Lingaphone Spanish, Duolingo, Earworms, which is Latin American and which is standard Spanish?

 If you are  not good at spelling and don't want to mispronounce, an easy way to learn Spanish is from recordings. I have been using my discs from Earoworms, which was made by Berlitz, and Lingaphone.

Lingaphone

I played Lingaphone discs in the car. This enabled me to get my husband to listen as well. He would not listen with me at home. He was too busy. But when I played my discs in the car he had no choice. He had to listen. That made sure his learning was keeping pace with mine.

I was puzzled as to which kind of Spanish each system was teaching you.

Duolingo

I am daily using Duolingo. This seems to be aimed at Latin American Spanish because Duolingo has more American learners. Their devotees in the USA outnumber those in the UK, because the USA, which I used to think of as just a country, is actually a continent. This is obvious, as soon as you look at it. Whether you look at the size of it on the map, or the statistics of the populations, or compare the numbers of countries where you can speak each kind of Spanish. English learners can visit Spain, and Spanish islands such as Majorca, Minorca, Tenerife. Americans can visit Mexico, Caribbean islands, and several countries in South America, the old favourite nearest being in the north of south America, Venezuela, as well as Argentina, Chile, Peru, and several more.

Spanish Helping With Portuguese

In Europe standard Spanish helped me understand Portuguese in Portugal. Also the Portuguese speaking island of Madeira.

Spanish can also help you in the Americas, with Portuguese in Brazil, which is Portuguese speaking, with a proportion of the population speaking Spanish as a second language, or even a first language.

In addition, so many people from Mexico and South America are in North America, that many places have bilingual signs in English and Spanish, which helps you to learn Spanish.

So Duolingo has a good reason for concentrating on Latin American English. I wish they would give more hints as to the variations in each part of the world. Especially if I am using Google translate as  a help when I am stuck.

I really don't mind which country's Spanish I am learning. Anything is better than nothing. I can note the minor differences in vocabulary, as well as pronunciation, later. You pick up local language and pronunciation in the country by copying what you hear when you eventually get there. Or if you are already there.

Please share links to your favourite posts.

What To See In Cristiano Ronaldo's Madeira and a walking holiday

Problem
Why do I need Portuguese? It is spoken in Portugal, Barazil and assorted islands between Europe an the American continent. I need Portuguese because I am planning a walking holiday trip to the island of Madeira, famous for Madeira wine.

Where's Madeira? West of Portugal, in the Atlantic, one of the islands where ships would stop on their way west from Portugal which is west of Spain, with a long coast as you can see from the map. Nowadays it is only an hour and a half by plane from Portugal and about three hours from other major European cities.

Madeira is called the Pearl of the Atlantic, Garden Island, and Island of Eternal Spring. The climate is mild all year.

In the days of sea travel, Madeira was wine which became strongly flavoured and strong due to heat and evaporation on the long sea voyage. Madeira wine reminds you of Madeira cake, a heavy sponge cake which does not contain Madeira wine nor come from Madeira but used to be served with Madeira wine. (Madeira's own local cake is made with honey.)

I hope to visit a Madeira winery in the daytime, and taste Madeira, as well as sampling Madeira cake at tea time, then Madeira wine with a meal in the evening.

Some people arrive in Madeira by boat but I expect to fly into the airport, recently renamed after the local hero, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Famous footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, from Madeira. Photo from Wikipedia.

Another local tourist attraction is the museum featuring football and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Drink and Saints' Days
You might also recall the humorous song, 'have some Madeira, m'dear'. You could see the local sights, such as the cathedral. The name Cristiano suggests Christianity, yes, no need to worry about restrictions on drink or no food and drink during Ramadan. The local holidays will be connected with Christian saints, so regarding the timing of your trip, extra days open and closed, and hotel prices, check up on Christmas, Easter and festivals. June 10th is Portugal day.

Sea And Sand
Alternatively, or laze away your days sitting on the man made beach with imported golden sand. Like many islands, Madeira was created from a volcanic eruption and has hills and black sand.

Levada or aqueduct walking trail in the Atlantic island of Madeira. Photo from Wikipedia.

Walking In Madeira
Why am I going to Madeira? I am going with a walking group. Why walk in Madeira? It is known for its levadas, aqueducts, which carry water. What for? People and plants need to drink. People need to wash. Water also provides power., hydro-electric power.

Walking - Is It Cheap?
A walking holiday sounds like a cheap holiday, until you invest in waterproof boots, socks, a jacket and trousers, a water bottle and snack box, a suitable hat and sunglasses or even goggles, maybe an umbrella, certainly s stick, or two sticks, not the sort with a rubber tip for city streets but with a spike at the end for securing your way, your footing, your balance, in gravel or lumpy grass.  You might borrow them from a friend or family member.

See next post on Portutuese words.

Useful Websites
https://www.officeholidays.com/countries/portugal/index.php

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. See my other posts on Madeira, Madeira wine and learning Portuguese. Please share your favourite posts.