Better Online Translator

[Looking4Wife]

I'm not a fan of online (or electronic) translators.  In important conversations I think they have potential to do more harm than good... but sometimes they are helpful/fun to check your spanish, or compare it against another source.

The one I hear the most about is "Babel Fish", but someone, on some forum, posted about one that I have checked out that is MUCH better than Babel Fish:

http://www.translation.paralink.com/

Buena Suerte!

[Michael B]

... in response to Better Online Translator, posted by Looking4Wife on Nov 4, 2005

Translation attempt:

Well, let's see if this on line translator is any good. Hey, babe, do you like to drink whiskey?

English to Spanish & click translate

Result:

The page cannot be displayed
There is a problem with the page you are trying to reach and it cannot be displayed.

OOOO-K, so much for that one.

[beenthere]

... in response to Better Online Translator, posted by Looking4Wife on Nov 4, 2005

I'm pretty fluent in spanish, so I never have to use a translator, but just for fun, I plugged in some of my girlfriend's e-mails for translation using this service.
I was very surprised how terrible it was, and I agree, these online translators will cause alot of confusion for most guys who can't speak spanish.  Some translations weren't even close...

[FanMan]

... in response to Re: Better Online Translator, posted by beenthere on Nov 4, 2005

Just out of curiosity, where did you learn your Spanish? school,personal instructor,lessons,eth.,?

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Re: Better Online Translator, posted by FanMan on Nov 4, 2005

I took an intensive one-on-one Berlitz class for about 4 months, spent alot of time in Mexico, then in Colombia...have learned alot from the relationships I've been in, and also have latin friends here in Atlanta and in other parts of the country.  I've been studying off and on for about 15 years.

[fathertime]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Better Online Translator, posted by beenthere on Nov 4, 2005

I have heard excellent things about the Berlitz course.  I would have even forked over the 15K it would have taken to learn spanish if I thought it would work for me.  Instead I have hired an ex Berlitz instructor to tutor me privately starting this Sunday.  It is not cheap but it is less than doing it through Berlitz and it may suit my needs a little better.  
As an ex Berlitz student, what are your thoughts on Berlitz in general and what I am doing in lieu of going to Berlitz?
Thank you for any imput.
Fathertime

[beenthere]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Better Online Translator, posted by fathertime on Nov 4, 2005

Berlitz is great, and although to some it might be expensive, hey, everything has it's price.  Learning Spanish is probably one of the best things I've ever done in my life (and I'm still learning), so the price I paid has paid dividends over and over.

With the Berlitz method, you nor the instructor can speak English at ANY time during your classes, no matter the level.  This forces you to think in Spanish.  It's very tough at first, but as time goes by, it gets easier.  Also spending time in a spanish speaking country during or after the studies helps immensely, that's what I did.

In most Berlitz schools they will rotate instructors with you...so I would take maybe 4, 2 hour sessions a week, and I would have maybe 3 or 4 instructors, each from different spanish speaking countries.  Of course they have workbooks and tapes (now CD's)...

I think an ex-Berlitz instructor will do a great job with you...you will only miss the variety of instructors that I had, which I thought was great.

Guys, nothing is easy, nor cheap, but I would recommend Berlitz and their intensive one-on-one classes for anyone who is really serious about learning Spanish.

[fathertime]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Better Online Transl..., posted by beenthere on Nov 5, 2005

Beenthere,  Thank you for your imput.  I have screwed around with a couple tutors over the last month or so and it has produced some results but I am simply not learning at the pace I want to.  I am willing to spend the money if I think I am going to see results.  Like you say it is not easy.  Like most everything it is going to come down to ME being willing to put out the effort and time required.  I hope in a month or 2 I will be able to report that I am on the right path because by January I want to head back to Colombia with a stronger spanish foundation at a minimum.

Fathertime