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Archive for February, 2012

by Jake Beus

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February 29th, 2012

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Day 31 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.” -Anonymous

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 31
Communication Section 6, Unit 1

Virtual Instructor
Listen and Repeat
Memory Machine
Listen and Don’t Repeat

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 31! I really like today’s quote, which is obvious because I wouldn’t post it if I didn’t like it. I hope that your goals are important to you. If you do today what’s most important to you, then you should be able to rest easily tonight. There is a sense of accomplishment and comfort that comes from knowing you did your best.

Today Dave will guide you through the beginning of the Communication section. You will be learning more Spanish sentences. The focus is obviously on communication, and we want you to be a smooth communicator. You should be conversing in complete sentences instead of sputtering out sentence fragments. Dave also invites you to find Spanish newspapers, whether it be on the internet or a physical newspaper. Although you will not understand all the words you will read, it is a good practice for you to familiarize yourself with the Spanish language. I encourage you to read aloud if possible so that you can work on pronunciation and comprehension at the same time.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

What is important to you?

by Dave Clark

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February 28th, 2012

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The Spanish “x”

Question:

Hola Dave!

What are the pronunciation rules with regards to X’s? It seems to have many rules.. like Mexico is pronounced Mejico and Texas is pronounced Tejas. But it also has a real “x” such as in the word “exito”     Someone once told me how to pronounce Xcaret and I forgot how it sounded because it sounded very different. So what is the rule for the X’s?

Gracias,

Dustin

Answer:

Hola Dustin,

The Spanish “x” sounds just like the English “x” with one major exception – names. With certain names, the “x” sounds like the Spanish “j”. Examples are “México”, “Xavier” and “Oaxaca”.

Hopefully that answers your question.

Hasta luego,

Dave

Comment:

Thank you Dave!

I have a followup on the same topic. I asked my friend from Mexico how to pronounce Xcaret. She said it is pronounced “Ish-Caret”…is this some exception?

Thanks!

Dustin

by Jake Beus

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February 28th, 2012

Day 30 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“It is good to not only hope to be successful, but to expect it and accept it.” -Maya Angelou

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 30
Review Day

Review Sections 1-5

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 30! Today is a day of review for you. Review anything in sections 1-5 which you think needs more work. Repetition is so very important in learning Spanish. Be sure to read today’s quote of the day and have a mind full of success.

On this review day, Dave also takes a moment to show you how you can edit your avatar. He also takes you through the Visual Link Travel Agency on the Visual Link Spanish Level 1 course. You can learn about different countries and things you’d do in those countries. You’ll go through a travel guide with audio in both English and Spanish.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Success begins in your mind.

by Jake Beus

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February 27th, 2012

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Day 29 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“You’ll never know how high you can soar if you don’t leave the nest.” -Anonymous

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 29
Comprehending Native Speakers Section 5, Additional Practice

Click N Hear
Vocab Review
Capital Defense

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 29! Doesn’t it feel great to be working hard on your goal to learn Spanish? How are you doing so far? With regard to today’s quote, you should be proud of yourself for leaving the nest and soaring. It’s easy to set a goal, but you haven taken the next steps by working hard everyday. You are soaring higher and higher each day.

Today Dave will guide you through the final unit of the Comprehending Native Speakers section. This is the Additional Practice Unit. This is additional review of what you have learned so far in this section. Review is very important so that all the new vocabulary remains in your human brain. Dave also reminds you of the importance of proper Spanish pronunciation. I personally know many people who never learned proper Spanish pronunciation. They believe that since they know the vocabulary that native speakers will be able to understand what they are saying. In most cases, that is not true. It can’t be tough for them to decipher what you are saying through your thick accent and improper pronunciation.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Believe that you can fly, then leave the nest.

by Jake Beus

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February 24th, 2012

Day 28 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“I am not my challenges. I am not my illness. I am stronger than my mind. I am stronger than my pain.” -Anonymous

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 28
Comprehending Native Speakers Section 5, Unit 2 Review/Quiz

Tune Your Ear
Quiz

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 28! I hope that today’s quote will help you overcome any desire to give up on your goal to learn Spanish or any other goal that you are working on. Everybody can use some motivation. You are stronger than the barriers keeping you from achieving your goals.

Today Dave will guide you through Unit 2 of the Comprehending Native Speakers section. You will be tuning your ear to native Spanish speakers and you will also be quizzed on what you’ve learned so far in this section. Comprehension of native speakers takes some getting used to. At the beginning, it will seem like they are speaking very fast. However, as your ears and mind are tuned in to the Spanish language more and more, it will seem like their speech gets slower and slower. Work hard and be patient with it.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

May your mind be stronger than any hurdles keeping you from achieving your goals.

by Jake Beus

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February 23rd, 2012

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Day 27 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“Do the uncomfortable and it will widen your circle of comfort.” -Julien Smith

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 27
Comprehending Native Speakers Section 5, Unit 1

Listen and Don’t Repeat
Review Games
Pronunciation Classroom

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 27. It may not be comfortable or easy for you to learn Spanish. As the quote says, though, ‘it will widen your circle of comfort’.

Today Dave will guide you through the rest of Unit 1 of the Understanding Native Speakers section of the Visual Link Spanish Level 1 course. He reminds you of the importance of repeating aloud when doing the Spanish lessons, except when doing the ‘Listen and Don’t Repeat’ lessons. You will also learn the ‘j’ pronunciation in Spanish. Best of luck to you, my friend.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Widen your circle of comfort.

by Jake Beus

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February 22nd, 2012

Day 26 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“Use what talents you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” -Henry Van Dyke

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 26
Comprehending Native Speakers Section 5, Unit 1

Virtual Instructor
Virtual Instructor
Listen and Repeat
Memory Machine

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 26. You are developing a great skill and talent in learning Spanish as a new language. Even though you are still new to the Spanish language, don’t let that keep you from using your new talent. Today’s quote is very applicable to learning and speaking Spanish. Don’t be afraid to sing although you may not be the best at the current moment.

Today Dave guides you through the beginning of the Comprehending Native Speakers section. You will learn very helpful tips and Spanish phrases to help you understand the quick-talking native speakers. Dave also invites you to follow Visual Link Spanish on Twitter in order to stay updated with blog posts, learning tips and more.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Don’t be afraid to sing your new song.

by Jake Beus

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February 21st, 2012

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Day 25 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“Anyone who takes himself too seriously always runs the risk of looking ridiculous; anyone who can consistently laugh at himself does not.” -Vaclav Havel

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 25
Grammar Section 4, Additional Practice

Capital Defense

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 25. Today’s quote is very applicable to learning Spanish. You are going to make mistakes when you speak to others in the Spanish language. Rather than take yourself too seriously and beat yourself up, you might as well laugh at your mistakes. Laugh at them, learn from them and move on.

Today Dave shows you the point and reward system in the Visual Link Spanish Level 1 course. This is designed to help you monitor your progress and stay motivated. Today will be a fun and motivating day because your only assignment is to play Capital Defense. Enjoy this day!

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Laugh at your mistakes, learn from them and move on.

by Jake Beus

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February 20th, 2012

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Day 24 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.” -Zig Ziglar

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 24
Grammar Section 4, Review/Quiz

Tune Your Ear
Quiz

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 24. It is not easy to stay motivated when trying to achieve a goal. Whatever it is that you need to do to stay motivated, do it. I highly recommend Mindbloom as a tool that can help you stay motivated.

Today Dave invites you to browse our blog. There are hundreds of posts covering many different topics in addition to these posts covering the Learn Spanish Challenge. We encourage you to ask questions and leave comments. We like that because if you have a question, then it is likely that someone else has that same question. Dave also guides you through the Review/Quiz unit of the Grammar section. You will be quizzed on what you’ve learned thus far in the Grammar section.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Do what you need to do to be motivated on a daily basis.

by Jake Beus

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February 17th, 2012

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Day 23 of the Learn Spanish Challenge! Watch the video!

“I would rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done.” -Lucille Ball

Learn Spanish Challenge, Day 23
Grammar Section 4, Unit 3

Virtual Instructor
Memory Machine
Review Game
Pronunciation Classroom
Bowling

Are you new to the Learn Spanish Challenge? Go to Day 1.

Congratulations for making it to Day 23. I like today’s quote because I don’t regret learning Spanish. It has taken a lot of work, but I don’t regret it because of the opportunities it has given me and the friends I have made. You won’t regret the journey you are on to learn Spanish.

Today Dave guides you through more of the grammar section in Unit 3. In addition to learning more Spanish grammar, you will receive more important Spanish pronunciation tips. Like I said yesterday, pronunciation is very important. It is often not given enough attention in language learning methods. Dave also invites you take advantage of the virtual vacations you earn in the Visual Link Spanish Level 1 course.

These videos are being posted here on the blog under the category “Learn Spanish Challenge”. You can also watch the videos on our YouTube channel, and I post them daily on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Regret of things undone can be worse than the regret of things done.


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