Trellum

I've started working with podcasts recently I'm taking so seriously my dutch learning, and so far the podcasts have been a real help! I like them for the same reasons listed by the OP: I find them easier to understand that let's say... TV shows and such. They are so clear, I personally love ''Dutchpod'', these are just awesome!

That is what works best for me as well! Watching movies and TV shows, it's even better if they have subtitles, but if they don't i just pause the video and repeat the part I couldn't quite understand... then I try to write it. If I still can't do it, then I ask my boyfriend to write it for me! It really helps having a native speaker close to you But again, he is the sole reason I'm learning that language... if it wasn't for him I'd not be learning it. No way! I never liked the language... not even when I was learning languages for fun! I had my eyes on indo-european languages mostly... the Germanic branch to be more exact.

For me the best way to freshen up my language skills in a particular language (after a long break, like I did with dutch), was to actively watching and listening TV shows and movies in that language. That is a great way to remember some words and sentences with almost no pressure, you can also see how much you have forgotten. Last time I took a long break from Dutch, I was surprised to find out (after watching some videos) that I haven't forgot a lot! I might have forgotten a few things, but after some days of active listening I could remember it all

I think muipic summarized it all so well. I've noticed a lot students have so much trouble with the infinitive and the gerund, because in english they both look the same and have different function each in Spanish. Just try to remember that gerunds are most of the time used to describe when something or someone is actively doing something, like for example: Estoy comiendo uvas. While the infinitive tends to be more vague and versatile, like: Me gusta comer uvas. My advice? Get more examples on how the infinitive can be used I'm doing that very same thing with dutch and to this day is the only thing that has helped me when I find difficult sentences.

I've checked out the Latino American Pimsleur Spanish and I don't find it to be too formal to be honest. I'm not sure about the Spaniard version tho, but the Latino american one is fine Plus, you got to understand that the Pimsleur courses are more like support courses, more like a side course, and should never be the main one. If you have other materials, then you shouldn't worry about the formal sound of this course.

I'd love to help you out with this Mi nombre es Beatriz (porfavor toma nota de que yo no puedo usar mi verdadero nombre aquí, ok? Así que puedes llamarme ''Beatriz''). Por el momento estoy trabajando de escritora freelance, a veces realizo traducciones. ¿Alguna vez has querido ser un jefe? Sí, en mi antiguo empleo tuve roblemas con mi jefe, porque el espera de mi algo mas que una relación profesional. En esa ocasion realmente deseaba ser la jefa o por lo menos mandarme a mi misma. ¿Qué entrenamiento tuviste que hacer este trabajo? Tome un curso de escritura Si pudieras, ¿ retirarse ahora? Sí, lo haría si pudiera, la verdad estoy fastidiada de hacer lo mismo todos los dias. Me gustaría dedicarme a otra cosa. ¿Qué tan importante es puncuality a su trabajo? En mi actual trabajo la puntualidad no es importante, tengo mis propios horarios, pero aun asi es importante levantarse temprano. ¿Crees que tu jefe se aprovecha de ti? A veces ? ¿Nunca? O siempre ? Mi antiguo jefe me quedó debiendo $300 dolares! Asi que si, se aprovecho de mi en grande!

We call it language exchange over here. To be honest I think it's great if both parties are already taking a language course and are just in need of a little help, like for example get their questions (regarding to the grammar of the language they're learning) to get answered by a native. But not so good if one of he parties are not taking a course and is expecting you to act like a free teacher, that is not cool at all. I mean, most of us don't have that much spare time...

I love the Pimsleur method, it's actually great if you have the spare time to use that course (along with the other materials or courses you might already be trying). I honestly think this method is great is you are starting to get familiarized with the language, I have the dutch one and I must say I sometimes look back and check the notes and transcriptions i wrote while trying out that course... they're serving as a great reference spot!!!

This is very common in latino American, they always prefer to hire native english speakers, even if they don't have a lot experience teaching english. There mere fact of being a native english speaker is good enough for most schools and institutions. In a way I do agree with them, in my opinion it's better for a native English speaker to teach english, but that is not always possible.

As a student I didn't like the idea of having a teacher that wasn't a native, mostly because there were things my teacher didn't know so much about, like for example cultural bits and so on. Also there are some idiomatic expressions that only a native will surely know! I really liked the idea of my teacher being a native english speaker, my non native ones made so many awful pronunciation mistakes! As a non native teacher tho... I did feel prepared to teach english, mostly because I lived ni the US for a while, so I knew things that non native teachers that have always live in Mexico didn't know. I think that really changes the things. I still think natives make better teachers of their own languages... I mean, f I think about it... how odd would it be if some American person was teaching Spanish?

I once had to teach a class of business english, I was covering a colleague of mine, it was so easy because she had already her whole class planned so I just went thru... it was easy, but I don't think it is so easy when you are the one planning all those classes every single day. But it's also hard to teach a class to people who are just starting out.. being an english teacher to me is just not worth it. Just my opinion tho... the pay wasn't good and the stress was huge.

Loved this movie, but don't forget this is a mexican-spaniard production! The director was Guillermo del Toro, he is Mexican and also responsible from directing the Hobbit film. I truly enjoy most of his films, this guy has such a wonderful and unusual vision Just like Tim Burton, but even a bit better! I love them both tho, but I feel Burton has lost a bit his touch... but Del Toro is and has always been the same. NONE of his films have disappointed me so far, can't say the same about Burton.

Good for you for enjoying all the things that both cultures (your own and the Mexican one) has to offer. I personally enjoy the carne asada and the real tacos made with corn tortillas. Those are awesome! I specially like my tacos to be dorados, the potato ones only tho. I then add cabbage, queso fresco, tomato and a nice spicy sauce The fish tacos are also wonderful!

I personally love ''Menudo'' y ''Tamales'', the former is a soup of spaniard origin, but with a very mexican touch: corn! It looks like this: It's known as ''callos'' in Spain, but instead of cooked corn they use chickpeas. We loved to eat this every Sunday morning along with some coffee. The Tamales are a 100% dish, but other latino american countries created their own version. The average tamal is made with maseca (nixtamal) or corn meal... We fill them with different things, some people like the ones with work and red salsa, others with green chillies and cheese, beans or even mole. They are cooked inside a special pot with steam only, each tamal is wrapper in a dry corn leaf:

Hahaha, just the other day an Argentinian guy was talking about that one word ''concha'', because here in Mexico ''Concha'' is the name of a sweet bread! LOL. I can see how things like that can cause big trouble, that is why I advice non natives not to use words they don't know well.

Hey there! I'm looking for someone who speaks dutch (mother tongue) and is interested in learning Spanish. I'm following a self study course, I have a lot questions!!! The help I need is mostly about some doubts I have regarding the grammar, I'd never ask anyone to teach me anything, and I expect the same from you! I used to teach english, but I don't have the energy to actually plan lessons and so on. I'd be glad to help you answering your questions, correcting some sentences and even translating a few things for you.

I have heard so many things about the dutch culture, some things and some bad. I've read a lot experiences from people who have been living there for years, also tourists, as well as people who are Dutch themselves. They all seem to agree in one thing: Dutch culture is very individualistic! I agree with that as well!!! I'm a bit afraid this will affect my chances to practice the language with natives (others than my SO), because I have also heard some dutch tend to switch to english once they realize Dutch isn't your native language. Do you think the Dutch society tends to be individualistic? Has that in any way made it harder for you to find people willing to help you practice dutch with them?

I stared talking with someone recently, I'd not say we are friends yet tho, he doesn't seem to want to be friends. He is interested in learning my language and I'm interested in learning his! Well, actually he already speaks my language, not so well, but he is taking classes! We contact each other via Skype and E-mail, but lately he seems kinda busy. I usually e-mail him to ask him questions related to the language, he does the same sometimes. Things are going well, but not as well as they were first couple of days... but still much better than with the other language buddy I found earlier (she wanted me to teach her my language), she was willing to do the same, but I don't have that kind of energy right now. I mean, I can totally answer grammar related questions, correct sentences, translate things, but I just can't plan a whole lesson, not now at least.

It really depends on the school and the teacher, if those two are good enough, well there is a big chance your daughter might end up learning a new language. It also depends on the language and how good your daughter is at learning languages. But yes, I have met people who learn a second language during high school and thank to an active practice they have managed to improve even more.

Motivation is the key, I honestly don't feel like learning this language, but I really have to! So I have made list of my motivations to learn it, a very nice and long one. I use a NLP technique in which I go thru each motivation in my list and visualize it. So whenever I feel like I don't want to study, I start thinking of those motivations in my list and I immediately start visualizing each As for the language itself, well, I read somewhere the key was to learn a lot adverbs, because those are really important and can change the meaning of everything. Hence when learning vocabulary one should focus on them first, then the rest is supposed to come naturally once you study the other words. Sadly I can see this working with english, but not with the language I'm studying... at least not always. Another recommendation... keep listening and practice the language!

TV can help, but isn't enough if you want to keep your language skills sharp. You need to actively use the language often enough, several times a week at least. For that I recommend you to find some language exchange partners. So you can practice Just find someone who wants to practice their Italian, you can take turns practicing english as well. But be careful with those people looking for someone to teach them the language, I've encountered a couple of those, not good at all.

I like mine to have subtitles, but that is not always possible, sadly The subtitles can be so helpful when learning a language, because sometimes I'm not entirely sure I fully understood what the characters in the TV show said. That is why subtitles are so helpful, but can make you a bit lazy I'd recommend using them not so often.

Interesting I'm using the him/he trick with sentences I'm not sure if to use Je or Jouw, for example. Yes, object pronoun of personal pronoun. It does work, I guess that little trick works with a lot languages. Actually it helped me a lot when I just started learning dutch, but I can't remember where I read this tip? I do remember someone suggested it in some kind of forum. Can't remember which!

I totally agree with odd visions, it really depends on the context, but generally speaking foods is right most of the time. If you use it wrongly in a sentence isn't going to be a big deal, it might only sound a bit odd, but most people won't even notice. I think you have to go with your gut feeling most of the time, just use it when it feels right!

I've always seen ''Its'' as possessive and ''It's'' as It is, have no idea why people confuse both Anyways, thanks for taking the time to write this, I'm sure someone will find it really useful After all it can be very easy to some to confuse both of those! Just like some confuse they're with their, hehehe! Yup, have met a lot native english speakers who do that or the classic: You're with your.