Re: Learning the language?
 

I never said that, she told me that I have a habbit of doing that, it is my way of trying to get away from that habbit, which is getting better daily.

The downside of this for me is I still need to know what is being said to me, people will not subsitute words when speaking to me, but I can use different words if I need to when describing things.

Having just watched David Beckhams last press conference for Madrid I can truly say I am above that and his Spanish there is absolutley shocking.

Your the second person though who says I should change my teacher, ill keep going til June and if I have not got as far as I need then ill consider changing, but I think its ok. The biggest problem I have is that I am in the wrong town to improve / force the speaking.

Re: Learning the language?
 

OK, well folks- I am a born skeptic- honestly! But two people on Facebook told me about Michel Thomas method on learning languages- I downloaded a free part on an app two nighs ago then the first paid part last night- I can actually speak in simple sentences from basically nothing. If you read the reviews it says it's like a miracle etc- it's actually amazing! I'm going to buy the whole course on CD- if you don't know what I'm on about here's what I mean
Don't be put off by his droll voice at the start or his thick accent- this guy is a bloody genius- there's a free audio you can listen to.

http://www.michelthomas.com/

Re: Learning the language?
 

Out of the many people I know who speak more than one language fluently, none of them have learnt by language tapes

However, they will give you some background so you can order food at the bar etc

Re: Learning the language?
 

Absolutely agree:goodpost:

Re: Learning the language?
 

Best of luck with that! he's been around for a long time, it's nothing new, I did listen to him many years ago. Had a quick listen to see if he's improved any, and having passed the beginners stage, I thought I'd be brave and try the masters level. Me gusta-I like?? Bloody masters level!:rofl: Personally I thought he was dire years ago and nothing has changed, but you're sold and if it works for you, that's good. You'll be speaking American Spanish with an American Spanish accent. Suerte.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Just as well I'm not American or that could be taken the wrong way :p

I'm having fun, it's all good! :)

Re: Learning the language?
 

The michael Thomas is far from ideal, and I would not say she is sold on it, but in his favour he has done the right thing for her because it has given her a lift and a bit of confidence and that is a positive step.

I know a few people who have gone to a spanish learning classes here where they don't speak any English, I know more that have just given up after a week or a month, they got nothing out of it, I remember giving up being taught in evening classes at Chelmsford, it did not work for me, The teacher was Mexican I don't blame her I just felt the others were holding me back and eventually I walked out.

If you have no confidence at all then the MT CD's are a good way to get you into it, we must have all tried them otherwise we could not give a negative review. It gives you the confidence and you can string sentances together but as Cricketman said on a earlier thread and this is the most true, long term there is no point speaking it if you cant understand what is being said to you.........but you need something to get you started and I prefer that method over a text book, Im sure one of the CD's he rambles on about giving you the tools and opening the door and for that he can't be knocked.


for the record I think he is Polish not Amercian

Re: Learning the language?
 

I was just pointing out something I had discovered that I really liked- I didn't ask for opinions but it's cool- it's the internet! :D

I do actually feel fired up and it's made me feel a lot more confident about classes at the end of the year so that's a positive thing.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Yes, he's Polish.
"Michel Thomas was born Moniek Kroskof, the only son of a Jewish family who owned a textile factory in Poland in 1914. As a young boy, Michel was sent to live in Germany to escape the anti-Semitism directed at his family. Living in Vienna in 1938, when the Nazis annexed Austria, Michel was rendered stateless as a Jew."

Re: Learning the language?
 

I did say, whatever floats her boat is a good thing, we all learn in different ways, it's just not something I'd would recommend. I didn't say where he came from, simply that that he uses seseo, I'm betting he lived in the States and picked up his Spanish accent there. Nothing wrong with it, it's used in Andalucia and Canary Islands.

Re: Learning the language?
 

So how about some Internet resources to help her out....

My favourite:

Dictionary - Wordreference.com
Verb Conjugator - Verbix (brilliant!)
Source of spanish audio - notesinspanish.com

Any more?

Re: Learning the language?
 

You can learn a new word every day and also ways of using it on:-

Spanishdict.com

Rosemary

Re: Learning the language?
 

duolingo has helped me to feel that learning the language is achievable. Been to night classes but as always did not do the homework, as I prefer the social side and instant gratification:ohmy:
Duolingo provides small, easy, regular doses and gives a sense of achievement.
The best of luck with your efforts.

Re: Learning the language?
 

Thank you :)

Re: Learning the language?
 

Thank you all who helped with various ideas-
One of the things that I have done is change the language setting on Facebook to Spanish- this forces me to try and work words out. They're not always as I thought so I look them up, can't harm.
Every little helps!