Notes in Spanish transcript – new format at Notes from Spain: Ben Curtis on Travel, Life, Culture, Spain

Notes in Spanish transcript – new format

The transcript for the latest Notes in Spanish podcast has changed slightly. There is now an exercise before the actual conversation transcript. The idea is to listen once without reading at the same time, just trying to complete exercise 1 (there is real teaching theory behind this idea!) After the conversation transcript there are 3 more exercises, but not the usual list of vocab and grammar – instead exercises 3 and 4 challenge you to find the words and phrases in a different way. The idea is that by actively seeking the answers to these exercises, the vocab stays in the memory for longer (forever, we hope!) Finally, the answers are included at the end of the transcript instead of in the forums.

Any feedback on the new format will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Written by Ben Curtis

May 24th, 2006 at 7:15 pm

Posted in General

7 Responses to “Notes in Spanish transcript – new format”

jessica

25 May 06 at 10:50 pm

i actually purchased all four transcripts last night and, first of all, i want to say thanks for getting around to having them made. they help me so much!

to keep it short, the transcripts surprise me because sometimes i get to a part and i think “that’s what ben/marina said? i understand it when i’m looking at it, why didn’t i when i heard it?” and i listen to it over and over again until i can discern the sounds. it’s a great tool.

the worksheets/exercises at the end — incredible. they remind me of things we do in class for reading/listening comprehension and they reinforce some of the new words and grammar points i’ve learned. i know now whether i really understood what i read/listened to, in other words, i can’t fool myself into thinking i understood everything if i didn’t.

they were worth the money before, but now they’re just invaluable.

& also, my spanish teacher doesn’t even know what a podcast is, but i told her about “notes in spanish” and showed her one of the transcripts and she thinks they’re incredible.
¡muchísimas gracias!
Ben

26 May 06 at 6:56 am

Thanks Jessica, it’s great to get feedback like this! Ben
jessica

26 May 06 at 3:15 pm

hi Cesar. i learn spanish at my high school here in the US and this is my fourth year learning it. I’m in my last year of public education, but i plan to go on studying it when i go to college this fall.
jessica

27 May 06 at 2:51 am

thank you!
greytop

28 May 06 at 2:27 pm

Can’t add much to what Jessica said. I like the new format and the questions do make you think about & revisit the transcript. Well done the two of you!