BajaNomad - Learning Spanish

Learning Spanish

grace59 - 8-11-2009 at 07:39 AM

I speak some Spanish, but would like to learn more. I don't have the time or $$$ to take a college course so I am looking for a good on-line or CD based Spanish Lesson Program that I can do at home. Do you know of any good programs out there?
Thanks.

DENNIS - 8-11-2009 at 07:42 AM

Here's a good one:

http://www.rosettastone.com/

karenintx - 8-11-2009 at 08:46 AM

We too have Rosetta Stone however we prefer “Visual Link Spanish” more. It allows a person to quickly construct several sentences by interchanging words. Now that my husband has completed Levels I, II and III he is now using Rosetta Stone to increase his Spanish.

http://www.spanishprograms.com

Some are CD-Rom, Audio and also “online”.

Good Luck,

tjBill - 8-11-2009 at 09:38 AM

Avoid any program that is boring and no fun. :coolup:

MarkR. - 8-11-2009 at 10:05 AM

I'll second the “Visual Link Spanish” . It's a great CBT (Computer Based Training) tool and has complete audio CDs. Not that I've spent enough time with it to get my Spanish much beyond "como se yama" :no:

Pescador - 8-11-2009 at 10:36 AM

If you are looking for conversational spanish, you might want to try http://www.learningspanishlikecrazy.com If you download the lessons to your computer, then you can put a few on a walkman and practice while doing other things.

Some like live mocha but I did not especially care for the format, but it is free.

taxcutter - 8-11-2009 at 10:51 AM

http://www.myspanishconnection.com/

I like to download podcasts from Itunes.
It's Freeeeeee!
Next, I would recommend getting a book on verbs.

By the by, my spanish is lame but I keep on practicing.

gnukid - 8-11-2009 at 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by grace59
I speak some Spanish, but would like to learn more. I don't have the time or $$$ to take a college course so I am looking for a good on-line or CD based Spanish Lesson Program that I can do at home. Do you know of any good programs out there?
Thanks.

Many public libraries have on line sites with downloadable lessons as mp3 for free. TV azteca is available everywhere too, turn it on and leave it on.

A good free method is the immersion technique which requires you commit 100% to spanish and go out and interact only in spanish. Separate from english speakers entirely. For example listening to mexican music, news, shopping in markets and restaurants which are mexican, asking questions, surviving, etc... After a few days of confusion, your brain will figure it out. I was taught this method and it works. Children are also good teachers as they have no idea you can not speak spanish and will ask/answer questions quite naturally with you for hours.

I actually learned over the years at LaPazLapa though now I have the sing-song high-pitched accent of an 18 year girl. me!puche-ahyeeeeeee-wiiiiii

Diver - 8-11-2009 at 11:17 AM

My wife likes Rosetta Stone; I liked this one http://www.studyspanish.com/help/gettingstarted.htm but there are many others. It's partly a matter of how you learn best; visually, verbally or by repetition, etc.

I would suggest a month in "immersion" with Shari in Asuncion !! :biggrin:

Sorry, I'm just pineing for Asuncion these days; festival and all .....

.

fishbuck - 8-11-2009 at 11:48 AM

I recommend the Fishbuck method. Go to an online spanish singles site.
Pick out the most beautiful girl (or guy) on there and write letters to her in spanish tellng her how much you love her and would she please come to Costa Mesa and stay with you for a week or so.
I haven't gotten any to come here yet but my spanish is getting better.

I use online translation sites that are free and write in english and translate to spanish.
I do it the other way around when they write to me.

[Edited on 8-11-2009 by fishbuck]

motoged - 8-11-2009 at 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck
I recommend the Fishbuck method. Go to an online spanish singles site.
Pick out the most beautiful girl (or guy) on there and write letters to her in spanish tellng her how much you love her and would she please come to Costa Mesa and stay with you for a week or so.
[Edited on 8-11-2009 by fishbuck]

FB,
Does your program also have a currency converter, STD treatment translations, and strategies regarding reverse immigration/deportation guidelines? :rolleyes:

fishbuck - 8-11-2009 at 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by motoged

Quote:

FB,
Does your program also have a currency converter, STD treatment translations, and strategies regarding reverse immigration/deportation guidelines? :rolleyes:

Yes, but that costs extra! Double for you. :lol:

Bajahowodd - 8-11-2009 at 03:35 PM

gnukid's recommendation about running Spanish language tv is undoubtedly the most economical suggestion. Rosetta Stone costs an arm and a leg. When we're in Mexico, it never ceases to amaze me that when watching tv with subtitles absolutely increases our abilities.

BajaKeela - 8-11-2009 at 03:48 PM

http://srjordan.wordpress.com/los-videos/
I like this one...small short videos.

fishbuck - 8-11-2009 at 05:06 PM

Yo lo siento por la confusión. Yo realmente quieren conocerte. Pero me doy cuenta de que puede ser muy difícil para mí que visitarte en el Perú. Así que no estoy realmente seguro de lo que debe hacer. Me gustaría pasar algún tiempo contigo y hablar. Sería muy bonito.
Si está bien todavía podemos escribir y voy a tratar de pensar de una forma de que nos reunamos. Te deseo podría visitarme aquí, pero entiendo que también sería difícil para ti. Pero quisiera que estuvieras aquí!
Eres muy bonita y dulce.

http://www.spanishdict.com/translation

BajaNuts - 8-11-2009 at 05:23 PM

Fishbuck's Spanish words-
Yo lo siento por la confusión. Yo realmente quieren conocerte. Pero me doy cuenta de que puede ser muy difícil para mí que visitarte en el Perú. Así que no estoy realmente seguro de lo que debe hacer. Me gustaría pasar algún tiempo contigo y hablar. Sería muy bonito.
Si está bien todavía podemos escribir y voy a tratar de pensar de una forma de que nos reunamos. Te deseo podría visitarme aquí, pero entiendo que también sería difícil para ti. Pero quisiera que estuvieras aquí!
Eres muy bonita y dulce.

As translated-
I feel sorry for the confusion. I really want conocerte. But I realize that it can be very difficult for me to visit in Peru. So I'm not really sure what to do. I like to spend some time with you and talk. It would be nice.
If you are good we can still write and I will try to think of a way for us to meet. I wish you could visit me here, but I would also be difficult for you. But I wish you were here!
You are very nice and sweet.

edit- just for fun I ran it through the other translator site and this is what it said-

I feel it for the confusion. I really they want to meet you. But I realize that it can be very difficult for me who to visit in Peru. So I am not sure really of what it must do. I would like to spend some time with you and speaking. It would be very nice.
If it is still we can write and I am going to try to think about a form of which we should meet. I wish you I might visit here, but I understand that also it would be difficult for you. But I would like that you were here!
You are very nice and sweet.

Hmmm-didn't exactly come out word for word, so I edited the English text-

"I feel sorry for the confusion. I really want to connect. But I realize that it can be very difficult for me to visit in Peru. So I'm not really sure what to do. I would like to spend some time with you and talk. It would be nice.
If you are agreeable we can still write and I will try to think of a way for us to meet. I wish you could visit me here, but it would also be difficult for you. But I wish you were here!
You are very nice and sweet."

And it translated-
"Lo siento por la confusión. Realmente quiero conectar. Pero me doy cuenta de que puede ser muy difícil para mí a visitar en el Perú. Así que no estoy realmente seguro de lo que debe hacer. Me gustaría pasar algún tiempo con usted y hablar. Sería bueno.
Si usted está de acuerdo todavía podemos escribir y voy a tratar de pensar de una forma de que nos reunamos. Le deseo podría visitarme aquí, pero también sería difícil para usted. Pero quisiera que estuvieras aquí!
Usted es muy agradable y dulce."

It doesn't seem to go back and forth quite accurately, but it will definitely get the gist of things.

Here's one I've used and it has multiple language choices. It is limited as to the text volume, so large docs or texts have to be done in segments. They do have a premium version you can buy, but I just copy and paste the text in segments until I have it all.

http://translation2.paralink.com/

Not trying to Hijack, just sharing another translation link ....which is important because..... sometimes you need a back up in the process of learning Spanish.

[Edited on 8-12-2009 by BajaNuts]

[Edited on 8-12-2009 by BajaNuts]

fishbuck - 8-11-2009 at 05:27 PM

Ya, it takes some fixing. But with the three translators you can pick out the best one and fix it up a little.
I've used it many times and the girls seem to understand what I saying.
Each time I use it my spanish is poco mejor. It helps alot and is free.

[Edited on 8-12-2009 by fishbuck]

BajaNuts - 8-11-2009 at 05:42 PM

Yea, I would never use an online translator for anything important, but it sure helps to just.....read those jokes....or news articles....You can get the idea of what's being said even if certain words don't translate exactly.

Back on topic---

I read some negative review about Rosetta Stone is just memorizing words/pictures and wasn't a good conversational Spanish teaching tool. We bought the TellMeMore Spanish, and it seemed ok- I didn't like the way the program worked through the chapters, in that once I got through a chapter, I couldn't figure out how to go through the chapter again. I guess it assumes that you never need a review.... but it's worth using.

A friend of mine suggested playing Mexican music/radio all day. It trains your ear to catch the sounds and inflections and is really good for learning numbers/dates since they are always promoting "this event on this date/time". I did find that after being in Mexico solo for about 2 weeks I was picking up on a lot more than when I was there before with gringos who, of course,were speaking English.

grace59 - 8-11-2009 at 07:14 PM

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've gone through all of the webpages and bookmarked them for future reference. I do listen to lots of music in Spanish...Juanes, Selena, Thalia, Shakira, Gypsy Kings etc. and also try to watch the Novellas on tv when I can as the Spanish there is much slower than on the game shows or talk shows. I'm glad to see so many Nomads who are trying to learn Spanish. Bueno Suerte to us all.

gnukid - 8-11-2009 at 07:33 PM

Teachers often make the point that one should strive to learn the language you want to speak, meaning if you want to speak Naco, Paceno, DF or Rancho you should make an effort to do so otherwise you wil find yourself increasingly distancing yourself from the intended audience. however this can backfire as well since, many Baja speakers have unique accents so the more you strive to fit in the more you don't fit in elsewhere.

Simply put, be aware of the many dialects and styles as you progress and make an effort to learn and understand when its appropriate to speak formally and when it is best to speak informally. Many Mexicans do not expect gueros to speak spanish so they have mental block against what you are saying, the more you speak like they do, the more comfortable they will be, start by repeating back what they say in the same tone then proceed to increase their and your comfort.

msawin - 8-11-2009 at 08:32 PM

I have bought a few. I found the "Pimsler" Spanish CD's. I have burned one set up in my CD from repeated playing. Now I have it on my "Zune". Digital.

The best...... Hands down.

I listen to my zune while working in my garden. I spend alot of time
in the garden and am learning some great Spanish...

marty

greybaby - 8-11-2009 at 09:29 PM

Though we now live stateside full-time, we lived for 6 years in Ensenada and one thing that helped us immensely was that we had NO English-speaking friends. None. If we wanted to converse (with anyone than each other), we had to interact with our Spanish speaking friends and in the community. We would fight over who had to answer the phone at first - it was that painful. Watching the novelas helped a lot, trying to understand the news, having help (and laughter) from very patient friends. I, personally, went to school prior to moving there to get the grammar which gave me confidence but in actuality it took us a full two years of living there before we could really converse fluently. I now work in a community health center and use Spanish on a daily basis but can already see that I have less proficiency. When we get to visit Mexico, it feels so good to stay in Spanish rather than go back and forth which we're forced to do here. Everyone of us learn differently and I love hearing the different methods others have used.

fishbuck - 8-12-2009 at 01:32 AM

Hola mi Amigas y mi Amigos!

Aqui en mi apartmento es una mujer habla espanol y poco ingles.
Esta mujer es de Peru. Ella es muy bonita.
Me gusto mucho hablar con ella in espanol. Y ella gusta hablar conmigo in ingles. Es mucho devirtido. Muchos feliz para nos.
Mi espanol no es perfecto y ella ingles tambien. Pero no es importante. Solo es importante tratar. Solo!
Asi, cuando tu tratar hablar espanol, es muy bueno!!!!

Bien Suerte para todos!!!

Viva Bajanomad!

Heather - 8-14-2009 at 12:35 PM

I've picked up my rudimentary Spanish from living in Honduras for a couple of years, and being married to mi muy macho Mexicano for 10 years. I can't conjugate the verbs very well, but I usually get my point across (especially when speaking in the present tense!).

We went to Cabo this summer without hubby, so I had to interact with all the family in Spanish. We had one day where we visited about 4 different families (our visiting day!). I will say that at the end of the day I was exhausted from speaking all that Spanish! I had to take my girls downtown for some Dairy Queen to get back in the tourist mode! We had great visits, but something about that day of Spanish really wore me out!

I don't let on to my students that I speak Spanish until I hear them cussing at each other in Spanish, and then I ream them! They don't use any words that I haven't heard mi esposo saying at home. I give him a hard time that his little girls will have a pretty big but vulgar Spanish vocabulary! Saludos, Heather

805gregg - 8-14-2009 at 06:04 PM

The easiest way is to watch a Spanish language station that has subtitles. I was in La Paz staying at the Los Arcos cabanas, (had a great time) the guy at the desk spoke excellent English, I asked him how he learned, watching English TV with subtitles.

irenemm - 8-14-2009 at 06:11 PM

put your t.v. and radio to only spanish.
When I moved here 28 years ago and did not speak Spanish. I took my kids to school and they also did not speak Spanish. at that time no phones no tv only radio express from Los Angeles would come in. After about 6 months hearing only Spanish it started to come to me. My kids took maybe 3 months. Of course they have perfect Spanish I still do not and may never. I can talk to most anyone in Spanish
go for tv and radio
good luck

arrowhead - 8-15-2009 at 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fishbuck
Muchos feliz para nos. Mi espanol no es perfecto...

No mames, buey! :lol: