Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Sep 30, 2010

How to Learn Spanish Faster

So you've decided to learn Spanish. Great choice, you'll be joining millions of speakers around the world. The problem is one weekly lesson at the local community centre isn't going to get your lingo in shape before that holiday to South America or that in time to land that big promotion that requires a second language. You know how to say 'Hola!' to your friends, but you just don't feel confident having a full conversation with your amigos yet. There are ways you can learn Spanish faster.


Here are some tips to get your Spanish skills increasing as quick as Speedy Gonzales;


Take an Online Course: Even if you are already attending a class. Enrolling in an additional online course can help speed of your learning. The great thing about online courses is that you can move through the material at your own pace, and in some cases pick what you are learning. It should be easy to pick up different vocabulary in your class, and you will find that the extra practice help a lot.


Vocabulary Programs: These programs have become quite a useful tool for language learners. Many of these programs send you a few words each day in your target language, usually to your email account or mobile phone. Set aside five or ten minutes each say to learn these new words and build your vocabulary.


Language Immersion: This is the process of immersing yourself in a community where only the target language is spoken. Booking a holiday in a Spanish speaking country like Mexico or Peru for a week or two is a great way to set your skills on the increase.


Local Culture: Is there a community of Spanish speaking people nearby you? See what local festivals or other activities you can join in on. You will be surprised how much you can learn from these events. Find out if you have access to Spanish language TV or radio networks where you live, you may find that watching or listening to one or two of these a week will help you build your vocabulary and also assist in pronunciation.


Find a Language Buddy: Spanish is such a popular second language choice, you will be sure to find a friend who is learning as well. Meet up once a week for coffee and practice your language skills with each other.


Practice, Practice, Practice: Yes, it does actually make perfect! Try to make time everyday to review what you have learnt so far, or look ahead in your class materials. Even ten or fifteen minutes a day can make a huge difference to how quickly you learn. You may like to develop your own system of flashcards that you can use at home to test yourself or to learn new words.


Of course, there is no miracle answer of program that will have you speaking fluent Spanish in seven days. Keep practicing Spanish whenever you get the opportunity and you will find that your skills will follow. With a little time and effort you can learn much quicker than you thought.


Here's a great way to get started with the Spanish language for free - take the 12 daily Spanish lessons over at the Spanish Lessons For Free website. When you finish the lessons, they'll also give you some really important tips and methods for learning any language quickly. Well worth it, for free!


Oh, and make sure you complete the challenge at the end of lesson 1 - It makes all the difference!

Sep 29, 2010

iPod Spanish Classes - Learning a New Language From Your MP3 Player Or iPod

Learning with iPod Spanish classes can help cut down on the amount of time it takes you to learn to speak this great language. Understanding and speaking fluent conversational Spanish is important in order to understand what people are saying to you and how reply. With the help of your MP3 player or iPod you can understand a grammar, pronunciation, verbs and phrases which are all vital to understanding how to speak Spanish.


Using this type of learning gives you a better learning experience when compared to other more traditional learning ways. Here are a few reasons why learning with interactive software is better.


1) Learn at a rate that works for you. You don't have to rush or keep up with the class mates which is perfect for people who are slow learners or those who want to jump ahead.


2) You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars hiring a tutor when you can get everything you need downloaded straight your iPod or MP3 player. Having a full Spanish course at the tip of your fingers allows you to learn any time, anywhere.


3) Quickly assimilate what you're learning and use it in your everyday life. Using what you've learned even if it's only a few words here and there can help your brain remember more and recognize objects, places and things in both English and Spanish.


iPod Spanish classes can cut down your time spent learning and the amount of money it will cost. Hiring a tutor can be very expensive and you have to work around the tutors schedule. Going to Spanish-speaking classes can be a bit cheaper than a tutor but require more time spent going to classes because you learn less during the classes. This simply comes down to having more students in one class and more people requiring the teachers attention.


You can get a great Spanish-speaking course for your MP3 player or portable device by going toiPod Spanish Classes. This interactive course will help you save time and learn Spanish faster.


Not sure of if learning from your iPod would be the perfect fit for you? You can compare interactive Spanish courses at iPod Spanish course reviews [http://www.ipod-spanishlearning.com/ipod-spanish-courses-reviewed.html] for comparison to other Spanish classes.

Tips On How To Learn Spanish

Most colleges require at least two years of study in a foreign language. The only majors that are usually excluded from this requirement are business and technical majors. If you're pursuing a bachelor of arts, this will most definitely be a prerequisite. One of the most popular languages to take in college is Spanish. Why? Because it is the closest foreign language to English and is becoming increasingly important to understand due to the large influx of Spanish-speaking individuals in the United States.


But to be honest, most students take Spanish because of the first reason listed above: it will be easier than other languages since its so close to English. However, do not let this popular myth fool you. Spanish can be a very difficult language to grasp, especially in the more advanced levels. It would be wise to invest in a quality study tool to aid in your absorption of material such as vocabulary, conjugation, and pronunciation. Here are some basic guidelines that will enable you to learn spanish most effectively:


1.)Organize and categorize vocabulary words. Learning a plethora of vocabulary words is standard in any foreign language. But a good way to avoid getting confused or increasing your mental retention is to organize the vocabulary words assigned into relatable categories. For example, organize all the vocab words relating to the home (like bathroom, garage, sofa) and then create a category. Whenever you receive more vocab words of the same ilk, place them in this category. This simple technique will really aid in your studies.


2.)"Micro-study" -- Study a little bit each day rather than trying to cram everything in one night. This is an extremely important technique when studying a foreign language. There are so many rules and intricacies associated with foreign language that it's important to study a small amount each and every day as opposed to cramming everything into one major study night before a test. Taking the "micro-study" approach improves both retention of material and understanding.


3.)Find a study partner. Since all foreign languages focus on speaking and interacting with individuals, acquiring a quality study partner is essential if you truly want to succeed with any foreign language, especially Spanish. As most people know, those who are fluent in Spanish speak in a rapid manner and the only way to emulate this style is to speak Spanish regularly with others. The more you speak, feel the words roll off your tongue, and understand the flow of a conversation in the language, the better you will learn spanish. It's that simple.


Check Out the Best College Information Site on the Net

Sep 28, 2010

Free English to Spanish Translator

I you're looking for a free English to Spanish translator, then I'm sure you want to write something in Spanish. However, I don't suggest you use any free english to Spanish translators - I believe you should be doing something else. As someone who wants to write in Spanish, I'm sure it won't be your last time trying to do so, and in that sense I think you should simply learn Spanish.


You might think that learning Spanish is too hard or requires to much work. I'll be honest with you - you do need to be motivated and put some effort into learning Spanish. In another sense, after you get to know the most popular Spanish words and you're able to speak a little-bit, you'll find it fun to talk to someone in Spanish or to listen to someone speak Spanish. At this stage, you'll amuse yourself by trying to understand and find the right words to express yourself.


Now, if you simply continue using free English to Spanish translators, you'll keep on sending Spanish texts that are very poorly written. Even if you only know basic Spanish, with some tools you will be able to write much better than by simply using a free English to Spanish translator. These translators don't understand sentence structure nor most grammar, and they often simply translate word by word which doesn't give very good results. That's why by simply investing into learning Spanish, you'll be able to seem proficient, professional and knowledgeable when you write in Spanish.


When I first started learning Spanish, I was scared of how much work there would be and of giving up in the middle of learning it. When I first started learning some vocabulary, I did use free English to Spanish translators, but I only translated one word at a time. If you translate anything more than that, then you will not get effective translations. Free English to Spanish translators are good tools to use, but use them wisely.


Now, you might think that learning Spanish is a very hard process, but if I can do it you can too. When I first started, I decided that a Spanish class wouldn't be a good option for me. I thought that learning myself from home would be better, since I can manage my own sessions and work when I want to. So the next step I did from there was to do my homework: I researched how to learn Spanish on my own, and I did some research on the most popular Spanish courses.


Today, I can speak fluent Spanish thanks to a course I got my hands on, called Rocket Spanish. This course helped me a lot to learn Spanish, and together with some language learning tips online I learned Spanish quite quickly. Rocket Spanish is truly one of the most easiest courses to learn from because it installs directly on your computer and it comes with many audio files. These audio files helped me acquire great pronunciation.


If you would like to learn more about Rocket Spanish and how I learnt Spanish, simply go to My Rocket Spanish review now.

Getting to Know Rocket Spanish

If you have ever wondered what Spanish course to take then you have probably been searching for the Spanish complete course that will teach you everything that you need to know. Rocket Spanish promises to be the course that will teach you how to have a very fluent conversation in Spanish within three months.


Most people who choose to learn how to speak Spanish wish to be able to have everyday conversations in the language with people that speak as their mother tongue. Often times when one is learning how to speak Spanish they may find that practicing on people that speak it can assist them in the learning process because the people that speak it naturally will teach them what they are doing wrong.


Rocket Spanish promises to deliver some highly advanced teaching techniques in a Spanish complete course that will allow one to learn the language in at least one third of the time that it would normally take at a college or nighttime classes. Although these are some impressive claims, there are many people who have found much success with this program.


Containing 12 hours of audio lessons the Spanish complete course from Rocket Spanish will teach the student the proper pronunciation of Spanish words as well as conversational speaking. There are two course books that accompany the audio lessons as well as two additional software programs that are available to help further your knowledge of the language.


The creator of Rocket Spanish offers a 60 day money back guarantee if one does not feel that the program is helping him/her to speak the Spanish language as fluently as they wish or as quickly as they anticipated.


As an added bonus, a person contemplating whether or not to utilize the Rocket Spanish program as their Spanish complete course can utilize the trial run which is a free six day e-course that will teach a few of the Spanish language basics. This can be a great tool to decide if this is going to be the best program.


There is a lot to be said for the ability to be able to carry on a conversation in another language. This program has been very helpful to many people who have traveled around the world to various locations that consider Spanish to be their mother language. Any time one visits another country it is important for them to be able to locate certain places that they wish to visit, restaurants, retail outlets, hotels, or even taxicabs. Learning conversational Spanish with the Rocket Spanish program has proved too many people to be a great way to quickly learn a language before traveling to the country that actually speaks it.


It is no wonder, with all of the various Spanish learning programs available, that many people are turning to rocket Spanish because of the Spanish complete course that it offers in such a short amount of time. It is expected that as time goes on more and more people will be utilizing the lessons, tips, and tricks taught in Rocket Spanish.


If you would like even more information on the Spanish Complete Course then don't hesitate any more and check out the following link:-
Spanish Complete Course

Get Hired Quick - One Righteous Career Tip

Think of it as career insurance. Versatility is highly desired in any market. Especially by the mid to smaller sized companies which are the engines of the economy. If you wish to always be instantly employable it is even more valuable than ever to have two in demand skills. Say you made the final 5 to be hired for two spots, odds are 40% you will be hired at this employer. If 15% of their clients are Spanish or Portuguese speaking wouldn't it pay off big time to be fluent in Spanish? Certainly your chances of being hired would jump to at least 90% in the former scenario. Since people forget what they learned in school if they don't practice, only about 10-20% of all Americans are really fluent in two or more languages.


Generally you get the idea that versatility is two marketable skills not one. For the record, speaking a less popular language or having a minor skill won't help too much. But with the great success of Rosetta Stone software today learning a second language is in reach for all. What makes Rosetta Stone software so unique and different is the way it uses your brain's natural language pictures to teach you words just like your parents did when you were younger. What ever you learn with the help of this revolutionary software you can retain by watching DVDs in Spanish instead of English. Listening to Spanish radio stations is very popular too. Another example of versatility is: If you are an administrative assistant who specializes in working with QuickBooks software for small businesses, then you learn basic HTML and Website building skills. Now you can maintain or build your employers website and increase the company's sales. You can learn HTML courtesy of the Video Professor Computer Courses in your home in your spare time.


Now you have just become a key employee and near irreplaceable unless they hired two regular employees. Learning basic HTML and Website building skills may take a month or two but there is no rush as long as you are making positive progress. The whole idea is to make you instantly irreplaceable with your employer. Let's face it if you were not learning a new skill in your spare time it would be highly likely that you would just be watching TV. In another example, let's say you work for a newspaper as a writer.


Times are tough and you've survived the first round of layoffs already. Don't wait for the ax to fall helplessly, learn digital photography skills. Basic photo editing and touch up skills with Adobe Photoshop software might take you 1-2 months of practice. Becoming a better photographer with practice and study from the library might take another two months. Now you are both a Journalist and a Photographer for your newspaper. In addition to greater job security now you have two valuable sources of freelance income. Now don't you think a versatile employee will be the first one to be hired?


Learn Spanish the right way here


2009 Darrell Z. DiZoglio of http://RighteousResumes.com, the website for free job hunting assistance and strategies. Publishers may reprint this article if my links are included & article is unchanged. "PAY IT FORWARD." Use my free resume critique service, free resume samples, Cover letter samples, expert advice & free info articles. For recession busting specials on all the professional services you need click here: http://www.RighteousResumes.com/services.html. Would you like to find out why the competition got the job you wanted?

Learn Spanish Fast Online - Free and Paid Alternatives to Learn Quickly

There are many online resources available, that teach Spanish free of charge. Rather one is looking to learn Spanish because of an upcoming visit to a Spanish speaking country, to qualify for a different job, or just because it is something they have always wanted to do, free resources are readily available.


The Why Dictates the How


The type of course that would prove best for the beginner depends on the reason for learning Spanish. If one desires to learn to have conversation with Spanish speaking people, then they should look for a more conversational lesson plan. If one plans on writing and speaking fluent Spanish, then they would need to learn more grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation. There are many online resources available with a focus in these areas, and should be checked out and considered as learning tools.


Other tips for learning Spanish quickly is to study every day, even if it is only for half an hour. Use an online tutorial. Watch Spanish speaking programs or movies. Listen to Spanish music. Watch Spanish teaching videos, Listen to Spanish audio, listen carefully to the accent and try some of the pronunciation. Try to find a Spanish coach, someone willing to help you learn the language.


Although the free online sites do not work well for everyone and one may not want to take the time to sift through the various sites and teaching methods, many do learn from using these free sites.


Better then the Free Alternatives


If the free online sites do not provide enough information or support, or are not teaching fast enough, one should consider a small investment in a tutorial program, such as Rocket Spanish.


This program teaches conversational Spanish and is great for the beginner, or an intermediate learner wishing to expand their language skills. The course includes audio lessons, pain-free grammar lessons in the form of guidebooks and exercises, vocabulary games, audio games, verb games, 24-hour tutorial support, and more. The Rocket Spanish course offers a free 6 day Spanish course and when purchased, a 60 day money back guarantee.


Whatever method of learning Spanish one chooses, the more serious they are and the more time they are willing to put into a course, the more successful they will be. A big part of being a motivated learner is the teaching methods. The tutorial or program should keep the learner interested and provide fun as well as challenges. Learning without the pain may be well worth a small investment.


Ready to start learning Spanish today? Visit our website at learn Spanish software to read detailed reviews of the best audio and software products like Rocket Spanish now.

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!

How to Tell If You Are Learning Genuine Spanish Language Or Not - The Indirect Method

Except if you are out learning the Spanish language and planning to be a jester and/or make people laugh, you are encouraged to discover fast enough whether the Spanish language you are learning or is being taught is genuine or not.


When you adopt the indirect method, you are sure to avoid all the embarrassment with an incomplete vocabulary that is sure to make you blush and stammer when you speak incorrectly especially when you are part of an exciting conversation and you are expected to dazzle everybody close to where you are speaking the Spanish language in a confident, free, easy and fluent manner.


It is a pathetic sight to make mistakes in public and become laughed at. Imagine feeling like you were caught taking a shower with your clothes on, it's totally absurd.


However, imagine the thrill and admiration you will command and receive as you speak Spanish easily, confidently, fluently and with the correct intonations among local Spanish speakers whether in Latin America or Europe?


Not only will you be the toast of the moment, you can watch as everyone around will view you with envy and treat you with respect because it is a wonderful sight to behold when you come across total strangers conversing freely in your local language.


Everybody can use a little recognition and attention sometime.


You must realize that it is absolutely easy to learn Genuine Spanish starting right from the basics to the advanced. There are enough resources online that you can access and become proficient in the use of Spanish for business, pleasure, when with friends, colleagues, in the marketplace, etc.


Whatever resources you are using right now, endeavour to speak to a native Spanish speaker and find out how vast you have become in mastering the Spanish language.


A few helpful tips and corrections here there should go a long way to ensuring that learning to speak the Spanish language is good money spent well and a quest worth all the effort and investments.


With Shortcut To Spanish, you can successfully learn to speak Spanish language in seconds without being laughed at or embarrassed in public again -easily, fluently and confidently. Discover a new world of opportunities and possibilities with Spanish Made Easy.

Spanish Verbs

If you're interested in learning Spanish verbs, then you're probably on the right track to learning Spanish. I suggest you get some vocabulary before jumping into grammar. There are many Spanish grammar books out there, but it's very important you know enough vocabulary before going into verbs - you need to know who does the action and you should have a complement to the verb you are using.


Learning Spanish verbs isn't that hard. You should memorize the basic rules, and then practice them. Practice makes perfect. However, like I have already mentioned, you should gain some knowledge of the most used verbs and what they mean - get to know some verbs and their meanings.


Once you practice the basic verbs in the tense you are studying, you should move on onto irregular verbs that are also quite common in Spanish. They aren't much harder however and can be learned pretty quickly. Spanish verbs aren't that hard to acquire, but they do require practice and work so you can know your verbs on the tip of your fingers.


Another way of learning Spanish verbs is to simply train your ear - I'll give you an example of this. If you ask a five year old to conjugate a verb in the first person in any given tense, the five year old will probably look at you very weirdly. However, if you speak to the child for some time you'll realize that he or she always says he sat and not he sats.


Why? Simply because the child has been listening and speaking english for quite a long time, and now has a trained ear which automatically detects which conjugation is correct and which one is not. This is a good way of learning, however you should still know Spanish verb conjugation rules very well.


Once you know the rules and you have practiced yourself a little, you can then go out and listen to the language to train your ear. This way you'll insure you'll always say verbs the right way.


When I first started learning Spanish, I did my homework and I looked around for Spanish courses. The one that I found and that I thought would be right for me is called Rocket Spanish, and thanks to it I can speak very fluent Spanish today.


If you would like to listen to my experience with Rocket Spanish and get my tips and tricks for learning Spanish, please visit my website. The great thing about Rocket Spanish is that it is mostly an Audio course which also helps to train your ear.


If you want to hear my story on learning Spanish with Rocket Spanish, simply go to My Rocket Spanish Review.

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

Oryany Handbags Katie Spanish Satchel

Oryany Handbags Katie Spanish SatchelWe absolutely adore the vintage-modern approach to style that Oryany Handbags' Katie takes. This very roomy bag is featured in slick, sheeny contemporary fabric with quilting in the pattern of a centuries-old Spanish decorative motif.

Price:


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Bloch London Women's Spanish Bow Ballet Flat

Bloch London Women's Spanish Bow Ballet FlatThe Spanish bow flat from Bloch is the modern version of your favorite ballet-inspired silhouette. Featuring a super low profile, a unique bow with glints of metallic, and a flexible leather construction, there's no detail about this graceful shoe that you won't love.

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Spanish Rose Italian Mask Black Lace Red Rose with Feather Masquerade Mardi Gras Mask Venetian

Spanish Rose Italian Mask Black Lace Red Rose with Feather Masquerade Mardi Gras Mask Venetian
Getting ready for a ball, Halloween party or any dress-up functions? Or simply need to add zest while you learn to speak Spanish fluently?
You could definitely use a Spanish Rose Italian Mask. It comes with Black Lace, Red Rose and Feather trim. This carnival masks are based on Venetian tradition and are hand crafted with artesian quality.

Perfect for a party or the bedroom.

Price: $49.99
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Easy Spanish Phrase Book: Over 770 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use (Dover Easy Phrase) (Spanish and English Edition)

Easy Spanish Phrase Book: Over 770 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use (Dover Easy Phrase) (Spanish and English Edition)
More than 770 basic phrases for everyday use enable you to communicate instantly on a host of topics: health and medical situations; essential services; boat, plane, and train travel; much more.

Price: $2.00


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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

Brazil Butt Lift - Workout DVD (English and Spanish)

Brazil Butt Lift - Workout DVD (English and Spanish)Join lead criminalist Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his state-of-the-art forensics team as they investigate hot and steamy Miami crimes using cold hard facts. The evidence leads into seedy nightclubs privileged suburbs and explosive family secrets. The stakes are higher than ever before because this time it's personal.

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How to Learn Spanish Fast - Simple Tips That Can Help You to Speak Fluent Spanish Really Fast

As one of the most romantic languages of the world, Spanish is easier to learn than you might have originally thought. It is one of the oldest where all the other languages was derived from, and also one of the most predominant languages in the world. Learning Spanish is all worth it, especially if you're thinking of visiting Spain and some Latin countries some time in the future.
With the advent of the internet, it has now become way easier for people to learn Spanish at the comforts of their home. You don't to spend costly fees on Spanish classes just to be a pro. There are literally hundreds of websites online teaching you how to learn Spanish fast while having fun during the entire time. They may be free or may be available for a minimal fee.
To learn Spanish quickly, try to chat with a native speaker. Conversation is always the easiest path to learning a language because as human beings we had all learned to speak before we write. Work out your schedule to set at least an hour a day going through an online course and speaking with your Spanish tutor. With this pace, you will be able to communicate effectively in just two or three weeks.
Among the tips on how to learn Spanish fast is to take note of the sentence structure, vocabulary and pronunciation. As with any languages, these are key to forming speech habits that closely resemble that of a native speaker.
Now pay close attention to this important information:
How would you like to Learn Spanish Fast and be fluent in as little as 8 short week? Seems impossible right? Well it is 100% truth. Right now you can discover how everyday people are learning Spanish from simple audio tutorials which making learning not only easy but FUN. See how you can Learn Spanish effectively and quickly, or at your very own pace by CLICKING HERE Now!

Learn Spanish with a Kindle!

I’ve been fascinated by the Kindle ever since it was announced, and now here is another reason to get one:

Amazon has a list of several dozen books to help you learn to speak Spanish fluently via a Kindle. Quite a few of them are very inexpensive, and some have text-to-speech enabled, I noticed, though I don’t know how good that is.
When Kindles came out, you could only buy them in the US but now they are available for many countries. I am pretty sure there is one in my future! Here is what the Kindle DX looks like and clicking on the image takes you to its sales page on Amazon, loaded with information, a couple of videos,  and more. If that price is steep for you, notice that there is a link to a less expensive version as well, on the Amazon page.












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Six Keys to Help You Learn Spanish Online

This article consists of six tips to help
you learn Spanish online. If you follow these
six tips, you can be sure that you will
learn to speak Spanish online much easier.
Key Numero Uno to Learn Spanish Online:
"Stay motivated"
I think everyone that studies
a foreign language will experience
a time when they are becoming less and less
motivated. You may feel that you are
losing your desire to learn Spanish online
around the same time that you have reached a plateau.
If you feel that you are losing your desire
to learn to speak Spanish online,
try planning a trip to a Spanish speaking country.
Since you will want to get the most out of
your trip, this should motivate you to study.
Here's another tip to help you stay motivated and
to make you want to learn to speak Spanish online.
Find a native speaker that you are romantically interested
in. Since you will probably want to impress him or
her with your Spanish, this should motivate you
to keep studying and make you want to learn Spanish
online. You will also notice that you
are making progress quicker by practicing your
Spanish with a native speaker and that should also
motivate you to keep studying and practicing Spanish.
Of course, this tip only applies to single people
or other people without a significant other.
Key Numero Dos to Learn to speak Spanish Online:
"Don't Be Afraid of Making Mistakes"
Make lots of mistakes. And then after you have made
lots of mistakes go make some more mistakes. And then
go make some more mistakes.
Many people are afraid of making mistakes
when learning Spanish online. If you really
want to learn to speak Spanish online, then you
have to accept the fact that making
mistakes is part of the learning process.
The more mistakes you make, the quicker
you learn to speak Spanish online.
If you are not making mistakes, that's probably
an indication that you are not making
the effort to learn Spanish online.
Some people will try to learn to speak Spanish
online by ONLY listening. Their reasoning is
that once they learn enough Spanish that's
when they will begin trying to speak Spanish online.
But I can I assure you that it doesn't work that way.
It works in reverse.
That is, once you start trying to speak Spanish
and making mistakes that's when you will begin to
learn to speak Spanish online. Not the other way around.
So go ahead and make mistakes. The mistakes
aren't there to embarrass you. The mistakes
are there to help you master Spanish.
Key Numero Tres to Learn Spanish Online:
"Focus on how to speak Spanish"
Don't focus on "why Spanish is Spoken
the way it is"
Many people have sent me emails with questions
such as why is it "me gusta" (I like) instead
of "me gusto" or why is it "me toma" instead
of "me tomo"
Of course, I could easily answer these questions.
(And I do) But the objective is not to try equate everything
in Spanish with English or your native language.
Accept the fact that Spanish grammar is different
from English grammar. And focus on the objective
of any language -- which is to communicate effectively.
And in order to communicate effectively, you only
need to understand and be understood. It is not
necessary that you understand each and every
grammatical facet.
Trying to do so will only hinder your learning and make
it difficult to learn Spanish online.
Imagine trying to teach a 4 yr old the definition
of a direct pronoun vs. an indirect pronoun.
We would never attempt such a thing. But the
4yr old child is still fluent in his or her
native language.
So make your goal to understand and be understood.
Focus on "how to speak Spanish"
Don't focus on "why Spanish is Spoken
the way it is."
Key Numero Cuatro to Learn to Speak Spanish Online:
"Master the Fundamentals"
Many people spend their time learning
a bunch of Spanish vocabulary that they could
go a life time and never use. That's
because the words are hardly used
in normal everyday conversation.
If you want to learn to speak Spanish online without
Wasting anytime, I advise you to master
the fundamentals. When I say the
"fundamentals" I am referring to
the basic vocabulary and basic grammar.
I know adults that have studied Spanish
for a few years and they know thousands
of words in Spanish. Although they may
be proficient in Spanish, I would not
consider them fluent. On the other hand,
a three or four year old native Spanish-speaking
child can speak Spanish fluently. It is not
because the child knows thousand of words in Spanish.
The child may only know about a thousand words
or less in Spanish. But the child has mastered the fundamentals.
Mastery of the fundamentals is what separates
the proficient from the fluent.
If you really want to learn to speak Spanish online
make it a priority to master the fundamentals.
Key Numero Cinco to Learn Spanish Online:
"Take Advantage of downtime"
Finding time to study can be a challenge.
Many people just don't have the time
to sit down and study. But who said that
you have to be sitting down? If you are
waiting in line at the bank or waiting at the
doctor's office, turn on your mp3 player
or ipod and listen to an audio Spanish lesson.
If you drive to work everyday, that's
an excellent opportunity to practice your favorite
audio Spanish course. If you like to jog or
exercise on a stairmaster or treadmill,
bring your mp3 player or ipod with you
and listen to your favorite audio Spanish course
Instead of watching the 10' clock News. Watch
"Las Noticias" Instead of watching a movie
on HBO, watch a movie on HBO Latino.
So to those that say "I just
don't have the time to learn Spanish online."
My response is that you can make excuses
or you can learn to speak Spanish online.
But you can't do both. The choice
is yours.
Key Numero Seis to Learn to speak Spanish Online:
"Become an Imitator"
Some Spanish courses do not put much emphasis
on pronunciation. I think that is a big mistake.
If you really want to be understood, you must try
to mimic native speakers.
Have you every experienced someone that
asked you for directions or some other question
and you were unable to assist the person because you didn't
speak her language. And then you suddenly
realized that the person was actually speaking
English but her accent was so thick that you
thought the person was speaking another language.
The same thing happens to Spanish ears. If
you do not develop good pronunciation, you will
not be understand.
If you say the word "dad" in Spanish and you do
not stress the appropriate syllable, a
native Spanish speaker may think that you are
talking about "french fries." To English ears
the difference may be very subtle. But to the
Latin American its the difference between
"dad" and "potatoes".
So focus on mimicking native Spanish speakers.
I hope that you enjoyed these 6 Tips to Help You
Learn Spanish Online and that they truly help
you in your journey to learn to speak Spanish online.
Patrick Jackson
Patrick Jackson is a self-taught speaker of Spanish and the founder of the Learning Spanish Like Crazy method. Webmasters, feel free to republish this story. It must remain unedited and whole. All resource/footer copy including this statement must remain intact and unedited. All links must remain clickable. Learning Spanish Like Crazy makes it quick and easy to learn Spanish.
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