Post: #1

What's great about Spanish is that there's so many self-learning materials, unlike in Portuguese.

BOOKS

• Spanish Verb Tenses: Packed full of exercises with answers in the back. This is my Spanish bible and the only book I've kept with me for my entire time in South America. I've tried other books in the "Practice Makes Perfect" series but this is my favorite because if you master verbs everything else falls into place.
• Madrigal's Magic Key To Spanish: My favorite grammar book. It's chopped up into short lessons and contains answers to exercises. Just make sure you read sentences aloud to practice your accent or else you'll be great at writing but very weak in speaking.
• Verb Conjugation Books. I have two. My big one is The Big Red Book Of Spanish Verbs. It's detailed but weighs a ton, so while traveling I have a pocket version.

AUDIO

• Pimsleur. I've mentioned this course dozens of times now. It's split into 3 units, each containing 15 hours of call-and-response lessons. You can download this on torrent sites or buy it used from Amazon. I hate to condone piracy and all but I have bought two of their units (Spanish I and Italian I) at full price years back.
• Michel Thomas. This is an alternative to Pimsleur that is fairly cheaper. I haven't used it myself but a couple guys I met in Colombia had good things to say about it.
• Radio Lingua. Lumiere recommended this a while ago and I'm about to start their Showtime Spanish course (for intermediate/advanced students). It's different than Pimsleur as you do more listening than talking, but I checked out a couple samples and it seems promising. The mp3 courses are free and for a premium membership you get bonus materials. Can anyone review their premium service?
• Juanes. This is a famous Colombian singer with a easy-to-understand accent. Listen to his music and try to figure out what he's saying.

WEBSITES

• Word Reference. Great site with detailed translations and examples. Also has a forum which answers a lot of grammar questions.
• Online Verb Conjugator
• Hook Up Spanish Phrase Guide. Very useful. I think a forum member posted this a while ago.
• StudySpanish.com. Lots of free tutorials if you sign up for their free membership. They have a premium membership that I haven't tired.
• Live Mocha. Some kind of interactive site where you post writing in Spanish and have native speakers correct it for you. I've been intending to try this for a while.

Did I miss anything?

Post: #2

Wow! If you did miss anything, I don't think we'd know with all the info you posted, and I speak Spanish! =)

I'll offer myself as a resource as well. Spanish is my native language.

Post: #3

Good overview of subjunctive:
http://users.ipfw.edu/JEHLE/courses/persuad1.htm

Post: #4

Phrase database, extensive: http://www.wordmagicsoft.com/diccionario...iority.php

Post: #5

Michel Thomas is the best thing I have used by far.

Pimsluer is alright but not worth the price at all (not that I paid for it). Pimsluer is good for learning phrases and what not. But michel thomas is much better at teaching you the entire language and how to use it.

Post: #6

(04-13-2010 12:19 PM)BaronStanley Wrote:  Michel Thomas is the best thing I have used by far.

Pimsluer is alright but not worth the price at all (not that I paid for it). Pimsluer is good for learning phrases and what not. But michel thomas is much better at teaching you the entire language and how to use it.

I've never heard of Michel Thomas, but I'm about to give him a try. I can vouch for Pimsleur though.

Post: #7

Most of the hardcore language learners use FSI Basic Spanish, FSI Platiquemos (same thing as basic just newer version with some added fluff and not in the public domain) or Assimil Spanish with Ease.

Post: #8

There is a very useful program for memorizing vocab called Mnemosyne

"The Mnemosyne software resembles a traditional flash-card program to help you memorise question/answer pairs, but with an important twist: it uses a sophisticated algorithm to schedule the best time for a card to come up for review. Difficult cards that you tend to forget quickly will be scheduled more often, while Mnemosyne won't waste your time on things you remember well."

Its great for learning vocabulary. You simply add words you have learned and the program quizzes you on them daily. Its a free open source program. Here is the website:

http://www.mnemosyne-proj.org/

Post: #9

Gave Michel Thomas a try, not impressed. Sounds very amateurish compared to Pimsleur.

Post: #10

My housemate purchased a program with the name Bueno, Entonces. It focuses on Argentinian spanish, but is sufficient for comprehension elsewhere. He has begun speaking sufficient spanish over the course of 2 months.

http://www.youtube.com/user/buenoentonces

Post: #11

http://www.spanish-kit.com

Post: #12

rumguzzler: Your link just has advertisements. Why exactly do you recommend it?

Post: #13

(07-07-2010 07:07 PM)Roosh Wrote:  rumguzzler: Your link just has advertisements. Why exactly do you recommend it?

because i'm an idiot:

http://www.spanish-kit.net/

Post: #14

Ive been doing a little bit of reasearch concerning how to start learning Spanish.
Rooshv, no harm intended, there's a very good forum about learning languages. google "Learning Languages" youll find it in the top 3 results.
There are numerous discussions there regarding the best approach to Spanish, methods, books, tapes, outside material... everything valuable you need to know before starting.

Right now im using:
Pimsleur and FSI simultaneously and it works very good so far.

Post: #15

is FSI audio?

Post: #16

(08-13-2010 04:02 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  is FSI audio?

You have a free pdf version of the student's text + instructor manual + workbook + the mp3 tapes themselves they used in the original course.

notice however that it is a course that demands 1 hour + a day in order to achieve any of the course goals.

http://www.fsi-language-courses.org

Post: #17

you guys can download free podcasts from itunes and play them on your iphod/iphone..they are really good!

mixx

Post: #18

Check out LiveMocha. It's free online program. I've been using it for my Portuguese for the past week, good program. You can unlock extras by helping others with their English or inviting others to join.
http://www.livemocha.com

And check out Bueno, entonces. You can probably torrent.
http://www.youtube.com/user/buenoentonces

Post: #19

feomuerto recommended livemocha in 2-3 threads.

I joined last week and already a dozen of brazilians or s.a. girls added me as friend. I dont even need to lift my electronic finger. How cool is that.

Post: #20

I told you hermano. I have hook ups all over south america already. I almost wanted to keep it a secret. jaja

Post: #21

live mocha seems chock full of desperate girls wanting to learn english or have a gringo friend... I suggest!

Post: #22

I just had 2 stereotypes perfectly demonstrated on livemocha :
the russian girl throwed me HUGE shit test at the second message only (you should have said hello first, maybe I'll draw attention to you)
The colombian girl was the first to message me with "excuse me but you are very good looking"

Post: #23

Can anyone recommend some specific podcasts?

Post: #24

(12-30-2011 04:26 PM)hunter7 Wrote:  Can anyone recommend some specific podcasts?

Here ya go:

spanishpod101.com

Alll of these are downloadable podcasts.

Mixx

Post: #25

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