We need to learn Spanish to prepare for life in Costa Rica. I had a lot of fun immersing myself while we were there, and except for one occasion at a bus terminal where I was completely dumbfounded, I was able to communicate well enough. It would be really helpful to learn some of the grammar and improve my vocabulary for our return to Costa Rica.
I’m always on the lookout for free online resources since I spend a lot of time at a computer. I’m getting close to mastering my Inbox. I use Google Reader and Google Alerts to keep up with websites, blogs and news topics. And now I’ve come across some websites that offer opportunities to learn Spanish for free, thanks to Wide Open Education, a website devoted to online learning. Read more »
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To prepare for the eventual move to Costa Rica, we need to learn Spanish, which rocks since it’s a perfect example of self-directed learning. Why should the kids have all the fun? Our library system has been a great help since we can try different books and resources to see what gels with us. We started with library books for the kids, since it would be a fun way for all of us to learn together.
Our current reading includes Senor Felipe’s Alphabet Adventure, about a photographer whose assignment is to photograph one item for each letter of the Spanish alfabeto. It’s written in English, with Spanish words for each item photographed, and there’s an additional list of vocabulary at the end of the book. We’re also reading El sombrero del tÃo Nacho / Uncle Nacho’s Hat, which is bilingual, with the story written both in English (sprinkled liberally with Spanish words and phrases) and Spanish. The story follows Uncle Nacho as he just can’t seem to get rid of his old hat that’s full of holes. It’s very helpful for Trish and me to see both versions since the alfabeto book provides a lot of vocabulary but little in the way of verbs. Read more »
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Just ’cause something is called a children’s movie doesn’t make it automatically appropriate in my book. There’s a big difference between something like Finding Nemo and Robots, between something that is wholesome entertainment and one that is a needlessly crass. kids-in-mind can help decide whether a movie is appropriate for your kids or not.
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I just came across this today and had to share it - a super-fast, no frills online dictionary called Ninjawords. Lately I’d been using The Free Dictionary, which loads pretty slowly but gives a ginormous plethora of info like a long list of synonyms with definitions. Ninjawords is WAY different - the page loads in a split second, and the definition appears a split second after you start looking for it (either by hitting Enter after typing the word or by clicking ‘Look Up’). Most of the time all I want to do is quickly get a definition and get on with my life, and Ninjawords is perfect for that. Sometimes I look for more, and either The Free Dictionary or the Online Etymology Dictionary (another new discovery) would be a more suitable choice.
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