So, i'm going on holiday to Malaga in September, staying with a friend of a friend (for free i might add.) So, for the purposes of interacting with these Spanish speaking amigos and, if i'm honest, purely to be polite, considering the cheap cheap rent, i've been trying to improve my Spanish skills. Now you would think, having worked in a Latin American Restaurant for nearly 2 years now and being surrounded and immersed in the chitter chatter of the romantic languages i would have gained some skills. Well, you would be wrong. My skills, however, are slowly moving along with the help of a couple of useful tips and hints.
One friend of mine triumphs the Rosetta Stone Spanish Listening CdRoms. Champion, apparently, expensive, also. At £149.00 a pop for a starter kit at little old WhSmiths i went on a search for something with a little bit more of a 'i work in a bar 3 days a week' price-tag.
The Collins easy learning Spanish Conversation book comes in at £6.99; a bargain. Self proclaimed as the 'bestselling bilingual dictionary' it doesn't disappoint on convenience of size, overview of terms or reading ease. Reluctantly, it is a tad boring.
So, i come to the saviour of boring self teach Spanish courses, and bloggers it comes in no better form than the World Wide Web. One thing must strike you first, free, but reliable? Yes, indeed the Web does offer a satisfying aid to learning which is reliable, the BBC, or should i say my Spanish friend 'Teresa.' I came across the BBC website which has vocabulary, tips and hints similar to the Collins book i purchased, however it also has a video course, offering the visual and audio aids which must have been so triumphant in Rosetta Stone.
The video tutorial 'Mi Vida Loca' acts as a role play, with you unexpectedly vacationing alone in Spain dealing with situations such as finding your way to your flat, ordering food and interacting with people who cannot speak English. The tutorial stops at intervals to review areas of grammer and vocabulary, as well as allowing you to stop and start at your will. People say that the best way to learn a new language is to go to the country of origin and just start trying, but why not fake that. My crazy life feels pretty real for the 10 minute episodes, provides some structure needed in teaching yourself at home and allows for proper practice.
Admittedly i am only two episodes in but i will keep a little update of my progress. One thing is for sure, that Mi Vida Loca, my crazy life, is a lot more interesting as well as equally concise as the expensive ranges a magpie such as myself is drawn to. It is definitely worth a research before you flash the cash on something dear.
