PODCASTS (click to listen)

Español

Llevaba un tiempo pensando en meter podcasts en el blog. La verdad es que son una herramienta muy útil, y más cuando se trata de enseñar lenguas extranjeras. Pues bien, después de haber estado investigando cómo hacerlo durante más de una semana y de haberme peleado con los distintos programas de grabación de voz ¡por fin lo he conseguido! Si hacéis click en el post de “Modern ways to learn Languages” oiréis mi voz en casellano…De momento sólo he hecho un podcast, pero a partir de ahora iré metiendo más en todos los posts previos.

En el aprendizade de una segunda lengua es fundamental desarrollar las cuatro destrezas lingüísticas: la comprensión lectora (mediante la lectura), la expresión oral (hablando todo lo que se pueda en ese idioma), la expresión escrita (intentando escribir ) y la comprensión auditiva (realizando audiciones). Bueno, pues a partir de ahora vais a poder desarrollar vuestra comprensión auditiva a través de los podcasts de este blog. ¡Viva la tecnología!

Un buen truco para esforzar el oído es el escuchar la grabación antes de leer el texto. Siempre podéis escucharlo un par de veces para ver si más o menos habéis captado la idea general, y la tercera vez podéis escucharlo mientras leéis el texto, fijándoos más en las expresiones que desconozcáis…Y no olvidéis ir metiendo el vocabulario nuevo en el langauge routebook =)

English

I´ve been thinking about adding podcasts to the blog for a while. The truth is that they're extremely useful tools, especially when it comes to learning foreign languages. Well, after a week of research and fights with different sound programmes I've finally made it! If you click on the post entitled “Modern Ways to Learn Languages” you'll hear me speaking Spanish...At the moment I've just made a podcast, but from now on I'll be adding more to the previous posts.

Regarding language learning, it's essential to develop the four language skills: reading comprehension (through reading), oral comprehension (speaking as much as possible), written comprehension (writing in the foreign language) and listening comprehension (listening to the L2 ). Well, from now on you'll be able to develop your listening skills through the podcasts of this blog. Long live technology!

A good trick to improve your listening comprehension is to listen to the recording before reading the text. You can always listen to the podcast twice to see if you've got the gist, and the third time you can listen to it while reading the post, now paying attention to unknown expressions...And don't forget to write the new vocabulary on your language routebook =)

Vocabulario:

Herramienta: Tool

Destreza lingüística: Language skill

¡Viva la tecnología!: Long live technology!

Truco: Trick

Captar/coger la idea general: To get the gist

Dos veces: Twice

Tercera vez: Third time

THE ROUTE BOOK

It is a fact that expanding your vocabulary is the best way to become proficient in a foreign language. Knowing as many words as possible can save you from embarrassing situations. Think about that interesting conversation you were holding with a Spaniard that was becoming tedious because you didn’t know how to say “arcade” (sala de juegos) and you had to explain it using too many words!

But don’t worry, I have the perfect solution for you. I made up this method several years ago and I can assure you that it is very helpful. All you need is a small notepad divided into different sections in different colours (see picture). Each section will focus on a specific language area:

-Colloquial sentences (grammar notes can be included here as well).
-Collocations (nouns with their typical adjectives).
-Adjectives.
-Verbs .

This way whenever you´re reading an article and find an interesting word that you don´t know you can write it down in the notepad. If it is a verb, in the verb section, if it is an adjective, in the adjective section and so on. It is very important to write down the meaning of the word alongside an example of the word in context, otherwise you won’t know in which situations you can use that specific word.

The good thing about this technique is that you can take it everywhere with you. This is why I call the notepad “The route- book”, because you can read it on the bus, while your computer is loading…and this way you will refresh your already memorized words. Easy and practical! I really hope it is as useful for you as it has been for me =)