| There is a quiet revolution going on in the way | | | | ya?') |
| people learn languages. Formal education in colleges | | | | It is the same with Spanish, except more so. |
| and universities is being by-passed by lower cost | | | | There is a world of difference between formal |
| interactive audio learning courses, most of which | | | | university Spanish and the more informal Spanish |
| are available for download from the Internet. | | | | that is commonly spoken and used in |
| Speaking a language requires more than just | | | | conversational Spanish 'on the street'. The good |
| academic knowledge. Fluency is more than just | | | | learning courses teach the popular, more useable |
| vocabulary and grammar; it is an acquired skill. It's | | | | form of Spanish. |
| a skill like driving a car, flying a plane or playing a | | | | The format of the best interactive audio courses, |
| musical instrument is a skill. There are elements of | | | | like Mauricio Evlampieff's Rocket Spanish |
| factual instruction, but it is more than just mental | | | | download, is that of adult education. It differs |
| data acquisition. | | | | from academic courses in that it is not focussed |
| The essence of learning a skill is in the doing, | | | | on a distant degree program. It focuses instead |
| getting the 'feel' for it and becoming able to | | | | on giving the student specifically what he or she |
| produce the desired results. You are going to learn | | | | wants and needs, right now. |
| to drive or fly, not in the classroom but in the | | | | Courses must produce visible results and be |
| driver's seat or cockpit. When they hire musicians | | | | interesting and fun to keep students' attention. |
| they do not ask for copies of their college | | | | All courses present more or less the same |
| diplomas, they ask to hear them play! | | | | material to teach the same language. It is the |
| And when you apply for a job that requires a | | | | presentation and delivery that distinguishes the |
| bi-lingual person, they won't be much interested in | | | | leaders from the "also-rans". When it is interesting, |
| your academic credits. Parts of the job interview | | | | fun and entertaining, you learn faster and |
| will be carried out in both languages you claim to | | | | remember more. When it is tedious and boring, |
| speak. In each part you will find yourself | | | | students lose interest and head for the exits. |
| conversing with a native speaker of that language. | | | | The digitally downloadable aspect of these |
| Modern interactive-audio language-learning courses | | | | courses means that you can take the text and |
| start with basic conversation. You learn a few | | | | the mp3 digital audio portions of the materials |
| basic words and how to use them, then gradually | | | | anywhere. You can study at your own pace, |
| expand your knowledge, always speaking, listening | | | | repeat as often as you like and have the exact |
| and interacting. You learn to speak, to understand | | | | materials including pronunciation and accent |
| and to make yourself understood. | | | | available for instant review. |
| The best learning courses for conversational Latin | | | | The net result of this revolution in learning is that |
| American Spanish are offered by Rocket Spanish, | | | | instead of having to spend $500 to $3,000 or |
| Learning Spanish Like Crazy and Fsi Spanish (in | | | | more in language training tuition, you can get |
| descending order of quality). Pimsleur Spanish and | | | | better training, such as a Rocket Spanish |
| Rosetta Stone Spanish are also good, but are | | | | download, for $100 or so. Also you can buy a |
| more formal learning and less conversational. | | | | learning program, download it and start lessons in |
| A Latino friend once complained to me that when | | | | 10 minutes time, from anywhere and at any hour. |
| he learned English where he went to school, they | | | | This means that many more people are learning |
| taught him to say, "Hello. How are you?". But | | | | Spanish (the second language of preference for |
| when he got to the U.S. for the first time, no one | | | | North Americans). Furthermore, they are learning |
| said that! They said, "Hi, h're ya?" ('how are you' | | | | it fast and enjoying the process. |
| changed to 'how're ya?', further shortened to 'h're | | | | |