SpanishPod beta Version is Now Running

Spanish is probably less useful in Australia than in China, if you can split a zero, but it's a lovely sound, and such a change from Chinese.

I think there's a lot of value in learning a teensy bit about other languages, like I mean three or four lessons tops, to put the language you are studying into perspective. For example in Spanish you might notice the ease of pronunciation and expression, being able to modulate your voice to your emotions exactly the same way as in English. You also notice the amount of work that is required to apply genders to everything whether they deserve it or not, and then change all of your accessory words depending on their noun's genders and so on, and then there's the verbs, oh the verbs! So trying another language gives you a little period of relief from what bugs you with the current study, while making you feel lucky after all to be studying what you're studying.

Recently I started learning TokiPona which is a made up language containing only 120 words, so you have to be open minded and creative to get anything across. Because it's so small (that's its primary design feature) it doesn't take long to learn, and I've found it's helped my Chinese study tremendously because of how it has trained me to think in different ways, ways that turn out useful to overcoming some of my stumbling blocks with Chinese.

So I don't think it would harm any of us to sit in on a few SpanishPod lessons, so long as our feet stay firmly on the ground.

I just listened to m first Spanish lesson ever. Thanks for letting us sneak. Now, I am really worried that I might get side-tracked (I am already working on two languages).

It's fun to start with a new language, though. In the beginning all the sounds just run together and you don't know what the specific words are in a string of utterance. And then this miracle of the first couple of months, when it starts to become clear and form itself into distinct sounds and words.

Anyway, I fear AuntySue's predicition might be right. You will want to go back for more... How Spanish might be useful for my context here in China is the big question

I've really forgotten my Spanish now. I should have typed "Donde esta la biblioteca?"

Hehe, it sounds similar. Isn't it strange what they thought we needed to know, or even wanted to know. I spent a few cashless days in Germany once, and could only remember two prhases of German. Creative use of "where is the police station?" saved my life one night, but I never found an opportunity to use "but is it a really good restaurant?" which echoed through my brain constantly. I doubt whether knowing how to talk about books or suppositories would have helped much, either.

AuntySue,

Let me guess, the textbook you used a while back taught you how to say "Donde la esta biblioteca?" I had to learn how to ask this question when I took Spanish in college eons ago.

很了不起！ I never think of saying things like "when I did... last century", amazing :-)

Artkho, when I did a bit of a Spanish course early last century, we used a very conservative and boring textbook, and relied on the teachers to spice it up. Around lesson three or four, suddenly this guy in the book, who is so prim and proper, talks about going to the chemist (pharmacy) and casually mentions asking for suppositories. Well, we rolled in the aisles, and the poor teacher seemed to have no idea that we, of young broad minds for whom no topic seemed too obscene, regarded things that you put, you know, there, as being unmentionable! :-)

I don't expect to encounter the same unexpected enlightenments that we've had from cpod, but I'm sure in due course Spanish will offer its own outlandish quirks without even trying very hard.

I am waiting for Praxis to do their version of Hollywood-style TV series cross-promotion: getting Amber and Jenny to appear as guests in Spanishpod. I am sure every Chinese poddie would start listening to Spanishpod the moment Amber introduces her Spanglish version of pretty-please on a Spanishpod podcast. :)

Will the old SpanishSense-lessons be available on SpanishPod?

I regard "number of lessons" is a major argument for joining this type of service.

Well that page wasn't even there when I looked yesterday, and it's all still under development, remember, so I guess they've just copied it over to make it the same as cpod and would now be in the process of tailoring it to suit spanishpod. :-)

While we're having this sneak preview we'll probably be lucky enough to see a few more transitions in progress like this, though it always helps to point them out if they look like a booboo rather than a current work item.

I'm glad they've stolen that page, it looks great!

I checked it out. I see there's a lesson called "At the Bar" So when is Spanishpod going to do a lesson on farting, Ninja and Godzilla ? :)

If you click on "Subscription Information" at SpanishPod ( http://www.spanishpod.com/products ), all the information mentions ChinesePod instead. Including "Practice Plan"... is there going to be one?

Yeah, I think it was owned by a squatter. Btw, polishpod.com is still available... :)

Did Praxis Language buy out SpanishPod then? I seem to remember they couldn't use that name before because it had already been used.

leoguerrero-admin, Chinese is not difficult, it just takes forever to learn. Anyway, I'm sure you're doing a great job over at SpanishPod-upon-Huangpu, but I will pass. In 10 years time I may start considering ... Japanese ?!

Bazza, you don't have to "do" SpanishPod, just have a quick look and listen to a lesson for a bit of fun. The noises of that language are a joy to make, have a go. I dare ya to stop at one. You can't. It's like eating peanuts.

Now's the time, because there's not many lessons so there's a chance we'll be able to rescue and deprogram you in time.

The people who run SpanishPod.com rules! Hehe... I call Leo the "SpanishPod Eileen!"

:-)

I would do PolishPod.

哦，怎么办？My mother was a Mexican-American, half-Mexican actually. I've always thought it's a pity that I didn't learn Spanish and I've been entertaining the thought of starting. But I'm not sure what would happen to my 脑子 if I added yet another language. Hmmm. . .

What do you mean "almost"? It's a trap, I tell you! It's a trap! You can't go there without wanting to dedicate your life from that day forward to studying Spanish. Dangerous for Chinese students or people with a life, beware! One listen and you'll be hangin out for more, and no matter how strong your will power, it'll...

OK, OK, don't believe me then, you think you're strong big boy, go take a look if you must, but be very very careful, and don't say Aunty didn't warn you. But try to remember one thing: if while you're looking around you happen to hear the sound of the guitar, better get outa there quick!!

Wow, whats the low down on the old spanishsense.com and the Spanish team? I've been telling all sorts of people about it.

Almost makes me want to learn Spanish... Looks soooo familiar to us Cpoddies. Never looked at SpanishSense, so I don't know if it always was similar in layout, etc.