Product Details

• Actors: Standard Deviants
• Directors: Cerebellum Corporation
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Cerebellum Corporation
• DVD Release Date: July 11, 2000
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1581983204
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,030 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The 2-disc set The Standard Deviants - Spanish Parts 1 & 2 contains:

The Standard Deviants - Spanish, Part 1
The first hint that this isn't your normal, staid Spanish review course is the subtitle that's flashed across the screen: the "Salsa-riffic World of Spanish." The Standard Deviants, a cast of ebullient young performers who believe no joke is too bad as long as its memorable, bring their talents to a course in introductory Spanish in this video. Lots of flashy graphics keep things lively, but the course material itself is rock solid--it's been approved by an academic panel. Following some basic information on where Spanish is spoken, the real lessons begin with instruction on pronunciation and the Spanish alphabet (which, of course, uses some typographical symbols not used in English). A bit of vocabulary is imparted as the pronunciation lessons progress, and after some pointers on capitalization, simple lessons in practical conversation begin. The video proceeds to the inescapable bane of many language students, conjugating verbs. While this production won't be a substitute for an actual course in Spanish (and the cast specifically points out that it doesn't intend to be), the presentation is consistently energetic, with the lessons easy to remember. Someone who is interested in learning (or reviewing) basic material will no doubt gain from watching it. --Robert J. McNamara

The Standard Deviants - Spanish, Part 2
In the opening jingle, the oddball lyrics "Careful or you're speaking Spanglish, then your grade will cause you anguish" provide a glimpse into the premise of this production from the Standard Deviants. In this, their second trip to the "Salsa-riffic World of Spanish," the energetic young cast performs skits and unleashes some clever and elaborate computer graphics while providing a reliable review course in the Spanish language. Starting with what's billed as "Really Basic Stuff," the cast reviews practical matters such as how to count, talks about what time it is, and discusses the weather. Moving into more advanced material, there are pointers on grammar, with a focus on the rules of particular verbs. It should be noted that the curriculum has been approved by a panel of professors, but the cast members tend to present the material in a relaxed format, which often involves the use of costumes and some bad (and hopefully memorable) jokes. Each major portion of the program is followed by a quiz, which the student can either take or skip, and the entire DVD concludes with an exam titled "La Tormenta." This DVD isn't a substitute for classes in Spanish, but as review material the unorthodox presentation would be helpful to a student. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

Being able to speak Spanish can be very useful! Spanish is the language of choice in Spain and throughout South America. Learning any language begins with the basics: The alphabet, pronunciation and simple vocabulary. From there, you will master more intensive concepts, such as verb conjugation and sentence construction. The Spanish DVD 2-Pack includes ¿Habla Español? The Basics and ¿Habla Español? Beyond The Basics.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars not so salsa-riffic, April 25, 2001

By 

Peregrina "gata" (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Standard Deviants - Spanish, Parts 1 & 2 [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I'm not impressed with these videos. I've been a Spanish teacher for 17 years so I've seen lots of materials. There's too much boring narration in English... "Pato means Duck...Abogado means Lawyer..." Why have video if they're not going to use it? Just show us the picture and say the word in Spanish!

Ok, and here are some more gripes...the Spanish that is heard in the video is often spoken with a less-than-authentic accent. The written Spanish had errors within the first two minutes of the video. And worst sin of all..mixing Spanish and English in the same sentence! and why spend all that time on capitalization rules? in the very first lesson?

All in all it's pretty boring and repetitive in a way that's really not very effective. I was disappointed. Hoped to use the videos for beginning students, but I doubt very much that I'll subject anyone to them. I haven't even mentioned the dopey stereotypes..but I should have been ready for them given the title of the video. Sorry I put out the dough for this one.

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ah, Spanish, how I love and hate thee...., January 21, 2001

By 

ChrisV82 (South Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standard Deviants: Habla Espanol? Learning Spanish The Basics and Beyond the Basics (DVD)

Let me say, first of all, that the DVD itself is nicely done. You can skip ahead to different sections, as well as to reviews. The DVDs contain practice tests that you can take with your remote control. Test taking was never so state-of-the-art. My one complaint with the tests is that everytime you get a question correct, it says "muy bien". Just a simple "correcto" or a "santa vaca!" would have sufficed.

What the DVDs contain may be of great or little value, depending on what you are seeking. The DVDs offer solid, entertaining lessons on the basics of the Spanish language. The mildly amusing, educational DVDs provide instructions on simple things, like the verbs ser and estar, as well as numbers, pronunciation, etc. The actors present the information in an untraditional way, with the belief that if the lessons are enjoyable, people will remember them more. Not surprisingly, they are correct.

However, if you are thinking these DVDs might be suitable aids when you are trying to learn more advanced Spanish, I am sorry to say that they are not. These DVDs offer suitable learning assistance for a Spanish 1 class, but beyond that your struggles and frustrations with the language are between you and your textbook

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Bad instruction, December 21, 2002

By 

John D. Hoffman (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Standard Deviants: Habla Espanol? Learning Spanish The Basics and Beyond the Basics (DVD)

The DVD could be a great medium to teach spanish basics, but this is just plain silly. Even as a beginner, I spotted mistakes like in incorrectly accenting "esta". Who knows how they chose the vocabulary -- some words are presented that you really wouldn't ever use. They start to teach ser and estar, and then go into why it's OK to leave out the subject pronouns. Aside from my specific gripes, it's all too silly, aiming for a 4th or 5th grade slapsick level. DVD is 99% english (and even most of that is unneeded and a waste of time) and 1% spanish. Perhaps people would enjoy the silly images, but I'm sure that there's no spanish language teaching here.