Learning to use this site
I love this site, but I am not familiar enough with all the features to get the most from it, I fear. Are their any tutorials on using all the features. Also I am have some problems with me and my friends gaining access, and with using a english keyboard to answer questions that require spanish answers with proper punctuation. I am scored "incorrect" when the punctuation is missing. Any clues as to how this problem can be overcome. Also, does the site provided a chat function? Thanks for any help you may be to me on this. And thanks to Spanishdict. com for a wonderful facility!
5 Answers
I¨ve not seen that sort of overview here. You just have to poke around a bit.
First, in most of the windows, such as the one I´m typing in now, and that you posted this question in, there is a box beneath the edit window where you can click on the ´special´ Spanish characters, so you´ll always have that, as a minimum.
Googling around a bit will reveal dozens of articles on installing and using the spanish keyboard on any given type of computer (or smartphone or tablet etc etc). Then you can quickly toggle between languages. It takes a while to learn the characters. I keep an extra tab always open on my browser opened to this keyboard map , for ready access.
For the rest of the site, just click and look around.
You´´ve already found this awesome forum.
The main page is a great place to start, as it has a translate window that simultaneously provides 3 different machine translation outputs.
There are also translate and conjugate tabs which are quite useful.
Then under Learn there are flashcard (yours and others´), video grammar lessons, grammar articles, grammar reviews, grammar practices.
All are very helpful.
The dictionary page also has audio clips for thousands of words, so you can be sure you´re on the right track, pronunciation wise.
Oh yes, the last tab has shortcuts to a blog (very infrequently updated) a user generated interactive phrasebook (at least I think it´s user generated - crowd-sourced) and for past ¨word of the day¨s
If someone wants to add to or edit this overview, or make it a sticky or reference, or add a link to a better one that someone else has already done, obviously, feel free.
hth.
Roger
Here is the welcome video you asked about on this link:
Hi, welcome to the forum!
Glad you're enjoying the site as much as I am - it's been a great help to me! I haven't seen any tutorials in regards to the site's features, but it's all easy enough to pick up anyway. If you do have any specific problems, your fellow users will always be happy to help out.
One of the users, Vikingo, has created a programme that helps you type Spanish accents - I use it myself and I find it very useful, especially as it works on this website as well. I can't provide the link myself, but if you check the question "How do I put accent marks on my computer?", I think one of the answers has the link to download it. The only problem with this programme is that you have to open it every time you start up your computer - other than that, it's great!
Lastly, I know there used to be a chat function on this site, but it hasn't been up for a while and no-one knows yet when it might be running again.
Hope this helps - and again, welcome!
I always think the reference section is very helpful.
Here is a link I found from an older post that explains a lot (some of it is dated since SD has changed a lot over the years). I got this by clicking, "Question & Answer" on the toolbar, then under the green box that says, "ask a question" is a search box. I typed in: getting started and many answers came up.
Here is the link:
Here is another helpful link:
I've been using the site for over 2 years. If you need to ask anything, write me a private message (PM). You can do that by clicking my alias name in blue by my avatar. At the bottom of my profile you'll find "send a message" on those member's profiles who allow private messages. Happy learning.
