Learn Spanish – Ten Reasons Why

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Dec 29th, 2009 | no comments

Why learn Spanish? Almost five years ago I met the most wonderful woman in my life in Ecuador. I’m not sure we’d be married today if I hadn’t learned a little of the language before going there. Finding true love is not the only reason to learn Spanish, though. Here are ten more.

1. To understand better. Like it or not, you’ll hear as much Spanish as English at the Miami airport, and in many other places now. Wouldn’t it be nice to understand what people are saying, and what the announcements are?

2. To be able to help others. Our bank has a branch at the grocery store, and this past week a farmer who didn’t speak English was ready to leave without his money or groceries. It felt good to be able to help him out.

3. To improve your brainpower. A new language expands the range of your possible thoughts. There are concepts and expressions in each language that don’t exist in others. These can give you new ways to think.

4. To change your perspective. In Spanish, you say “I have fear” (yo tengo miedo). Psychologists tell us that thoughts like “I am afraid” create too much identification with the feeling. It’s healthier to think “I feel fear,” or “I have fear,” and in Spanish it’s automatic.

5. To improve your memory. Did you know that most people experience a general improvement in memory from studying a language? Studies prove it.

6. To age more slowly. Learn Spanish to slow the aging process? It’s true. It has been demonstrated that you can halt the age-related decline in mental function by learning a new language.

7. To get a better job. Knowing more than one language always looks good on a job application, and Spanish is the most useful one to learn.

8. So you can enjoy ALL the channels on your cable TV.

9. So you can order without help in a TRUE Mexican restaurant.

10. So you can say hello (hola) to your neighbor.

Learn Spanish for whatever reason you want, and you’ll get all the benefits above as well. There is one more reason to learn Spanish: You’ll be able to make new friends. My wife is glad I learned.

About The Author

Steve Gillman has been working on his Spanish with his wife Ana Blum, a native of Ecuador. Together they have built a website where you can get free lessons in Spanish. Visit: http://www.TheSpanishLesson.com.

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Learn Spanish – Ten Reasons Why

Common Spanish Phrases

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Dec 20th, 2009 | one comment

If you’re visiting Spain or Latin America it can help if you have a hand list of common Spanish phrases to hand to help you in everyday situations. Below are listed some useful Spanish phrases and of you spend a little time on them committing them to memory you will find that you don’t need to consult a phrasebook each time you need to use them. As always a little practice will help.

Everyday Spanish phrases

More basic Spanish phrases

We’ll be adding to this list of simple Spanish phrases, but if there is some topic you’d like covered please leave a comment below and we’ll do our best to cover it if there seems like enough interest.

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Common Spanish Phrases

Languages of Spain

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Dec 11th, 2009 | no comments

In addition, there is strong and growing support for other regional languages, some of them in danger of extinction. These include Asturian in Asturias and León province, Aragonese in Aragon, and Aranese, a dialect of Gascon spoken only in the tiny Val d’Aran, but enough of a live language to be co-official and used in the public schools there.

With the exception of Basque, which appears to be a language isolate, all of these are Romance languages.

Arabic or Berber are spoken by the Muslim population of Ceuta and Melilla and by recent immigrants (mainly from Morocco and Algeria) elsewhere

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Languages of Spain

Learn Spanish On The Internet – It Couldn’t Be Easier

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Dec 5th, 2009 | no comments

Like just about anything these days learning Spanish is a service that can be found on the internet. Nowadays it is possible to order just about anything you want on the internet, so much so that you could probably live a very long time without ever having to leave your house or interact with another human being. How you can learn a language this way though is lost on me.

I guess it is possible to memorize words and grammar rules. You can gain an understating of the structure of the language and learn how to write and read; however speaking is a different matter. Personally I think if you learn Spanish only on the internet you are missing some of the important nuances that exist in the language. Your pronunciation will probably be horrible as you will have no one to correct you. Your conversational skills will definitely be lacking as you will have no basic knowledge of how to hold a conversation in Spanish.

In theory I assume it is possible to “learn” the words and form of the language on the internet but you will have no grasp of intonation or the many colloquial phrases used in everyday conversation; these of course being mostly specific to the country in which you are speaking.

There are many sites to learn Spanish on the internet, offering varying levels of assistance. Most require the purchase of software for true help as one would expect. They are worth it if you have no other way, but will probably leave you at a severe deficit when it comes to actually speaking.

I think the language is valuable, and I recommend to all that are able, to relocate to a Spanish speaking country where you can learn not only the language but also about the culture from which it stems.

Gregory Newell is a web author who’s written about hot to learn to speak Spanish. If you want to learn Spanish on the internet then you might be interested in reading more. http://www.replace.com/

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Learn Spanish On The Internet – It Couldn’t Be Easier

Learn Spanish Free Online

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Nov 24th, 2009 | no comments

If you’re starting out with Spanish or just want to find out if you like the language then you can learn Spanish online free by signing up for our email course.

You’ll receive lessons by email every few days covering different aspects of the language. From learning how to greet people to introducing yourself, from the Spanish alphabet to learning to count in Spanish, the course aims to provide you with an excellent overview of the Spanish language by covering as much of it as possible.

Of course learning Spanish free online is no substitute for a full Spanish course that includes audiovisual materials, but this course will help get you started or help solidify some of the language if you have already taken lessons.

What do you have to lose by signing up to learn Spanish free online?

PS We will never spam you and you can remove your details from our database at any time.

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Learn Spanish Free Online

What Is The Best Way To Learn A Foreign Language?

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Nov 24th, 2009 | one comment

Studies have shown that how you learn a foreign language impacts whether or not you will actually follow through it. Obviously, if you get bored before you’ve put in the required time and effort, you’re not going to learn much of the language at all. So let’s address the facts that help determine whether you’re going to stick with your goal of learning a foreign language or not.

First things first, you are going to need positive feedback. That means you need a way to measure your goal of learning the new language. Whether this includes tracking your progress or actually trying to speak the language with someone fluent in it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you have a way to gauge that you’re really learning. Otherwise you may get frustrated and give up long before you get anywhere at all.

Secondly, you need to follow a step-by-step course that progresses from easy to hard. It should also do this slowly. Again, the reason you want to learn a foreign language in this manner is so you do not get too frustrated.

The problem with early frustration is that it steers people toward giving up. If you don’t see any progress in the early stages, you may not feel like you can accomplish your goal at all. Obviously, if you don’t think your goal is achievable after all, chances are good you’ll give up.

So minimizing the amount of frustration (especially early on) is a big part of learning a foreign language. On another note, you want to make learning a foreign language as interesting as possible.

As I’m sure you’ve experienced, learning from a textbook can be monotonous. Not only is reading from a textbook boring, but your chances of sticking with it are slim to none. Besides, merely learning vocabulary and grammar is not going to prepare you for a real-life conversation in a foreign language.

Interaction is the best way to learn anything. You can’t just passively read, listen or watch as someone explains everything to you. You need to get involved.

By turning learning a new language into a game, you’ll stick with it and actually remember more of what you learn.

You need to actually listen (not just read from a book) and then speak lots of foreign words and phrases. Turn the words into something familiar by associating them with their actual meaning.

You need to practice the new language with fluent speakers, all the while listening to it as it’s properly spoken. Many foreign languages are spoken very quickly, therefore you need to make sure you can keep up with the pace and actually hear it spoken correctly.

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What Is The Best Way To Learn A Foreign Language?

6 Keys to Help You Learn Spanish Online

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Nov 13th, 2009 | one comment

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

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6 Keys to Help You Learn Spanish Online

Quickly Learn A Language By Thinking In It

Posted by Hugo Rodallega on Oct 25th, 2009 | no comments

It can be tedious to learn a language. There will always be a certain amount of rote memorization required. However, there are also many little techniques for more easily learning a language. Labeling things around the house in the language you want to learn comes to mind. Listening to tapes while in the car is another. Then there is a technique I used to learn Spanish.

How I Quickly Learned Spanish

I studied Spanish books for six weeks before going to Ecuador. I didn’t speak a word of the language during this time – a big mistake. Still, I was able to converse with the locals in the hostel in Quito the day after I arrived. Within a few days I was discussing philosophy, politics and more with Ana, who is now my wife.

How did I learn a language so quickly? I didn’t really. I had a very limited vocabulary when I arrived in Ecuador, and a very limited vocabulary when I left. However, I could use what little Spanish I knew to express myself. This I credit to a habit that fortunately is also a great technique for learning a language.

I have conversations in my head. I think of what I am about to say, and have always played out future discussions in my imagination. I found myself doing this in Spanish too. The result was that I learned how to speak the language quickly, and say a lot with few words.

Learn To Think In A Language

People imagine that they have to be fluent to think in a language. This just isn’t true. You can choose to think “I am walking to the store,” so there is no reason you can’t think “Yo estoy caminando a la tienda,” as soon as you know those six words. If you don’t know the word “caminar” (to walk), but you know how to say “Yo voy a la tienda,” (I go to the store) you can think that. Alternately, you can look up a word or two as you get “stuck.”

One reason this is a great way to learn a language is that it helps you remember the words. Repetition works, and saying the words, even if only in your mind, works better than reading or hearing them. When you make a point of translating your thoughts into your new language, you are always practicing.

It is more than just good practice, though. Putting your thoughts into your new language forces you to learn not just words and rules, but also specific ways to express what you want to say. We all talk about different things and have different interests, right? A doctor might want to know how to say “where does it hurt?” while I may want to ask where the mountains are. Often, you learn what others think you should know. This helps, but your thoughts are uniquely yours, and when you think in your new language, you are learning exactly what YOU need to learn.

Speaking a language is perhaps the best way to learn it, and thinking it is just speaking it in your mind. You’ll learn your most important words, expressions and sentences quickly if you are thinking them continually. Another tip: Carry a language dictionary with you to use whenever your thoughts stop flowing. This is a powerful way to learn a language and start speaking it quickly.

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Quickly Learn A Language By Thinking In It