Lmj2018

Hornets_Nest

I agree - there has never been an easier time to lean a language with the Apps and online media available. If I am unsure of how to say something, say at a bus station or in a bank, I simply run through what I would like to say on Google Translate which is on my phone. OK I am taking it day by day but now when I go for a hair cut etc I do it all in Spanish and I've started buying .El Pais or a local Spanish paper every few days just to see how I get on. So mnay words are either the same or very similar in both languages it really isn't that hard.

1sexsmith

Interesting that you mention Google translate and the the plethora of new enabling technologies. Most of my students use instant translation programs as ways of producing both oral and written text and do so as ease of use. However it is exactly because you don't really need to work so hard to produce something that means it's probably not really helping you learn as effectively as you think. Translating a lengthy Spanish text into English is admittedly useful but there is no learning going on plus the translations are often lacking in coherence do to the algorithm which means the reader readjusts it based his or hers prejudices.

Johncarzx

I am afraid that is what’s called progress. How many can add up a simple shop order without a calculator. Showing my age, when I started as an apprentice all I did for the first year was sweep the garage floor, mash the tea and go for the sandwich order.