the spanish channel
I watch the spanish channel a lot. I sit with a dictionary on the computer that helps tell me what some of the words mean. I have learned how to say "good morning, afternoon and evening." I have learned how to ask a person their name, and a nice little nest of other words. [feeling very proud of myself]
I found that words like,llame, jamas, crees,ujum, conquistar, and the such is often said by the translating dictionary not to be found. [Gasp!]
when camercials come on, the words do not show up on the bottom of the screen even with the caption on. I use the caption when I need to serperate the words they say. caption helps me so that the entire dialog doesn't sound like one big word made up of a long list of rolling letters sprinkled with a few choppy pronunciations. caption helps with the spelling of spanish words and helps me pronounce them to. I practice with camericals to see if I understand some of what they are saying since the words don't show at that time. the product on tv tells me what the topic is, and I always know when they are giving the phone numbers, because they call out the numbers in spanish.
I really like the spanish soaps although I only understand a little, but it's the expressions and body language that helps me along as well. I sure wish I could understand it more, yet I watch them faithfully. I have never been a "soaps watcher", but the spanish soaps I really would like to understand. I think if I learn to follow them as well as the family talk shows on the spanish channel, I will have learned a lot.
I need someone to chat with sometimes because we have to type out what we are saying, and we are being spoken to in "real time." this would give me a real since of how long it takes me to understand what is being said to me and my responce in return. I think that timing is important in speaking the language as well and it helps when I am provoked to think a little quicker on my feet.
real conversation that requires a responce for me is very important. often when I try to use some spanish with the lovely hispanics in my area I get a blank look as I feel as sorry for them trying to understand me, as I do for myself for having trouble them to try. I don't want to scare them, and so I just really need to learn.
anyone have any other ideas about using the tv in addition to this site here?
is it a good idea to listen to watch the spanish channel or do you think it may be too confusing when compared to "real" conversation? [scractching my head]
is there a chat site that allows us to come together with others and actually chat using our spanish/english? [wishful crossing of my fingers]
6 Answers
hey diablita!
one of my tv remotes actually have caption right there at the button, and the other tv remote has a tiny button that has caption as well, but it shares with the same button that has "tv/cap/text." I just hit it to start caption, and to stop caption.
the first tv remote I spoke of with caption in big type that I can't miss, in order to use it I have to hit caption, then hit zero to move the arrow to "caption 1" and then just wait for the screen to show captions.
if this doesn't help you then perhapes you could ask others. hope it helps, and totally sorry if it doesn't.
[waving bye]
Each TV and remote will vary, but look for something related to audio (maybe under "setup"), and then look for SAP (Secondary Audio Program). You can turn it on and, if that program has SAP, you will see the captions.
How do you get the captions to show up? I know that sounds dumb but I have digital cable and there's like a thousand buttons on my remote and the right one is eluding me...
wow lazarus!
that's like the most information I ever had since trying to learn. I sure appreciate your responce and "gracias amigo." [shaking your hand]
wow lazarus!
that's like the most information I ever had since trying to learn. I sure appreciate your responce and "gracias amigo." [smiling]
I found that words like,llame, jamas, crees,ujum, conquistar, and the such is often said by the translating dictionary not to be found.
"Llame" is a conjugated form, so you'll only find its infinitive in a normal dictionary: llamar".
You can't find "jamas" because it must be written with an accent: jamás, so most electronic dictionaries just can't find it mispelled.
"Crees" is also conjugated ("creer").
"Ujum" is an interjection (like a noise), and it is not standard.
"Conquistar" must be in any dictionary. If it isn't, throw it and buy yourself a decent one.
