Comment from Duke of New X

Ben, you are of course famous sarf o’ the river, but I’ve never listened to one of your podcasts bwfore. Well, can i say how thoroughly pleasant you both sound? … really was a pleasure. So, people of the Anglo hispanic world … rise up, listen, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as me.

Phillips.

Comment from Brad

Well done! I know from my time as an English teacher that putting something anyway natural sounding together for beginners is no easy task. It’s sounds like you are both constantly on the point of bursting into laughter. (I only listened to half so maybe you did). It’s a real good job though. It’s true; Marina’s accent is a great example of a madrilena.

Comment from Margot

“Inspired Beginners” can result from Inspired Teachers. And that you are. Enhorabuena.

Comment from Greytop

Wish this had been available when I started to learn Spanish! “Beginners who want to be inspired” might be a better title. Good luck with this project.

Comment from Lis Carpenter

Oh bless you laddies!!!

Comment from gary

I can listen to the Intermediate podcasts and enjoy them without transcription (now) and I can make a fair attempt at the advanced ones (the transcripts are a godsend). Even so I thoroughly enjoyed this first beginners podcast and whats more I learnt something – the verb “hororizar” for I hate is a new one to me. (Is that the right infinitive?). So now I have two ways to say I don’t like callos!!
And the moral of the story – take any opportunity to listen to/ read/ speak your target language – you learn something every time.

Comment from Jan (landlady)

Fantastic Ben & Marina. I’m so glad you finally found time to do a beginners podcast, and you did it perfectly. I will let my forum members know.

Comment from Acosta (Acosta)

Congrats again Marina y Ben

What comes through in our blogs is your enthusiasm about the language and to teach. I listened to it with my wife (who doesn’t speak much Spanish) and she enjoyed it very much.

Joe Acosta

Comment from Jason Keuter

great stuff. i love your intermediate podcasts, and this one helps me better develop useful vocabulary….

Comment from Mark-H

You both sound so relaxed in your podcasts which helps to relax me,also its clear you both really enjoy doing the podcasts.
My wife listened to the new beginners podcasts on monday evening, and now she can’t stop listening!
I’m going to tell everyone about “notes in spanish”when my classes resume.
Me mola the site,

Mark-H

Comment from ben

Thanks Mark, it’s great to get feedback like that!

Comment from Renzo

Good Job! This is a great help!

Comment from kareima

Hi! I just got an ipod for my birthday. Late in the game I know. But I found your delightful podcasts! You two work so well together. Like Butter! Gracias! I look forward to more!

Comment from Maurice Pedneault

j’aimerai avoir ce texte en francais pour faciliter mon apprentissage en espagnol
Est-ce pí´ssible `
Muchas gracias
Maurice Pedneault

Comment from ben

Lo siento, ce n’est pas possible maintenant.

Comment from MissLena

Mucho gusto and well done!

Brilliant concept and execution: don’t ever stop!

(Au fait, je suis capable d’aider les francofones, parfois…)

‘Lena

Comment from ben

We don’t plan to stop, don’t worry!

Comment from thomkat

Hola! -question
Dittos to all the foregoing compliments for NIS!
Is there a way for me to record just the Spanish dialogue sections of the podcasts, i.e. to create a podcast/loop of one or more Spanish dialogues on a single recording/podcast so I can listen to it over and over without the (very wonderful) banter in between? I think the repetition would help to embed this in my brain! (using garageband?)
Ben – you’re the “friki” (sp) – can you help?
Thx,
thomkat

Comment from JALPA

THANK YOU! THIS WILL DEFINITELY HELP ME WHEN I GO TO SPAIN THIS SUMMER! =)

Comment from ben

Thomkat – that should be possible in Garageband – edit down the audio to the section you want, loop it a few times (no idea how, sorry, I use a different program), then output it as an mp3… sorry not to be of more help, but try the apple forums for further details on how to do this in GB.

Comment from moira

Muchas gracias por sus muy bueno conversaciones. Yo quisiera preguntar si ustedes pueden recomendar alguna musica espanol para escuchar y para aprender espanol.

Comment from Marina

Hola Moira,

En nuestro foro hay un thread dedicado a la música española:
http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=95&highlight=musica+espa%F1ola

También puedes escuchar un podcast intermedio dedicado a la música en:
http://www.notesinspanish.com/2007/04/04/intermediate-spanish-podcast-26-la-musica/

Estaremos encantados de que nos cuentes cuáles son tus artistas favoritos.

Saludos,
Marina.

Comment from Isa

Hola, Marina y Ben, muchí­simas gracias por sus audios sobre el español. Mucho gusto de conocerles. Soy china, llevo años estudiando español, pero lo que pasa es que no lo hablo bien, me dan miedo los errores. Marina, me encanta su voz, muy agradable, y es muy parecida a la de una profesora mí­a, y Ben, al comienzo por el buen español que hablaba le consideré español. Me interesan mucho sus conocimientos y experiencias. Gasté un dí­a entero para escuchar los audios de NiS Advanced. Me gustan mucho todas las conversaciones, sobre problemas sociales, sobre la cultura hispánica, y también sobre lo de Sudamérica. Bueno, en una palabra me alegro mucho de conocerles. Saludos cordiales de China.

Comment from Marina

Hola Isa, encantada de saludarte.

¡¡¡Me alegra mucho saber que nos escuchas desde CHINA!!!

No debes de tener miedo a equivocarte, ya que esa es la mejor manera de aprender, además escribes muy bien.

Saludos desde Madrid,

Marina.

Comment from MEhmet

Wooow, that’s a great idea and you realized it very well!
Too bad i haven’t found this earlier.

Now I’m again enjoy learning Spanish

thanks!!

Comment from ben

MEhmet – Thanks, glad you enjoy it!

Comment from Elvis

Lazybones me has neglected his español recently, but I decided to listen to this beginner’s podcast and was surprised to hear words that I’ve never heard any Spaniard use in my 18 years here in Spain! Horrorizar y mola (rounded mountain).
Estoy enganchado ya!

Enhorabuena y salu2,

José, el anciano.

Comment from ben

Really glad to hear you like it Jose, ¡bienvenido!

Comment from crystal

ben you sound really hot

Comment from crystal

marina you have a nice clear voice that’s very good for a beginner like me. ; D
and i like the casual atmosphere between you two.

Comment from cholee

me encaaaanta este sitio

Comment from Jake

I only wish I had found you guys earlier! gracias.

Comment from Liza

Me mola notes in spanish! One listen, and I am SO motivated! Thanks tons, Marina y Ben. (I’m a photographer, too, so will post some pics soon)

Comment from magda

Hi Guys. I have been visiting NotesfromSpain.com for a while but I’ve never actually listened to the podcast. I don’t know why but I am not a big fan of podcasts. But I have recently become Spanish obsesed and spend hours every day learning the language. So I thought I would give your podcasts a try. And I LOVE THEM!!! I’ve downloaded all beginners ones to my ipod and listen them on my way to work. Love it Love it Love it !!!

Comment from susan

This was great! I can’t wait to hear the others. I am coming to your podcasts well after posted and hope they stay around.

Comment from Jezus

your a great speaker ben

Comment from Mei

Fenomenal, your podcasts are great, estoy adicto!!!! Gracias a ustedes!

Comment from Jorge

ben you are not spanish you speak english not spanish..you are australian arnt you

Comment from ben

Jorge, I’m English, but have lived in Spain for 10 years now.

Comment from Ian

Hey Marina and Ben,

I have just listened to this as my first ever podcast of any kind, and what a great introduction to the medium it was.

I have been meaning to learn Spanish for a while and so just now decided to see whether I could access anything suitable on my iPhone. Luckily you came second on the search and I picked you. Your provision is a very good balance, with a native speaker of each language. Marina’s accent is obviously better but Ben’s is great to have too, as it’s easier for me to take in and closer to the best that I would be able to reach myself. And you give just the right amount of vocabulary in advance. I haven’t studied any Spanish before but with that and general knowledge was able to understand each sentence even if not every word. It was interesting to listen without seeing or having seen the spellings. (When the playing screen is open, one unfortunately cannot open another web page.) I am used to learning languages visually. I think that’s my strong point but then that’s exactly why it’s a bad idea as it makes my listening skills lag behind my other skills. It’s therefore great to be able to throw myself into an alternative method.

Thanks again.

Comment from Ian

P.S. However, it is slightly annoying having to scroll down all the way each time. Please could you have a row of numbered links at the top?

Comment from Alex

Hi Ben and Marina
Just thought I’d let you know what a great job you guys have done at making me get interested in learning Spanish. I’ve always tried to learn out of textbooks and after a day or two they become so boring! So it’s really refreshing to learn some new phrases that don’t make me sound so robotic. Great job
Alex

Comment from ben

Hey, thanks Alex! Glad you like it!

Comment from Alex

Hi Ben and Marina. I bought your worksheets for the inspired beginners pack a couple of weeks ago and I received the file to download the document. However when I try to do this it will not open in any of my programs. If I give you the details of my purchase (paypal codes etc) will you send me the link again please. Thanks
Alex

Comment from ben

Alex, no problem, please contact us via the ‘support’ link top right. Ben

Comment from Heiley

¡Hola, Ben y Marina! Encantada mucho.
Soy de Corea y ahora estoy estudiando en América. Yo tengo veintiuno años.

Me gusta ver una película con mis amigos en el timepo libre.

this is really the most useful and helpful podcast i’ve ever listened. thanks a lot. just make a comment to thank to you two. have a nice day

Comment from Tom

Thanks, very useful.

Comment from Kate McCauley

hola! Soy kate, una americana. estoy en neuvo Jersey. me encanta tus podcast, yo quierro aprender mas enspanol! estoy buscando una “pen pal”.
Conocen una persona que quierra mejorar su ingles?

escribame con correo electronico

button_sandwich@hotmail.com

Comment from yablonoi

sorry i cant download the audio.

may anyone lend me a hand?

Comment from Renee

Ben has a very intriguing sexy voice ^-^

I think this podcast was great and I shall be listening to the rest.

Comment from Ben

@yablonoi – hopefully it is working for you again now

@Renee – Thanks!

Comment from jon gorman

I am retired and living in Madrid. Anyone like to meet up and maybe start a small preliminary group usng this course as a base??

Comment from Sandra

How wonderful to hear Spanish again, after leaving Cadiz a year and a half ago to move to New Zealand (not much Spanish to be heard on the streets here!). I miss the language and the country and its culture heaps. I’m about to start teaching beginners’ Spanish, tho… so much’isimas gracias in advance for your useful tips : )

Comment from Ben

Good luck with the teaching Sandra!

Comment from Diana Tower

I finally took the plunge (after 2 years of loving your site) and bought the “The Whole Enchilada!” and I thought that I would start from scratch.

I would say that my level is more advanced or intermediate BUT like you mention, going through the beginner podcasts can be helpful too. Today I learnt me horroriza!!! Your website is priceless for someone living abroad in Spain. I’m getting married this Aug to my Spanish boyfriend and I have been looking for a way to improve or fill in my gaps.

Thank you for this wonderful product!

I’m also using your podcasts to learn/improve my writing. I just listen and pause and write what you are saying down. With the transcripts it is a great way to look at my writing mistakes.

It is clear I need to focus no my accents. HAHA.

Thanks again you too!

Cheers,
Diana

Comment from Ben

Hi Diana,

I’m so glad you like it! It sounds like you are really motivated, so the materials should help a lot!

Comment from Andew

I love listening to your pod casts and I have downloaded the free work sheet Advanced Pod cast 91 – El Móvil but, to my disappointment they appear to be all in Spanish and no English translations. If I was to download the course would the English come with it?
puede ayudarme

Comment from Ben

Hi, we provide English translations only at the Beginners level Andrew. At intermediate and advanced we find one learns to a deeper level without the English on hand. You go deeper and retain more when forced to work with just the Spanish at higher levels – just as if you were in a Spanish speaking country immersed in the language.

Saludos from Madrid,

Ben

Comment from Carla

Hi Ben and Marina! you guys are doing a great thing here.=) its my first lesson and already I’ve learned so much.

Menkanta ben and marina! did i spell that right?

Thanks!

Carla

Comment from Ilona

This is a great helpful website, but i can not download the dialog

Comment from Ben

@Ilona – Get in touch via the support link above and we’ll sort things out for you.

Comment from pedro

muchas gracias ben y marina por sus efuerzos. este sitio es muy practico y bueno

Comment from louise

Hola Ben y Marina y gracias por notes in spanish. Me gusta mucho escuchar y aprender contigo. Este sitio me ayuda mucho en mi trabajo con los ninos. Trabajo en una escuela donde los ninos aprenden en espanol y ingles. Todos de mis hijos han asistido esta escuela y ahora es mi tiempo para aprender.

Gracias y mucho gusto,
Louise kraemer
San luis Obispo, California

lo siento no habia asentos pero mi laptop es viejo.

Comment from Ben

Hola Louise, me alegro de que tengas tiempo para aprender español ahora!

Comment from Christie Petzel

I am a visual person; so, it would be nice if you could also put in writing what you are saying. Those us that are not familiar with the Spanish can not pick up on the words that you are saying except maybe the very simple ones. I like the idea of listening to the real spanish being spoken, but I can not pick up on many of the words. Thanks for what you have done.

Comment from Ben

Hi Christie,

Welcome to NIS. We include written transcripts of all our audio, vocab etc in the worksheets that accompany our podcasts.

Saludos from Madrid,

Ben

Comment from Lesley

Hola Ben y Marina

I really enjoy listening to your audio. It is a great backup to my weekly Spanish lessons. My husband and I are regular visitors to a part of Spain where not much English is spoken so I am making an effort to learn the lingo.

Thanks

Comment from Ben

Thanks Lesley, whereabouts do you go in Spain?

Comment from Anna

Hola Marina y Ben!
Soy húngara. Vivo en Budapest la capital de Húngria. Estudio en inglés y ya estudio en espanol ahora con vosotros. Yo creo que vuestro/a podcast es muy interesante y bueno/a / I don’t know, that “podcast” is feminim or masculin ))/ Escucho MP3 cada día mientras que voy a mi conveniencia.

Thank you for your great podcast!

Anna

Comment from Ben

I’m really glad you like it Anna! I think podcast is masculine to answer your question, no idea why though!

Comment from Courtney Williams

Fabuloso! This is so fresh and modern. The 2 of you are really having fun while “teaching”. Nothing sonds even remotely like the langage lab days of yesterday. I consider myself more of an advanced speaker; nonetheless I learned some great colloquialisms, like ‘Me mola…” And Radiohead was the perfect example as well. A mi me mola Radiohead, tambien!! Keep up the great work!!

Comment from Olwen

Hola Ben y Marina,

He escuchado algunos de los podcasts intermediatos (?) y la Crisis Collection y decidí empezar con el primer podcast porque me gusta muchísima las palabras nuevas que daís desde los primeros. Además es una oportunidad de aprender más sobre la vida española. Me encanta – gracias y saludos desde Bristol.