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If you really are intent on learning Spanish, you should not rely on just one site like this. Although this whole site is a great place to learn, there are not many Spanish speakers who respond to questions asked here in the forum, and so English speakers take up the slack and give it a try. They frequently get it wrong and so you learn it wrong. A good site where there are lots of native Spanish speakers is WordReference.com. Go to the language forums and you will most likely get many responses. I always go there to cross check things.
4 Answers
Hi Stephanix
I have re-opened this discussion, to put my viewpoint.
I have often tried WR, mainly when James or Lazarus have posted links on their answers. I do not like the way it is set out and often find the site unfriendly to look at. As Heidita says other opinions are welcome but not open touting for the use of another site. If you prefer that site, then by all means use it but do not advertise its use to other members. Please see our [url=http://my.spanishdict.com/forum/topic/show'id=1710195%3ATopic%3A329558]rules[/url], particularly number 7.
This discussion is now closed again.
This is what I left on Stephen's page:
*HI Stephinx, I think it is a good idea to contrast opinions, but I do not think this forum is the place to make propaganda for another forum. And I don't think Wordreference needs this propaganda either.
Only to mention two of our best forers: we have James Santiago and Lazarus on this forum. James is the best translator I know. Lazarus is the best grammar specialist on the whole web. I do not think you can get anywhere better answers.*
This thread is closed.
There are many native Spanish speakers here, from many countries. On any forum, language-related or otherwise, you have to "sift through" some of the posts in order to come up with the best answers.
I like WordReference (and am a member there, although I never post anything). You will find that we refer to it frequently on this forum, especially when looking for translations of obscure or technical phrases. However, it does not have the same focus that SpanishDict does. One of the strengths here is the ability for language learners, whatever their level, to get individualized help.
WR is indeed excellent, but I would say it is aimed more at advanced speakers and professional translators. Also, it has an odd system of dividing posts up among a number of "colored" forums.
What I like about this forum is that there is a fairly small number of frequent posters, which allows me to feel like I know those people. It is much more fulfilling to correspond with people I know than with total strangers. And as for incorrect replies here, I think the vast majority of them are eventually corrected by someone else, and I have also seen MANY incorrect replies, both in English and in Spanish, at WR, so it has no monopoly on correctness.
Personally, I use and enjoy both forums, for different reasons. I guess that's what you are saying.
