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Best Traditional Course for Spanish | ||
Tags: Spanish | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| Cainntear Pentaglot Senior Member Scotland linguafrankly.blogsp Joined 6039 days ago 4399 posts - 7687 votes  Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh | Message 9 of 15 19 July 2010 at 2:38pm | IP Logged | ||
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I'm not a fan of Colloquial or Teach Yourself, which I find too bitty. I'm never really clear on what I'm supposed to be learning, there's random lists of words thrown in at random times, and most of the exercises are very mechanical rather than testing your ability with the language. (This is probably because it's presented situationally -- at the shop, at the airport, etc.)
Linguaphone... I've only really used their older stuff, which was more structured than TY and Colloquial, but quite dry and stuffy. I've also dipped my toes into the "All-Talk" series, which I felt was exceptionally slow and extremely bitty, as it falls into the situational format. I've never used Living Language (my local library don't stock it and none of the newspapers have had it on offer!) Personally, I advise anyone who wants to learn Spanish to try out Michel Thomas, but it's all-audio, not book + CD, so maybe not what you were after. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Chris Heptaglot Senior Member Japan Joined 7149 days ago 287 posts - 452 votes Speaks: English*, Russian, Indonesian, French, Malay, Japanese, Spanish Studies: Dutch, Korean, Mongolian | Message 10 of 15 19 July 2010 at 2:43pm | IP Logged | ||
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Ah, how I understand about the records.
Supplemental materials? If you're on a tight budget, then I'd just stick with your main course for now. If you do use Living Language, then you get a set of recordings that can be used without the book, designed for 'On The Go' use. So you've always got something to listen to. A phrase book might help, to build up your vocabulary in all sorts of different areas while you're learning the grammar through your main course. Traditionally, the supplemental materials would be: a grammar reference; a really good dictionary, like the biggest Collins you can get your hands on; a 'reader' or a dual-language book. I also get a book on idioms with examples, like the 2001 Idioms books. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| johntm93 Senior Member United States Joined 5355 days ago 587 posts - 746 votes 2 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 11 of 15 19 July 2010 at 8:32pm | IP Logged | ||
Edit: I'd second Cainntear, I used Michel Thomas for Spanish myself, and I like it. For 8 hours you learn a whole lot, but you need other material to help back it up. Try to get an hour a day and study as much as you can, because there's little repitition it's easier to forget if you study irregularly (I know from experience!). Also don't copy his accent. Edited by johntm93 on 19 July 2010 at 8:36pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Chris Heptaglot Senior Member Japan Joined 7149 days ago 287 posts - 452 votes Speaks: English*, Russian, Indonesian, French, Malay, Japanese, Spanish Studies: Dutch, Korean, Mongolian | Message 12 of 15 20 July 2010 at 12:27am | IP Logged | ||
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I'd listen to a free sample of Michel Thomas before you buy, though. His accent and intonation in English are very hard on the ear, and his Spanish is not his native tongue either. See if you can stand listening to him first!
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| Shea4u Newbie United States Joined 5273 days ago 6 posts - 5 votes Speaks: English* | Message 13 of 15 20 July 2010 at 6:01pm | IP Logged | ||
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Can someone please tell me why Assimil is so highly rated???????? I am not sure that the program is a one program learning method. you will need more than that program in order to master fluency.
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| johntm93 Senior Member United States Joined 5355 days ago 587 posts - 746 votes 2 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 14 of 15 20 July 2010 at 9:03pm | IP Logged | ||
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| frenkeld Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 6971 days ago 2042 posts - 2719 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: German | Message 15 of 15 21 July 2010 at 4:28am | IP Logged | ||
Assimil courses offer a combination of features that are not unique in isolation, but can be hard to find in one package. (1) They use an intuitive rather than traditional approach to grammar. This is not to everyone's liking, but many do prefer to start out in a language using an intuitive approach. (2) All the text in the coursebook is recorded. There are some other good textbooks along the same principles as Assimil for which there are no recordings. (3) Their courses are adequately comprehensive, at least for West European languages. A solid foundational course must cover 1,000 to 1,500 words, Assimil with Ease courses go over 2,000 words for common West European languages. The grammar coverage is not as complete, but it is not inadequate for a first course, so one can simply fill the gaps with additional resources. (4) Their courses get you to speak. They are not unique in this, but there are good courses, especially of the traditional variety, with which some learners have a hard time getting started in conversation. (5) The lessons are fairly short, which is easier from the time management standpoint. (6) Assimil courses are relatively inexpensive. Edited by frenkeld on 21 July 2010 at 4:43am 3 persons have voted this message useful |
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