speak Spanish fluently, no matter the reason, there are things you can do to help. Even if you've never learned a foreign language before, there are tips and techniques you can use to make sure you're speaking fluent Spanish in no time.
    One of the first things you can do to learn Spanish in a hurry is to concentrate on the alphabet, especially the vowels. If you can master this part early and easily, you'll be in a lot better position to be able to pick up the rest of the language and be speaking, reading and writing Spanish in no time. If you think about this, it makes a lot of sense because this is how children usually begin to learn to speak a language.
    Another tip to decrease the time it takes you to learn Spanish is to immerse yourself in both the language and the culture. Hopping on a plane to the nearest Spanish speaking country isn't a possibility for everyone, but there are other options available. From Spanish music to Spanish television to Spanish websites, there are a lot of ways to immerse yourself in the language without leaving the comfort of your home.
    If you're the more adventurous type, you can even explore your area of the world to see if there are any Spanish speaking areas of the population where you can go (without traveling far) to listen to the language being spoke by people who have been speaking it their whole lives. This is even better than the other immersion methods mentioned because you can get feedback when you respond in Spanish.
    These are just a few ideas to help you get started with learning Spanish fast. If you're dedicated and disciplined, learning a language like Spanish isn't an impossible feat. Whatever reason you want to learn the language, there are ways to learn it quickly.
    Learning spanish will get very challenging as you advance, and for some, it will seem impossible to master. Articles like these are great as a starting point, but in order to really TAKE ACTION, you're going to need a better resource. Visit here to learn to speak Spanish quickly and fluently.

    Sep 25, 2010

    The Rosetta Stone Audio Companion CDs Are Mostly Useless

    Seeing as how Rosetta Stone (relatively) recently released Levels 4 and 5 Set with Audio Companion, I decided to purchase the complete program (levels 1-5, see my complete review) both as a means of refreshing my Spanish skills and as a way to check out the latest and greatest from perhaps the best Spanish learning tool on the planet.
    I was particularly interested in trying the Audio Companion CD’s advertised as coming with the program.  It’s been a while since I’ve used Rosetta Stone, and my previous experiences didn’t include any audio CD’s (I guess they didn’t exist back then).  I was looking forward to honing my pronunciation (a major strength of the computer program) and practicing useful conversations.  Sadly, I got neither.
    The audio companion CD’s are nothing more than a listen-and-repeat version of the phrases covered in the corresponding computer lesson a la the Living Language Ultimate Spanish series.  Needless to say, this isn’t the most effective way to learn the language.  I mean sure, it’s better than nothing, but I expect more from a program as expensive as Rosetta Stone.  The complete Rosetta Stone program is upwards of $600 while Ultimate Spanish products are right at $100 for the complete program.  If I wanted listen and repeat, I would have bought Ultimate Spanish (actually, I did…not worth the money unless you can get it used for under $25, in my opinion).
    That said, Rosetta Stone is still well worth buying.  It’s the best, most complete product I know of.  In conjunction with a good Spanish grammar aid (like the Practice Makes Perfect series), it can get you as close to fluency as you can get without traveling to a Spanish-speaking country and hiring a private tutor, for a fraction of the cost.  I just don’t appreciate the obvious money-grab of advertising the audio companions as a major pro of purchasing the program.  After all, if that method of learning Spanish actually worked, there would be no market for Rosetta Stone to begin with.
    Buy Rosetta Stone from Amazon.com and see what all the talk is about.  It’s expensive, but I think it’s well worth the price if you are to learn to speak Spanish fluently.
    A cheaper version of a Spaning learning program is here
    View the original article here

    How to Speak Spanish - Useful Tips That Will Help You Learn How to Speak Spanish Fast!

    If you want to speak Spanish fast, this article will give you some great tips on how to speak Spanish.


    When you are learning Spanish, it is important that you picture the object in your mind. This will help you to connect the meanings behind each word with what you are saying. Don't worry about translations at this time. Just let the word roll off of your tongue.


    Learning a foreign language can be quite a challenge. This is especially true if you are going about it the wrong way. When you want to learn a foreign language, you should just learn how to pronounce the words. Don't worry about how to spell them and don't worry about if the word you are saying is a noun or a verb. Why make it harder for yourself than it already is?


    When you learn how to speak Spanish, you should concentrate on how to express yourself as you say the word. Some words may have a hand gesture for emphasis. Learning these little extras will help you to gain respect when you visit a Spanish speaking country. The native people will know that you took the extra time to learn how to speak Spanish the correct way.


    So if you want to learn how to speak Spanish, just dive right in and do it. Don't worry about the mistakes that you are going to make. Everyone who try to learn a new language will make plenty of them. But with enough practice you will speaking fluent Spanish in no time at all.


    To accelerate your learning curve, make sure that you get a good and experienced Spanish teacher. Before you start, you need to understand that all teachers are not created equal, so you need to do your homework before you start with your next professor.


    Want to become fluent in Spanish FAST? Get your Spanish Learning Pack now at:Learn To Speak Spanish


    Franck Silvestre helps others to speak Spanish fluently with his amazing Spanish e-Course.

    Sep 24, 2010

    Use Customer Reviews To Help Steer Your Purchase Decisions

    With so many people out there trying to make money selling you a product, it can be difficult finding honest opinions about various products.  After all, if somebody stands to make money from your purchase, can they really be trusted to give an objective opinion or are they likely to steer you towards the product that will earn them the largest commission and not necessarily the one best suited for your needs?
    That’s an interesting question and has a simple answer:  while there are plenty of honest reviews out there, even by people who stand to gain something from your purchase decisions (I do my best around here!), there are also plenty of people who will stop at nothing to make a quick buck.  So where to find unbiased opinions?  I think customer reviews of products on the major eCommerce sites, like Amazon.com, are a great start.  Even here, however, there are a few caveats.  Here are a few guidelines to help you sort the good from the bad.
    Be Wary Of Products With Only A Few Reviews – Customer reviews are more likely to be objective for larger, more popular products than smaller ones.  For example, the Rosetta Stone customer reviews section on Amazon currently has over 130 reviews and counting.  While a few of these reviewers may have an agenda, the vast majority are likely to be honest people with something to say that they feel is important.  By contrast, a small product with only two or three reviews could easily be manipulated by the author and a few friends.
    Be Wary Of Products With Only Stellar Reviews – No product is perfect, not even the best.  Any honest product review will draw attention to the product’s faults as well as strengths.  For example, FSI Spanish is a very effective program, but it has the disadvantage of being incredibly boring.  Similarly, Rosetta Stone excels at teaching pronunciation but is a bit weak in the grammar department.  A product with only positive reviews should set off an alarm in your head that maybe, just maybe, somebody is trying to make the product seem better than it really is.
    Look For References For Competing Products – Often times, reviewers will attempt to compare and contrast the product in question with other popular products in the same niche.  These reviews can be gold mines of information because they allow you to get an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of both products without having to spend any money.  For example, the very first customer review of Fluenz Spanish (a software package gaining in popularity) is titled “Fluenz and Rosetta” and gives a detailed side-by-side comparison of what the author both likes and dislikes about both software packages.  It would be wise to learn from the experience of this reviewer rather than waste your own hard-earned cash.  You may not agree with their opinion, but at least it offers a different perspective.
    So far, the best I've seen is Rocket Spanish. Check them out here to learn to speak Spanish fluently.
    View the original article here

    Which Country For Spanish Language Training?

    I am planning on spending a week doing Spanish language training in a Spanish-speaking country.  The goals are threefold:  to improve my Spanish dramatically (i.e learn to speak Spanish fluently) in as short a period of time as possible, to really immerse myself in the culture, and to just get away from it all (i.e. a vacation).  I’ve done a bit of preliminary research and have narrowed it down to three cities:  Guanjuanto, Mexico (Enforex, a school I’ve used before in Barcelona, has facilities there), Antigua, Guatemala, and Quito, Ecuador.  There are pros and cons to each choice.
    While searching online for Spanish schools in Latin America, I found Enforex has several facilities in Mexico.  I am familiar with Enforex’s methods and I definitely learned a lot when I took classes with them in Barcelona, so at least I know what I’d be getting.  They have facilities in Playa del Carmen (too touristy for my purposes), Oaxaca (just didn’t like the vibe I’m getting from reading about it online), Puerto Vallarta (again, too touristy and the beach would be a distraction), and Guanjuanto.  Guanjuanto, by far, looks the most interesting of the bunch.  It’s a colonial city with a rich cultural heritage.  I think I could find plenty of productive activities here when not in class.  The downside of Mexico, of course, is the Mexican slang.  The differences between the Spanish dialects are more style than substance, of course, but I feel picking up too much of a distinctly Mexican dialect might hamper my Spanish learning efforts down the road.  Or maybe I’m just being too sensitive.
    First off, let me just say that everybody I’ve talked to who’s been to Antigua has raved about it.  The city and environs are supposed to be absolutely beautiful.  What’s more, Antigua is close to volcanoes, the beach, and tropical rain forests, giving me a plethora of outdoor activities to occupy my time outside of class.  Let’s not forget this is a vacation, after all.  The major downside is the Caribbean dialect, or at least I assume that’s the case.  I’ve never been to Guatemala and don’t think I’ve ever spoken to a native, so I’m not entirely sure what characterizes their speech.  If it’s anything like other Caribbean dialects, however, they probably speak quickly and swallow their middle s’s.  While I think this dialect sounds awesome (it’s like you’re drunk and slurring your speech all the time!), I’m not sure how well served I would be incorporating this into my own speech, especially in light of my next option.  Besides, I already have tons of practice slurring my  Spanish from previous travels…
    Quito is a massive city, with all the amenities you would expect from one.  It has easy access to the rain forest, perfect weather year-round, and gorgeous vistas.  I have a friend who recently spent a semester there and she can’t stop talking about the place.  What’s more, Ecuadorean Spanish tends to be slow, deliberate, and easy to understand.  It’s more the kind of “standardized” dialect most students of Spanish would do well to emulate.  Still, Quito is significantly more expensive then Guanjuanto and especially Antigua.  Do the pros outweigh the cons?
    I’ve still got a while to make up my mind, but it’s something to think about.  If you had to choose between the three places above to spend a week, which would it be?  Or do I have a better option in mind?
    View the original article here

    Sep 23, 2010

    Rosetta Stone V3: Spanish (Latin America) Level 1,2,3,4 & 5 Set with Audio Companion [OLD VERSION]

    Rosetta Stone Personal Edition contains everything you need to give the voice inside of you a new language. The method used recreates the natural way you learned your first language, revealing skills that you already have. This approach has won numerous awards, and has been adopted by countless organizations, schools and millions of users around the world. Join the language revolution today. Only with Rosetta Stone.

    The comprehensive language-learning solution that fits your life.

    Learn Naturally
    Learn your next language the same way you learned your first language. Dynamic Immersion empowers you to see, hear and comprehend without translating or memorizing. You already have this ability. Rosetta Stone simply unlocks it.

    Engage Interactively
    Get feedback to move forward. You learn best by doing, and you'll apply what you've learned to get to the next step. Rosetta Stone adapts to your individual needs and skills, because you drive the program with your progress.

    Speak Confidently
    Start to learn to speak Spanish fluently, immediately. From the very first lesson, you'll speak. You'll begin with essential basics, which form the building blocks of the language. Soon you'll create new sentences on your own, using words you've learned.

    Have Fun
    Best of all, Rosetta Stone is addictive. With every entertaining activity, you'll feel success. You'll want to use Rosetta Stone to have that next moment, that next breakthrough. So you'll keep using it, and you'll learn more!

    That's language-learning success.
    That's Rosetta Stone.


    No translation or memorization required.

    The most effective way to learn a new language is to be surrounded by it. When you were an infant, your parents taught you this way, by intuitively associating words with images. That's the ultimate language lab, but most language-learning programs completely ignore this.

    Think about all of the ways you've tried to learn a language: classes at school, tapes and cassettes, even software that uses your native language as a base for your next one. What do they all have in common? Translation and memorization.



    Instead of taking a "direct flight" from your brain to your new language, translation and memorization connects you to your old language. You always have to "fly" from your brain, to your native tongue ... and then translate what you've memorized to communicate.

    That might work for a few words, but what happens when you get to a sentence or phrase? When you have to change tenses? You're going to make a lot of "connecting flights." That's why those other methods are so frustrating ... and why they fail.

    Enter Dynamic Immersion.
    This method encourages you to think like a baby. You'll pair words with vivid, real-life images and make connections between things you know and the new language. Soon, you'll be thinking in a new language, stringing words together into phrases that you create.

    Innovative technology.
    Rosetta Stone places this Dynamic Immersion method at the core of a suite of software that works with you to develop your skills. The simple, intuitive interface helps to keep you engaged in the solution, while advanced speech recognition technology makes certain that you're speaking correctly and accurately. Best of all, Rosetta Stone never leaves you behind. You'll only move forward when you're ready, when you've become comfortable and confident.

    Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5
    Develop command of the language as you master conversational language skills across five levels. Gain the confidence to share your ideas and opinions. Develop conversational skills to plan adventures, care for your health and move abroad. Talk about government, work, movies and citizenship. Discuss family and traditions. And celebrate success.

    Audio Companion
    With Audio Companion, you'll enhance the Rosetta Stone experience wherever you go. You'll learn new skills on the computer, and then reinforce what you've learned with Audio Companion. Simply play the CDs on a stereo or download them to a MP3 Player. Each Audio Companion activity corresponds to a lesson in the Rosetta Stone software, so you can turn your travel time into productive language-learning time.

    Inside the box, you'll find:

    • Version 3 Personal Edition CD-ROM software for Level 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 (Windows/Mac)
    • Headset microphone
    • User's guide
    • Audio Companion, a multiple-CD set to play or download to your MP3 player

    Price: $749.00
    Click here to buy from Amazon
    Also, check this out for a simpler version

    How To Brush Up On Your Spanish Skills After A Lapse

    I was recently fortunate enough to score a killer round-trip deal (hotel included) to Puerto Rico over the long Labor Day weekend ( ), so I’ll be spending 4 days and 4 nights on the island.  Unfortunately, I haven’t really spoken much Spanish since my cruise to Mexico back in January.  Simply put, I’m rusty.  Believe me, it is extremely difficult to maintain foreign language skills when you’re constantly busy.


    In order to brush up on my Spanish skills and get prepared to hit the ground running when I land in San Juan a month from now, I’m spending about an hour per day studying the language. Since I already know the language and am only brushing up, I can afford to focus my efforts only on the areas I’m most lacking in.  Here’s what I’m doing.


    How do you brush up on your Spanish skills after a long period of not using them?  Is there anything I’ve missed?


    View the original article here

    Always learn some Spanish before bed

    It’s a good idea to keep a phrase book by your bed, and to learn a few extra words or phrases before you sleep.  The reason for this is that learning new things at this time increases the amount of slow wave activity in the brain while you sleep.  What research has shown is that people who have more of this type of brain activity through the night tend to perform better at the task the next day.


    But the key point is learning – just going over things you already know won’t affect your slow wave activity.  You brain needs to be changing, making new connections.


    If you’re really hardcore, you could set your alarm for midway through your night’s rest, and learn a few more words then.  That way, you’ll be learning prior to the next REM stage of sleep which should help.  A similar technique is used in lucid dreaming.


    View the original article here

    Sep 22, 2010

    Lean to Speak Spanish Fluently - How to Go From Zero Or Basic to Fluent Spanish Quickly

    Learn to Speak Spanish fluently - that is the goal of many language learners but many of them quit when they reach a basic level. They look ahead and all they see is a learning curve the size of Everest and they soon lose interest. In this article, I want to show you how it is much easier than you may think to gain fluency with my 3 great tips.
    First Things First - A Good Core Learning Program
    You could learn to speak Spanish fluently by just watching Spanish TV but it might take you 5 years or so. Clearly, a good language learning program is the key to accelerating our learning.
    The problems with traditional classroom lessons are many. First, teachers cannot accommodate everyone's learning speeds, secondly, there is an over-reliance on memorization and textbooks.
    I highly advise you to get your hands on a self study audio course. These are what most people are using these days, including the US Foreign Service. The organic learning methods of audio courses - listen, repeat, create your own sentences - mean that you learn more quickly and without textbooks or memorization.
    Daily Exposure To Spanish
    I highly recommend that you expose yourself to the Spanish language every day, even as little as 5 minutes. Here's an easy way - tune into a Spanish internet radio station while you are doing the chores.
    It is not important that you understand anything being spoken at first. Your brain will hear the Spanish passively and get used to this daily exposure and become more receptive to learning the language.
    You could take this to another extreme - I know a guy who learned Japanese by doing a total immersion: he listened, watched, put up posters around the house, even went to sleep listening to everything Japanese! He learned fluent Japanese in less than one year! But be advised that most people find these intense methods to be too much.
    Listening Reading Method
    Once you have a basic level of Spanish - which should only take a few weeks using an audio course - you can try getting some bilingual parallel texts. Your local language stores may have these books which feature facing pages of English and Spanish.
    So as you read the book in Spanish, you can quickly scan across to the English if you don't understand any words. As you progress, you'll soon be looking almost exclusively at the Spanish side only (in all languages, most people only use a small set of words and recycle them, again and again).
    Discover how others are using a revolutionary self study course to learn Spanish in less than 8 weeks, Click Here!
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