Try this site to practice your vowel sounds in Spanish.
http://www.studyspanish.com/pronunciation/vowel_a.htm
You can also pratice your consonant sounds here as well.
Remember to notice the way you pronounce the words and sounds.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
A New Year Full of Words and Sounds
Do you shy away from words? If so, you may be doing this also in the pursuit of a foreign language. Spanish is a language that attracts people, but it has sounds that some people may avoid. For example, if you are weak in pronouncing certain letters and their sounds, you may avoid sounding out that word.
The letter "r" is an example. Many Americans pronounce the Spanish "r" as they do the American alphabet "r." In English, you need not roll the sound of the letter, but in Spanish you do. It takes practice, but it can be mastered. You can either let it prevent you from going forward, or you can keep working at it. Luckily, I once was around people that rolled the "r." It was a bit easier to use it in Spanish, as a result, from having heard the "r" being trilled all my life in the context of other languages.
Some words are just "scary" words. They may intimidate with the sound, pronunciation, or their spelling. For example, you may like the word for "doll." It is softer and feminine. The word for "torrent" may not sound as appealing. I would suggest learning words that provide positive shades of meaning or sounds that you like at first. In time, you can add the "scarier" words by building your internal word bank.
When you encounter Spanish words, reflect on how they appear to you. Are they words you want to incorporate in your study or words you avoid? The answers may surprise you as you recollect what you digest easily and what you dismiss as you pursue your studies.
Some people may avoid plosive sounds or words that are associated with certain emotions. On the other hand, they may like to work with words that sound fun to pronounce. Using the example of the sound of "r" may be expedient here, because the words sound fun to the tongue, and the noises they make are felt with the mouth.
I would advocate trying out all sorts of words to see which ones your abilities prefer to work with in time. Speaking and expressing is part of learning another language, and you must master words and their sounds. Any language,whether it be French, German, or even Latin, will give you the opportunity to welcome new sounds to the tongue.
Keep a handy list of words that you don't get just yet. Note down why and when they become easier to use and pronounce. You will be able to determine how far you have come along in the process of learning them.
Scary words will come and go. It is you that chooses to befriend them in the long run. So, more power to you as you continue on to learn Spanish in the New Year!
The letter "r" is an example. Many Americans pronounce the Spanish "r" as they do the American alphabet "r." In English, you need not roll the sound of the letter, but in Spanish you do. It takes practice, but it can be mastered. You can either let it prevent you from going forward, or you can keep working at it. Luckily, I once was around people that rolled the "r." It was a bit easier to use it in Spanish, as a result, from having heard the "r" being trilled all my life in the context of other languages.
Some words are just "scary" words. They may intimidate with the sound, pronunciation, or their spelling. For example, you may like the word for "doll." It is softer and feminine. The word for "torrent" may not sound as appealing. I would suggest learning words that provide positive shades of meaning or sounds that you like at first. In time, you can add the "scarier" words by building your internal word bank.
When you encounter Spanish words, reflect on how they appear to you. Are they words you want to incorporate in your study or words you avoid? The answers may surprise you as you recollect what you digest easily and what you dismiss as you pursue your studies.
Some people may avoid plosive sounds or words that are associated with certain emotions. On the other hand, they may like to work with words that sound fun to pronounce. Using the example of the sound of "r" may be expedient here, because the words sound fun to the tongue, and the noises they make are felt with the mouth.
I would advocate trying out all sorts of words to see which ones your abilities prefer to work with in time. Speaking and expressing is part of learning another language, and you must master words and their sounds. Any language,whether it be French, German, or even Latin, will give you the opportunity to welcome new sounds to the tongue.
Keep a handy list of words that you don't get just yet. Note down why and when they become easier to use and pronounce. You will be able to determine how far you have come along in the process of learning them.
Scary words will come and go. It is you that chooses to befriend them in the long run. So, more power to you as you continue on to learn Spanish in the New Year!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Interact with Words in Newspapers
If you love learning new words, try reading newspapers in Spanish. Here's a site from the internet to help you get started.
http://libguides.mit.edu/content.php?pid=146063&sid=1247903
Find words in the passages and try to guess their meaning from the context of the passage or the words surrounding the word you single out. Really interact with the word. Sound it out. Pronounce it. If you can't guess the meaning, it's okay at first.
Ascertain if the word has a positive or a negative connotation. Does it sound as if it has a positive or a negative meaning? What image does it bring up inside your mind?
Does it sound similar to an English word or another word you know? How close or far is the meaning to that word?
Do the syllable sounds make the word easy to pronounce or difficult?
There are many things you can do to come close to the word and interact with it. Try to guess in what domain the word may or may not surface. Would a lawyer use it? A teacher? A police officer? When would you use the word?
Tie an association to the word or words. Try to determine when or what groups of people would use the word.
This site lists plenty of newspapers that are online and ready for you to peruse.
Have fun with words and really make them your friends in daily usage!
http://libguides.mit.edu/content.php?pid=146063&sid=1247903
Find words in the passages and try to guess their meaning from the context of the passage or the words surrounding the word you single out. Really interact with the word. Sound it out. Pronounce it. If you can't guess the meaning, it's okay at first.
Ascertain if the word has a positive or a negative connotation. Does it sound as if it has a positive or a negative meaning? What image does it bring up inside your mind?
Does it sound similar to an English word or another word you know? How close or far is the meaning to that word?
Do the syllable sounds make the word easy to pronounce or difficult?
There are many things you can do to come close to the word and interact with it. Try to guess in what domain the word may or may not surface. Would a lawyer use it? A teacher? A police officer? When would you use the word?
Tie an association to the word or words. Try to determine when or what groups of people would use the word.
This site lists plenty of newspapers that are online and ready for you to peruse.
Have fun with words and really make them your friends in daily usage!
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Here's a writer that recommends listening to Spanish radio to learn Spanish pronunciation. I think that's a great idea!
http://learnspanishlearnspanish.com/pronunciation/
I recommended songs also previously, but what you need is a way to discern the sounds coming from other speakers or people enunciating the words.
Hearing another language allows you to place it in your own range of hearing, and you start to process how much of it was filtered within the brain. Or did it go out one ear and another?
At first, you may feel awkward about saying what you heard. You may not even know that you translated the words in the process. You'll never know unless you try it yourself. Don't be alarmed or nervous at the speed or rapidity of the speakers' tongues.
Go with it! Stick with the hearing of the sounds and pronunciations repeatedly.
Spanish is alive and kicking. So, there isn't a dearth of hearing it, and you'll have ample opportunities to practice listening to its sounds.
Good luck with Spanish radio!
http://learnspanishlearnspanish.com/pronunciation/
I recommended songs also previously, but what you need is a way to discern the sounds coming from other speakers or people enunciating the words.
Hearing another language allows you to place it in your own range of hearing, and you start to process how much of it was filtered within the brain. Or did it go out one ear and another?
At first, you may feel awkward about saying what you heard. You may not even know that you translated the words in the process. You'll never know unless you try it yourself. Don't be alarmed or nervous at the speed or rapidity of the speakers' tongues.
Go with it! Stick with the hearing of the sounds and pronunciations repeatedly.
Spanish is alive and kicking. So, there isn't a dearth of hearing it, and you'll have ample opportunities to practice listening to its sounds.
Good luck with Spanish radio!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Newsletters!
If learning Spanish is becoming easier and you want to transmit what you are learning at home with others, why not create a newsletter for family and friends? That way your network is yours and an original one where you can share your new - found skills with others.
The newsletter doesn't need to be an advanced one or difficult. It may just involve your family or close friends. It will detail a bit of your self - study experiences and interest others in joining you in studying Spanish.
The thing of it is that friends love to join you in common interests. It may even become a fun hobby for all of you. Since you are the one in charge of the newsletter, it may allow you to arrange the materials or any get - togethers you may want to start.
Don't try it with strangers first, however, because you may want to be at a slightly more advanced level when you want to do that.
Newsletters are fun, because they are similar to mail. Whether it is by snail mail or an email in your inbox, you look forward to receiving them.
What you can achieve is develop more skills and talents for this venture.
Ask around and see if your family or friends would like to receive a newsletter from you. Start them out with words or phrases. You can also use digital media, clip art, drawings, or other fun material to stimulate interest.
If you like, you may start a STUDY BUDDY group with the people each time the newsletter comes out. Include your friend or family's suggestions as well each month or time of email, depending on how often you run it. Once a month is suggested, but you never know! You might have friends that like weekly emails.
For now, start thinking about this idea. How feasible is it?
Will it detract from self - study? You can also use it as an outlet to get you to
work and garner even more experience in Spanish.
Best wishes with the venture if you like it!
Remember, self - study works, and you will have other motivated individuals by your side.
Have fun studying and writing!!!
The newsletter doesn't need to be an advanced one or difficult. It may just involve your family or close friends. It will detail a bit of your self - study experiences and interest others in joining you in studying Spanish.
The thing of it is that friends love to join you in common interests. It may even become a fun hobby for all of you. Since you are the one in charge of the newsletter, it may allow you to arrange the materials or any get - togethers you may want to start.
Don't try it with strangers first, however, because you may want to be at a slightly more advanced level when you want to do that.
Newsletters are fun, because they are similar to mail. Whether it is by snail mail or an email in your inbox, you look forward to receiving them.
What you can achieve is develop more skills and talents for this venture.
Ask around and see if your family or friends would like to receive a newsletter from you. Start them out with words or phrases. You can also use digital media, clip art, drawings, or other fun material to stimulate interest.
If you like, you may start a STUDY BUDDY group with the people each time the newsletter comes out. Include your friend or family's suggestions as well each month or time of email, depending on how often you run it. Once a month is suggested, but you never know! You might have friends that like weekly emails.
For now, start thinking about this idea. How feasible is it?
Will it detract from self - study? You can also use it as an outlet to get you to
work and garner even more experience in Spanish.
Best wishes with the venture if you like it!
Remember, self - study works, and you will have other motivated individuals by your side.
Have fun studying and writing!!!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The Present, the Past, and the Future
Here are charts that will make it easier for you to refer to the tenses.
Start with the Present tense. Then after, work on the past, and then the future tense.
For the first person, you don't need to use "yo" the entire time.
You can add an "o" to the end of the verb. For example, instead of stating, "Yo hablo," you can say, "Hablo."
Ar Words
Er Words
Ir Words
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