Learning Spanish - Poll Q

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Re: Learning Spanish - Poll Q, posted by grant5432 on Jun 21, 2003

As a former Spanish teacher I'll chime in. Granted, you don't need a test, because you are not taking the course for credit (the real test will come soon enough, when you arrive in Colombia) but with no studying, no memorizing and no books exactaly how ARE you suppossed to learn? The burden is on HIM to teach you? I don't think so, the burden is on YOU to learn. Might be a good course, who knows, but I can teach you pronunciation and basic grammer (at least simple present and preterite tense) in about two days (so could JunFan or Edge, or several other guys here for that matter), but to have a vocabulary of more than about 30 words or 10 'parrot' phrases is going to take (guess what?) studying and memorizing and actual EXPERIENCE.....hey, this isn't by any means an attempt to put you down, on the contrary, I'm glad you are making the effort, and 99% of Spanish speakers will do their best to communicate with you (and, unlike the French, they won't insult you or pretend not to understand you if you are not perfect)....'A little goes a long way'. i.e. even with just a little Spanish you WILL score major 'culture appreciation points' and 'he made the effort points' with the ladies....just don't expect to become 'fluent' from a tape or CD course, you will probably still need an interpreter to talk to most ladies on your first couple of trips. Just don't want you to become disappointed and/or discouraged when you are down there.

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Learning Spanish - Poll Q, posted by Michael B on Jun 21, 2003

What he said.......

[Wasp]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Learning Spanish - Poll Q, posted by Michael B on Jun 21, 2003

Expensive , but good.

[Jim L]

... in response to Pimsleur, posted by Wasp on Jun 21, 2003


Just swing by the library. I borrowed the Pimsleur Spanish CD series - all three levels - and did the lessons in the car while commuting to work over the course of a few months. Saved myself several hundred dollars and put to good use what would otherwise have been wasted time.

Could it get any better? LOL

[HeyNow]

... in response to Re: Pimsleur.....Expensive? ......How do..., posted by Jim L on Jun 22, 2003

It really depends on where you live.  I tried to check pimsleur out and the librarian let me know it would be quite awhile, as there is a very long waiting list.

[HeyNow]

... in response to Pimsleur, posted by Wasp on Jun 21, 2003

My Spanish is limited. Living in California I had learned some words and phrases(just due to necessity).  When I first went to Colombia someone told me, "Any Spanish is helpful."  I realized it is true.  ANY Spanish you learn will help you.  I recently purchased the Pimsleur tape set on Ebay for 91 dollars. It sells new for about 275 dollars new.  The beauty of the Pimsleur is the words and phrases from previous lessons are repeated in the later lessons so, if you miss something your not lost later.