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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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Learning Spanish
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.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Here's a good one:
http://www.rosettastone.com/
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karenintx
Senior Nomad
Posts: 540
Registered: 3-16-2008
Location: CSL
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Mood: Living The Dream
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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,
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tjBill
Senior Nomad
Posts: 516
Registered: 10-6-2007
Location: Tijuana
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Avoid any program that is boring and no fun. 
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MarkR.
Newbie
Posts: 24
Registered: 6-4-2009
Location: Martinez, CA
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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"
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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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.
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taxcutter
Junior Nomad
Posts: 30
Registered: 8-9-2005
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Mood: Dry
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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.
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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| 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
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
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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 !! 
Sorry, I'm just pineing for Asuncion these days; festival and all .....
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fishbuck
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Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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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]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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| 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?
Don't believe everything you think....
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by motoged
| 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? |
Yes, but that costs extra! Double for you.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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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.
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BajaKeela
Junior Nomad
Posts: 94
Registered: 5-9-2008
Location: Vancouver Island
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http://srjordan.wordpress.com/los-videos/
I like this one...small short videos.
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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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
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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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]
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
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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]
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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BajaNuts
Super Nomad
Posts: 1085
Registered: 5-11-2008
Location: eastern WA, the DRY side
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Mood: no worry, no hurry....it's all good!
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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.
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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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.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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gnukid
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4411
Registered: 7-2-2006
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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.
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