www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I want to learn some Spanish before my next trip and I was wondering if anyone can recommend a good audio and book combination guide?

There are quite a few to choose from out there but not all are good. Bear in mind I'm not very good at learning languages...

Much appreciated.

Hi,

I'm actually a Spanish teacher in the States and am traveling to CR next week. I have several possibilities, depending upon what your needs are. Just contact me for more info.

Spanish 10 minutes a Day is good. Combine learning Spanish with social interaction is the most effective way to learn

Thanks Postupright! The site is absolutely great!

Whosear, please check your inbox.

Pimsleur is great. I am almost finished with the first 30 lessons. I get it for free form the libray. I can access it online through their website. You should be able to do the same at your library. There are 100 lessons plus a 10 hour bonus advanced lessons.Has anyone here finished all the tapes?if so, Where would you say your spanish level is. How close to fluent are you?

Whosear,
What you stated makes sense.I have been thinking of the Rosetta Stone package.Your thoughts...!
Muchas Gracias....!
Roberto

Wickid8-

First let me say I applaud you for realizing what an even better time these trips can be by learning spanish.

Great advice from whosear, praticing in social situations (if possible) will get you closer to pratical/conversational spanish. "Learning it by the book" is good for vocabulary, memorization..

Trust me, (although all the chicas are going to do the deed regardless) when you are able to spit some game without limitations, things can be better than you ever imagine and you will find that complaints that some members have don't even apply to you.

Good stuff man,

Cujo

_________________
"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

Rosetta stone is god awful.Horrible! I tried it from the library. Stick with pimsleur.

Rosetta Stone is not awful, as its the only program accredited for government training. Otherwise, Im sure they wouldn't be using it.

Some of the lessons really arent practical at all though. The Thai one is in Thai, so Im not sure how you are suppose to learn that.

Brazilian & JM
Thanks for your thoughts.Sound advice i'm sure.I will look into the pimsleur package.
Roberto

All these language programs advertise they sell to the goverment.They are not the only licensed one.Thats bs.Rosetta stone is worthless if you want to learn real spanish. not the hat is on the dog.I guess after you are done wth pimsleur, rosetta has its place, to learn more vocabulary, but to actually have a conversation with people. I dont like rosetta.

How is it BS? Its a very highly accredited company. And yes, they use it for government training.

Obviously if no one learned anything from it, it wouldnt be as highly touted as it is.

Thanks Cujo. My aim in learning Spanish is to help me travel Latin America and also to communicate with the chicas, working and non-working types!

Do a google search comparing the 2 ,and read the reviews. Im not saying you cant learn from RS, but it's not as good as pimsleur.Rosetta goes about it the wrong way, in my opinion. They have pictures, and assume you know what it is, when they say the words. I know what some of the pictures are, but i dont know them all.I personally think it sucks.We all have our opinion. Have you tried both, so you are able to give a educated opinion? I have tried both, so i know. rosetta doesnt even start off with the basic verbs.

Ive used both yes.

Rosetta method is based upon factual finding. People learn better by seeing/hearing/writing/saying all in conjunction with eachother.

If you simply hear words, its usually alot harder then seeing a picture of a dog and then hearing the word dog for say. You remember alot of what you see and hear at the same time.


So with that being said, I think its a great method. Is it for everyone? No, obviously nothing is going to cater to every persons needs.

Some people dont need to see things, others dont need to write things down. Im just saying, their delivery method is based 100% on factual findings of how people learn.

But the argument is like saying Mercedes is a better built car then a BMW.

rosetta is good for learning many vocabulary words but horrible for learning verbs and phrases that you use in conversation, such as me voy, se van se va nos vamos,blah blah.. Use pim fist and when your done with that, go to RS to learn alot of vocab.