Job Discussion Forums

[Perilla]

I have a fair amount of free time at work and a computer in front of me, but find it difficult to apply myself to learning Spanish. Lazy, I guess. I know there are plenty of Spanish learning websites etc., and have looked at a few, but I tend to find them boring, and my enthusiasm soon fizzles out.

I've recently discovered using the Google translator tool, so that I can simultaneously read and translate Spanish newspaper articles (for example), which is far more interesting than ploughing through grammar excercises and verb tables. But the Google translator is far from perfect and I could do with some other relatively painless methods.

Anyone got any suggestions? Particularly useful would be any interesting audio sources/apps for help with pronunciation etc.

Thanks for any help.

[naturegirl321]

Have you tried trying to set up a converstaion exchange?

[Perilla]

[naturegirl321]

[Perilla]

[Insubordination]

For vocabulary, I have free flashcard software/vocab trainer. I've only used the German edition, but there's probably a Spanish one. It's called 'Let's Learn a Language'. Mine is version 3.6. I downloaded it 3 or so years ago.

It's great and progressive and really works but can get a little boring because it just presents isolated words and not much conversation.

Have you looked on itunes? There are loads of free, interesting Spanish applications and podcasts and real video/dialogues. The advanced level ones are particularly authentic, especially 'Learning and Teaching Scotland'. I don't know what your level is but you should download a few and check them out (you don't need an ipod/phone to use itunes).

[naturegirl321]

How about Rosetta Stone?

[melanissa]

This suggestion will either really appeal when you look at it or you'll absolutely hate it! And your Spanish is probably already at a better level than this....but I recently got hooked at "mi vida loca" - it's part of the BBC language learning things, basically a series of video episodes that are interactive too, starts off really basic and is probably too basic for what you're after as it's not really got any grammar in there. But I was, as a beginner, really hooked (sad I know!). The whole series is almost like a soap opera so I found myself just watching one after the other and did them all in a day and a half rather than the 12 weeks it suggests!!

The only other thing I'm using to learn before I head out is a CD collection by Michel Tomas, really good, I'm not normally a person that learns well by just listening, but he's really good. I borrowed them from a friend but have heard they're quite expensive to buy, but they'd be a valuable investment!

[spiral78]

How about Rosetta Stone?

Research indicates that tools like this (and possibly the ones melanissa mentions - I'm not familiar) are useful for raw beginners, but their effectiveness quickly diminishes as the student gains even low levels of proficiency. This is why some big government organisations use it - to kick off their learners before sending them to 'real' programmes and ultimately abroad.

Basically not recommended above about A1, possibly A2.

[IanN]

I've never really looked at this site as I could already speak Spanish before I saw it but you may want to try http://www.spanishfree.org/

[naturegirl321]

START with Rosetta Stone, then move up then

[tjc2120]

I personally have been going through my public library's resources to check out books on CD and trying to find the one I find the most useful.

Also, you probably already know that after translating a word or paragraph through google here: http://translate.google.com/, you can then "listen" to the pronunciation. (Not sure it would work for long pieces of texts or pages.)

[spiral78]

google translate isn't always very accurate