Notes in Spanish-Basic?

[cubix]

Is there going to be a begginer version of notes in spanish too?


Cubix

[Ben]

You never know... in an ideal world yes, absolutely, but we need to get into a good rythm with the other podcasts first.

[richardksa]

All this makes me wonder how you fit in the day job, Ben?

[Ben]

Me too... ;) In reality this is becoming the day job... a twelve-hours-a-day day job! (...with pauses for translations and other old 'day job' things.)

[ValenciaSon]

I wonder if your day job will become your hobby:rolleyes:

[Brian]

I wonder if your day job will become your hobby:rolleyes:

Who needs hobbies when you have online friends? ;D

[Chris M]

I think a basic level podcast would be defeating the purpose of 'real' conversations from Spain...

[landlady]

I don't agree. Everyone must start somewhere and some simple podcasts, perhaps shorter ones where Marina & Ben introduce each other and say a little bit about themselves would be most appreciated by a lot of holiday home owners, or elderly residents in my area of the Costa Blanca. They may not wish to embark on a full understanding of the Spanish language, but simply wish to know their Spanish neighbours a little better, or be able to say a few friendly words to the market sellers. Many living here are pensioners without a lot of money for lessons, and they may not have the ability or confidence to learn all the grammer, but I'm sure they would like to be able to say a few words and who knows, it may encourage some of them to carry on the long road to becoming fluent.

I have already told Ben & Marina that I would be happy to promote these beginners podcasts on my site and others I know should they decide to do any. I am sure there would be a lot of willing listeners.

[Chris M]

Tienes razón!

It was just that I was thinking that beginners already have access to simple listening exercises on the internet, like BBC for example. But yeah, I suppose it would be better with everything under one roof here at NfS.

[richardksa]

Which makes me wonder if there are any podcasts in Spanish aimed at Children. Spoken word story telling for instance. Anyone know?????

Five mins later:

So, I typed "Children's Spanish" into google and there lots of sites. I found this song:

Pulgarcito, Donde Estas (Sung to the tune of 'Frere Jacques")

Pulgarcito, donde estas?
Hands behind your back
Aqui estoy! Aqui estoy!
One thumb comes out, then the other
Como esta usted? Muy bien, gracias!
Thumbs pretend to talk to each other
Ya me voy. Ya me voy.
One hand and then the other goes behind you back


Thumbkin, where are you?
Here I am! Here I am!
How are you? Very well, thank you. Now I'm going! Now I'm going!

How simple is that?? I shall continue my search.

[Ashley]

There are already a lot of good, inexpensive audio resources at a beginner/basic level available, though most seem to use Latin American grammar and accents.

I'm not sure how large the target audience would be for the beginners podcast--I think people with a good dictionary and some determination would very very quickly move to the intermediate podcasts.

[Ben]

This isn't something we rule out at all, at the moment it's just a question of time. When we find more of it somewhere, we may well add some beginner's audio.

[Horst]

You never know... in an ideal world yes, absolutely, but we need to get into a good rythm with the other podcasts first.
Hi Ben,
one year ago ...
I am a beginner, and it is to hard to understand even the intermediate podcast. I like to listen to the nouces and voices ;)
You realy do a grate job on the cast, and you would have the best prerequesit. Marina talks english and you give your spanish...
It would help not just me comming closer to this fantastic language.
Thanks and all the best
Horst

[gary]

This isn't something we rule out at all, at the moment it's just a question of time. When we find more of it somewhere, we may well add some beginner's audio.

do bear in mind that the government in the uk has just last week annnounces that a second language is to be made compulsory for 7 - 11 year olds...

[eldeano]

do bear in mind that the government in the uk has just last week annnounces that a second language is to be made compulsory for 7 - 11 year olds...

Can't wait for Notes in Urdu, Notes in Mandarin, Notes in Farsi, Notes in Creole ... :rolleyes:

[gary]

Can't wait for Notes in Urdu, Notes in Mandarin, Notes in Farsi, Notes in Creole ... :rolleyes:

sadly the articles all seem to be promoting French....

[richardksa]

... which is spoken in France and, er ...

[gary]

... which is spoken in France and, er ...

i couldn't have made the point more eloquently.....

[eldeano]

... which is spoken in France and, er ...

Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Senegal...

[eldeano]

Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Senegal...

... and Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles - and that's just where it's the official language!!

[eazyebeneezer]

... and Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles - and that's just where it's the official language!!
not to mention canada, belgium, luxembourg, and switzerland.

[gary]

... and Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles - and that's just where it's the official language!!

None of which most UK school children are likely to visit... most make it to spain at some time though

(unless they are the offspring of teachers they likely go camping in northern France);D

[richardksa]

Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Senegal...

... and Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles - and that's just where it's the official language!!

After years of working in those African countries where English dominates in the mid eighties I found myself in Tchad. (Please note spelling!) The choice of languages was either Ibu or French. That was the beginning of me learning French, soon being able to "get by" if not anything like fluent. Returning back to Europe after six months my French "soi-disant" friends rolled around in laughter as I used my new found language skills. Apparently I spoke with a west African accent, which sounded totally weird coming from so obvious a European.

Oh yes! And all those countries are so important. Go on, name three famous Canadians.

[Edith]

... and Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles - and that's just where it's the official language!!

Don't forget the Mahgreb countries: Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.

[gary]

Don't forget the Mahgreb countries: Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria.

I refer you to my previous post... (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20259&postcount=22)

[Acosta]

... and Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali, Niger, Chad, Madagascar, Mauritius, Comoros, Seychelles - and that's just where it's the official language!!

And rumored to be in parts of Canada...

[jessica]

all very convincing. i mean, i say if you wanna learn french, by all means learn french, but let's think about THIS for a second....as published in my spanish history book (published in 2006)

Number of Spanish-speaking inhabitants (by millions)

Mexico 106
Colombia 43
UNITED STATES 40.5

and THEN spain.
now if THAT isn't a convincing reason to learn spanish...;D

[Acosta]

Oh yes! And all those countries are so important. Go on, name three famous Canadians.


Pierre Elliot Trudeau
John Candy
Mike Myers
Joni Mitchell
Michael J. Fox
Jim Carey

Looks like they are well stocked with comedians and actors.

[ValenciaSon]

Pierre Elliot Trudeau
John Candy
Mike Myers
Joni Mitchell
Michael J. Fox
Jim Carey

Looks like they are well stocked with comedians and actors.

If I may:

Geddy Lee
Neal Peart
Alex Lifeson
Peter Jennings
William Shatner

[richardksa]

Geddy Lee
Neal Peart
Alex Lifeson
Peter Jennings

Excuse me! I said "famous".;)

[Viajero26]

It's true, those are all famous(ish) Canadians. Now, if we could just pick out the ones that actually speak French ... ;)

[Bruce]

It's true, those are all famous(ish) Canadians. Now, if we could just pick out the ones that actually speak French ... ;)

http://www.smileybee.com/smilies/532.gif

[eazyebeneezer]

not that one would want to brag about it, but celine dion is at least one famous french-speaking canadian.

[tad]

Geddy Lee
Neal Peart
Alex Lifeson
Peter Jennings

Excuse me! I said "famous".;)

Yeah but come on: ¡WILLIAM SHATNER! it's hard to trump that one.

er, is he definately Canadian VS?

[ValenciaSon]

Yeah but come on: ¡WILLIAM SHATNER! it's hard to trump that one.

er, is he definately Canadian VS?
William Shatner (Captain Kirk) is not only Canadian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shatner) but he is from Quebec. Richard, I know even you've heard of Star Trek, n'est pas?