Learn Spanish with Pros

Two tutors from Interlangua, Hector Garcia and Osberto Asturias have started a new Web tutoring company. Hector Garcia was my first tutor. By my third session I realized I was having conversations that were stimulating. Who knew that could happen?

You can see  Osberto in action at http://www.internetspanish.net/. Click the “here” link at the bottom of the right hand column. You’ll see the video of both sides of the conference.

You don’t see how the tutors use chat right away to send you the new word you’re trying to imitate. At the end of the session you copy the chat and take it with you. The chat may also have pictures and links to stories, articles and videos- everything from the Easter alfombras * and processions in Antigua to Ricardo Arjona.**

Learn to converse by conversing one-on-one. Talk about things that interest you or topics related to your work. You learn the words you’ll need when you converse in real life. It’s a rare and delightful experience. Try it.

Here’s the chat from my last lesson, March 28.

[9:59:56 AM] hector garcia: Buenos Días Sally!!!

[10:00:32 AM] hector garcia: ¿Cómo amaneciste hoy?

[10:03:02 AM] hector garcia: levadura

[10:15:00 AM] hector garcia: de lo que esperaba

[10:18:26 AM] hector garcia: reseca

[10:19:15 AM] hector garcia: una medicina me reseca la boca

[10:20:59 AM] hector garcia: había siete personas

[10:21:15 AM] hector garcia: nos pidió

[10:24:40 AM] hector garcia: dinámica de grupos

[10:26:13 AM] hector garcia: memorias

[10:27:10 AM] hector garcia: liderazgo

[10:31:56 AM] hector garcia: un corto

[10:38:20 AM] hector garcia: el Popol vuh

[10:43:16 AM] hector garcia: está latente

[10:45:55 AM] hector garcia: no hay que dormirnos en nuestros laureles

[11:03:36 AM] hector garcia: GUATEMALA (AP) – Un friso de hace unos 2.300 años que decora unas piscinas en la acrópolis Maya de Mirador da nuevas evidencias de que las historias del libro sagrado de los mayas, el Popol Vuh, no fueron adaptadas a la religión católica por el sacerdote español que lo tradujo.

“Por mucho tiempo se dijo que (el Popol Vuh) tenía influencia europea, pero en lo que se refiere a la mitología, no es falso. Es algo que plasmaban (los mayas) desde antes del 200 antes de Cristo”, dijo a la AP el arqueólogo independiente y curador del Museo Miraflores en esta capital, Juan Antonio Valdez.

Valdez no ha visto el friso y habló sobre el valor que tendría el descubrimiento si en efecto los personajes del friso son quienes asegura su descubridor, el arqueólogo estadounidense Richard Hansen.

Hansen es director del departamento de antropología de la Universidad de Idaho y tiene más de 30 años estudiando la cuenca del Mirador. Es además el director del Proyecto Arqueológico El Mirador.

Hasta ahora ningún arqueólogo independiente ha inspeccionado el friso, presentado al público el pasado fin de semana.

*Easter alfombras (carpets)   **rock videos Ricardo Arjona sings “Mujeres” in concert

Interlangua 2/3: Brushing My Hair with a Broom

Along with great technology Interlangua had great tutors. The Spanish language tutors came from Antigua, Guatemala, which has been a center of Spanish language learning for many years. One good tutor recommended another.

When I signed up in March, I could read Spanish, but I could not say a word. I learned to speak Spanish by conversing with a tutor one-on-one via streaming video.

Twice a week for nine months Interlangua tutors Marco Antonio Tabin Garcia or Sheny Recinos in Guatemala, taught me at home in Houston. We talked about whatever I was doing at work or on holidays, and I listened to what they were up to.

Laughter was Interlangua’s Differentiator

The tutors used pictures in the chat to good effect. When I said that I brushed my hair with an “escoba,” Sheny showed me a picture in the chat of an “escoba”, and we laughed. I was tickled when I managed to be (intentionally) funny in Spanish.