Practice Your Letters And Learn Spanish Free

By Rafael Martinez

As attractive and effortless as Spanish sounds, there is always a certain amount of demanding work involved in learning any new language. The rules might seem difficult at first, but don't forget that the English language is often cited as one of the most complicated to learn, thanks to each rule's numerous exceptions.

Spanish is no different, but when you consider how many exceptions to the rule there are in English, the Spanish language and its emphasis on phonetics is actually fairly simple.

The Sounds Of Spanish Vowels

All of Spanish's vowels are associated with strong sounds that will help each word jump off the tongue, like from a diving board. The letter "A" is pronounced like an "uh," an "e" sounds like "ay," the letter "i" becomes an "eee" sound and finally a "u" results in an "ooh" noise. The only vowel that retains the same sound from English to Spanish is the "o," which keeps the "oh" pronunciation.

As an example, let's take a look at a sentence in Spanish and work it out. For our example, we'll use the simple sentence "I like to eat the fried chicken."

Me gusta comer el queso.

"Me gusta" are the first two words, which are pronounced "May Goose-toe" and it means "I like." The following word, "comer," is spoken as "koh-mare" and it means "to eat." Finally, "el queso" means "the cheese" and it is pronounced "el kay-soh."

The Sound Of Spanish Consonants

Consonants take a backseat to the vowels in Spanish just as they do in English. There are a few more rules we have to observe here than there were in the vowels, and even an extra "letter" of sorts: "ch." The letter "ch" is pronounced as you'd pronounce the same letters in the English word "champion."

The letter "c" on its own becomes an "s" sound when it shows up before an "e" or an "i," like in the word "cero," which is how you say "zero" in Spanish. A "g" letter in front of an "e" or an "i" causes that "ch" sound, but anywhere else will mean that same letter will sound like a hard "g," like in the English word "go."

There are additional hiccups as well. The letter "z" will make a "th" sound. The letter "h" is always silent. There's a second new letter as well, the "ll," which is pretty common in Spanish and makes a hard "y" sound like in "you." That sound is used in the word "llamar" and gives the word the following pronunciation: "ya-MAR."

Then there's the little tilde that shows up above many Spanish words, such as in "el nio." In this case, this word makes the same sounds as the "ll" did. As a result, it is pronounced "el neen-yo." These are the majority of Spanish sounds, so as long as you practice these often, you'll be able to say whatever you want.

With enough practice, you'll be able to say just about any word you'd like -- and that's a great way to learn Spanish free. A bit of patience and perseverance will go a long way in the learning process.

There are still more sounds if one cares to look, including "qu," which becomes a hard "k" sound. "R" letters are always rolled, particularly when they crop up at the beginning of a word. The letter "y" is pronounced just like its English equivalent unless it's used by itself or at the end of a word in which case it sounds like "eee. - 30313

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Planning For That Special Mexico Vacation

By Todd Holderson

If you are trying to decide where to spend your time off this year, a Mexico vacation may be just what you need. No matter how you want to spend your holiday, Mexico can deliver the perfect experience. Many people take advantage of the warm weather, gorgeous resorts and thousands of miles of amazing beaches to relax and get away from it all. Adventure seekers can find tons of activities to get their adrenaline going. Everyone appreciates the luscious food and fun markets. A Mexico vacation is a great choice for those who want to relax as well as those who are looking for a more active experience.

Usually when people think "Mexico" they think "sunny beaches." That's not surprising considering that there are almost ten thousand kilometers of coastline. There are all kinds of beaches as well, from serene sands perfect for sunbathing to crashing waves for surfing. Water sports a major attraction drawing folks to Mexico from all over the world. Avid deep sea fishermen return for a Mexican vacation year after year. Scuba diving and snorkeling provide hours of entertainment. Chartering a boat for the afternoon is a fun activity for travelers staying at one of the beautiful resorts near the coast.

Warm beaches is just a small part of what a Mexico vacation can offer. Step back in time by exploring ancient Mayan cities scattered all along the Yucatan peninsula. While there are hundreds of ruins, Chichen Itza is the most famous and was named one of the new seven wonders of the world. To experience exciting nightlife, interesting cultural venues and amazing museums travelers should check out the capital, Mexico City. Eco-tourism is becoming more and more popular all over the world and Mexico is no exception. With unique wildlife and dense jungles you'll find exciting tours that satisfy your itch for adventure.

No matter which part of Mexico you visit, you'll eat delicious meals. But if you think you'll just find greasy burritos you're in for a big surprise. Succulent fruits and vegetables complement zesty meats and freshly-caught seafood. You'll find that each region is known for different ingredients and dishes. You can go to any city or resort area and there will be a market of some kind there that sells the local crafts. You want to make sure that when you purchase a gift from these people that it is made locally and not a foreign knock-off. This is the way you will help support the local economy while you're visiting.

You can make your Mexico vacation as lively or as sedate as you like. You will be at no limit as to the surf, sand and sun that you can take in. There are tropical excursions and urban exploration every where you go. You will have no problem finding adventurous activities while you are vacationing. The stories you will gather will be filled with the amazing cuisine and awe inspiring culture you've encountered. With a life time of activities and adventures to explore you can go on a Mexican vacation each year and never do the same thing twice. - 30313

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