Que el silencio se convierta en carnaval!!

Buenos tardes. Well last night I went to a concert here in Buenos Aires…..an Argentine Ska band by the name of Los Fabulosos Cadillacs. I’d say I understood about 25 words from around 25 songs and the phrase in the title of todays post, however, it was a great performance and with music you do not necessarily have to understand in order to feel the rhythm and enjoy! Just means I’ll need to study harder for the next time!!

Anyway on with the lesson, with numbers and verbs being the main theme for today and of course an amount of questions bordering inappropriateness from our student. I wonder whether other interactive Spanish courses such as Rosetta Stone are as entertaining to the viewer??

Numbers I’ve found easy to learn, but of course are important and for me one of the first things that should be taught in a new language, so a good thing that Bueno, entonces covers them early. They are naturally especially of importance should one have the desire to order beer or eat anything whilst visitng the country choice!! And then the verbs, the bane of any foreigner in learning Spanish, so many conjugations that can turn a sentence on its head without a thought, and these just the regulars ones! Fortunately the profesor and his Pizarra Magica are not too far away in order to lend a hand. I’m becoming quite fond of this character, as a result of his likeness to my childhood favourite Wordy the Wizard…..check him out, if you like inappropriate then you’ll not be disappointed!!

The sun is shining so it’s now time to venture out and enjoy!

Un placer conocerlo!

The Second Coming!!

Buenos dias from Buenos Aires readers, como estas?? All good I hope. Well, before starting todays lesson I thought I would check out Rosetta Stone……and the first thing that caught my eye was the US$499 price….makes Bueno, entonces a bargain at only US$147 for the download and US$199 for the 6 DVD set. The demo seemed a little old fashioned too, although maybe the lessons become more interactive as the student progresses??. Perhaps it is possible too to buy Rosetta Stone cheap elsewhere, but for now I am more than happy with this interactive Spanish course.

So today I feel I already subconsciously knew many of the points being discussed between David, the ever curious and probing student, and Jimena, our very pleasant profesora. Perhaps now I ‘ll have the confidence to go out and use some of this new found knowledge. A particularly important grammatical point covered today was on prepositions, as being an English teacher I have, on more than one occasion, been witness to the difficulties and frustrations faced by students when trying to fully understand the usage in a new language. Good job!! And also good to know and take note of were the “consonantes suaves” as I am often being reminded by my girlfriend of the smoothness in sound of such letters as D, P and T!!

With Bueno, entonces you as well have the option to download the lessons to your Ipod, and so being only lunchtime I think I’ll head out and harrass some peers or elders in the streets with the formal greetings and useful Spanish phrases I have picked up from todays lesson.

Onwards and upwards!!

Numero 1. Under starters orders!!

So here we go, I have in my possession the Bueno, entonces interactive Spanish learning program in order improve my knowledge of the language all the way down here in Buenos Aires, and you the lucky reader will be able to join me on my daily quest to master the Argentine lingo! I guess that there are many arguements and differing opinions on the best way to learn Spanish, or any other language for that matter; should I take classes? can I learn by practice alone? or are interactive Spanish courses such as Bueno, entonces and Rosetta Stone they way forward?? For now, I am to go with the interactive Spanish course and, should I build up the courage, some real life practice.

On with the first lesson then. I liked the lighthearted introductions between David, the student, and Jimena, the teacher, or should I say profesora, settling me into a relaxed mood in which to observe the two. A fine idea of the lessons is the colour coding of specific grammatical points, however being colourblind I may be a little confused with the greens, browns and reds….although am sure I’ll survive. And the professor in The Pizarra Magica reminded me of Wordy the Wizard, who was an enjoyeable informative character, from my English Primary School days. Am confident the Bueno, entonces professor can provide just as much guidance.

So have I learnt anything today? Being English, as David, I can sympathise with the silent H concept, as I was forever told and retold to remember to pronounce them…..and now to learn Spanish it appears to be the opposite, just something I shall need to become familiar with. And having an Argentine girlfriend, for sure I will be asking if she wants to “hacer cucharita” (to spoon) when she returns home this evening!!

Until the next time!

By the way, I’m using Bueno, entonces… in my laptop but you can also get it for the iPhone. Check out the application here:

Best iPhone apps at AppStoreHQ