The Podcast Mixed With Spanish: Learning Spanish with the aid of a Podcast is great because there will always be a new episode to listen to. You can go back, of course, if you need to review a previous lesson as well. There are so many different Podcasts to choose from and new ones always being added (just like in the App store). When searching in the iTunes store under “learn spanish” it appears that every Podcast subscription is free. There should be no hesitation to try out more than one subscription, because no money will be lost if you do not find it helpful. Listening to these Podcasts in the car or while you are doing work around the house is a great start to immersing yourself in the language. It is important that once you find a Podcast you enjoy listening to, that you stay persistent with hearing the latest episodes. Below is an inside scoop regarding a few of the “learn Spanish” Podcasts. Make sure you always read the description and customer reviews to find the right Podcast to suit your needs.

Learn Spanish Podcasts:

• Coffee Break Spanish - This Podcast is the first to show up in the search results and has the highest popularity rating. It is put on by Radio Lingua Network and looks like a new episode is added once a week. So far there are 31 episodes dating back to October 2008, and a full description about the Lesson being taught in each Podcast. They range from 15 to 30 minutes long and are aimed at total beginners. Looking through the customer reviews I noticed “It’s amazing how much I learned in 10 minutes”, “the Podcasts are easy to understand…”, and “It’s a fantastic way to get started in the language…”.
• Conversational Spanish - This podcast goes along the lines of how Rocket Spanish teaches its students: by conversational learning. In the description it is designed for those who have already covered the basics in Spanish and are ready to listen in on Spanish conversations at their normal speed. There are 10 episodes already out there and they are added almost weekly. The Podcast is free but you can purchase transcripts of the conversation that come in both Spanish and English if you would like.
• Insta Spanish Lessons - This Podcast by Stacey Tipton Reiman has grammar lessons involved as well. All of the reviews compliment her teaching style and say how the lessons are brief and simple. She also talks about culture and travel tips in addition to teaching comprehension and grammar.

The App and Spanish: One of the newest installments to the iPod and iPhone is the ability to add “apps”. An app, which is short for application, can be found to download in The App Store. All a person needs to get to The App Store is a computer, iTunes, and an Apple account. An iPod or iPhone would be great to have as well if you want to take these applications with you on the go. How do apps have anything to do with learning Spanish? Well, just by typing in the search field “learn Spanish” you will find that there are over 100 applications on all different approaches to learning the language. Some are flash cards, some are virtual tutors, and others give you insight to culture and the people that live in these Spanish-speaking countries. I am going to inform you of some of the applications I think would be most helpful, and tell you about a few of my favorites.

Translation: The translator application would probably be most helpful if you are traveling. The first application that comes up on the search is called iSpeak Spanish. It comes in a variety of other languages as well and at $1.99, what a great price for your own personal translator. This app also has a voice system that will read aloud what is typed. You can translate from Spanish to English or English to Spanish and you can even save the translations to your iPhone or iPod. All of the ratings were five full stars and customer reviews were positive.

Vocabulary Drilling: As it has been said before, it is great to learn conversational Spanish (like how they teach you in Rocket Spanish). Jumping right in and understanding conversation is critical to learn the language fluently, but in addition, vocabulary needs to be maximized. Byki Spanish is an app that drills vocabulary rapidly with a 3-step game. You can download your own lists of vocabulary that you want to improve on, in addition to their 1000 words and hundreds of phrases. Statistics are logged so you can see how well you are doing and as a new addition to the program, Byki also works with Twitter to search words and phrases. Byki costs $7.99, which is a great investment, since you can request what words you want to master in addition to the vocabulary they have on hand for you.

Tutoring/Classes: If you are looking for more of a virtual class, rather than help in a specific area, you should try out Bueno, Entonces. These applications are Spanish Class episodes created by Miniature Studios and are priced at $2.99 per episode. There are over 25 episodes, and by the looks of the reviews, Bueno Entonces is funny, entertaining, and will keep you engaged in the lessons. They, just like Rocket Spanish, stress repetition, they also make use of graphics and color-coding as well. In January 2009, more than 20,000 people bought these applications and the numbers are even higher now. Joining Rocket Spanish with the venerable iPod is a great way to supercharge your spanish learning goals in a fun and convenient environment!

Many people who are learning Spanish as a second language do not have the opportunity to travel abroad to a Spanish-speaking country to study the language, which is why the Internet is another great way to assist in learning the language. I came across a website the other day that is filled with helpful resources for someone who is studying the Spanish language. Be sure to check out Lingolex.

The website was designed by teachers John and Sarah of Lingolex, based out of Spain. They have compiled a list of links to many various lessons for learning Spanish. Whether you are at a beginner or advanced level, it does not hurt to try and learn something new. They divided the page into a few sections like “Help With Spanish Vocabulary”, and “Grammar and other useful things for Spanish learners”. The website is basic and easy to maneuver around so being a computer wiz is not necessary. Most of links will direct you to new pages in their website so you do not have to worry about doing any research on the validity of a new website. There are games, lists, and various categories of vocabulary sets to choose from. There are also many different “how to” articles under the grammar section in addition to reference charts and tutorials on conjugation for certain verbs. There are also links to online chat rooms where you can practice your Spanish and an English/Spanish Cultural Exchange.

Some of My Favorites

As I was browsing the links offered by this resourceful website, I prepared a list of some of my favorites. To start off is the first link provided: “Spanish Word of the Month”.

There is a list of words that were previous words of the month, and when clicked on each word in the drop-down menu found at the top of the screen, you are taken to a screen filled with explanations, definitions, and numerous examples of the word being used. I also thought the “Internet Terms in Spanish and English” was great too. When clicking on this link you are taken to a chart of close to 100 words all about the Internet and computers.

We live in a world where the Internet is a main mode of communication in countries all over. In order to do business, ask for help, or get a job, knowing about the computer is essential. Knowing all about the machine and being able to talk to someone in Spanish about it is becoming more important to know how to do as well. These vocab words are great to become familiar with! I also enjoyed the last link on the page about different Spanish foods. When you click on it you have access to Spanish recipes and vocabulary dealing with food.

When learning Spanish, or any language, it is important to keep adding new vocabulary to what you already know. Although it is great to know how to speak in full conversations, like they stress in programs like Rocket Spanish, in the beginning it is also smart to get key words in your head. This way the variety of topics you can talk about is wider and full of more opportunities. Expanding your vocabulary while also practicing grammar rules is a perfect balance. Each week you should add some new words to what you already know. It is a great idea to learn words in the same category at the same time, instead of just a random list. Below are a few different categories of vocabulary that would be smart to familiarize yourself with.

For Traveling

A Spanish-speaking country can be overwhelming for someone who is still beginning to learn Spanish. It is important to be able to be heard, and have others understand your wants and needs. Lodging, food, attractions, and transportation are important things you may need to talk to locals about and even if you cannot speak full, grammatically correct sentences, specific words will be able to help you get by. The following links are sets of vocabulary from various websites to help you prepare for a trip out of the country:

• Railway Vocabulary
• Weather Vocabulary
• Airport Vocabulary
• At A Restaurant Vocabulary
• Travel Vocabulary
• Hotel Vocabulary

At The Office

Many businesses are looking for people who can speak more than just English in the workplace. By doing this, there are a wider variety of clients that the business can work with. More and more Spanish speakers are living in the United States and at the same time, many businesses in the United States are branching out and doing business internationally. These two factors require more employers to know the language of Spanish well enough to help do business. It is important to know words in Spanish that are related to the business field whether it is with shipping, computers, or related to human resources. Below are links found that would be helpful for a company who would like their employers to be familiar with the Spanish language:

• Computer Vocabulary
• Accounting/Business Vocabulary
• Business Vocabulary
• Workplace

Food

Eating is essential, but what do you need to know if you are in a Spanish-speaking country and going to the market? In order to cook the food you want, you are going to have to buy it and it will not be like a trip to the grocery store in the United States. The signs will be in Spanish, the numbers of prices may be in Spanish, and the packaging may be in Spanish. In order to find everything you need quickly you want to have some key vocabulary known for going to the grocery store. Below are websites showing vocabulary words dealing with food and markets:

• Food
• Dining
• Fruits and Vegetables
• Supermarket

The Easy Letters

Many of the letters in the Spanish alphabet sound like the ones in the English alphabet. Just make sure you understand that sometimes Spanish speakers will pronounce their letters softer than English speakers do. When this occurs it may sound like mumbling to a person who is unfamiliar with Spanish, but once exposed to it long enough, it will become easier to understand. The letter “c” mostly follows the same rules as it does in English; it sounds like an “s” if it comes before an “e” or an “i” and sounds like a “k” all other times. The letter “ch” is something new and slightly unusual but is pronounced exactly how it is spelled. “F”, “k”, “m”, “p”, “t”, “w”, and “y” are pronounced exactly as they are in English. The letter “q” sounds like the letter “k”, and the letter “s” sounds like it does in the word “sorry”, not how it sounds in the word “fears”.
 

Vowels

Although many of the consonants are pronounced much softer than they are in English, vowels on the other hand take on a stronger sound. Some people might say they are more distinct than the other letters. “A”, “i”, and “o” all have one sound while “e” and “u” can change. Examples are as follows: The letter “a” is pronounced how it sounds in the word “father”. The letter “i” takes on the sound of a double “e”. Examples are words like “tree” or “meet”. The letter “o” is pronounced how it is in the word “smoke” or “tote”. The two more difficult vowels are “e” and “u”. “E” usually sounds like how it does in the word “set” but sometimes can also sound like the Canadian “eh” at times as well. In the case of the letter “u”, it is usually pronounced how the “oo” sounds in “moon” but the “u” can also be silent if it is placed before an “i” or an “e”, for example in the word “guerra” only the “e” is heard.
 

The Confusing Letters

There are a handful of letters that sound different than their English pronunciation. The letters “b” and “v” make the same noise, they both take on the sound like the one in the word “beat”. The letter “d” can sometimes take on the sound of a “th” when it is placed in between vowels. The letter “g” has two different sounds as well; it can either sound like how it does in the word “gun” or take on the sound that the letter “h” makes in English. Speaking of “h”, in Spanish this letter is always silent, and takes on no particular sound at all. “L” is pronounced how it sounds in the word “long” and the “ll” sounds like a “y” in the English alphabet. “N” can sound like how it does in English, but under certain circumstances can sound like an “m” too. The “Ñ” takes on the sound of “ny” or for example sounds like “ny” in “Grand Canyon”. The letter “x” has many different sounds, they range from the sound in the word “exit” to the sound an “s” makes, or the sound a “j” makes in Spanish. Last but not least, the letter “z” is pronounced like “th”, just like how it sounds in the word “think”.

An alternative that takes less time each day compared to listening to an audio conversation is making flash cards. Flash cards can be made for free, by hand. What is great about flashcards is that you can control the material that you learn. Although you will not be focusing on grammar and sentence structure, vocabulary is an important aspect of learning a new language. Just by knowing a variety of key words, you can still communicate with others.
 

It’s So Easy!

Flashcards are helpful and so easy to use. All you need to do is decide what subject you want to work with, construct a list of words and phrases, and put them on index cards. You can make a schedule for each month of the different topics you would like to cover, and have a long-term goal as well. Once a week, make a new batch of cards focusing on 20-30 new terms or phrases. Keep them by your bed to review a few times through before you go to sleep, or keep them in your bag for when you are on the go. Did you know you spend a huge amount of time waiting in lines when you are out, whether it be in a waiting room at a doctors office, or in line at the grocery store why just stand there when you could be learning Spanish? The more repetition, the better you will remember the words. You can go through the stack and have two piles for the ones you knew and the ones you need more help with. Keep going through the pile until you have gotten all of them right. Concentrate on one group of terms for the week and then at the end of the week review all of the groups.
 

Resources

Flashcards are great because you can make them on your own and practice them by yourself or use them in a group. Making them is not hard either, but when there is no teacher present, it can sometimes be tough finding reliable sources to get your information from. It would be a shame to go through all that work and have the wrong definitions memorized. Of course it would be ideal to go through a Spanish textbook to get vocabulary words, since the lessons are usually already separated into different subjects.

A bookstore like Barnes and Noble or the library will probably carry a hefty selection of textbooks and workbooks. Another reliable resource is a dictionary or a Spanish to English translation book. They have these available at all major bookstores and libraries as well. Of course, the Internet is an additional source as well. Just make sure the website you are on is giving you valid information. Since anyone can post anything on the web make sure the website is running through a recognizable company or trustworthy person.

Local Places To Go To

It is important to immerse yourself in Spanish while learning to keep it fresh in your mind. When you are not reading the textbooks or memorizing flashcards, being in places that emphasize the Spanish language or Spanish culture can greatly reinforce what you have already learned. A great way to stay in touch with Spanish culture is by visiting a Spanish market or somewhere where they cater to the Spanish community in your area. The local Spanish people shop here to pick up ingredients for typical Spanish dishes, and the products are imported from Spanish-speaking countries as well. You are likely to be exposed to Spanish price tags and some key Spanish vocabulary on signs. Another place, which sometimes may be more accessible than a Spanish market, is a Spanish restaurant. In Spanish restaurants you are exposed to Spanish food and culture. The menu could be written with many Spanish words, and if it is a really authentic restaurant, your waiter could possibly speak Spanish as well. At both of these places, you should not be afraid to try and order or purchase items by speaking Spanish. See how much the employees can understand and maybe they can give you some pointers!

The Media

As everyone is aware, in today’s society media has a huge impact on the way we live. It influences our lives and what we do. TV and radio are everywhere and it is hard to go an entire day without being exposed to one or the other. The next time you are flipping through the stations on your TV to find something to watch, or driving in your car in search of something exciting on the radio, try something Spanish. There are a few stations that are solely for the Spanish community and if you are trying to learn the language, this is a great way to expose yourself. You can use context clues to try and decipher what they are saying and you can become familiar with the speed at which Spanish is spoken. Spanish will not always sound as slow and clear as it did when Amy and Mauricio spoke out the conversations; It usually sounds like it is going a mile a minute. But by hearing the speed at which the language is really spoken, it will not be as much of a shock when you are in the middle of a conversation.

Clubs and Groups

If you are trying to learn Spanish as a second language, and are doing so on your own without a teacher, try to seek additional resources. If you are enrolled in school, whether it is college or high school, find out if there are any types of clubs or groups that you can join. Many schools offer extracurricular activities that are run by Spanish Honor Societies and South American Cultural groups. If you cannot find a club at your school, get information about starting one on your own. Usually all it takes is a club sponsor and a list of other students who would be interested in joining. If you are not enrolled in school at the time, check the newspaper or the Internet for clubs and groups that are already formed in your town. There could be meetings at local community centers, libraries, or community colleges. Interacting with other people interested in the Spanish language and culture is a great way to stay in touch with the language while not working on lessons at home.

Put It On Your iPod/iPhone

MP3 format is an audio format for files, and when downloaded onto the hard drive can virtually be taken anywhere. The files can be added into a music library and put onto an MP3 player, or you can burn the audio lessons onto CD-R’s. It may not seem as such a big deal now, but the portability will come in handy later. Most people spend the majority of their time during the day in their car, or waiting in line, and with a CD or MP3 player, they can kill two birds with one stone.

Put What Little “Down Time” You Have To Use

Some great places that this feature will come in handy are in the car or commute to work, waiting in lines while running errands, at the gym, and even laying out by a pool. Sometimes it is not possible to bring a computer to the places you need to go to, and when learning a language, the more exposure to it, the better.

What is even better about this is that the Internet is not needed to access the MP3 files once they are put onto the computer.  In a case where Internet access cannot be reached, the files are still readily available.  PDF formats for the text lessons are also used in the Premium course, so saving the text can be done as well.

What use is a program that you are spending a good chunk of change on, if it cannot be used regularly in your schedule? Many similar language programs can only be used with the software or Internet, and for someone who is always running around, that will not be as helpful. The files can be kept forever, even once you are done with the program, so you can always refer back to them. Even the Sample Course provides MP3 files for the three audio lessons provided.

Mini Lesson – Know These Spanish Emotions

On a completely different note, it is important to know vocabulary to describe how you are feeling. When learning Spanish, emotions should be looked over in the first few weeks of studying. Emotions are important words to know and the simple answer “I am good” may not always be true. To get your point across when someone asks how you are doing these words should be added to the other Spanish vocabulary you already know:

Abburido – bored

nervioso – nervous

enojado – angry

enfermo – sick

ocupado – busy

sorprendido – surprised

triste – sad

empaciente – impatient

contento – pleased

alegre – happy

To keep vocabulary fresh in your mind, always keep a list handy of the words. Look at them often and make flashcards; having someone else test you is a great idea too. You will be able to know hundreds of vocabulary words in no time!

What is the main reason for students and adults to go out of their way to learn a language?  Besides acquiring needed credits for school, the ultimate reason is to be able to communicate with someone who fluently speaks the language already.  Whether it is for going on a vacation or doing business with customers who do not speak English, if one wants to learn the language, it will only be beneficial if they can carry out a conversation.

Most basic Spanish courses are structured to drill in hundreds of vocabulary words and verb tenses, but what good is it if there is only minimal practice putting those words into conversation?  Rocket Spanish and the other Rocket Language Programs focus on conversational learning as their method when teaching the language.

Many products on the market do not use this technique, which puts Rocket Spanish one step ahead of the game.  Instead of taking months to learn unnecessary vocabulary, they start the consumer with conversations immediately in the first lesson.  While learning the conversations the narrators pick apart the sentence structure and words used.  The listener is able to answer questions asked in full sentences, which start out basic and get increasingly difficult, as new lessons are introduced. 

The conversations and dialogue performed by Spanish speakers is the perfect way for someone to become adjusted to how a conversation should sound between two people.  The conversations are not just spoken aloud but they are also written so the consumer can become familiar with how the words are spelled and where accent marks go.  They can compare the English conversation with the Spanish conversation to notice how sentence structure differs between the two.

Anyone can learn vocabulary by flashcards and memorization but with Rocket Spanish’s conversational learning tools, grammar is just as important. 

The only way to display how grammar works in a language is to put a sentence together to demonstrate the right way.  Rocket Spanish takes it one step further and puts the sentences together to form a conversation.  It is the ultimate way to learn Spanish, becoming fluent quicker than ever.

All of the testimonials are proof that Rocket Spanish succeeds because of its conversational learning methods.  Every person relates his or her success with the language because they can now carry out a conversation with someone who speaks little or no English.  To master a language is not to mention a few words and act them out hoping that the other will understand, it is to be able to speak just as one would in English, comprehending and following the rules of the language.

Mini-Lesson: Spanish Adjectives

To help with grammar when beginning to learn Spanish, it is important to know about the role of adjectives. Adjectives in Spanish are words that describe the noun, just like the English language, but there are a few differences.  In Spanish, adjectives change their form depending on the noun’s gender, and if the noun is singular or plural. 

An example is as follows:

The ruler is la regla in Spanish. It is feminine because is has a la in the front and ends in -a.  For the most part nouns ending in -o will be masculine and nouns ending in -a will be feminine, of course there are always some exceptions. 

The ruler (la regla) is singular and feminine, when adding an adjective (lets take red or rojo in Spanish) and adding it to the description of the pen (the red pen) rojo will change to roja, and the red pen is translated to la regla roja.  If there were to be multiple red pens, the phrase would change to las reglas rojas. 

Some key points to always remember are that adjectives that end in -o will have four forms: rojo, roja, rojos, rojas.  If an adjective ends in –e it will just change depending on a singular or plural noun: (intelligent) inteligente or inteligentes.  Words that end in a consonant have just a singular and plural form as well.

I wanted to share a little tip about Rocket Spanish that, when followed, will literally force your mind to Learn Spanish. This new discovery came straight from the source: the Rocket Spanish Instruction Manual written by Mauricio. I know we are used to skipping the instructions that come with that new bookcase you bought or the new DV-R system but this is one set of instructions you do not want to miss.

In the Rocket Spanish Instruction Manual, the creator of Rocket Spanish suggests spending at least an hour a day learning Spanish to get the most out of the Rocket Spanish materials. This is one great piece of advice that can take you a long way with your Spanish Learning.

Other than the obvious reason for this 1 hour a day of Rocket Spanish; which is practice, there are many other benefits to committing a single hour of your day to Learning Spanish. Once you have decided you are ready to make this decision to set aside some time for Rocket Spanish, after a little while – a week or so – it will become easy and effortless. Taking this hour to spend on your Spanish Learning will become part of your routine and it will feel strange when you don’t spend that one hour just with you, your computer, and your very own Rocket Spanish course.

I am by no means an athlete but I have been known to run a mile or two. And this one hour a day technique works in the same way as training for a marathon. Runners train consistently, they increase the difficulty and the demands of each training session with time, and by consequence running becomes a natural and effortless part of their lives. This is exactly what you can expect if you commit to that one hour of Rocket Spanish a day!

Unlike running a marathon, learning Spanish can be used in your everyday life: at work, with neighbors, on a trip, at the market, etc. When you begin your 1 hour of Rocket Spanish a day routine then it becomes a part of your life and then you can find ways to use your newly acquired skills in your everyday life. Commit to spending 1 hour per day with Rocket Spanish, and in as little as 2-3 months you’ll be confidently and fluently speaking Spanish.