Have you studied this course or are you about to?

26 replies [Last post]

- Fri, 04/03/2011 - 11:51

Have you studied this course or are you about to? What tips or advice are you seeking and what can you bestow.

I did this course before a two-week holiday in rural Spain where English-speaking locals were almost nil. I survived the self-catering holiday even venturing out to the butchers, fishmongers and supermarket for some bits and bobs for the much-missed BBQs. Which reminds me, I need a holiday...

___________________________

Scott (member of the Platform team)

Dean Marshall - Sun, 13/03/2011 - 16:07

Hi there to all that reads this,

I am about to start this course in November and I have very limited knowledge of this language, and as far as speaking Spanish, I know the very basics like, 'Hello', 'Goodbye' and that is about it, so therefore I am hoping that this course is going to help me advance to more than just managing to get by when I go to Spain on a visit. Pending the results of this course, and how much I pass by will depend on if I go to a more advance course in the future, so I would like to invite all those out there that have done this course in the past to let me know how they got on with it, their experiences with the course, and how easy it was to follow and understand. Please note that I will always respond to any thing left from this post, and invite all to get in touch.

Best regards

Dean

Yvonne Cook - Sun, 13/03/2011 - 19:12

HI Dean

When I was preparing to move to Spain in 2005 I bought Portales to use as a self-study pack - that's effectively the course materials but no tutorial support or assessments. I had no previous knowledge of Spanish but I did speak some French and a little Italian. It got me off to a good start - when I signed up for an intensive language course in Spain I was assessed as Lower Intermediate level, and that was before I finished Portales. I thought it was pretty good, it got you speaking and listening but also taught you the structure and grammar which I think is important if you want to speak a language properly. I didnt find the material all hard to follow, even without a tutor. The bits I enjoyed most were the songs! I can still remember the words to La Bamba. Having said that, any language learning is hard work, you have to be prepared to put in the time and not get discouraged when you dont get on as fast as you'd like. - And there's no short cuts, it's just doing the work and getting as much practice in speaking and listening as you can. Suerte!

Yvonne

Lawrence Owen - Thu, 17/03/2011 - 01:58

Hey,

I'm going to do this course in November too... I'm really excited, I speak italian fluently, so I am hoping that having a latin language under my belt will help me out. Hopefully it wont just confuse me!

Do you go on to do a BA in Modern Language?

That's what I'm hoping to do.

Lawrence

Dean Marshall - Tue, 29/03/2011 - 14:01

Hi there Lawrence.

I am not planning to go on to do a BA in modern language, but just using this course to gain the points needed to complete my open degree, and it was the L194 that sounded the most interesting. I look forward to hearing more from you in November, and hopefully we will be able to help each other through what might be a complicated course to get our heads round. Hope to get to know you a little more. You can always contact me with the following email address, LORDMARSHALL2011@AOL.COM. Best regards,

Dean

Darrelle Bower - Sun, 29/05/2011 - 14:30

Hello I am thinkingofn starting this in November, and have two questions that I hope someone who has already studied might help with.

1 I lived in Spain for 18 months about 5 years ago. My Spanish then could get me by in the shops and talking to neighbours, but I think I have forgotten a lot since. Will this be the best course for me or should I look at the second one? I have no formal learning at all.

2. My next concern is how much tim eit will take up. It's quite a long course, but not that many points. Is it time consuming or would I have time to fit something else in as well? I am currently struggling to keep up with one 60 point level 3. Does anyone else have any experience with that?

Thanks

Darrelle

Gonzalo Portas - Wed, 29/06/2011 - 19:57

Hi there Gonzalo

I'm spanish guy but I live in Vienna Austria

I'm studying maths and I'm in the northern group. Just say that maybe I could help you. Obviously not in the course but in general things and general concepts.
And maybe you can help me with my English.In the same way

As an exchange, just an idea.

regards

gonzalo

Mary David - Mon, 15/08/2011 - 16:23

just enrolled for nov 2011 - looking forward to it. wondered how the earlier posters fared and whether you have any pearls of wisdom for those following in your footsteps!

regards mary

David Miller - Thu, 25/08/2011 - 15:44

Hi all,

Looking forward to starting, I'm hoping and assuming that the spoken lessons supplied can be easily transfered to MP3. I will them be able to listen whilst commuting :-)

Dave

Mary David - Fri, 26/08/2011 - 16:06

haven't checked yet - but i believe they are all there already on i tunes u.

Do you have any spanish already? I don't but I'm hoping I'll be able to keep up. Where in world are you studying? I'm in south wales. Good Luck.

Fiona Finnie - Mon, 05/09/2011 - 22:17

Hi Everyone,

I will begin this course in November too. Can't wait! Hoping to study towards a Business Studies degree with Spanish specialism.

Fiona

Carol Cruickshank - Sun, 18/09/2011 - 16:57

Hello All

Also enrolled for November, so looking forward to getting started. And as the study materials are now in the post, its beginning to feel real! Studied with the OU some years ago, but this is my first attempt at learning a language with way. I only know about 5 words of Spanish, so it will be a good test.

Carol

Margaret Billing - Sat, 24/09/2011 - 22:06

Hello

I am looking forward to starting Portales - after two frustrating years of tail chasing at evening classes......

There seem to be a few people posting over in the OUSA forum for L194 as well.

If anyone is based near Leeds perhaps we could arrange to meet and practice speaking Spanish?

Sarah-Jane Kerrison - Fri, 30/09/2011 - 18:46

Hi Margaret.

I too have decided to complete portales following 2 years of evening classes.

I live in Hull if thats any good to you. My email is sarahkerrison@hotmail.co.uk if you want to get in touch.

Regards

Sarah

Veronique Vergeres - Tue, 27/09/2011 - 20:40

My name is Véronique. It's the first time I work with the OU. And it's also the first time I learn a language this way... Happy to start!

Dean Marshall - Thu, 29/09/2011 - 12:16

I think the following facebook page may be useful to everyone doing the L194 course, as it is where everyone is meeting up. We also aim to do a video conference as well using SkyPe, where members are leaving the usernames. I think this is a great idea, and for those that think the same then please click on the following link and follow us.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/165042573575258/

Jules Lewis - Thu, 29/09/2011 - 19:11

Hi everyone

I've also signed up to start in November. I am not fantastic at some of the computer stuff and I've not been in any form of education for 18 yrs so I'm a bit aprehensive to say the least but I'm looking forward to it too. Any help/advice/hints or tips would fall on very grateful ears!

Margaret Billing - Tue, 04/10/2011 - 08:53

Jules - a lot of us are in a similar situation. There is a lot of help on the website.

http://www.open.ac.uk/skillsforstudy/

Have fun!

Stuart Robinson - Mon, 10/10/2011 - 17:46

Afternoon people. Im Stu and i live in Kendal, Cumbria.

I've always fancied learning a language so thought i'd give it a go.
Anyone who lives not to far from Kendal and would like to meet for discussions and attempt a bit of the Spanish lingo, then let me know.

Happy studying

stu

Claire Guennal - Tue, 11/10/2011 - 10:31

Hi there!

Just registered to start Portales! So excited! Did 3 years of Spanish for the Leaving Cert about 10 years ago so hopefully won't be too lost but I'd say we'll all need a hand!! :)

does anybody know when the books are being delivered by the way?

many thanks and happy studying! :)

claire - studying from Ireland but French originally :)

Marcia Ore - Tue, 11/10/2011 - 22:57

Hola,

I have registered for the course and receved my study material last week. The recommended reading books I got from Amazon which were reasonably priced, ordered on Monday and arrived this morning.I have dabbled with Spanish in the past as had a house in Puerto de Mazarron, Spain for a few years, even had a tutor, but never quite got to grips with it when not in the country.

Anyway, really want to learn now and am in the right 'place' to focus and study, when I submit my Masters dissertation for December.

I live in Dudley in the West Midlands but am a frequent visitor to Southampton where my partner lives & works, so if anyone is nearby and they fancy a study buddy please feel free to get in touch.

Adios

Marce

Liz Magunnigal - Sat, 22/10/2011 - 16:59

Hi,

I have just received my learning material for L194 starting on 1st Nov. I decided to start the course only a couple of weeks ago, as I would like to work towards a degree in modern languages. I'm excited to start but apprehensive now... having read some of the different comments on some of the group forums’. One of the main areas of concern with most posts seems to be the lack of opportunity to practice speaking with others. I would be more than happy to become someone’s study buddy and Skype to enable live chat. Or as Dean Marshall has suggested a study group via facebook for live video/Skype would be excellent. After all we are all starting out together whither we have any previous Spanish or not.

I would also suggest downloading Coffebreak Spanish from iTunes, and …I also believe that the Portales beginners’ Spanish is available to download for your mp3 player too.

Delia Scott - Tue, 25/10/2011 - 22:34

Hello

I am just starting the course.

I have basic Spanish but would like to become fluent.

I am hoping to make the first Tutorial In Leeds on 12th November and

meet some of you.

Gary Chapman - Fri, 24/02/2012 - 12:23

Hola amigos,

I'm taking the Portales in September. I lived in Las Palmas for 7 years but my girlfriend spoke perfect english and being agoraphobic and a general anxiety disorder sufferer I didnt get out much. Suffice to say I didnt learn as much as I should have.

BTW. Has anyone looked at "anki" ? It is free flashcard software where you can create, download or share flashcard sets ... seems just the thing for drilling down verbs and vocabulary, I'm using it at the moment.

Or does anyone have other recomendations for flashcard software ?

Also, if you can find a copy to evaluate (*cough* torrent *cough*) the Michel Thomas technique CD's are excellent - although the ones voiced by Thomas himself are hard to follow, but the ones voiced by Paul Noble are excellent... it's so well structured and gentle that you just kind of learn without noticing.

Anyway, buenas suerte to all those on the course. Enjoy, I am sure it's going to be a lot of fun. Especially if you find study partners and co-learn over skype.

I'm going to go back to staring at my calendar now :<

Hasta luego : )

Caz Parry - Sun, 29/04/2012 - 23:19

Hola

I am starting this course in September. I am just downloading all the spanish and french OU stuff from itunes. At least I'll have plenty to listen to even if I can't understand it.

This is my first foray beyond school (after 23 years) so it should be interesting

Caz

Richard Randall - Thu, 30/08/2012 - 15:01

Hello starting the course in october, new to OU and not fully sure what to expect. I was intending on going back to college to study but thought this would be a more cost effective, practical solution so here I am. Anybody else starting in october?

Richard

Luismi Lopez Esteban - Sat, 20/10/2012 - 11:46

Hello everybody.

I'm a Spanish guy about to start a course in IT (m865).. and looking for a bit of fair mutual support.

Anyone interested in being penfriends, or talk a bit on Skype? Don't worry too much about the quality of your Spanish.. my English is far for being perfect :-)

My email is luismi [at] my.open.ac.uk

A suggestion for your studies.. BBC has helped me a lot with the language. I would suggest listening to the radio as much as possible, ever if you don't understand what its on it, just to get to grips with the "flow" of language. Don't even pay attention to it, that will came much later.

One of our national public radios, all-day news, with some interesting stuff.

http://www.rtve.es/radio/radio5/

Espero que disfrutéis mucho de vuestro curso de castellano.

Un abrazo.

Luismi

Have you studied this course or are you about to?

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