Spanish Class Session Begins Sept. 13
The following information is provided by Rob Cochran, Spanish Instructor:
As many of you know, I teach a Spanish class here in La Misión called “Mastering Spanish Verb Tenses”. My first class is halfway through and I am planning on repeating this popular class starting on September 13th.
I would like to point out that this is an intensive course that focuses on the most challenging part of learning Spanish – verb tenses and conjugations.
In English, we only use a limited amount of conjugations. For example, the verb “to speak” when used in the present tense, is only conjugated in the 3rd person as in he/she “speaks” but in every other case, it remains the same; “I speak”, “you speak”, “we speak”, and “they speak.” But in Spanish the verb “Hablar” (which means to speak) is conjugated each time the subject pronoun changes: “Hablo” (I speak), “Hablas” (you speak) “Habla” (he/she speaks), “Hablamos” (we speak), and “Hablan” (they speak).
And that’s just the present tense. The verb is also conjugated differently for the past tense, future tense, conditional tense, imperfect tense, reflexive tense, and so on.
Many other Spanish classes focus on memorizing pages of vocabulary and idiomatic phrases and expressions. But without a solid understanding of how to use Spanish verbs correctly, your ability to speak Spanish fluently or even conversationally will be limited to a strange combination of broken Spanish and pantomimed English.
There are approximately 20 pages of homework between classes each week. This is not a class for anyone who would prefer a slow-paced easy-learning environment. Nor is it a class that will teach you to speak Spanish in eight weeks. What it IS designed to do is to help you use the Spanish you already know with greater confidence, accuracy, and expressiveness, and provide you with a solid understanding of Spanish verb usage which will serve as a foundation for further study.
If you’ve ever said something like “I understand Spanish a whole lot better than I speak it” then this class is ideal for you. The reason you can understand Spanish but not speak it is because you have not mastered Spanish verb tenses.
So if you or anyone you know might be interested in signing-up for this class, please go to www.bajabeachgeek.com and click on “Spanish Class”.
Classes begin on Thursday, September 13th from 11:00 to 12:30 here in La Misión and will continue each week through November 8th (with the exception of November 1st – no class).
Space is limited so early registration is recommended.
Thanks!
Rob Cochran
The "Beach Geek" of La Misión
Computer Consultant/Spanish Instructor
www.bajabeachgeek.com