Customer Reviews

Learn Conversational Spanish Now (Spanish Edition)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As advertised, there are a total of 60 converstions, plus 4 bonus dialogs, and the corresponding transcripts for each dialog.

The transcripts are in 3 PDF files, one containing dialogs 1-40, one with 41 - 60, and one for the bonus dialogs. I haven't read them all completely, but they have a few errors in the English translations. Some of them are typos, some have a word or two left out, nothing major, but you'd think they would've done a better job editing the transcripts. I didn't look at the Spanish close enough to see if there were any typos. I get the feeling the transcripts were just thrown together in a hurry. Despite all that, I don't think the lack of quality editing will make the transcripts any less useful.

The lessons vary in length from 30 seconds to 2-3 minutes, and the audio quality is very good. The spoken pace of the dialogs is good for learning. All the lessons are delivered at the same steady pace and very well enunciated making it easy to distinguish the words and keep up with what's being said.

Regarding the pace of the dialogs, as I stated above, it's great for learning. However, in real life, many Spanish speakers speak at a faster rate than what you'll find in the dialogs, and with varying accents that make understanding what's being said a real challenge. These dialogs won't help you with that. I don't think they were intended to, but I just thought you should know.

As for the content of the dialogs, they are advertised as real Spanish conversations you are likely to have with Spanish speakers. I think that claim is very true. I heard a lot of common everyday conversations that you will find useful if you spend any significant amount of time interacting with Spanish speakers.

That brings me to the next item of discussion, what audience are these dialogs for?

If you already spend a lot of time around Spanish speakers on a day in and day out basis, and have little to no problems communicating about day-to-day activities - making plans, talking on the phone, shopping, etc, these conversations are not for you. You've already got this stuff down. However, if you're just opposite, then you'll really benefit from these dialogs. They really do cover a wide range of topics that will tremendously help your ability to communicate.

It's a bit difficult for me to evaluate the dialogs from an academic standpoint, but I'd say the dialogs mainly use up to intermediate level grammatical structures, maybe a little higher. But I wouldn't let than concern you if you're afraid that it may be too much (or even to little) for you based on your academic level of Spanish. I think you really need to judge the usefulness of these dialogs based on your ability to communicate effectively in spoken Spanish.

[...], I'd say it's not a bad buy al all.

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This is excellent! I just purchased these 60 dialogs, and really appreciate how slowly they go for Spanish learners. (And then faster for more realistic practice.) With the accompanying transcript, any intermediate Spanish student ages teen and up can truly advance with this listening practice.

I am already recommending this title to my adult learners, with one caveat (which is the reason for a deduction of one star):

I provide them a list of verbs to be familiar with, so they can practice verb conjugation in several tenses before hearing the words put to use. I am also providing them with a glossary, so they can make flash cards before reading the transcript. This builds confidence, and makes the dialogs immediately useful and much more effective in building fluency.

There is also no time in between conversations or sentences to repeat any phrases, but upon a second and third time listening, or reading along, you can still practice your speaking skills while the CD is running (or get used to tapping the pause button over and over!)

I would say ages 15 and up would benefit most from this, and most every student would need to already have studied the Spanish pronouns, greetings, and basic manners before trying this set out. Otherwise, even with the transcript, learning will be very tedious.

I am glad I gave it a shot, and hope that perhaps LSLC will take the suggestion of providing it's customers with a glossary format as well as the transcript.

Sra. Gose
Spanish Teacher, Author
Flip Flop Spanish

This product is very good for me. One can progress easily, in graded steps, to GRADUALLY improve reading and writing, but I have found it difficult to do this in connection with listening to spoken Spanish (language teachers please note this). These C.D.s are a big help in this respect. With other C.D.s I have bought, even though recommended by "experts", I can make hardly any progress in my comprehension even after listening to the same track many times.