tools

If you want to learn a language, you want resources. Actually, you want to move to some place where the language is native, and where it is not urbane, so you are forced to speak the language. But since most everyone, even me (jajaja!), need work, moving there is not usually an option for most people. (Though, if you are under 30 yrs. old and do not think to move in order to learn the language ... just kill yourself right now, your life is too boring. *wink* )

For me, I started out thinking I want as many different resources as possible. Now I realize, I have a pile of resources, and not so much direction. It is for reasons like these that you might consider learning the language with your local college. Or, do what I've done and buy a book and a separate learning package. Learning it on your own gives you more flexibility, but you really do have to take change and plan how you are going to learn.

I'll get into the planing, maybe, in a later post. But for now, the pile of resources. Most of these are free, though not all.

Quia.com — a site that lets instructors share multiple choice, word search, etc, with their students. You can access everything as a student for free. The only real problem with a site like this is that it doesn't come with the instructors! So far as these tools go, I think they make wonderful secondary learning tools. But the best, quickest, strongest way to memorize is: rote.

Before You Know IT — a Rote memorization program that offers flash cards with prebuilt lesson plans for basic vocabulary building. Buy the deluxe version and get more of their language tools, but personally, I'm happy with their free lessons! To add more to your rote memorization, use a product for flash-cards like ...

ProVoc — this is a rote memorization tool that does not offer the structure that BYKI offers. And you can feel the difference, BYKI is incredible: you learn a new set of 20 words in about 3 15 minute sessions. You can do the exact same thing with ProVoc but, good luck having the perseverance to do that. ProVoc is just the flash-cards, it has no structure to it beyond that. Where it greatly exceeds BYKI though, is in price. For the money ($0), you can't beat it. You do need your own source material though, to load into ProVoc. I suggest you check out flash card sites for this.

FlashcardExchange.com — Is a very good exchange site, with more vocabulary than you can shake a stick at. In order to make the flash-cards play well with ProVoc, I have to be selective. Luckily, there are so many resources here, that I have no trouble doing it.

FriendsAbroad.com — There is nothing like chatting with people in the language you (and they) are learning. friendsabroad.com brings that to you in a nice, easy to manage fashion. This is very important. Learning to read and write in the language, as well as speak and listen, is not possible without practice. Language doesn't exist in a vacuum, so you can't expect to learn it in a vacuum. Friendsabroad makes sharing your native language easy, and gives you all the practice you can chat up. (Note: You will need MSN and or Skype to really get off the ground.)

WordReference.com, and translate.google.com — You need translation tools, for chatting in a language you do not speak! While I strongly suggest pausing at each sentence to read it as best you can, or to write your thoughts as best you can, but when it comes right down to it, translation is still important. Use translate.google.com for translation at the sentence level, and WordReference for phrases/idioms and words. WordReference has the added bonus of offering a good deal of conjugation for spanish verbs!

podcasts -
Coffee Break Spanish — This is a great little learning experience where you get to listen in on a sort of private tutoring of Spanish. It is brought to you from Scotland, so expect a very real, and likable, accent. (Their Spanish, I assume, is quite good.) They also offer a variety of for-pay resources: if it includes more of their musical sessions, then it is really a must have (and I am missing out)! I am amazed at the absolute brevity involved in learning what they put to music. One listen is literally all that it takes — and I am not one of the smartest people you'll meet today! This podcast is notable for being the gentlest (Read: slowest) introduction to a foreign language that you will encounter. You are sure to keep up.

Notes In Spanish — This is another male-lead, male-female duo, teaching Spanish at all levels at once, as it may be. This time, the lady is the fluent, and the man is just an amazing host. I find their selection, that is, what topics they cover, what things they think most valuable to learn, to be absolutely top-notch. Just like CFB, this duo offers more materials at a pay rate. Unlike CFB, I do not think there is any music involved. But, another aspect that makes their show stand out is that they speak right away: starting at the first beginner level lesson. So you do fall behind. You do listen in and wonder, what is it they are saying. You may find it worthwhile to pay for their added materials, just to ensure you get all the coverage they provide in their podcast, because (I hate to repeat myself but) their selection in impeccable.

Pay Resources ... if I were you I would spend money somewhere! I started out thinking I would do this all for free, and then post blogs about how great a learner I am (*jajajajaj*). But after I started getting into it, I realized I was cutting myself short that way.

I've purchased a book on spanish grammar, because that is what is missing most in my selection. Basic, rote memorization for this tool for me means, shop for books. Written resources tend to be memorization heavy. That could even be a problem but not with all the added resources I've listed above.

I've also purchased a language learning software. What you buy should really be based on what you expect. Do you have other resources not listed? Do you have adequate listening, writing, reading, saying resources? Can someone check your pronunciation or do you need software for that? What if anything are you missing from your learning?