The Language to Know before you Go

[mausgras]

I've spent most of the last ten years around SE Asia and never had any problem finding locals that can speak English. It's some of the other yotties I've had problems communicating with.

[erobert]

I'd recommend Michel Thomas language courses for French and Spanish. They really do work. It's direct translation be he gets you using the vocabulary right away and synthesizing new thoughts in the new language.

[CaptTom]

Originally Posted by erobert

I'd recommend Michel Thomas language courses for French and Spanish. They really do work. It's direct translation be he gets you using the vocabulary right away and synthesizing new thoughts in the new language.

Thanks, I was going to ask for recommendations on audio courses.

I notice that Michel Thomas has four tiers; starter, total, perfect and master.

The starter is under $20US at Amazon. The next two are $80 each. I don't need to be a master.

Are the first two really worth $100US? Do you need the third ($180 total)?

Are there other good options? I have no problem paying for a good course, but these numbers seem a little high.

[rebel heart]

Originally Posted by Bestathook

I have been around the world several times.

Spanish is very useful.

Even in countries where thy don't speak Spanish, it is often spoken by people who deal with foreigners.

Good to know and I'm glad I've worked on my Spanish. I'm almost - not yet conversational but I can figure out just about anything.

My wife is fully fluent in English, French, and Spanish so that's made things easy as well.

[erobert]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

Are the first two really worth $100US? Do you need the third ($180 total)?
Are there other good options? I have no problem paying for a good course, but these numbers seem a little high.

There are ways to try before you buy. I posted more details but the admin deleted my post. In my experience, it is worth the money. If you buy the introductory pack, you'll see for your self that it works. It's much better than Rosetta stone at getting you to actually think in the language.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Good to know and I'm glad I've worked on my Spanish. I'm almost - not yet conversational but I can figure out just about anything.

My wife is fully fluent in English, French, and Spanish so that's made things easy as well.

Well you've/she's got it cracked for the Marquesas and 3/5ths of the S Pacific..

[belizesailor]

Spanish is a relatively simple language. Take some classes, learn some basics, then immerse yourself. Nothing like immersion to improve your language skills and build your vocabulary. Just some basics plus knowing how to ask the name of something ("Como se llama eso?") goes a long way to improving your Spanish.

But, be aware you will learn the dialect of where you choose to immerse yourself (and there are many regional/local dialects of Spanish). For example, I live in a remote rural village of about 100 people, mostly uneducated, sort of like going to Mississippi to learn English (I'm from Mississippi, so I can say that). I realized many years ago that I was learning "redneck" Spanish!

As others have pointed out, learning a couple of Latin based languages (like English and Spanish) can make picking up other Latin based languages easier. I find now that if read instructions in French or Italian, I can get the general ideal.

[rebel heart]

If you learn curse words you'll be able to follow along about 50% of Mexican Spanish.

[jkindredpdx]

There's a fun app for learning languages called DuoLingo created by nonprofit trying to improve translations for the world...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

If you learn curse words you'll be able to follow along about 50% of Mexican Spanish.

Trouble is that many slang terms mean totally diff things in diff countries. There is a slang term here in Guate that means "puppy/mutt"...apparently in Argentina the same term means "vagina/slut"...as a Guatemalan friend of mine discovered while looking for his lost puppy in Argentina! ;-)

[valhalla360]

BBC has some nice free online language courses.