Like all the Guides at About.com, I'm a real person. You can email me at spanish.guide@about.com. I'm happy to answer questions when I can, although the volume of mail precludes me from giving thorough answers to all questions, and I give preference to the questions that will be of help to other learners and that I can post in the blog or elsewhere on the site (I won't publish your name when I do this).
I try to stay out of the translation business, but otherwise I'm willing to try answering almost anything regarding the Spanish language, and if I don't know the answer I'll suggest where you can find it. Before writing, please check the FAQ below as well as the bulletin board, or try searching on the site to see if the question has already been answered.
FAQ (Preguntas Más Frecuentes)
What is the Spanish word for _____? What does the Spanish word _____ mean?
If you don't have a paper dictionary handy, there are plenty of good online dictionaries available, including ones dealing with specialized subjects. If I need to look up a word, I usually check the Diccionario de la lengua expañola first, because it's the most thorough and also lists regional definitions, although all definitions are in Spanish. The online Spanish-English dictionary I end up using the most is the one at WordReference.com, because it lists phrases as well as individual words.
Whom do I tell if I have problems with your site?
If your problem is with a mistake in one of the lessons or a blog post, just write to me at the address above and put "correction" or something similar in the subject line. You can also post a comment on a relevant blog post. The same goes if you see something that isn't clear — my goal is to help people learn Spanish, and I'm more than happy to try to clear up confusion.
If your problem is with technical aspects of the site or anything else that's out of my control, the folks at Customer Care will be glad to help.
How can I find out about new lessons on your site?
I email a newsletter at least once a week that describes all the new lessons and other new features on the site. To find out sooner, check out the blog, in which I feature new and old lessons as well as occasional tidbits about Spanish in the news. Of course, the site is also featured on Facebook and Twitter.
What is the best way to learn Spanish?
The answer to that depends on you, because the answer is different for everyone. For starters, I advise taking an approach that's consistent with your learning style. Then I suggest you take a look at what has worked for other people learning Spanish — a good place is our feature "Begin To Think in Spanish." What many have found in general is that what works best is taking every opportunity you can to use the language rather than making it merely an academic exercise.
I don't know any Spanish. Where should I start?
There are dozens of lessons on this site aimed at beginning students. Many of them are listed on this page: Start Learning Spanish.
How can I type accented letters and Spanish punctuation on my computer?
The answer depends on what type of computer and software you're using. The processes for most desktop computers are discussed in lessons on the Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems.
What is the best software for learning Spanish?
To see what has worked best for other Spanish students, see our collection of reviews on software for learning Spanish.
How much does Spanish vary from country to country?
The differences between, say, the Spanish of Spain and the Spanish of Mexico are comparable to those between American English and British English. If you can make yourself understood in one area, you'll have no major problems anywhere else that Spanish is spoken. For further information, see this lesson: Varieties of Spanish.
How can I get college credit for studying Spanish at home?
A wealth of resources about getting formal education at home has been compiled by About.com's Distance Learning Guide.
How can I advertise on your site?
Check with our advertising staff.