learn spanish

Today, I didn't actively plan to do anything related to my study of Spanish. I didn't consciously make the decision to "take the week-end off"; but it is a 3 day week-end and my "vacay sense" went all tingly...with great freedom, comes great loafability!

Add to this the fact that I cannot access my email (Spanish WotD) and I initially just threw in the towel (Di para arriba according to Google language tools). Because I didn't know how to say "throw in the towel/give up" in Spanish, I went on a net search. "Di para arriba" didn't feel like it really captured what I wanted to say.

Whoa! What's this? Learn Spanish has the world's first random Spanish Idiom Generator? (see: http://www.studyspanish.com/idiom.shtml). Great! I can look up my phrase, post it here and everyone will think I've learned more Spanish than I actually have. Problem! W/this generator, you can't just type in your phrase and get a useful idiom back. From what I can tell, you click on "generate another idiom" and you truly get a random one back...no way to tailor your search. Ah well, I think I will go to the homepage.

No es posible! The homepage has the following links:

I want to speak Spanish conversationally!
I want to get a better grade in my class.
I just want to speak a little Spanish.

Perhaps I'm not taking the day off after all...I think I will see what's behind door number 1 Monty!

According to TPTB, "Anyone can learn to speak Spanish. Have you tried to learn Spanish but just couldn't get it? Lots of people have. Did you study Spanish in high school or college, without any real success? You're in good company. Unfortunately, most classes meet only a couple of times a week, and are far too crowded to allow individual attention. With us, it's like having your own personal Spanish tutor available to you 24 hours a day!"

AND

If I use this site, I will be able to "...[c]ommunicate effectively in only 4 months!"

Okay, I think I DO have a learning strategy. I will continue to build my WotD list, but as I clearly cannot organize myself around the list alone, I will do at least one thing a day on this new website.

Keep reading, keep reading, keep reading...ah, here we are...register now. Boy, that was fast! In less than 5 minutes, I am lista to begin.

So, let's click on virtual syllabus...that will definitely help w/organization.

"No Syllabus!Note: You do not have a teacher so there is no syllabus available for you to view. Don't despair! You can use this website very effectively without a teacher. Below is a suggested order of study. For a truly systematicapproach, consider purchasing our CD Audio Course."

PURCHASE! Creo que no! But, I will keep plugging along...I'm sure you will teach me something on this FREE site.

I will take "Grammar: 1-5" for NOTHING, 'cause THIS is free!

Let's see, clicking that link gets me here:

Unit One
1. Gender of Nouns: Part I
2. Gender of Nouns: Part II
3. Cardinal Numbers: 1-10
4. Plural Forms of Nouns
5. Definite and Indefinite Articles: Part I
6. The Verb Form "Hay"
7. Subject Pronouns
8. Regular Verbs: Part I
9. Regular Verbs: Part II
10. Regular Verbs: Part III
11. Adjectives: Part I
12. Adjectives: Part II
13. Days of the Week
14. Cardinal Numbers: 11-30

Hmm? I think I know all of this, but in the interest of review, I will start with "The verb form Hay". Verbs are good.

The Verb Form "hay": List of Resources

[Written Lesson] Free!
[Quiz #1 - 20 questions] Free!
[Quiz #2 - 20 questions]
[Quiz #3 - 20 questions]
[Quiz #4 - 20 questions]
[Test #1 - 10 questions] Free!
[Test #2 - 20 questions]
[Oral Exercise #1 Span.] Free!
[Oral Exercise #2 L. Amer.]
[Final Exam - 50 questions]
[Written Lesson PDF Printer Friendly Page] Free!

Free! jumps out at me and I decide to go for the written lesson:

The verb form "hay" has two meanings:
there is
there are

Examples:

Hay muchos libros en la biblioteca. There are many books in the library.

Hay un libro encima de la mesa. There is a book on the table.

Más ejemplos: (GOOD! Additional info will be provide in Spanish. I like!)

Hay dos baños en mi casa. There are two baths in my house.

Hay cuatro océanos en el mundo. There are 4 oceans in the world.

Hay un libro y una pluma en la mesa. There is one book and one pen on the table. or: There is a book and a pen on the table.

When used in questions, "hay" has two different meanings:

Is there?
Are there?

Ejemplos:

¿Hay un hotel en el centro? Is there a hotel downtown?

¿Hay algunos libros por aquí? Are there any books around here?

Más ejemplos:

¿Hay muchos estudiantes en la clase? Are there lots of students in the class?

¿Hay cuatro sillas en el cuarto? Are there 4 chairs in the room?

¿Hay una chica o dos? Is there one girl or two?

The verb form "hay" can also be used to answer questions.

¿Hay un hotel en el centro? Is there a hotel downtown?
Sí. Sí hay.Yes. Yes there is.

¿Hay algunos libros por aquí? Are there any books around here?
No. No hay.No. No there aren't.

Okay. I've read the info. I feel comfortable using the verb form "hay"...I can even make use of some of the sample phrases. I think I will make flashcards of the phrases, building not only vocabulary but a bank of conversational phrases.

This, just might work...blog you later!