Learn Spanish Online

The Spanish Language site at About is offering this online class. It was offered in 2000 and remains available to help you with your learning.

Some of the instructional material for the class will be available online, but to get the most out of the class you will need a textbook. I have selected Spanish Now! ¡El español actual! by Ruth Silverstein, Allen Pomerantz, and Heywood Wald (Barron's Educational Series, 1997). It's large, lively, thorough, reasonably priced, and readily available at both online and local bookstores. The publisher also offers an audiotape package (sold at some bookstores) as supplementary material and to serve as a guide to pronunciation.

For information on obtaining the answer key, contact Barron's Educational Series, 250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788, telephone (631) 434-3311. At last report, the cost was about $12.

Here's how you can take the course:

• First of all, purchase or borrow the textbook. You'll need to refer to it to fully understand the online lessons. Other than Internet access, it's the only cost you'll incur for the course. You're welcome to participate without it, however.
• You can take any lesson at any time, although lessons will be announced in ssequence on the Spanish Language home page. Each lesson will briefly discuss the material in the text, offer tips for learning, and include a brief audio lesson that you can listen to.
• If you have questions, you can post them on the bulletin board.
• Feel free to take lessons or start the class at any time — you don't even have to take the classes in order if you wish.

¡Disfrute la clase!