Speak Spanish
I Speak English – And Now I Speak Spanish
I have always had love and appreciation for foreign languages as well as a very healthy respect for those who are fluent in more than just their mother tongue. One of the things I like so much about the European society is that many people speak more than just one language — it’s almost as if it was a mandate from the their childhood. It’s a shame that more Americans don’t speak, read and write more than just their first language. For me, a foreign language is not just a means of communicating — it’s an adventure into a bright new world with all of its nouveau sights, sounds, foods and libation. Verdad?
Initially, learning languages for me began with French lessons from Mrs. Gonzalez, (I know, I know, but in those days everyone took their husband’s appellido. Her daughter’s name was Mimi, though). Beginning in the fourth grade, my sister and I would visit her home once a week and she would teach us how to count in French, say basic greetings, say the days of the week, months of the year and the like. Then in high school, it was four years of Latin and four years of French, which by now, was becoming increasingly facile. The French was easy, that is. Translating Virgil’s Aeneid was not. College was even more French. But for some reason which I confess escapes me now, I never learned Spanish.
Since I live in southern California, and since a huge number of people around the world speak Spanish I decided to embark on another quest for a different language — only this time I wanted to learn at my own pace and in the comf0rt of my own home. I did not want to have to drive to classes, or arrange my schedule around an arbitrary time frame, or actually physically attend classes or — worse yet — watch the local junior college class in Spanish on t he television on Sunday mornings at 7:00 AM. Or Sunday evenings at 9:00 PM. Take your pick — you know what I mean.
I began to research the various types of programmes available for learning to read, write and speak foreign languages. I made certain to scour the numerous reviews for each and was meticulous when it came to comparing and contrasting different programs. Alors!
I discovered a language program called Fluenz and I was off and running at the races, as they say. Fluenz is a series of DVD’s (and CD’s for the car), that you download onto your computer and work from there, with your screen, speakers and your keyboard. At your own pace. When you have the time — even at 3:00 AM s’il vous plait! Fluenz is truly state of the art when it comes to quickly learning how to speak, read and write a foreign language.
The moderator of the Spanish program es muy effectiva, easy to listen to, easy on the eyes and very personable. The series of lessons are clear, interesting, fun and build upon one another so seamlessly that in virtually no tiempo you are speaking, reading and writing the language. The moderator adeptly explains the idiosyncrasies of the language so you develop a fundamental grasp of the logic and order of it. Muy bien! And the CD’s reinforce the vocabulary lessons so that you can listen to them in your car or wherever.
Last — but not least — the Fluenz system esta muy economico! You will not be taking out a second mortgage on your home in order to pay for it, (well, not that you would be able to these days, anyway). It is eminently affordable. It is very effective. And it’s fun! It sure beats classroom work any day of the week. Especially when you realize that the only way you’d ever be sitting next to the guy to your left is in a class…with assigned seating…and no substitutions in the seating chart, please!
My next project after Spanish? Fluenz Mandarin Chinese! A bientot!