Learn Spanish Fast

May 14, 2011 by  
Filed under Education

Gregory Newell asked:


How fast is it possible to learn a foreign language? You see products that claim to teach you to speak in weeks or even days. I am trying to learn Spanish fast, but as with any other language it is a long and tiring process that take months and even years to become proficient. It is possible to learn some Spanish very fast, but you will find that will mostly be swear words and slang terms that wont really get you anywhere when it comes to actual conversation.

Sometimes I have dreams with a few of the Spanish words I know in them but they unfortunately normally revolve around how dumb I am and how I don’t know any other words. Of course some people are able to learn Spanish very fast, or any other language for that matter, simply because they have what is frequently called an “ear or languages”. I wish I was one of those people.

Not matter how well you learn languages I have to say that I agree with the school of though that says the best way is through immersion. Living in a country that speaks the language is by far the best way to truly learn a language. You can also read books, listen to tapes, and use interactive software. Or there is another more novel method I found that involves learning through music. While this sounds interesting and kind of fun I have to say the words used in the lyrics to the Latin songs I have encountered here are not the words I would want to be learning.

To truly learn Spanish fast and well a nice combination of all the above mentioned methods would be nice. To live in the country, listen to tapes and music, read books, use software, and speak nothing but the language would be ideal and probably very successful. Unfortunately no one really has the time this would entail so we must instead settle for a long, drawn out, frustrating process.



Lcf Clubs: the Fun Way to Learn Spanish and French

May 14, 2011 by  
Filed under Education

John Ellis asked:


The importance of foreign languages like French and Spanish is growing. Many parents and guardians are enrolling their children in after school clubs that provide lessons in foreign languages. One of the most popular after school clubs in the UK is LCF clubs. The company offers a fun way top learn Spanish and other foreign languages.

Parents can enroll their child with LCF clubs to enable them to learn French and Spanish easily. The clubs’ approach to Spanish language learning is informal to infuse confidence and fun to generate interest. Interaction dominates the sessions in these clubs: every child gets to contribute.

Apart from the clubs that provide a fun way to learn Spanish, LCF clubs have also introduced online resources to help children to learn Spanish online. Using these resources, they improve their language skills. The online resources also help Learn English online or learn French online. Through this interesting and fun way to learn a foreign language, children are able to speak Spanish easily.

If you wish to help your child improve his English then LCF clubs can help with that as well and allow your child to learn English online. Children can work on his pronunciation, reading, listening and grammar easily through these online programs. Similarly they can also learn Spanish online or learn French online with online resources such as Babelzone or Phonicszone.

Babelzone is an interesting and interactive site for the young learners and presents a fun way to learn Spanish or French language. It makes use of activities like stories, games, and songs in the particular language. Its Interactive whiteboard resources make learning in a group or individually more fun.

If you are trained in foreign languages like Spanish and French then you can teach languages at LCF Clubs. You can become an LCF licensee and be a part of the program.

LCF Clubs also provide CDs at reasonable prices and help the children learn the foreign language. To know more about the course structure and about the fees for these after school classes or online resources, you can visit www.lcfclubs.com.



5 Unique Ways For Busy People to Learn Spanish

May 14, 2011 by  
Filed under Careers

Jim Sarris asked:


One of the biggest misconceptions of learning Spanish (or any foreign language) is the time commitment. Everyone seems to think you need hours upon hours of study in order to learn. Since very few people have so many hours to dedicate to studying, they decide that learning a language is not for them.

Yet, even with a little knowledge of another language, they can benefit in so many ways. Perhaps they could get a better job, communicate better in the job they’re in or enjoy a new experience on a forthcoming trip to a foreign country.

Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen because in their mind it’s a done deal…no one learns without dedicating massive time to the effort.

Well, I’m here to say that there is another side to the story. A side that is more realistic and positive. A side that may just spark a reader or two to change their mind and try.

I’ve been a Spanish teacher for over 15 years. In that time I’ve taught high school, college and adults students. Naturally, this article is not directed to high school and college students for obvious reasons.

I’m writing so that more adults can discover the secrets to learning any language they want, regardless of their schedules. You see, it’s a question of taking advantage of the downtime. Here’s what I mean.

Everyone has moments in the day when they are left with nothing to do. Maybe it’s at work, at home, during the commute. These moments are there, you just have to pay attention.

Once you can spot them, then you can begin to fill them with little study sessions that can last as little as 5 minutes. And the best part is, you can vary them so that you don’t fall into a routine and become bored.

Now, before I continue, I don’t want to give the impression that you can learn a language with 5 minutes of study a day. It won’t happen.

However, I do want to emphasize that you don’t need to have marathon study sessions either. What will help more than anything is consistency and that is why taking advantage of 5 minute sessions when you are stuck for time is essential to your learning.

During these sessions, you are keeping the coals warm so to speak. Your brain is getting the message that learning Spanish (for example) is important because you are finding time everyday. That is no small factor.

You will still need to find time during the week for an hour here and there but your success does not depend on total dedication, come hell or high water. It depends on consistency.

With that in mind, here are 5 ways to study when you have little or no time.

#1 – Start describing what is going on around you. It doesn’t need to be a literary description, just take a look around and begin describing things in the foreign language.

#2 – Always carry a print out of an article you plan to read or, a chapter from a children’s book. Make sure it’s no more than two pages so you can finish it in the time you have.

#3 – Repeat a tongue twister you’ve written down on an index card (specifically for this occasion).

#4 – Take out your language tape and get in a quick listen. You can pick up where you were on the tape or begin randomly.

#5 – Play with your cell phone. That’s right, you can set up your cell phone in the language you want to learn. By doing this, you can begin hitting buttons and learn everyday vocabulary.

Remember, there will be days when you need to get in the hour session in order to expand your base of verbs, conjugations and all the rest. But, your learning doesn’t depend on strict adherence to any schedule.

It’s more important to do a little bit everyday. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.



Should We Learn Spanish Because the Hispanic Population is Growing?

June 28, 2009 by  
Filed under Languages

Li Ming Wong asked:


The numbers read that over 400 million Spanish speakers are in the world. Therefore, Spanish is the fourth most commonly spoken language right under English, Chinese and Hindustani. Additionally, now that Hispanic commerce is booming in North America, it is important for business competitors all over the world to find some way to keep up.

Most people don’t know that over 91% of fortune 500 companies and forbes international 800 companies cannot meet the needs of people who speak a foreign language because they do not have the ability to respond correctly to a foreign language.

Since learning Spanish would increase the general ability to communicate with the large amount of immigrants that come into the country each year, some wonder if requiring Americans to learn Spanish would be the solution to keeping up with the increasing needs of the Hispanic culture.

There are two different sides to this issue. Some believe that Americans should learn Spanish because if Americans learn Spanish, they would mostly help themselves in the long run. When people learn Spanish, they are able to have a more competitive resume when they move into the work force. Such an edge in the job market would then allow Spanish learners to demand higher pay than other job searchers who can only speak English. Furthermore, if fortune 500 companies are not able to satisfy the needs of Spanish speakers, the Americans who learn Spanish will become like precious jewels among these types of companies.

Also, when people learn Spanish, they learn about another culture. Learning about other cultures decreases the likelihood of discrimination not only in relation to the Spanish culture, but other cultures in general. People will become more aware that other types of people exist, and that these people have needs and wants that may be different from their own. An increase in cultural awareness cannot help but be beneficial to the general mindset of Americans.

On the other hand, many people believe that since the amount of Hispanic immigrants is so large, Hispanics often get very comfortable when they come to the U.S., and often they don’t feel that they have to learn English. It is not rare for immigrants in the United States to either never learn English or remain in America for many years without even trying to learn the language.

It seems that if Americans were required to learn Spanish whether by their jobs or schools, Hispanic immigrants would find even greater comfort and feel that they do not have to learn English. Americans that learn Spanish would continue to experience all of the benefits of the language. However, Hispanics would experience many negatives.

A Hispanic living in the US who does not learn to speak English would experience a lack in the number of jobs they are eligible for. Therefore, such a person may experience high levels of unemployment or poverty and may only be able to obtain jobs that require manual labor. Other workers will be able to pick and choose where they would like to be employed.

With the increase in Hispanic businesses many companies may push their employees to learn Spanish. However, it does not look like it will be a requirement any time in the near future.