So, you’ve have taken Spanish classes, you know some basic Spanish grammar and a bit of vocabulary, and you can translate easy texts form Spanish. What’s next? It seems so much work to get yourself at the next level. Ohhh… do I have to enroll in classes again?
For most people who’ve studied Spanish in high school, college, or through professional courses, learning means memorizing vocabulary from flashcards, brushing up on grammar, listening comprehension practice, and so on. Unless you are submerged to a Spanish-speaking environment, it seems that there’s no other way to learn the language. The good news is that learning can be efficient and results can be lasting. For someone who wants to really learn Spanish, selecting the right educational method is the first critical step.
One of these methods comes from News in Slow Spanish (www.NewsInSlowSpanish.com). The News in Slow Spanish method uses the innovative “80/20” principle. Simply put, students will have a much greater chance of comprehending the 20% of new material when the other 80% is familiar.
The main tenet of the 80/20 principle is building confidence. For those who are returning to foreign language study after a period of time and outside a formal setting, self-confidence and visible results play an enormous role in successful self-education. The 80% that is familiar material acts as a “safe zone” for learners who at times get frustrated with their apparent lack of progress. With the News in Slow Spanish method, even on a bad day, when a student doesn’t manage to learn any of the new 20%, the 80% of what he or she already knew is reinforced and the student retains confidence in his or her existing language skills.
When a foreign language educational program functions properly, familiar material helps construct logical connections – i.e., contextual links – to new material, leaving more time and effort to concentrate on the remaining 20%. News in Slow Spanish utilizes several techniques to implement the “80/20” principle. For example, the program uses world news in the main portion of its weekly show to create familiar context. Because most students already know what happened in the news in the past few days, they are “primed” to receive these news in Spanish.
News in Slow Spanish has helped many students gain self-confidence and achieve quick and lasting results. Visit the show’s website www.NewsInSlowSpanish.com and see for yourself why creators of the program have chosen this motto: You know Spanish more than you think!
