Learn to Speak Spanish

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Learn Spanish
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Origins of the Spanish Language
Spanish is a member of the Romance group in the Italic subfamily of the Indo-European language family. Descended from Latin, it is closely related to French, Italian and Portuguese. It is also known as Castilian, after the dialect from which modern Spanish developed.

The Spanish vocabulary is basically of Latin origin, although it has been enriched by many borrowed words from other languages, especially Arabic, French, Italian, and various indigenous languages of North, Central, and South America. The oldest extant written records of Spanish date from the middle of the 10th century A.D.

How many people speak the Spanish language?
An estimated 350 million speak Spanish throughout the world.

Spanish-speaking Countries
Spanish is the mother tongue of some 40 million Spanish residents. It is also spoken in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The are differences in pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar between Castilian and major dialects of Latin American Spanish.

Screenshots from Talk Now! Learn Spanish CD-ROM

Talk Now Spanish CD-ROM Details

This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun, easy and relaxing. There is no better way to teach an old dog new tricks and this fun element of the program means that your fears are forgotten as you absorb words and phrases without even realising you are learning them.

Talk Now! is the world's best selling language learning CD-ROM series for beginners, used by more than three million people to date. It's ideal for travellers, holidaymakers, business people, schoolchildren, students and families.

Anyone over 10 years of age will find the disc indispensable for improving listening, understanding and spoken language skills. There are nine topics: first words, food, colours, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries.

The games and quizzes included on the disc ensure that users have fun whilst using the disc, without realising that they're learning. The "intelligent" software feature remembers words you get wrong and targets your weak points.

NOW includes Apple iPod integration, which allows you to listen to Talk Now Spanish wherever you are!

Spanish Art

The art world in the early 20th century was influenced by a remarkable group of Spanish artists: Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí.

Spanish Architecture

Spain's architecture ranges from prehistoric monuments in Menorca, through to the Roman ruins of Mérida and Tarragona, the decorative Islamic Alhambra in Granada, Mudéjar buildings, Gothic cathedrals, castles and palaces, fantastic modernist monuments and Gaudí's intricate fabulist sculptures.

Spanish Music and Dance

Spanish music has vitality and rhythms that reflect the many Christian and Moorish cultural influences.

Spanish dance styles include the bolero, the flamenco, the jota, and the fandango. Flamenco is an individualistic, yet structured folk art from Andalucía, which is often improvised and spontaneous.

Spanish Food and Drink

Spanish food has a deservedly high reputation. Paella, gazpacho, tapas and chorizo may be familiar to most Westerners, but Spanish cuisine goes well beyond these, with a rich selection of stews, soups, beans, seafood and meats, all of which have been influential in Latin American cooking.

Spanish Attractions

Madrid Madrid has a remarkable collection of museums and galleries, beautiful parks and gardens and wild nightlife. Key sites are Gran Vía - the most exciting street; the Museo del Prado; and the beautiful Real Jardin Botánico.

Barcelona Barcelona is sophisticated, elegant and romantic, but has the energy of a port city. The unique architecture of Antoni Gaudí is evident in buildings such as the Sagrada Família church and Parc Güell, and its world-class museums include Museu Picasso.

Valencia Spain's third city is home to paella and the Holy Grail. It is also blessed with great weather and the spring festival of Las Fallas, one of the wildest parties in the country.

Granada During the period of Muslim domination of Spain, Granada was the finest city on the peninsula. Today it is still home to the greatest Muslim legacy in Europe, and one of the most inspiring attractions on the Continent - the Alhambra.

Seville Seville is one of the most exciting cities in Spain, with wonderful parks and gardens, Muslim monuments, flamenco, bullfights and a large and lively student population. Seville's immense cathedral is said to have an area greater than any other in the world.

Customer Testimonials

"This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! Uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun and relaxing." - PC Answers

"I bought your Learn Malay CD today - I've only just begun, but I wanted to say how much I am enjoying it. I studied Malay from a book all day yesterday, making some 25 pages of notes on grammar and vocab, but I remember more from your CD from just an hour!" - James Bryce

Full list of Talk Now Language CD-ROMs available to buy online in the UK.