Comments for Learning Spanish Blog

Comment on 10 Reasons to Learn Spanish by Anne

Anne — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:24:47 +0000

I’ve been to several countries where I did not speak the native language or had only the bare bones of them. I’ve seen my travel companions use what little of French or Spanish or Japanese they had. It provided a kind of interaction that one wouldn’t have if you just spoke in English and only sought out English-speakers. So I’d say, Yes, to learning Spanish especially since there are so many Spanish-based countries in the world. It would be good to get out of our comfort zone, give us a chance to relate to native speakers in an entirely different way, and possibly see the world through different eyes.

Comment on Funny Learning Spanish Ad by Fred Matteson

Fred Matteson — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 07:45:54 +0000

There should have been a subtitle. Those who don’t know what ‘agua’ means probably won’t get it.

Comment on Albuquerque Mural by Laura Taylor

Laura Taylor — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:37:50 +0000

The mural is awesome. I am wondering how it is made as it is very big. How many people who made this? They are very talented. It would be more amazing if one person only who did this. You can see in the pictures the setting of a carnival.

Comment on Funny Learning Spanish Ad by Paul Robertson

Paul Robertson — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 00:41:49 +0000

The course looks really useful and indepth, so I guess it would be worth trying. Does it come with a money back guarantee if for some reason you don’t get much out of it?
I have to agree with some of the previous comments that finding someone who speaks Spanish is actually one of the best ways to master the intricacies of the language. What I have found as well is that you have to ‘immerse’ yourself in the language as much as possible by listening to audios, watching films, reading newspapers and children’s Spanish books, and of course practising your speech as well. The more ways you can expose yourself to the language and culture, the better.

I’m off to find myself a friendly Spanish speaker!

Regards
Paul Robertson
Webmaster, Treatments For Urticaria

Comment on 10 Reasons to Learn Spanish by Louis M De Jesus

Louis M De Jesus — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:00:14 +0000

Hi: Excellent article and I agree with the 10 reasons to learn Spanish, the language is very rich and beautiful, it can provide opportunities for whoever learns it fluently. The point of Immersion as expressed requires as you point out initial basic learning methods, which are around us.

Best Regards
Louis

Comment on Think Spanish! by learn spanish free

learn spanish free — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 06:53:41 +0000

I noticed when I travelled Central America & when I have been in Spain , many people don’t use the perfect tense but I was quite accurate at that point. So Audio magazine will be great thing for them to learn something perfect.

Comment on Think Spanish! by Sean Hndly

Sean Hndly — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:35:02 +0000

My translator here in Portland, Oregon showed me a program which reads ENGLISH text in Spanish. I haven’t tried it yet, but this reminded me of that.

I think there are only two Spanish magazines (to learn Spanish) here in Oregon. One from Castelia Language School, which comes out monthly, and another from Portland In Spanish, which seems to focus more on Peru than anything else. Ada Manrique publishes one, and Priscilla Ogdon in Beaverton the other, I believe (but check).

Give me more! I love them. Better than the NYT’s lately =(.

Comment on Mi Vida Loca by Instant Immersion Spanish

Instant Immersion Spanish — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 22:17:34 +0000

This truly is AWESOME! But, a couple of additional facts that you didn’t include that will be helpful for readers.
1. It’s an online web-based experience (no software to install)
AND
2. It’s free!
Definitely go check it out!

Comment on Mi Vida Loca by Alexandrer

Alexandrer — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:16:42 +0000

Me gusta la idea es genial. Tenemos que mirar con atención y me hizo volver con el comentario completo.

Comment on Think Spanish! by anotheruser

anotheruser — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:57:41 +0000

EXPANISH SPANISH SCHOOL in Buenos Aires

I had a very nasty experience with expanish . The sales rep, Michelle, was a pretty ‘full-on’ sales type of operator. She was very keen to sell me on the full eight week deal and advised that a one week introduction was a waste of time. Trusting her advice, I booked for two weeks with a view to see how things proceeded. She also said I should start immediatly because a weekly class had just started. After a hurried sign off of the form (small print in Spanish) and payement in USD only I was seated into a class that was already half way through. The lecturer spoke, only in Spanish and adhoc sign language. I seriously had no idea what she was saying. The other students were also pulling WTF type faces at each other.

I apologized to the lecturer and explained that I was having difficulty catching up with the lesson. She snapped at me and said that I would just have to take a another lesson another time. I was angered and embarrassed to say the least. I then informed the administrators that I would prefer to cancel my lessons because I was so humiliated by the treatment and needed to start from scratch. They also informed me that some lecturers do speak english and some don’t.

I offered to pay a $50 USD penalty for the hour that I was there. The sales ladiy’s response was aggressive and sharp.She promptly informed that that they do not give refunds. She informed me that when I signed the personal information form, (that’s what it was titled), I had also signed and agreed to their terms and conditions which are posted on their web site. The only option given to me was that I could do some private lessons for equal value or simply lose my $300 US. In other words, too bad, we have your money and there’s nothing you can do about it.

After a very heated argument they finally agreed to refund half my money. The hostel that I am staying since told me that Expanish has a reputation of high pressure sales and that they would have advised mt to use a different company.

I went in there trusting good reports from forums and ended up letting my guard down when it came to making an assessment. They even had a Lonely Planet logo in their brochure and guess what? When I got back to my dorm, I checked the Lonely Planet guide and Expanish isn’t even listed.

Based on this incident, my advice is to tread very carefully when dealing with the sales representative at Expanish or any english teaching business in BA. Do not let them pressure you into a rushed decision or book more lessons than you originally wanted in the first place. Make sure that they give you a print-out of the terms and conditions (in English). Be sure to make sure that the lecturer assigned to your class actually speaks English rather than pigeon English and sign language – perhaps ask to met the lecturer.

Remember that the English lesson market is very competitive Buenos Aires.

Hope this advice proves useful in some way.