First beginner's podcasts, your feedback please!

[Ben]

The first 5 episodes of our new Inspired Beginners Spanish Podcasts (http://www.notesinspanish.com/category/beginners-podcast/) have now been released, and we would love to hear your feedback.

What did you think of the episode format? Is there anything you would like to change? Did those of you that purchased the worksheets find them to be a nice addition? What did you think of the audio flashcards included with the worksheet pack?

[richardksa]

It works well for me. You are explaining things I already knew, but didn´t quite grasp.Your explanations are excellent. The ONLY thing is that when you ask Marina to say a phrase, could she space the words a little more clearly the first time. It´s the liason thing. I find I have to hit replay a few time to get it. I don´t know if anyone else has this problem. Maybe it´s my old ears!!!!!
That said, they are excellent practise for listening and I get such a kick out of understanding it ALL, as opposed to just a little bit of the intermediate poddies. Well done.

[Bren]

I am really enjoying the podcasts. I agree that it would be nice to have Marina speak a little more slowly when repeating some of the phrases, but it's not a huge problem. I love the interaction between you and the conversations are quite easy for me to follow, which is nice.

The worksheets are a great addition to the podcasts. I do have one suggestion. A monthly subscription would be nice, rather than having to purchase the worksheets separately. They are quite expensive for me to buy (in Canadian dollars) and I do think twice about buying both the beginner and Intermediate ones (I listen to both podcasts) as it comes to quite a lot of money. Maybe something to think about.

Overall I love the podcasts and will be listening for a long time to come. My daughters and I are planning a visit to Spain next year and I hope to be fluent by that time. Thanks for all the hard work, it's appreciated.

[Edmundo]

As a new poster I have only recently discovered the original series of podcasts when Ben was making the trip to India. They are really excellent and a great resource. I do hope you continue the previous output of the Advanced & Intermediate podcasts as there is a great shortage of material on the net at that level whilst there is already an abundance of beginners material.

Gracias Ben y Marina

[Ben]

Thanks for the feedback so far, keep it coming! Edmundo, we hope to start recording more Intermediate and Advanced podcasts asap! The new series should start in August.

[tad]

The first 5 episodes of our new Inspired Beginners Spanish Podcasts (http://www.notesinspanish.com/category/beginners-podcast/) have now been released, and we would love to hear your feedback.


I found them fun, I picked up a little tidbit or two from them and it's nice for me to be able to understand everything at first listen.

For me I find however little difference between inter and advanced (except when you have native guests on adv) -I personally would prefer a little bit of tempering to the pace there (for inter), but I think I am in the minority there (as usual)

[eldeano]

but I think I am in the minority there (as usual)

Keep your chin up. :)

[ValenciaSon]

As I have gaps in my Spanish at various levels, I find all levels to be helpful.

Here is a find from 1989 KVjWTzVSCWg

[richardksa]

And here are the Lyrics. Ah, they don't write 'em like this anymore!! (And I am sure they are copywrite to someone, but in the interests of cultural education ....)

LOS REFRESCOS AQUí NO HAY PLAYA LYRICS
Podéis tener Retiro, Casa Campo y Ateneo,
podéis tener mil cines, mil teatros, mil museos.
Podéis tener Corrala, organillos y chulapas.


Pero al llegar agosto, ¡vaya, vaya!
Aquí no hay playa, ¡vaya, vaya!
no hay playa, ¡vaya, vaya!


Podéis decir a gritos que es la capital de Europa,
podéis ganar la Liga, podéis ganar la Copa.
Afirmaréis seguros que es la capital de España.


Podéis tener hipódromo, Jarama y Complutense,
y al lado la Moncloa donde siguen los de siempre.
Podéis tener al mando del imperio en vuestras manos,
pero al llegar agosto y el verano.


Podéis tener la tele y los 40 principales,
podéis tener las Cortes, organismos oficiales,
el Oso y el Madroño, Cibeles, Torrespaña...


(¡Escucha, Leguina!)


Podéis tener movida (¡hace tiempo!)
movida promovida por el (Ayuntamiento),
podéis rogar a Tierno
o a Barranco o al que haya...

[ValenciaSon]

Who is Leguina?

[Marina]

He was the President of the Comunidad de Madrid for a long time (according to the wikipedia from 1983 to 1995) More info on him can be found here (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaqu%C3%ADn_Leguina).


I can't belive that the song "Aquí no hay playa" is 18 years old already... I'm getting very old:o


And don't worry Richard and Bren, for the next edition I'll try to repeat the phrases slower.

Saludos a todos!!!
Marina.

[richardksa]

Last week I shared a wonderful time with a group of Spaniards. You know why. It's why I come to Spain!
Showing off, I used the phrase "mi mola" and was told that no one over 25 uses the expression. Dito with "genial".
So where does that leave me with the inspired beginners advice?
Are some phrases only for the young?

[ValenciaSon]

Maybe we need a Notes in Spanish: Seasoned:rolleyes:

[Marina]

Jajaja, Sorry Richard I'm 32 and I sometimes use me mola!!!
It is true that it is a piece of language that some people might not use (my parents won't for example), but still now you know what it means!!!

Ok, sorry for the laugh but I couldn't avoid it. You know that usually in the podcasts we tell you the context of the words or phrases that we use, I'm really sorry if we missed it this time.:o

[Jules]

Last week I shared a wonderful time with a group of Spaniards. You know why. It's why I come to Spain!
Showing off, I used the phrase "mi mola" and was told that no one over 25 uses the expression. Dito with "genial".
So where does that leave me with the inspired beginners advice?
Are some phrases only for the young?

Well its not going to put me off using it :D

& I think I'm older than you & I know I'm older than Marina :cool:

It used to be uncool for over 25's in the Uk to say 'cool'

[ValenciaSon]

Jajaja, Sorry Richard I'm 32 and I sometimes use me molaWell we all can't pass for someone in our 20s:o

[Conor from Ireland]

I only came across this podcast last week and i must say i am very very impressed. I don't know if i will buy the worksheets for the beginners course. I may change my mind in a few weeks time, not sure yet. But i reckon when i move up to the next level i will buy the worksheets.
as richardksa said above "It works well for me. You are explaining things I already knew, but didn´t quite grasp.Your explanations are excellent. "

I agree with this. I would say you are doing a fantastic job here. I love it.

[gary]

I only came across this podcast last week and i must say i am very very impressed. I don't know if i will buy the worksheets for the beginners course. I may change my mind in a few weeks time, not sure yet. But i reckon when i move up to the next level i will buy the worksheets.
as richardksa said above "It works well for me. You are explaining things I already knew, but didn´t quite grasp.Your explanations are excellent. "

I agree with this. I would say you are doing a fantastic job here. I love it.

I would definitely recommend the transcriptions/worksheets for the intermediate and advanced levels - they unlock so many niggley little things about expressions and the way that the spanish run words together that they are worth every Euro...

[LizJ]

On the worksheets, as a true beginner, I initially started just listening to the podcasts but on advice purchased the worksheets not too long afterwards and I have found them extremely useful. Depending on what I am doing (eg travelling, exercising), I only listen on my ipod but much of the time I have the worksheet in front of me. Not only does it help me, but I can jot things down on it.

I didn´t realise how much I had missed, or misunderstood, until I got the worksheets. But I am a true beginner, I guess if you were just brushing up the worksheets may not be as useful.

I agree re the speed, and appreciate now that it has slowed down a bit and things are repeated etc.

[Ben]

I didn´t realise how much I had missed, or misunderstood, until I got the worksheets.

I'm really glad to hear they are so useful!

[g00se]

Very useful and they certainly take the tedium out of the washing up when they're on my MP3 player.

But, we must remember: verbs don't decline - they conjugate ;-)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decline

transitive verb
1: to give in prescribed order the grammatical forms of (a noun, pronoun, or adjective)

[Conor from Ireland]

On the worksheets, as a true beginner, I initially started just listening to the podcasts but on advice purchased the worksheets not too long afterwards and I have found them extremely useful. Depending on what I am doing (eg travelling, exercising), I only listen on my ipod but much of the time I have the worksheet in front of me. Not only does it help me, but I can jot things down on it.

I didn´t realise how much I had missed, or misunderstood, until I got the worksheets. But I am a true beginner, I guess if you were just brushing up the worksheets may not be as useful.

I agree re the speed, and appreciate now that it has slowed down a bit and things are repeated etc.


Just saw your message now, Well, pues, I just bought the worksheets for beginners 5 minutes ago. I bought them in the end for two reasons
1) everything you said above
and 2) I reckon that Ben and Marina are doing such a fantastic job and they are giving us these free podcast (as well as putting the time and great effort into their work), so i reckoned i would support them. €1.40 for a worksheet is not going to break the bank. It's a very good price