... in response to Translators, posted by David W on Apr 14, 2001Hey David.
If you go to the Planet Love main page and scroll down to "translation help", you'll find Spanish translation services offered for like five cents a word.
You can also use some of the free online translation sites that feature the systran software. Be warned though that these translations can run the gamut from comical to downright bizzare (like anything else, you generally get what you pay for). But they're helpful sometimes, at least to get the gist of what's being said.
The best advice I could give you though, David is to just learn Spanish. I've been practicing for about a year now and I'm up to something of a (gramatically atrocious:-) conversational level. I can pretty much do my own letter writing, too.
Buy yourself one of those electronic pocket translators (about 50 bucks) and practice a little each day. Taking a classs is good, too if you can find the time.
Here's a site somebody here turned me on to:
www.parlo.com
Sign up, take a placement test and they'll e-mail you free lessons each week. Again, you get what you pay for - but it's a start.
Finally, try to engage any Spanish speaking person you meet in conversation. Yeah you might feel a little awkward at first, but they're usually happy to help you with it; and you'll be helping them with their English reciprocally. Not a bad deal for both of you.
Jim
PS Things are fine. Leaving for Cali Tuesday :-)
