| Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in | | | | popular is using your computer to help learn a |
| the world - perhaps as many as 400 million people | | | | language. There are in fact a wide variety of |
| speak the language. Apart from being spoken in Spain | | | | computer-based courses available for learning Spanish |
| itself, the language is spoken in many other countries | | | | - some of these are are delivered on CD-ROMs, |
| as well, including in most of Central and South America, | | | | whereas others are delivered entirely through the |
| in many Carribean countries, and in Equitorial Guinea in | | | | Internet, which of course has the advantage of giving |
| Africa (which was a Spanish colony until 1968). | | | | you immediate access to the course materials. |
| Additionally, there are many Spanish speakers in the | | | | Obviously the language courses that are available |
| United States of America (where Spanish is the | | | | from different manufacturers are different from each |
| second most widely spoken language). | | | | other, and in fact manufacturers may also update their |
| Whether you plan on visiting a Spanish-speaking region | | | | courses from time to time as well. As result, what you |
| or country, want to do business with Spanish speaking | | | | may find in any particular computer language course |
| people, or simply hope to expand your knowledge of | | | | can vary quite widely. The type of things that you |
| Latin culture, I am sure that you'll agree that learning the | | | | might want to look for include audio tracks (if they are |
| Spanish language, and eventually becoming a fluent | | | | in MP3 format you may be able to listen to them both |
| Spanish speaker, would be a useful skill! | | | | on your computer and download them to your iPod or |
| When most people think about learning a foreign | | | | portable MP3 player), tools to help you learn Spanish |
| language, they tend to think of going to classes, | | | | grammar, and interactive software programs which |
| reading books, or perhaps using audio-tape based | | | | can help you learn Spanish vocabulary and help you |
| courses. However, one option that is increasingly | | | | recognize words spoken by native Spanish speakers. |