baja Steve
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Posts: 469
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Bend, or
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Improving Spanish
I am looking to improve my Spanish. Any experience or recommendations as far as CD’s or tape courses.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Rossetta Stone.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
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Mood: undecided
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The Babel Fish Online translation site is good.
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Ken Bondy
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I just bought and downloaded from iTunes two volumes of something called "Rapid Spanish" by Earworms Learning (I'm just the messenger here, that's
what they are called). Both volumes are about 1.5 hours long, and I've listened to about half of the first one. Different style, set to music, with
a male and female exchanging phrases about typical situations, travel, restaurants, numbers, days, months, etc. The first volume is pretty basic, but
it was getting better. Very easy to listen to, and I think it is going to be very helpful. The two actors build on previously learned words. It's
worth looking into. I will report back after I have gone through both volumes.
[Edited on 3-3-2007 by Ken Bondy]
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KenS
Newbie
Posts: 12
Registered: 1-18-2007
Location: San Diego
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If you don't mind a "hit or miss" approach there are several amateur (my assumption) podcasts on I-tunes designed to teach spanish. The only one I've
listened to was "Notes in Spanish Advanced" which I didn't really care for. (can't put my finger on the "why")
"Rolling R's" is a videocast which I've downloaded but haven't had a chance to watch yet. "Learn spanish with coffee break spanish" is another
podcast.
I found the above casts because I was looking for general podcasts in spanish (news, culture, whatever) so if anyone has a lead on good spanish
language podcasts I'd love to hear about them.
Ken
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
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Mood: words cannot describe...
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Rocket Spanish is pretty good and fairly priced.
http://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by baja Steve
I am looking to improve my Spanish. Any experience or recommendations as far as CD’s or tape courses. |
Steve, as a former language teacher and military linguist I am a strong proponent of the benefits of an instructor and other students with whom to
communicate.
I own two software programs and several texts with tapes, all for Spanish, and they have helped immensely, but they are no substitute for the classes
I took in Santa Fe, NM, and Santa Barbara, CA, over a period of three years.
I'll bet that the Central Oregon Community College in Bend has a course that would fit your needs.
We carry a set of Visual Education® vocabulary words in our truck and during the two-day trip to P. Bufeo from Idaho we review them.
With on-line translation help, such as the Babel Fish® site, one has to be careful. They are great for those who already have a working knowledge of
the grammar and vocabulary, but they can be downright funny if used directly without editing.
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
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Go to the "Spainlish" web site and it will help with many of the words and Phrases used by the common Mexicanos of Baja.
Go to Baja and if of the mind find a very Beautiful "Bedroom Dictionary", you will be surprised how fast and easy Spanish will be learned.
Slang is very common in Baja.
Good Luck.
Skeet/Loreto
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KenS
Newbie
Posts: 12
Registered: 1-18-2007
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by lencho
| Quote: | Originally posted by KenS
If you don't mind a "hit or miss" approach there are several amateur (my assumption) podcasts on I-tunes |
It's almost embarrasing to admit this, but I've never used I-Tunes. Can one use that without any Apple products?
--Larry |
You can definately use iTunes on a windows computer (I do) I'm not sure about interfacing with an mp3 player other than an iPod, but I doubt it.
Podcasts are in the mp3 format, so they could be loaded onto another player manually. (or just listen to them on your computer) Additionally there
are tools other than iTunes to get podcasts, but I'm not familiar with them.
Ken
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Natalie Ann
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2819
Registered: 8-22-2003
Location: Berkeley
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bufeo
.... as a former language teacher and military linguist I am a strong proponent of the benefits of an instructor and other students with whom to
communicate.
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I'm with you on this one bufeo. I've spoken "spanish" for many years... generally able to make myself understood, more easily able to understand most
of what's being said to me. This trip south, I've been working with a tutor and staying in a household where mi amiga speaks only espanol... week
number one I advanced light years in learning/pronunciation.
MHO - CD sets can be helpful, but there's nothing like real lessons and some language immersion for learning.
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
.....Oscar Wilde
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baja Steve
Nomad
Posts: 469
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Bend, or
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Thanks everyone that info helps a lot and it looks like I better get to work on it.
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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Que 'ueno, Esteban.
I have found this to be my most frequent and useful expression:
Lo siento, pero no entiendo quieres decir.
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Paula
Super Nomad
Posts: 2219
Registered: 1-5-2006
Location: Loreto
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Bufeo,
It would be better to say:
Lo siento, pero no entiendo que quieras decir 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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O, quiero
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chino
Nomad
Posts: 182
Registered: 11-27-2005
Location: Nor Cal
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Hey Steve,
Look for a book called " Community is my language classroom", and it's companion book "Language Acquisition Made Practical", they may be available
from "Lingua House Ministries" in Pasadena
It helped us alot, lots of pointers on setting up situations in a community where you dont know any one, it's all about learning a little and using
alot, we spent six weeks in a small town in southern baja where we didnt know anyone, after six weeks we had lots of friends and a good grasp on
Spanish. good luck!
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craiggers
Junior Nomad
Posts: 42
Registered: 3-2-2007
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I recently a bought program called Spanish Deluxe by Cosmi for 30something dollars at Target. I'm sure it's not the best in the world but you can't
beat the price. There is a lot of content with some really nice features.
Here is a link: (click on "Spanish Deluxe" on the right)
http://www.cosmi.com//OnlineStore/ProductCatalog/ProductDeta...
[Edited on 3-4-2007 by craiggers]
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bufeo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 793
Registered: 11-16-2003
Location: Santa Fe New Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paula
Bufeo,
It would be better to say:
Lo siento, pero no entiendo que quieras decir |
¡Ayyy! Gracias, Paula. Claro. Mi español no es muy correcto. 
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
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rosetta stone, i got my copy on e-bay and recommend it. fairly pricey though but worth it.
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surfdog
Junior Nomad
Posts: 38
Registered: 11-9-2006
Location: Not where I want to be...
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Mood: Ready to go...
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Spanish Courses
Instant Imersion Soanish is pretty good - Costco $30 is great but requires you to follow along with the book. It is more formal in it's approach and
explains alot of the grammar. I learned things about English I didn't know.
Also, Speed Spanish from Amazon ~$20 is great for listening in the car. It is more question/answer and phrase based learning.
Good luck!
[Edited on 3-6-2007 by surfdog]
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kitjv
Junior Nomad
Posts: 98
Registered: 12-13-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by baja Steve
I am looking to improve my Spanish. Any experience or recommendations as far as CD’s or tape courses. |
Steve,
I live in Bend as well. Check out the Primsleur series on Spanish at the Bend Library. There are 3 levels Spanish 1, 2 & 3. My understanding is
that the U.S. Foreign Service has used this series for their staff.
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