Reviews Of Popular Learning Spanish Courses

Welcome to our learning Spanish reviews section. Here is what I consider to be a pick of the best learning Spanish programmes currently on the market. I have tried to give a balanced viewpoint on them so that you make your choice carefully and decide which one would be best suited to your needs and learning style.

Watch the video below for an introduction then use the easy to follow table below to choose which product might suit you best.

If you would like us to review any other learning Spanish products then please let us know.

Learning Spanish Program

Rocket Spanish

Good for:  Complete beginners right up to intermediate levels Format: Choice of digital download so it can be downloaded via the internet or physical version. Contrary to the name, I would say that the rate of learning is more slowly but surely.  It is ideal for audio learners i.e those who learn by listening. Having said that, it does encourage you to practise out loud what you are learning as you go along, so you probably would want to practise in the car rather than on the bus as speaking out loud is a fundamental part of the course. The programme starts at the beginning with introductions. It is very broken down and best for those who do not consider themselves natural language learners. The course starts with "beginners phrases". Emphasis is placed on meaning, when to say it and how to pronounce it. They give useful and encouraging learning tips such as "don't worry about understanding the whole sentence, just pick out the bits you do understand at first". It is good for methodical learners who like explanations although some might find that it goes into too much detail in order to cover very little. After introductions, it moves on to informal and formal ways of addressing people. Some might say that there is little point agonising over such details and they place too much emphasis on this as time spent getting it perfect delays progress in everyday communication. Others prefer to feel that they are learning properly so it certainly appeals to purist learners. It then moves onto introducing oneself, then a lesson is spent explaining the introductions, then ordering things and so on. I am not sure if it is entertaining enough to hold a more visual learner's attention for long and there is a lot of memorising phrases involved which in my experience usually leads to the learner being completely thrown in a real life scenario and responses and questions differ from those learnt. It is definitely a programme for someone who considers themselves a conventional learner and prefers to set aside a set amount of time every day to concentrate. There are also 500 pages of reading material that can be printed off.

Pros

Good Value Includes two learning games "Megavocab" for learning vocabulary, phrases, and expressions and "Megaaudio" for recognizing words and phrases, and practising pronunciation which are really useful and add variety Their support forum which has active discussions on all elements of Spanish language is a plus point for any learner Comprehensive grammar coverage Emphasis on pronunciation skills sometimes overlooked on other courses You can download the audio files onto CD or an ipod which makes learning convenient.

Cons

No feedback is given by the software as to how your accent sounds etc Too basic for advanced learners More creative learners may become quickly uninspired

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Learning Spanish Program

Michel Thomas

Good for: Beginners to Immediate level Learners Format: 8CDs over 8 hours Another audio method. Bear in mind that Michel Thomas offers a whole array of languages using his voice. He is in fact Polish, so some people might find it off putting to be taught Spanish by a non native speaker. He focuses on verb conjugations and modal verbs. He doesn't start at the "beginning" like Rocket Spanish with "What is your name" etc. But some might argue that that is not that useful anyway for a beginner. Vocabulary is very limited as this is to be picked up elsewhere. It is a fairly passive way of learning with lots of repetition until it basically sinks in. You need to be able to devote a set amount of time everyday or every couple of days to gain anything. It is a fairly passive learning method where the emphasis is placed on his teaching as opposed to your learning. Not one for kinaesthetic learners as you literally sit back and take it in so no note taking involved which is a relief for many learners.

Pros

You can listen to the lessons anywhere within reason Effective teaching methods Aimed a people wanting to learn a reasonable amount of Spanish quite quickly No books No memorising No homework Learn basic grammar painlessly Helps you to understand the fundamentals of grammar such as irregular verbs Great confidence boost as you learn a lot in a short time.

Cons

Michel Thomas does not have the best Spanish accent A bit hypnotic No native speakers He teaches Latin American Spanish Michel prefers that you give all your concentration to the lesson so driving a car or other activities are discouraged As opposed to a "complete" course, it is more of an introductory language course Some people find the "male student" that features on the audio annoying Very little vocabulary so you will have to invest in a good dictionary and other resources

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Learning Spanish Program

Rosetta Stone

Good for: People with some familiarity with the language so not a complete beginner Format: Software Instruction in box sets or an on-line instruction Rosetta Stone uses what they call a "dynamic immersion" method of language learning, almost like how a child acquires his or her first language. However, although the aim is to mimic the way a child learns language some might argue that they learn much faster than children by using their native language for associations. Because it is software, it easily integrates audio, text and images.  This allows the learner to associate the sound and look of the written language with real-life images in a natural way. You are presented with a series of pictures and a word is spoken with the text on screen. You must then select which picture goes with that word. If you get it right, you move on. If not, you try again until you get it. Making mistakes are part of this learning process. The objective is to learn very quickly during this trial and error process. In time, words become phrases, then full sentences. Ideas and concepts begin to replace simple objects and actions. Through pattern recognition, more and more of the language is understandable.

Pros

Simulates a more supposedly "natural" method of learning a language Entertaining Interactive Good for "family" learners i.e for children as well as adults Good for visual learners Within each lesson there are sets of exercises testing listening, reading, and speaking i.e all skills involved within learning a language

Cons

Not cheap For more experienced learners of the language rather than complete beginners although this may be a pro for some You have to be at a computer whilst studying Little emphasis on grammar relies on a lot of instinctive ability to learn languages so perhaps better for someone who already has a language or two under their belt Doesn't cover the conventional basics i.e "Hello", "How are you?", "What's your name?" You learn a lot of not very useful "baby" phrases.

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Learning Spanish Program

Streetwise Spanish

Good for: Intermediate to Advance Level Learners Format: Downloadable E-book Streetwise Spanish is exactly that and is perfect for those who want to make their existing Spanish more authentic and less text bookish. Peter Christian shares his own experiences with the language and culture, tying the two in a very down to earth, light hearted way. This book is in no way for beginners but it is a refreshing change for anyone bogged down by the usual grammar and vocabulary lists. It is split into very readable chapters, each one covering an element of everyday life such as Shopping and Dining. He bypasses the type of material that you can pick up in any learn Spanish book and gets straight to the really juicy street stuff including his own personal anecdotes along the way. His cultural observations make for nod along and laugh aloud reading for those with an already streetwise command and even for those who are still at beginners level, there is a lot to gain from his familiarity with the nuances of Spanish life. With his entertaining turn of phrase, Peter quickly becomes the reader's mate and you feel as though you are getting the kind of insight into the language that conventional teachers never think to share. Streetwise Spanish makes for painless learning in context and is especially good for learners who might need a break from the monotony of studying.

Pros

Easy reading Humorous and engaging Low cost

Cons

Not good for beginners Difficult to learn from a book for some learners especially since there are no exercises, merely anecdotes.

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