Archive for May, 2009

Going to Mexico, eh? Well, you are going to need some simple Spanish phrases to get by. The country is a land of beautiful people, excellent food, and it has more than enough inexpensive ways to enjoy yourself whether you are there for business or pleasure. And Mexico is not the only choice when it comes to beautiful places with beautiful people.

Even if you are far from a Spanish prodigy, having a grip on some basic Spanish will help you get much more out of your trip than you ever could otherwise.

One thing I have learned about speakers of the Spanish language, or any language for that matter is that they love it when people try to communicate with them on their level even in a small way.

There are many sources for the kind of information that will get you, especially with the proliferation of the Internet, and more specifically, YouTube.

Phrase books are also an option, but they can often be confusing, or heavy and awkward to carry and use while you are trying to at least be moderately functional, and present yourself in a good light.

Sometimes, it’s better to have a short list of exceedingly useful phrases that can be printed, folded, and carried with you at all times.

Below is a list of 10 simple Spanish phrases that are both easy and practical. I have included a “lay man’s” pronunciation guide as well.

1. Hello, How Are You? Hola, Como Esta Usted? Oh-La, co-mo es-taa use-ted?
2. I’m Sorry, I Only Speak A Little Spanish. Lo Siento, Solamente Hablo Un Poquito De Espa

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That’s right ladies and gentlemen, it’s possible to learn Spanish with DVD’s.

Most everyone loves a good movie, and that love of movies could eventually result in tangible foreign language skills.

Statistics say the best way to learn a language is to be immersed in it, and while it’s best to travel in order to do this, sometimes that is not possible. If this is the case, DVDs offer a wonderful alternative. There are a great number of Spanish language films that can aid in your procurement of the language.

The best way to learn Spanish from DVDs is to have the Spanish version selected in options, while enabling the English subtitles. This allows you to hear the dialog, and also be able to read, in English what it is supposed to mean. If you do this consistently, after you have built a solid foundation of the basics, you language skills will increase exponentially.

Learning this way can be intriguing as well as fun, and you can do it with your favorite movies for a new perspective or ones you have never heard of before. I personally enjoy movies on intellectual subjects and documentaries, but there are plenty of DVDs of Spanish cartoon movies that you can learn from as well.

Here Is A List Of Some Popular DVD’s that can be used to Learn Spanish:

* Maria Full Of Grace
* Like Water For Chocolate
* Pan’s Labyrinth
* All About My Mother
* The Motorcycle Diaries
* The Crime Of Padre Amaro
* Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown
* Flowers From Another World
* The Sea Inside
* Real Women Have Curves

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Rocket Spanish reviews have proliferated the Internet lately, and it got me wondering if it could really be as good as it’s purported to be. Call me a skeptic if you must, and I will admit that I generally am one, especially when it comes to language learning products.

I’ve been around the block a few times, and to put it mildly, I’ve personally reviewed just about every language learning product that’s ever been known to have a fancy package, a decent price point, and a glitzy ad campaign. What can I say, I am a curious skeptic. What, you might be asking is the result of all this toiling with language products?

Well, for starters:

* I know when something’s not worth it’s salt, and have generally been at least mildly disappointed by nearly everything I’ve tried.
* I’ve come to appreciate languages even more than I ever thought I could, individually and as a whole. I love learning, and toying with products has led to my multi-lingualism.
* I can spot a winner a mile away, since I know how to wade through all the crap.

Why, you might be asking is all of this important? I am trying to illustrate that this is not my first time at the language learning rodeo, and so I won’t be one of those people who blindly supports something.

Simply put, 99.9% of those positive reviews of Rocket Spanish are absolutely legitimate, and the reason for that is, it’s a truly quality product, that will get you basic/intermediate Spanish language skills, while keeping your interest and without really hurting your wallet.

I was truly surprised by this, but the program combines a number of approaches, and has quality supplemental materials which tells me that the creators are in it for the love of teaching language, as opposed to other motives. You may still question the reviews of this product as well as others, however, you can trust the Rocket Spanish reviews

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Motivation to use audio Spanish lessons and learn a new language can be personal, or professional, based out of genuine interest, or due to a requirement of some sort. When starting any new endeavor, people have questions. Below are some of the most common.

Why might I need or want to use audio Spanish lessons?

You might need or want to use audio Spanish lessons in the following cases: if you are being home schooled, if you live in a rural area, if you’ve taken standard language lessons before and been frustrated, if you want to reinforce previously learned material, or if you need to learn the language quickly for some other reason. This type of language learning also offers a degree of flexibility not often found in a traditional setting, and that may be something which appeals to you as a learner.

How can audio Spanish lessons help me to reach my language goals?

* A high quality multimedia rich language learning program which uses audio Spanish lessons as one aspect of the picture can help you to reach your language goals by making it easier for you to retain information related to grammar, and vocabulary
* such a program can also provide much needed dynamic feedback for a new learner which is lacking in book based courses. This will usually mean that you will end up with a better understanding of the language foundations, and that you will pronounce things more naturally.
* If those things occur, then confidence comes from that, and a language student with confidence has the world open to them.

How do I choose the right program?

Choose a program based on the type of learner you are, and what your goals are or might be in the future, and how much you can spend for your program. That means, evaluate all the programs available based on how they will work for YOU as opposed to how snazzy the packaging might be, or how many times you see X commercial on TV.

What if I need more help when it comes to some elements of the lessons?

The ideal package would include some sort of access to further support, whether that be a forum of online learners who are in the same program, direct contact with a teacher, or something similar. Just because you are outside the “traditional” learning environment does not mean you should ever feel totally alone.

Can audio Spanish lessons be used to get me any kind of academic or job credit?

Probably, yes. If you stick with your course and gain enough proficiency, then you can generally gain academic or occupational acknowledgment by means of a proficiency exam or demonstration. Often times, this can mean up to 12 college credits, and being proficient in a second language is always highly sought after in many job fields.

All in all audio Spanish lessons provide the starting point for a decent foundation in the language, and have the potential to open the doors to many other opportunities.

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What’s the easiest way to learn Spanish? Well, that depends.

Time and time again, research study after research study has pounded us over the head with the fact that the best way to learn a language is to study abroad. Yes, indeed to be immersed in a language is the best and easiest way to learn it quickly, often out of necessity.

But, if you can’t go abroad, there are still many avenues you can take if your goal is to learn Spanish easily. Below are five of the easiest ways to learn Spanish if you can’t travel.

* Read Books

Go to the local library or your favorite bookstore, head to the children’s section, and pick out a bilingual or simple Spanish title. These books are full of pictures and written for little minds who are just starting to learn the mechanics of language, and will be a great help. With a basic understanding of Spanish grammar (also often shown in basic books) you will be able to read more advanced novels in no time.

*Listen To The Radio

These days almost every metropolitan area has at least one Spanish language radio station. Step outside your comfort zone and start listening. Often they will play Spanish versions of popular songs, among other things. Try and see how much you understand. If it’s not much in the beginning, don’t worry, your skills will improve. Listening to songs and picking out words you don’t know, however is an excellent way to improve vocabulary.

*Watch TV

Yes, those crazy Spanish Telenovelas are an excellent way to learn Spanish, and they are quite entertaining too. If those are something you need to work up to or are not interested in, you can always watch sports in Spanish, or even cartoons. You will be able to figure out what is going on just by watching, and putting the words and sentences together will come quickly.

*Make It A Group Effort

If the above methods seem too solitary, and you find yourself getting off track, enlist the help of your friends, and learn Spanish together. If none of your friends know how to speak Spanish, think of it as an extra adventure. Each time someone learns something, you practice it amongst yourselves, and build on those skills. If you have trouble getting started, find someone that is a fluent speaker who will sit in with your group. You will get to practice Spanish, and they will have to use their English.

*Pay Attention To What All Ready Know

The easiest way to learn Spanish that I found personally is to pay attention to the world around you. It seems simple I know, but globalism really has made an impact, and the result in many areas of the US is bilingual billboards, bilingual instructions, bilingual consumer packaging and etc. Basically you name it, it comes in at least two languages. Step outside of your normal realm and use these new developments to your advantage and you will quickly find that the easiest way to learn Spanish is to think critically.

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