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Archive for the ‘Language Tips’ Category

by Jake Beus

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August 8th, 2011

One of the main reasons that kids and adults do not achieve success in learning Spanish is that they become bored and disinterested. Studies have shown that certain types of background music can help you increase retention of what you’re learning. There are varied opinions as to whether or not music-based language learning is truly effective. My opinion is that certain things are good to learn with music, like the alphabet. Here’s an example of that:

I think it’s a good way to learn the alphabet and grammar rules. I don’t think, however, that it should be the primary focus of learning. I previously stated that most people become bored with language learning. Learn a song every once in a while to break up your routine. Sing along with the artist. Doing this can help with comprehension and pronunciation. It can be fun too, especially with upbeat Spanish songs.

In conclusion, I think that music can help you learn Spanish. Visual Link Spanish uses “brain music” in teaching you certain words and phrases. The right background music is a good idea and will help with retention. Learning Spanish should be something that breaks up your routine to make it more interesting. However, it should not be a focus in learning. I would love to hear any comments you have.

by E

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June 27th, 2011

Adding the letter -o to the end of a word does not instantly change the word from English to Spanish.  This is a common mistake made by many.  We’ve heard people do it, and probably get a laugh or two out of it.  Just be careful as it can be both disrespectful and offensive.

Here are some instances where it actually does work.  

English                               Spanish

Active                                 Activo

Passive                               Pasivo

Massive                              Masivo

Notice how -ive ending changes to -ivo ending in Spanish.  Isn’t learning Spanish fun?

Signed

E

by E

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June 14th, 2011

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This week’s topic boils down to manners.  Latin Americans always say ‘con permiso’ or ‘excuse me’ when leaving a group or trying to pass someone.  This is a concept not used all of the time in the US, especially in busy areas.  Many of us are in a hurry and tend to be irritated by the people that are ‘in our way’.  If we could simply slow down, allow yourself more time to get to where you are going, and pardon yourself from a group or when trying to get by someone, life would be less stressful.  You might also find that people throw garbage at you less when politely passing.  You can learn other useful phrases in these Spanish lessons.

Good Luck!

E

by E

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May 10th, 2011

This week Dave talked about land in Mexico.  There are many American  companies that have plants in Mexico.  This increases the need to learn Spanish for those who travel to Mexico for work.

My husband recently joined the Air Force and we may have the opportunity in the future to travel abroad.  What experiencing have you had that required you to move abroad for work, or pleasure?  How long till you were able to adjust with the language barrier?

I’d love to hear stories of your experiences.

E~

 

 

 

by E

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April 5th, 2011

For those of you who travel extensively, you are aware of the many variations of Spanish between countries. There can be many variations within a country as well. The best thing to remember is that, for the most part, the language is still the same. There are simply some words that have different meanings.

This is true for English speakers as well. People in the United States speak English as do those who live in England. We can understand each other and communicate; however, there are some word meaning differences.

It’s something to watch out for when traveling…if you are learning Spanish to travel, you’ll want to remember this tip.

Happy trails

Signed…E

by E

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March 18th, 2011

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I know you’ve heard this song over and over so you should know the words by now.  How well do you sing it in español?

by Brandi

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February 25th, 2011

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Here is a fun Spanish song for the weekend. Enjoy! Can you understand them without looking at the subtitles? Try just listening first and then watch again for any of the words you missed. It’s fun and silly, but educational as well. Have a fun weekend!


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