Tag: learning Spanish



4 Nov 10

Learning Spanish Verbs Online

Click Here to learn how to conjugate irregular Spanish verbs quickly and with ease

Learning Spanish verbs online is the most effective way to master this difficult part of learning Spanish. Many students have struggled with learning Spanish verbs, in particular irregular verbs, and it is hardly surprising considering the mind-numbingly boring and tedious old school methods that are used to master conjugation. Ever since languages have been learnt the only way a student could eventually master verb conjugation was to recite and memorize verbsover and over again until they could recite them in their sleep. Although effective, this was very time consuming and hardly what could be called enjoyable.

It is a well known fact that it is far easier to learn something if the enjoyment level is high and this is why learning Spanish verbs online has become increasingly popular. There are many sites online that provide information regarding the conjugation of verbs, such as this one, that provide all the necessary information required to study Spanish verbs, but none offer the verb training needed to help students learn difficult conjugation easily whilst at the same time enjoy doing so! There are many sites that offer Spanish verb conjugators, which are very handy, but in all fairness they are all just glorified verb conjugation books, sure they provide the information you require much quicker than if you were trying to find it in a resource book, but apart from that they will not help you master verb conjugation.

If you want to know the best way of learning Spanish verbs online there is only one tool currently available that I would suggest considering which will not only provide the great results you require, but will do so quickly and in a way that makes learning them great fun and that tool is called ‘verbarrator‘. I myself have a copy and have no hesitation recommending it to any person who asks for my advice on the best way to learn Spanish verbs. So if you are looking for the best way of learning Spanish verbs online check it out…it’s not free…but it is a quality verb training tool.


Filed under: Learning Spanish Verbs Online

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30 May 10

Best Learning Spanish Software

Click Here to learn how to conjugate irregular Spanish verbs quickly and with ease

When deciding upon the best learning Spanish software to purchase it is always best to read as many reviews as possible in order to make an informed decision. Unfortunately though, many people don’t go down this route and will often make a spontaneous decision to learn Spanish and will buy the first Spanish course they see sitting on the shelf of their local store due to their enthusiasm and eagerness to get started.

In a perfect world, purchasing any Spanish course in itself would not pose an issue as every Spanish course would teach the exact same material and each course would therefore help the student to achieve their goal of speaking Spanish.

The truth is that each student is different…some are much better at learning languages than others, some are better at learning a language from a grammatical viewpoint as you would learn it at school for example, whereas others have much better results by concentrating on conversational skills.

It is for this reason that many Spanish courses are now available, each one slightly differing in teaching techniques and methods offering the best possible fit for individual students.

The one area of Spanish study that has seen a massive surge in popularity in the last ten years is the use of software for studying instead of the more traditional text books and cassettes.

Because more and more people have become connected online the flexibility that it provided for studying a language became much more apparent and as a result there has been a consistent increase in available courses.

Many of the earlier online courses offered little in the way of improving upon traditional methods other than offering the same material in a new format, but after a while specific techniques were improved upon that improved the speed at which Spanish could be learnt whilst also making learning much more enjoyable as well as improving the practical application.

Whilst some of these software courses are quite expensive, there are a few others available that are as good, if not better, which are much more reasonably priced.

Personally, I always like to use prolonged popularity rather than short term popularity as a benchmark before considering making a purchase and it for this reason that I would recommend checking out the reviews of the following popular courses before making any decision on which is the best course for you:

1.Rocket Spanish Language Course
2.Visual Link

There is one other software program that is worthy of mentioning as it has helped me, and many others, learn Spanish quickly and effectively and is a ‘must have’ if you are serious about speaking Spanish well and that program is called Verbarrator Spanish verb conjugation trainer, just click on the link to read the review.

By the way, if you are located in California, why not check out this list of Spanish classes in Los Angeles


Filed under: Learn Spanish

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23 Apr 10

Spanish Past Tense – The Difference Between Imperfect and Preterite

Click Here to learn how to conjugate irregular Spanish verbs quickly and with ease

Spanish Past Tense

Spanish Past Tense

The Spanish past tense throws up a problem for many students and that is whether they should use the imperfect or preterite?

In Spanish, the two simple past tenses that are predominantly used, are called the Imperfect and the Preterite and it is perfectly understandable for students, who are learning about past tenses for the first time, to be unsure as to which of these two tenses to use and when.

It goes without saying that both tenses are used to describe past actions or states but each is used differently and the following rules will hopefully clear up any confusion.

When to Use the Preterite

The preterite tense is used to express an action that was completed at some time in the past, listed here are some specific uses and examples:

  • When referring to a series of actions in the past:
    • Me desayuné, limpié la casa y me fui a la estación – I had breakfast, cleaned the house, and went to the station.
  • When referring to the beginning or the end of a past event:
    • La fiesta empezó a las diez – The party began at 10:00
  • When referring to things that are seen as being complete:
    • Dejó el trabajo hace un año – You left the job a year ago

When to Use the Imperfect
The imperfect tense expresses an action or state  that was ongoing during the past and if it is uncertain whether it has been completed. Specific uses and examples are listed below:

  • To explain an action that a person did in the past habitually:
    • Cuando estábamos en el colegio, jugábamos al fútbol todos los jueves. – When we were at school, we used to play football every Thursday
  • To refer to an action without making reference to an end or a beginning:
    • Mi mujer tenía dolores de cabeza frecuentes – My wife had frequent headaches
  • When referring to actions that were taking place simultaneously in the past:
    • Mi hijo miraba televisión y mi hija cantaba – My son was watching television and my daughter was singing
  • When describing physical, emotional or mental states or conditions:
    • Estaba tan feliz que quería llorar – I was so happy that I wanted to cry
  • When referring to a past time:
    • Eran las ocho y media de la tarde – It was 8:30 p.m.
    • Era la una de la mañana – It was 1:00 a.m.
  • When describing an action or state that happened at some point in the past and that lasted for a certain amount of time and that happened prior to another past action.
    • Hacía todo el día que esperando cuando mi mujer llegó – I had been waiting all day when my when arrived

Hopefully, these guidelines will provide the clarity you need.

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Why not check out my previous post about the benefits of an online conjugator Spanish verb trainer or if you would rather read about a spanish verb conjugator that will help you to learn Spanish verb conjugation better and quicker than any other method check out my Verbarrator Review


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20 Apr 10

Spanish course by Maria Fernandez

The Online Conjugator, Spanish Verb Practice Tool for the Serious Student

Online Conjugator Spanish - The Verbarrator

Online Conjugator Spanish - The Verbarrator

The Spanish online conjugator is, undeniably, one of the most effective learning tools currently available that is capable of helping students learn Spanish quickly, in particular, the conjugation of Spanish verbs, which is so often the stumbling block for many of them.

For years linguists have been trying new methods and techniques that would aid in the learning of Spanish. Everything from image association and various other memorization techniques to subconscious study (listening to Spanish whilst sleeping!).

Some of these techniques were effective, whilst others were…well let’s just say, a little gimmicky! Many of the effective methods are still used today but they only really improved how Spanish was learnt and not the time taken to do so.

Also, the effective learning techniques were better suited for nouns, adjective and verb infinitives and not for learning the conjugation of verbs (I am referring to image association, by the way!).

Why an online conjugator, Spanish verb practice tool so effective?

Spanish verb conjugation is notoriously difficult to master and, because of this, it is one of the most time consuming areas of Spanish study.

The traditional method of learning Spanish verb conjugations has always been to use a verb conjugation book and recite, recite and recite some more until the necessary information had been completely memorized…hence why it took so long to learn conjugation.

However, the online conjugator has helped substantially and although the earliest offerings were basically online verb conjugation books, that did little, if anything at all, to improve the situation, the most recent additions have completely transformed how Spanish verbs are studied, specifically the ‘Verbarrator’.

Learning verb conjugation has always been tedious and time consuming, some have said it is like riding a bicycle with flat tyres up a hill, sure you’ll get there in the end but boy it’s hard work, and it is for this reason that so many people give up on learning Spanish beyond being able to order a coffee.

Now…imagine what it would be like if you actually started enjoying the study of verb conjugation and mastered them much quicker than you could have ever imagined!

This is what the current crop of online conjugators offer and why they are an invaluable Spanish verb practice and training tool for anyone serious about learning Spanish well and quickly.

For more information about the ‘Verbarrator’ verb conjugation software check out my review of it by clicking Verbarrator Review. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, why not check out my previous post on how to
Conjugate Ser
in the preterite tense, it’s concise and very helpful!


Filed under: Spanish Verb Conjugator

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18 Feb 10

10 Top Tips For Successfully Learning Spanish Quickly

Click Here to learn how to conjugate irregular Spanish verbs quickly and with ease

If you are considering learning Spanish or have just started out, then these10 tips are designed specifically for you! It would be great for you if you could use all of them but if not, pick out those that you can use and implement them.

1. Mental Preparation:

Too many people think that they will be able to just grab the first Spanish course off a shelf and within a few weeks be able to hold down a full blown conversation in Spanish…nothing could be further from the truth! Learning Spanish is tough and anyone who says different is either expanding upon the truth a little or, a qualified linguist, which does make them an expert in their field I guess! Being prepared mentally for the challenge ahead will always be a key ingredient in your success.

Do not set yourself unreachable targets, like being able to speak Spanish fluently in 6 weeks! There is nothing that is more likely to make you give up your quest than consistently failing to achieve your goals so you should always be realistic.

2. Physical Preparation:

There are hundreds of different Spanish courses out there many of which are expensive, but when it comes to learning Spanish, cost does not always equate to quality.

Do not be deceived by top branding and course materials that are of a quality finish, sure they look and feel nice, heck, they may even smell nice, but what really matters is the quality of information contained within the course, or more to the point, the methods of teaching.

Look for courses that let you try them out first, go online and find forums or chat-rooms to see what other people are using and like and make your decision based on what feels right for you… not the price tag. The best course isn’t necessarily the most expensive!

3. Choosing the RIGHT Spanish Course:

If you have done some research on different courses and have a shortlist… you need to cut lose all those that are not aimed at teaching you conversational Spanish as a priority.

That isn’t to say that learning grammar isn’t important, but so many people get weighed down trying to learn and memorize grammar rules that they lose sight of why they wanted to learn Spanish in the first place; the enjoyment that being able to speak and understand Spanish can bring.

You will enjoy learning Spanish much better and be much more successful at it if you are able to put a few sentences together within a week rather than being able to successfully memorize the indefinite article, subject pronouns and whatever else your first week of grammar study throws at you.

Once you are up and running and speaking Spanish confidently, grammar will become much easier to learn and it will just be a case of tweaking what you already know.

4. Post Notes on EVERYTHING!

Sounds funny I know, but buy yourself a block of post-its and stick them on everything in your home with the Spanish word for that object written on them (with the exception of your spouse, children and pets, although tortoises are ok!).

You will be amazed at how quickly you will pick up the vocabulary for everyday objects…’Everyday’ being the important word here. I am never surprised any longer by the vocabulary that Spanish courses ask beginners to learn…I mean, how many of us are going to use the words bullfighting or donkey in everyday conversation!

5. Tune in to Spanish TV and Radio:

Watching Spanish speaking TV or listening to Spanish radio stations will help you get a feel for spoken Spanish as well as keeping you up-to-date with subjects that Spanish speaking people could be talking about.

Television would be better because it is easier to understand what is being said if you have accompanying pictures.

If you are busy around the house you could always adopt a method of learning I like to call ‘subliminal Spanish’. Turn the TV or radio onto a Spanish speaking network, turn up the volume, and then get on with your chores. There is no need to pay any attention to what is being said.

Over time you will start to pick out certain words without even concentrating as well as becoming used to hearing how Spanish is spoken.

It is a good idea to start with news type programs first as the pronunciation is usually a lot clearer and understandable. However, sport is not a good choice as the commentators do tend to get a little excited and speak very quickly, although it is enjoyable to listen to!

6. Make Your Own Flashcards:

I would suggest that you make some flashcards to help you learn vocabulary, rather than buying them. I suggest this for three reasons:

  • Why spend unnecessarily when it’s simple and cheaper to make them yourself!
  • You are able to create cards using words that are most useful to you
  • The process of actually making them will help you remember them, in fact many of the cards you make could well be redundant before you even use them!

7. Become Involved in your Local Spanish Community:

For those of you that live close to, or within, a Spanish speaking neighborhood, try to mix as much as possible into their social activities, use the local Spanish speaking supermarkets or 24/7, join in with your Spanish speaking neighbors whenever possible.

Not only will this benefit your studies but you will receive a lot of help and encouragement as well as making many new Spanish speaking friends.

8. Use Online Resources:

If you don’t have a Spanish neighborhood close to you, or you cannot receive Spanish TV or radio networks, then the next best thing is to utilize the internet. There are many resources such as chat-rooms, open forums, podcasts and PCTV networks that are all easily accessible online and can all be used to practice your Spanish…so get surfing and use them!

9. Use a Spanish Verb Trainer:

Learning Spanish verbs is probably the most difficult part of learning Spanish and also one of the most important. Using a verb trainer that will help you do this more efficiently is a wise move. If there is one area that is often overlooked by many students it is the correct use of verbs. Verbs are important as they make sense of your sentences and in Spanish they are doubly important as they also indicate who is performing the action.

The best way to learn a verb quickly and effectively is to use a verb conjugator or a verb conjugation training program. A good verb training program will allow you to select the verb you want to learn and in whichever tense you choose and then provide the drills to train you. The aim is to make learning Spanish easier and a verb conjugation trainer will do that.

10. Total Immersion:

If money and time are not a problem for you, then the best way to learn Spanish is to invest in a total immersion course located in a Spanish speaking country.

Not only will you learn the local language but you will also be immersed into the culture and customs of your hosts as well as the local way of life. Immersion courses are not as expensive as they once were but, are still beyond the reach of many.

However, irrespective of price, they are, without doubt, the quickest and most enjoyable way to learn Spanish…if you can afford to go on an immersion course…do so, you will never regret it.


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7 Feb 10

Spanish Verb Conjugation – The Secret of Speaking Spanish Fluently

Click Here to learn how to conjugate irregular Spanish verbs quickly and with ease

Spanish verb conjugation is an extremely important part of learning Spanish, unfortunately it is also one of the most difficult aspects of studying the language and as such is disliked by most students. However, if the objective of the student is to become fluent then Spanish verb conjugation is one aspect of the Spanish language that requires the student to have a complete mastery of. .. continue reading ..


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1 Feb 10

Why is Preparation the Key to Successfully Learning Spanish?

Click Here to learn how to conjugate irregular Spanish verbs quickly and with ease

When contemplating learning a new language such as Spanish most people will be eager to start and excited at the prospect and many believe that they will not find it difficult to do so, and for some that may well be the case. .. continue reading ..


Filed under: Learn Spanish,Spanish Verb Conjugator

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