SpanishPod

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SpanishPod
Other names	SpanishSense
Genre	Educational, Language course
Running time	Lesson Shows (8-17 minutes) Del Taco Al Tango (10-15 minutes)
Country	China
Languages	English, Spanish
Starring	JP Villanueva Liliana Mata
Creators	JP Villanueva Liliana Mata
Recording studio	Shanghai
Air dates	November 2007 to Present
No. of episodes	14 (As of November 29, 2007)
Audio format	MP3
Website http://spanishpod.com
Podcast http://spanishpod.com/feed/public

SpanishPod is a language course podcast and accompanying website that offers free lessons in Spanish. The service was founded in 2007 and is the second such language site from Praxis Language Ltd., following ChinesePod.

1 Overview
2 Shows
- 2.1 Levels
- 2.2 Hosts
3 References
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Overview

The site was initially founded under the name SpanishSense and offered daily episodes. However, the production schedule was scaled back to 3 episodes per week because the owners felt standards weren't being met.^[1] With a slower schedule and the addition of two new hosts, JP Villanueva and Liliana Mata, the site relaunched as SpanishPod in late 2007.^[2] Existing SpanishSense subscribers are still able to access SpanishSense lessons, but the lessons aren't available to new subscribers.

SpanishPod currently offers free podcasts on a schedule of 5 per week with extra shows on the weekend. The podcasts are accompanied by text expansion exercises and other tutoring aids for paid subscribers. It is based in Shanghai, China and hosted by JP Villanueva and Liliana Mata.

The free podcasts range in difficulty from "Newbie" to "Advanced" and have an average length of ten to twenty minutes lesson time. Users are encouraged to interact with the SpanishPod hosts and listeners around the world on the website and in the forums.

An article from Best Life Magazine in April 2008 selected SpanishPod as one of the 10 best podcasts on the internet[1] and as of April 2008, SpanishPod had a total of 25,000 users with 120 lesson podcasts available freely for download under the creative commons license.

[edit] Shows

SpanishPod's main goal is to teach spoken Spanish to its listeners. For the listener's convenience, there are several levels of difficulty. Between the levels, the dialogue becomes progressively harder, and the hosts transition from English to fluent Spanish. Each show usually contains a Spanish or English conversation, and then proceeds to the dialogue of the day. Afterwards, the hosts discuss the dialogue's interpretation and structure and provide context for the new vocabulary used in the dialogue. Then the dialogue is repeated once more. The majority of the lessons are given descriptive titles to make searching easier.

The shows are currently offered in two series:

Lesson Shows: These shows follow the standard lesson format of the various difficulty levels listed below. The typical length of an episode varies from 8 to 17 minutes.
Del Taco al Tango: These shows are listed in the "extras" section of the site and are about the various cultural difference in Latin America. This series features Spanish-speaking guests that offer unique perspectives on their native slang, cuisines, and cultural nuances. The typical length of an episode varies from 10 to 15 minutes.

[edit] Levels

Newbie: Lessons are given in English. When Spanish is spoken, there is plenty of clear repetition. The dialogues are repeated three times, translated, and then analyzed. Basic phrases and expressions used for courtesy and travel are emphasized, along with grammatical support for communication in the immediate present.

Elementary: This level features longer dialogues, more elements of grammar, and a wider range of everyday applications than the Newbie lessons. The listener is taught how to discuss events that happened in the present and past, and how to express opinions and preferences. The hosts give a thorough treatment of lesson content, including grammar structures and pronunciation.

Intermediate: At this level, the hosts narrate events more precisely in the past, present, and future. In these lessons the hosts speak almost entirely in Spanish, with key explanations in English.

Upper Intermediate: Adds conjecture and conditionality, as well as Spanish subjunctive mood. Lessons are taught primarily in Spanish, shifting back to English for the occasional vocabulary item.

Advanced: Lessons focus on introducing specialized vocabulary, practicing problematic grammatical features, and lively Spanish language discussion. The lessons are conducted entirely in Spanish, including explanations of grammar and vocabulary. They also feature more use of idioms than the lower levels.

Advanced Media: Provides commentary and analysis on materials and media intended for a Spanish-speaking audience.

[edit] Hosts

John Patrick (JP) Villanueva: Holds a Master of Arts in Romance Linguistics from the University of Michigan, specializing in first- and second-language acquisition, as well as foreign language pedagogy; specifically, communicative/task based method. A native of Seattle, Washington, he taught Spanish and French at the high school and university levels for 12 years. He also serves as the SpanishPod product manager.
Liliana Mata: Originally from Mexico, she has a BA in International Relations with experience as a translator and editor.