So far, there are about a dozen pages up. Just like the subtitle says, they include tips on how to learn to speak Spanish, discussion of what techniques work best, and reviews of some of the top software programs for learning Spanish.
I’m currently working on a short e-course for that website. It is not specifically on learning Spanish: it’s on how to learn to speak Spanish or for that matter, how we learn any language. I am not qualified to teach anyone Spanish myself! But I am having a great time researching how adults learn languages.
One of the most interesting things I’ve discovered is a relatively new multi-media program for learning to speak Spanish: Fluenz Spanish — that link takes you to my review of it. If I were a relative beginner, I would start with it.
I’m so enthusistic about Fluenz that I’ve been emailing with the company, and when I go to the US in a few days, I’ll pick up a review DVD of both their first and their second levels. That should keep me busy writing once I get back in a couple of weeks. (Quick trip.)
Why A Website on Learning to Speak Spanish?
The internet certainly has a lot of them already. But I haven’t found any that do quite what I had in mind: combining solid information on how we learn languages with recommendations for both free and not-free resources, from the vantage point of someone who speaks some Spanish but is far from perfect. I don’t even aspire to speak PERFECT Spanish.
A couple of my reasons for the site:
- I am constantly amazed at how many foreigners here in Mexico can’t speak Spanish. It’s often because they aren’t sure how to begin or they think they can’t learn. I want to encourage them.
- It’s kick-starting my own process of studying Spanish. I’ve been coasting for a while.
Do take a look at the new site. I have plans for many more articles. Visit the blog, too…. and please post a comment on it about how you learned Spanish…. however much you know!
Hello, I found you, and now am a follower. I sent you an e-mail today asking how. :) Im excited to check out your site. I am using everything I can get my fingers on at this point. I am looking for free!!!!!! So I was relieved when you said you would be recommending them. So as far as how Im learning, its not easy. I never took Spanish during high school or collage. I started in the states with a book and CD called Living Language. It was ok but more about memorization and honestly taught me words that are not used the same here. As soon as I would learn something my husband would say, “Yeah but we don’t really say that here.” At this point IM here in Mexico and we have Roseta Stone which is good but not enough. I also have a book titled Express everything in Spanish, expreselo todo en ingles. The entire book is written in both languages and has drills. The drills are what I need. I am a physical learner. I need to do to learn. I also pick 10 vocab words and study them for a week or two and my husband tests me on them when I’m ready. Oh and I get an e-mail from About. com that has phrases and vocab words. The phrases have been fun and my husband enjoys explaining them to me. But I’m not learning as fast as Id like. I am understanding much more at this point but speaking is a whole other story. Ill be looking into your site.