Will studying here offend my wife?
I know the question may seem a bit bizarre, but let me explain. My wife teaches Spanish at a local middle school.
Until about a month or two ago, she would occasionally share a word or phrase with me, but unless I used it frequently, I would easily forget it. I once told her I felt I needed to attend a regular class as I did not study Spanish in school.
We purchased copies of the workbooks and textbook and I try to go through a couple of pages a day and discuss it with her. I considered purchasing the Rosetta Stone package but have a hard time shelling out $400-500 for it.
I stumbled upon this web site after finding a YouTube video and thought I'd give it a try in conjunction with the text and workbooks my wife uses with her students. She doesn't know I am using this site (yet) and I feel it will help me with recognizing spoken dialogue until I can get to the point of articulating clearly with my wife and carry on a full conversation.
What do you think? Would she be offended as she is a Spanish teacher?
Thank you in advance for your feedback!
Clark
8 Answers
Even after taking into consideration all you have mentioned, in the end it's still up to your wife if she will be offended or not.
If she is truly interested in your progress with Spanish, I don't see how she could possibly not want you to find anything and everything that would help you.
I think it's almost impossible to teach family members, epecially wives and husbands. Everybody gets upset.
I think she should be pleased you're trying but it may be diplomatic not to spend too much time on the web when she is home or wants to chat to you.
But, you made sucha good answer yourself earlier to the person with the critical boyfriend I feel sure you can handle this diplomatically.
And I'm older and not known for my diplomacy but I've kept the same husband for ages, I cook supper and do SD when he's not around.
Well I think it is to late. This place is addictive. You will probably find it hard now to give up even if you try. 
Learning another language is big undertaking I have found that I need to study in a lot of different ways and with different people. I use Rosetta Stone, I've taken classes, I volunteer in an ESL class, I listen to Spanish language music, watch Spanish language movies, and read all sorts of Spanish language websites. I ask and answer questions on this website and practice as much as I can with people I know. I do all of that, and I am still clawing my way up the ladder of language learning! That is my way of saying, your wife should not be offended if you seek out different avenues of learning. In fact, her instincts as a teacher may be to feel proud that you are so truly interested in learning.
Studying by using this website doesn't mean you don't respect her as a teacher and her teaching methods. I agree with JulianChivi, if she's interested in your progress she won't have a problem with the sources you use in order to learn Spanish. And I'm sure you can combine both methods (the textbooks and the website) for your benefit. You're very lucky you have a Spanish teacher at your house, make sure that your wife understands that you appreciate that.
I can't imagine it would offend your wife or any teacher to see you makinig use of any resources at all for study. It may offend her if you fully exclude her from your set of routine study resources. I would use her time to review and practice, to the extent that she has time and inclination to help.
You need to be very sensitive about the friction this new facet of your relationship may expose. Any mutual criticism regarding the handling of curriculum or authority must not spill out of these activities and into other parts of your relationship.
Ultimately, you can discuss this with your wife and let her suggest what level of her involvement would feel right for her. If you agree with that, you won't wonder if you might offend her.
I don't think the studying part itself would be a problem.
Many wives and girlfriends, however, do get terminally jealous that their men are "studying" (so they say) with our gorgeous Heidita, not to mention Paralee and all the other beauties on board.
So, it maybe better if you hide in a locked room when you come to the Site, and then wipe all evidence from your computer.
It is presumptous on my part to suggest it, but, in middle school, teaching and learning are probably still at the level or stratagy of "pedagogy". As a trained teacher, I bet your wife knows the difference between pedagogy and androgy but to be sure you understand that difference for the purpose of what I will reply to you, see this page comparing child and adult learning ----> Pedagogy vs Androgogy.
I suggest your wife will know immediately that you have embarked on learning that is voluntary, problem centered, independantly learner driven active pursuit of a wanted goal. I expect she will realize this is an opportunity to let you take the bit and run with it only offering assistance when you ask for it. I expect she will also be your best ever cheerleader.
My wife does not know a single word of Spanish, well except maybe for a few common food terms, quesadilla, taco, chimichanga and the like. My name is Moe and as you may have heard, Moe knows diddly.
I envy you. If learning is a job, I suspect that together you two can set this job on fire.
