Learning Spanish

[el Cantante]

I believe this topic has been discussed several times before, but with all the new things and new techs, the effective ways of learning the language are changed as well. I watch telenovela often to improve my Spanish skill. Some discussion here about learning Spanish from Novela a few days ago. Two things worth watching telenovela, pretty Latinas and learning living Spanish. I normally record the shows with my dishnetwork DVR, and watch them when I get home. Advantage about the DVR is you can always repeat any thing you don't understand well. Used to do this with VCR, but DVR is just so much easier. Then I burn the show into DVD with my DVD recorder. I can play the DVD anywhere with my computer when I have spare time, in the office, on a plane, in a hotel room. You do need some grammar and comprehesion skill to learn it this way.

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Learning Spanish, posted by el Cantante on Oct 4, 2004

Yes, they have some hot chicks on the telenovelas but watching a few episodes of "Pasion de Gavilanes" was about all I could muster. I don't know why anyone would watch them unless they were shackled and force to watch them. I'd rather watch paint dry.

[DallasSteve2]

... in response to Learning Spanish, posted by el Cantante on Oct 4, 2004


- Spanish courses in a community college.
- Spanish course computer programs.
- Spanish textbooks for self-study.
- Books in Spanish.  I have a Spanish-English New Testament I used to read.  It has the Spanish on one side and the English on the other side.
- Spanish music, you can find the lyrics on Yahoo by entering "letras " followed by the name of the song.
- Spanish television, already mentioned.
- Find a topless bar where most of the women speak Spanish.
- Live with a woman who speaks Spanish (my personal favorite).

Steve

[Irmao]

... in response to Favorite Spanish resources, posted by DallasSteve2 on Oct 4, 2004

Spanish pornos.  Usually includes vocabulary not found in most text books or class discussions.

[Irmao]

... in response to Learning Spanish, posted by el Cantante on Oct 4, 2004

1)  take a couple of classes to at least familiarize yourself with basic grammar and vocabulary.  You can build from that.

2)  watch ENGLISH programs and DVD's with Spanish subtitles turned on.  This is quite effective in my opinion.  

3)  do what you do and watch Spanish tv.

4)  join a Spanish language conversation group in the States.  they should be in all major cities.

5)  travel to a Spanish speaking country.

6)  and the most effective and rewarding method:  get a Spanish speaking girlfriend.  

there is no substitute for immersion in a language.

[Chris F]

... in response to other tips, posted by Irmao on Oct 4, 2004

Pimsluer is a listening only CD program. You simply listen to one 30 minute lesson a day. I feel it is very effective.
The downside is the cost. Most programs are three months. A months Cd's runs about 250 dollars.

The good news is that these programs have high resale value.When I was done with the month. I just listed the CD's used on Amazon.com for about 180 dollars. It sold within 24 hours.

[Hiker]

... in response to Re: other tips.....Pimsleur is very help..., posted by Chris F on Oct 4, 2004

I totally agree with you about Pimsluer!  If you had to choose only one resource, this would be the best way to go.  You are correct about the cost, but if I total up all the other books, tapes, and classes I paid for, prior to going the pimsleur route, it then becomes cheap.