I just received this email from one of my students in New Zealand.
As I was born on the other side of the ditch (the ditch being the Tasman sea) I was chuffed to hear from a Kiwi.
In the USA I used to joke “I am an Australian, living in Mexico, teaching Spanish to Americans.”
I am proud to say these days my students are from more than 40 countries.
Here’s the feedback I received from una estudiante in the land of the long white cloud.
Hola Marcus
Finding Shortcut to Spanish and then your Synergy Spanish , Informal Spanish and the many free lessons you make available was a life saver – it is the most awesome way to learn a language.
I am 65 and last year I went to South America for 4 months travelling and volunteering.
After 8 weeks of a Spanish night class i.e. one class a week, where we only got few chances to speak I had learned just enough to order a beer and not much more I knew I needed to do much much more.
A brief search of the Internet turned up your course and with your try before you buy sample lessons I knew I had found a great gift.
The difference in your course to many others was that it started at a totally basic level which is just what I needed and you are so encouraging.
I liked the way you didn’t start with lots of grammar or verb endings which I had bumped into and my heart had sunk with the enormity of the task.
For me the repetition of the words with sufficient time to remember what I had to say was great i.e the audio – some other courses had too little time to marshall my brain and do the repetition.
I liked the range of the course – the audios were awesome – the repetition was great – the revision in each session was grand. I also liked the way you built the lessons up to three chord sentences. I enjoyed the flip cards and related easily to your little catch phrases and the work book was excellent.
In the days before my trip I was always plugged into my MP3 player doing the house work, travelling by bike or car listening and saying the words and phrases out loud.
When I went to South America I just used the Spanish I had learnt. People were really happy to help and I could make myself understood. I did lots of travelling on my own.
Some of my conversations with people in markets in Ecuador and Bolivia are my fondest memories.
People couldn’t believe that I had only learnt Spanish for thee months.
I really liked the encouraging emails that came from you almost weekly with funny interesting and useful information.
It is true that 138 common basic words give you a vast range of useful phrases. I so liked it that you have built a course that gave me the building blocks in a structured way of a new language. I have recommended your course to many people including our correspondence school .
I very much appreciate that you make the course available at a very affordable price and thus make a contribution to the world.
Kia Kaha ( Maori for stay strong and go well )
Kindest regards
Jan Nisbet
Paekakariki
New Zealand
I agree! I too am from NZ and I too have just returned from a trip to South America. As a teacher myself I appreciate the design of your programme, you have done an outstanding job. I did some lessons while I was away, and people commented on the daily (literally) improvement in my spoken Spanish. Thank you very much! You unlocked a continent for me!
I am also from New Zealand. Before I travelled to Sth America for three months in 2010, I did a beginners Spanish class. I found it a struggle and didn’t have much Spanish to use when I travelled which made it difficult but I got by. I had been searching and found several different audio courses and software but have to agree your lessons Marcus are the best and easiest for me to retain. I am a visual learner and struggle just listening to the audios. I find the workbooks best for me. I love the repetition and the building on previous lessons. I cam back to Sth America early July this year and did another basic course before I left and came across another woman in my class who raves about your lessons too. I am back in Sth America for about 7 months this time armed with more Spanish than I had in 2010. I am also working through the Shortcut to Spanish Level 1 workbook. I do a lesson every day (sometimes two) and with being here using what I learn, I am amazed at how much and how quickly I am adding to my vocabulary. I also agree with everything Jan has said and am so glad I found your lessons.
Yes Jan I totally agree with you. Marcus is a truly wonderful teacher and one doesn{t get tired
of listening to him. He definately has a special gift for teaching
Anna
Hello Marcus,
What a wonderful endorsement you have received from Jan. I couldn’t have said it better, and I agree with it entirely. You most definitely have a gift for teaching language in such a gentle and encouraging way.
Sherri