Don't forget bloggers of Spanish and in Spanish, to be exact.
http://blogandweb.com
is a site I found not too long ago. This site incorporates Spanish and the writer(s)
use Spanish here to explain the materials. This will be a favorite of people who love using the computer and love to blog.
Practice visualizing words in Spanish here for your exposure to print literacy.
Or just read a few words and see how much you can comprehend by yourself.
Find other bloggers to read and to practice your Spanish.
www.blogandweb.com
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Wherever Spanish Is
As a reader, writer, and thinker, your goal as a language learner in this part of life is to embrace learning in whatever shape or form it takes. In other words, you become engaged in the school of life and thought (forever). At first, this will ring as:
"Am I ever going to be done?"
The point is not to feel that the process is in vain. Real people know that learning is forever. No one ever stops doing that. Take a look at even a hobby or anything in life that you visit. You learn something new at all stages of keeping up with it. You are never ever fully done. If that is your thinking, you will rush through the motions of learning like a runaway train and not even enjoy or retain anything you learn. Most Americans are familiar with this process. Others are of this mind set: I'm already done with that. You can pick and choose your attitude today.
The other day, I was about to throw away a box of cereal that someone else had thrown away, when I saw that inside, there was a recipe in English and in Spanish. I compared the recipes and was challenged by seeing and reading a recipe in Spanish.
This goes along with the previous idea of reading menus when you are at a restaurant. The whole world and its contents are a learning tool. How can you go wrong?
The latest edition of "Travel & Leisure" magazine has an amazing article on menus, their origin, content, and related trivia, by the way. Strictly a coincidence!
I also saw a newsletter that came from Spain in my email inbox. This helps keep me acquainted with potential differences in Spanish as it is used all around the world.
There are also Facebook pages of your favorite sport or telenovela celebrities in Spanish. Perhaps, use your hobby and pursuits to develop Spanish? If you love soccer, find a page for a favorite soccer player. If it is tennis, then you can find a page for a Wimbledon star. Right now, it is timely to find material, because Wimbledon and the World Cup are taking television by storm. The whole world of Spanish is out there, whether you are in school or not.
If you are interested in other languages now or for the future, follow some of these ideas to develop those languages.
For my Irish learners, I asked them to compile a list of words to interact with.
First, choose a category you like. Once again, choose something you like, such as an area in the house, or sports, or hobbies. Develop a list of words from your pursuits. Then develop a matching list of words for Spanish either over time or by looking them up in dictionaries. (The internet :) ) If you need help with this, you can make comments, and I will get back to you.
Some students prefer to actually label the words onto the objects themselves or place them strategically so they are in front of them. Others of you may like the challenge of memorizing to test your brain and memory skills. Try different methods.
Engage with the words, or they really won't have any lasting meaning for you.
Spanish makes you aware of new meanings everyday. Most of our language histories, including Spanish, have a latin base, so you will find that Spanish sheds light on the languages that you already know. Learning Spanish actually strengthens English in the long run when you see what is common and different. It also helps you appreciate your neighbor and their struggles as citizens or new immigrants. You will know why some people will always remains strangers and other strangers are now your friends.
Some of our words in English are already in Spanish. If you perform research, you will find that our English language supports the fusion of all different elements from all over the world. Take for example words you see and hear most every day now.
Cafe is one, and if you research it further, you find that it traveled a long way from other parts, before it became Spanish and English. What about the game, "Uno" also? Or something else you hear everyday: dia
The other day, I saw "elote" used in a magazine in English. Wherever you go, you will encounter new words to use.
This morning, I was invited to an event (out of state) in a newsletter to say farewell to a leader. The event involves "tapas." I think being on the lookout for new words is a creative way to keep your chosen language up. Even long - standing English users will sometimes encounter a word that they have never learned or used, and it makes them wonder. If you ever watch the National Spelling Bee, you will see what I am talking about.
Reminds me to ask the Spanish networks, if they ever have a Spelling Bee in Spanish, let me know! :)
The bilingual faction may like to see how this is instrumental in their own communities.
Always, look for ways to learn Spanish. You won't be disappointed.
"Am I ever going to be done?"
The point is not to feel that the process is in vain. Real people know that learning is forever. No one ever stops doing that. Take a look at even a hobby or anything in life that you visit. You learn something new at all stages of keeping up with it. You are never ever fully done. If that is your thinking, you will rush through the motions of learning like a runaway train and not even enjoy or retain anything you learn. Most Americans are familiar with this process. Others are of this mind set: I'm already done with that. You can pick and choose your attitude today.
The other day, I was about to throw away a box of cereal that someone else had thrown away, when I saw that inside, there was a recipe in English and in Spanish. I compared the recipes and was challenged by seeing and reading a recipe in Spanish.
This goes along with the previous idea of reading menus when you are at a restaurant. The whole world and its contents are a learning tool. How can you go wrong?
The latest edition of "Travel & Leisure" magazine has an amazing article on menus, their origin, content, and related trivia, by the way. Strictly a coincidence!
I also saw a newsletter that came from Spain in my email inbox. This helps keep me acquainted with potential differences in Spanish as it is used all around the world.
There are also Facebook pages of your favorite sport or telenovela celebrities in Spanish. Perhaps, use your hobby and pursuits to develop Spanish? If you love soccer, find a page for a favorite soccer player. If it is tennis, then you can find a page for a Wimbledon star. Right now, it is timely to find material, because Wimbledon and the World Cup are taking television by storm. The whole world of Spanish is out there, whether you are in school or not.
If you are interested in other languages now or for the future, follow some of these ideas to develop those languages.
For my Irish learners, I asked them to compile a list of words to interact with.
First, choose a category you like. Once again, choose something you like, such as an area in the house, or sports, or hobbies. Develop a list of words from your pursuits. Then develop a matching list of words for Spanish either over time or by looking them up in dictionaries. (The internet :) ) If you need help with this, you can make comments, and I will get back to you.
Some students prefer to actually label the words onto the objects themselves or place them strategically so they are in front of them. Others of you may like the challenge of memorizing to test your brain and memory skills. Try different methods.
Engage with the words, or they really won't have any lasting meaning for you.
Spanish makes you aware of new meanings everyday. Most of our language histories, including Spanish, have a latin base, so you will find that Spanish sheds light on the languages that you already know. Learning Spanish actually strengthens English in the long run when you see what is common and different. It also helps you appreciate your neighbor and their struggles as citizens or new immigrants. You will know why some people will always remains strangers and other strangers are now your friends.
Some of our words in English are already in Spanish. If you perform research, you will find that our English language supports the fusion of all different elements from all over the world. Take for example words you see and hear most every day now.
Cafe is one, and if you research it further, you find that it traveled a long way from other parts, before it became Spanish and English. What about the game, "Uno" also? Or something else you hear everyday: dia
The other day, I saw "elote" used in a magazine in English. Wherever you go, you will encounter new words to use.
This morning, I was invited to an event (out of state) in a newsletter to say farewell to a leader. The event involves "tapas." I think being on the lookout for new words is a creative way to keep your chosen language up. Even long - standing English users will sometimes encounter a word that they have never learned or used, and it makes them wonder. If you ever watch the National Spelling Bee, you will see what I am talking about.
Reminds me to ask the Spanish networks, if they ever have a Spelling Bee in Spanish, let me know! :)
The bilingual faction may like to see how this is instrumental in their own communities.
Always, look for ways to learn Spanish. You won't be disappointed.
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