Comments on: SmartSpanish Cd-rom – Learning Spanish the Smart Way http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/ Easy Spanish, Learn Spanish Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:05:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tomo Osako http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4602 Tomo Osako Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:42:01 +0000 http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/#comment-4602 Since I moved to CA, I found it very useful to be able to speak Spanish, so I decided to take up one. I already knew basic Spanish from taking some classes but I wanted to practice more conversation and listening skills and I came across this product on amazon.com. After reading the review, I decided to purchase one. <br />To my great surprise, the beginner CD was pretty high level, and not one of those that make you repeat basic sentences, so that was nice. (If you have no back ground in Spanish what so ever, you may need to consider this point) I purchased the audio versions so I can listen to it in my car on my 30min commute to work everyday. I wanted to be thorough, so I took 1 week for each lesson. And after listening to all the steps, I tried repeating (first the slow version in Step2, second, the normal reading speed in step1, and finally the conversation speed with the guest in step6). So after 7 weeks, I got through all the CDs, and I could almost repeat at the speed of each guest on all the lessons! <br />Oh, and to my surprise, some phrases or pieces of conversation stuck to my head, and I even had a dream of me speaking Spanish! (you know what they say, if you get really good at speaking the language, you'll start having dream in that language!) <br />So I'm pretty satisfied with the product. :) <br />If I would add anything, I'd like it to have the conversation version of these lessons where we can hear dialogues, not only monologues. <br />Now, I'm thinking of taking the Intermediate and Advanced lessons for the next step. <br />Oh, and I'd like to add, the author was very nice and helpful when I had some problem with the CD. I liked the fact that the author himself gave me some support. <br />Thank you Christian! <br /> Rating: 5 / 5 Since I moved to CA, I found it very useful to be able to speak Spanish, so I decided to take up one. I already knew basic Spanish from taking some classes but I wanted to practice more conversation and listening skills and I came across this product on amazon.com. After reading the review, I decided to purchase one.

To my great surprise, the beginner CD was pretty high level, and not one of those that make you repeat basic sentences, so that was nice. (If you have no back ground in Spanish what so ever, you may need to consider this point) I purchased the audio versions so I can listen to it in my car on my 30min commute to work everyday. I wanted to be thorough, so I took 1 week for each lesson. And after listening to all the steps, I tried repeating (first the slow version in Step2, second, the normal reading speed in step1, and finally the conversation speed with the guest in step6). So after 7 weeks, I got through all the CDs, and I could almost repeat at the speed of each guest on all the lessons!

Oh, and to my surprise, some phrases or pieces of conversation stuck to my head, and I even had a dream of me speaking Spanish! (you know what they say, if you get really good at speaking the language, you’ll start having dream in that language!)

So I’m pretty satisfied with the product. :)

If I would add anything, I’d like it to have the conversation version of these lessons where we can hear dialogues, not only monologues.

Now, I’m thinking of taking the Intermediate and Advanced lessons for the next step.

Oh, and I’d like to add, the author was very nice and helpful when I had some problem with the CD. I liked the fact that the author himself gave me some support.

Thank you Christian!

Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Walter E Campagna http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4601 Walter E Campagna Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:21:27 +0000 http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/#comment-4601 This product devotes most of its practices to one particular learning technique, and that is to tune your ear to spanish speaking. It is not comprehensive in grammar. It also has some problems with incorrect and incomplete translations . <br /> <br />Example: The first lesson with William Torres: <br /> <br />1. Incorrect Translation <br />"Y con dos camaras trabajaba" <br />William used the Imperfect tense(expresses an action or state of being that was continuous in the past and its completion is not indicated) as in "trabajaba", but the English translation found in this program is in the Preterit tense "I worked with two cameras". He really said "I used to work with two cameras". This program should translate the Spanish exactly how he said it- "I was working or I used to work with two cameras." <br /> <br />2. Incomplete translation <br />"Hay algunos que tienen mas." <br />The program translates the above sentence- "Some have more." <br />Why not complete the translation for the beginners- "There are some that have more". The beginner needs no short cuts in the translation. This sentence is not an idiom, or slang! So why the short cut translation? <br /> <br />Should you buy this program? The answer is Yes! This will tune your ears for sure and make you think. I would give this product 3 1/2 stars if I could. Rating: 3 / 5 This product devotes most of its practices to one particular learning technique, and that is to tune your ear to spanish speaking. It is not comprehensive in grammar. It also has some problems with incorrect and incomplete translations .

Example: The first lesson with William Torres:

1. Incorrect Translation

“Y con dos camaras trabajaba”

William used the Imperfect tense(expresses an action or state of being that was continuous in the past and its completion is not indicated) as in “trabajaba”, but the English translation found in this program is in the Preterit tense “I worked with two cameras”. He really said “I used to work with two cameras”. This program should translate the Spanish exactly how he said it- “I was working or I used to work with two cameras.”

2. Incomplete translation

“Hay algunos que tienen mas.”

The program translates the above sentence- “Some have more.”

Why not complete the translation for the beginners- “There are some that have more”. The beginner needs no short cuts in the translation. This sentence is not an idiom, or slang! So why the short cut translation?

Should you buy this program? The answer is Yes! This will tune your ears for sure and make you think. I would give this product 3 1/2 stars if I could.
Rating: 3 / 5

]]> By: Art Lover http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4600 Art Lover Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:51:20 +0000 http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/#comment-4600 I have already tried there French program with success and I am very enthusiastic about the Spanish. It has helped my confidence greatly. I like the format. It's easy to use and a great fun. Rating: 5 / 5 I have already tried there French program with success and I am very enthusiastic about the Spanish. It has helped my confidence greatly. I like the format. It’s easy to use and a great fun.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: G. Grant http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4599 G. Grant Mon, 08 Mar 2010 04:38:07 +0000 http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/#comment-4599 This video program presents Spanish as spoken by native speakers from various backgrounds and countries. The Spanish spoken is not always grammatically correct -- Not everyone is a college professor! -- But it is always unrehearsed and real. <br />The videos are of good quality and full-screen. (The videos in the French version are less professional.) <br />The goal of the program is comprehension at full speed. It teaches mainly by repetition, through an approach that is similar to learning song lyrics. One often can't understand every word of a song, but through repeated listening, the words become clear (for example, "school operetta" eventually becomes "smooth operator"). <br />The people interviewed have interesting stories to tell, which makes the Spanish more memorable. I enjoyed learning phrases like "moriremos como el Che" or "patria o muerte," which are not much good for ordering coffee, but are great for afterwards! Rating: 5 / 5 This video program presents Spanish as spoken by native speakers from various backgrounds and countries. The Spanish spoken is not always grammatically correct — Not everyone is a college professor! — But it is always unrehearsed and real.

The videos are of good quality and full-screen. (The videos in the French version are less professional.)

The goal of the program is comprehension at full speed. It teaches mainly by repetition, through an approach that is similar to learning song lyrics. One often can’t understand every word of a song, but through repeated listening, the words become clear (for example, “school operetta” eventually becomes “smooth operator”).

The people interviewed have interesting stories to tell, which makes the Spanish more memorable. I enjoyed learning phrases like “moriremos como el Che” or “patria o muerte,” which are not much good for ordering coffee, but are great for afterwards!
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: Kellie R. Dvorchak http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/comment-page-1/#comment-4598 Kellie R. Dvorchak Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:59:33 +0000 http://www.veryeasyspanish.com/spanish-courses/smartspanish-cd-rom-learning-spanish-the-smart-way/#comment-4598 If you are a beginner, you should try the excellent Smart Spanish, Introduction to Spanish first. It will prepare you to work with these series. You cannot fail to speak the Language if you follow this method. It is a Course that you will find interesting and informative and often very amusing. It consists of Interviews that have a purpose (Very cleverly you are introduced to words, sentences, phrases that are used constantly in the spanish language . It is easy. It gives you the confidence to get out there and speak! Rating: 5 / 5 If you are a beginner, you should try the excellent Smart Spanish, Introduction to Spanish first. It will prepare you to work with these series. You cannot fail to speak the Language if you follow this method. It is a Course that you will find interesting and informative and often very amusing. It consists of Interviews that have a purpose (Very cleverly you are introduced to words, sentences, phrases that are used constantly in the spanish language . It is easy. It gives you the confidence to get out there and speak!
Rating: 5 / 5

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