Are you planning a trip to Italy? Learn the survivor phrases and expressions that will make your trip more memorable than you can imagine. Meet people and make friends using select words and key phrases. Buy train tickets, reserve seats, ask directions. Learn how to order that pasta dish you’ve been dreaming about! This interactive, conversational class uses real life situations to quickly build your communication skills. Enjoy learning from a native speaker who provides you with correct pronunciation of the appropriate words and phrases that will make your trip a success. Planning a trip means making preparations; for best results, start here!
Our Spanish language students are often concerned with puzzling words that look alike, sound similar, or are actually exactly the same except for their meanings. No matter how diligently we memorize word lists, when two words are spelled the same, we discover that context is the only thing we can use to determine meaning. Paying attention to the word placement in a sentence, or the small but significant substitution of a single letter, and even the use of accent marks, will broaden your approach to the “little” things that are so important to our expressions. In November 2011, we provided five word pairs that are commonly confused because of their similarities. Here are five more frequently used word pairs that are alike in many ways but have distinctly separate meanings. When you study them, you will gain insight into those kinds of details that make all the difference in mastering your new language.
1. si if sí yes
2. el hombre man
el hombro shoulder
3. la papa potato (feminine noun)
el papa pope (masculine noun)
4. te you (a direct, indirect & reflexive pronoun)
el té tea (a noun)
5. contar a verb (to count) cantar a verb (to sing)
If you have discovered any troubling word pairs on your own, send them in. We welcome your input. Good luck!
There are many approaches to language learning because people learn in different ways. For example, some students enjoy memorization while others prefer interacting in conversational situations. Certainly, there are no right or wrong ways to learn, and, in fact, if you use more than one method of learning, you absorb more information, your motivation is renewed, and you won’t get bored. Here are three tips for language learning that apply to any method you choose; frame your study habits around them and you will learn faster and more efficiently.
1. Focus on vocabulary. The key to fluency is being able to pull the appropriate word out of your memory in order to express yourself. You can increase your vocabulary by making the process portable: buy or make flash cards that are easy to carry around! Or you could try to name the items in your home, perhaps doing it a room at a time. Look at the object, and say its name aloud. You can even use sticky notes to put labels around the house to remind yourself of the new word. There are many ways to learn vocabulary; just remember to review the words often, and say them out loud!
2. Understand the pattern in a basic sentence. A sentence usually has a subject, an object, and a verb; look at the order of these words in your new language. Observe how questions are formed. Once you understand how simple sentences are made, try to repeat the pattern. As your studies continue you will find that this word order is the building block for more complicated constructions. Refer back to this basic arrangement of words when you are creating your own sentences.
3. Practice, practice, practice! Engage in conversations in your new language. Take a class, listen to radio and tv programs, to music and CDs, even to audio books. There are so many options to choose from! You start by listening to the words, and soon you will hear the sentences. Remember to repeat what you hear; say the words out loud! Practice the pronunciation while you are absorbing the meanings of the words.
If you use these tips to guide your studies you will enjoy success sooner than you expected. And here is the biggest tip of all: Don’t ever give up!
Available Now
Click the picture for an audio sample
Are you ready to make friends and meet new people using your Spanish language skills? This CD will help you by providing 11 fun lessons filled with all new vocabulary, phrases, and sentences that focus on social and personal interactions. You will learn how to greet people, get to know them better, and even ask for a date. Learn the culturally polite way to start a relationship, but also how to decline one. This course is great for self-study and practice, and is also excellent for learning useful, travel-friendly expressions. Study cards are included for visual learning.
ISBN: 978-1-888165-91-3
Price: $19.95
For more information call: 1-510-223-3320
Maria Oliveira Language Learning Center
2644 Appian Way, Suite 102
Pinole, CA 94564
In our Spanish classes we spend some time exploring the differences between words that look alike or sound alike. In fact, these words are used in very specific, and separate, ways. When students practice their Spanish conversation skills, recognizing and understanding the differences between these words increases their comprehension level. Let’s clarify the finer points that separate these words. Here are five examples of similar, but definitely different, word pairs that may have puzzled you in the past.
1.
abril a month of the year
abrir to open (a verb)
2.
cuarto fourth, or room
cuatro the number four
3.
nada nothing nada he/she swims (3rd person singular of the verb to swim – nadar)
4. cocina the kitchen cocina he or she cooks (3rd person singular of the verb to cook – cocinar)
5.
trabajo the job trabajo I work (1st person of the verb to work – trabajar)
You probably noticed that some pairs are spelled exactly alike, or that only a single letter in a word changes its meaning. Sometimes it is the context of the sentence that tells you which word is the correct one. Understanding these often confused word usages is not the same as memorizing idiomatic expressions; by learning them you are attuning your eyes and ears to actual meaning differentiations. This is how you become truly bilingual.
If you have any troubling word pairs that you want to tell us about, send it to our comments section. Meanwhile, we’ll be back soon with more of these “Frequently Misunderstood Words.” Stay tuned!
Acquiring knowledge and improving one’s self is vital in today’s ever challenging world of business. No one knows this better than Maria Oliveira who was born in the Portuguese Azores Islands and at the age of 19, unable to speak English, came to the U.S.
She is a Tenacious Woman – who has: Tenacity
Empowerment
Nacreous
Ambition
Courage
Intuition
Optimistic
Unique
Success, who paired it with:
Will-power
Originality
Motivation
Astute, a
Nurturing spirit
to fulfill her dream.
Join Host Jewel Daniels and Guest Maria Oliveira as they chat about the challenge of learning a second language and the difficulties in developing and operating a language learning center.
Whatever your reason for learning a foreign language such as Spanish, make sure that it is strong enough for you to see the endeavor through to the finish. But one thing that any language learner should put in mind is the principle of taking it slowly but making sure you are getting it right. Never rush. Otherwise, you will end up using the wrong words for the wrong situations. It is like saying you can’t learn to run without learning to walk first. So, take your time when learning a new language.
In addition, her are a few more principles when embarking on that challenging task of learning a new language:
1. Set realistic goals and stick to them. This is an effective way to make sure that you will see the project through until satisfactory completed.
2. Slowly absorb whatever information you gather. No need to rush. Don’t move to the next lesson if you haven’t mastered the one you’re currently on.
3. Choose the kind of learning method that will suit you perfectly. Consider your time, flexibility as well as the availability of resource materials.
4. Budget your time wisely. Manage your schedules and other activities in an organized manner so as not to compromise one for the other.
5. Be ready for anything. Expect something that will take you entirely by surprise. Thus, always be ready.
6. Be flexible in dealing with your lessons. Be ready to take in new learning and use it to improve yourself.
7. Choose the best tools which you think will assist you in effectively learning the language.
8. Always consider your budget when availing of language lessons. Make sure you can afford them so you will be able to complete them.
9. Practice the language as much as you can in order for the information to stay in your memory, and in the right places, too.
10. Have fun! Look at this as another wonderful adventure that will bring you good opportunities. If you can’t have fun, you will find out that learning a language isn’t as exciting you thought at first.
All these principles are important in making your language learning successful. Before you start with the actual lessons, make sure you are ready for what may be in store for you.
Whatever your reason for learning a foreign language, it is important to always keep your goals alive and focused. Your motivation is the single most influential key to success in language learning. But one thing that any language learner should keep in mind is the principle of organized learning. Take each lesson, master it, and then move on to the next so that you are building on solidly established skills. Here are ten more factors that will help you achieve your goals.
1. Set realistic goals and stick to them. Learning 25 new words a day is likely not possible; however, you can memorize five words, or even one, each day. Set your pace according to what works best for you.
2. Take your time. Impatience will defeat your motivation.
3. Choose the learning method that suits you. Do you prefer onsite classes? Private tutoring? Self study? Consider your time, availability of resource materials, and finances.
4. Allocate your time wisely. Manage your schedules and other activities in an organized manner so as not to compromise one for the other.
5. Be prepared for unexpected interruptions to your studies. Resolve to get back on schedule as soon as possible.
6. Be flexible. If a lesson is particularly challenging for you, take extra time to master it.
7. Choose the best tools. Whether it’s a good workbook, a CD with authentic pronunciation, or an effective teacher, choose wisely, and be prepared to change anything if a more beneficial resource becomes available.
8. Consider your budget. It is not necessary to overspend for a program that makes promises it can’t keep. Reasonably priced classes and materials are definitely available.
9. Practice the language as much as you can. Your memory needs the workout, and practice leads to fluency.
10. Have fun! Remember your goals, begin with organized study plans, but enjoy using your newly learned skills whenever you can.
Vocabulary building is one of the most effective techniques to develop for efficient language learning. Certainly there is more to language than vocabulary; the grammar puts the words together, and practice makes the sentences you create useful. But without vocabulary you have no sentences to construct, nothing to say, nothing to understand. As you strive to become bilingual, you should focus more and more on vocabulary building because the broader the range of your word choices, the more you can express yourself. That is what fluency is all about!
There are several methods for acquiring a larger vocabulary, but the most important thing is to make learning a full time experience. That is, instead of looking at your allotted study time as the only time you learn, you should incorporate vocabulary into your everyday life. One way to do this is to place sticky notes around your home. Labeling cabinets, appliances, furniture and other familiar items will make you conscious of their meanings as you go about your daily activities. Say the words aloud until they become automatic in your mind. If possible you can do this at work, in the car, and any other place you inhabit. Another method is to carry vocabulary cards to use when you have a few moments to spare. These cards have English on one side and translation on the reverse so you can memorize words at any time. These kinds of things are simple and can be handmade by you, using card stock or even plain paper.
Probably the most popular and effective technique is to use vocabulary CDs. You can play these in the car, around the house, even on your MP3 player so that you have vocabulary learning going on whether you are driving, doing dishes, or taking your daily walk. CDs can be stopped and started, repeated and replayed, and hundreds of words are available to you. They are good for self-testing and reviewing, and they are convenient for almost all situations. The most significant advantage to CDs is that you can hear the correct pronunciation; when you repeat the word you are hearing, you get to focus on the sounds as well as the meaning.
It doesn’t matter which language you decide to learn, just remember to incorporate vocabulary building into your daily routine. The other parts of language learning will fall into place faster if you have lots of words available to you.
Spanish 4A: Fine-Tune Your Spanish Conversational Skills
Course Description: Explore a variety of everyday situations using your Spanish language skills to communicate useful information. Students will find interactions helpful for travel or business. This class advances toward fluency through oral practice and is best suited for students who have completed in-depth vocabulary studies.
Date: Winter2 – Tuesdays: January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 2012
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.*
Course #: 12506 Tuition: $87.00
*Please note this class is held at our Language Learning Center in Pinole, CA. For more information about Maria's online language courses please click here!
Are you planning a trip to Italy? Learn the survivor phrases and expressions that will make your trip more memorable than you can imagine. Meet people and make friends using select words and key phrases. Buy train tickets, reserve seats, ask directions. Learn how to order that pasta dish you’ve been dreaming about! This interactive, conversational class uses real life situations to quickly build your communication skills. Enjoy learning from a native speaker who provides you with correct pronunciation of the appropriate words and phrases that will make your trip a success. Planning a trip means making preparations; for best results, start here!
