It became quite obvious during this conversation that I don't play golf! Glad it was Mike that was laughed at for trying to speak golf-Spanish rather than me, because I would have made the same mistake (plus a few more golf-related ones, I'm sure...)
Being laughed at is part of the game of learning a language. Sometimes, we just say things that sound hilarious to a native speaker! I've been on both sides of this one, the laugher and the laughee, so to speak :)
Click this link to listen to the interview:
http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/CINCINNATI-OH/WLW-AM/081106_2_mcconnell.mp3
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sam Greenfield and Nathalie talk on WVNJ
Sam wanted to know if the audio-lingual method is effective. My experience teaching for Berlitz allowed me to put this method in its place. I do like it, but not as the ONLY strategy to get a student fluent!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Michel Thomas Spanish Course: Report 2
I'm now at the end of CD 5 of the Michel Thomas Spanish for Beginners course.
One of the things I love is how he focuses FIRST on what I'll need most in a regular conversation.
For example, to teach present tense conjugations, he starts first by teaching me how to say "I want to do something" and "you want to do something," as opposed to presenting the endings of ALL the persons.
How often do we use "we" and "they," compared to "I" and "you" in everyday conversation? Not all that often! So why not learn the forms we'll use most, derive the principles, and only then start looking at the other forms? It makes all the sense in the world!
One of the things I love is how he focuses FIRST on what I'll need most in a regular conversation.
For example, to teach present tense conjugations, he starts first by teaching me how to say "I want to do something" and "you want to do something," as opposed to presenting the endings of ALL the persons.
How often do we use "we" and "they," compared to "I" and "you" in everyday conversation? Not all that often! So why not learn the forms we'll use most, derive the principles, and only then start looking at the other forms? It makes all the sense in the world!
Friday, December 12, 2008
Watching Azúcar Amarga (Bitter Sugar)
My Spanish movie for the week!
Here's the plot from IMDB (internet movie database):
"Gustavo is a young Havana Communist who believes in the revolution; he hopes for a scholarship to study aeronautical engineering in Prague. But his faith in the new Cuba is tested: his father, a psychiatrist, can make four times as much playing piano at a hotel for foreigners; his sweetheart, Yolanda, wants a career as a dancer and longs for the riches of Miami; his younger brother Bobby simply wants to play rock music, and as a result is in constant trouble with the authorities. When Bobby takes a shocking step of revolt and Gustavo is refused service at a foreigners-only bar, the contradictions in his resolve to become a "new man" push him to the breaking point." Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}
Although not exactly uplifting, the movie plays in beautiful modern Havana. The story is compelling (and true!) and gives a good picture of life in Cuba. Lots of dialog.
Easiest to understand: Dad, then Gustavo, then Yolanda. It's a little stretch to grasp everything they're saying, as articulation is not very clear, but hey, that's how they speak. I watched it once with English subtitles, then without. Knowing the story line and the content of the dialogs helps tremendously!
On a scale from 1-10 for Spanish learning, I'd give it a 7.
Here's the plot from IMDB (internet movie database):
"Gustavo is a young Havana Communist who believes in the revolution; he hopes for a scholarship to study aeronautical engineering in Prague. But his faith in the new Cuba is tested: his father, a psychiatrist, can make four times as much playing piano at a hotel for foreigners; his sweetheart, Yolanda, wants a career as a dancer and longs for the riches of Miami; his younger brother Bobby simply wants to play rock music, and as a result is in constant trouble with the authorities. When Bobby takes a shocking step of revolt and Gustavo is refused service at a foreigners-only bar, the contradictions in his resolve to become a "new man" push him to the breaking point." Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}
Although not exactly uplifting, the movie plays in beautiful modern Havana. The story is compelling (and true!) and gives a good picture of life in Cuba. Lots of dialog.
Easiest to understand: Dad, then Gustavo, then Yolanda. It's a little stretch to grasp everything they're saying, as articulation is not very clear, but hey, that's how they speak. I watched it once with English subtitles, then without. Knowing the story line and the content of the dialogs helps tremendously!
On a scale from 1-10 for Spanish learning, I'd give it a 7.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Michel Thomas Spanish Course: Report 1
I'm currently on the 3rd CD of the Michel Thomas Beginner Spanish course. I like his approach a lot - it's like a brain massage where I come out knowing all the basic structures I need in order to speak.
I'm amazed that I'm able to remember pretty much everything he's telling me, even days later, after going through every CD only once. My hunch is that it's because I've done so much Passive Listening of Spanish materials in the past, so I understand everything he says and know how it's spelled and written. I'm not sure how a total beginner would fare since there's no written materials.
I'll be sure to include his CD's into any of my language learning combos for future languages!
I'm amazed that I'm able to remember pretty much everything he's telling me, even days later, after going through every CD only once. My hunch is that it's because I've done so much Passive Listening of Spanish materials in the past, so I understand everything he says and know how it's spelled and written. I'm not sure how a total beginner would fare since there's no written materials.
I'll be sure to include his CD's into any of my language learning combos for future languages!
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Nathalie on the Chuck Wilder Show!
Nathalie discusses with Chuck Wilder why learning languages is one of the factors that can help boost the American economy in these turbulent times.
You can listen to the recording here:
You can listen to the recording here:
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Claudette helping out in Cameroon
SpeakEZ Languages donates 10% of its profits to causes close to our heart. IDAAS is one of them.
Here are a few pictures of Claudette in Cameroon. She was so inspired by the work her friends Glory and George had done that she decided to help them set up a non-profit organization (IDAAS) to provide training on sustainable and self-reliant organic farming practices.
Claudette serves as their
U.S. officer and is happy to report that Glory and the IDAAS farms have brought jobs, joy, organic food, education and sustainability to the people of Wum and Bambili (small towns in NW Cameroon)!
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