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Friday, October 3, 2008

Learn Spanish Video - Learn Spanish With Free Videos

By Noah M. Benjamin

Spanish is one of the most popular languages to learn for people of all ages for a number of reasons. For parents and kids, it has been proven to increase performance in school. For adults, it provides hundreds of unique possibilities, like travel and job promotion.

But most people don't get past "wanting" to learn Spanish simply because they don't know where to start. I'm here to tell you: start with free "learn Spanish" videos!

How The Human Brain Learns A New Language

The human brain is best designed to learn a new language through a process called "immersion".

What this means is that your brain is wired to pick up the patterns -- and essentially learn -- a new language just by being surrounded by it as much as possible.

Take a baby, for example. She is born with no language ability and receives no training in language. But by age two, she is conversational in her first language.

How does this happen? Because the baby is surrounded by that language at all times, and the brain is designed to adapt and learn on its own, subconsciously.

Use Spanish Videos To Learn A New Language

When you want to learn a language as an adult, the process is absolutely no different.

(Oh, and it's just as easy as it was when you were a baby, too. As in: your brain does all the work for your subconsciously.)

Think about it: you could immerse yourself in Spanish as much as time allows you, and from there a whole world of inexpensive vacations, social interactions, and job opportunities open up for you.

However, it's not just as easy as "immerse yourself and you'll learn". You must immerse yourself in the right kind of Spanish environment.

You'll just be confused if you start with videos like Spanish talk shows!

There are lots of absolutely FREE video learning series available that start off very basic, introducing you to words by showing you. They speak entirely in Spanish, so you're immersed, but they make it very intuitive for you to figure out what's going on.

Don't bother with videos that give you formal Spanish lessons -- they won't work! Use free video series that immerse you in the language while teaching you. This is the best kind of "learn spanish" video.


You can teach yourself Spanish quickly and easily, with the right resources. Find out for FREE what the top language students use to quickly pick up new languages.

Learn Spanish - Children Can Learn Spanish Lightning Quick

By Noah M. Benjamin

I'd say the benefits for children to learn Spanish are pretty well-known these days. Probably the best gift a parent can give a child is the ability to speak a second language, especially one as widely-used as Spanish. Some of the benefits of knowing a second language include:

Higher scores on standardized tests

Better language retention

Easier to learn and master other languages

And, in my opinion, just knowing the world's third most common language is probably the biggest benefit. Especially living in the United States, knowing Spanish will be a huge benefit financially when the child grows to be an adult.

Most parents know that there are huge benefits to a child learning Spanish, but where most people go wrong is in when to teach a child Spanish, and how to teach a child Spanish.

When To Teach A Child Spanish

The earlier you start teaching your children Spanish, the better!

I want you to consider a pretty astonishing fact right now.

Your child was born with absolutely no knowledge of language, obviously. Your child also didn't receive any language lessons in a classroom setting. Yet, by age 2, he or she could speak their first language conversationally.

That's pretty amazing! But how did that happen?

The human brain is best wired for learning and problem solving from ages 0 to 12. It is most efficient at this from ages 0 to 5. This is why children are able to pick up habits and patterns so easily. (Ever wondered why kids are the best at computers? Now you know -- they start at a young age and master it quickly!)

So the earlier you start teaching your children Spanish, the easier it will be for them and the faster they will learn.

How To Teach A Child Spanish

Do NOT put your child through formal language classes. This will only make them despise Spanish because it will be like school to them. There are much better methods.

Teach your children Spanish exactly how they learned their first language -- through "language immersion" techniques!

Speak to your child in Spanish whenever possible. Sprinkle Spanish words into your conversations with them. Don't know Spanish yourself? Take advantage of this opportunity and learn a little bit of the language. Using the right techniques and programs, you could learn basic Spanish within two weeks, and then continue learning along with your child.

Invite a Spanish-speaking relative to come and stay with you for a month and have them speak only Spanish to your child.

Make sure your nanny or baby sitter speaks Spanish. I have met a number of bilingual children who learned Spanish simply because they were spoken to in Spanish by their nannies!

Simply find ways to immerse your child in Spanish and they will pick it up quickly and easily.

The Bottom Line

Help your children to learn Spanish and you will be giving them an amazing gift that will last their entire lives. Take advantage of the opportunity and teach yourself some Spanish as well.

But most importantly -- start with this today. Every parent knows the benefits of teaching your child a second language, but only a select few actually do it. Good luck!


The top-performing students in American schools today are bilingual. Find out for FREE how to get your child on the same path to success learning Spanish.

Kids Learning Spanish

By Noah M. Benjamin

You are making an amazing decision if you want your kids learning Spanish. Scientific studies over the years have spelled out the benefits of kids learning Spanish, and it is only a select few parents who actually take the time and care to help their children in this process.

Some of the benefits of teaching your child Spanish include:

Higher standardized test scores

Better mastery of language, especially the child's first language

Better retention of any language, usually for life

In addition, our economy is going to be completely globalized by the time your child is an adult. Knowing the world's third-largest language -- Spanish -- is only going to make your child more successful.

But what's the best way for a child to learn Spanish? For that, we must look back to how your kid learned their first language.

With no prior language knowledge, and no training at all, your child was able to speak conversationally by age 2. This was through the process of "language immersion" -- surrounding your child with their first language all day and all night.

The human brain is wired for quick problem-solving and general learning from ages 0 to 12, especially from 0 to 5. This is why children are able to pick up on patterns so quickly. It is pretty astounding that a baby can intuitively learn a language within 2 years without training!

The best way to teach your child a second language is to simply follow the same immersion process. Do not -- and I mean this very seriously -- do not make your child go through Spanish classes or formal training. This will only make them disinterested in learning a second language.

Speak to your child in Spanish whenever you can. Ask your child if they would like "comida" instead of "food", for example. If you don't know any Spanish yourself, not to worry. Use this time to teach yourself a little bit of the language, and learn along with your child. You can learn enough basic Spanish in about two weeks to be able to speak with your child.

Invite relatives or friends over who speak Spanish, and have them speak nothing but Spanish to your child.

Make sure your baby sitter or nanny speaks Spanish! Many children learn Spanish just by conversing with their Spanish-speaking baby sitters!

Just look for ways that you can immerse your child in Spanish. And just like your kid's first language, they will quickly and intuitively pick up Spanish in no time.

Taking an interest in your kids learning Spanish means you're responsible and interested in your child's well-being. But don't just stop here -- go out and start teaching your child today! Good luck!


The top-performing students in American schools today are bilingual. Find out for FREE how to get your child on the same path to success learning Spanish.

Children's Spanish - The Secrets of Teaching a Child Spanish Effectively

By Noah M. Benjamin

The best decision a parent can make is to invest in their children's Spanish education.

Knowing a second language like Spanish provides nothing but benefits for a child. Among the proven advantages are:

Better retention of learning materials

Higher scores on standardized tests, like the SAT

Social opportunities

In my opinion, all children should be at least bilingual simply because as our economy becomes more globalized in the 21st century, knowing more than one language will become a necessity for success.

In order for your child to learn Spanish, though, you had better look into the latest research on language learning.

Many parents put their children through formal language training, which only makes them hate it and never want to pursue it. There is a much better way.

How To "Teach The Brain" Spanish

If you follow the most effective techniques of language learning, you'll find you're not really teaching your children Spanish. You're actually teaching their brain.

Let me explain.

The most effective forms of language learning are mostly subconscious. There is very little conscious work involved.

Think of when your child was a baby. She came into the world not knowing a word of any language (duh), and never received any formal language training in a school (double duh).

Yet, by age two, she was able to speak English.

How was this possible? Through a process called "immersion".

She was surrounded -- immersed -- in the language all day and all night. Her brain, which is wired to pick up patterns and solve them, worked to figure out this language.

And, clearly, it worked just fine.

The human brain is actually designed to naturally pick up patterns like these and solve them. This process works at its peak from ages 0 to 12.

"Immersion" is the process children should be following to learn their second language, as well.

How To Teach Your Children Spanish

So now you understand how the brain best learns a new language. How do you use this process with your child?

You don't have to surround them with Spanish 24/7.

Just speak to them in Spanish whenever possible!

If you don't know Spanish, don't worry. It's very easy to pick up Spanish basics in about a week or two, and from there, you can follow the same learning process your child is. In fact, your child will prefer this.

I know many parents who made sure their baby sitter only spoke Spanish to their child. As a result, their child is now bilingual.

This process doesn't involve any work on the child's part. It's all subconscious! Just immerse your child in Spanish, and the brain will do the rest of the work.

Investing in your children's Spanish is the best decision a parent can make. Use the best techniques and your child will excel.


The top-performing students in American schools today are bilingual. Find out for FREE how to get your child on the same path to success learning Spanish.

Childrens Spanish - How to Teach Your Child Spanish Without Any Difficulty

By Noah M. Benjamin

It is widely accepted now that one of the best things a parent can do for their child is to foster their children's Spanish development, or the development of any second language for that matter. The benefits of a child knowing a second language are numerous. Among them are:

Higher standardized test scores

Better language retention, often for a lifetime

Mastery of language

As well as simply the benefits of knowing the world's third most common language. As the world becomes more and more globalized, knowing a second language becomes almost a necessity.

Although almost all parents know the benefits of learning a second language, they get confused about when and how to teach the language. This is one of the most critical parts of helping your child to learn a second language!

How The Brain Best Learns Language

Think about how your child learned his or her first language. Without any training, and without knowing any other language at all (obviously), your child was conversational by age 2! That's pretty amazing.

How was this possible? Simple -- through a process called language immersion!

The human brain is best wired for pattern solving and learning from ages 0 to 12 (especially around ages 0 to 5). This is exactly what language learning is.

Because your child was surrounded by their first language all day and all night, the brain adapted and forced itself to learn the language. No training necessary!

How To Teach A Second Language

Do not -- this is very important -- put your young child through language classes. Language schools will only make your child despise language learning.

The best way to learn a second language is how the first language was learned: language immersion. Surround your child with Spanish as much as you can.

Invite friends over who speak Spanish, and have them speak Spanish to your child.

Make sure your baby sitter speaks Spanish, and have him or her speak only Spanish to your children. This is probably one of the best ways for your child to learn Spanish!

Speak Spanish to your children yourself! If you don't know Spanish, don't worry. Take this opportunity to learn some! You can have enough basic Spanish down after just a week or two that your child can still benefit. Then just learn along with your child.

Once your child is a little more advanced in the language, have him or her watch cartoons in Spanish.

Just find ways to immerse your child in the language!

So What Now?

Most parents know that learning a second language like Spanish is a great idea, but they never take the next step. If you take an active interest in your children's Spanish learning process, then you are heads and tails above most other parents.

Start now! Start immersing your child in a second language today! Good luck!


The top-performing students in American schools today are bilingual. Find out for FREE how to get your child on the same path to success learning Spanish.

Best Way to Learn French - Top Software

By Jake Sway

So, you have decided that you want to learn French but do not know what the best way to learn French is. Everyone wants to learn something as fast as possible especially if they are travelling to that country or area soon. You will learn so much more about the French culture if you can speak the language. You will also be able to get around easier as you will be able to speak to more people. This article will show you the best way to learn French.

Studies have shown that the best way to learn French is to sign up for a course that is actually in France. This will allow you to actually live and interact with the culture so you will normally pick up the language more quickly. However, this may not be a feasible thing for everyone to do.

Being able to see and interact will allow you to learn much easier. While this is the best way to learn French it is also by far the most expensive. There are other ways to learn the French language aside from actually travelling to France to take a language course.

The most popular way to learn anything nowdays is of course, online. Online education has erupted in the past couple of years. More and more online courses are becoming well known and accepted in the education community. There is no reason that you cannot learn French online. You just have to get yourself motivated and find a course that will suit your needs.

If you prefer to learn French online then you need to get some language software to help you out.


Check out this software which is the best way to learn French online. You can learn French and the best way to learn French is either in France or with language software.

What to Look For When Buying Learn to Speak Spanish Software

By B Matheson

Language learning software is a hot trend for picking up conversational skills in other languages. This might be for vacation, a business trip, or just for fun. What ever the reason you're thinking of buying learn to speak Spanish software there are a few things you should look for in any program before you buy.

This article is going to cover four points you should consider before you buy any Spanish lesson software.

Audio or Video

Does the program use audio or video as it's primary teaching tool. Personally I enjoy video, but not everyone is the same. If you think you'd like audio better then video consider programs like Rocket Spanish or Pimsleur Spanish.

Both of these programs use audio as their main teaching method, while Rocket Spanish supplements the audio portion of the course with PC based games and quizzes to improve grammar and vocabulary.

For video, programs like Visual Link and Rosetta stone are top notch at improving you vocabulary and conversational skills with video lessons similar to that of a personal tutor.

Memorization or Phrases

Memorization is the basis of your High School Spanish lessons. I don't know about you but that didn't work for me.

If you're goal is to become fluent in speaking Spanish but aren't worried about writing it correctly then don't go for memorization. Look for learn Spanish software that focuses on teaching you to build phrases and learn vocabulary that is important in everyday conversation.

Speech Recognition

This is a relatively new feature but it is the best feature to teach you correct pronunciation. Programs such as Tell me More Spanish allow you to speak into a head set microphone and record your voice. The software then interprets what you've said to guage your progress.

This is as close as you can get to having a one-on-one tutor instructing you on how to pronounce Spanish words correctly.

Lesson Plan and Feedback

I don't know about you but for me, I need structure to learn. You might be surprised to know that not all learn Spanish software gives you a plan to follow.

I suggest you look for a program that has a very easy to follow plan for beginners and intermediate Spanish students. If you opt for a program with no lesson plan then you might end up spending a lot of time to learn nothing.

Programs such as Tell Me More Spanish focus on not only following a lesson plan, but they will also give the student feedback about where you need work and suggest lessons you should do to improve those areas.


If you're ready to start learning Spanish today then take a moment to read our reviews of the top Spanish learning programs available. Or check out our detailed Tell Me More Spanish review of the top rated software program to learn Spanish online.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Learn How to Speak Spanish Fluently Online

By John Janson

The rise of the popularity and wide use of the Spanish language has made it a universal sought and learned language. It has also gained the interest of many. Learning to speak Spanish is a great opportunity as well as it has a whole lot more benefits for you and is a very rewarding achievement in the end.

Spanish is the primary language of twenty one countries and is one of United Nation's six official languages. It is the second most widely used language in the USA. And it is now the third widely spoken language in the world. First is Mandarin Chinese followed by English as the second. Around 350 million people are Spanish native speakers. The world's largest Spanish speaking population is Mexico. The Spanish language is now becoming dominant and is rapidly spreading in all nations. No wonder why many people are now learning the Spanish language.

There are a variety of ways to learn Spanish. The most common and convenient way is to learn it online. In that way you can avoid all the hassles of a local class while enjoying the lessons at the comforts of your home. So learning how to speak Spanish fluently is never an impossible thing to achieve, you can just go online and choose the program that best fits your needs and your schedule. Online learning programs are fun, for they are packed with audio learning, games, interactive multimedia videos, written tutorials and learning through the use of music.

There are a lot of tips on how to speak Spanish fluently online:

First, always speak the language. In this way, you will greatly help yourself pronounce the language correctly. Talk to as many Spanish speaking people to enhance your Spanish vocabulary as well as speaking skills. Learning it in theory enhances your knowledge in the language; however, using it in practice improves what you have already learned.

Second, never be afraid to commit mistakes. It is always okay to make mistakes especially if you are just beginning to learn the language. Remember that a making mistake is one great way of learning things.

Next, whenever you learn a new Spanish word, write it down in a small notebook. Keep it handy, so it will be convenient for you to bring anywhere. Take time to scan your notebook and read the words several times a day. This way you can recall the words and have them in your long term memory. You can also categorize the words accordingly in order for you to have an organized learning.

Lastly, while learning online, read and speak the words loudly as well as clearly. Listen to audio sounds for you to be able to know its proper pronunciation.

Learning how to speak Spanish fluently online is so fun and amazing. You will surely profit a lot from it. All you have to do is go online, search for the right Spanish program that fits your lifestyle and open your world to lots of wonders.


Take up the first step to learn how to speak Spanish. Then speaking Spanish fluently online will be much more easier.

Four Reasons Why We Don't Understand ESL Speakers

By Lynda Stucky

So your new colleague is bright, extremely intelligent, and a great asset to the company. But there is one problem: English is not his native language and although he has a fantastic command of English, he continues to be difficult to understand when he speaks. Why?

There are four reasons that it can be hard to understand non-native English speakers whose grammar is good but whose intelligibility is poor:

1. Vowels and consonants are inaccurately pronounced, substituted or entirely omitted. Since vowels and consonants carry a lot of meaning to words, a substitution can alter the meaning drastically. Other languages don't use the same alphabet as English does and so non-native speakers must learn entirely new sounds. Among the harder sounds to learn are /r/ and /l/ as well as many of our vowels. Vowels in particular, if mispronounced are going to cause miscommunications. Consider the vowel in the word "pet." If someone substitutes a long ee sound for this vowel, the following sentences could be interpreted very differently:

"The den was messy and ugly" would sound like, "The dean was meesy and ugly."

Although the context of a sentence may help the listener figure out what was said, doing this frequently is tiring.

Often times, a non-native speaker will adopt the sounds of their own language to say the words. Another problem is that many English words are not pronounced like they are spelled. This can create problems even for the native speaker learning to say an unfamiliar word.

2. Inappropriate stress is placed on syllables in words. Again, a non-native speaker will use the structure of his/her native language and apply it to English. Some languages don't stress syllables like English. In order to stress a syllable, we lengthen the vowel sound of the stressed syllable and we increase our pitch and our loudness on this syllable. Consider the following two words: thirty and thirteen. The first syllable is stressed in the word "thirty" and the second syllable is stressed in "thirteen." A non-native speaker whose native tongue gives equal length to all syllables is going to say these two words almost identically. Word meaning is carried in these stressed syllables in American English. If this syllable is not stressed, there will most likely be an issue with understanding.

3. The rhythm and melody of speech (intonation) doesn't match American English intonation patterns. This issue is similar to the problem we just discussed. But it also has to do with stress of words in sentences. In the English language, we emphasize certain words (nouns, verbs, and pronouns). This gives the sentence more meaning. Say the following sentence three times stressing a different word each time:

I like pizza.

You can understand how these sentences are different based on the context.

Does Sara like pizza? No, I like pizza. Do you hate pizza? No, I like pizza. Do you like chicken? No, I like pizza.

Some languages speak with very little intonation and the sound is flat. This interferes with intelligibility.

4. The rate of speech is too fast. A fast rate of speech compromises our understanding no matter who speaks fast. Add mispronunciation of sounds, inaccurate stress and a flat pitch, and the speaker becomes especially difficult to understand. However, the opposite holds true too. If a person's conversational rate of speech isn't fast enough, it may be a struggle to listen. Non-native speakers must be especially careful to speak at an appropriate rate.

Listening to someone who is difficult to understand is a trying experience which requires patience and understanding. The longer we are in a conversation with someone who is difficult to understand the more we begin to tune out and shut down. Next time you are straining to understand a message with a non-native English speaker, do the following:

1. If needed, ask the speaker to clarify anything you don't understand.

2. Restate what you heard the speaker say.

3. Model good clear speech and proper grammar.

4. Ask him/her to slow down or use different words to convey the meaning when the message isn't getting across.

Many ESL speakers want to know when they have said something wrong and want to be corrected. They tell me, "Americans are just too polite to correct me." Of course, not everyone feels that way. To find out, just ask the person how they feel about receiving feedback. Presented in a non-critical way, the speaker may welcome your comments. Showing interest that you want to understand and that you care may make a big, positive difference in the eyes of the speaker.

Copyright (c) 2008 Lynda Stucky


Are you worried about your own intelligibility when speaking to others? We can help you change your pattern of speech to make you more understandable. Contact us here.

Italian is a Language Easy to Fall in Love With

By Benedict Yossarian

Italian is a very passionate sounding language. It is considered as one of the most romantic languages in the whole world. It has certain qualities that make it so flowery and makes people who speak it very animated. This is one reason why it is always linked with feelings of love and romance.

Love is in the Italian Air

You might be wondering what made Italian a language of love. Let us trace some reasons behind this claim:

The primary reason behind this is the Italian culture. The country has a very colorful history which may condition our thinking that indeed it is a romantic language.

The culture of love is in the air. You can smell Italian passion and visualize romantic imagery all over. Look at the devotion to great architectures and artworks that can be traced back to the olden times. The works of the great Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael display the passion of the Italian soul. The details of the David, La Giocanda, The Pieta, and the Monalisa say it all.

The connection of the Italian culture to the Catholic faith shows the purity of love as seen in Jesus, Virgin Mary, and all the other saints depicted in sculptures and paintings. The architecture of the different churches and basilicas all over Italy also makes the language synonymous to love.

Have you seen an opera? It is an Italian contribution which also conveys a lot of love and passion. The notes of the opera bring the audience to a different level of appreciation. They do experience pure emotion and sensation while listening to the performance.

The biggest reason, among all reasons, why Italian is a language of love is the country itself. Italy is a very wonderful place. The atmosphere is really romantic with views of rustic sceneries, the sea, the hills, the country side-everything spells love. Whether they know Italian or not, a lot of honeymooners pack their bags and go to Italy to spend time together and strengthen their bonds.

Some Basic Facts about the Italian Language

Now that you know that Italian is a lingo of love, it will be better if you know some details about the language, here are some of them:

Italian has a very distinct stress and traces its roots to the dead language of Latin. It uses most of the Latin alphabets in majority of its words. Unlike our usual ABC, the Italian alphabet doesn't have J, K, W, X, and Y. J sounds like I in the Italian words like Bojano (Bo-ya-no), Joppolo(Iopolo), and Jesi(Iesi).

The Italian alphabet today consists of 21 letters. The letters also have their Italian equivalents like gi for j; s,ss, or cs for x; c or ch for k; u or v for w; and i for y.

Accent is also very important when speaking the Italian language. Notice the acute accents you have on the vowel E in perche. Grave accents are also used in A, I, O, and U having the stress on the final vowel of the word like in gioventi (youth)

When reading words like hai, hanno or ha, the H is often silent. Furthermore, the word Zanzara or mosquito is pronounced with z being read as dz or dzan' dzara.

Italian as you can see is beyond pasta, pesto, pizza, and the Ferrari.


The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

 

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