Learning Spanish @ 40-Something

Spanish Dreams Are Not Lost...

2006-08-05T00:27:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would jot y'all a note. I haven't forgotten about my spanish learning pursuits; it is just that my computer issues on my home computer has definately consumed my "free" time because I am soooooo determined to kill the thing on the computer that is threatening my ability to work on it for any good length of time.

Auuugghghghgh....

So frustrating!!

In fact, I have taken off a few weeks here and there due to teacher taking a vacation, financial reasons or scheduling conflicts, but I am determined to learn Spanish still. This week it was due to my daughter's birthday, but I am determined to get on track soon.

I am looking forward to an amicable (lol...) computer resolution soon so that I can get on with the rest of my life!! :D

Look to be receiving more updates soon.

New Word of the Day -- periodico

2006-06-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

Spanish: periódico

English: newspaper

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Example Phrase Using Today's Word:

Spanish: Siempre leo este periódico.

English: I always read this newspaper.

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To hear the Word of the Day and the example phrase, visit

New Word of the Day - pequeno

2006-06-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Spanish: pequeño

English: small

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Example Phrase Using Today's Word:

Spanish: Vuestro apartamento es muy pequeño.

English: Your apartment is very small.

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To hear the Word of the Day and the example phrase, visit

New Word of the Day -- pensar

2006-06-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

Spanish: pensar

English: think

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Example Phrase Using Today's Word:

Spanish: No debes pensar en ello.

English: You shouldn't think about it.

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To hear the Word of the Day and the example phrase, visit

Devil Wears Prada (en espanol)!

2006-06-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

El Diablo Viste de Prada arrives today. I am very excited because this, not only gives me something else to read in Spanish and practice my reading skills upon (both silently and outloud), it is something that I am familiar with and will be out in a movie very soon.

I wonder, when they come out with the dvds for the movie, they will come out with a Spanish version with subtitles??? It would be an interesting perspective to my Spanish learning progression.

More soon....

New Word of the Day -- pelo

2006-06-22T18:04:00.000-07:00

Spanish: pelo

English: hair

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Example Phrase Using Today's Word:

Spanish: Tiene el pelo rubio.

English: She has blond hair.

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To hear the Word of the Day and the example phrase, visit

Television Show -- Freddie

2006-06-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

This television show was on tonight. It might have been on for several weeks already, but this was the first time I have been off of work in nearly 2 solid weeks.

What was interesting in this show, the Grandma spoke one language only throughout the show and there were subtitles down below, although Freddie understood her perfectly. I am believing that it is Spanish...but, it could very well be Italian because so many of the words are alike. I wasn't listening whole-heartedly to the show because I was playing catch up on several projects I have to catch up on since all I have been doing during the past 2 weeks is working and sleeping.

If possible, I would certainly like to be able to watch this show with some undivided attention, if I am again off on a Wednesday evening. :D

Lesson 2 -- To be or not to be?? lol...

2006-06-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, today was a lesson on the "To Be Verbs". See the below examples.

SER (permanent characteristics)
Yo soy...
(ie name) Yo soy Kathryn. (I am Kathryn.)
(ie place of origin) Yo soy de Estados Unidos. (I am from United States.)
(ie adjectives) Yo soy preocupante. (I am worrisome.)
Tu eres...
(ie name) Tu eres Manda. (You are Manda.)
(ie place of origin) Tu eres de Mexico. (You are from Mexico.)
(ie adjectives) Tu erres relajnte. (You are relaxing.)
El es...
(ie name) El es Juan. (He is Juan.)
(ie events) El concierto es en Erwin Center. (The concert is in the Erwin Center.)
Ella es...
(ie name) Ella es Juanita. (She is Juanita.)
(ie events) Ellas tienda es en el mercado. (The shop is in the market.)
Eso es...
(ie physcial descriptions) Eso es alto. (It is tall.)
(ie possessions) Eso es el tuya. (It is yours.)
(ie time singular) Es la una. (It is one.)
(ie time plural) Son las dos. (It is two.)
Usted es...
(ie physical descriptions) Usted es esbelto. (You are shapely.)
(ie possessions) Usted es mio. (You are mine.)
Nosotros somos...
(ie nationalities) Nosotros somos Americanos. (We are Americans.)
(ie adjectives) Nosotros somos alucinante. (We are amazing.)
Ustedes son...
(ie nationalities) Ustedes son Mexicanos. (You are Mexicans.)
(ie adjectives) Ustedes son deprimente. (You are depressing.)
Ellos son...
(ie professions) Ellos son maestros. (They are teachers.)
(ie adjectives) Ellos son emocionate. (They are exciting.)
Ellas son...
(ie professions) Ellas son maestras. (They are teachers.)
(ie adjectives) Ellas son frustrante. (They are frustrating.)

o ESTAR (temporary characteristics)
Yo estoy...
(ie locations) Yo estoy en Austin. (I am in Austin.)
(ie -ando -iendo verbs) Yo estoy comiendo. (I am eating.)
Tu estas...
(ie locations) Tejas esta en Estados Unidos. (Texas is in the United States.)
El esta...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) El esta alucinado. (He is amazed.)
Ella esta...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Ella esta deprimido. (She is depressed.)
Eso esta...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Eso esta emocionado. (It is excited.)
Usted esta...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Usted esta fasinado. (You are fascinated.)
Nosotros estamos...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Nostoros estamos frustrado. (We are frustrated.)
Ustedes estan...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Ustedes estan preocupado. (You are worried.)
Ellos estan...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Ellos estan relajado. (They are worried.)
Ellas estan...
(ie temporary conditions - health/mental state) Ellas estan relajado. (They are worried.)

The tutor also provided me with a list of verbs to practice and learn. (Next week she is going to share with me the power verbs.) In italics I am including some word assoiations that I have to remember the Spanish form of the word; if you can think of others to be able to remember some of these words, please submit in the comments section!

JALAR - pull
LLORAR - cry
BAILAR - dance
COMPRAR - buy (to compare to purchase/buy)
PINTAR - paint (small paint cans)
ENSENAR - teach
DIBUJAR - draw
HABLAR - talk, speak (actually, I know this one
ENCONTRAR - find
CANTAR - sing
JUGAR - play
AYUDAR - help
BEBER - drink (actually, I remember this from the donkey story)
CORRER - run
VENDER - sell (close to english, "vendor")
TENER - have (very close to tiene)
VER - see
DORMIR - sleep (close to dormant, which is when a bear is sleeping dormant)
VENIR - come (if I can remember see = "vir", I can remember this. What is the latin phrase for "I came, I saw, I conquered"? It seems that the spanish forms is derived from latin somehow.
IR - go
MONTAR - ride
LAVAR - wash (a simple derivative, similar to english laboratory where one washes the hands)
LIMPIAR - clean
AHORRAR - save
CARGAR - carry
MOSTRAR - show
ESCUCHAR - listen (seems like the latin form for ear is very similar)
DAR - give
AGARRAR - grab
TOCAR - play (okay, this makes two forms of "play" -- JUGAR and TOCAR)
CORTAR - cut
OLER - smell
LEER - read
TRAER - bring
COMER - eat (comer - eat; comida - food)
PERMANECER - way
OIR - hear, listen
ESCRIBIR - write (similar to latin encribe)
VIVIR - live (Viva - Vivar; long live - live)
SALTAR - jump
PENSAR - think (if someone is pensive, they are thinking)
ESTUDIAR - study (eSTUDIar)
VOLAR - fly
MANJEJAR - drive
NADAR - swim
PREGUNTAR - ask
CONTESTAR - answer (one in a contest should be able to provide an answer)
EMPUJAR - push
CAMINAR - walk
DESCANSAR - test
TRAVAJAR - work (This one I already knew.)
HACER - make, do (I also knew this one.
APRENDER - learn
VER - watch (If I can remember see=Ver & come=Venir, I should be able to remember this one too.)
DECIR - say, tell
SOBREVIVIR - survive

A review was had of of the articles (singular and plural) and adding adjectives (singular and plural). Also, we (or, rather, I) read the first story in the [u]First Spanish Reader[/u] book entitled, "El Burro De Buridan". In short this story was about Juan's donkey who was dying, while carrying oatmeal and water, by not being able to decide whether he was thirsty or hungry; hence the reason for his death. Because he was not so smart in making decisions, in the Spanish culture, they refer to a person as being "el burro" as if to say that that person isn't too intelligent.

NEXT LESSON: Complete the worksheets from last week, finish the paragraph about me in my work, work on lesson worksheets she'll email me, and read the next story in the reader entitled, "Padre, Hijo, o Caballo?". Stay tuned.

New Word of the Day - ordenador

2006-06-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Spanish: ordenador

English: computer

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Example Phrase Using Today's Word:

Spanish: Ese ordenador personal es barato.

English: That personal computer is cheap.

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To hear the Word of the Day and the example phrase, visit

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THIS FREE WORD OF THE DAY
is brought to you by:

Transparent Language, Inc.

Spanish Reader Received

2006-06-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

In ordering the Devil Wears Prada (en Espanol), I discovered another book called, First Spanish Reader: A Beginner's Dual Language Book, and ordered that as well from Amazon.com.

Today, it arrived. It isn't a very thick book, only about 167 pages (including a glossary of vocabulary words), but has a collection of Spanish writers (Don Juan Manuel, Luis Taboada, Jose Milla, Eufronio Viscarra, Ricardo Palma, Lope de Rueda, Enrique Amorim, Juan Jose Arreola, and many others) -- which means nothing to me now, but assures me that the authors "derive from the best and most genuine Hispanic tradition, and are revealing of the life and psychology of the Spanish-speaking peoples".

I look forward to learning more.... My second lesson is tomorrow with my instructor. I'll show her the book to make sure that it is a good track to follow, but it certainly looks as though it is a good startup book to be reading from.

In the meantime, onward with working on my handwritten lessons due tomorrow!!

Lesson Worksheets

2006-06-18T02:21:00.000-07:00

I received some lesson worksheets from my instructor via email. I got pages 2-5, but #1 was missing, which might have some crucial elements in it. For instance, the first lesson consists of masculine and feminine nouns -- especially, with rules of words ending in -o or -a; however, what about the words ending in -e or a constanent? Those rules are left off of the lesson and I will have to seek help elsewhere to help determining the masculinity or feminity of words such as --

coche, hombre, mujer, arbol, hotel, pan, clase, cafe, lapiz, calle, restaurante, camion, llave, salon, ciudad, estudiante, and ventilador.

Once I figure out those then the rest should fall into place.

Part of my lesson is also writing a paragraph in Spanish about my work that I do. So far, I have:

"Yo trabajo a la Nacional Domestico Violencia Hace linea. Yo amor funcionamiento alla porque yo disfrutar rapapolvo personas y guia los recursos que pueden. Mi...."

Not very far, huh? lol....

Later today, I had dinner with my daughter after shopping for some new shoes for me. We had a lot of fun throughout the process; however, I forgot to mention that I had started to take some spanish classes to her, so I called her cell phone while we were travelling to our perspective apartments. She was surprised that I had actually started the lessons and then stated, "Mom, say the ABCs with me. Ah - Beh - Si - ..." At first I was quiet and reflective, it seemed not so long ago that I was telling her the same thing when she was little - excepting not in Spanish. It is amazing how one's life can turn full circle before one knows it!

In the meantime, I hope that the Spanish I learned as a child will come full circle and help me expedite my learning process.

Devil Wears Prada

2006-06-17T02:29:00.000-07:00

I have been reading this book by Lauren Weisberger in my "spare time". For some light, summer reading this has been such a fun book to read this year.

However,

since I am also gearing up for my Spanish, my instructor says that it is good if I sit and practice reading articles written in Spanish. I am trying to make it interesting for me to want to read the materials and discovered that they have this book also written in Spanish!

So,

viola! I placed an order through Amazon to purchase the book (en Espanol), which should be here within 3-5 days.

I am looking forward to its arrival. Having had nearly completed the book in English should give me some guidance into what I am reading as well.

Lesson One - June 15th

2006-06-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

This was my first day of the class. I was both excited and nervous about the meeting because I have been vowing for-ever to take Spanish classes to revive my Spanish skills and regain my confidence in Speaking the language. Especially, after having gone to Guatemala in 2003 and finding that, while I remembered more than I thought in order to communicate, I didn't remember enough to communicate with a bit of charades while trying to express myself.

When I finally got to her apartment, I nervously knocked on her door; after all, this is going to be the beginning of a new relationship wherein I will finally be able to relearn a skill that has gone by the wayside throughout the last 30+ years.

She welcomed me in a very friendly manner, speaking a great deal of Spanish from the onset. Most of this I understood because I can communicate in general "small talk" format in Spanish, but when she asked me what I wanted to learn from my studies in Spanish, I had to revert to English because I was not remembering all the words to put my expressions into the Spanish language.

The lessons then began. We started with the fundamentals of the vowel sounds and general singular/plural and he/she type of rules of forming the words. Later some flash cards were brought out which were hard for me to do. She held the flashcards that said phrases in Spanish and I was to tell her what she said. I was having problems with the verbs (definately need to brush up on those words). I held the cards that had phrases written in English. I was to read the English phrase outloud and then figure out how to say it in Spanish. That was hard, especially, in being weak on my verb knowledge.

We are also going to work on reading and pronounciating words from articles written in Spanish. This should be interesting.

By the time the hour session was over, she was telling me that she would be emailing me my worksheets to work on this week and she asked me to write a paragraph about what I do at work in Spanish!

We had fun in the class and I am looking forward to meeting with her again next week. Until then, I have plenty to do, as well as (while driving) making rrrrrrrrrrr sounds with the tongue against the roof of my mouth.

In the meantime, hasta la luego!

The preparation!

2006-06-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

During the past months I have been gearing up to take Spanish tutoring classes.

In the past, I have bought workbooks and dictionaries in hopes that I can teach myself on my own. I have also purchased CDs teaching the language, but, I find them uninspiring.

One of my coworkers has recently taken upon a bilingual position at the organization I work with and, as such, I contacted the teacher that has been teaching her throughout the past year and got it set up to begin teaching me on the 15th of June.

In the meantime, I have been seeking out brochures, pamphlets, and books written in Spanish to help aid me in my learning process and, before class on the 15th, I purchased a slim digital recording device so that I could hear my teacher speak (and I could practice repeating) while I am driving around town, etc.

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Please be kind in your comments to me as I am learning the language all over again. Any suggestions and comments are welcome though -- especially, if they are conducive to me learning the language quicker. :D