Do Learn To Speak Spanish CDs Work?
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Author: Adrian Hardmann
Article: There are quite a few self study language programs on offer at the moment. Some seem to be reasonable in price whilst others tend to look expensive. However they should really be judged on how easy they made it to learn to speak Spanish. Can you learn to speak Spanish using an MP3 or CD audio course ? This article will detail the benefits of using an audio language course to learn Spanish and some things that are not so good.
A definite advantage of an audio course is that it is a good simulation of the method we used to learn our native language. As a baby you learn your native language by listening and eventually repeating what you hear. This is the same method that is used with a Spanish CD or MP3. The words and phrases are listened to and repeated. There is a dialog that you take part in much like the dialog a baby has with it’s mother.
This is at odds with more common language learning methods that teach reading, writing and grammar at the same time as listening and speaking skills. This can often overwhelm the average student and they will get bored with learning the new language because they feel they are not making any progress.
A second benefit of an audio MP3 or CD is that it will teach you how to pronounce words and sentences correctly. This is vital, more so than grammar, when you are first learning because you will be able to speak with people and be understood. Speaking to people is key to consolidating your skills and having the confidence to take you abilities to a fluent level.
Finally, a major advantage of learning Spanish from an audio CD or MP3 is the ease of use. You can listen to it in the car or doing the housework. You can repeat the words as you jog round the block or do the grocery shopping (even though people might think you are mad talking to yourself).
To some extent this is true. However, in my experience you can’t devote your full attention to more than one thing, especially when it comes to a new language. Michel Thomas has many audio only courses and he advises (in the introduction to the courses) that you don’t do anything else but listen to the audio. I tend to agree with him, especially on the first few listens.
If you have listened to the audios half a dozen times then it gets easier to multi task but initially I would say it is a no no.
So, do learn to speak Spanish CDs work ? I think they can certainly help. They can make it easier for a person to concentrate on two core skills rather than five. However there is a lot to learn before you could be considered fluent and most courses probably don’t go into the sort of depth that is required to get to this level. They do give you confidence to speak to Spanish speaking people, and to me, this is where you really start to learn Spanish. So they are a help and a good solution for many people that are time poor but still want to learn a new language.
Looking for a good Spanish course then visit http://rocketspanishreviewed.com . The site has reviews on three popular Spanish courses, including a detailed Rocket Spanish review.
