www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Guys,
I have been beating myself up trying to learn some Spanish for the last year and a half. I took a course at a community college, I hired an online tutor. I have rented audio books at the library. Very little has been sticking.

My brother met me down in CR in November and he was WAY ahead of me. I heard chicas remark to him "Oh you Speak Spanish?

He had been using Synergy Spanish. The method this guy lays out is pretty easy to pick up. I just load up the lessons on my Ipod and follow along. If you are inclined, I recommend you check it out. This course is really just for beginners.


http://www.synergyspanish.com

Best way I find to learn Spanish; Get you self a Spanish girls friend.. It works

_________________
"THE TRUTH IS' EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HURT YOU. YOU JUST GOTTA FIND THE ONE WORTH SUFFERING FOR"
Robert Nesta Marley

Three other sites:
Spanishdict.com very good all free has videos and exercises, very comprehensive. Also has a very good spanish to english translator.

livemocha.com excellent site does quite a few languages. All basic services are free which is all I use and is more than enough. Good part of the site is that spoken and written exercises are graded by users from other countries. It gives you the chance to talk to people from a lot of countries.

busuu.com also another good site. Does your five basic spanish, french, german, italian and english. Basic courses are free.

All are good and you can do quite well without spending and money

I briefly reviewed the synergy site and will post later about it.

The key is practice, practice, PRACTICE!!! Learning Spanish is a skill as well as knowledge, so approach it differently from other areas.

Here is an outline of what I use when tutoring small groups of students:

First, I get students started. Tutoring is for helping a student get through an impasse, or to improve upon their level..in other words, to assist! If you expect the tutor to teach you the language through only your sessions, then one will be sorely disappointed.

My outline:

A sixth Spanish grammar book
Flash cards
memory techniques
audio tapes/CD's/files of Spanish conversations


A good starter book is, "Spanish in 10 Minutes a Day" It contains CD's, stickers to paster all over your furniture, house and work, and uses phonetic pronunciation in English to help practice.

Keep catagories of words you learn in Spanish...house, work, transportation, etc.

Use the phonetic pronunciation stickers to practice pronunciation. If you want to write at the basic level, then do the activities in the book. There is extended vocabulary, so practice pronouncing it as well.

In the States, listen to commentary or talking on radio programs (TV too, but be forewarned that the natural sensuality and play by latinas will affect your ability to listen!!!)

And get a girlfriend that speaks Spanish, and is patient!!