Carefully Chosen List Of Spanish Language Learning Aids

Estimados amigos,

Please bring your handouts to tonight's class.

Due to the tedious subject matter of "conjugation," it is not surprising that there are no good online videos about "present time" verb conjugation. 

However, here is a good "print" resource about "present time" verb forms: https://www.spanishdict.com/guide/spanish-present-tense-forms/

Since many of the most frequently used Spanish language verbs are irregular, the "distasteful" task of memorizing them is unavoidable. Here is a good introductory list: http://www.speakshop.org/study-spanish/present-indicative-irregular-verbs

(A critically important component of Spanish language that is almost always "put off indefinitely" by Spanish language learners is mastery of the irregular Past-Preterite forms. Here is a well-presented list: http://www.drlemon.com/Grammar/irreg-pret.html)

The following links are all useful (and often enjoyable) learning aids for beginning Spanish.

Spanish Core List Of 100 Words (with contextualized examples of how they're used)

https://www.spanishpod101.com/spanish-word-lists/

The Hundred Most Common Spanish Words Comprise 50% Of Spoken Spanish

(This claim may not be true but it is important to realize that a fairly short list of words comprises most of spoken Spanish)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo5Y7AHMy20

Wikipedia's List of 100 Most Frequently Used Words

(Note that only 15 of the words on this list are verbs even though verbs are probably the most important part of conversational Spanish. Nouns may be more important for mere survival but without verbs to "hold them together" relying on nouns is a bit like "grunting" to express approval or disapproval.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_common_words_in_Spanish

The 25 Most Common Verbs In Spanish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyAtmcXZEU8

A Fun Lesson In Euphemisms

(This video is not at all essential to beginning Spanish but it might be fun - as well as informative. It is possible that some of Holly's presentation will be offensive. If you want to avoid the risk of possible offensiveness there is no need to view this video.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LljIeFJQ7xY

A final note...

I have just started taking a course of prednisone for the poison ivy I contracted working in the garden over the weekend. To spare you my "frankensteinian" face -- particularly my swollen eyes -- I will wear sun glasses this evening. 

I have been told by people who should know that I am not "infective" or "contagious."

Hasta las siete de la noche!

Paz

Alan

(I am pasting below the list of Spanish learning links I have already shared with you.)

Spanish Language Learning Links:

1000 Most Frequently Used Spanish Language Words (In Order Of Frequency): http://frequencylists.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-1000-most-frequently-used-spanish.html

2000 Most Frequently Used Spanish Words: http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/darrenwoods/MasterList.html

Spanish Word A Day (a fun, informative, free email resource): http://www.spanishdict.com/wordoftheday

Top Ten YouTube Channels To Learn Spanish: https://www.brainscape.com/blog/2011/04/youtube-channels-to-learn-spanish/

Best Apps For Learning Spanish: https://www.linguasorb.com/spanish/blog/best-apps-for-learning-spanish-in-2017

Best Spanish Language Learning Software: 

1.) http://www.toptenreviews.com/software/education/best-learn-spanish-software/ (Note the high-ranking of Duolingo Spanish which is available for free.)

2.) http://www.spainforpleasure.com/2016/07/26/best-app-to-learn-spanish/

Useful Learning Strategies: https://baselang.com/learn-spanish-fast/

Is The Best Way To Learn A Foreign Language The Opposite Of The Usual Way? https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesleadershipforum/2014/04/22/the-best-way-to-learn-a-foreign-language-is-the-opposite-of-the-usual-way/#5e0341de5e8e

Strategies for Learning The Most Important Vocabulary and Grammar
http://www.4stepstofluency.com/learning-vocabulary-and-grammar/

Superb Spanish learning links from University of Puebla's Spanish language school 

http://www.sipuebla.com/contents23.htm 

  

Spanish Language: http://spanish.about.com/

Biblioteca Virtual Mig:uel de Cervantes: http://cervantesvirtual.com/   

Diccionarios y traductores automáticos: http://www.etsimo.uniovi.es/links/idiomas.html

Glossaries by Language: http://thclai.com/glossaries.html#Spanish

Ejercicios de Gramática: Ample exercises in Spanish grammar, emphasizing verb use. http://www.indiana.edu/~call/ejercicios.html

Academia Mexicana de la Lengua: http://www.academia.org.mx/ 

Real Academia España: http://www.rae.es/

LANIC  Latin American Network Information Center:  http://lanic.utexas.edu/ 

I Love Languages (Reference books and translation services):  http://www.ilovelanguages.com/index.php?category=Languages

WWW Resources for Language Teachers: http://www.cortland.edu/flteach/flteach-res.html

Best Spanish Language Sites: http://lone-eagles.com/miglang.htm

Internet Resources for Latin America: http://lib.nmsu.edu/subject/bord/laguia/

Browsing literature by country/region: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/wess/etexts.html

Latin American Newspapers (1): http://www.zonalatina.com/Zlpapers.htm#MEXICO

Estimados amigos,

If you have time before tonight's, please watch the following video clip on the Spanish language alphabet and how to pronounce Spanish language sounds. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsLYD1Jyf3A

The young Mexican woman who hosts "Butterfly Spanish" has created this web resource "on the fly," but despite its shortcomings, I find her an engaging teacher and a fine exemplar of "the Mexican spirit."

Espero verlos esta noche a las 7:30 p.m.

Ojala' que todos ustedes puedan asistir la clase.

Hasta luego,

Paz con ustedes,

Alan