Best Audio Spanish Learning Program?

Question

So I've tried out Rosetta Stone. I'm not sure how many units I went through, but I find that most of the free online Spanish learning resources use the same method but passively looking at slides and matching them with images hasn't helped me that much. I also have Camino del Exito but after doing about 5 units of transcripts and exercises I'm not sure it helped me much either. The best part of the program for me is the pronunciation part. I have been checking out some Spanish learning websites, listening to the radio in Spanish, reading the occasional article, and watching some TV shows, but I still find myself stuck in a lot of ways when it comes to listening comprehension and speaking.

I have been listening to the Pimsleur CDs (just got them free from the library--amazing what you can get for free! ) but also came across the Leaning Spanish Like Crazy program. Anyone have opinions on this? My main learning hump in speaking better is I don't like to practice speaking because by the time I figure out what I want to say or process what is said to me, it takes too long.

Rosetta Stone was professionally made but I didn't learn much from it. I found Pimsleur and really liked it. I then tried Synergy spanish and it is the best resource Ive found - Trebora, Mar 12, 2017

Answer 1

I have been listening to the Pimsleur CDs ....but also came across the Leaning Spanish Like Crazy program. Anyone have opinions on this?

I loved both programs and found them both really helpful by repeating everything that I heard. This not only got me speaking but it accustomed my ear to what it should sound like aloud, so my pronunciation improved dramatically.

My main learning hump in speaking better is I don't like to practice speaking because by the time I figure out what I want to say or process what is said to me, it takes too long.

That will change over time. The key thing is to listen for the gist of the conversation instead of trying to translate every single word. Later on you can get the pronoun placement, prepositions, etc., but for now .....just listen and ask the person to repeat or explain the most important words.

I'm on about unit 25 of Pimsleur now in the beginner part B. I think the most critical part is that I do it every day so that I don't forget what I already learned. Now only if I could find Leaning Spanish Like Crazy in the library :-) - tamaramarie, Aug 1, 2012

You should be able to find it somewhere...maybe if you look at the music download sites? - --Mariana--, Aug 1, 2012

http://torrentz.eu/6ecfb83a39dc701034495f9cd666bea5c1aa4a60 - --Mariana--, Aug 1, 2012

http://isohunt.com/torrents/Spanish+like+Crazy?iht= - --Mariana--, Aug 1, 2012

Answer 2

Regarding the program Learning Spanish Like Crazy, if you purchase their verbarrator software (for practicing verbs), they will make you a discounted offer on their LSLC program.

I only just got everything downloaded, so I can't tell you yet if I think it's worth it, but it was a good discount.

Answer 3

Have you ever heard of Marcus Santamaria's Synergy Spanish? His courses are not free, but they are very inexpensive, and they are wonderful! They are computer based like Rosetta Stone (I agree that Pimsleur is much better for conversational Spanish), and he gives so many hints and tricks it is unreal. He has various levels of courses. One thing that is wonderful is that he teaches "collocations". These are ways that Spanish speakers say things where the words don't really mean what they say. For example, "Parece mentira" which literally means it seems a lie, but Spanish speakers use it for it seems impossible.

You should check him out.

I may try it out when I finish Pimsleur. I saw his website and it's too funny when it talks about learning vocabulary lists. That's exactly how I feel. I can tell you nouns all day but hard to form a sentence. Thanks for this. - tamaramarie, Aug 1, 2012