How to Learn Spanish - Teach Yourself with My Help! - Latest Comments

Re: The Spanish Subjunctive Explained + W.E.I.R.D.O System (awesome little mnemonic device for dealing with the subjunctive in Spanish)

Andrew — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:33:42 -0000

Good one! Sure can, I've been looking for some new things to post about recently, I'll see what I can do (not an easy subject to explain).

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: The Spanish Subjunctive Explained + W.E.I.R.D.O System (awesome little mnemonic device for dealing with the subjunctive in Spanish)

Guest — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:39:08 -0000

Is there any way (when you get time) you could do a post explaining the difference between the different subjunctives: present, imperfect and future. I understand when to use the subjunctive (this is really helpful thank you!) but I can't see why you need three forms of the subjunctive!

Thanks!

Re: List of Best Free Sites to Watch Spanish-Language TV Online

Andrew — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:00:05 -0000

Sure, my guess would be that rtve.es requires Flash (as in the software by Adobe) to be installed in order to play those videos--devices running iOS such as Apple's iPhone and iPad cannot use Flash (this is primarily Apple's fault, for what it's worth). If you could show them to your children on the computer (any regular computer, desktop or laptop, should work fine) then that should work without any problems. Give that a shot and see what happens.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: List of Best Free Sites to Watch Spanish-Language TV Online

Raf75 — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:52:12 -0000

Hi I am trying to get Spanish cartoons like Peppa pig for my children to watch I have logged on to clan tv part of rtve.es but am unable to watch any of the cartoons on my iPad I have created a user name and password and all yhe cartoons are there even batman but I am unable to view i even installed clan tv app do you have any ideas how I can access them. As a child a learnt a lot of my Spanish watching battle of the planets cartoon on holiday thought my 8 year old baby would benifit from doing the same thanks Amanda

Re: The Spanish Subjunctive Explained + W.E.I.R.D.O System (awesome little mnemonic device for dealing with the subjunctive in Spanish)

Andrew — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:58:42 -0000

Thank you Rach! I love these kinds of comments, doing the work of fixing my blog posts for me :D

I just fixed it and changed it to "No creo que...".

Seriously, I would much, much rather get caught making a mistake and have that result in that mistake no long being in the post than not get caught and have that mistake sitting there in the post for everyone to see and be misinformed by. Thanks again.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: The Spanish Subjunctive Explained + W.E.I.R.D.O System (awesome little mnemonic device for dealing with the subjunctive in Spanish)

Rach — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:55:12 -0000

'Creo que no' doesn't introduce the subjunctive as it is not an expression of doubt, but your own opinion of certainty that something doesn't happen; 'I think that'. So 'Creo que el no diga la verdad sobre su coleccíon de arbolitos* should actually be 'Creo que él no dice la verdad sobre su coleccíon de arbolitos'. (don't forget the accent!)
Instead 'No creo que' introduces the subjunctive as you may not be 100% about the following statement. e.g. No creo que él diga la verdad sobre su coleccíon de arbolitos' (I don't believe...)
This is because this expression shows you are not certain about your belief, not like in English where 'I don't believe' just means I am certain that I don't believe something; that this thing I am about to say is not what I believe.

So I would change the subjunctive trigger from 'creer' to 'no creer' for the doubt section.
:)
PS The future subjunctive isn't used any more in 'normal' Spanish. It's for posh people. ;D

Re: Linear vs. Global Learning – What’s Your Style?

Andrew — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:16:17 -0000

I loved that list, there were some things on there even I didn't know (and my specialty is kind of Colombian Spanish). You're welcome, and I'll be sure to subscribe to your feed.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: Linear vs. Global Learning – What’s Your Style?

Amanadoguy — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:57:13 -0000

Thanks, Andrew, that's very nice of you. Writing in Spanish and English has been double the effort, yet rewarding. Colombians are generally very friendly and helpful people and they've been helping me understand their country, culture, and language better. By writing in Spanish, they're able to contribute to the blog, too. For example, I wouldn't have understood the true meaning of the phrases at http://www.amanado.com/idioma-... without help from native Colombians. And places to visit, such as Capurganá (http://www.amanado.com/lugares..., Colombia, are practically unheard of by non-Colombians. That said, I'm only getting started and have a lot more to add. Thanks again.

Re: Linear vs. Global Learning – What’s Your Style?

Andrew — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:56:37 -0000

Wow, you know what, I really like your blog, particularly the 'blog' part, I especially like that everything is in English AND Spanish, that's brilliant. I'll add you to my blog roll.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: How Many Words Do You Need to Know in Spanish (or any other foreign language)? And WHICH Words Should You Be Learning?

Andrew — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:45:21 -0000

Hi Diana,

Sure, it sounds like the same sort of thing. What I would do is go through that book or list and then enter the words into Google and try to find videos or songs or blog posts or news stories or SOMETHING that uses them in-context and then use those to help me learn the words and see how they're actually used.

Oh, and thank you, I always like hearing that I've helped someone.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: Learning Spanish from Music Videos: Shakira’s ‘La Tortura’ Dissected

Andrew — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:41:51 -0000

You're welcome, I'm glad I could help.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: The Top 22 Ways You Know You’re a Language Nerd…

Andrew — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:41:22 -0000

Thanks very much Evelina, I'm glad you liked it!

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: The Telenovela Method of Learning Spanish

Andrew — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:01:53 -0000

I'm glad it's working for you and you're enjoying it, that's the idea. Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: Linear vs. Global Learning – What’s Your Style?

Amanadoguy — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:39:52 -0000

Should it be helpful, I'm blogging about Colombian vocabularly (e.g., words and phrases from official language and jargon) at http://www.amanado.com/

Re: Learning Spanish from Music Videos: Shakira’s “Ojos Así”

Areg Hovsepyan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:05:34 -0000

Nvm got it, I just didn't realize the whole phrase for certainly was "si que.."

Re: Learning Spanish from Music Videos: Shakira’s “Ojos Así”

Areg Hovsepyan — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 02:59:10 -0000

Hi Andrew, I just had a small question
What role does the word que play in the sentence "Y ahora sí que no puedo vivir sin ellos yo"

Re: How Many Words Do You Need to Know in Spanish (or any other foreign language)? And WHICH Words Should You Be Learning?

Diana — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:26:44 -0000

This makes me ask whether there is a list of the 1000 most commonly used words in Spanish so that I have a place to start?

I have the Seymour Resnick book 1001 Most Useful Spanish Words. Would this work?

Thanks--your site looks like a great place to pick up my Spanish again.

Diana

Re: Learning Spanish from Music Videos: Shakira’s ‘La Tortura’ Dissected

Msdickens80 — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 23:02:40 -0000

Awesome translation, now the song has new meaning than just a catchy tune. Thanks!

Re: The Top 22 Ways You Know You’re a Language Nerd…

Evelina Ca — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:21:18 -0000

woah, Lithuanian! i'm Lithuanian :) how did you get Lithuanian on the list? i was just sifting through the comments and this greatly (and pleasantly) surprised me :)

about Japanese.. you might want to learn it cause it's seriously the easiest language there is. waste not to learn it :)

Re: The Top 22 Ways You Know You’re a Language Nerd…

Evelina Ca — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:18:52 -0000

not odd AT ALL. i know like 6 languages, learning the 7th, and trust me, my native is getting messed up sometimes :D.. or rather, i would be most comfortable speaking in sentences with 6 different languages present :D
also, English is not my native. just so you know :D

Re: The Top 22 Ways You Know You’re a Language Nerd…

Evelina Ca — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:16:36 -0000

i've done like nearly a million of those xD especially number 22 :D haha, this is hilarious. your post made my day!

Re: The Telenovela Method of Learning Spanish

Michelle P. — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:20 -0000

I'm currently using this method to boost my learning as much as possible. The telenovelas are at times so over the top that I can't help but laugh while I'm trying to mimic or figure out what's being said. Learning this way bets the heck out of grammar studies. Saving those for later.

Love your blog, btw.

Re: Learning Spanish from Music Videos: Shakira’s ‘La Tortura’ Dissected

Jupinka — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:34:48 -0000

o rany, Twoja strona jest genialna!!! muchas gracias, many thanks, baaaardzo dziekuje!:)

Re: Learning Spanish from Music Videos: Shakira’s ‘La Tortura’ Dissected

Andrew — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:56:37 -0000

You're welcome, I'm really glad you liked it. I plan on getting back to doing more posts like this once my book is out, I'm too busy with it right now to do anything with the blog, regrettably. I'll check out that song.

Cheers,
Andrew

Re: List of Best Free Sites to Watch Spanish-Language TV Online

Andrew — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:51:41 -0000

Thanks! Yeah, that's fine. I've heard of LoMas before but never really got around to properly checking them out. Thanks for reminding me.

Cheers,
Andrew