Category: Cram Session
I've had Spanish classes before and done well. Now that I'm taking it at the university level, my goal is to become comfortable conversing in the language. The courses at UT are taught almost completely in Spanish. At some point this semester I'd like to be fluent enough that the other students will find it challenging to keep up as I engage in complex verbal exchanges with the professor. So, do any of you have any recommendations for books or other accessible language-learning tools? Also, my assignments will be typed. What program/file type do you prefer to use in order to make the correct accent and punctuation marks? And I know how to make a screen reader switch to Spanish and back, but how do I get it to recognize that it should automatically start reading in Spanish? I know about the option that is supposed to allow this, but for example, when I open up one of my professor's doc files, the instructions are in English, the homework is in Spanish, but JAWS or NVDA doesn't make the switch based on context.
I'm interested in learning another language for its own sake. The fact that I'm required to take foreign language courses is simply an excuse for me to start doing so. If any of you have done this already then I'd like to hear what has worked for you.
Hi there,
I've just finished my undergrad in Spanish and french, so I might be some help:
Regarding JAWS, I'm no expert but I think it depends on what version you're using; I found that when I got version 12 and up, it automatically figured out what language I was using and switched - it was amazing! So maybe ask for an upgrade if you're on an older version... other than that I'm afraid I don't have much advice on that one!
Re books, a really good resource for Spanish literature, everything from kids' books (really good for vocab and just testing how fluently you can read) to adult lit is here:
www.tiflolibros.com.ar
You just register with them and then start downloading books for free!
For grammar-specific stuff, tryThe RNIB catalogue:
www.rnib.org.uk/librarycatalogue
A good one to look out for, if you can deal with something a bit wordy (I'm not great with stuff like that), is "A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish" by John Butt and Carmen Benjamin.
Hope that's of some help, I'll come back if I think of anything else!
Buena suerte! :)
¡Hola!
¡Mucho gusto!
I agree with Irish's suggestions. If you have an Iphone, you might download Coffee Break Spanish, and Notes On spanish podcasts. I preferred native Spanish readers if at all possible.
¿De dónde es su profesor(a)? You might also find ways to practice outside the class as much as you can. In the beginning, a bilingual exchange partner will be best. I am not sure what's up with your screen reader problem. I would be willing to help if you want and I like your attitude. More people should learn foreign languages especiall in the US.
Buena suerte,
Liz
I took three years of Spanish in high school but got discouraged and eventually gave up after the third year, because I struggled speaking it in front of the professor. I am normally a great public speaker despite my introvertedness, but there was something different about speaking publicly in Spanish that got to me. I think it had both to do with the professor himself and I was trying to hard. But I admire those of you who can speak in multiple languages. This is something that is greatly needed in the world. Think about it. If we didn't have the ability to understand and new languages, imagine the problems between people of different nations that would arise.
I used JFW on my laptop in class and hated the way it spoke the Spanish words and phrases I wrote. It just didn't sound right. I wonder if that is the same for those who speak a different language using a screen reader, and they take English classes using the Jaws voice that we use. I will definitely check out some of these learning tools as well when I have some free time.
In terms of Grammar, Duolingo is a great app, a half-game, half-language learning tool, its lesons cover grammar and ussage as well. It's fully accessible for the Iphone, and you can test out of stuff which you already know. I do not know spanisu, but judging by the way that it teaches Italian and German, I assume that the spanish in it is quite good. Also, Babble.com has a spanish flashcards Iphone app, in which words are spoken by VoiceOver as they're put on-screen. i haven't uses the Babble.com apps a lot, but they're somewhat accessible, since the flashcard words are read aloud. In terms of pronounciation improvement, Pimsler offers spanish courses, in which a person speaks a sentence and yhou repeat it as best you can, learning concepts along the way. The Pimsleur courses also come with reading booklets, which can be obtained as .doc files, and read with Jaws, (I assume the same goes for spanish, but have only used the Pimsler courses for german and italian).
Hope this helps.
It does help, thanks. I have an iPhone and will try some of these out. There's also a Spanish group that meets at the Cactus Cafe near the university. They don't meet during the holidays, though. BTW, I did well in the first course and will take at least two more.
I am taking the second half of a Spanish course at the university level, and I'm still having trouble with congigating verbs! Does anybody know of any apps or websites that can help?
hola a todos: como estas, hoy, ellos?
I don't like Spanish much, but I am in Spanish third semester because I have. to otherwise you'd not see me anywhere near a Spanish class. I speak two languages already so I really don't see the point. I just do what is required and do okay I guess, got in to Spanish 3 okay I guess.
I find that asking friends who already know Spanish helps. I know a handful of people some from south and central America, and they both offline and online has offered to practice with me. I've asked a friend to edit my papers, and another online friend sort of helps when I get around to asking him for how you say this word, and that one. don't be afraid just ask: tell them you are taking Spanish some would even be delighted, and offer help. I have a few online friends who live in Spanish speaking country. they have offered to help in exchange for any help in English which I already do if I have time. one guy even does a trade between philosophy and Spanish. there's a number of Spanish speakers on here. we all probably know the guy from spain on here. use people. use people and did I mention you have people around you, use them!
estos todos yo digo en mi message!
hasta luego
Raquel!
Out of curiosity, what language do you speak other than English?
I enjoy learning the language, but I have problems I hadn't anticipated:
1. I can't stand noise. In class we work in groups a lot, which means everyone talks at once. I can hardly deal with this level of noise in English! I got a pair of noise canceling earbuds for that which help a lot.
2. I don't know what to make of groups. This Friday each group is having a debate on some topic the people in that group have chosen. I've been selected as the moderator because I don't have a strong opinion either way. Again, if the activity were in English I'd still be confused - too many inputs.
3. What do I say? Exams often have questions such as, pretent you are a career counselor giving advice to a senior, or pretend you're the president of the university or pretend... I've never been any of these things and don't relate to these people. Spanish class has made me realize that in some way I'm profoundly unimaginative. I wrote a pretend add for a time machine app in Spanish which my professor enjoyed, but that was based on an idea I was familiar with from science fiction which did not include people. Pretending to be someone else or participating in a group debate are very different from this.
I know what you mean about working in groups because my spanish professor assigns group work in almost every class.