Are you a gringo/yankee in Buenos Aires with beginner/intermediate level Spanish? Interested in a focus test for Bueno, entonces…? Give us an hour and make it up to you

This is a really cool video. For those of you who like Bob Dylan….its the Hurricane video with both Spanish and English Subtitles. Listen to the English while reading the Spanish and see how many new vocab words you can pick up, like “cárcel” (jail).

Cool huh??

Want to learn more? Bueno, entonces… uses Spanish and English subtitles and listening to native Spanish speakers, perfect for both audio and visual learners.

AND it’s kept interesting, so you want to keep watching. Check out the first class for free here: http://www.generallinguistics.com

There are many language programs available for anyone interested in learning Spanish. The newest of these is Buenos, Entonces, which takes a different approach to learning a language. Their goal was to create fast paced lessons on video that follow an entertaining story line, resulting in fun lessons and therefore more effective learning.

The videos are about David, a British guy who moved to Buenos Aires to learn Spanish. He gets a job in a recording studio, where he is taught Spanish by this hot Argentine named Jimena. The videos are mainly Jimena teaching Spanish to David, who is a bit of a clown and is always hitting on Jimena. There are also a few other characters, such as the professor, who explain grammar points and introduce vocabulary.

So how effective is Bueno, Entonces for learning Spanish?
The story is mildly entertaining, and Jimena and David are both extremely charismatic. The dialogue between the two is seemless, and in this aspect, Bueno, Entonces really hit the mark. However, although there are some decent jokes, the classes can still drag on at times. To really learn the content being taught, you have to watch the videos a few times, and they aren”t all that entertaining the second time around.

The classes are well structured, and do a nice job of introducing a mix of grammar and vocabulary, as well as progressively repeating old content with each new class. Perhaps the greatest thing about Bueno, Entonces is that Jimena often speaks at full speed. This will help to prepare you for the real world far better than the other Spanish programs out there, where the Spanish is spoken slowly and clearly.

One of the main problems with Bueno, Entonces is that you are learning everything passively. You learn by watching and listening and don”t have the chance to put it into practice through writing or speaking. This is critical when trying to learn a language. Unless you have an incredible memory, very little of what you learn will sink in enough for you to be able to use it in writing or more importantly, in speech.

Bueno, Entonces does provide a small review after each class, which will help you to remember what you learn following each lesson. Nevertheless, you will need much more than that to ensure you can use this knowledge in speech. This is where programs such as Rosetta Stone have a big advantage over Bueno, Entonces. They may be as dull as your high school math class, but they have lots of interactive exercises that will ensure you learn the content by using it over and over (assuming you force yourself to do the work).

Although not the most effective, Bueno, Entonces leads the way as the most entertaining learn-on-your-own Spanish program available. I would recommend these videos if you want to learn conversational Spanish, and are willing to put in extra time doing different written exercises. The videos would also be useful for anyone who already knows the grammar, but needs practice with comprehension.

- Matt, Vancouver, Canada

Here is some  from Fechu

This is the second time I have had to operate on a magician from the circus.

I recently saw a couple that I don’t think there is a solution.
Why do you say that?
They come to therapy with their lawyers.

Here is another two from Shakira. This is cool, she is singing in English but there are Spanish subtitles already on the video…

This application is engaging and very effective. It incorporates interactive audible and visual cues that make the experience comprehensive. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something informal and effective for learning to speak Spanish. If you need to write a white paper, probably not your best source, but for really learning the spanish that everyone speaks and understand, this is the perfect app.

-gglnt

so we found some Bob Marley songs with Spanish subtitles! pretty cool….

It’s kinda hard to sing along with the Spanish Lyrics because they don’t really fit the music…but definitely a cool exercise!

Here is a super fun song we all love here over at General Linguistics. The video is really 80′s cheezy and hilarious, its also pretty literal so see if you can figure out what they are singing about based on the actions! Enjoy!

Yo no sí© lo que me pasa
cuando estoy con vos
me hipnotiza tu sonrisa
me desarma tu mirada
y de mi no queda nada
me derrito
como un hielo al sol

I don’t know what happens to me
when I am with you
Your smile hypnotizes me
Your look disarms me
and there is nothing left of me,
I melt
like ice on the sun

cuando vamos a algún lado
nunca elijo yo
porque lo único que quiero
es ir contigo
vivo dando vueltas
a tu alrededor
como un perro abandonado
que en la calle te siguií³

When we go somewhere
I never choose the place
because the only thing I want
is to go with you
I live running circles
around you
like an abandonded dog
that follows you in the street

pero yo no soy tu prisionero
y no tengo alma de robot
es que hay algo en tu carita
que me gusta
que me gusta
y se lleví³ mi corazí³n
oh oh, yo no soy tu prisionero
y no tengo alma de robot
es que hay algo en tu carita
que me gusta
que me gusta
y se lleví³ mi corazí³n

But, I am not your prisioner
and I don’t have the soul of a robot
Its just that there is something in your little face (carita is cara=face, ita=term of endearment)
that appeals to me
that appeals to me
and it took my heart
oh oh, I am not your prisioner
and I don’t have the soul of a robot
its just that there is something in you little face
that appeals to me
that appeals to me
and it took my heart

puede ser por tu carí¡cter
o mi voluntad
me hipnotiza tu sonrisa
me desarma tu mirada
y de mi no queda nada
me derrito
como un hielo al sol

It could be your charactor
or my will
your smile hypnotizes me
and your look disarms me
and there is nothing left of me
I melt
like ice on the sun

cuando vamos a algún lado
nunca elijo yo
porque lo único que quiero
es ir contigo
vivo dando vueltas
a tu alrededor
como un perro abandonado
que en la calle te siguií³

When we go somewhere
I never choose the place
because the only thing I want
is to go with you
I live running circles
around you
like an abandonded dog
that follows you in the street

pero yo no soy tu prisionero
y no tengo alma de robot
es que hay algo en tu carita
que me gusta
que me gusta
y se lleví³ mi corazí³n
oh oh,yo no soy tu prisionero
y no tengo alma de robot
es que hay algo en tu carita
que me gusta
que me gusta
y se lleví³ mi corazí³n

But, I am not your prisioner
and I don’t have the soul of a robot
Its just that there is something in your little face
that appeals to me
that appeals to me
and it took my heart
oh oh, I am not your prisioner
and I don’t have the soul of a robot
its just that there is something in you little face
that appeals to me
that appeals to me
and it took my heart

yo no soy tu prisionero
y no tengo alma de robot
es que hay algo en tu carita
que me gusta
que me gusta
y se lleví³ mi corazí³n
oh oh, yo no soy tu prisionero
y no tengo alma de robot
es que hay algo en tu carita
que me gusta
que me gusta
y se lleví³ mi corazí³n
se lleví³ mi corazí³n
se lleví³ mi corazí³n

But, I am not your prisioner
and I don’t have the soul of a robot
Its just that there is something in your little face
that appeals to me
that appeals to me
and it took my heart
oh oh, I am not your prisioner
and I don’t have the soul of a robot
its just that there is something in you little face
that appeals to me
that appeals to me
and it took my heart