Tom Morris: Interview with a Philosopher: On Tennis and Life – What the Racket is All About
What do philosophers have to say about life that’s relevant to your interests? Can modern thinkers help us better understand our experience in the world?… Alain Badiou. Theater, Poetry and Philosophy. 2003 1/6
‘Perry’s excellent dialogue makes a complicated topic stimulating and accessible without any sacrifice of scholarly accuracy or thoroughness. Professionals will appreciate the work’s command of the issues and depth of argument, while students will find that it excites interest and imagination’ – David M. Rosenthal, CUNY, Lehman College….
The last great mystery for science, consciousness has become a controversial topic. Consciousness: A Very Short Introduction challenges readers to reconsider key concepts such as personality, free will, and the soul. How can a physical brain create our experience of the world? What creates our identity? Do we really have free will? Could consciousness itself be an illusion? Exciting new developmen…
In the tradition of grand sweeping histories such as From Dawn To Decadence, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and A History of God, Hecht champions doubt and questioning as one of the great and noble, if unheralded, intellectual traditions that distinguish the Western mind especially-from Socrates to Galileo and Darwin to Wittgenstein and Hawking. This is an account of the world’s greates…
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Used – Frequently hailed as one of the greatest defenders of democratic liberalism in postwar Europe, Raymond Aron left behind a staggering amount of published work on a remarkably wide range of topics, both scholarly and popular. While trained in philosophy, Aron nevertheless left his mark on such fields as economics, sociology, nuclear strategic thought, and international relations. A Politics of Understanding assesses the originality and consistency in Arons corpus, especially in the areas of
$48.05
New – Frequently hailed as one of the greatest defenders of democratic liberalism in postwar Europe, Raymond Aron left behind a staggering amount of published work on a remarkably wide range of topics, both scholarly and popular. While trained in philosophy, Aron nevertheless left his mark on such fields as economics, sociology, nuclear strategic thought, and international relations. A Politics of Understanding assesses the originality and consistency in Arons corpus, especially in the areas of
$48.05
Used – Frequently hailed as one of the greatest defenders of democratic liberalism in postwar Europe, Raymond Aron left behind a staggering amount of published work on a remarkably wide range of topics, both scholarly and popular. While trained in philosophy, Aron nevertheless left his mark on such fields as economics, sociology, nuclear strategic thought, and international relations. A Politics of Understanding assesses the originality and consistency in Arons corpus, especially in the areas of
$58.48
Used – First published over 40 years ago, this complete collection of prose and poetry embodying the fundamental truths of Freemasonry is now reissued by popular demand. Designed for every man who belongs to a Masonic lodge, it gives in essence the universal teachings and philosophy of the Masonic Order. Topics include wisdom, strength, beauty, the brotherhood of man, and the builders, to name but a few.
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Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$36
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$30.13
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$18.73
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$42.96
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$80
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$19.3
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$39.29
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$12
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$39.71
New – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction t
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Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$27.5
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$34.48
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$16.97
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$18.73
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$24
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$6.64
Used – An Introduction to Philosophical Logic has been a popular mainstay among students taking courses in philosophical logic and the philosophy of language since it was first published in 1982. Covering some of the most central topics in philosophy – the proposition, theories of truth, existence, meaning and reference, realism and anti-realism – it aims to be an accessible guide to the topic. This new edition keeps the same successful format, with each chapter as a self-contained introduction
$79.65
New – In the tradition of “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind,” this collection of the teachings of Taizan Maezumi Roshi (1931-1995) consists of short, inspiring readings that illuminate Zen philosophy and practice through simple, eloquent language. Topics include proper meditation practice, the meaning of common Zen expressions, and the cultivation of an enlightened mind. “Appreciate Your Life” is the first collection of the teachings of this popular and influential Zen master. Taizan Maezumi Roshi was
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New – Through fifty scholarly and popular readings, this anthology examines a broad range of topics, drawing from such various disciplines as communication, philosophy, social science, and psychology. The thought-provoking articles discuss the nature of interpersonal contact, connections between verbal and nonverbal cues, person perception and social intelligence, listening, identity management, interpersonal ethics, types of love, transformational conflict management, and diversity. The new nin
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New – This anthology offers fifty-one scholarly and popular readings, that examine a broad range of topics about interpersonal relationships, drawing from such disciplines as communication, philosophy, social science, and psychology. The thought-provoking articles discuss the nature of interpersonal contact, connections between verbal and nonverbal cues, person perception, listening, identity management, gender and ethnic similarities and differences, communication about sex, defensiveness, powe
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New – This anthology offers fifty-one scholarly and popular readings, that examine a broad range of topics about interpersonal relationships, drawing from such disciplines as communication, philosophy, social science, and psychology. The thought-provoking articles discuss the nature of interpersonal contact, connections between verbal and nonverbal cues, person perception, listening, identity management, gender and ethnic similarities and differences, communication about sex, defensiveness, powe
Age New Spirituality – Inspirational Stories ( Part 112 )
Buddhism is a great religion in some respects,but to confuse Buddhism with Vedanta is without meaning; anyone may mark just the difference that exists between Christianity and the Salvation Army. There are great and good points in Buddhism,but these great points fell into hands which were not able to keep them safe. The jewels which came from philosophers fell into the hands of mobs, and the mobs took up their ideas. They had a great deal of enthusiasm, some marvelous ideas, great and humanitarian ideas, but,after all, there is something else that is necessary — thought and intellect — to keep everything safe.
Wherever you see the most humanitarian ideas fall into the hands of the multitude,the first result,you may notice, is degradation. It is learning and intellect that keep things sure. Now this Buddhism went as the first missionary religion to the world, penetrated the whole of the civilized world as it existed at that time, and never was a drop of blood shed for that religion. We read how in China the Buddhist missionaries were persecuted, and thousands were massacred by two or three successive emperors, but after that, fortune favored the Buddhists,and one of the emperors offered to take vengeance of the persecutors, but the missionaries refused. All that we owe to this one verse. That is why I want you to remember it: “Whom they call Indra, Mitra, Varuna — that which exists is One; sages call It by various names.”
It was written, nobody knows at what date,it may be 8,000 years ago,in spite of all modern scholars may say, it may be 9,000 years ago. Not one of these religious speculations is of modern date, but they are as fresh today as they were when they were written, or rather, fresher, for at that distant date man was not so civilized as we know him now. He had not learnt to cut his brother’s throat because he differed a little in thought from himself; he had not deluged the world in blood, he did not become demon to his own brother. In the name of humanity he did not massacre whole lots of mankind then. Therefore these words come to us today very fresh,as great stimulating,life – giving words,much fresher than they were when they were written: “That which exists is One; sages call It by various names.” We have to learn yet that all religions,under whatever name they may be called, either Hindu, Buddhist, Mohammedan, or Christian, have the same God, and he who derides any one of these derides his own God.
Lecturer, entrepreneur and Fortune 500 business consultant, Vish Writer is the author of the Amazon No 1 bestseller, “The Joy of Becoming God”. Visit him at Spiritual Simplicity
Now in paperback, A Grateful Heart is a tool to help readers reclaim and enrich the tradition of pausing before the evening meal to give thanks. Drawing from a range of religious and cultural practices, these 365 blessings celebrate friendship, love, peace, reconciliation, the body, nature, joy, and appreciation of the moment. This illustrated feast for the mind includes quotations from Martin Lut…
Moments of inspiration from some of your favorite saints: strive to imitate their virtues, learn from their timeless wisdom, and ask for their intercessions. Dear St. Padre Pio, Pray for me, please, that I may receive the graces I need to deeply participate in the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Please help me to desire humility, simplicity, and the spirit of obedience in my walk of life. Help me to r…
4+~~Michael Quach~~Michael Quach~~http://itunes.apple.com/app/wiseup/id324476721?uo=5~~2009 Michael Quach~~1.02~~2002511~~226859~~http://sites.google.com/site/michaelquachapps/home/wiseup-~~http://sites.google.com/site/michaelquachapps/home/wiseup-
I love Flyleaf as a band and especially Lacey because they are all Christians (and so am I) and it influences their rock music but they are still very popular because sometimes a band’s religion can be seen as ‘uncool’ which I think is stupid but anyway.
She had a tough upbringing and she brings that to their music. She is probably the most known member of Flyleaf and I like the fact how she says Christianity saved her life.
She also plays bass guitar and screams rele well. I think female screamers are rare and I like the way she does it. At the same time though she has a rele good singing voice that’s kind of hypnotic. I rele like Flyleaf lol and I only just found out about them recently.
My other music idols are Hayley Williams (of Paramore) because she has a lot of attitude and is Christian but just seems to do everything with such ease; and Patrick Stump because he is just a musicial genius in my eyes. I love him lol.
Yeah, so rant over. Who are yours?
John Petrucci.
Zakk Wydle.
Dimebag Darrell.
Adrian Belew.
Buckethead.
Mark Morton.
Michael Ammott.
Derek Sherinian.
Jordan Rudess.
Chris Adler.
John Boecklin.
Simon Phillips.
Danny Carrey.
Thomas Lang.
I can’t say enough good things about these individuals. They are each extrememly talented and most are considered virtuosos. Most people might know 1 or 2 of them, but that’s because they don’t step away from the $#%^&* radio.
Two Worlds Collide {Joe Jonas + Hayley Williams = Jayley}
What were the most brutal punishments in the inquisition? And what about witchcraft?
Just curious…
I meant both Inquisitions. I also meant, what were the most brutal punishments for witchcraft?
The Pear perhaps? Maybe the Pyramid. The Cat’s Claw. The Boots sounded quite horrifying.
The Pear was a pear shaped, metal object which splayed out after it was inserted into an orifice. I will allow you to use your imagination.
The subject who was honored enough to experience the Pyramid would be nude, have hands and feet tied and sit on the tip of the metal pyramid. Gravity would slowly take effect.
The Cat’s Claw was simply a metal, sharp tipped claw tool used to tear the flesh off of a conscious individual.
The Boots were wooden boards fastened to each side of the subjects legs starting at the knee. As they were gradually tightened, they were also hammered repeatedly reducing the lower legs to mush.
There are quite a few museums housing remnants of these torture devices all over Europe. There are so many different sick devices, that investigating one of the suggested websites will explain more. Dying on the funeral pyre was horrible in itself, suffocation and lungs exploding and everything, yikes, but that was also the finale after one of the above mentioned tortures.
There were many tortures reserved solely for women. Women who spoke forthrightly. I am not sure what your inquiry about witchcraft was. Torture for witchcraft? Witchcraft in general? Accusations of dealing with the devil was an easy way to condemn an individual who might have had a friction inside of a community. Some men suffered this fate as well, but the vast majority of the accused were women.
I don’t know how far we have come, though, when we live in a country that condones Capital Punishment.
In 1631, at the epicenter of the worst excesses of the European witch-hunts, Friedrich Spee, a Jesuit priest, published the Cautio Criminalis, a book speaking out against the trials that were sending thousands of innocent people to gruesome deaths. Spee, who had himself ministered to women accused of witchcraft in Germany, had witnessed firsthand the twisted logic and brutal torture used by judges…
`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written – however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and coun…
This comprehensive resource explores the intersection of religion, politics, and the supernatural that spawned the notorious witch hunts in Europe and the New World. Witch Hunts in the Western World: Persecution and Punishment from the Inquisition through the Salem Trials traces the evolution of western attitudes towards magic, demons, and religious nonconformity from the Roman Empire through the …
$2.16
Used – An absorbing compendium of ‘who-dunnits’, gory fellings, witchcraft, infanticide and assassinations that have changed the course of history. Spanning more than a thousand years of European history, this book looks at the motives, means and consequences of the murders of — and sometimes by — members of Europe’s ruling families. It includes tales of family rivalry, religious fanaticism, witchcraft, assassinations and revolution, together with gruesome accounts of the punishments that befe
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New – Trixie explores her witchy genes (inherited through seventeen generations) at a school for witches, which is Very Extremely NOT Hogwarts! Trixie can’t believe her luck when she’s invited to attend a half-term taster course in witchcraft and Wizardry at Conundrums Academy. But her witchy prowess and her inventiveness are tested to the full by the Very Extremely peculiar rules and punishments, and the generally strange goings-on. Trixie is also on a secret mission to find a Long Lost Family
$80.76
Used – Taking another person’s life is the crime for which every society reserves the strongest of punishments. But why (and when) is the act of killing sometimes defined as murder – as inexcusable – and sometimes considered a justifiable, or even righteous, act? Grappling with this ambiguity, Tony Waters sheds light on the sociology of murder. This innovative text draws on wide-ranging case studies of killing – from urban gangs in Washington D.C. to the Salem witchcraft trials, from the “Wild W
$79.57
Used – Taking another person’s life is the crime for which every society reserves the strongest of punishments. But why (and when) is the act of killing sometimes defined as murder – as inexcusable – and sometimes considered a justifiable, or even righteous, act? Grappling with this ambiguity, Tony Waters sheds light on the sociology of murder. This innovative text draws on wide-ranging case studies of killing – from urban gangs in Washington D.C. to the Salem witchcraft trials, from the “Wild W
Learning a language, or any new skill, is as much about self reflection as it is any other process. Only through self-reflection can one know what works, what doesn’t work, and what motivates and doesn’t motivate. I thought I’d write, based on my own self-reflection, about how I would learn Spanish, knowing what I know now, if I could do it all again.
When I say ‘learn’ I’m referring to becoming conversational in the language (being able to comfortably express yourself on just about every non-technical topic).I’m going on the assumption that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to visit a Spanish speaking country so this would all be home-based, independent learning. Of course the steps herein may not be to your style but if you’re fairly lazy and detest verb tables and formal learning in general then you may find them useful.
Warning: Note that I don’t include writing exercises. I don’t have too much desire to practise my writing and with Spanish I don’t believe too much practise is necessary. The written language isn’t a million miles away from the spoken language.
It’s no easy task learning a language so it’s wise to know what you’re getting yourself into before hand. Unrealistic expectations are a major cause of loss of motivation. Therefore if we go with the Foreign Service Institute’s estimate of 1000 hours to become conversant in Spanish we can begin to map out some realistic expectations. Before we continue I’d like to say that I don’t think learning any language is simply a 1000+ hour venture. I believe it’s a life long journey that after X amount of hours becomes an enjoyable road that you continue to walk down and reconstruct time and time again. I say X because we are all different when it comes to gleaning pleasure from language learning. Some love the beginning stages of wading through new and shiny grammar and others prefer the pleasure that comes later on like reading or speaking. I’m the latter. And because of this you’ll notice as you read this article that the first 12 months are quite rigid whereas the next 12 months are much more relaxed and I concentrate on doing only what I enjoy. I seem to need this rigid planning to keep myself on track while I’m trooping through what I consider to be the less enjoyable beginning stages of language learning.
So, let’s pretend that I have accepted my fate and I’m ready and willing to commit to 1000 hours. Do I simply expose myself to 1000 hours of Spanish, regardless of the method, and wait for the magic to happen? Some say yes but I’m not so sure. I agree that time is the number one factor in language learning but I also believe the method you use does have an influence on your progress. How can you possibly be as effective with a course that bores you to death compared to one that you find stimulating? And how can you guarantee to stick at the task if the course you use is like watching teeth grow?
Now, we have two distinct camps (I’m sure there are many more than two actually) in language learning. That of speaking early on in the learning process or delaying speech until the latter stages. On the one side Stephen Krashen’s input hypothesis states that all a person really needs to do to learn a language is to expose themselves to constant comprehensible input without speaking. Krashen argues that comprehensible input means stimuli such as audio dialogue or reading that is only marginally above the ability of the learner so that they can understand most of what is being said but are still stretching themselves. Krashen claims that only after massive comprehensible input can one begin to produce comprehensible output. Krashen also states, rather appealingly, that language acquisition is not about learning grammar rules through books but about internalising grammar rules by observing and understanding the language in its natural context (T.V., books, conversation). I tend to agree with him to a degree on this but I see no harm in referring to grammar books if you’re curious about particular aspects of the language.
On the other end of the spectrum we have the likes of Alexander Arguelles who claims that speaking from the outset, through a method known as ‘shadowing’ amongst others, begins the process of automated speech which will help you get to a conversational level quicker. Shadowing is when you simply listen to a dialogue and repeat what the speaker has said as soon as they say it while trying to understand what is being said. Ideally you should be reading the transcript in English or Spanish at the same time to aid understanding. Which camp to go with?
Well since I like tangible results (i.e. things I can see, feel, hear now) I’m more inclined to go with speaking early on. I can’t say that this is more effective as I’ve never delayed speech before but it suits me. I do plan on trying delayed speech when I take up the Portuguese challenge before we go to Brazil but that’s a long way away so for now it’s shadowing. Right so after all that what next? Although I have my 1000 hour timeframe I haven’t said how I’d like those hours to be spread out. Since I’m fairly impatient I would like to complete them within two years. That’s around an hour and a half a day (just less actually).With a few good courses and consistent study I believe this is reasonable.
I mentioned in this Spanish course review that I very much like a course called Assimil. The course has two levels; ‘Spanish With Ease’ and ‘Using Spanish’. With Ease has about 100 dialogues, contains about 2,500 words, and includes a huge array of grammar points as well as various forms of the subjunctive that most ‘advanced’ course don’t even touch upon. The ‘Using’ course, with about 54 dialogues, by my very rough estimation could contain between 2,000 and 3,000 new words, including many more grammar points. So combining these courses you’ll be looking at a vocabulary of about 5,000 words and a very good handle on grammar and common idioms. So with Assimil as my first stop I would begin working through the courses as stated in the instructions only I would do two lessons per day rather than one and I would place more emphasis on repeatedly shadowing the dialogues and listening out for pronunciation nuances. I would remember to read the grammar points each day.
That’s about an a hour day. I’d have a review session of about 15 minutes every day where I would re-listen to the dialogues I’ve already studied. I would do the first lesson in the morning, the second after work and the review before bed. That’s an hour and a fifteen minutes a day. We need an hour and a half everyday to be done in two years but I’ll talk about the extra fifteen minutes a little later on.
At this rate I would have finished both Assimil, passive and active phase, after about 5 months (I’ve added a little more time for unforeseen interruptions). Now that we’ve ‘completed’ Assimil we would be mad to put it a side. Although we’ll know a good portion of the stuff in there we won’t have it down pat so I’d put a thirty minute window aside every day to re-shadow all the audios until I had them ingrained. This would take another seven months or so. Right now we would have clocked up around 290 (give or take) hours just on Assimil alone but believe me it’ll be worth it.
As I mentioned during the first five months I’d have an extra 15 minutes to spare. My suggestion would be to listen to some beginner podcasts . Some good free beginner podcasts are Notes in Spanish and Lingq Spanish. I would just lie back and listen away. Listening comprehension is arguably the most difficult aspect of language learning so I would make sure to put at least 15 minutes a day aside specifically for that. Once I’ve gone through the beginner podcasts I’d start going through their intermediate podcasts. After 12 months you will have clocked up a whopping 90 hours from podcasts alone. That’s 390 hours including the mileage clocked up with Assimil. But that still leaves us with 45 minutes a day to play with after the initial five month stint with Assimil.
This is where, for me, language learning becomes much more enjoyable. This method is an adapted version of the Listen-Reading system described here (L-R). Firstly I would find an unabridged audiobook in the target language (Spanish); lets say the first Harry Potter book (that’s right I love the Pott’s!). Then I would get the book in both Spanish and English. I would then, for 45 minutes each day, listen to the audiobook while reading the English text simultaneously. So whatever the Spaniard is saying you’re reading the equivalent in English. I would essentially be matching the English words with the Spanish sounds. This will be reasonably tough at first but since I would have already spent 6 months learning Spanish I would get used to it fairly quickly. Since the audiobook is 8 hours long it would take me 11 days. Once I’ve done this I’d do it again. Another 11 days.
The truth is I wouldn’t be limited to Harry Potter. As long as you can get an unabridged audiobook in Spanish and the text in both languages and you enjoy the book you’ll be fine. It just so happens I really like Harry Potter. Once I’ve done this two or three times with the English text it would be time to do the same with the Spanish text. Just once through with the Spanish text should suffice. I quite enjoy this part of it. It offers huge gains to your reading ability and a great confidence booster when you find yourself understanding the majority of the story without any English assistance.
Now do this with another book. I’ve done it with Harry Potter, Angels and Demons, and Dejado Atras with great success. Once I would have completed three books or so I would have done around 160 hours and it would have taken seven months (making allowances for any unforeseeable interruptions). In all that makes about 540 hours in 12 months.
The beauty of the 13 month mark is that my reading skills will be seriously up to scratch, my listen skills should be more than useful, and my speaking ability should be decent but possibly a little weaker than the other two skills. All in all I’d be about the mid-intermediate range (whatever that is). It is at this point where I think I’ll be beyond formal courses and I’ll need to discover exactly what it is that I enjoy doing in my mother tongue that I could just as easily do in my target language.
Whilst I don’t think the studying should be as structured I should exercise each of the main areas as much as possible.
For my listening skills I would do the following:
1) Listen to advanced podcasts.
2) Listen attentively to Spanish music.
3) Watch Spanish DVDs (with the Spanish subtitles on if comprehension is hard going).
4) I would then extract the audios from the DVDs and listen to them wherever I go.
5) If the DVD audio is still particularly difficult I would simply slow it down using the speed option on my mp3 player.
Reading improvement:
1) Choose a list of books I’ve always wanted to read and go through them.
2) Change my facebook page, mobile phone software, and whatever else I can to Spanish.
3) All the internet searches I would ordinarily do in English I would do in Spanish.
Speaking improvement:
1) Find a Spanish conversation partner.
2) Shadow audiobooks I enjoy.
3) Speaking to myself all the time. In fact this should be done from day one.
And hey presto! One and a half hours a day of enjoying myself for another 12 months and I’m well on my way to being conversational.
Below you’ll find a simple table of how I would arrange my first 12 months.
About the Author
I am an EFL/ESL teacher, traveller, avid language learner and author of the below blog.
This limited edition DVD set includes the 2-disc extended widescreen edition of Angels & Demons and the 2-disc full screen special edition of The Da Vinci Code. It also includes an exclusive bonus disc with special 90-minute feature Angels & Demons: Decoded plus Angels & Demons Digital Copy for your PC, PSP, Mac or iPod.
Dan Brown’s international bestseller comes alive in the film The Da Vinci Cod…
In Ron Howard’s thrilling follow-up to The Da Vinci Code, expert symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) follows ancient clues on a heart-racing hunt through Rome to find the four Cardinals kidnapped by the deadly secret society, the Illuminati. With the Cardinals’ lives on the line, and the Camerlengo (Ewan McGregor) desperate for help, Langdon embarks on a nonstop, action-packed race through seal…
Special edition includes two-disc theatrical & extended edition of Angels & Demons plus audiobook MP3 CD version.
In Ron Howard’s thrilling follow-up to The Da Vinci Code, expert symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) follows ancient clues on a heart-racing hunt through Rome to find the four Cardinals kidnapped by the deadly secret society, the Illuminati. With the Cardinals’ lives on the line, an…
World-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization — the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with…
World-renowned Harvard symboligist Robert Langdon is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization – the Illuminati. Desperate to save the Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with …
An ancient secret brotherhood. A devastating new weapon of destruction. An unthinkable target. When world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is summoned to his first assignment to a Swiss research facility to analyze a mysterious symbol — seared into the chest of a murdered physicist — he discovers evidence of the unimaginable: the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as th…
$9.95
Used – Brown’s “Angels & Demons” is now available in a Spanish-language audiobook. Unabridged. 18 CDs.
