If you are reading this you could win a success assured $1823.00 Spanish coaching package?
What’s your barrier to learning Spanish?
Are you short of money and can’t afford to pay for lessons?
Do you think you are too old to learn?
Do you believe you have some “blockage” that stops you from learning?
Whatever you may believe is stopping you; I am here to tell you the reason can be blasted away.
I too once had a terrible day when the thought kept rolling around in my head that I couldn’t learn Spanish. I’d been trying to learn for a long time and couldn’t even hold a basic conversation.
Suddenly it dawned on me that every English speaker I knew that had learned Spanish successfully, learned Spanish as a child
I felt totally dejected, and all sorts of doubts crept in. I started thinking maybe all my efforts were a waste of time.
I wondered, is it even possible to learn to speak fluent Spanish as an adult?
You see at the time I didn’t know a single person who learned later in life.
Now I know that those thoughts were completely wrong..
In fact, since then I have taught people of all ages. I know that age is one of the easiest learning barriers to blast away. So far the record for my oldest student is a 96 year old Texan.
Maybe you think you have a “blockage” when it comes to learning languages.
Let me just ask you, you learned your first language didn’t you?
Maybe rather than a “blockage” in you, it’s the approach to learning that is letting you down.
In fact most teaching methods are based on systems never designed to be used to actually speak to anyone.
Sounds crazy, but it’s true.
You see most courses are based on methods to learn Latin.
Not a lot of native Latin speakers around these days…
Think about that.
Have you actually been trying to learn Spanish with methods based on a system that was never meant for use in speaking to a living person?
Is it any wonder you have experienced a “blockage”.
The method itself was your barrier to learning.
But what if we could remove the barriers to learning?
What if there was a way to learn that assured your success?
What if we changed the approach and every barrier to learning suddenly vanished — right now, today — what would your life be like in a month? In two months, on New Year’s Day, 2010?
How many new friends would you have?
How many more places would you go?
Would you go to places that most people find intimidating, remote, or too far off the beaten track?
Would you enjoying being daring and move around freely?
Or would you go to places less remote but no less invigorating, and enjoy mixing with the locals?
How much more would you enjoy travel?
“What would you do?
Where would you go to practice your new Spanish?
Would you go and live in a different country?
Which one would you choose?
Would you live on the beach or in the mountains?
How would it feel to see and be part of a completely different way of life?
How much more fun would it be to travel when you can go anywhere you want and know that you can communicate easily and confidently with the locals?
Isn’t that what the art of living is all about, great relationships with people?
How would you be able to help others with Spanish under your belt?
So many of my students have discovered my methods dissolve any learning barriers. Now they experience Spanish in a whole new way.
For 2 lucky people I am removing every possible barrier
You see, I am opening the Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009 so you can blast away any learning barriers including financial ones. Let’s make 2009 the year you learn Spanish.
Here’s what the winners of Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009 get…
This is your foundation to speaking Spanish freely. Amazingly in this course all you need is 138 words to get by in Spanish. Isn’t that so do-able, just 138 words???? You see, the magic isn’t so much in the words but rather in you learning the easy patterns that let you combine a few words to say a whole lot. Once you learn to combine Synergy Verbs, Brick Verbs and Mortar Words you’ll be able to make thousands of sentences in Spanish. Anyone can learn to communicate in Spanish with this course. This course has previously only been available to members of my Bola de Nieve program. It takes everything you learned in Synergy Spanish and makes it a piece of cake for you to start speaking informally and conversationally with relatives, children and amigos. Now you have a great foundation it’s time to step up your Spanish fluency level. This course follows on sequentially from Synergy Spanish. We called it Bola de Nieve because it’s Spanish for snowball. You just take the momentum from Synergy Spanish, and like rolling a snowball down hill, your fluency grows and grows. You’ll easily speak Spanish in flowing sentences, and truly express yourself in your new language. The winner’s membership will be set at module 3 of the 14 modules in the course. That way by New Year’s Eve 2009 you have had the chance to finish the course and start talking up a storm in Spanish. Who knows maybe you’ll celebrate the New Year in a Spanish speaking country filled with new possibilities as you make the most of your new talent. There’s more! These courses build your vocabulary fast, plus get you using Spanish right away, and learn thousand of words that you can add to your Synergy Spanish patterns for maximum communication in minimum time. Spanish Ear Training - for many people this is the final hurdle, once you can speak and say just a bout anything you want to say, you’ll want to strengthen your ear for Spanish. That way, you’ll keep up with the rapid pace of Spanish, training your ears to tune in and handle anything that’s thrown at you. Bola de Nieve Plus - This course doesn’t exist yet, but so many of my Bola de Nieve students keep asking me to continue the course even further. I have so many ideas to share that I have already developed a blueprint for a high level mastery version of Synergy Spanish. This is for people who can speak Spanish but want to dominate the language. The scholarship winners will get access to any new Synergy Spanish lessons- and all Spanish Ear Training monthly lessons for as long as the programs runs. Total Value of the scholarship - $1823.00
How to enter Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009
There are two categories
Category 1 - Synergy Spanish to make your life better
Category 2 - Synergy Spanish to improve the lives of others
Here’s all you a have to do to win, just answer one of these two questions: -
1) How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life?
or
2) How will your learning Synergy Spanish help others?
The answers I judge to be best in my opinion will receive complete access to all my Synergy Spanish lessons and all the items listed above.
Just answer right here on the blog and make 2009 your breakthrough year…
Entries close January 26, so get started now.
Component 1 - The original Synergy Spanish course
- value $67.00
Component 2 - Synergy Spanish informal conversation
- value $27.00
Component 3 - Synergy Spanish level 2 - Bola de Nieve
- value $420
Component 4 - All levels of my Shortcut to Spanish courses
- value $109.00
Component 5 Synergy Spanish - Bola Plus – Spanish Ear Training – lifetime membership
- conservative estimate $1200
Similar Posts
Learning Synergy Spanish will help me and my young sons better navigate San Diego and enjoy neighboring Mexico. I would like them to learn young, and to facilitate that, I need to learn as well!
Hi Marcus,
We were just talking over dinner about our boy, Luka-8,learning spanish. He choose to sponsor a girl from Ecuador and one day would like to go there and meet and speak with her. We are always open to things nudging us to make our dreams come true. We have been to Honduras, Guatemala Mexico and Panama and have gotten by on meager spanish. We would like to pay back the generosity of the latin cultures in helping us be understood by being able to speak well with them.
Thank you,
Bill Mahkovtz
Synergy spanish will change my life by allowing me to communicate with many around me.I live in an area of Phoenix that has a large spanish speaking population. My job is in sales and learning to speak fluent spanish will help me to communicate better with my customers and expand my business. This will ultimately help my customers save money for their families and live a healthier life.
1. I have made five mission trips to San Luis, Mexico with my church group and feel so restricted in being able to communicate with the people there. Being able to speak their language would open up new worlds for me. It would enable me to do one on one ministry with the people there and minister to them in their language. To be able to go into their homes and just visit with them! I have been trying on my own but I am 59 years old and learning is not as easy as it used to be.
2. Mexico is a big mission field. I wouldn’t have to wait for an interpreter, I would be able to move out in one on one ministry and maybe make a difference in someones life. To be able to see a life changed, someone healed, delivered from drugs or anything else, to see them set free from any bondage. I would just like to help them, to be able to tell them about Jesus Christ.
You are right, I think I am too old AND not smart enough.
C 1 - No money to travel long distances but I do have neighbors I can talk to and others while I walk the Galloping Goose Trail each weekday morning. I live in Victoria B.C., Canada.
C 2 - Not too sure but if they see me learning it just may help them to try something different.
P.S. I do love to hear others speak another language and I wish I could.
Thanks
My name is Iva Gojanovic. I am currently a graduate student at Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston, Ma. I have always found Spanish to be such a beautiful language that matches the beauty of Spanish and Latino culture. I have studied Spanish since sixth grade and was disheartened by the lack of communication skills that were being taught. During my undergraduate college experience I studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain. I did not take full advantage of this opportunity as I had shared an apartment with four other fellow Americans. My Spanish speaking skills are fair but I would really like to become more fluent and sharpen my conversation skills, particularly grammar.
Learning to speak Spanish would help my professionally and personally. As I have stated previously, I have always been in love with the Spanish language and culture. On a personal level, speaking Spanish at an advanced level would allow me to communicate with others from a culture other than my own. Professionally, speaking Spanish would allow me to reach out to many families who are unable to receive professional care due to language barriers. I am currently in graduate school to become a social worker, as I love working with people and helping children and families see the value within themselves. After graduating with a Master’s I hope to work with underprivileged youth and families in an urban setting. By speaking Spanish, I would be able to help Latino families and breakdown the language barriers. I myself was born in Zagreb, Croatia and immigrated to the United States when I was three years old. I speak both Croatian and English and have at times felt the struggle in bridging two cultures. My personal background, and historical and cultural backgrounds have made me culturally competent in working with people from diverse backgrounds. By being able to communicate effectively in another language would mean being able to help others more effectively.
As a graduate student and during these economic times, I am unable to invest in a skill (speaking Spanish) that would help me greatly in the future to help others. If I was given the chance to receive this great opportunity, I would ultimately be very grateful adn would put in all my effort.
Thank you for taking the time to read my entry. Salud!
Iva Helena Gojanovic
I have been dancing Argentine tango for four years. I now teach it and it is very imberising when I am teaching this south American dance and I can speak a south American language. Also host teachers from south America and I really feel like a fool, not being able to speak with them.
The final thing is that I have this passion for tango and would love to go to Argentina and other south American countries but there is no way I would go to a country and not be able to communicate with the local people with their own tongue and not force them to try to speak my language. So people always look at me funny when they see my passion for tango and the first question I always get is “Have you been to Argentine or South America” to dance . Very imberising for me to say no.
I know this is not as good a reason as some but I do teach tango for free so I am not making money at it…I do it because I love the dance and the music and if I could learn the language I would be on my way South next year!
Gracias
Larry
Learning Spanish will change my life by opening my mind to new expressions, feelings and experiences. I’ve met many people from other cultures and heard over and over that they cannot translate a foreign word into English because it doesn’t make sense. This makes me feel like there are parts of life I’m missing out on that cannot be expressed through spoken English. I’ve thought I’m too old and that my memory is failing so have no hope of learning a language but if anyone can use your techniques I’m willing to try.
I have lived in Spain for ten years and attended Spanish classes without any success: I do believe I am too old to learn: please convince me otherwise!
Synergy Spanish can change my life as I have been unemployed now for 8 months and the main obstacle to gaining employment is not being able to speak FLUENT spanish. I have never had the money to pay for lessons and all that I know is self taught. I desperatley need some structure to learning spanish.
I see my inability to speak and write spanish as a handicap and it is starting to eat away at my confidence and motivation. I am having to think about moving back to the UK which I really do not want to do but for economic reasons I may have to, if i can speak the language well then I have a much better chance of employment. Then I will also be in a position to help the many people I meet here who also struggle with the language.
Learning Synergy Spanish will help me in my new job as a respiratory therapist. To me it is such an injustice to have a patient in the hospital that is already in pain, scared, and anxious. Add to this the fact that very few, if any, staff around you speak enough Spanish to be able to answer your questions. I have put myself in their position and imagined going to a country where only a few words of english were spoken and trying to get any information that I understood or giving any vital information that the staff would understand. I was born and raised in Virginia and took three years of French in high school, who knew I would end up in Texas where spanish speaking individuals are needed in all the business fields. To me it is not only an injustice, but it is also dangerous for that patient and their family. I would love to win this scholarship and be able to give my spanish speaking patients the wonderful and proper care that I give all my patients.
I have always been interested in learning to speak spanish fluently. I enrolled in a spanish programme in the Venezuelan Consulate here in my country Trinidad and reached the level of Advance #1….but I didn’t have the time to continue because of personal circumstances. I have sinced forgotten all that I have learnt because I wasn’t able to practice, which is a key factor in learning any language.
I am 57years young and I want to be able the converse efficiently enough in this language because there are a lot of Venezuelan citizens here in Trinidad learning English and I want to help or be a part of that. I try to find anything that has Spanish in it, like labels on bottles etc to try and pick up the language , but its difficult. Can you help me!!!!!!!!!
I have been receiving your emails for a while now, but I can’t afford to purchase your programmes, because I am not working. There are jobs advertised in our local papers but they ask for the applicants to be able to speak spanish fluently.
Keep up the good work, I will continue to read your emails and try and learn from them as long as you continue to send them to me.
Best regards.
my name is michael bass, am a Gambian, i guess you know where Gambia is..it is one of the smallest countries on mainland Africa., found on the west coast. for that been the reason. i living there for 20 years,thats was since i was born. i neva had the opportunity and never heard people speaking spanish. all in knew was english, nothing more nothing less. i have always liked been a linguist one day. my dream is coming true. In 2008, i travelled to south America. LAND OF SPANISH..guess what some extraordinary thing rescue me. and today, i can stand anywhere on the face of the planet and speak spanish and understand when they speak to me. and this thing was SYNERGY SPANISH. its unbelievable to many that, through reading and studying the miraculous lessons of SYNERGY SPANISH you could speak spanish fluently. this has hellp me in many uncountable ways. one of them is my dream has come TRUE, i can learn medicine without a translator, i can run all my things for myself without been tricked by anyone, and finally, i would say to marcus santamaria, i will be ready to suceed him when he retires..
MUCHAS GRACIAS…
Learing Spanish will greatly improve my ability to socialize with my extended family. I married into the culture 15 years ago and sad to say because we live in different states I in Louisiana where hispanic population is not yet a big influence and my husband from Texas where the population is a large part of the state. No, I dont have big money to travel the world but I do have money to travel to Texas.. lol. Would love to just not feel like an outsider while spending time with my own family.
I grew up in New Mexico. As a child, my parents chose to speak to me only in English. When they were growing up speaking only in English was desirable, so they did not want us to have the same problems they had with the language. I read the introduction above and noted that those were my same reactions and thoughts as well. Being hispanic, but feeling inadequate as if that part of me is malfuctioning because for some reason I haven’t been able to grasp the Spanish language. I am called upon at work if they are in an emergency because I am not good enough to be of real use. I also want to have a family, but want my kids to be able to speak spanish and learn our culture — which will be hard to do if I can’t master the language myself. 2009 is my 10 year wedding anniversary and we are trying to go to spain. My husband also from New Mexico cannot speak the language either. I recently turned 30 and I have decided that I am at a time in my life where I need to make my dreams happen. One of those is to be able to go to Spain and actually be able to communicate with the locals. I love my heritage and my language — it would be an amazing gift to be able to speak fluently and not like an elementary school child with parts and pieces here and there. I took spanish in middle school and high school as well as had 2 years of college spanish. All through the normal system and I have nothing of use really to show for it except my piecemeal conversations. I hope you hear my cry for help and thank so much for considering me for the scholarship!
learning spanish will help me to communicate with my partners in venezuela, mexico and spain were my elder brother and family lives. And to inprove the potentials of persons in loingual schools and collages who are interested in spanish and culture studies. i have the dream of teaching spanish and promote espaniard culture and economice.
Thanks.
MR PROGRESS C. IGWE
( NIGERIA)
in March, 2007 I came to Mexico and had the lapband put in. It is a weightloss device to aid in controlling the amount of food you ate. I fell on love with tv people, the weather, the terrain. I started coming over everytime the coordinator came. In January, 2008 I told the doctors I was going to move here. They helped me find a place to live. I prayed really hard about moving here by myself and God opened the doors for me to come. I wanted to help the people that come to have this surgery. When I had mine done I stayed two nights on a hotel that offered no clear liquids which is a must for good healing. I provide that for the people now. They stay on my home and get the best of care and learn more about how to treat their new stomach. I try and give them some since of who they truly are ok Christ. I don’t push religion on them, just offer it. Being from the south and with a drawn accent it I’d quite difficult for me to pronounce the words. Everyone tries to teach me but I can’t retain. I can say words but cannot hold a conversation. They laugh with me and tell me to eat more beans. It would be a great help to cross that language barrier especially for the patients as slot of misunderstanding goes on. The economy has taken a big hit so it’s taking my entire retirement income just to make ends meet. Thanks!
please over look the misspellings as I am on a very small computer and my fingers are bigger than the keyboard.
Marcus,
I have been wanting to learn Spanish for a long time now but as with many people, I have to work long hours to pay for the essential things in life like food and transport to and from work.
I know other people have given you the reasons why they would want to learn to speak Spanish but I will explain why I would like to do it.
My wife is Asthmatic and suffers from Rhumatoid Arthritis and when we get the cold weather in England (Which is usually most of the year) she has difficulty in walking and breathing but still goes to work as normal and never complains.
The reason I would like to learn to speak Spanish is I want to move to Spain so I can give her the life she deserves.
We don’t want to move over to Spain to do nothing, we want to go there and work but not speaking Spanish is holding us back and I believe that if you move to another Country, you should show that Country the respect of at least learning their language.
My learning Spanish will improve because I am engaged to a Mexican, and he would like to move to Mexico in the future and in order for me to get by there I need to learn and speak correctly. He wants me to learn so I can get by and not depend on him, because I am an independant person.
If I learned spanish better, I would be able to fulfill a life long dream of learning the spanish language. I have been working on this since I was 16. I am now 51.
Hello Marcus,
Learning Spanish will allow me to better understand what my boyfriend is saying about me when he’s talking with his family and friends…! Actually I have already apparently improved due to your course…I’ve noticed that he speaks even faster now when I’m listening!
We’re headed to Costa Rica in March and I would love be able to communicate more directly in Spanish…and, as we continue to work our way down Central America…continue to develop and improve my Spanish!
Thanks for your hard work!
mark.
I want to learn spanish because I admire espana and spanish people and I am a fan of real madrid so I decided to learn their language and hope to visit espana some day.
thanx marcus
Hi Marcus,
The primary reason I need to learn Spanish is that it would be a great benefit to my job. I am a Corrections Officer and a majority of the inmates I deal with on a daily basis are Spanish speaking. At times it is very difficult to communicate with them because I can’t speak Spanish. It would also help me maintain safety and security in the instituation if I would know if something is being planned and it is being communicated in Spanish.
Thanks,
Tina
Learning Synergy Spanish would change my life by helping me to converse with my in-laws. My wife would also love for me to be able to speak spanish as a sentence rather than a collection of misfitting words. She would love to keep speaking in her native tongue rather than finding english words all the time. I’m from Australia and I met my wife through the internet. She is from Peru. I was lucky that she knows english fairly well or we would have been stuck with chatting online with a translator program. I would really love to be able to talk with my mother in law. My mother in law accepted me into the family with open arms and she would often like to have a joke with me. Our jokes where limited to gestures and not enough understandable words. I know enough Spanish to say my salutations and to point out something I want but once the salutations finish I am literally lost for words.
LEarning spanish will help me to stay in contact with new friends an colleages. Also find new ones…
Saludos.
Hola Marcus
I retired to Spain 5 years ago and during that time i have tried to learn spanish. The most i learnt was through your free lessons, unfortunately i couldnt afford to buy the following lessons. I went to night school but soon got left behind. Lots of excuses have gone through my head ie. I am too old, I havent got an apptitude for languages. The bottom line is I live in the Campo surrounded by lovely Spanish people, we do converse, with me picking up the odd word and a lot of sign language. I would dearly love to be able to have a conversation with my spanish neighbours.
Thanks for all you do as it does keep me going.
Thank you Marcus, I find your Synergy Spanish very good. Having studied Spanish for quite some time I find my biggest problem is in hearing what Spanish people are saying, I desperately need ear training, I live here in the south of Spain & would love to be able to communicate with the very friendly natives, it would simply change my life.
I am undergoing training for the Diplomatic Services. Since more than 320 million people spread over 20 nations speak Spanish as their native and primary language, an adequate knowledge of it will definitely help me in my future service.
Due to vast expertise aquired in business, management , marketing and public relations and with close to 10years of interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds. I believe that the knowledge of Spanish through your organisation will change my life by making it easier to assist people from Spanish backgrounds by enhancing my understanding of their needs, help solve problems and foster better relationships.
I hope that your Synergy Spanish will present the oppourtunity to help accomplish and achieve my goals.
Regards,
Dayo
am andrew, from the Philippines. I have been wanting to buy mr. marcus santamaria’s online course ever since I had a taste of the free sample that i got from my email. The moment i got to read the small sample that Marcus sent, my spanish really jumpstarted big time. You see, I have been trying to learn to speak spanish fluently with books and online lessons but only with marcus’s method seems to had made sense. the reason behind why i am learning to speak spanish is because I NEED IT. In fact my family needs it. There are calls centers here in the philippine that would pay good money if you can speak spanish. this money would be good for my family. It would better my chilidren’s life. The philippines is a not a rich country, and so am i. To give people an idea of how it is here, dollar rate alone is $1= 47Philippine peso. so $67 dollar for the first lesson is 3,149 pesos. Thats more than a months worth of food and groceries. I know this sounds a bit sad but this is how it is here. I hope i will be given a chance to have this very rare opportunity
Good Moring Marcus,I lost all the spanish i knew when my grandma passed I was about 12 when that happen, Grandma was from old Mexico, never spoke any English, so I tried to teach my Grandma English and she spoke to me in spanish,it was so nice. my Dad never spoke any spanish in are house after Grandma passed. so i lost what little i knew, and you hit it right on target short of money for lessons, and thinking i am to old, but when i read that your oldest student was 96 it gives me hope It is also so embarrassing and so frustrating when we go to a mexican Restaurant where some of the help don’t understand English and I can’t say what i need to say in spanish.and it is my Heritage and i want to learn and i want to teach my grandchlidern spanish, I have four one was adopted from Guatemala.LaLa
i have had many of the problems you have adheared to namely i find it hard to keep my concentration after a certain level as i find it like “latin”, so hopefully this will be different.
Colin
If I learn Spanish I would be able to meet more friends because the last time I went to an hostel and resorted to sign language even when I had not attended any sign language class. I hope you get to understand what I mean. I wanted to make my breakfast and could not communicate that because the staff only spoke Spanish. I also believe that when I would be able to speak Spanish there are myriads of jonb opportunities awaiting me here. I will surely get a job because of my Spanish language.
am learning spanish because i just have a job in spain and i need to learn it fast and also your couse has helped me alot because am improving.
muchas gracias,
hasta luego,
lugard.
Hi Marcus: I would love to take this course. My son married a girl from Costa Rica, they
have a 4 yr. old son, and he speaks English and Spanish. There is a strong community in
New Jersey, where our son is a pastor. My husband and I go frequently, we bring food
down and help the newly arrived Costa Rican’s in that community by letting them stay at our
home, collecting clothes for them that they may need. I can say some things in Spanish, but
cannot speak fluently and would love to be able to do so. I am striving to learn Spanish better,
and this course would help my husband and I greatly to learn and communicate with others.
Hi Marcus, I’d like to submit my answer for category 2.
I have a passion for Latin America. I spent 8 months last year in Chile, teaching English and making friends. I became particularly close to one of them and now we’re having a long-distance relationship that involves many discussions about how we can help the people of Chile.
I’m passionate about yoga, meditation and other healing arts. I also come from Australia - a wealthy country where there’s so much opportunity. So I decided to come back home (hence the LONG-DISTANCE relationship) to train as a yoga teacher and - hopefully - a Bowen therapist. I’m also a Reiki practitioner.
What I really want to do is go to Chile to start a yoga retreat and healing centre that caters for both people who can pay for services and for those who can’t. My partner is a lawyer in Chile and he’s very business-savvy and so together we’ve been concocting plans for how we may be able to achieve this.
My biggest problem with this plan, at this point, is that I speak very little Spanish and I’m going to need to speak a lot more to be able to make it work. I’ll need to be able to teach yoga in Spanish, to discuss people’s physical needs during Bowen therapy sessions and to discuss people’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs during and after Reiki sessions.
Sorry to have written such an essay - I’m just excited about the possibilities! This offer would go such a long way to helping us achieve this goal!
Thanks for putting it out there :).
I would like to learn Spanish fluently because, I plan to start teaching elementary education. I would like to teach in different parts of the United States and eventually other countries. Learning Spanish fluently will allow me the opportunity to be more versatile. Since I have gotten older it is harder for me to retain what I read and learn. This is a challenge for me, but I am determined to learn. I will keep on trying because I want to be able to teach as many different children as possible. After all
children are our future leaders so they need to learn as much as possible about all cultures. I will be proud to be a positive link in helping them to become successful.
I am a Turkish and i would like to proove the people that choosing spanish to learn was a better choice also for a turkish ,than any other language.ın turkey tehre are not so many people who finds spanish an essential language and for trading or ,n business life sapnish is not thought as vital as english and russia.
synergy sapanish will help me improve my existing level of spanish and make me better in communication with my spanish talking friends (since lots of them do not speak english, i mean in spain) in addition to this ,with my spanish boy
one language equals one person and two language equals two.. the more and the better synergy spanish let me learn , the better will i be in communicating more people.
saludos de turchia
In a country such as the US, where there are now more than 40, 000, 000 native Spanish speaking people, it is more vital to bond and enhance our experiences for globalization and unity. I wish to break as many languane and cultural barriers as possible. This is one fine way to appreciate our rich diversity and curtail fears and predjudices. It is relatively well knmown that ‘leer es poder’ (knowledge is power) and consequently to be able to express oneself in a plethora of ways is very empowering and satisfying!
I need to be able to speak spanish so I can move my family to spain and escape this dangerous country.Please.
i spend a lot of time in lanzarote i am learning lots especialy with the lessons you send me i want now to be brave enough to speak with a few spanish i know i no in my heart i want to speak fluently and reading your letters inspires me more thank you marcus
Dear Marcus,
I have been struggling with Spanish for 2 years now. I had to relocate to Mexico due to my husband being deported after 30 years in the United States. As I am pretty much able to get by with everyday needs as going to the market or the butcher I am still having a hard time with my Spanish. I am teaching English here but I still run into the problem of not being able to fully help my students due to my lack of Spanish. Spanish is such a neccesity for me to continue to live here yet I can not afford to go to a school to learn I have practice with your various programs yet I am still struggling. It would be a blessing to be able to communicate more with my students and my husbands family.
It has beeen a desire of mine for years to be proficent in Spanish; to be totally fluent. Most of my knowledge of Spanish has come from self teaching. It would be such a blessing to finally achieve my goal of becoming an Interpreter. Spanish has many variances in its language as a whole, which makes learning it a challege to English Speakers.
I had an unplanned opportunity to assist at a hospital with a couple who needed help. They came up to me and asked if I spoke Spanish. I responded that I spoke a little.
They proceeded to tell me what their situation was. Surprise, I understood them. With the knowledge that I had, I was able to assist them. That was such an exhilarating experience for me.
Respectfully submitted
How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life?
Hi.
My name is jesca. Since i was young i have enjoyed hearing people speak in spanish.
I would be very happy if in my small town i can be able to lean synergy spanish and be able to speak it well becourse my dream is and has always been to work in a spanish company helping in translations.
Thank you
I am a 44 year old mother of 6 and my youngest being a 8yr old who is learning spanish I am trying to keep up. We are also are getting a lot of latino family in our Mosque community I would like to be able to communicate with them. I can’t afford lessons and the free lessons really help me. Please consider me for the scholarship
Sincerely
Renaye
Hola Marcus learning synergy spanish will help me alot because i have been going to Cuba since 2003 and i am not able to communicate the way with locals as i would like to so this scholarship would be of great help to me.
I am really interested in learning Spanish. My problem is that I am disabled and on a fixed income. I think they call it that because your fixed to no money for extra things. It would really make my year and beyond if I won this. Since I am bed ridden studying Spanish and reading is all I can do. I don’t expect my diablity to make a difference in winning or not. Just thought I would let you know a little about me. I am alMarine discharged back in 1976. Well that’s all I can think of to say.
Thank you
Rick Peterson
rdp195750@yahoo.com
I am currently a federal law enforcement officer. In working both international and domestic cases within my agency I routinely run into the language barrier, especialy Spanish. I’ve been forced to use interpreters for both interviews and basic biographical information. I have found with both, especialy with criminal interviews, There is a loss of information or actual meaning in the passing of information which could very well be the deciding factor in solving the case or locating a dangerous fugitive. I have tried a few courses and spent more money than I care to mention only to become more frustrated.
I speak for myself and my colleagues when I tell you It would be extraordinary to finaly find a system to learn down to earth Spanish without all the fluff.
I always loved the Spanish language. During my working years I never had the time to spent on learning.
Now, when I am retired, and living in a destination resort I have the time to learn new language for my own pleasure and at the same time to help visitors from Spanish speaking countries. I volunteer as a Mountain Host and meet a lot of people.
As I grow even more older I could be escaping the beautiful but harsh Canadian winters and live part of the year somewhere in Mexico or Central America, Guatemala, I think. To be able to speak this beautiful language fluently would be great asset.
Thank you,
Judy
Whistler, BC, Canada
DEAR MARCUS,
I LOVE THE SPANISH LANGUAGE, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I HAVE A SPANISH HEART. PRESENTLY. I TEACH A SPANISH-AMERICAN BIBLE STUDY. IT WOULD BE WONDERFULLY ADVANTAGEOUS FOR ME AND MY PARTICIPANTS IF I HAD A GREATER FACILITY WITH THE SPANISH LANGUAGE.I AM SEEKING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HELP ME TO HELP OTHERS. ADDITIONALLY, I VISIT SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES WITH THE CHRISTIAN MESSAGE OF SALVATION. HOPEFULLY I WILL QUALIFY FOR YOUR GENEROUS REWARD.REGARDLESS OF MY STATUS , I WISH YOU WELL, AND THANK YOU ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR KINDNESS.
I love going to Spain I love the language and the people. I have been learning Spanish at night school, and although i have a fair knowledge of the vocabulary I have a blockage when it comes to speaking the language and putting the words in the correct order.
I would love to win the Synergy Spanish Scholarship. I would then be able to take my grandchildren to this lovely country and encourage them to integrate with the local community
and enjoy Spain as i do, and then perhaps visit the Latin American countries.
Many of my close friends are Mexican but they are all so focused on improving their English that I seldom have the opportunity to practice my Spanish. Yet, I would love to be able to join in when attending gatherings, parties, etc. And, soon, some of my friends are taking me “home” to Mexico with them on a visit. Spanish is fast becoming an essential in our world.
My mother and I travel to her home country of Panama about once every 5 years. She is now 72 years old and recognizes she will not be making many more trips in her lifetime. Her brother called her yesterday to say while looking through their father’s trunk, he found a letter written to her by her father. It was not finished but he is saving the letter for her next visit. He said he cried when he read what their father had written to her and he looks forward to the day he puts this treasure in her hands. Her father passed away in 1981 and my mother was very close to him. I have two sisters and neither of them speak Spanish now although they were fluent as children. We have not returned to Panama as a family since 1968. I believe your method of teaching Spanish is exactly what my sisters need so that we can travel together as a family with my mother to read herspecial letter. Help me convince my sisters they can speak Spanish!
~
Hola senor Marcus,
~
Soy estudiante de espanol. I like Romance languages and i think if i am supposed to learn a
Romance language, i’d rather opt for Spanish because Spanish is spoken by all people in Latin
America ( Except Brazil of course) But i think Portuguese is not much different from Spanish.
I live in India and South America has always been a remote & exotic part of the world( the other
side of my world) to me since i was a Child.I like to know more about the culture and history of Latin America and i want to have friends who live there.Moreover,being able to speak Spanish
would make me something special here in India bcoz not much people are able to speak fluent
spanish here ( English is spoken by every fool here,so it’s nothing special).Actually i’d like to
learn Chinese and Swedish too,but i think it’s not a good idea to mess with many languages
because it’d be like a music fan trying to learn many instruments simultaneously.It will only
make me a Jack of all trades but master of none.Anyway, to be honest,this is my reason for
trying to learn spanish.Muchas gracias.Hasta manana till we meet again.Adios mi profesor y
amigo querido.
Synergy spanish will help change my life by giving me the ability to communicate better with my husband’s family amongst others. Many of his family members do not speak English. My husband is from Honduras originally. As much as he has tried helping me with my Spanish something is still missing. I have even taken classes but did not feel any progress in the ability to speak or have a conversation not to mention the classes were out of our budget. The main thing I have gained is understanding quite a bit when someone speaks to me in Spanish. My problem lies in the ability to speak or respond in Spanish. I get stumped when trying to reply or even starting a conversation in Spanish. I need it all to come together fluently. In learning to do so, I would like to volunteer in helping the many hispanic immigrants in our area. I really think I could give back much more by having the ability to communicate with everyone. I would very much appreciate the opportunity if given. Thank you very much for providing this opportunity,
Sincerely,
Lori Newman
Thanks for all the free info on Spanish in your emails, it has been very helpful. I would like the scholarship but know that there are people out there can’t afford the cost. Thanks for the offer.
Sam
I am an ESOL teacher in a small rural elementary school in South Georgia. My school serves the largest number of ESOL students in the county (154 from K-5). Each year brings more students. Many of my students speak and read English. I have several who speak no English. Since our government passed the No Child Left Behind Act, school systems throughout the United States are focused on test scores. My school did not make AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) because of the ELL subgroup did not pass the Reading/English Language Arts and the Math parts of our standardized state test. It is extremely difficult to help my students understand testing vocabulary, sentence structures, grammar, math vocabulary,etc. when I can’t speak their language. I know that I can’t translate any part of the state test but during the year I would be able to help them with questions they have or things they don’t understand about testing. I get very frustrated with myself when trying to explain something and I know that they get frustrated trying to understand! It would be such a tremendous advantage to be able to speak to these children in their own language. Also, I am going to begin an Adult ESOL English class and being able to speak Spanish would definitely help me with this class. Thanks for taking the time to read each of these comments.
Hello,
I have always loved the Spanish Language and find when I do make an attempt to learn some of the words I really enjoy speaking it. We love to travel and many places we go to are spanish speaking. If I could communicate in the native language it would make my time visiting other countries so much more enjoyable. And what a treat for the locals to be able to meet a Candian that can communicate in their languauge rather than just expecting them to try to speak English. Thank-you.
How do I enter the 2009 scholarship? I don’t know where the blog is? I want to enter Cat. #1.
Maybe I am too old (63) to learn Spanish….I can’t find a blog.
Thanks
Jill
Dear Markus, learning Synergy Spanish definitely will change my life because I resently just moved to California where Spanish is like a second language here. I’m applying for a job and I think being able to communicate in spanish will open more opportunities in my job search.
Thank you for giving this chance to learn synergy spanish.
Angelia
Learning Synergy Spanish will help me to help others because it will give me the Spanish language skills I need to share and teach what I know to my neighbors in Mexico. I could more confidently teach students how to use recycleable materials such as plastic bottles, paper, and tetra paks (many of which now litter the roadsides and barrancas) to create art objects. In my community, this would result in a cleaner environment, in economic gain for those who learned to transform this “trash” and in the development of their artistic vision. Learning Spanish would also be helpful in teaching English in Mexico, a skill from which many here could benefit as they interact with a growing number of English speakers who want to do business here. Learning Synergy Spanish would better allow me to exchange ideas for community development and to contribute to preserving the natural beauty and riches of this place while improving our daily lives (with better roads, walkways, garbage collection, etc.) and in developing a shared sense of community and social responsibility, something I’ve found sadly lacking since I retired here. Equipped with SS skills, I will learn more about Mexican values and world views which I will share throughh my writing. I will also be able to communicate my values, views and perspectives to Mexicans I meet, thus contributing in a small but vital way to international cultural understanding.
i want to learn spanish because i have perchaced an apartment in spain and intend to live and retire there and it would be nice to communicate with my neighbours in ther native language
If I was given the opportunity to receive your Synergy Spanish courses through the scholarship it would help me greatly due to the fact that I moved to Peru last year to be with my partner (not knowing ANY Spanish) and even though I have learned a bit just by listening and practicing with my host family, I still need an actual course that structures the grammar skills, gives tips to memorizing, and allows me to practice listening to understand words and phrases much easier. Since living in Peru, I have became an EFL teacher, but I only can speak in English, consdering my Spanish is not at a level that I can explain the differences in the languages to them, which hinders their learning. I would love to be able to communicate fluently with Peruvian citizens, to make lasting friendships, learn differences, and explore this country more. I am very dependent on my host family and partner for translations, advice, etc. and being able to take your course would allow me to be independent and be able to make my own decisions and give my own opinion in many situations. Thank you for your consideration, Marcus.
Emily
Marcus,
I am a specialist in anti money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism.
Speaking Spanish would allow me to also assist Spanish speaking countries in their efforts to try and make the world a safer place for all of us.
When I succeed to speak Spanish fluently, I am sure your relentless encouragement will have a lot to do with it!
Thanks for pushing me,
Hellen
I come to Spain Madrid two years ago from Africa, and am marring to an eastern Europe girl that i meet on computer when am still in Africa. and we now leaving in Spain and we want to learn now how to speak Spanish very will.
Its good for me and my wife to learn how to speak Spanish very well so that we can communicate with people very well because most of the people speak only Spanish and also for working we need to know how to speak Spanish too.
as we are foreigner, i and my wife need to learn how to speak Spanish very will because we are living here and want to be here.
It will be of great pleasure to consider us for a scholarships,
Thanks.
Justine.
Hi Marcus…I want to learn spanish because in July of last year I went to the Yucatan in Mexico on a missions trip. It was life changing for me, to say the least. I am a mexican american…it’s so horrible to there and not know a lick of spanish. I know I will be going back there eventually. My finance has a calling to minister to Spanish speakers….he speaks english too. So when you talked about barriers…I could identify…one is money…the other is the feeling like I’m behind already!
Thanks for your time
-Rena
I’d like to peak to people that only know how to speak spanish. And i like the chalenge just to see if i can..and lastley i like the language..
I have currently been living in Mexico City for two months now with the duration of six months (this is how long i`am intending to stay for) and it has been really difficult financially to learn Spanish and I have no-one who has the time to teach me and if only i could speak a sentence or maybe speak fluently would make me very happy and it will further my experience being here and I will be able to give back to the community as much as they have given to me.
I have been struggling to learn enough usable spanish to continue with the goal my wife and I have been pursuing. Some two years ago, we took “a leap of faith” and began attending a local spanish congregation. I serve there as an “elder”. (anciano) This requires that I regularly develop talks and presentations and to give them to the congregation. Plus, I need to have a great deal of personal interchange with the friends there.
We hope to make our way to Central America for prolonged periods to further our “quasi-missionery” work. I need all the help that I can get, and i believe your course materials could assist us very much.
Marcus,
Your package of courses epitomizes the difficulty in picking out a useful product from your offerings. Tengo algo competencia in espanol pero, no se donde ir siguiente. Tengas muchos cursos. If they build on one another, where can I start? Dado que sabe algo espanol, no quiero comencer en el principio, pero your courses seem to go all over the lot.
Puedo leer espanol con diccionario, pero no puede siguir una conversacion en TV. Ya lo quiero.
For my essay: Mis nietos, y mi yerno hablan espanol por que viven en Mexico. Aunque ellos aprendan algo ingles, necesito hablar espanol por hablar con sus amigos quando los visito.
1, It will help me to communicate and get to know my lovely Spanish neighbors better, all my new neighbors speak Spanish. 2.when I travel to Spanish Speaking lands I will be able to communicate better I have new friends who speak Spanish, It would be easier to help them speak English If I could speak Spanish and I like the language. 4. My husband and I promised each other on our wedding day we would learn to speak Spanish together( he took it in Junior High School and knows some, Eleven years latter I know none)
1. I am currently attending a university and have just finish a course name Hispanic Thought and Culture.I will be doing section 2 this semester.I am worried because i will be required to do Orals as part of the course.I could hardly pass Spanish in High school and it has been over 14yrs since i have left.Learning Spanish can help me to MAKE MY LIFE BETTER because i will be able to pass my exam and get my first degree, also i have never traveled to another country and would love to do so, after am finish studing i can teach my students Spanish making my class more enriching
Hi Marcus,
My wife & i moved to Spain 5 years ago with our 3 year old daughter, she is now fluent in castillion amd valencian however as we have had to concentrate on earning a living primarily we are by no means fluent yet. I have tried all the courses and still cannot understand Spanish as it is spoken ( i.e. FAST). We now have another daughter born here in Spain 3 years ago, they both attend a spanish school and it would be so benificial to be able to communicate properly with the teachers and doctors etc, not to mention the doors it would open for us also.
Marcus
Thanks for giving two people the opportunity to receive a scholarship to your programs. I’m sure that whoever receives the scholarship will be very grateful.
I am a Catholic priest who is assigned to a church in Chicago. Well over 90% of the parishioners are from Mexico. Many have been here for a number of years but there is a constant influx of new arrivals. So the people have various levels of fluency with English - from being very fluent to knowing no English at all. I have spent some time studying spanish but there is never enough time due to my various responsibilities in the church and community. At present I say that my fluency level is like that of a two year old.
As you can imagine, in my daily ministry I have a tremendous need to be able to speak better spanish. Whether it is in the various church services or in my daily work with the people, greater fluency in spanish is a necessity. It seems to me that your programs would give me a great way to achieve this fluency.
At present, in my preparations to celebrate daily Mass for the people, I use an on-line translator to transpose my homilies from english to spanish. Then I ask the secretary to “correct” it for me so that I am able to read the homily during the service. Obviously this is not the best way but it is what I am able to do right now.
In a similar way, nearly every day someone comes to the office looking for help - with rent or food or other necessities; for help with immigration issues or other legal matter; for any number of personal concerns. My ability to assist them would be greatly increased if I had greater fluency in spanish.
As you can see, Synergy Spanish would improve my life and ministry while it would allow me to have a greater impact in the lives of the people I see every day in my ministry as a priest.
Thank you for considering my request to receive one of these scholarships - and I offer my congratulations to whomever you select. I hope they fulfill their dream of learning spanish.
God Bless You
Fr. Greg
Dear Marcus,
I am a 72 year old Irishman. During my days as a university student I spent one year working on a farm in France. That year I did not meet another English speaking person for a period of seven months with the result that my knowledge of spoken French improved greatly. I was also able to read French fairly well although I must admit my written French was not so good. On leaving France I returned to university in Ireland and regretfully had few opportunities to practice French thereafter. Nevertheless I feel the experience has given me some idea of what to expect when trying to learn a language after childhood.
When at school my interest in learning Spanish was first stimulated by a teacher who had lived in Spain previously. In my twenties I also enjoyed a short holiday in Barcelona which encouraged me further.
Leaving university, in early 1963 I went to Rhodesia (Now Zimbabwe) to work as an agricultural economist. My whole professional career was spent in Africa and although now retired and widowed I live today in Cape Town, South Africa.
Something about Spanish continued to appeal to me. Even while working in Zimbabwe I once enrolled for night classes at a local school of languages and tried to learn some Spanish for a period of about six months. However I lacked sufficient self discipline to work systematically
and became discouraged with my lack of progress. As a result I gave up the effort.
About two years ago I decided I would go on a horse riding adventure holiday with my son through the Andes Mountains from the Argentine to Chile. I also decided to visit San Carlos de Bariloche the Iguazu Falls and of course Buenos Aires. Suddenly it seemed a good idea to once more attempt to learn some Spanish. With the help of a friend from the Argentine I made another attempt to learn a little more of the language. Some modest progress was made and it helped me greatly in South America.
When I returned to Cape Town I decided to continue expanding my knowledge of Spanish and again I turned for help to my Argentine friend who kindly agreed to continue helping me even though she is not a trained language teacher. Then a few months ago I was invited by the owner of an estancia in Argentina to participate in a long horse ride from Puerto Montt on the Pacific coast of Chile to Puerto Madryn on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Although I have some doubts about my ability to complete the twenty one day ride I have accepted the challenge and will leave again for South America in mid March 2009. Obviously I shall need all the Spanish I can acquire before I go. If I survive this journey I should like to continue with my effort to learn the language better and if I have the energy and the financial resources to perhaps spend more time in Spanish speaking countries in future.
I like the sound of spoken Spanish. I am interested in the history and the culture of the Spanish speaking world. While I believe good and bad exist in every society so far the Spanish speaking people I have met seem to be particularly, warm hearted, friendly and kind and I have enjoyed my contacts with them.
Finally, to justify my interest in Spanish I quote from a publication I have about the origin of my Irish surname Murphy. ……”The surname Murphy ………..traces its origin from Milesius, King of the Milesians, King of Spain, through the line of his son, Heremon, first absolute King of Ireland, 504 B.C.” Rather a long time ago I admit but nevertheless a connection not to be ignored.
Peter Murphy, Cape Town.
I have been trying to become fluent in Spanish for years and for some reason the desire has not lessened over the years!
I believe that learning languages can open up a whole new world and that idea just excites me to no end.
My passion is working with young people in urban communities. I feel like my purpose is to expose young people to a world outside of their neighborhood by teaching them Spanish, as well as increasing their knowledge about Latin culture. I feel that this will help bring more unity and alliance among people in many communities as well as provide more opportunities in life that would otherwise be unimaginable.
Synergy Spanish would enable me to help others, specifically school aged individuals and, ideally, be able to take the students to various Spanish speaking countries so that they can see how powerful and common the language is in other parts of the world.
I would Love to learn Spanish because i study the bible with persons to help them learn the truth about God. The need for me to speak Spanish has become urgent since there is a number of Spanish speaking persons entering the country to work and study, it will be a loving act on my part to also reach these persons with the bible message in their mother tongue, this really would be able to reach thier hearts better since they will be stimulated to think and reason in a language familiar to them.
I’m quite sure I’m no different from all the other people out there, and of course I would love to be able to speak Spanish fluent. I’m a single father of a very bright young lady whom I’ve been trying to push to learn Spanish fluent. To which would advance her in so many ways. My learning would be also to advance myself, and to teach her that no matter how old you are in life. You are never to old to learn anything that you put your mind to.
All the best,
Ronnie
Marcus,
I would like to become fluent in Spanish for several reasons. Becoming fluent in Spanish will enhance my life in so many ways and help me to help others have easier day to day life journeys.
I am dating a young man from Mexico. He speaks very little English and I speak very little Spanish. We seem to get along just fine but it would be so much more meaningful and expanded if I could tell him how I feel sometimes about things. If I don’t know how to say it, I’ll go to the Spanish/English Dictionary. Sometimes time allows for this and most times it doesn’t. If there is no time, then things are left unsaid. And this causes dis-ease in our relationship. Sometimes both of us say that maybe we should go our separate way because of the language barrier. When we are among his amigos, I am scared to participate in the conversation because I think that they will say something that I don’t understand and if they do sometimes I pretend that I understand and sometimes I just admit that I don’t understand. I can’t wait until the day when this will all be behind me. I’ve been trying to learn just two or three words a day from the dictionary. Sometimes this is helpful but other times it makes me anxious and sometimes even depressed.
Sometimes I see hispanics having a hard time in their day to day journey here in the United States. It may be with legal issues or social issues because they don’t understand protocol. I then automatically rush in to try to help them because I truly understand their plight. It doesn’t matter if I know them or not. I help if I can to make life easier for them. And I do meet and make new friends of the hispanic culture daily and because of the little that I know, they think that I know more. I admit I know a little because I took Spanish1 and a little Spanish2 in high schoool but that was 26 years ago. I have forgotten some of the things that I memorized just to get the grade but now that living has made it a reality and a necessity, I would like to learn more so that I can be more efficient volunteering my help.
I think this would also be a much needed enhancement to my resume as well. I would seek a different position where I could be of mas service to mas gente. Enhancing not only my life but the lives of friends, family, strangers, and maybe even our country.
I plan to journey to Mexico in March whether or not I speak better Spanish or not but if I did speak better and comprendo mas mejor it would sure make the journey better traveled.
If I could become fluent in spanish from this course and get an improved salary because of it, then I WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THE SAME CHANCE GIVEN ME TO SOME OTHER PERSON BY SETTING UP A ONE TIME SCHOLARSHIP TO ENRICH ANOTHER PERSON’S LIFE WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT JUST AS I CANNOT AFFORD IT NOW BUT NEED IT NOW.
Marcus, you have no idea what you may have created here.
Best wishes of luck to everyone here in your endeavors of speaking Spanish,
“C”
Looking forward to this package, so that I will be verstile in my profession as translator and teacher. I believe, from all you have said, that I should become fluent through it and be able to teach others. Thanks.
Pamela
Dear Marcus,
I would love to speak spanish fluently because I have always wanted to and as I get older this desire as grown. I learned a bit of spanish in high school but some how I am not able to speak it fluently. I honestly could not afford extra classes then and not even now.
I had an experience working with people from different countries and for many english was their second language, they spoke it fluently for the most part. This of course enhanced my desire to learn spanish, because not only can someone become more marketable with spanish in their career, especially since countries are so intertwine now and there is a greater need for workers to be bilingual but also for someone to communicated with friend across the world.
I know speaking spanish flently will help me in my career objective, also to communicate with friends from Dominican Republic, cuba and Mexico just to name a few, even to visit these countries some day and truly experience the culture will be a dream come true.
Hello Marcus,
First, thank you for the opportunity to apply for the 2009 scholarship. How would learning spanish help me help others? It would give me the opprotunity to truly support the spanish members of our organization SGI-USA,South San Diego Region. Attempting to learn spanish has been a quest for years. People continue to ask me, ‘Why are you not fluent in spanish by now, I ‘ve never seen so many books, tapes, etc.?’ With what you have given us on this website over the pass year that I’ve been checking your method has improved my limited ability, so I thank you for that.
Hola Marcus!
I would like to learn Synergy Spanish to fulfill a promise I made - to be able to communicate with my students in the Dominican Republic. I recently realized my dream of missions work by teaching English. However, I was very limited because I could not communicate with my students. Outside of teaching them the basics, numbers, colors, etc., I could not communicate things that could change their lives. For instance, teaching the young girls that they could do anything and they didn’t have to have children early. Instilling in them confidence and self-esteem so they could one day change the world. I would love to be able to see and be a part of their success!
After spending time in Cancun (family wedding) and then a fantastic 10days in Cuba, I have realised that my education is sorely lacking in this area having only learn’t school boy French as one had to back in the late 60’s
My wife has been at me for a number of years to do some tertiary education, but it has always been work related and has not really interested me.
We know have Spanish speaking family members here in NZ along with a couple of Spanish speakers at work.
My father was from Venezuela and lived in Trinidad where he met my mother and had his family. I feel lost not knowing the language of my father. I promised him before he died that I will learn the language and will do what he didn’t do, pass it unto my family and have them do the same when the have their family. I try to speak alittle and I understand a little. I cannot afford to pay for classes. If I was to be successful in getting this Synergy Spanish Scolarship I will volunteer my services to helping other learn the language. I now live in the U.S. A and is in contact with persons speaking spanish all the time. In church I want to be able to transalate when there are Spanish visitors. I trust God that I will be successful. Thank you and God Bless.
I have always wanted to learn spanish.My entire future depends on it now because I am moving to spain in two weeks time to set up a new business so if iIam not able to communicate properly then my dreams are going to be shattered.
My husband passed away this year. Our best friend has come to my aid. He is from Mexico originally. He has been making sure I am busy and safe. He has invited me to his family functions. I have gotten to know his family in my area, and will soon meet other members of his family. When together, they all speak Spanish. He will interpret. Strangely enough, they have started talking to me in Spanish. then translated when they remembered I don’t speak it.
His mother came to visit. She doesn’t speak English. This made it very difficult, almost impossible to speak the language. It was very uncomfortable for both of us.
I would like to show my respect for my loving friend, and his loving family, by learning to speak their language.
Hola amigos y profesora !
My name is Danica Fonoti. I am full blood Samoan, and it was kind of quick for me to catch up on the pronounciations to the spanish language at school ! All my life I love learning LANGUAGES ! Its been a passion of mine , espeically learning Spanish & Korean ! those are my tow favourite languages that i HOPE to learn. Right now I am in college, and my parents dont exactly agree with me taking Spanish as a subject because they think its too late for me to learn a new language. And i hope to prove them wrong. Your never too young or too old to learn new things, one of my favourite quotes, and i am hoping that by winning this I can gain the full potential to learning spanish. Right now, I want to be a translator , help others who cant speak english and translate to tohers who dont speak their native tongue. So i thought , might as well start with Spanish & Korean since i already speak Samoan which makes it three languages that i can speak not counting english ! But anyways, thanks and GOD BLESS ! Feliz ano nuevo !
Hola Marcus, ¿Como estas?… well this is as far as it goes… I am a South African that works for a company in German. We employ mostly people outside of Germany and 2/3s of my colleagues are now Spanish speaking. I have always wanted to learn Spanish as it is a beautiful language and will help me immensely to show respect to my colleagues and also to enjoy the Mexican and Uruguayan holidays that I am planning.
I think you are doing a great job with your training courses and my biggest stumble block is pronunciation and practicing. Thanks for giving us an opportunity.
Hey Marcus,
I live in Australia, I’m travelling to Colombia this year, i work with a colombian friend with whom i’m staying with in colombia,his family is kindly putting me up. I”ve been trying for the last year and a half to conquer spanish!…pero lo estoy encontrando muy dificil y me encanta muchisimo!!
porfa Marcus!! ayudame!!..dios te bendiga
II moved to the Valencia area of Spain five years ago knowing very little Spanish but quickly realized that in order to make friends with the local community I would have to try and make an effort to embrace their language and not feel so isolated. I am a sixty-two year old retiree and feel like a failure and on the scrape heap of life because no matter how many times I pick up a book or listen to a cd or tape in Spanish, and it is very often , very little sinks in. I so desperately want to be able to talk properly with my neighbours (the area I live in is predominately Spanish) and feel I have achieved this one thing in my life to prove that even at my age it is possible to make a difference and cross the barrier of language.
There are 2 ways the course would improve my life.
I have a small homebusiness that I just started which I hope will improve my life,but I would like
to contacts spanish speaking people and help them improve their lives.
Although English is not my native language I seem to have trouble now to learn a new language.
Even though I am 75 I still think I can do it. Your offer is great. It gives people hope to finally
take on a new language.
Where I live it is all around me and I would like to be able to converse with them. thank you!
Hi, I’m a 52 year old mom who decided that it was time for me to do something for myself. So, I started going to college in Feb. 2008. One of my first courses was Spanish 1. I must say that it was very difficult and I passed, but there is no way that I can carry on a conversation. I believe that what you said is absolutely correct. I’m double majoring in Psychology and Math and will get my teaching credentials too. I live in Southern California and I plan on teaching at one of our many lower income areas. There are many Spanish speaking students as well as their parents, so I feel in order for me to be a better teacher, I need to speak and understand Spanish as fluently as I speak English. I also want to go to Mexico and other Spanish Speaking countries in order to help them with their education too. I would love to learn by using your program as I feel that it is better than going to a classroom to learn where all they mainly teach you is the grammar which isn’t going to be benefitial in communicating with my students and parents everyday in my classroom. Thank you, and my God Bless You.
Your “contest” is a great idea.
There are two ways it would definitily improve my life For one I just started a home business which will elevate my life in many ways. Secondly I would like to be able to communicate with
the people all around me who speak Spanish. I would like to show them how they also can
improve their lives.
Language is he best way to learn another culture and connect with the way they live.
Thank you for you generous offer and who ever wins should consider themselves very fortunate. thank you
Hi, Marcus.
I will keep this short and to the point:
1. Learning Spanish will benefit me by allowing me access and understanding to a greater number of people throughout the US; who only speak Spanish and within all Latin American Countries. I would use this new skill to build and nourish mutually beneficial relationships with the Spanish-speakers here in the US and of various Latin American countries I visit. Also, I have a female companion in Central America (Honduras) who is very near to my heart. She speaks some English and is able to communicate with me fairly well. However, I feel that I can develop a deeper understanding of my companion, her awesome family, and the Latin American Culture if I spoke fluent Spanish; a goal worthy of achieving.
2. Learning Spanish will also allow me to help those Spanish Speakers who want to learn English. For example, I would love to be fluent in Spanish to the extent that I could create Synergy English Course to help assist others who want to learn English as you are helping us English Speakers who want to learn Spanish with your awesome Synergy Spanish Course.
Finally, learning Spanish would allow me to help uplift those who feel that they are trapped in the whirlwind called life. I believe the best assistance that we can offer one another, here in the US or anywhere else, is spiritual love and awareness. This is exactly how I will use my ability to speak Spanish fluently in the future . Whether I am selected as one of the two participants or not, I will still become fluent in Spanish and do as I have stated here in my message. I have made a decision to learn Spanish!!.
Thanks for all that you do and for developing such a great program. God Bless you and you family.
Great opportunity for the lucky person.
I would like add my piece.
I just started a home business and hope it can help me improve my life on more ways than one.
There are quite a lot of spanish speaking people who live around me and I would love to be
able to connect with them and offer them an opportunity to improve their lives.
Even though I am 75 years old I don’t believe I cannot learn another language and I am
excited to try . Thank you
Great idea you have. I am excited to enter this “contest”.
I just stared a home business in hopes of improving my life in more ways than one.
There are a lot of Spanish speaking people who live all around here.
I would love to connect with them and show them how they improve their lives like I am.
Language is a sure way to get to know othethank you.r cultures and even though I am 75 years old I don’t think it is impossible for me to learn Spanish.
You can not expect from people to read your messages. Who has the time, and is willling to read many yards of messages that are to a large extend repetitions?
If you come with crispy, short messages wherby you straight away come to the point, people mayread it.
I did not take your course (although I was interested) because I am afraid that the lessons will be as tedious as your promotional e-mails.
Hola ! Soy Ivana de Croacia…no se que mas puedo decir a usted o cual son palabras el mas grandes de estas que decir que espanol es mi gran amor ,mi gran deseo..todo que se trata de Latino America de gente cual provienen de estas paises ,de cultura o cual que otra cosa a mi me interesa…Me gustaria viajar para conocer estas paises , para comunicar con la gente de alli . Y todo lo que yo aprendi hasta ahora es de tele novelas y tambien de las paginas en internet. Pero todabia tengo problemas con la gramatica y sigue me estan faltando muchas palabras de vocabulario . Pero lo que quiero desir es un grande GRACIAS a usted siñor Marcus para todo lo que usted haces no solo para mi ,pero para todos y que Dios Bendiga a usted y su familia . Un grande saludo de Croacia !!!
Ivana Sikirich - January 15 , 2009
Hi Marcus, Thank you so much for this wonderful oppertunity. I ,like many others have been trying to learn Spanish for a long time, I live in Spain and have been for 5 years. I do find it very hard to grasp the language, I have tried learning many ways, by book by tape, watching the tv and I also bought a complete course on cd Micheal Thomas, although I found this very helpful, I fell apart on the verbs. If I were to win this fabulous offer it would make my life complete. I would be able to find work instead of thinking where is the next cent coming from. I would be able to comunicate with my friends that I have made over the last few years. I would also be able to help my son with his spanish homework like I would have done if we were in England. This is going to change someones life whoever wins, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this great oppertunity, at least there are people out there with a heart. Thank you xx
Because I can’t stop thinking about learning Spanish + have edged my way into a corner to belive all the ‘blockages’ to why I can’t learn. I’m fed up + frustrated with myself. I bet in another 10years I’ll still be feeling the same + still be trying to learn Spanish.I suppose we all need encouragement with life choices no matter how big or small they are.ljust read that message back to myself + thought,how very true but you know what? I’ll still keep trying! Happy New Year Marcus + good luck with everything.
Hi Marcus,
I would like to improve my Spanish, as i live in Spain, i have a business, and whilst i know many words i find it very dfificult to make sentences, therefore cannot converse.
If i was fluent this would open many doors to improve my business which with the world economy is struggling at the moment.
I moved to Spain with my Husband and two sons three years ago and felt confident that i would be fluent in Spanish by now, so i am very disapointed with myself.
I would like to set an example to my Family, if i can do it then any one can this may give them Motivation to learn, also i have a grandaughter age one, who will grow up speaking Spanish as she will go to Spanish school, this is another important factor for me to be able to enjoy her and other grandchildren in the future to the full.
Before i came to live in Spain i did a course in the U.K but i don’t feel my expectations were meet from doing this course, i put this down to my lack of confidence which i think i have lost as i have got older, i think this would also give me that back.
HOPEFULLY.
Marguerite.
Holla Marcus
Me and my husband came to live in a tiny village in Spain late on last year and I have been able to get a job but my husband has not, My parents came out to live with us so I need to support all of us until we can both get decent jobs but until we get Spanish under our belts this is not going to be easy. We both feel that we cannot affort to go for lessons and that we have not got the confidence to go out and speak to the locals in fear of getting it wrong. To get the course and release all our stresses would be wonderful. And in doing this we could both get good jobs and be able to give my parents a decent life here in spain.
HOLA mARCUS
I think,with the influx of spanish folk visiting and working in our cities, now a sdays, one should be able to converse, in both languages, in order to really make understanding possible, I had a year in high school (1958),of spanish and visited Spain last year, and now I really want and need to speak it, I am 67 yrs old…any help can be appreciated, i am retired and money is hard to come by, thank you for this chance
Sam
My husband and I are going to live in South America next year in Ecuador mainly, to do some voluntary work and help as many people as we can to have a hopeful future. So we are trying to learn the language as much as possible before we go so that we can communicate with the local people fluently. We cant afford to buy any more lessons though because all our money will be used to live over there.
Thanks for your help so far because the synergy lessons are teaching us so much.
I married a wonderful Spaniard in March. I am now living in Spain. It would be great to be able to talk to friends, family, and others here. Also, I would be less lonely.
Hola Marcus ;-))) i am from South Africa and fell in Love with a man from Manchester, we talk to each other every second day and go on anual holidays together. In 2006 we went to Greece and language there was a big handicap for us as not many of the Greec people speak English. My man has now promised me a holiday to Spain and after that to Beunos Ires and i would need Synergy Spanish in both those cases. I would so like to impress his little blue English socks off him when we meet again in July 2009, but do not have the funds to afford the whole course now. He would be so impressed with me if i start speaking Spanish, as he is taking classes in Manchester. If you remember how it feels being in love with Butterfkies in your tummy, you would understand how i feel about him and impressing him. I love him soooooooooo much and will be so trilled :-))))))))) Thanks for the oppertunity. Regards Maria
Marcus
I am a Sales representative of the second largest pharmaceutical company in the world.I am based in the Caribbean and our Regional Head Office is in Costa Rica.Our reigon consnst of nine Countries(Seven Spanish speaking and two English and is has become very difficult to communicate when we have training,conventions,exchange programs etc. Synergy Spanish will definitely do wonders for me as I can only grow more and feel confident about myself.
I have already started sharing my learnings with my family,especially my son(4 years) and my fellow employees.
Muchas Gracias
Wow Marcus,
What an offer and what amazing response,,,there are clearly many, many good people in the world! Just reading these comments restores my faith in humanity. How on earth will you choose the winners of your scholarship…I certainly do not envy your task!
I can identify with so many of the people who have written above…it is so hard to learn a new language, to overcome the embarrassment of making mistakes and to retain new information especially as we get older.
Sure there is also the financial barrier and the need to really make the time commitment once the cash is invested and most of us have to work hard in these recession-hit times just to keep a roof over our families heads and put bread on the table.
I join the ranks of those above who have been trying with limited success for years and completely agree with you concerning the use of non-communicative methods …a good example is the sadly failed attempts of our Irish government to re-install our native Gaelic as a first language mainly due to the use of archaic teaching methods.
Learning a new language is, I am sure, in it’s own right, good for the soul. Being able to communicate even to the slightest degree with speakers in another culture from our own brings such a sense of satisfaction and achievement and must contribute to inter-cultural understanding, empathy and ultimately inter-national peace, so is of huge importance.
Assisting as many people as possible to be in this position is of ultimate importance therefore your work is crucial.
Tithing (10%) of our income is an ancient and worthy custom, giving without expectation of reward or personal gain is to be encouraged especially in our children so I greatly admire your generous offer. The challenge you face in bringing an individual to fluency, the knowledge that you can achieve that is powerful and rewarding in itself, and I wish you multiple success in your undertakings.
I hope that the winners of the scholarship reflect on the universal benefits of having the language and feel a moral obligation to in some way share or pass on their luck to others in needy situations.
Personally, of course, I would love to have Spanish. Like so many others, I too, share the disappointment of failure after multiple attempts, however, I cannot bring myself to apply for your scholarship in the face of the many worthy applications I have read.
At some point in the future, perhaps my own financial situation will improve and I will find myself in a position to purchase your course, meanwhile I appreciate receiving the emails and tips!
Muchos Gracias, amigo
Go well
Jackie.
dear marcus iam half spanish half persian lost my dad when i was 18 and came to Australia and never talk spanish realy hurt me . I love t talk t my relatives and prve i can speak good Spanish and it is my dream when i g back t Spain next year i wiil be able t speak perfect Spanish and i wuld love that with all my heart
Learning Spanish will help me better my life and especially the lives of others because it will definitely make me a better member of any Spanish speaking community. By being able to contribute meaningfully and understandably in spanish I will be happy and my sorroundings will be happy too. I have so much bottled up inside that I can’t wait to explode in Spanish.
Hi Marus
I have been a lurker on Spanish websites for some time now; a bit like a poor swimmer hesitant to dive into the pool! You have described my problem many times; I consider I have no aptitude and am far too old to learn etc. But deep down I suspect the problem is that I have not found the right spark to ignite my enthusiasm and tap into my inner ability. It seems to me your programmes can provide that spark.
Best wishes
Mike Haselip
Hola Marcus,
I am a career switcher looking to go into teaching. My first passion is Spanish but, unfortunately, despite many years of study, I am not at a level to pursue that route for initial licensure. For that reason, I am pursuing ESOL licensure first. I will continue to look for ways to improve my Spanish and once I have attained the required proficiency to pass the language exams, I hope to add a Spanish endorsement. In addition to teaching aspirations, I am committed to exposing my son to Spanish at an early age. I recognize the value in speaking more than one language and I want him to have the opportunity to learn at least one additional language. As a Spanish fanatic, I would also welcome the opportunity to live abroad one day, in a Spanish speaking country. A mastery of the language, which has thus far eluded me, would help me attain my dreams of conquering Spanish and sharing my knowledge with others. ¡Gracias por todo! Terri
I need to learn to speak and write in Spanish for a couple of reasons. One is for a personal goal that I have for myself. I am always looking at ways to expand my knowledge and to grow as a person. The other reason is for my job. I want to learn how to communicate with our employees and be able to provide them the service they deserve. Right now I have to go find somebody who speaks Spanish to assist me and that makes me feel incompetent as a person b/c this is part of my job. I like to take full ownership of my responsibilities. I also have friend’s that speak Spanish and would like to be able to participate in there activities without having to ask them to interpret for me….Please enter me in your drawing to win the Spanish coaching package b/c it would really help me all around… Thanks, Marie
My husband and i will be moving to Spain in 2010 and learning Spanish will help us fit in to our new home and make it easier for us to make new friends, get work and navigate our way around the Spanish culture. I also believe that we owe it to the Spanish people to learn to speak their language PROPERLY. If i were to win this fantastic opportunity i would work really hard to ensure that my goal of being able to speak the language became a reality - thank you
Mankind has this innate desire to communicate with one another. The many languages of man separate us from reaching out to one another, yet those same languages define and enhance each culture of this world. I believe that learning the language and thoughts of your neighbor is so critical in unifying humanity. I have spent many dollars and hours trying several spanish programs that have frustrated me and my homeschooled children. I would like another opportunity to perhaps finally overcome this frustrating barrier for me and my children.
Hola Marcus;
1) I’ve had the dream of living in Buenos Aires Argentina for 6 months to learn Spanish. The problem is I’d like to have a BASIC level before I go. I’ve tried other companies tapes, CDs and even Podcasts. I always make a little progress - but then I fizzel out and stop listening and learning.
Gracias Amigo!
David
Hola Marcus,
I took a couple of years of Spanish in high school. Later I took a couple of classes in college. Never had the opportunity to use it regulary. Now I teach science in central California where 70% of the students are hispanic.
I actually earned a medal as a freshman in high school and always got compliments from my instructors on my accent but have never become fluent.
I would love to be able to converse in Spanish so that I could help my students and interact with other hispanics in life and maybe even do some traveling.
Tenga un buen dia,
Jan
Learning Synergy Spanish will help change my life as i have been living in spain for 4 years and still have problems with the language. i have taken many courses in learning spanish over the years, here in Spain and in the UK, i even studeid Spanish on my degree. Yet, none of the work i have done has stuck in my head or made it pssible for me to speak fluent Spanish, which is what i want. That is until i found you. But, due to serious money problems i have never been able to access your full course. therefore, if i win this competition i can achieve my goal, i love the way the Synergy Spanish works and it’s easy to remember and use.
If i win i will also be able to help others, because i can be of more use to people if i have access to two languages.
So, vamos a ver! Good luck to us all entering the competition, but i hope i win.
Learning to speak fluent Spanish would move my relationship with my husband to another level. He is a native Spanish speaker and my first language is English. Our relationship communication in in English and we do well, but I know it would mean the world to him if I could speak his language well enough to express my thoughts and feelings in his language. Our son is 3 and we have another on the way. The 3 year old knows some words, but if we were to visit my husband’s home country it would take him a long time to adjust because he is also not fluent in Spanish, This is because he spends most of his time with me. If I and my son were fluent in Spanish we could communicate with family in deeper and more connective ways, rather than the basics that keep up walls of distance. I appreciate this opportunity to share my motivation for learning Spanish and to remind myself of why it is so important!
There is another Spanish course on discs it is very good, just like your course but it was too costly for me - it is called pimsleur - They start you out at $9.95 for intrductory course and the next course costs about $364.00 - how much is your course total?
Dear Marcus,
I am Puerto Rican and proud of the richness of our culture. However, the only thing lacking is my command of the Spanish language. It is embarrassing to me to not completely understand what should be my native language. My children are starting to learn Spanish in school and I would love to be able to help them be successful. There are other children in the neighborhood who assume that I am Spanish-speaking because of my ethnicity. I want to learn so I can be proud, so I can share what I have learned with our younger generation. I truly hope you will consider me for your scholarship. Times are hard and I cannot afford to pay for your classes.
Thank you for your consideration. Julie
Good Morning Marcus, I would like to leard Spanish Because most of the families are Mexican that we rent to in our low cost apartments who are very loving & caring people. Most of the time the children of theirs have to tell us what they want or for us to do something for them. We would like to speak to them in Spanish. I have tried other methods and have gained some Spanish, but not enought to really talking to them. We, My wife & 4 children & I would learn it together.Thanks for all that you do for us. We really appreciate it And love helping our families that staty with us. Not a selfish act, Just trying to help other families not as well as we have it, They love this country and are all good hard working, loving familes, Once again thanks for considering our request to learn Spanish with your help and our cooperation in any way.Sincerely,Audrey,Al & Jehing Family of Mountain View
Hello Marcus,
I work in a children’s hospital in Nashville, TN. My job is to assist the families of children who have been brought into the Pediatric Critical Care Unit. They are scared, stressed and want to know answers about their child’s condition (we do have staff for medical translation). It is my job to communicate to them other resources available for their basic needs such as finding food, where they will sleep, safety policies for our unit, shower areas, and many other resources that are available to our families during this time of need. I am like a liaison to our families while they are here. We have many spanish speaking families who come to our hospital. My concern is that, while I have translators available to me to use sometimes, I am not sure that all of their questions are ever really answered fully. I took two years of spanish when I was in school many years ago. I remember very little except some dialogue that we were required to memorize. To help the families that I encounter, I would really like to learn to speak spanish comfortably. Thank you for your consideration! Jill
Senor Marcus,
What a wonderful gift you are extending. I have a need to help others by knowing Spanish. I know enough to demand others’ patience. I want to speak with Spanish speaking people with confidence and fluidity to put them at ease.
I am a founding member of the Reiki (an ancient Japanese hands-on healing method that offers relaxation and reduces stress) Program at a local Tucson hospital in the oncology department. Many patients speak espanol solemente. To be able to speak with them about Reiki and how it can help would be of great benefit to many people.
A second reason has come to surface. My two year old grandson may have hearing problems. His current daycare employees many Spanish speaking people. It is not always the case that Joey is unable to understand what we are saying. There are instances that he is listening with ears to hear Spanish. I want to be that support for him and also offer a guide to other parents who are unable to communicate with their toddlers because they are bi-lingual.
I would greatly benefit and grow my world while helping others by speaking Spanish well. Thank you for this opportunity.
Saludos,
Carolyn J Valenzuela
How will my learning Synergy Spanish help others? A few months ago, I was impressed by the physical fitness level of a woman at our community gym. I smiled at her and said, “You have really strong abdominal muscles.” She looked at me perplexed, so I repeated myself. She turned to her companion with a questioning look. He translated for me. When she understood that I was paying her a compliment, her face beamed “Gracias!”
I am already a friendly woman that loves to bring a bit of sunshine into the lives of those I meet each day. During the past year, I have found my ability to do so lessening because of language barriers. A friendly smile goes a long ways, but just think how much better life would be for my new neighbors if they had a friend that was able to speak their language, a friend that could help them find their place and feel more at home in their new community. Wow!
Greetings Marcus your absolutely right its time to end procrastinating and become affluent in speaking what has been but a dream these many years. As minister of good news nothing would benefit more were it possible to move ahead, widen out with respect sharing what has kindly been granted to clarify what Jesus directed priority wise to pursue only true source of hope and comfort, that is Jehovah God’s kingdom. You have so kindly extended materials supportive of learning and speaking spanish but excuse does not exist for failure belongs only due neglect. Now knowledge of such an opportuinty provides incentive even a goal of which could only benefit thankfully others.
Over the years it has been noted that in average household it is the women who either through tradition or trend marketing has influenced mainly that Mom’s the world over are ones who pursue and provide spiritual comprehension while Dad’s eck out living as bread winner. That of course is not a negative, for many single family heads acheive both at risk to physical health. Balance is required and today much has been lost leaving family arrangement in turmoil while absence of emotional stability presents evidence how situation has not turned out for best. As senior member of society desire to reach out not just in natiive tongue, no but rather wish to widen out in love for responsitility set as older one to look out for youth today. It is with love and gratitude this might result for sake of others.
Please accept thanks for understanding importance of sharing and being there for benefit of another.
Respectfully yours,
Morton Williams
I know the program is capable of placing a large profound impact on my life. I have been trying to learn spanish since I was a child, and it seems like no matter how much I had learned I just couldn’t get it right. I came across your program about a year ago and I was blown away at how much I had learned and how much more confidence I had in communicating. It made me feel like a long term goal I had since a child was finally set to be accomplished, and I am now more determined to see it happen.
As far as helping others, well I am in the process of writting a book for women on how to grow long hair, and I wanted to be able to reach out to the large spanish speaking population as well, especially women with very curly hard to manage hair, as many of the women in Dominican Republic. Hair care is my passion and I want to be able to share my knowledge with as many people as possible to enhance their lives and the way they feel about their hair, and learning spanish enables me to do that because it is the second largest language spoken in this country, and I would love to spread my knowledge in the many other spanish speaking countries as well.
This opportunity that you provide is more than a blessing that I am praying to recieve. And I send my thanks well in advance for your passion of wanting to share your knowledge to help others like myself grow, and accomplish what many believe at times to be the impossible.
Your scholarship offer caught my attention at a time when the economy is causing a great squeeze on my business. I own a small 10 bed assisted living home for the elderly, and our residents are on fixed incomes. Lately our expenses have skyrocketed so we don’t have much money for extras.
Some of our employees are Mexican immigrants. By law, they must be able to speak, read and write English to work in our home, however, there are still many communication problems, and it would be helpful if I could speak Spanish to double check that they do understand all of their instructions. Our first priority is to give the best care possible to our residents, and I have found the hispanic women to be loving caregivers, but they sometimes make mistakes because they don’t understand. These are good women who want to do a good job. They are going to a class to learn to improve their English, but progress is slow. It would also make them feel appreciated to know that I made the effort to learn their language. I did take one semester of Spanish at the local community college, and I have bought a couple of sets of audio tapes and CDs to play in the car but I can’t seem to get past basic conversational phrases. Right now I can’t afford to go back to school (either the time or money) and at the rate I was learning there it would take years to get where I need to be.
I have been receiving your emails but did not feel I could afford to sign up for the course at this time, so the scholarship would be a big help.
Ola! Senor Santmaria,
I have enjoyed using your free downloads, they are almost too good to be true. I appreciate them so much and the timing couldn’t be better. Money is tight right now as I am a single mother of three, currently going back to school for elementary education. On the side I have been substitute teaching. The hispanic population where I live is large and continues to grow. It is imperative that I be able to communicate with these childern. I can’t wait to buy the entire collection (or win them!!!) for myself and my children. Muchas Gracias!! Shannon G.
I took two semesters of Spanish in high school and only got vocabular words from it. My oldest daughter took spanish for many years and even through college and is fluent. I would love to be able to have conversations with her. I can understand most of what she says if she speak slowly. I would love to be able to blow her mind and be able to have conversations with her in spanish. I am going to Cancun in mid February and would like to speak spanish while I’m there. I cannot afford the course so I just keep reviewing the first four chapters hoping I can get by with that. The way you teach is amazing and I have learned alot. Thank you so much.
Hola,
Living in an ever-changing world requires us to make changes if we want to succeed in the business world. An explosion of the Latino community in my area requires me to make that change, specifically, the need to communicate with the Latino community. I can help our welcomed newest residents and myself by being able to communicate effectively. I rent apartments for living. The need to communicate makes it possible for me to enhance my business and stay on top of the competition and in turn help our welcome guests with a needed basic service that we all take for granted. We all need safe affordable clean housing and a place to call home. Being able to communicate in Spanish will help both the Latino community and myself succeed.
Shell@ScrantonLink.com
hi marcus
what a wonderful opportunity to learn the spanish language, i am trying hard to learn it, i have three children in a spanish school but i feel i am letting them down, not being able to pick up the language, i have a little girl of 9 years, who seems to be struggling with learning spanish and she looks to me as her mum to help her, i feel quiet helpless, and try to help but eventually have to ask one of my two sons, which they are not too happy to do at times, i would love to be able to have a conversation fluent to their teachers, instead i ask a friend to come to school meetings, but you never seem to get the answer back as you would if you could it yourself.
also my husband would love to be able to converse with builders and in the shops without having to use hand language. it would be great to start a new year and a new way if i was
successful and i would be proud to some day go into my daughters school and see her teachers without taking a friend, to speak for, the emails you have sent me so far have been very incouraging, that there is hope . and you make it seem so easy best regards lynda willis
Hola, Marcus,Como Es Tu?
I am so happy to see a new program, For me to take this new program would open a whole world to me, as the church I go to has mission trips to other countries to spread the gospel and the members of the church can sign up to go sometimes for 10 days and most of the countries are all spanish speaking countries which means As you see above, that is basically all I can really speak in spanish so I I can’t go because of the fact I could not interact or speak with the people and I am person that just loves people and love to interact and learn from their experiences in life etc. Here in New York, even in my church there are many spanish speaking people, and whenever I hear them talking, I always have wished I could understand the language, I do now a few words as I even took a class at my church, the teacher was from venezuela and after the class it’s like i forgot all I learned, he would walk up to me and speak to me in spanish, and if it wasn’t como es tu, I did not know or have a clue what he as saying and I got so frustrated and basically gave up and even with your first program, I did not put everything I could have into it because I felt i would not be able to remember and be able to speak if someone spoke to me in spanish. Well needless to say but I definitely can’t afford this program. Thanks for your willingness to reach out to help so many people on a large scale, you are truly a blessing and that is rare to see people now days reaching out to others. God Bless You and Thanks for the opportunity. Sincerely,Linda
Marcus,
I did buy Synergy Spanish 1, but it’s start and stop, stare and stop. Now I have a must do attitude. My only grandson is now living in Caracus, Venesulia with his Dad. I don’t get to see him unless I can go there, but it will take me a year to save enough for travel expense. Then if I get there I can not communicate locally. With this new motovation, I have to learn Spanish.
HELP, please !!!
HI MARCUS LEARING SPANISH AND BEING ABLE TO SPEAK IT FLUENTLY WILL CHANGE MY LIFE AS I WANT TO BE A SPANISH TEACHER BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GO TO TEACHERS COLLEGE. I LOVE AND ENJOY SPEAKING THE LITTLE SPANISH I KNOW.
THIS PROGRAMME WOULD HELP ME GREATLY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PROGRAMME.
TENSHIA.
Hola Marcus,
For 35 years, I have tried to learn Spanish. I have taken night courses, and read books on my own, but it just seemed like it never built up, and I was reviewing the same material everytime I tried to improve. I’m a nurse, and have recently started working in Dialysis. Over half of our patients are Spanish speaking, and the technicians are as well. With your courses, and this exposure, I feel like this is my chance to study, and become fluent. My goal is to live in Mexico, and help others enjoy Mexico, and even perhaps help them learn Spanish. I feel like it is my calling and learning Spanish will open alot of possibilities for me to help people there. 2009 is the year for me to become fluent in Spanish and take the next step to my dream.
Thank you for this opportunity, God’s blessings.
Hola Marcus,
Early 2008 I discovered your Synergy Spanish Free lessons and started to study them. I took 2 years of spanish in high school but could not remember a thing. Now, at 25 years old I was able to learn a lot more in those few lessons then I was in 2 years- that tells me that you know what you’re doing! Because of my job loss I was not able to move forward with my spanish lessons and it has taken a bit longer to catch up on bills that I have pushed the spanish lessons to the “back burner”.
This Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009 would change my life for the best because I would be able to communicate with those many people who speak the language and I would be able to increase my job opportunities by adding such a wonderful skill. One of my dreams is to visit Spain, Mexico, and South America someday- By learning spainsh and being able to speak it fluently that would make that trip so much more enjoyable and wonderful. I have 5 boys that range from 4 yrs. to 11 yrs. old and I would love to be able to teach them Spanish. Thank you for this opportunity!!!! Krista
I would love to learn the spanish language, because I am a school bus driver. On my route I have many spanish speaking students,most of them are bi-lingual and we can communicate very well. But I have one student who only knows the spanish language, he knows very little english. I have noticed that some days he seems so sad, and I would love more than anything to be able to talk to him and find out why he is so sad. For now I can only offer him my hugs, but soon I would like to offer him even more.
learning spanish has been in my heart since i married my husband 27 years ago. i broke the mold you could say by mixing race. i have a job that takes me right in the middle of spanish speaking only. i use a website on a daily basis to help me try and help my clients. i am in the insurance business and realy could use this course. my husband was in a motorcycle accident and hit a cow in the middle of the road. so he is not working and i certainly cant afford the course. i have been blessed to be around the spanish speaking culture and would be mucho feliz en el corazon to really understand the clients better when they come in for help. winning the course would complete by desire that has been in my heart for 27 or more years. thank you for allowing me to express and share with you. have a great day. shelly
hola marcus i bought your book shortcut to spanish.i have read it 3 times.it helped me immensly. i moved to the dominican republic2 years ago. of all the programs i have tried your method seems to be the best. the other programs just give you words to memorize and have no pattern. your program gives you the best advantage to have a normal conversation in spanish. i like the idea of the brick and mortar.i can now speak to people,but there seems to be something lacking in my conversations where i don’t understand the speaker. i think that they speak too. fast for me and cut off some words like slang in america we say sup meaning whats up. i believe that spanish people do the same. am i wrong?
Hi Marcus,
Ever since I was a child I’ve loved the spanish language. My sister and I would pretend that we were speaking spanish whenever we played together. We had spanish speaking neighbors and loved to hear them speak. We so wished we could speak that language and now that I’m an adult that desire has never left me. I have many spanish speaking friends and would love to share the language with them and go with them to their countries and be able to join in the conversations. I have had occasions where I’ve been stopped in the street by someone who thought I was spanish speaking but I was heart broken when I could not help. I love the language so much and I know I would be a help to many if only I could speak the language for myself. It would make my life better only to know I’ve helped someone. Thank you for this opportunity to be able to learn. If I had the money to buy the course I most certainly would!
Hi, From October to mid April I live in Mexico. During my months in Canada I go to yard sales and buy toys and clothes for the children in the poor areas in San Jose del Cabo. While I’m down their I give the toys and clothes out but I have to bring another lady with me because I don’t speak enough Spanish yet. I would love to ask them questions about their life and what things they need and get the feel of the people. I have just joined an organization called Liga MAC. This group of American,Canadian and Mexican women do may projects for the community and if I could speak Spanish I would be able to assist them in the field where they speak and find out how to help the people.They are doing wonderful work in educating the children from families that can’t not afford to send their children to school. They now have children in university by giving the money for their needs I can still donated my time with them but it would be a greater advantage to be able to understand the language.Thank You for this opportunity. Judy
Greetings Marcus,
I am Jamaican born in Miami and have fallen in love with my soul mate. She is a truly wonderful woman from Venezuela. She has a lovely family who has taken me in as one of their own. She has two kids who I grown to love tremendously. I only wish I could better communicate with her and her family. She and her children communicate in Spanish and I truly feel I am missing out on all the joys of communicating with them completely. I have tried other methods of learning Spanish but seriously speaking, the truly good Spanish programs are way over my budget. It would make my life complete if I win this Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009. Thank you for this chance to speak fluent spanish.
Hola Marcus, We moved to Mallorca in spain 4 years ago, I have just not been able to learn the language, I can just about get by, but out children who were 6 and 8 now speak fluent spanish and catalan, my problem is I cannot help them with there school work and worse i am not able to communicate with the teachers or at meetings, I was a publican in England and believe me I miss more than anything going into the local bars and be able to chat to everyone. So as you can see your course would be extremely useful not just for me but for my children.
Colin.
(1) I want to learn spanish because i have friends who are from Cuba and I cannot understand them
(2) I live in an area where a lot of tourist visit and most of them speak Spanish if I learned how to speak Spanish I could get a job to translate
I work with immigrants and refugees but must rely on co-workers to interpret and translate.
Were I to win this scholarship, I would be able to speak directly to others. I would be able to help them with their immigration status issues. I would also be able to give presentations in Spanish to audiences interested in learning about immigration and human trafficking issues.
Two of my coworkers converse in Spanish and I would be able to join the conversation.
Hola Marcus,My husband and I are moving to Spain in two jears from now,our son is married to a butifull Spanish girl and live in Sabadell. They are planing on a famaly shortly,but we know that our grand child will be Spanish and how will we comunicate if we do not speak Spanish.We vissit them once a year and can not comunicate with his new parents,it is a comic not to be miss.But we love them so mutch that we try very hard to get better every year.All there frends and other family whant to speak to us and so do we,but it is a mission.So we hope that with your Synergy Spanish it will be posible to joine in the 2009 vestive selebrations,like only the Spanjards can do.
Kind regards,
Marita.
I am an Out Pt Oncology Social Worker in NY in the Washington Heights area and most of my patients are Spanish speaking. It has been honestly a life long dream of mine to learn to speak Spanish. My parents are Panamanian and unfortunately by the time I was born, English had become the primary language in my home. I took Spanish in school (sometimes frustratingly) - even later years in college, but always stopped just at the point of learning conversational Spanish. I can read Spanish fairly well, but am a bit rusty. I used to be able to write it well, but that too has diminished. Presently I converse with my patients as best I can coupled with frequent use of interpreters, however, this is not conducive to the work that I do with my patients as there are many emotional and private issues that become convaluted when interpreted by someone else. This would be a total plus not only to me, but my patients as well if I had the true ability to communicate with them in the way that they need. Thank you!
Dear Marcus,
I would love to be the recepient of the Synergy Scholarship 2009 because not only would it change my life, but it would improve the quality of my work and service to others. I’m going to focus on the second question of how it would help me help others.
I’m a graduate student and teacher. I’m presently teaching Spanish to students in elementary school, sixth grade, and ninth grade. I’ve never been to a Spanish-speaking country, so I lack the fluency that immersion would have provided. I’m learning all of the latest teaching strategies and techniques to provide an avenue for academic success, but I feel I could do and offer more. Of course, my finances are limited and my time for attending additional classes. I have a Puerto Rican friend who tries to help me via the telephone when we are not working or going to school. This scholarship would afford me the opportunity to master a language I love and want to teach at the highest level. It has become frustrating for me because my undergraduate is in Spanish. I spoke with my 9th grade students just today and asked them how am I not meeting their needs because I felt my classes were not going the way I feel they should. They responded that they needed more oral practice, more help with how to formulate or create sentences orally in Spanish, and fluency with speed. I need to know that I’m where I need to be in order to meet those goals. I’ve utilized your site for the past two years, and I couldn’t believe the opportunity that you are providing for advent learners. I appreciate the chance and the opportunity for this beneficial scholarship.
Hi Marcus, i love Spanish but i just cant seem to learn it. It was my worst subject in school. I want to do the classes here in Jamaica but i cant afford it. I hope you can help me.
I was always interested in learning Spanish since High School over 3 decades ago. In an effort to become fluent I offered to help my high school niece with her homework each evening.I believe my pronouciation is pretty good but in keeping with the saying ïf you don’t use it you will lose it”I cannot remember the sentences to say what I would like to in Spanish. A course like this would certainly put me right back onto using the language. I am also involved in couselling and wouls find being able to communicate with everyone an advantage. I am also learning sign language to communicate with the deaf.
I am 64 and am preparing to move to Oaxaca, Mexico. Years ago I had a year of high school Spanish and a semester of college Spanish. I have been learning Spanish on my own and need help now to gain confidence to make myself understood and to follow conversations better.
There must be at least half-a-million Americans near retirement age considering moving to Mexico, Panama or Costa Rica. The only thing holding many of them back is their poor skills in conversational Spanish. Synergy Spanish Solutions appears to be the best solution in building the confidence to survive south of the border.
Marcus- I HAVE BEEN PROCRASTINATING TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS OF WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE ME TO DO .
I WAS ATTENDING A CHURCH THAT HAD NO DIVERSION SINCE JUNE OF 08 I HAVE SINCE FOUND A DIVERSE CHURCH WOW WHAT A BLESSING . I AM EMPLOYED AT OUR LOCAL WATER COMPANY AND THE GROWTH IS ALSO BEEN VERY DIVERSE. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO HELP MY SPANISH COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THEIR WATER
SYSTEM ASSETS AND ABOUT PROTECTING OUR WATER SHEDS. THINGS WE CANNOT SEE ABOUT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUCH. I HAD A BEGINNING SPANISH COURSE IN 1998
AND NOBODY SIGNED UP FOR SPANISH ll EXCEPT MYSELF AND TWO OTHERS I GUESS THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ROBIN IN DENVER
Hi Marcus,
Your programme has been a tremendous blessing to me. My son started high school and spanish is one of his subjects and in order for me to be any assistance to him I had to learn spanish so I coud relate to him on his level. It has been a success because he made very high marks in his spanish test.
Marcus, your lessons has allowed me to teach him how easy spanish real is and there is nothing we cannot achieve, if we try.
Hola Marcus,
22 years ago I met Yolanda, a mexican woman, in Germany, where I´m from. We liked each other and when she had to back we stood in contact writing letter. But life has sometimes it´s own way and after I moved and she, too, we lost contact. All these years I´ve never forget her and so I´ve started a few years ago a research with no result. Many times I repeated my research, but every time without any hint, nothing, as if she has never existed. I didn´t gave up and last year, while I was visiting my sister in California for her graduation, I took a trip to Mexico without knowing any Spanish. I spent a 8 days in Guanajuato and one day I drove to Leon, where Yolanda used to live, and went to the address I still had from her, but even this couldn´t give me any sign of her, so I had to go back to Germany. But I told myself to come back and continue my research in Mexico, starting with learning the language and follow my heart. While I was in Germany preparing myself for this journey into an unknown future, I found her on facebook and I get in contact with her. I already had quit my apartment and ´cause I used to be a driver for filmshooting I knew my last job was done in December, I gave all my belonging away. Yolanda and I spent 4 month mailing until I arrived to Mecixo City one month ago and on the following day I arrived in Huatulco where she supposed to pick me up, but when I arrived she wasn´t there and I sat down in front of the little airport building and prepared myself to wait for her. Than 10 minutes later she arrived and when I saw her walking through the aisle I knew she is the one I love.
We are now in Zipolite and here is now Shool where I could learn Spanish and than I decided to buy your shortcut to Spanish what helps a little bit. Until now we have a lot misunderstandings because of the language, English is the second language of both of us, but I wanna learn Spanish as much and as good as I can, but I have only a limited amount of money to stay as long as I can, until I maybe can stay and be with her.
Well, thats my story and it is the truth, it really happens right now.
sincerely your student
Winfried
Plain and simple, we are retiring to costa rica, (cheaper) we do not know the language, and the courses I have bought are not that easy. I just can’t afford to risk buying another one but would love to be entered in a contest to win. I have looked at this several times and wished I would of bought this instead of what I have.
Thanks
Hi, I basically would dearly love to be able to ‘think’ in Spanish and so speak fluently not….think in English and try and translate it that way. It just does not work…so frustrating! Sometimes I think it is impossible to learn any more new words and remember them but I’m convinced there must be a way for me to learn. I’m 57 yrs old and have lived in Spain for 11 years….I really would welcome this opportunity to be able to communicate properly.
Thank you,
Janet
Hi Marcus,
Haivng grown up in the Midwest in the 60-70’s, my parents were very much, “We are Americans so we speak English”. Hence I never learned to speak Spanish.
I never thought it a problem until my grand parents got older and spoke less and less English. It really hit home when my dad got sick and literally stopped speaking English all together until the day he died. I never got to tell him personally how much he meant to me. Now I find myself in the same boat with my mum, the older she is getting, the more Spanish she speaks. Having lived in Australia for the last 20 years, where no one speaks Spanish, I’ve even forgotten the basic things. Maybe I am too old and have missed the boat all together, maybe not. I’ll never know if I never give it a go.
Cheers,
Timothy
I have been working for a pawnshop in Texas for over 4 years everyday I see Spanish speaking people who need Help, I try, but only speak a very little bit but I would love to be able to hold a conversation possibly understand so I can complete a loan transaction in spanish I want to be able to help everyone that comes into the store not just the English Speaking People
Thank you
-Frank
For the past 5 years my husband and I have been the host family for college students from Latin America. I have been to Colombia twice to visit the parents of three of our students. Being able to speak Spanish would help me communicate with our students’ parents and with the students themselves.
Hi Marcos,
I’m a 60 year old transplanted Scot living in Panama. I’ve been a professional soccer player and coach all my life and now I’d love to give something of the game - and life lessons inherent there-in - to the kids in my area. I have a smattering of Spanish and can make myself understood but I believe that being able to really communicate with the youngsters would enrich the experience and benefits for all of us. So much of coaching is mentoring on a much higher level than simple covering training and strategies and that is my ultimate goal.
I’ve enjoyed the sample lessons you’ve sent out in the past and I think your system is definitely the right way to really learn the language.
Keep up the good work.
Feliz ano nuevo
Rab.
If i could win this it would help me to learn the spanish language so i can speak to the large population of spanish speaking people in my community about one of the greatest gifts ever given, the love of Jesus Christ
Hola Marcus, - Your offer of the opportunity to participate in the ‘draw’ to use your teaching methods is exciting. I think that it is a possibility for me to learn to speak to our current friends in Ecuador, and those prospective ones that we have yet to meet. I have several people who have tried to contact us, and I feel like such a dummy, not knowing what to say(nor being brave enough) to write back to them.
Spanish is such a beautiful language, no? But it IS one of the romantic languages, so why should we be surprised at it being attractive? The sister of my wife is a missionary in Ecuador, and we have visited there twice, so we have attractive contacts already, but if (when) I am able to express myself satisfactorily, we will find great satisfaction in speaking to new friends. We find them to be a very interesting people!
Thanks for the opportunity, says Don.
I would like to start by saying I love Synergy Spanish, I downloaded the trial and I absolutely loved it, I learned so much from it and have wanted to buy the rest. However I have been unable to afford it.
Synergy Spanish will improve my life because I will be able to speak with all my friends from Spanish speaking countries. I will be able to share this with my father as well who travels to the Mexican boarder almost every week. He also loves the language and to be able to share this with him would be amazing.
By learning Spanish it will help me with what I hope to do for the rest of my life. I would love to teach English as a Second Language in third world (Spanish Speaking) countries. I want to be able to help other people learn languages who can’t afford it as well.
I would love this scholarship opportunity because I believe your system works.
—Holly
Hola mi amigo, Marcus
I would love to be able to speak the language of my birth country, but alas, thus far my attempts have not acomplished end results I desire. I understand fairly well (I had about 3 years of rudimentary spanish) but trying to verbilize just leads to frustration.
My desire is to go back to Mexico or south america and minister to the impoverished people by teaching safe health practices. I am a born again believer and would also love to bring hope of Christ to the hopeless.
Gracias
que Dios te bendiga
~Elisabeth
As a Clergyman working with Spanish speaking people from South America and Puerto Rico, I hope to be able to enrich not only their basic family lives here in America but to assist their spiritual lives through the administering of the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation. Faith in South America and Puerto Rico is rich and strong and I want those qualities to be furthered here in the United States. Thank you very much for your willingness to spread Spanish culture and its language here in America…
Over a year ago, after losing my wife, I started corresponding with a wonderful woman from Costa Rica. She is 53 years but speaks no English and suffers from the same problem all of us have over the age of 50. She and I think it is almost impossible to speak a foreign language at our ages. With the help of computer translators, which rarely work correctly, we have been able to establish a serious relationship. I took a vacation and used a lot of savings but was able to go to Costa Rica to visit my Tica. It was love at first sight and the two weeks were be most intense and emotional experience I have ever had. She was worried about me not being able to speak Spanish and I could only say: Una beso for si, Dos besos por no and Tres besos for Yo no se. She knew I had a sense of humor and that is what got us along for the first two weeks. That was six months ago and we want to get married and I want to live in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, my job was terminated and I still have six months before my retirement starts. My spanish from books, internet and friends just isn’t going to work. It is a very frustrating time for me. The burden of communicating is on me and I need your help to move to Costa Rica and start a new life with Flory. This may be the only chance I have left at the age of 66. If an old person can learn Spanish, I will do it, as a promise to you as well as a promise to Flory.
Sincerly,
Robert
Over a year ago, after losing my wife, I started corresponding with a wonderful woman from Costa Rica. She is 53 years but speaks no English and suffers from the same problem all of us have over the age of 50. She and I think it is almost impossible to speak a foreign language at our ages. With the help of computer translators, which rarely work correctly, we have been able to establish a serious relationship. I took a vacation and used a lot of savings but was able to go to Costa Rica to visit my Tica. It was love at first sight and the two weeks were be most intense and emotional experience I have ever had. She was worried about me not being able to speak Spanish and I could only say: Una beso for si, Dos besos por no and Tres besos for Yo no se. She knew I had a sense of humor and that is what got us along for the first two weeks. That was six months ago and we want to get married and I want to live in Costa Rica. Unfortunately, my job was terminated and I still have six months before my retirement starts. My spanish from books, internet and friends just isn’t going to work. It is a very frustrating time for me. The burden of communicating is on me and I need your help to move to Costa Rica and start a new life with Flory. This may be the only chance I have left at the age of 66. If an old person can learn Spanish, I will do it, as a promise to you as well as a promise to Flory.
Sincerely,
Robert
I am a firefighter here in the Northeast. Sad to say my town is very monochromatic, yet there are a lot of Spanish people that work and travel through the area. There have already been a few instances where we have responded to job site injuries or motor vehicle accidents and the people spoke only Spanish. It was frustrating, to say the very least not to be able to communicate clearly and quickly with them to determine the extent of their injuries.
While I have the ability to ask a few questions, it is not enough in situations where assessments need to be made quickly and information taken. I have been working through trying to learn better Spanish but need all the help I can get. Obviously, being able to communicate quickly and easily will not only let me do my job better, but will also be calming and reassuring to any Spanish speaking person I respond to help.
Cheers
Jack
Hola Marcus,
I have been living in San Miguel de Allende for a couple of years, and although I speak
mas or menos, in my mind it is more menos que mas! My biggest problem that my ear just fights me becoming trained to hear the language spoken rapidly Your tutoring would change my life because I would be able to communicate better with the girls at the Don Bosco orphanage here. I take many of them home on weekends and we have a great time, but often I want to communicate on a deeper level with them and my Spanish just doesn’t let that happen. I have studied with various teachers, but I have yet to “break through” the middle intermediate stage and really be fluent. Mainly because I can’t afford taking intensive classes which I need. Now the orphanage has asked me to become a mentor for some of the girls, helping them to adjust to life when they leave the orphanage. Needless to say, this gives me great motivation to become a better speaker. I want to be more than just the “gringa” — I want to be a friend who can know and understand them, and be articulate enough in Spanish so they will know and understand me as well.
Gracias por su ayuda,
Phylis
Hi Marcus,
I am so happy to have discover your style of teaching but I must admit that in the beginning , it seemed so easy and I thought that I could conquer this and finally learn Spanish without any problems. I was wrong, I just couldn’t do it but I don’t want to give up.
I am a retired lady, 66 years old and still love to learn, yes, even at my age. My son-in-law is Spanish and I would love to be able to talk with him and his family but I cannot. I know a few words but not enough to carry a conversation.
Since being retired now, I have more time on my hands and also from being a widow and would be able to devote more time to learning.
Hope I get lucky since I cannot afford the price of the course.
Gracias
Sincerely
Fran
I would like to apply for category 1. My dauther married a Chilian and she and my grand-childrens speak very good spanish. So when we have a famlly reunion I dont understand when they speak spanish. I speak french and english and I would like to know spanish also to be able to speak with them. Also, this year I am living in Mexico for the winter so it will be practical to exchange more with the Mexican.
Hoping to ear from you,
Hélène
Hola Marcus,
you have a lot of mail to read. To learn Spanish for me is a little more difficult. My mother tongue is Slavic - Czech. English I learned on this continent and I also still speak a bit of German from the time I lived 4 years in Germany. 2 years ago we spent 3 months in San Miguel De Allende and I wished then I can speak Spanish. Since then I am trying, but I guess not hard enough. With your help I might do some progress- soon.
Thanks,
Elishka
learning to speake spanish better would make such a difference in my life and others I know. I see so many of my boyfriends , friends that need help and wish I could speake more to them. and to be abel to do more for him as well . his english is ok but he cold be better . we have a daughter. and she is starting to speake more spanish than english. as we try to have both around her as much as we can . I am doing work with the homless . and therei is alot of hispanic that are homless and no way to comunecate . we are not rich ourselfs by no means but wh have it better than most . we make it from day to day on what he btings home and some weeks it isnt much at all . I do what I do for the homless and others in need through a group effort through a yahoo group I have . I want to go to mexico and meet his family as thay want to see our gaughter. but I am afraid that I will not be abel to talk much to them as my spanish is very limiteded . ever sicne I was a very small child I have been in love with the spanish language . . thank you so much for the lessons I have already gotten . Valerie
Marcus, to speak Spanish has been a dream of mine for too many years for personal and business reasons. With you Synergy Course I have been able to move forward faster than I thought possible.
Now with many friends in Cuba and my frequent visits, the need is far greater than before..
I cannot better some of the above statements but I know that with the ability to communicate in Cuba, I will accomplish more in surrendering my help.
salud y hablarlo pronto
Stephanie
Dear Marcus,
I have actually learned more from your system than I have learned anywhere else. I teach ESL to mostly Spanish speakers. I use Spanish everyday and I always use the ideas you have taught me. I have also used your system to teach my Spanish speakers English.
I also want to be a Spanish teacher someday. I am currently working on my license and I plan on visiting Mexico soon. I want to use your system to teach my students how to speak Spanish someday. I think I can use your system along with my passion for the language to motivate every one of my gringo students.
So, yes, learning Synergy Spanish will change my life because I can continue to learn Spanish and become a Spanish teacher.
It will also help other people in many ways. It will give me more ideas that will help me teach English to Spanish speakers. I will also be able to use your system to teach gringos and instill a love for Spanish in them that I have. They will love Spanish because they will learn how to speak and have real conversations quickly.
Thank you for this opportunity,
Eric
Dear Marcus,
I feel that learning spanish will improve my qualilty of life by being able to communicate with
my clients, coworker, friend and family. As far as my terminology in spanish, which is good with one exception. I don’ f feel confortable actually saying or putting the words together. I feel intimidated or lost for words when I begin to speak or say something in spanish. How can I over come this hurdle?
When I was 14 I wanted to learn French. I thought French was an exotic beautiful language. My brothers told me French would not be useful to me, and as we lived in the southwest I should learn Spanish instead. But I was set on learing French. Not too long after this my family moved to Mexico! So there I was new town, new culture, NEW LANGUAGE! So I started to learn Spanish and forgot all about French, all my brothers and my grandma said to me “I told you, you should have been learning Spanish.” So now here I was in Mexico and didn’t know hardly a word of Spanish. After a couple years I knew barely enough to point at the food I wanted to buy in the grocery stores.
To only know “barely enough” was frustrating, so I DECIDED to just buckle down and learn Spanish. This was far easier said than done. At first I just did the free lessons on StudySpanish.com (they were alot of help) and recently I got a friend to install the Rosetta Stone on my computer and have been working very hard to complete that program. I always watch movies in Spanish and hardly ever listen to English music, my music is always in Spanish. I put hours and hours of work into Spanish each week, and when I go out to the grocery stores I try to be friendly to the natives so I can learn to speak the language. However I’m starting to think Spanish is so much more complex than English that I wonder if I’ll ever be fluent. I really have been diligent to learn Spanish. I have studied for consistently for two years, and feel I have a fair vocabulary, but can’t communicate effectively. I can’t create my own sentences, and when I do try to speak, my grammar is terrible.
No one in my family speaks Spanish, we are all just making due with what little we know. I honestly believe that Synergy Spanish will give me the tools to utilize the vocabulary that I have already worked so hard to learn, plus teach me more essential vocabulary that I desperately need. Synergy Spanish will help me so that I can communicate effectively and correctly with real people and this will really be a big help to me and my family.
Yours Truly, Mysie
Hello Marcus, Thanks for the free lessons so far. I’ve been attempting to learn spanish for years. I can learn the words, but I have trouble making sentences. The cue cards help also. I feel like a mooch getting all the free stuff. Your lessons have helped me and it is an enjoyable way to learn. I just want to express my gratitude. I’m going to keep pluggin.
Ben
I live in a country where a lot of spanish speaking persons are working for a period of time and I would love to help them and their family members feel welcome in my country and help them to feel a part of the community where I live. While they are in my country I can help them to learn our culture and learn theirs as well but it is very important for me to communicate with them in their native tongue. I am actively doing that now but I wish that I could do much more. I am part of a group of persons who are willing to reach out to native spanish speakers. I certainly love your methods of helping persons to be comfortable in speaking the language. I also have the privilege of speaking to large groups of native spanish speakers, so I would like to be fluent so that I can help as many persons as possible. I was introduced to spanish but have just not made the breakthrough necessary to be completely comfortable in speaking the language but I think this course will certainly help me and I will certainly help to improve the lives of many persons because of my interest in assisting many persons who speak the spanish language.
2] How will you learning Synergy Spanish help others?
I would use my Spanish skills during short term mission trips in Venezula with others from my church. These trips specifically help start up neighborhood bible study groups. One hurdle to over come in preparation for a trip is the time and effort to organise. It requires a local bi-lingual translator for each non spanish speaking participant. Thus if 24 go then having to find 24 locals that are bi-lingual can be difficult. By my being able to communicate in Spanish it would allow me to contribute more during the trip. Time is also saved due to not having to wait for transalation to occur to maintain a conversation.
In my personal preparation, I have been blessed to have access to a limited portion of Synergy Spanish. I have downloaded the trial lessons to my MP3 and have been impressed with the quality of the lessons. I have already noticed that they have helped me to improve my ability to communicate in Spanish here in Texas with clients of the retail business I am employeed by
To sum up my thoughts, if I won one of the scholarships for Synergy Spanish, it would enable me to accerate my learning curve of Spanish, help me to continue to develope a larger vocabulary in Spanish, simplify my being able to converse with non-english immigrants from South America that I am waiting on during business hours and last but not least being able during mission trips to share the love of God and read aloud from the Bible.
Sincerely,
Kenneth
Hi Marcus
First i like to learn languages, and in my work place i have a lot of different people with different nationalities which make me happy to know their languages and start talking to them, this is the challenge for me to know every thing and to contact people easily, specially that most of them have a week English language so this will help others.
also our neighbors, school friends and in so many places where we find different nationality, also i usually go on vacations in summer to many countries, but i didn’t ever visited Latin America, but after these lessons i really planned to visit that i think this will help me change my life, the language will make it easier for me to meet people to be confident talking to them and also to go out and meet people in their origin places and talk to them easily
Thank you
I am a nurse and I frequently work with Spanish speking patients that sometimes do not have a translator to explain or make them feel comfortable with communication. I have been trying to learn as much Spanish as possible but with very little success. I am motivated to learn and deal with Medicare and Medicaid patients that really need my help. Financially It is difficullt to pay for all the Spanish classes that I really need to communicate effectively. This scholorship can make a difference in my life as well as those who need to communicate with someone who can help with issues concerning healthcare and friendship. I want to be an advocate for those who cannot speak English and provide assistence.
How learning spanish will help others:
I have moved to San Felipe, Baja California, and become very active in a local group of American retirees who have form a group Called “Better Together “to help aid the local senior citizens here in San Felipe. Many people try to help the children but the elderly are often in desperately difficult situations. We are busy helping but it is very frustrating to speak only in a few polite sentences and not be able to truly understand and communicate with the people that we are assisting. We do not have a fluent Spanish speaking member in our service group. I am trying hard and taking short classes when they are available but I am on a very limited income and would love to be the recipient of your scholarship. I was formerly a history and English teacher and feel that I could greatly benefit from your help.
Que Dios te Benndiga.
May Rocha
Hola Marcus,
If I could win the course, it would definitely be a dream come true. I’ve been struggling for several years to learn on my own but always seem to hit a barrier. I need and want to learn Spanish because I’m engaged to a lovely and sweet girl in Guadalajara, Mexico. She and some of her family speak English well, but I want to be able to talk with them in Spanish. Most important, her mother does not speak English, so I really NEED to be able to speak Spanish with her. I made it a resolution for 2009 to learn Spanish and I hope that with your help I will succeed!
Thanks
Charles
Being a development practitioner Spanish will give me reach to the hearts of Spanish speaking poors from nearly three continents and two of them houses the poorest and most deprived. Development change can only be possible when heart meets the heart and not the brain meeting the heart, I believe. It is my reason to learn Spanish and shall be overwhelmed if I can get the scholarship to serve mankind to the best of my ability and satisfaction.
Thanks and regards
Uday
I have been trying to learn Spanish for about ten years. I was able to communicate with my friends and coworkers through use of Spanglish. I have wanted to learn this language but continue to find it nearly impossible. I am fifty eight years old and unemployed for nearly twenty months after working since I was twelve. My company, where I worked for eleven years closed the California facility and moved back to Georgia. I have never been out of work for more than a few weeks in the past. I feel that learning Spanish would help me by giving me an additional skill. The demographics in California show the poplulation is over sixty percent hispanic. A lot of my former co-workers and friends speak Spanish but not much English. They have also been unemployed for the same length of time as me. I was their Supervisor and started at the bottom working my way up to that position. I think I could help them by teaching them English so they would be more marketable and could get back to work, too. I have enjoyed the lessons that were free and appreciate your assistance in the past. I am concerned about losing our home. We rent and I have my youngest daughter, granddaughter and son-in-law living with us. My daughter is currently on disability due to having problems with her pregnancy and my son-in-law was just laid off. I don’t know why but I feel learning Spanish might restore some of the self confidence this experience has taken from me. I at one time hoped I would be travelling the world by this time, visiting and making new friends. My daughters first abusive marriage (My granddaughter’s father) resulted in a nasty court affair which cost me most of my savings and then this……..I could use a little good luck……
Hola Marcus,
I have been studying Spanish for more than 5 years. I am somewhat competent but not comfortable or fluent. I am sure that Synergy Spanish would improve my fluency, competence and comfort level. I frequently want to engage in conversation with Spanish speakers but I have not been able to do so. My young children are also learning Spanish and I would like to be a help to them. I believe learing Spanish and being fluent would change the course of my life and the course of my children’s lives. Thank you for willing to so generously be apart of that change.
Gracias
Hi Marcus, I am preparing myself for the mission field in South America. I love working with street children. I hope to return to Colombia where I once worked for a short while. The churches need interpreters. I hope to become one soon. I am studying day and night and hope to reach my goal.
God bless you. Alma.
How grateful I would be if all your assurances work for a man like me who is so very keen
to learn Spanish.
In aniticipation,
Shamas
Hi
This is Dipak Singh from India Kolkata.
I wanted to learn spanish because I have heard the conversation of many languages and I found that spanish language is very much melodious it has touched my heart.I started my class in Ramkrishna Mission but couldn’t continue due to charges were to high. Synergy spanish will change my life by allowing me to communicate with many around me.If in future I will able to learn speaking fluent spanish then I will teach all thos middle or poor class people who cannot afford learning spanish like me now and help them to learn this language without any problem thinking about how to get money and study this langugees.
Regards
Dipak
First of all let start by saying Thank You for the Opportunity.
I am Canadian and as Im sure you know that there is no need for us to learn Spanish other than of coyrse for travel needs.
I have made a Life changiong decision to move to Mexico. Was tird of the -40 Winters or worse!!
Have come to Mexico with aim to reside here permanently. I am a Scuba Instructor & Cave Diver as well as Cenote Guide. Being a resident know I NEED ans more importantly want to be fluent.
If I was fluent in Speaking Spanish I feel that there would be some many more doors of opportunity open for me. Not just in Employment but in the Social aspects of Society as well. The Mexican people are very accomadating as much as possible when it comes to the Language barrier. I so much want to be able to converse with them in the Native Language. I feel that even trying is respectfull and appreciated as i appreciate there English with me
I have actually tried a course here at a Language School to no avail, so I feel my options are running out. With any luck at all. I will be your next success story.
Sincerly
Morgan Aiken
Hi Marcus
I have be trying since high school to speak Spanish and could not put two words together until I started your course. You make me feel so confident that I will be a fluent speaker of Spanish in no time. I love th language so much and wanted to travel to Spanish speaking countries but I really want to speak the language fluently first, I want to be very confident when I speak to the native speakers.
You save my life, I really have hope now.
Salud
Juddy
Hello Marcus,
I am a student beginning my 3rd year of a 4 year nursing degree in the USA. I got interested in spanish when I was in the hospital and was trying my best to help spanish clients. This led me to searching for ways of learning spanish better. I looked at many spanish courses in the library but they were out of date, confusing or focused on information that made me feel bogged down. I befriended an online spanish husband and wife from jalisco, mexico. We chat every week, but mainly in english - I try to converse but it is hard. I even began to tutor their children for free in english, and its been 6 months of lessons for them now. My friends always try and help me with spanish - we are definitely trying - but it is hard without some building blocks. I also began getting facinated in spanish cooking through them and am proud to be able to cook mole and tomales myself. I am enjoying the immense rich culture of spanish and would love the opportunity to utilize your course to learn and speak spanish. I feel it will help enhance my interaction with my online tuturing, along with my school clinicals in the hospital with my clients. I wish I was one of the lucky people who could just say yes I want your course and sign up for the total package today. I know first hand education is a path to an enriched life, even if it is a huge struggle financially. I feel your course would enable me to be able to give more back to the community, as well as enriching my life and those I serve in the hospital setting.
Hi Marcus
I am one of senior years and having devoted my life to the development of others by running a personal development programme unfortunately severe disability from spine and leg operations have not only prevented me from my following may career but has also decimated my income by around 85%, I have decided to write a couple of books to explain in simple terms how each of us can attain our life’s goals, yes, it takes effort but when you have a method to followstep by step it does become a realistic proposition.
So my lovely wife and I decided to move from our beloved England to Spain, but not to Spain amongst the ex-pat community but an area of Spain where ex-pat’s are scattered far and wide.
I think it is only good manners to learn to speak the native tongue rather than to use the English man’s nomal method of speaking a different language, that of shouting loud in English with great emphasis on mouth and lip movement. Speaking Spainsh is vital to enable us to meet with the locals in our everyday lives, in the shops, restaurants, etc; but also in business, wouldn’t it be great if I could learn to speak Spanish enough to be able to hold seminars hear to help small Spanish business people and other Spanish naturals reach their own individual life’s goals, to put something back into our chosen community for the rest of our lives.
This is why I purchased your course out of the dozens I looked at for it appeared to teach Spanish the same way I teach goal setting, taking real life and applying it step by step. Winning this programme would enable us to guarantee that we were able to meet our goals set out above, not winning will not prevent it, it would just mean that some steps would be missing.
It was Martin Luther King jnr who said; ” you do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step in faith that the whole staircase is there.”
There are many worthy causes all vying to win your prize, but what it also shows is that you have devloped a great product that is designed to help others without expectation of return, the greatest gift of all.
Thank you
David
G’day Marcus…My motives for trying to win this course are purely SELFISH. I do not wish to travel to the jungles of Peru and teach people to be devil dodgers. I do not want to set up an orphanage in Latin America nor any other place. I do not tread the high ground of the other candidates and I could probably afford to pay for this course ( as I am sure a lot of the others could too). What I do want is to be able to speak fluent Spanish so that the next time I walk into a restaurant in Madrid and order olives, I won’t end up with a plate of anchovies (and have to eat them because I didn’t know how to send them back)! So when I am armed with this fluency I will be the smarty-pants of the group and the one that everyone will refer to. Oh the power YES YES.
Regards Pedro
p.s. brilliant work mate
Hi Marcus,
I know for myself that having your program would greatly enhance my employment and career.
I would also want to use the knowledge that you will be giving me by helping others in my community to learn the wonderful world of the Spanish language for free, and have them explore the many possibilities they can use with it just as I will.
Thank you so very mucn,
Ken
I love the spanish language and see a lot of value in more people learning it. I have my own plans to start a small learning group to teach children spanish. I think the contest is great but I don’t want to enter because I want to put my vote in for Dale Melton. I think it is very honorable what he is doing and very caring. Mexico is a dangerous place these days and to go in there to reach out to others and help them is a pretty wonderful and kind thing to do. He’s a great guy and I think he should win. Thanks
Hi Marcus,
I know for myself that having your program would greatly enhance my employment and career.
I would also want to use the knowledge that you will be giving me by helping others in my community to learn the wonderful world of the Spanish language for free, and have them explore the many possibilities they can use with it just as I will.
Thank you
Ken
Synergy Spanish will for sure change my life….
i met this wondreful guy and he is from spain..but i was lucky because he spoke little english..
and as time pass by…i learn so much about his way of life…the way he was brought up i was eager to meet both his parents and last summer i went to spain.with your synergy spanish..it help me alot…trust me..the metro..the bus..the road sigh..the restaurant are all in spanish.thank you again.
and i really hope to learn more because his dad…he don’t speak any english..i wish so much to talk to him about my life…i want so much to have a dad like him..that day when i saw him…i knew he could be my best friend..i reaaalllyyy hope to speak to him…
Hola Marcus! I have 20 years experience in climate change and forest science applications to share that are badly needed now by Peruvian government agencies and nongovernmental organizations to be able to prepare for the approaching REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries) programs envisioned by signers to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, but my Spanish blockage is preventing me from being able to pass on this information. I attended a meeting today in Lima and felt so inept about my inability to fully understand all and participate in the dialog because I just didn’t have my Spanish down sufficiently. So, if I were to gain the chance to speak Spanish fluently, I could not only pass on all I know to Latin American governments and scientists, but I would be able to fully communicate with and learn from my new Peruvian family and their elders, understand and participate in Latin American society.
Hi Marcus,
I have loved the Spanish language for years. I work in a fast-food Mexican restaurant and try to talk to the cooks, but the Spanish I learned in college is fading fast. One of the cooks had to move back to Mexico early last year and though I have her telephone number, I’m afraid to call her for fear of not being able to understand her over the phone. I’d love to be able to hold more than simple conversations with the people I work with, too!
Gracias,
Bonnie
Hola, Marcus, learning to speak spanish fluently will allow me to write to and talk to my Cuban penpals quickly and easily without having to stop and look up words and expressions, which takes so long. I went to a Cuban resort with a friend in May 2008 and made friends with two of the workers there. With barely two words of Spanish their broken English and sign language had to do.One of them took us off the resort island for a day to see what cuba real was like and introduced us to his friends. I fell in love with the country and the people, so generous and genuine. I returned to Canada with a different perspective on life, especially in regards to what we want and what we really need. I have taken some of your courses and have progressed quite well but I am running out of funds and am considering cancelling them, though I love learning the language so much with your course that it breaks my heart. I plan to return to Cuba this year to spend time with the families of my penpals and I want to take things with me to help make their lives a little easier. I have already sent ‘care packages’ , but if I could communicate with them better I would know how to really help them. I also want to develop really meaningful relationships with them.
Thankyou for your help to date.
Fran
Hello.
As i am working with elderly people that their nativ lengwage is spanish, understanding them is
grate, but i have a dream. one of the autors i adore is Gracia-Markes”, and to read his books in Spanish could be an enormus expirience.
Thank you.
Shoshi.
Marcus:
Thank you for the chance to learn Spanish. I have two reasons for learning Spanish; their names are Diana and Lesslie. My step son got married a little over a year ago to a woman from Hondrus. She had been over here trying to earn enough maney to bring her two daughters to the states.
The 29th of December 2008 the girls made it to the U.S. they speak almost no english and their mother doesn’t speak much better. I would love to be able to talk to them and each of us know what the other is saying. and may even help them learn to speak english.
Thank you,
Frank
I would love to be able to finally get all my spanish together. I have been struggling for years to put sentences together and understand when spoken to. Last year I made a volunteer trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico to work with orphans and abandoned teens with the group Por Un Mejor HOY. I truly enjoyed my experience but had to rely on others to communicate effectively while I was there. I want to return and be a greater help and give the kids a better experience with myself by being able to communicate with them efficiently. This is why I would love to be enrolled into your synergy spanish course.
Thank you very much,
Eric
Hola Mr. Marcus,
Ever since I can remember I had a dream to speak a foreign language. Unfortunately I never got further than I Love You and Good Morning. Perhaps it was because there was not really a need for. I do not want to bore you with all of my mishaps but here is my honest reason and I pray that it would be received favourably. Two of my four children emigrated to Europe and the UK a few years ago. Now to re-unite our families they want to buy a piece of land in Spain so that we all could be together again. They invited us to visit Spain in August. I would love to speak the local language to be able to understand the culture and get an idea of what to expect when moving there. For the first time in my life I came across a method that taught me more than just hello and goodbye. Unfortunately I have to be content with the little info I do get for free from your generosity. My funds are just not enough to enroll into this marvelous method of learning a language that got to my heart. Thanking you in advance for your warm heart and open hand.
God bless! Alet
I live in Spain currently and want to be able to communicate with others around. I have 2 young children whom I have to frequently take to the Doctors who speak only in spanish and also communicate with their teachers on a reguar basis. I have tried a lot to learn spanish and have come a long way from where i was but still its very difficult to manage. Building the vocublary as an adult is very difficult apart from that grammer is imposible to manage. It is really impossible to have real freinds here as most of the people speak only and only spanish…so learning Spanish will help me help my children in a proper manner and also use my qualifications to help others around me.
Dear Marcus
From the little I have heard,
your course is the only one that will enable me to remember and speak
Spanish.
Thank you
Pam
Hola Marcus,
2009 I am going to make my best year ever, and this includes getting over evey obstacle in learning the much loved Spanish language I so much want to be able to speak. Life is about choices, and I do not want to leave this life not being able to live, eat and speak Spanish. My daughter has a life slogan which says:”If you can dream it, you can do it”, well this is mine for my Spanish linga in 2009. Apart from thinking it’s the most beautiful, romantic and expressive language, I love the culture around it, and hence I want to make it my lifestyle. I am from South Africa, a proud single mom of a lovely 21 year old who will be completing her degree at University this year. And then I can relax financially, and take my dream to bring Spanish tourist to South Africa. 2010 Soccer World Cup is just around the corner for my country, and I would love to be a proud citizen in participating in making Spanish soccer lovers’ visit to South Africa a unforgettable memory. And therefore I will be over the moon and honoured to receive your scholarship. And to crown it all, what joy will it be if I meet a goodhearted Spanyard whom I can fall in love with, and go and live a simple country life in a little local spanish village. Where the gift of this language could make my life turn around 360 degrees ! I have the persona for this lavish, loud language, and this chance will bring the change in this single mom’s life, which will be the key to my dream come true !
Gracias,
Zylma
Wow are you really going to read all this -
In both categories my comment is: Your Synergy Spanish programme is the best!!!
We have bought a holiday home in Spain recently with a view to retire there in the future, and Synergy Spanish will change our lives as I will be able to communicate effectively with the locals, any work men etc. Being able to speak Spanish would be the best for me as on the numerous times we usually get lost in Spain,I might actually be able to ask for directions AND actually understand the instructions!! That in itself would be a God send.
Learning Synergy Spanish would change my live as I would be able to speak Spanish with my daughter who is turning 4 soon and she already knows a few words.
Thankyou
Hola Marcus,
I am a paramedic in a Level 1 Trauma Children’s Hospital here in Fort Worth, Texas. I work in the ER and most of the time I am triaging patients as they come in to be seen. About 70% of our patients are Hispanic, and only maybe 30% of them can speak or understand any english. I can get my point across to them sometimes, but at other times I have to call upon our “patient advocates” who do the translating for me. This is fine if we aren’t busy. However, the people here use this “HOSPITAL ER” as a Dr’s office for anything from a slight fever that just started two hours ago all the way up to a true emergency of not breathing. So as a rule…we see around 400 patients a day. I work a 3:00 pm to 3:00 am shift which is the busiest time of the day. So it may take anywhere from 2-3 minutes to maybe 10-15 minutes to get one of our 3 patient advocates to where I am waiting for translation. I am really trying hard to learn the language so no one has to wait for help with their language barrier. So far…no one has had a true emergency that has gotten worse while waiting. I fear that it’s just a matter of time until I have one, and then I’m going to really feel bad. Sometimes it’s may be just as simple as finding out if their baby/child has any allergies to any medicines, or when was the last time they gave them any Tylenol or Motrin. The wrong answer could really be problematic if they or I misunderstood each other.
So, I guess this could work for either question. Will it help me or others. It would help others to be seen quicker, easier, and with more compassion as well as help me get them to where they need to be and myself more confident at my job that I dearly love. My wife and I go to Mexico twice every year for vacations and just love the country, the food and the people and language. There is just so many ways it would help me and others at the same time. However, like probably everyone else…there is the matter of $$$$. So, I get by as best as I can.
Thanks for the help you have already given to me with the e-mails and such, so even if I don’t win, please keep them coming.
Thanks again in advance,
David
I have wanted to learn Spanish ever since mi Madre died. My Father was English so we did not grow up with her Spanish language. After she died I realized what I and my family missed out on and I thought I was too old to learn. Since applying for your lessons I feel more confident but as I have no one to practice on as my family all live far away I would love to be fluent. Also I have been to Mexico twice and would love to go to Sth America or back to Mexico and help children in any way I can, but at the same time have people to converse with and therefore improve my Spanish and show off to my family that “I did it” and why didn’t they???
I have loved your course very much.
Thank you for the opportunity to get this far.
Carol Miller.
How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life?
It surely will change my life by a global viewer into a global actor
Best regards
Hans-Jürgen
Hola Marcus
Category 2. I am Willem Buys from the wonderful Country of Nelson Mandela, South Africa. Next year in 2010 we will host the World Soccer Cup. This means that a lot of Spanish speaking people will be our guests in my home city Bloemfontein. Many guesthouses and restaurants would like to make use of someone who can assist them to communicate with their guests in Spanish. This is to let them feel really at home. It makes a tremendous difference if someone are communicated with in their language in a foreign country. This will contribute to the World Cup as an unforgettable experience.
I have completed your synergy spanish (138 words) course. Your approach is the best ever of any courses (not only language/spanish courses) that I have ever experienced. This is the only means that I can reach my dream. I have introduced my 5 year old daughter who cannot speak English yet to your approach, with amazing results. She can respond in Spanish, before knowing any English. This is an opportunity of a life time.Will this make 2009 my big year for Spanish?
Regards
Willem Buys
Hola Marcus, I want to perfect my Spanish for many reasons most notably are the fact that Spanish is the second most spoken language in the Western Hemisphere and Latin Americans are possible the most beautiful, courageous and passionate people on the planet.
I plan to travel Latin America and Spain extensively in the upcoming years and your course is the best out there. I have not purchased yet only due to financial restrictions as I have learnt more doing the ‘free’ section of your course than in three famous and expensive CD courses loaned me by friends.
I hope I am one of the very lucky ones and will be a great ambassador for your courses.
Sincerely,
Stephen Smith
Hola Marcus,
I am excited about your New Year offer. This shows how you much you are interested in promoting the Spanish!! Thank you!! I was a trained as a Lingusit by the Bristish SIL way back in 1977. And I was working on an unwritten language of a tribal group in a remote part of the world. Due to unavailability of proper medical care in time when I became ill there, my lower limbs became paralysed and I had to leave my station permanently, the project being undone. Though I was unable to get up from my bed, due to the enomus amount spent on treatement thanks to the grace of God, now I am able to get up and go to the bathroom holding on to some thing. Now being confined to my bedroom, I am communicating with the English Speaking world about a living God who is able to see them through the various calamities of their lives. I am learning Spanish to add pages to my blog to communicate the same truths with the Spanish Speaking world as well. I know I will accomplish my vision sooner or later. But with your help it could be much faster!! I also hope to get up and walk again one day, in the will of God, when I would travel the world. At that time my Spanish would be a great asset to me!! Gracias!! Nos vemos!! www.mathewpaul.org
I will enjoy communicating with Friends from all over the world who will be attending the International Convention (Jehovah’s Witnesses) together with me in Santiago, Chile in November 2009. In addition to that I will be able to spread the Good News about Jehovah’s Kingdom to many people in their own language as more and more people from other countries are coming to live in our country (South Africa).
Thank you for your first 4 chapters, I am really catching up and can construct sentences already. I just need to be able to pronounce words correctly.
Zine
a) Synergy Spanish will help me as I now live in Spain and, even though I am in a fairly English community, feel it only a common courtesy to the Spanish people to learn their language to help me integrate better into the Spanish way of life. I do not want to be known as a “por favor” all the rest of my life and also to complement the wonderful life I feel I have in Spain.
b) Synergy Spanish will help others by the fact that if more and more of the English people who move to Spain learn Spanish the Spanish nationals will look more favourably on us and will accept us.
Please enter my name in the competition, as I have never won anything!
G’Day Marcus,
I want to learn and speak Spanish for one reason!!!!
Im Australian and I found the love of my life in Spain and I am planning to go and live with her in Sitges and want to speak the language with ease and communicate with everyone. I want to speak the language of Love to my mi amor.
Mine is a simple plea to communicate better with my Love.
I am using your 138 Spanish Words, but as an Australian who doesnt have any other Language than English, I really want to learn Spanish
I thank you for your time.
Deb
I have lived in Spain now for 5 years and taken various Spanish courses. I feel no more ahead or confident than when I came. I am 60 and feel my memory is saturated. My self esteem is very low while living in Spain because people think I am dum, but I am not dum, I just have not had the miracle ingredient that it will take me to grasp and understand talking with people.
This is why I feel I need this course, to iteract and meet my fellow human beings in a heart and deep way, something I love to experience. Thank you. Alice Friend
At 74 years I decided to learn Spanish, despite the fact that living in New Zealand hardly anyone does. But as I progressed a little I began to understand the beauty of Spanish. However,I could read it a little , speak it not at all until I fortuitously found Synergy Spanish, followed it with Informal then Spanish Ear Training.
I was so proud when I first thought of a spanish word instead of English!
These are wonderful courses, need to carried on and that is my dilemma now especially since our money has been seriously devalued.
I guess I will keep reviewing the previous courses, speak with my Argentinian friend, and wait!
Brian Jones
My Company are building 4 new vessels in Spain. As a project manager, it would make my life much simpler if I can speak to all the employees on the yard, and explain to them why we want to change the specifications for this or that, or why we are trying to change the workers behaviour in order to make the shipyard a better and safer workplace.
For me as a person, I think I will enjoy my stay a lot more being able to take part in conversations in the people’s own language, and thus learn their culture and way of thinking. i am on the way, I am just about finished with my Synergy Spanish course, and I am able to make simple conversations. But there is still some way to go to be able to listen to news and TV programs etc., but with commitment from myself and the good help from Synergy Spanish i know I will get there
I would like to learn Spanish, because I feel it is a wonderful language spoken by many people in the world. Its scope is vast, beyond the boundaries of Spain, for not only maintaining good contacts but will help in maintaining cordial relationship with the rest of world’s spanish speaking population. I wish my children to learn the spanish language and one day they may visit or settle in spanish populated region.
Answer 2: I have used some of your material and find it very user-friendly. I am a teacher and I feel that being able to speak Spanish fluently will enable me to help many people. I would love the opportunity to teach Spanish people to speak English as well as teach English people to speak Spanish. I would also like to be involved in translating educational material from one language to the other. I have many educational workbooks that I have compiled in English and I could translate them into Spanish. I also have had a distant dream of being a translator but that, to be honest, seems too far out of reach even if I complete the course.
Kind regards
Elizabeth
I met a Hispanic/Latino guy and we really liked each other (we could see it in our eyes), but I don’t speak spanish and he doesn’t speak english. We tried to talk to each other through hand justers and with my little knowledge of spanish trying to have a relationship with each other, but it just didn’t work! Eventually he said “lets be amigo”…wow what a blow this was to my heart. I know we both really liked each other,but we simply could not communicate. I miss him.
I could sincerely use some help!
Diamond
Hola Marcus
Category 1. I leave in the Southern African region, Zimbabwe in a small town called Hwange at Don Bosco . Not many people speak spanish around hear; i now do and its all thanks to you. I am learing spanish in the hope that i will be able to, though expensive go to Europe one day and now atleast i can speak Spanish and am getting better day after day. We have polish volunters here at Don Bosco and maybe one day i will be able to go to Don Bosco in Europe and the local language here Ndebele wont be used. So i decided to learn spanish but with situation in our country i wouldnt want it to stop me from learning
Gracias
Lynn
Hi Marcus,
I would really love to learn Spanish, as i am living in Spain with my two children.
But i cannot not afford Spanish lessons.
It would really help me alot as it would give me more opportunities when looking for employment.
At the moment all my money goes on my childrens education, but i need more help than them, as i cannot help with school work or go to speak with a teacher, without having a translator.
I feel such a failure to my children.
Pleas if there is any help you can give me, i really appreciate it.
Thankyou
Paula
Buenos dias Señor Marcus, 14 years ago my husband had a multiple bypass, 5 years ago we decided to move from England to somewhere warmer, we decided on Spain. Since being here, I have tried to learn the language, we have a few Spanish friends, but they are only interested in learning English!!! Now I am 60, my husband is a couple of years younger. But it worries me, what do I do if he needs medical help? I have been having your free lessons, and I have been enjoying them immensely, my Spanish friends are impressed with me. But I need more. I am hungry to learn, we don´t have any spare cash this is why I went with the free lessons. But I must admit to being very worried about my husband. He is not a well man, and I need to be able to help him when the time comes for him to need medical help.
Thank you for finding this way to teach people another language, I wish you well.
Jeanette Jacob
Hi Marcus Santamaria.
I bought the Synergy Spanish some years ago and I enjoyed it very much It have helped me communicate her in the Canary Islands Spain.
I’m from Iceland and have lived in Norway for 15 years and in Colorado USA for 2 years. I’m 46 year old and for health reasons, I live in the Canary Islands many months a year. First after buying the course from you I learned a lot but not being able at the time to speak to spanish person I just started to slip and now I can speak just a little spanish in order to get around her in the Canary’s.
It have irritated me a lot living her and not being able to show the natives here the respect to communicate in there languish, I speak very good Norwegian and English and understand Danish and Sweetish, and every day I’m using 3 languishes Icelandic Norwegian and English. I think the reason for the slow progress in Spanish is that I’m not working her in the Canary’s and there for don’t get the the follow up and pressure needed to learn Spanish.
I wish that I were able to speak a lot more and get to know the people here and the culture “AND NOT JUST BEING A NOTHER TOURIST TO THE NATIVES”.
I want to thank you for the help you have given me in the course and all the email’s you send with lots of free stuff to help us to learn more spanish and showing me that I can learn Spanish even though it is slow for me
I wish you all the best and THANKS.
Regards
Gunnar
Being a part of your “learning Synergy Spanish course” has not only built up my own self esteem, but has allowed me to gain the respect of friends, family and most importantly Spanish speaking people. My aim has always been to be able to express my own personality and sense of humour and slowly but surely I feel I am winning the challenge.
Many thanks
Peter
As I live in a remote area of Spain it has been difficult getting settled, not being able to speak spanish stops me asking the help of my neighbours and also getting to know them. Especially on the telephone as gesturing and expressions cannot be seen. As more and more english speaking people are moving in around the area I would like to be able to help them get over the frustrations I have had to deal with and help them settle in more quickly without a fee. Speaking spanish would open new doors for me in my community and help me integrate with my new homeland.
As a Bible teacher learning Spanish means to help small communities in UK to find hope and meaning in their lives; especially when they come from lands where life has been tough for so long. “…y conoceran la verdad, y la verdad los libertara`
S.T
Hola Marcus,
I recently purchased Shortcut to Spanish and am enjoying learning Spanish, though I am perhaps a little slow for my liking. Fluent Spanish would improve my life because, as a single mum to a six yr old, I have made the decision to leave Australia and relocate to Barcelona in just six months!! Seems strange as I have never been there but have friends living there since 1999. This is a change I desperately need and fear that if I wait too long, I may never be brave enough to take the plunge. My daughter being so young will mean that she will pick up the language a lot faster than I, but I dont want to be too far behind! I also hope to return to study one day to work with emotionally disturbed children, and if my Spanish is good enough I can do that in Europe rather than returning to Australia.
Whether I win or not you have opened up a way of learning that even a time poor single mum cant fail at!!
Gracias amigo
Dee
Dear Marcus,
Last year I took a leap of faith and conquered my fear of the water. I now swim a mile a day. pretty good for 45. Swimming changed my life and attitude completely. I now realise I can do anything I want if I really want it. Nothing’s impossible.
Synergy Spanish is like my swimming, I want to jump into the sea of words and completely immerse myself. I know I will not drown if I listen and have faith. I am following one of your courses now and I am actually starting to make progress. It will not be long before I finish and I need to win the full course to enable me to finish more quickly what I started.
I want this so much. This course is the key to success and will change my life forever just has the swimming did
Karen Richards
Hi there,
My partner & I have finally made the move to Spain & although I have been trying to learn for quite some time with books & listening to my neighbours, the speed in which they speak & the fact that I pick up so little of what is said kicks the confidence barrier big time.
I work here, teaching English to children & adults alike so as to help them in their future careers but don’t seem to be able to master their language myself. It’s incredibly frustrating. My method of teaching English works so well that I can’t understand why it doesn’t work for me
Jacqui Whiting
Dear Marcus,
The love of my life is a native Spanish speaker. Although he knows English well I want to express my love for him in his language. I want to understand and feel every nuance of his heart and soul. It is as simple a that!.
Susan E
Hi Marcus! I just want to thank you for those free e-mail lessons that you have been sending and to tell you that they really have helped me to speak during my spanishcourse. I’m from Sweden but now live in Spain, Santiago de Compostela, and even though I don’t have a job right now I can afford your course because I think there are other that needs it better. So, once again, thank you and keep up the good work!
Hi Marcus
Wow, what a lot of blogs! Considering I’ve never won anything in my life, apart from a koala bear in a raffle at a circus, I almost thought I wouldn’t enter this at all. I moved to Spain about five years ago with my husband, who after a few months left me and went back to England. (He had someone else), leaving me to cope in a foreign country not speaking spanish, no job and not a lot of money. Anyway, I decided to stay here and have survived on my own. I did lessons at the local town hall, then went to someone else., but it all cost money and I had to stop. I know so much more now, but really still cannot put a long sentence together or have a ‘real conversation with somebody. Not speaking fluent spanish is a barrier for me in finding work as well. Am keeping my fingers crossed I might be one of the lucky winners, but who knows. Have enjoyed your site and exercises and it has taught me more. Keep up the good work.
Dear Marcus, I have been married to a native Spanish speaker for 16 years, as we lived in the UK it never seemed to be an issue that I or our children did not speak Spanish. When we first met I did a course at the local college and actually managed to learn a few basic phrases and when our first son was born Pablo spoke to him in Spanish and I spoke in English. However, as is always the case our social network, school and work was predominately English and by the time our second child was born we were a very English speaking family.
There came a time when we re-evaluated our live and 2 years ago we moved to Spain! My children are learning Spanish through friends and school, and yet I still only know a few phrases!
I am being left behind and, yes, I do know how to ask for the time, and for coffee but a conversation… no. I would love the opportunity to really be able to ‘live ‘ in Spain and communicate with the people around me, a smile goes a long way but is not enough (what is worse is my children are practically fluent!).
Jessica
Hello markus, I have just moved to puerto rico from colorado because of new life and no more cold. I have been planning this for a long time and have speny thousands to get here and have a fiancee coming from china soon. My gole her is to start new buiesness’s to make my life better able to travel with my new wife. I also want to dreate jobs for people here but in order to succeed i have to learn spanish to make it easier to comunicate with employees. I have sush a great knowledge in so many fields. Solar.construction,sales mechanical design, and so many more. My work for GOD in colorado is over and know i am here living in puerto rico 1.5 mths now.I have made a commitment to GOD to help people here and have always helped others with knowledge freely. Now its time to turn all that knowledge into making money to enjoy life. Not being greedy but comfortable. I am service connected disabled and can not do hard physical work any more. Havn’t since 96. I just can’t afford money right know because of this new beginnings GOD and i have chose. I really need to learn spanish in order to make life easier for me and my new wife. This is a very true story and not just made up to get something for free. I have worked hard all my life and don’t look for hand outs not at all but when i opened your mail i tookk this an a sign from GOD to learn spanish so i could accomplish my gole in life.I am 56 been through cancer 2 times but am not giving up till i see great grand children 7 grand children and the ones that understand what is going on with grandpa are all for this move so i can give them a beautiful place here in puerto rico my 2 kids also have alot of faith in dad to pull this life of mine together and be happy.If anyone could use this offer please let it be me. I always feel that what is passed to me i then pass it along on down the road and this would be benificial to others as well as me and my new wife coming from china. She really needs me to learn spanish for the both of us. She has enough to learn english so its up to me to make this happen in a spanish speaking culture. I will just have faith in GOD if he wants me to either pay for lessons or just try and win or just wing it here and try and just pick up the learning. thank you for the offer markus
Hi Marcus,
I am a Barcelona fan through and through and I am saving to go and watch the El Clasico at the Camp Nou iin a not so distant future, my Spanish will help me when I get there. Secondly, I am a South African who often visit Mozambique for holidays and also for work purposes, Spanish is very close to Portuguese which is the official language in Mozambique, it is now easy for me to follow conversations in Portuguese.
Most Mozambicans would like to learn English, so by being able to speak a language they can understand, I will be able to teach them English.
Thank you for making learning Spanish manageable and fun and not to mention affordable
I want to learn Spanish because last year my wife and I travelled to Majorca for our holidays and I was amazed how many Spaniards could speak English that I felt quite ashamed that I could not speak thier language. So as a mark of respect for them I decided I would make the effort to learn some of thier language as they had done with mine.
hi marcus,
wow, what an offer! lots for you to read through. must be interesting to hear a few personal stories from your budding spanish students.
so here i will share a little of my story (and i try to keep it brief)
since i was young i have been wanting to make a difference on this earth. and this is probably what brought me to the findhorn eco-village community in scotland, (www.findhorn.org) where i worked in the organic vegetable garden growing food. after which i headed back to south africa (my homeland) and felt a strange feeling of urgency to become more sustainable, and set up a tipi in the mountains. live off the land, be close to nature. later i had a vision that the earth would not pull through, and so, in my confusion and dispair, i headed once again to findhorn to seek like-minded people and have time to explore the feelings that were arising in me.
it was in this time, interestingly, that i reconnected with a spanish friend of mine, and with great surprise to myself and him, i said.. i want to learn spanish!
three days later, still in a space of confusion about how to respond to a changing world, i did the next best thing and made a decision to not respond. i booked a ticket to spain to walk the camino de santiago, and allowed myself time to walk alongside the change.
i was there for two months, experiencing being “out of the system”.. sleeping outside, eating fruit off the trees, and all with very little money.
i am now back in findhorn, feeling a huge urge to topple the systems of society, and create a whole new way of being.. one of which would be alternative money systems and gift economy. climate change is the most pressing topic for us all to respond to! because we’ll all be affected. and the key ingredient (in my opinion) is sillyness
so where does spanish come in? well right now i’m concocting a master plan of world re-visioning!! and create workshops of awareness which i’ll take back to south africa, afterwhich, my dream is to head to south america to live in community, and be as close to nature as possible. spanish would a be an amazing bonus, and i’m now totally convinced that your method is the one that works
blessings marcus (my beloved father has this name)
ashleigh x
Hi Marcus,
I have been a follower of yours for a few years now, but have not been able to invest in a complete course for financial reasons. I live on the small island of Menorca in the Balearic group off the Mediterranean coast of Spain. The economy here is based largely on tourism, and currently is suffering very badly with the recession. Apart from the local people, we have a large proportion of foreigners living here. Some, like myself (a Brit), from other European countries, and many others from South American countries and from North Africa.
The British contingent are very much a small community closed in on their own, largely due to the language barrier. Many, like me, have tried to learn Spanish, but have found the standard course books very difficult to follow - and they never seem to cover the day to day idiomatic speech which we all need.
Non-Spanish speaking immigrants like the North Africans find they are at a huge disadvantage - they come here hoping to find work to be able to better themselves and to support their families and in the current circumstances find they have jumped out of the frying pan straight into the fire since they haven’t even the support network of an extended family to help them here.
I am retired (hence the financial constraints) but very active. All my life I have been a teacher, however not of languages. I am desperate to learn more Spanish, to be able to communicate at a meaningful level to be able to integrate into our wonderful host community here on the island, and also so that I can pass on what I learn to those who need it even more than I.
As a retired person I am able to volunteer my time and it would give real meaning to my own life as well as literally a lifeline to others seeking to start a new life for their families if I could learn sufficient to pass on.
I have learnt a great deal from all your very generous free lessons (much more than from any other free source) - but they certainly show me how much more I need to learn, and your approach is the only one I’ve ever found which goes to the heart of the matter, teaching language in a way that really makes sense and, above all, sticks in one’s head!
If I am lucky enough to be considered, you would not only be helping me personally, but a whole community of ‘incomers’ who, despite their best intentions find that they remain ‘outsiders’ due to their language and communication difficulties.
I learnt german as a young man in 1955 1958 moved to spain opt to live among the spainish away from english people thinking it would be easier to learn a new language when i try to speak I revert back to german which Ihave not used for 50 YEARS hopeless case mick clark
Speaking fluent Spanish would enhance my life experiences as well as facilitate ease at finishing my work.
I am a 37 year primary care physician. I have recently moved to Tampa Florida where at least half of my patients are biligual. A smaller percentage speaks ONLY spanish. My day is significantly delayed by having to go find another employee who speaks spanish to help me and it takes away my personal ability to touch the patient with my own personality and concern about their particular case. Additionally, this compromises the confidentiality for the patient. I worry that sometimes there is information that I am not getting because there is a 3rd sometimes unknown party translating. On one occasion, I was even worried that what the family was telling me was not what the patient intended.
Learning to speak spanish gives me the ability to travel to places within my own city and be comfortable conversing. It obviously will broaden the number of people that I could take care of professionally and include in my personal network of friends.
I have tried other courses without success and sadly, I was starting to think maybe I am a little old to learn such a broad topic as how to express myself in an entirely different language. I can say a few things, but it takes a very long time. Sometimes after some thought, I determine that I cannot say what I want to say.
If you can help me speak better by learning just 138 words, I would love to give it a try. I will tell my colleagues what a gem I have found.
We had a Spanish house for a while and moved here permanently after retiring. We are learning Spanish slowly but when we speak it we find that the locals do not understand us because we cannot get the pronunciation correct. Luckily they have abundant patience and we usually get there in the end. We also both have hearing problems which doesn’t make things easy and my Chinese wife only has English as a third language, so does not understand a lot of grammatical terms, and even I don’t understand them all. Even Spanish children take many years to learn to speak properly in their own language, so we know it is not easy.
Being pensioners the current financial crisis has caused our income the crash dramatically so a free scholarship would be a big boost.
Hola Marcus
My dream is to move to Spain to live and work. I have had this dream for the last 6 years and decided to start learning the language so when I moved I would be able to speak with my Spanish neighbours. I have tried many different courses but cannot seem to grasp it and because I have no one to practice with I do not feel confident when I do get the chance to try.
I was involved in an accident last year and have not been able to work since and am waiting for spinal injections to help the pain. This means my dreams to work in Spain has been put on hold but I still wish to one day live there and maybe even go to recuperate as the warm weather will help compared to Englands winter.
I have had more time since being at home to learn Spanish but now the money is short and I have worked with the free courses but they only take you so far. I purchased your how to speak and this has really help me improve and I now think about what I say and try to change it to spanish but wish to move on and take it too the next stage.
Muchas Gracias
Corinne
Hola!
Learning Spanish will allow me to communicate with parents and students here from Spanish-speaking countries. I work in a high school in Missouri and am moving to Wisconsin soon. It is hard to advise a family on the best educational plan for their child if they do not understand what I am saying. A scholarship for me would help countless families assimilate into the culture here, in America!
Hola Marcus, mi profesor
I have already studdied using your methods and I find them refreshing. I studdied Spanish at school and picked up lots of vocabulary but I still find it hard to make sentances. I practice often at home by talking to Spanish people on the internet. It is very frustrating when they say something to me that I can’t respond because I didn’t understand them. My aim is to become fluent one day and I know I can do it in time. I think that the extra resource you are offering would allow me to progress a little faster.
My partner’s parents live in Spain and we often visit them. I love going shopping there and I can just about manage to buy things and order food etc but I know I can do better. I find myself avoiding speaking incase I say something wrong or I can’t understand them. When I talk in Spanish and they answer I get a great feeling that they understood and that encourages me to want to say more.
My partners dad has been in hospital a few times since they moved to Spain because he has angina. He has had surgery now and is much better but I worry that if anything should happen to him or anyone else in an accident etc, I would struggle to get help. I just don’t want to find myself in a helpless situation where not being able to communicate allows a situation to worsen.
I love listening to Spanish music. I hope that one day I can listen to a song and sing to it without having to print out the lyrics and work out what it means first. When I can do that, I’ll have achieved my goal
I will never stop trying to learn more and regardless of this compertition I will continue to follow your teachings. x
Cuidate.
Su estudiante del espanol siempre, Zoe x
I have lived in spain for 20 years and have a blockage in understanding the language, since buying your system I have improoved, but am still struggling due to old age! I visit hospital a lot and have problems with conversing, if I could have the benefit of more help I could also be a volunteer for brits who cannot speak spanish at all. many thanks, ken symonds.
Hola Marcus!
Quiero a estudair Españole para circundar más juventud en mi funcionar ( I don´t know if that came out right..) The point is that I know that there are some Spanish speaking youths in my town who have not got so many amigos because of the language barrier. I would más mucho like to include them in the youth project I am working on, but it is hard when no saber hablar con ellos. And since I only have 1 year left in my job, I am trying to learn Spanish as fast as possible, so that I can help them make amigos before necesito ir. After this job, I am thinking of going to Ecuador to work with a mission organization. But I am still not realy shure about what quiero to do after this job.
I am still some new to your Synergy Spanish course. But after I started the course, I realized learning Spanish would´nt be so hard I had imagined. Now I know for shure, that voy a hablar Españole pronto!
Thank you for making this great Spanish course! I realy enjoy working with it:)
Hi Marcus,
First of all, synergry Spanish has already brought me much farther than other corses I have tried. I know when I learn to speak spanish fluently it will open many doorways for me into a new and exciting world of adventure and culture.
In our community, we have many spanish speaking immigrants who are in need of assitance
with job searches and medical help. I would really like to be able to assist in these areas.
I also travel a couple times each year to different parts of Mexico delivering shoeboxes at Christmas to the children and to offering Biblical teachings and counseling. This would certainly speed my learning and I believe be a tremendous blessing to those around me.
Thank you!
Debora
In my job I need to interact with most of the suppliers who produce raw materials for us. The majority of these suppliers are from Latin America and on most occassions the communication has been a bit difficult. I however do believe that at my age it is not so easy to learn the language as someone who is much younger. It is however becoming more apparent that I need to get a hang of the Spanish Language to enhance my job performance.
Hi Marcus
Learning Synergy Spanish will change my life completely. I have tried the few free courses you offered in the internet and how amazing how much I’ve learned in such a short time. Unfortunately, my financial situation prevents me from ordering the whole course bow despite the fact that I know the tremendous benefits derived from it. I grew up and was educated in the Philippines. One of our required subjects was spanish which I studied for 3 years. I just made the passing mark in all my spanish subjects which surprised me as I never really learned anything. The way the courses were presented was so boring that I never developed any interest in learning the language. Now that I have retired from the work force, I am planning a trip to Spain or Mexico for a visit. But before doing so, I want to prepare myself by learning the spanish language. So I purchased books, cds, video etc and have been studying since then but it feels like all my efforts to learn the language are in vain. There were times when I just wanted to give up as it appeared that I was not making progress despite all the books cds etc I had at my disposal.
Fortunately, as I was browsing one day, I found your site and started doing the first free courses you sent to my email. Gee, my perception of spanish changed so dramatically and did not realize how simple and easy to learn it when all those years at university and my hours at home seemed spanish is only for geniuses, difficult and impossible to learn. Hearing people speak at such a fast pace made me feel more hopeless.
I’m amazed how you could devise the system of presenting the language is so simple and yet so much substance is learned in such a short time. Your synergy gave me a ray of hope. I did all your exercises and I am so pleased with myself in that I can now say a few sentences which I could never do before.
Thank you so much Marcus, you have brought so much meaning to my life. I love the spanish language and it has always been my dream to be able to visit Spain and be able to speak the language with the locals. I now know that this is now a possibility using your Synergy.
I’ve been saving up to be able to purchase your whole Synergy course. Hopefully it will be soon.
If you have any more free lessons, please send to me.
Happy 2009
Best regards
Esther
Hello Sir,
I am an indian who hardly know any other language then HINDI & ENGLISH. I am trying to learn Spanish because its my dream that after learning spanish i will be able to get settled in Foriegn with my Old MOM and FATHER.So that their dream come true to see Outside World other than India, Initially I have taken this step to learn Spanish after knowing tha its not going to be easy for me.It will be like searching a needle in a swiming pool. But i will make it for sure.
I belongs to a place where everyone has some dream for their future,but hardly they catch them only thing which we have in us is the knowledge of anything which makes us different from others. Learning Spanish in India will be like Butterfly among thousands of Honey Bees. After I succeed in my aim i will push other people to do the same , and to think that it is not so Difficult to learn Spanish and make your own way in correct direction after having a strong base of Spanish.
Hello Marcus,
About 4 years ago I moved to Northern Patagonia in Argentina. I was 54 then. When I first saw my town I fell in love with the unspoiled beauty and the (relatively) low population.
I had never lived outside the USA. Language was not a primary skill or interest, I was much stronger in Math and Sciences, computers, mechanics, and construction.
When I went to take Spanish classes here the only ones available were for tourists and the method was immersion. It didn’t work very well for me, but it did get me so I could do some basic things. Certainly not social conversation. The classes are geared to people who already speak some Spanish and need to brush up for traveling in South America. Many young multi-lingual people from Europe go to these classes, and their learning is quite rapid.
Native Spanish speakers here who were bilingual suggested many things to me…get a TV, spend a lot of time only with native speakers, find a girlfriend who only speaks Spanish, all that. When I asked them when they learned their English, every single one of them learned it in childhood. They could not understand why it was so difficult for me.
I tried many things but only became more frustrated. I can’t tell you how many times I immersed myself in social situations were no-one spoke English. (For hours I would sit at dinner (the dinners/asados) can last hours.) in a lively Spanish conversation. (The Argentines love to talk.) But I could only catch snippets and most of the time I sat there, awash in a language that I could not keep up with. Eventually I came to understand that this was not a good way for me to learn, and actually was counterproductive because it does not feel good (for them or for me) to be with people socially when you cannot communicate with them. And, it is not good for the group if one person is sitting there nodding and smiling, but not able to actually participate.
I have been embarrassed in social situations (not close friends, in a hiking club) several times when someone I don’t know tells me loudly in front of the group that “what is the matter with you, you should be speaking much better Spanish by now”. I have even been called lazy. At first I was offended, but now I understand that they really cannot relate to someone in my situation. That is OK. It could happens even in my own culture.
And I have been told by countless native bi-lingual Spanish speakers that they had no problem learning English. They picked it up quickly. Of course, they learned in childhood, either by living in the states or from their parents. It was part of their environment. Or, they had a gift for language and a passion to learn. Most others here who only studied English only in school cannot speak it or carry on a conversation.
While I can shop and travel OK, I found it impossible to deal with anything complicated, like a doctor’s visit or dealing with immigration. Or negotiating with the phone company, et cetera.
I’m now 58. I’ve found that in my 50’s my ability to remember new things has diminished greatly. It is kind of like I have a hole in my short term memory. That has made retaining new words difficult. I can repeat a new word several times like a mantra but somehow it does not stick. When I was 40 this didn’t happen. I remembered everything.
So there must be a way for my brain to assimilate a new language….but I don’t know what it is.
Trying to learn Spanish from nothing is like eing a toddler again and then having someone push you (in this case myself), into an automobile and expect you to drive on the freeway. All the basics are missing to be successful.
So, eventually I retreated to friends who are bilingual. And I use translators to do anything that is complicated. It works, but it is not how I want to live. I would like to
The area I live in is drop-dead gorgeous, a dream place to live. I want to stay here, but I also need to find a way to learn Spanish where I can feel successful, make progress, and interact better with this culture. There are many very nice, intelligent people here I would love to be friends with.
Well, if your courses could help a person of my age and low-language skills, then I would be forever grateful.
Thank you!
marcus, if i were successful in winning this competion, it would be brillant for me. The primary reason for me wanting to learn spanish, is that as i do some part-time work for a local charity here in northern ireland, more often than not i have many spanish people who come into our premises asking questions, seeking answers etc. im always frustrated at my lack of understanding (i know a little as i have subscribed to previous courses from you, which are very good). i feel i am ready for the next level. furthermore, our charity travels overseas twice a year, to spanish speaking countries, to assess the results off our work, and it will be brillant if someone like myself were able to travel and communicate in spanish etc for this. i hope to be lucky and will, and here from you soon. Gracias
Hi Marcus,
My wife and I are in our sixties,we have been trying to learn Spanish for about nine years now. We live in a campo with Spanish people all around us, and we are desparate to be able to hold a good conversation with our neighbours, and be able to integrate fully with them but can not at the moment. Therefore I belive the “Synergy Spanish to make your life better”, would be ideal for me and my wife.
Hi Marcus,as I have already explained to you in my earlier communications that I have wanted to study SPANISH for many years but never had the time due to my hectic life style which involves around 30 hrs a week voluntary work with under privileged children and trying to run a small business along with caring for my sick mother prior to her death.After her death I wanted to keep my promise to my mother and make a start on learning Spanish as she had always supported my goals in life and new how much I wished to speak the language. If I could succeed in speaking Spanish I would take my voluntary work to Spanish speaking countries and teach the children their.
My business fell through unfortunately due to external pressure and lack of time I could devote to it during the final months of my mothers life so consequently i have only been able to sign up for basic Spanish evening classes which don’t seem to be helping me and I can’t afford any other types.I would like to thank you for your support to date as you have really kept the light of hope burning in that some day I might fulfill my dream.
Hasta otra dias
Brendan Simmons wales uk
kaiso2001@ukonline.co.uk
learning spanish will help me to communicate with my finance familly. It will also help me on my job as i work in fast food management we hire a lot of spanish speaking employees. One day I want to be able to go to mexico as a teacher. Della shepard
Hi Marcus,
I am living in Spain in a village surrounded only by spanish people and would like to converse with the locals. If I could master the language life would be much easier and fruitful in communicating this wonderful language with my amingos. If I am lucky enough to be consider, my life will not only be meaningful, but also try an convert my husband to learn the langugage.
I really don’t know which question to answer becasue I identify with both of them.
I am 63, English and have emmigrated to Spain to live for my retirement.
The main promlem for me is that I came to join in the Spanish lifestyle, but my area has changed greatly since we bought our house here and now it is very difficult to even speak SPanish here, as all the Spaniards are falling over themselves to speak English. There is also a problem with integrating because everything is slanted at the ENglish and the Brit way of life. So in this area it is difficult to find much SPanish culture that has not been anglo-sized.
So, to answer the first outlook,
If my Spanish were better I could venture further afield and expand my SPanish cultural experience.
To answer my second outlook, I could improve the lives of Spaniards by being able to practice my Complementary Therapies on them as well as my English friends, and start up a Meditation club so that we could, in our own small way start a two way integration process that would be of benefit to both nationalities, And would build strong bonds between us.
I really don’t know which question to answer becasue I identify with both of them.
I am 63, English and have emmigrated to Spain to live for my retirement.
The main promlem for me is that I came to join in the Spanish lifestyle, but my area has changed greatly since we bought our house here and now it is very difficult to even speak SPanish here, as all the Spaniards are falling over themselves to speak English. There is also a problem with integrating because everything is slanted at the ENglish and the Brit way of life. So in this area it is difficult to find much SPanish culture that has not been anglo-sized.
So, to answer the first outlook,
If my Spanish were better I could venture further afield and expand my SPanish cultural experience.
To answer my second outlook, I could improve the lives of Spaniards by being able to practice my Complementary Therapies on them as well as my English friends, and start up a Meditation club so that we could, in our own small way start a two way integration process that would be of benefit to both nationalities, And would build strong bonds between us.
Marcus, I would like to tell you some heart wrenching story that learning spanish for me will enrich the lives of poor orphans in a third world country in order to win your prize. But, that would just be a “mentia” conjured up to try to win your contest. The real story is that I moved to Costa Rica from Texas and have been here for 18 months so far. I do not have a lot of money, this is true. and I have been religiously using the free resources on your website to help me learn and imporve my Spanish. The biggest hurdle for me as with most people I am sure is that Spanish speakers speak so fast that I find myself understanding them at first and then quickly get lost in the conversation. Also conjugating verbs would open up a whole new world for me in communicating with the Tico’s here. Finally, I have met a lovely Tica woman who speaks no english and selfishly, i would love to impress her with better spanish skills.
It is pretty embarassing to have to have her 15 year old daughter translate everything for us.
So I guess winning your prize would be great for me because it would help me get a “novia” but it would also allow me to be able to teach Andrea English which would greatly improve her life and her ability to support her young daughter. If I am selceted, I promise to be your best student and I promise to give Andrea the gift of English just as you will give me the gift of Spanish.
William Ruzicka San Jose Costa Rica
I am 63, English and have retired to Spain.
I came here to enjoy the Spanish way of life but due to the huge influx of English to this area since we bought our home, it is almost impossible to practice Spanish as all the Spaniards are falling over themselves to learn English.
I would like therefore to change Spaniards lives by speaking Spanish well enough to be able to set up a Spanish/English club, based on the wish to make integration easier for all,
Thank you.
Angela
I have been trying for 30 years to master Spanish so that I could just carry on an intelligent conversation with my in-laws when visiting them in Puerto Rico. My mother-in-law will be 81 in a few days. I would love to be able to call her and talk with her. She is a very special person and I love her dearly. We will be going to Puerto Rico for two weeks in December to visit and I would give anything to be able to actually understand everything that is said and to able to participate in the discussions with my “mom”. I would love to ask her questions about her childhood, what it was like growing up in Puerto Rico, how she met her husband, and many more. I would love to get her jokes and be able to laugh with her. My mother passed away just a little more than a year ago, so Nelly is the only mother I have left and I really want to get to know her better. She has done so much for me that I feel the best gift I could give her is to actually be able to talk with her. That is why I really want to learn to speak and understand Spanish.
I not only would like to be able to hold a decent conversation in Spanish, but I desperately need to be able to do so. I work in an area that has many, many Latino immigrants that have limited English. I am the transportation supervisor for Special Needs school buses and it is ofen difficult to find a translator to communicate with these families. Many of the children have serious medical issues that affects their transportation. If I could discuss this with the parents, it would make a world of difference in recognizing the children’s needs for comfortable, safe transportation. Plus, it would be wonderful to be able to actually have conversations with the children themselves. Of course, they are learning English much quicker than I am learning Spanish. I have tried the free courses with the school system and it has been very difficult as these courses do not teach me the conversational Spanish that I need. And, with the school system budget cutting expenses in many areas, I cannot afford to pay for a course that would really help. I would love to be considered for this opportunity. Many thanks.
Dear Marcus, como esta, I must thank you for introducing me to this programe, you see I have just decited to go back to school to do spanish, and i will be taking Cribbean Examinations Council Exams. (CXC) and General Certificate Examination (GCE) in 2010, with your lessons, i have learned quite alot, and at the moment I am at the top of my class, I am 52 years of age and thought that it would be difficult for me to understand and learn spaish at my age, but with your help i have the courage, faith, determination and willpower to complete my course and know with your help I will achieve my certificate. thanks again, and may God bless you for extending you kindness and knowledge fo the less fortunate
I first became familiar with Spanish when I was four years old. My parents owned a store in Truman, Arkansas and workers from Texas and Mexico came to work in the fields (1945-1954). My father taught me to love and respect the people and the language. I only know words, cannot carry on a conversation, but can understand if people speak slowly. I do not understand all of the words but can pick up enough to know what is going on.
I love the language and people.
Please help.
Hi Marcus
I live in South Africa. For the past 7 years I’ve been learning and doing Spanish Dancing, it is a real blessing in my life!! Because we use spanish terminology for spanish dancing I fell in love with the language, that’s why I looked on the Internet for a spanish language course. This is how I found you. The few lessons I’ve received from you where so enjoyable! I practise them almost every day!! In September and October 2010 there is a flamenco festival in Seville, Spain, and it is my dream to go there to see the great dancers, in order to enjoy it, though, I need to understand the language and be able to communicate properly. I think this is also where using the language to help others comes in - I could explain the spanish terms and traditions better to other dancers if I could understand the language and get info from spanish sources.
Also, at the company where I work, we import items from Spain, it would be so wonderful if I could bridge the language gap en speak with them in Spanish!
My only barrier is finances though.
Have a great day!!
2 years ago i decided to learn spanish so i went to BERLITZ school in spite of i paid a lot i learn nothing. then i took your course and i find myself learning much much more and i want to thank you for that. i still practice more and more. so its only the money its the system or method!!!.
arie
Hi Marcus,
I have a 6 month old grandson and surely have more on the way (I’ve got 3 daughters) and would dearly love to be able to teach them Spanish as they are picking up their native English. This must surely be the best way to learn to “speak like a native”. To do this I will have to build on my (early intermediate) existing level of Spanish and I believe your Synergy, Bola de Nieve, and Bola Plus courses are the surest way to achive this aim. My grandson should be ready to start being introduced to his first Spanish words in 9 months time - just before New Year!!!
As my grandchildren start to speak Spanish we will hopefully be able to encourage their friends and relations - the whole thing should “snowball” and we can have a Spanish speaking community that can appreciate and integrate naturally with the Hispanic world!!
Regards, Dave.
Hola Marcus,
I work as a construction electrician and also a Voice/Data/Video technician. I recently had a data network installation in Goshen In (which has a large Hispanic population) We had to work after school hours so as not to disrupt any classes. During this time I was able to see an ESL for adults class. I have heard all the comments about “they should learn OUR language, this is AMERICA and they should speak English, etc Let me tell you I was totally blown away at the numbers of adults that were learning English. The “they” that the bigots condemn for not learning English sure weren’t in evidence here. I also teach in our apprenticeship classes and happen to have a Hispanic student. He is fluent in English but I talked to him about other Hispanics and he stated that some of the people he knew weren’t able to apply for the electrical trade because of the language barrier. I thought that if our trade could overcome this we could tap into an extremely hard working segment of our local population. I have heard the comments about how the apprentices that we get in now a days do not have the work ethic needed to succeed in construction. Now don’t get me wrong, we do get some very hard working young people into our industry, but I believe there are others who are denied the opportunity to better their lives strictly becusse of a language barrier. I feel I could help some good people, the electrical industry as a whole and also our local union with the ability to be able to communicate with qualified people and at the same time be able to work English into the class (I am a former English teacher) Regardless if I am selected for this scholarship, I would like to thank you for what you have given me so far and would also like to applaud you for giving this opportunity. There truly are some very desrving applicants with some very lofty goals. Gracias, senor.
I tutor spanish speaking adults (to learn English) in an after school program at a local elementary school. Most of these adults never reached 3rd grade in their country because of poverty. Because of their grade level, it makes my job that much harder. However, they are really eager to master English and they are so grateful that I would take time out of my day to volunteer to teach them the language. Because of their gratitude and not having the opportunity to get much of an education in their homeland, I am determined to help them succeed with their goal. God has blessed me with teaching skills and communication so I feel since God has blessed me with this gift, I am responsible for using it in a way which pleases him. So I know if I could speak their language, It would be much more helpful in giving them what they need.
How will my learning Spanish help others?
A member of my church started a Spanish Health Ministry to help Hispanic women with their health problems and those of their children. In addition to ministering to their health needs, she also ministers to their spiritual needs. For the past 25 years I’ve had an interest in her work and supported her financially.
I was laid off from my job last month (just 2 months short of 20 years). I think that God might be calling me to help in the Spanish Health Ministry. The one thing that’s holding me back is my lack of Spanish. I feel that if I can become proficient in Spanish, then God wants me work in the ministry. If I can’t learn Spanish well enough, then I guess I’m destined for something else.
I want a continuation of Synergy Spanish that is the same price as what I paid for Synergy Spanish. The other courses are great for High School and College kids. Otherwise I would have bought Rosetta Stone. I’m interested in learning more Spanish but it isn’t any kind of priority or real necessity. I just simply have a whim to do it. Like working crossword puzzels.
-=Glenn Fannin=-
Hi
I started learning spanish when I lived in mexico and can communicate effectively but definitely not fluently. I never had the money to pay for classes so I learnt it from a book. I would like to become fluent so that I can teach my daughter - her dad is spanish but isn’t around much. I really want her to learn because bilingualism is such a gift (she’s still a baby) and I want her to be able to talk with her aunts, uncles, grandparents, and half sister who are all spanish speakers. She will effectively lose contact with one whole side of her family if she doesn’t speak it and right now I don’t speak well enough for her to learn from me.
Thanks
Clare
#2, If I could speak a little spanish I could communicate with non-english speaking Hispanic workers on my job site especially about safety concerns.
Regards,
John Forkan
Hola,Marcus!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As you know the learning process start from cradelle to the greave.And having the ability to speak anew language is having acess to new knowledge,culture.Andthrough Marcus’synergy I will be able to speak fluently and joint the group for a new world,way of saying seeying things a diffrents manner,and from that day I will break down many barriyers of beliving that if someone is old or for so many reson can’t learn anewlanguage.The nature of my work is to help all the people arround the world because I’m working in the field of Humanitarian Emergency response so my commutment is to go everywhere in the world and assisst any community in disaster situation so having Spanish languge is a tool of work for me,I’m from Chad is a country in Africa,I’m speaking French,English,Arabic,A little bit German as well as I’m very intersting to Grap something in Spanish and this ieda is facineting me,and I’m struggling by all mean to speak Spanish by the help of God
Commented by Brahim Abdel Madjjid on 16 january2009, @14:31
Hola Marcus- Really enjoy learning Spanish. For me it is very challenging! I have had several trips to Mexico. I really love the way of life. Considered moving there. I was in Peru last spring and I also really loved the country and the people. This year I will be conversing with people from Argentina. Would like to beable to converse more that just sign language. Later on I plan to do hospice work and the Spanish language would be helpful. Your method works amazingly
Any foreign language that one can converse in is an added bonus as well as a privilege. All over the world it is the be all and end all of human relations. If you do not speak the native language you are cut off from all the local culture and relations. For me Spanish lies very close to my heart and I have a number of Spanish-speaking friends who would love me to speak better!!!! Synergy Spanish brought me where I am now!!!
May you all have a real good 09 Nic.
Hola Marcus
Learning Synergy Spanish would improve my Spanish to a level of fluency and confidence that would enable me to find work here. Also I could take a real part in the day to day life in this tiny beautiful village here in Spain where no English is spoken. Being able to speak and understand Spanish at a good level would change my life totally. I would no longer have the daily worries of having to return to the UK due to not having the finances to live here.
In the current financial crisis, work is harder and harder to get and without a decent level of Spanish I can’t achieve this. I’m not too old to learn and know I can do it, and I will get that job. I am caught in the circle of no work and little finances in order to purchase the course I know I need.
I know Synergy Spanish is the learning method for me, I have downloaded your free lessons and already my whole attitude to learning has changed and with that my Spanish has improved. I’m no longer bogged down by technical jarrgon that I spend loads of time trying to learn.
I spend my time learning what I need to and therefore make much better progress.
Hi Marcus,
This is a great idea. I moved to a small village in Spain 3 years ago and I thought by now I would be able to converse with the spanish in the village, but unfortunately not. I have come to depend on my daughter and son to translate for me, which has been a bad thing for me. They both work in Spain and have had to learn the language from scratch so have come a long way as my son works for spanish and can converse no problems. Now my daughter has moved away to work and my son is in work 7 days a week so I don´t have any help from them at all. I really do need your help as I struggle with things like dentists and doctors.
Hola Marcus
Leaning Synergy Spanish will help me to show and encourage my fellow Spanish students. I will be able to show them how easy it can be with Synergy Spanish. Having completed the Shortcut to Spanish 31 day course I was amazed at how much easier things started to become. I have seen how difficult the leaning process seems to my fellow students who are using the old rigid style of language learning. Up to present my fellow student and I have great difficulty in speaking Spanish. The only way I can quantify my progress is by how well I can communicate.
I know many verbs, I know how to conjugate them, I know hundreds of words, I can even read and write pretty well.
Given enough time I could string together a sentence, which is fine until I get the reply. I want to learn to COMMUNICATE in Spanish, yet although I am ahead of my fellow students at the moment I cannot.
I would love to be able to help my fellow students speak Spanish. Most of all I’d like to show then how much easier it can be with the right course.
The ages of my fellow student range from 30 to 65. They, like me are eager to learn but feel something is holding them back, some invisible barrier. This leads to doubt and frustration and ends in a lack of confidence. Not a good thing in the learning game. It should be easy, it should be fun, we should be communicating a lot more than we do at present. It would be nice to be apart of helping to improve the process of language learning, to bring back the fun and to give language students some real sense of progress in communicating.
Saludos
Les Whalley
Hi Marcus, you have hit the three reasons for my lack of learning, age, price, most of all blockage.I do not have the opertunity to speak with local Spanish as I live on an English speaking Urbanisation, and when i do go to the nearest town, I just cant think what to say, my biggest problem is if I talk to them and they answere will i understand, bacause the acsent in Mucia is a bit of a different dialect to the rest of Spain, so not wishing to look stupid with my limited amount of Spanish, I just avoid getting into a conversation with the locals, if I could improve my knowledge of Spanish maybe I could get into more active partisipation with them. I do volentary work with the Pensionistas but can not comunicate back with them which is a shame as they want to include me in there activities, may be one day it will happen.
Thanks again for all your help, Roland Hinks
OK Marcus/ here’s the deal or rather the reason everyone should speak as many languages as possible/ Spanish along with English being the two most valuable worldly languages shall we say .
Verbal communication is the road to peace in this world. If you do not understand each other’s words , how can you understand each other’s souls?It is an impossible task without the ability to look someone in the eye and communiciate on a one to one basis. Alll is one /so to speak/ We are all much more similiar than we are different. Same Same/ but different as they say in Thailand!
I believe this. I believe that if all the world spoke the same language or as many languages as possible,there would be less conflicts and terror in this beautiful world we live in. I could elaborate but that is basically it/.
Love and communication is the answer! Help other’s and help yourself. Simple.
Hello:
I am really trying to learn Spanish but have found that it is not easy, I wish that I would have taken it when I was younger as I think that is harder when you get older. We presently spend nine months in Mexico and I feel that is is very important to learn the language, I have been trying for about a year and know some but am still having trouble, anything that you can do for me would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Trudy
I need to learn Spanish fluently to serve others. I am an English teacher who has been teaching Spanish for the past 16 years. Even though I have an endorsement on my teaching license in Spanish, I am no where close to being fluent in the language. How much better could I serve my students if I were able to speak it fluently? My students deserve the best I can offer them. Thank you for your consideration.
I for one is the kind of person that believes languages are important and the number of languages known tells how successful you can be in life.Presently i am learning polish,and i see the difference because now i am not limited to a particular job,i am building a career in human resources and i don’t want the” no knowledge” of a language hinder my opportunities and that is why i believe learning synergy Spanish would help me maximize my potential and achieve my dreams either as a teacher(which is my major occupation right now)or as a human resource manager,thank you.
Hi Marcus,
I’m sure you’re gonna get a lot of ‘I wanna help others’ and ‘if only the world could be a better place’ kind of letters. For me it’s not that complicated, i live in Spain, on the Costa Blanca. I am surrounded by people that have accepted me as a neighbour, we have social gatherings and we have a lot of fun, the language barrier is a problem , but its is not as important as the respect we show to each others cuture and roots. So why am I so paranoid about not speaking Spanish?? Its about wanting to understand the fine differences that make the essential Spaniard Spanish and explain why the crazy old englishman does the things he does.
I would love to teel Raul how I so appreciate his endless help and companionship, also to tell Panocho how much I love his cooking. I would love to see my grand-daughters face when she listened to ‘ME’ speaking spanish.
So that’s it Marcus, no real earth-shattering reasons for me to win, just a bit of a hunger to repay these wonderful people that have allowed me to dhare their country and their lives.
thanks for listening
Jim
My objective it to be able to interact with people of Spanish heritage. I want to get over the frustration of not understanding what the Spanish folks are saying to me. It would be a thrill to be able to converse in and understand the Spanish language. Sincerely.
Hola Marcus
Answer 1
It will change my life in a meaningful way. Why do I say this? Well, my Spanish” journey” started 24 years ago in school. I tried very hard to master the Spanish language by means of all kinds of courses but, in vain.
When Synergy Spanish was introduced to me, I felt relieved. At Last! The programs which I have done so far helped me to remain focused while listening, which again helped me to remember what has been said. This makes answering easier. The program really encourages me and I start to feel confident
Continuing these lessons will only “fortify” me in many ways. Thanks to the confidence, I will approach Spanish speaking persons with enthusiasm. I will not experience the conversations as stressful anymore. It may even open opportunities to look for a job in a company where knowledge of the Spanish language is a requirement. Isn’t that great?
Answer 2
During my field service (preaching work) I will be able to tell not only English speaking people about the Bible but also those who are speaking Spanish. They will be able to understand what I am telling them and vice versa.
Some people may even wonder where I have learned to speak Spanish and may want to learn it as well. I will gladly recommend them Synergy Spanish. If money is an issue, I will teach them what you have taught me.
Buenos Dias,
Learning spanish would greatly improve my communication with my family. My sweetheart is hispanic and my children speak with him and while I understand some of the words, I am lost when they start speaking. I would like to join in there conversations. Also, my in laws speak no english, so my sweetie has to translate for me. It would make my relationships with my family more enjoyable and I would love it! Also, with thte diverse cultures I work with, I feel that being able to speak and understand spanish would greatly improve how I relate to others.
Nicole
You telling your story is mine exactly! I have been doing so many programs and still cannot speak it well. I know alot of words but cannot carry on a conversation. I am a Christian Recording Artist and I have a passion to learn the language so I can share my love for Jesus to the Latino people. I have even done a Spanish CD that I have seemed to memorize and sing, but when the people talk to me I cannot communicate! God has given me the privelage to do alot of Spanish concerts and still am doing this, but have to have a translator to communicate in between songs and afterwards when I sell my CD;s at the table. This is shameful and I want to succeed in this language. Is your program able to be the first and the last I will use? I really would like to try it! I could be a testamony to thousands and spread the word of your program!! Vonda Beerman
Hi Marcus,
Lerning Spanish would change my life because:- we live in Spain near Malaga but only moved here when we were both in our 60’s hoping the sun woulkd help my husband’s health. It was quite a quick decision and we didn’t have time to study the language before we moved. We have ‘rubbed along’ and have even had a few lessons but nothing seems to ’stick’ in the older brain. My husband’s health is now failing and with hospital stays it is difficult to understand what is happening. We do employ a translator on occassions but this is becoming beyond our means. Secondly, we live in a delightful cmapo area and the local Spanish are so kind and helpful. It would delight me to be able to converse with them properly and just thank them for thie kindness.
Barbara Bacon
Working as a bank teller learning Synergy Spanish, would make my life easier and give me more self confidence when dealing with our Spanish Speaking customers. I hate to admit it but when I see one of them come in now I try not to wait on them because I can’t communicte effectively with them and I’m never sure if I’ve really helped them.
Learning Synergy Spanish would then also allow me to really help our spanish speaking customers to make sure we are giving them proper service , and to be able to enter into a dialogue to find out what their financial dreams and goals are and how we can help them get there.
Right now we just nod and smile alot at each other, but no one is coming away any better off after the transaction.
I am a retired school teacher who wants to improve my basic Spanish conversation level so that I may volunteer with Spanish speaking people and help to make a difference in their lives. After completing my B.A. I volunteered with the YMCA in Caracus, Venezuela and really enjoyed the experience. As that was a long time ago, my Spanish is rusty, and I need to upgrade my skills so that I could again help other Spanish speaking people.
Synergy Spanish to make your life better and to improve the lives of others
Dear Marcus,
I have chosen to combine the two headlines into one for one simple reason. Allow me first to explain a little.
For many years I have worked with a very strong and useful tool called a “Dialog Platform” which helps people to explore and understand the meaning of good values, a strong vision and a clear mission to succeed. The “platform” offers people the posibility to discuss various topics in small groups, with respect and equality. Share their experiences with each other and to learn from each other. People take responsability for their own learning instead of listening passively to the drone from a 150 page PDF lecturer. There is great power and energy in this stuff.
For a long time I wanted to combine two strong interests with each other; spanish and children. I would like to develop a set of tools aimed att helping spanish speaking children and teenagers with their studies of various types of topics such as languages, history, math, culture (their own and the country they live in) and others. I would like to work with kids on the American side of the USA / Mexican border by offering a low budget tool to schools or communeties that might offer a different and more fun filled alternative or supplement to traditional school work.
To be able to do this I need to learn spanish as quickly and as efficiently as possible. I have read about your courses and how impressed people are about it and would really love to be given the opportunity to really immerse myself in the spanish language and the possibility to become part of the latino world of culture.
So, for me personally it would open up a window to a large and exciting part of the world in all aspects that I have been excluded from sofar and by learning spanish I would be able to develop my tools in spanish and be given the possibility to improve the quality of life and to offer a possibly better future for children in the US, but hopefully also in Mexico and other countries on the Central- and South American continent.
I keep my fingers crossed and live with Hope.
With kind regards
Robert Seyfert
I have tried all different ways to learn Spanish, night classes, Spanish language packages and an intense 5 day course (I nearly had a break down)! - all to no avail, I still can only utter (unconfidently) Gracias and Por favor. I have tried the free synergy lessons and clicked with them from day one.
I have had some very difficult and funny experiences in Costa Rica, because of the language barrier, it really does hold you back.
Through Synergy Spanish, I think Ive found the answer to improving my life (and hopefully others) here in Costa Rica!
Hello! I have tryed for many years now to learn Spanish. I love the sound of it, and would like to open up my world to new experiances and people! I have gotten pretty frustrated, because my brian just won’t seem to pick it up. My mind wants to analyze and translate each word, so to hear Spanish, I can’t understand it at all. I would love your help, but can’t afford it at this time. To know Spanish would really boost my confidence! I would love to start a program at our church for the Spanish speaking people in our area. Thanks for your time! ~ Jacki
Hi Marcus,
First I would like to thank-you for all of the information you post free to those who are searching. Your synergy approach makes so much sense to the brain and memory. I have benefited greatly.
How could learning Spanish change my life? How could I help change the lives of others? I couldn’t decide which of these to speak to so I’m going to speak to both. Two years ago I resigned from 21 years teaching public school. I had a wonderfully rewarding career teaching heart intelligence/emotional literacy in response to violence and lack of academic performance in core city schools. Budget cuts ended this path. I figured the Peace Corp might appreciate my knowledge and expertise. I, as a 50 plus person, declined placement in Central China and chose, instead, to head to Costa Rica and build a cabin on a farm my father had purchased in the late 70’s. Presently I am living in a rural community where one other person speaks my language. I want to share my work which, coincidentally, has been adopted by this country. Google Be Peace. I also have an intense infatuation with the man who is helping me build my cabin. It would change my life to be able to talk with these people. It would change their lives for them to be able to learn from me. Win/win.
Synergy is what it’s all about. If chosen for your scholarship, I will put all my effort into what you provide. I know I’m here to do great things. I know this time now is teaching me volumes about the power of being present and attentive. Learning the language through a system that will allow me to attach all of my random learnings to a framework tried and true, would be a godsend.
Thanks for sharing and offering scholarships. We can all learn from your generosity.
Respectfully,
Kimberly J. Wise, M.Ed.
After my English speaking friends departed for their home I was stranded in a Spanish speaking country due to mechanical difficulties with my flight. I was there for three days without being able to communicate with other guests at the dining table or be able to appreciate the history behind the tourist attractions for a tour I took to pass the time. Since then I have enrolled in a Spanish programme and find that I can understand more than I am able say in Spanish. I have also met other native Spanish speakers but find that I am not able to communicate with them fluently. I realize that practice is the best way to master and retain the knowledge, but how can I do that when I am not able to practice? I would appreciate whatever help I can get to assist me in having a decent conversation.
Hi macus,
I came to Granada in southern Spain December 2006 the tear that I graduated from London colleg of communication, but courses in spanish are terebly expensive here, I can not possibly afford them so my spanish is not good enough for ajob here I’m not fruent enough, I realy do not want go back to the UK but I have to work, and can afford to live in this lovely placebut I need sesperatly to learn Spanish.
Nirman Besate
Wow–Everone of the above entries have a very strong needs for Spanish, I only have one real reason I want to learn–for my self–So I can understand and speak to my husbands family. I feel so left out, when everyone is together.
I have retired from law enforcement and my wife (a native Costa Rican) and I are moving to Costa Rica next December 2009. My wife and I hope to open a Christian school for the indigent children to learn English for free. In Costa Rica, if you do not speak something other than Spanish, your income is very limited. There are many children who are very poor and there is no way for them to get a first class education and learn English to improve their lifes and their families’, so their lives continue as poor or they turn delinquents trying to achieve easy money. My wife does speak Spanish and is a professor of English, but I can not speak enough Spanish to work with the students and relate to them at a personal level. I purchased the Shortcut to Spanish sometime ago and have gone thru the book several times but even with my wife’s help, I am having trouble learning to “understand” the language. With the course, I have learned a a lot of words but I am having trouble putting them together in coherent sentences.
Hello Marcus,
Learning Spanish would enable me to communicate with the people that I most love. In 1990 I married a woman from South America. We built a good life together and I have been to her country many times and absolutely love my in-laws and all the different customs that I did not know ever existed. Their entire focus is on FAMILY and I have become a part of that family and am treated as a special member even tho I cannot communicate well with them. I am now 66 years of age and have been forced to retire and cannot survive in the United States on my pension. We have made the decision to move to South America where it is affordable and also be closer to family. This is something that we have talked about in the past but never moved on it. I did not get involved in the Spanish language at first because we spent all of our time and energy teaching my wife to speak English. She has done very well at it but we not longer have any family here and I want so badly to be where both of us will be happy and finally enjoy what retirement is really meant to be. Family, friends, good times and peace of mind will surely come to my wife and I when I will be able to speak freely with them in their language.
Last year (2008) my wife had a heart attack and is not recovering well. That is when we made our final decision to make this move. I have attempted lessons here in Central Texas but the Spanish that is taught here is mostly Chicano which would be totally embarassing in South America. My wife helps me but I feel that I need something that I can put my hands on and really study. Apparently I have not found the right way to study where I can benefit from every word on every page.
I feel led to work with the youth and their parents in my area. I’ve claimed this was my community, but how could it be; if there are barriers to the very culture I want to reach. I live along the border in Texas. Mexico is just 8 miles away. So you can imagine how my inability to speak Spanish is that very barrier. The sad thing is I have lived here all my life, but never have been able to pick up the language. Four years in high school yielded very little. College only reaped frustration. My wife speaks Spanish very well, for many years she has attempted with no success. I even tried a conversational Spanish course, but like all attempts before I am still monolingual. I believe I have made differences in the lives my youth, but their mom’s and dad’s have been alienated. I know the decisions many of their parents make are poor, but how many of us have made intelligent decisions every step of our journey. I know that the greatest influence of our youth are their parents, good or bad! So it is my prayer that this seemingly bad circumstance will actually be seen as an opportunity and I will be able to chased it! I read once “What if the life you really want and the future God wants for you is hiding right now in your biggest problem, your worst failure … your greatest fear?” Thanks for the time!
After a number of failed attempts to learn to read, speak and write spanish given by the local education Authority, I have decided that I need a more structured and supported approach. A good and fluent knowkedge of Spanish will make my planned relocation to Cartago, Costa Rica significantly more sucessful with allowing me to more easily integrate into the local community. It will be a significant benefit to the residents of Cartago by their understanding of what I am asking and not having to put up with me badly distorting their language.
I am a public school teacher in a 40% Hispanic high school, 55 years of age. I have an ESL certificate but need to learn the language better to help my students. I have a wife from Colombia and plan to move to Latin America in retirement which is in the next two years. The motivation is there and I have taken other Language courses but have not been succesful. Having “married” the language is helping but I need more. Learning basic vocab and phrases is not that hard but it is the listening and understanding that is preventing me from going to the next level. This involves sentence structure and grammar. I have tried out your inital free sample program and found it to be different and helpful. It would be a great present for the new year to have your program and “graduate” by next New Year’s Eve. Thanks for the opportunity.
I have living in the canary islands for 12 months now, my spanish is very very basic, i have used your synergy free spanish lessons which i found one of the best for learning and remembering, my son goes to a spanish school and is struggling with his lessons, and it would make it much easier for the both of us if we could become more fluent understand and communicate with the spanish people. Spanish lessons here are very expensive and there are not many teachers around hence the prices they charge, it also makes things very difficult when dealing with doctors and hospitals as they are loath to see you if you can not speak their language, theres also my sons football i find it very embaressing when i cannot understand what the coach and parents are telling me, it would be great if we could communicate back to them and my son im sure would find the school work a lot easier if he was able to understand what they were saying to him.
I have moved to Spain and am living in a completely Spanish area, which I love, and my Spanish neighbours are extreemely kind. They include me in family gatherings and neighbourhood events because they want me to be a part of what is going on around me. There are no English speaking people here so I desperately want to learn the language QUICKLY. I have to travel 30 minutes to the next town to converse in English! If I were lucky enough to win the scholarship it would help me communicate more easily with my neighbours and allow me to fit more easily into the community. I suspect my Spanish neighbours would also enjoy talking to me without me having to say ” mas despacio por favor” or “no entiendo”. Thanks for this opportunity and I hope I am lucky!!
Being able to speak, read, write and understand Spanish would benefit me in more ways than one. For starters, being bilingual is very beneficial in the workplace. I work with in the medical field and there are many doctors who have patients that only speak spanish. With the doctor having to pull out a translation book or a pocket translator is limits the time that each doctor has with his or her patient. I can limit that time 100%. There are many jobs that are willing to pay extra dollars for a person who can translate.
Also, I won’t have to rely on my best friend who is very fluent. She had the advantage of living in Puerto Rico for 6 years. This gave her the opportunity to learn at an early age. Besides, they say that a child can learn a language very rapidly. I feel so lost when we go out with our friends who are from spanish speaking countries. They communicate with me through her. I can pick up on some of the words but before I can comment back, my friend has already translated for me. I consider this to be a disadvantage for me.
We are planning a trip to Panama fro the carnival and I so deparately need to learn quick, fast and in a hurry. I don’t want to look so silly or lost having to pull out a book or a pocket translator.
learning spanish will change my life i can’t afford to live abroard i am 66years old and i go to spain about 3 times a year with my girlfriends, i want to learn the language so that i can speak to the local people, they have taken the time to speak my language so i think it only right for me to learn theirs
norma millard
Hi Marcus
I think synergy spanish will help my life in so many ways. i am working with spanish speaking company for three years now and its very hard to communicate with them being an english speaking person from a english speaking country. i have tried few of your spanish and it is not wasting as it is improving my ability to communicate but with more help from you i think i can master spanish.
There is nothing more important in life than letting those whom you love - know that you do. I’ve been married to my wife (a natural born puerto rican) for 22 years now. My wife Maria has a very large family and she has relatives all over. She has tried to encourage me to learn the language so that I can communicate with family better but I’ve found it to be extremely tiresome for me to stay focused and keep up with it. It’s probably because I work nights and so I mentally tire easily or maybe it’s the stress of living paycheck to paycheck and just trying to make ends meet. I have however, learned a few phrases here and there but not enough to carry on a conversation. Anyways, learning spanish for me, would be so amazing that I could never express my feelings in words, especially after being surrounded by spanish speaking relatives for 22 years - you’d think I would have learned. Maybe I’m just unteachable - who knows. Two years ago, for the first time, my wife and I was able to afford a trip to Puerto Rico. It was the first time I met her grandparents. They’re both in their late 80’s - but they were awesome. Last year I was blessed to be able to return but unfortunately their health had taken a turn for the worse. They know that I love them, I had it translated to them & they can sense it but how wonderful it would be - if I could actually tell them from my own mouth how special they are to me. I want to thank them for giving me such a precious gift (my wife). Nothing is more important to me than being able to love and be loved.
Kenny Porter
Hi Marcus, Thank you for offering us such a great opportunity. My brother in law was born in Chile and now lives in the states and has a bilingual church that my family attends and serve in. We desperately need to be fluent in spanish in order to teach with out translators. Not only are we teaching salvation thru Jesus Christ, but also Bible based finances, marriage and parental relationships and english. By 2010 both of our children will be in college and we will go back to Chile and Mexico. We have completed synergy spanish and short cut to spanish. We are on the waiting list for Bola de Nieve. Thank you for considering us.
Hi Marcus.
I am an older Canadian woman (54 yrs.) who with her significant other moved to Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico 3 yrs. ago.
Where I came from in Canada there was no spanish spoken and so when I moved here I knew no spanish whatsoever.
I live in a totally Mexican neighborhood and have learned some spanish over the last 3 yrs.; but would like to be more fluent. I often get invited to birthday parties, baptisms, quinceneras, etc. and usually just sit and smile alot as I am too shy to use my poor spanish on these people. I have a great deal of trouble with the verb tenses and am embarassed that after 3 yrs. I still am not fluent in the language. My biggest problem is comprehension of conversations. I can get across what I want or need to people but then have trouble understanding their answers unless they “dumb down” their spanish.
I go once a week to an orphanage and help teach some of the children some english in the hope that it will help them in their work lives as they grow up. Knowing more spanish would help me communicate with the children easier also.
I find that I just cannot remember the various verb tenses and therefore mangle things badly. Is there any help for me?
I cannot afford to buy your courses as am living on a tight budget; but certainly hope that you consider me for your contest.
Becoming more fluent in spanish would really help me to feel less isolated here and help me make more friends as I would feel more confident in my ability to communicate with them.
Thank you very much for considering me in your contest.
I have completed synergy 1 and 2 . It is the best. I would like to continue with Spanish to help improve the lives of others. My husband and I have been to Guatemala twice to do medical volunteer work in a sociales hospital. During that time we met someone who had found a baby in the garbage dump and cares for The child is in school now and we have been helping the care giver with the child’s schooling as she is unable to provide adequately for her. I wish to be able to communicate better with the child,her school ,her are giver and the Guatemalans we have met during our stay in Guatemala.
Joan
Hi Marcus
I Live with my partner in a remote part of La Palma in the Canary islands, we moved here to try and escape the rat race in London, almost two years ago, after I have a bad mental brakdown. My spanish has improved since I have been here but I can not hold more that a simple “Hi How are you” type convasation, many as I can not understand much, It has got to the point that I avoid people where we live as I am afraid that I will not understand what they say. It is getting that it is effecting my heath now, which was the whole point of comeing here.
Barry Faber once said: “I couldn’t believe everybody else didn’t share my passion.” Unfortunately, I could, you see I didn’t always have the desire to learn another language and part of my problem I believe is that as children we are not thought the importance of our heritage, to be proud. I say this because when I was a child I could not understand why I had to be thought Irish in School, as it I compulsory here in Ireland. I was only told I had to learn it. You see, in Ireland we have two national languages: Irish, and English. The latter being the most prominent. The Irish language is very much alive and well in parts of Ireland called the Gaeltacht and it has become more popular in recent years thanks to a TV channel TG4, and celebrities such as Hector Ó hEochagáin, and Des Bishop. However, it is sad to say that most Irish, including myself, don’t speak.
We don’t begin to learn Irish in our schools until 1st Class; that’s third year of primary school with children of 6-7 years of age. I remember before starting 1st class the one thing I dreaded most was knowing that I had to start learning Irish, I hated the idea, but I didn’t know why. I thought it was another thing invented be the teachers to make school miserable. You may think that at this stage that I was to young to learn about the importance of our heritage, and you may be right, but you’re never too young to be instilled with a passion for what makes you Irish or what makes you an American, or British, German, Spanish, Mexican…and so on. But the fact was my parents didn’t and don’t speak Irish and nobody I knew then as a child did either, except perhaps for my teacher.
I only became interested in languages when, as a waiter, I came into contact with a foreign culture the Poles and I seen how patriotic and proud of their country they where. This is why I believe that confidence may be one reason why you will succeed in learning a new language, with fear and lack of confidence being a reason why you may fail. I know all about fear, it’s how I ended up learning Spanish. I used to work in a hotel and most of my work mates were from Poland. I suddenly, out of nowhere developed a fascination for the polish language, I liked the sound, and I liked the Polish people’s attitude towards life. I learnt a few phrases and was told I had a good accent, but this wasn’t encouragement enough for me to lose my fear. You see, I just couldn’t put my hand up and say, hey, I want to learn Polish. I was afraid I would be laughed at and that I would fail. I no longer work in that hotel and since I have lost contact with most of my work mates, so I gave up on the idea of learning Polish. But, during my time in the hotel and after, I still hadn’t lost the desire to learn a new language, which I found Strange; I always hated languages in school, and in fact at Secondary level I chose no languages to learn meaning I had only Irish to worry about, I also dropped out early to work. This meant I never came into contact with another language for years really.
It took contact with another culture to spark an interest. In school I didn’t realise learning another language meant experiencing another culture. I became interested in Spanish because I liked the sound of the language, and the fact that it was phonetic, making it easy to read - - always looking for the easy way. Another reason why we fail, we want it to be easy! Also, as a child there was a popular American sitcom in which there was a girl with red hair that I liked………..and she spoke Spanish from time to time………a strange reason maybe, but one nevertheless.
I started learning Spanish in secret about this time two years ago. I remember at first I couldn’t even whisper a phrase, for fear of been heard. It took up until recently for me to stop……………………. and stand up and say, I want to learn Spanish.
Language learning in school almost killed any passion that I now have, it’s not mentioned in the above, but this is the primary reason I want to break the language barrier, first starting with Spanish. I don’t know if my heart will ever be in it to learn Irish.
Anyway, that’s my story, oh, by the way, my name’s Padraic McDonnell. I am a Science Student, and I’m far from being a child at 26 years of age. Yes I never completed secondary level, but I was able to join third level as a mature student. I am doing very well; I always had a logical, scientific mind. This leads me to another reason why I wanted to learn Spanish, and why I think that learning it will change my life. I don’t personally believe in disabilities, only in varying degrees of ability. But one problem I always had was writing, physically writing, it’s almost illegible. This hasn’t held me back coming up to the three years I have been in college so far, but I was recently forced to concede that I have to make an appointment with the disability officer in the college. What has this got to do with learning languages? Not a lot probably, but I really believed one of the problems I had was expressing my thoughts on paper. However, when I started learning Spanish my English improved, my learning improved, it forced my to take a different approach, and it can only get better, even if my Spanish isn’t. Unfortunately, I’m so busy with college that Spanish has taken a back seat, as I have regained a lot of confidence in my abilities. I think it’s sad that the one final hurdle in my life that I don’t want to avoid will be never be hurdled, I want to jump that final hurdle. It was all those little Spanish hurdles over the last two years that helped me overcome so much that I want to continue this path, no excuses this time.
How will learning Spanish change my life? It already has, how will learning Synergy Spanish change my life? It maybe able to help me overcome my final hurdle. Thank you for reading.
Thank you,
Padraic McDonnell
Mastering Spanish will change my life completely - as it will enable me to move to Spain, live with the wonderful Spanish woman I love, and be able to speak to her family, find a job, get a social life, and not be an isolated foreigner.
Without this skill, I would not feel comfortable imigrating like this, because it would mean a great deal of dependency on my novia, and I wont to be able to take of myself, also in Spain.
I am 57 years old, so this may be an extravagant ambition, but I feel the progress so far has been just excellent, and i look forward to keep improving - and being able to use what I learned in real life! And most of all - to be there everyday for the woman of my life!
Hi Marcus
My son lives in Panama and speaks fluent Spanish. He is married and has a nice 2 year old son named Dillon Castillo Page. I’m 75 and I would like to speak Spanish to converse with my daughter-inlaw and my grandson. My daughter-inlaw speaks a little English and my grandson will probaly grow up bilingual but it would be nice to be able to speak a little Spanish when I visit.
Regards, Rod Page
My partner and I spend a portion of our winters in the Baja. We have discovered a town that actually has embrassed the idea of north americans livings as Mexicans in Mexico (embracing fully the culture and language) - instead of trying to americanize the culture. It was such an amazing thing to discover as we are both more incllined to embrace a country’s culture and language. Now that we’ve found such a wonderful and inviting space we wish to assimilate into the culture and understand the language and it’s nuances. We want to become a part of the culture instead of simply observers.
I also am developing an international business and being able to communicate fully in spanish will prove very helpful in communicating the websites purpose of creating hope in peoples lives and tools to create more choices for individuals.
Hi Marcus. I am a single parent trying to give my all to my 4 children. I believe in helping them to achieve ther fullest educatioal potential. My 15 year old would like to become a doctor and would like to study in Cuba in a few years time. Spanish has been a low grade on her books and this worries her a lot. I picked up the topic so that I can help her to clear this obstacle. So far we are doing great……..not as much as I expected because my job takes up a considerable amount of my time. When I go home from work we spent one hour conversating in spanish. I hope that time will allow me to help her to achieve her goal in becoming the first person from her school (St. Catherine High) to attain a grade 1 (Distinction) in here CXC examinations in june 2010.
Thank you
Natasha, St.Catherine Jamaica
I am a Realtor in Utah and work with alot of hispanics in the area. I will have someone call me about a listing I have or general information about Real Estate, and once they start to speak Spanish, the conversation ends there. I have lost alot of clients because I do not speak Spanish. I would like to help the Spanish community with buying or selling a home or just general information.
I would also enjoy receiving your full Schoalrship so I could communicate (in Spanish) with my children who are now being taught Spanish in school. Even my daughter in Kindergarten knows more than I do! I regret not taking it in school.
Hi Marcus,
I believe that if I learn Spanish I will be able to do works of charity in neighbouring Island such as Cuba and Dominica Republic. It will give me a sense of pride to learn Spanish and travel to other Spanish speaking countries. My career goal is to be a sports Journalist and I believe that it will also help if and when I complete my journalism course.
Our family is committed to our missionary work out here in Honduras. We have found, that in order to really reach these people, we need to communicate in their language. For us learning Spanish isn’t an option, it’s a necessity!
When I was 14 I wanted to learn French. I thought French was an exotic beautiful language. My brothers told me French would not be useful to me, and as we lived in the southwest I should learn Spanish instead. But I was set on learing French. Not too long after this my family moved to Mexico! So there I was new town, new culture, NEW LANGUAGE! So I started to learn Spanish and forgot all about French, all my brothers and my grandma said to me “I told you, you should have been learning Spanish.” So now here I was in Mexico and didn’t know hardly a word of Spanish. After a couple years I knew barely enough to point at the food I wanted to buy in the grocery stores.
To only know “barely enough” was frustrating, so I DECIDED to just buckle down and learn Spanish. This was far easier said than done. At first I just did the free lessons on StudySpanish.com (they were alot of help) and Recently I got a friend to install the Rosetta Stone on my computer and have been working very hard to complete that program. I always watch movies in Spanish and hardly ever listen to English music, my music is always in Spanish. I put hours and hours of work into Spanish each week, and when I go out to the grocery stores I try to be friendly to the natives so I can learn to speak the language. However I’m starting to think Spanish is so much more complex than English that I wonder if I’ll ever be fluent. I really have been diligent to learn Spanish. I have studied for consistently for two years, and feel I have a fair vocabulary, but can’t communicate effectively. I can’t create my own sentences, and when I do try to speak, my grammar is terrible.
No one in my family speaks spanish, we are all just making due with what little we know. I honestly believe that Synergy Spanish will give me the tools to utilize the vocabulary that I have already worked so hard to learn, plus teach me more essential vocabulary that I desperately need. Synergy Spanish will help me so that I can communicate effectively and correctly with real people and this will really be a big help to me and my family.
P.S. If this double posts I’m sorry. The first time I posted it, it didn’t seem to work.
Both of the questions relate to a situation I came across while in Mexico 6yrs ago with my sister.
We were walking down the street and came across a girl at the bus stop who was crying so hard. We both felt so bad for her. I wanted to give her some compassion and a hug but, because I couldn’t speak Spanish we continued to walk and it left our hearts very sad.
1.) Learning Spanish would help me communicate so much better with so many more people.
2.) I would help Spanish speaking people who come to my country to learn English and be friends with them. Also, I would teach my children the language.
I have planned ti write a guide book in english and spanish and need to develop my spanish fluency so I can interview Costa Rican natives.
Fred
Hola todos soy neocelandés y estuve aprendando el español por 8 meses ahora. No tengo mucho dificultad con el español pero no comprendo muy bien!!Yo siempre aprendando más cada día!No estoy perfecto pero queiro apendar más!!Voy a practicar más.El mayor obstáculo es la libre duda.
Hello all. I’m a Kiwi (and proud of it!!)andI have been learning Spanish for 8 months now.I dont have much dificulty with Spanish but I don’t understand very good.I always am learning more every day.I’m not perfect but I want to learn more.I am going to practice more.The biggest obstical is self doubt!!
Don’t give up if you need inspiration read a book called The Alchamist by Paolo Coelo.Hey if it has inspired Antony Robbins it must be good (although I find the guy a little creepy jaja lol)
Brian Jones I simpathise with you the N.Z$ is falling through the floor!! Is it really necessary to have to pay in U.S$ since you live in Australia now!! also do you do money orders I don’t trust anyone on the net with Credit card details!!(plus I don’t have a credit card anyway!!)I have to be honest I’m just poor and don’t wan’t to pay full price for the course but I hope to inspire people to learn Spanish and other languages.I think it is a tradegy that virtually everyone who speaks English is monolingual!!espessaly in New Zealand(although the Aussies are worse!!apparantly jaja)
Check out Livemocha.com(a facebook style site where people tutor others in other languages) which it has helped a lot with my Spanish but use it in conjunction with another course like Marcus’s one.Thanks marcus I have learnt a lot from your free courses and I am going to uni to continue my education.Since I work in tourism it is important for me to learn otros idiomas and I enjoy it immensly. I am probably going to learn German and Portugese next.
C ya all y bueno suete con el español todos
como? for free?
free love for 3?
or 2? let’s see
now how to be
and what to write
to make you see
that if despite
you don’t choose me
you get to feel
the silly squeel
of pure delight
of love and heal -
- ing energyyy
i send to thee!
and know it’s true too
that the way i like to live
is to share with many
release silly money
plant more trees (yes please)
and live in harmony
..in wild peru..
now that’s what i’ll do
if and if not
i learn how to speak
spanish with you
(which i’d really prefer to)
or down in the jungles
of wild peru
and one more thing true,
which i almost forgot
is that i’m learning how
to speak hinker-denot
but because, my amigo,
it’s confusing my head
yo prefaro hablar espania instead
: )
Learning Spanish would be my greatest personal achievement as I admire anyone that can speak more than one language. It would enable me to try and help others to learn Spanish, read the news in Spanish and Spanish novels. WOW! I was sat next to someone on a plane last month who was clearly English but reading a Spanish novel - she inspired me to learn Spanish fluently.
Learning Synergy Spanish would hopefully enable me to learn Spanish faster and teach my 5 year old niece to learn Spanish too - I have already taught her a few phrases and how to count to 10.
Hello Marcus - I am a young retired person who has had a good life and is now trying to “give back” to the world and the way I’ve chosen to do this is through volunteering in the medical field. Currently I volunteer at the local hospice organization where I visit families and patients (either at their homes or medical facilities) afflicted with terminal diseases, where doctors have diagnosed their lifespan of less than six months. This is a time in their lives where the family members and patients are most vulnerable and need to talk and be listened to. There is a large Latino population here in Kansas where I currently live, and also my native state California, where I expect to return soon. Being able to communicate with patients and their families in their native tongues would enhance the hospice experience for them and would provide much more comfort and support than just a smiling, sympathetic face, speaking to them in short spurts of what I know so far in Spanish.
In order to do this I have already studied and became a Certified Nurse Aide and Home Health Aide. I truly believe we are here on this earth to be of service to our fellow man and I want to do my part. I currently volunteer for Midland Hospice of Topeka, KS, and previously volunteered for Sacred Heart Hospice in Eugene, OR, and Mat-Su Regional Medical Center Hospice in Palmer, AK. Please help me make a difference in the lives of not only the family members dealing with the eminent death of a loved one, but also to the patient themselves, by being a voice that can truly comfort them in this final phase of their lives.
Marcus,
I have participated in Synergy Spanish Shortcut Lesson Level One and Level Two. Currently I am enrolled in Bola de Nieve I and Spanish Ear Training. My goa is to learn Spanish from your classes to teach and work with Latin Americans in the US. I am currently teaching ESL to students who know very little English. They want a Spanish speaking instructor. With the Spanish I have learned from your classed I am able to participate in Latin Community activities, where I have always received a warm welcome. In my ESL classes I am taking the same teaching approach with English that you use with your students. They all tell me it is so much easier to learn English from an instructor who speaks and understands their language
It is as you said a “Bola de Nieve.” Now, the “Snow Ball” is rolling in English with my ability, through your classes, to speak Spanish to Latin American families and to teach English in my ESL classes.
Patrick L McKeever
Hello Marcus,
Well, it’s not HOW will Synergy Spanish change my life because it’s already changed my life. A little over a year ago I moved from S. California to Costa Rica with the thought of buying a piece of land and building a house on it to have an affordable place to live in a few years when I retire. I knew one or two words and phrases in Spanish but unless I wanted to order a beer and find out where the bathroom was, I was out of luck! I got to Costa Rica and over the course of a year I’ve met quite a few gringos and lots of Ticos, the Costa Ricans. I started working on Synergy Spanish when I arrived here and with the help of Shortcut and Conversation I have made gigantic strides in speaking Spanish. So much so that the gringos I’ve met who have been here for years and have studied Spanish through schools or private teachers are amazed in my ability to communicate in Spanish. Actually, I’m amazed myself! I can go virtually anywhere and everywhere and COMMUNICATE! Of course my verb conjugations aren’t always correct and I probably sound like a two year old half of the time but I can go into any situation and at least get my point across! The locals love it that I’m giving their language the best shot I can and it immediately improves any relationship instantly. I can’t say that I understand more that twenty to thirty per cent of most conversations when I’m listening to people talk, but that’s a huge improvement over zero per cent! And that’s in one year!
Marcus, I thank you for coming up with a language course that actually makes sense and is organic. I’m living proof that anyone can learn Spanish with your methods and have a life changing experience.
Hi Marcus, I have a special need to learn Spanish. I desire to learn so that I can be of assistance to our churches. We have a lot of Latino, Hatian,etc groups of people coming together in our area desperately wanting to join together in worshiping God. But, there are less than a handful of people who can speak both English and Spanish and even then most of them have jobs and families and not as strong of a desire as I to learn the language to share the Gospel.
I’ve desperately want to learn so that I can be of assistance to others whereever I’m needed. I’ve researched trying to find a way to learn the language and in a short amount of time and due to my physical health, I’m no longer able to work…and even though I’m one of the teacher’s for Sabbath School lesson’s I have to study my lesson’s from a borrowed laptop while I’m resting in bed. And I’d like to be able to teach the lesson’s both languages.
We’re not able to afford to buy anything even at the price that you’re offering due to the high cost of my medical bills and medicines. I won’t allow myself to get discouraged about this because I want this desperately enough and I know that God is able…and on His time.
My husband has been working by far too many hours to take care of me and our needs, and in a few months he will be going back to Iraq. We’re making plans to try to move to AZ…my doctor’s have suggested this due to my health and I know that learning Spanish will be helpful there also. Even though our Church Conference’s have been aiding those in need of churches just for those who speak Spanish most of us think that it would be a wonderful thing to be able to combine churches and learn of other cultures worshiping as one unit.
However, as I’ve mentioned unfortunitly there are not many who desire to learn Spanish bad enough to commit time to learning. I do have such a desire to help bring people together to be as one. I know there’s not going to be a Heaven for every different language…so why not begin here on earth to help bring as many true believers of God together as a unit. We have the deaf people going to hearing churches….(yeah I’m working on learning sign language also but from books) and it’s not easy however, I don’t want to claim discipleship and not try to be as helpful as possible in teaching others about God.
I’ve committed myself to teaching others about God…so I’m struggling with the sign language alone with books however, if learning Spanish can be as easy as you claim then it will be a tremendous help to me and to others who want to learn more about God and not feel as if we’re so different.
A scholarship would be a blessing…however I know that even if you chose not to give me a scholarship that I want this bad enough that God will make a way for me. With His help I manage to make it through the week in my studies and manage through my pain to teach about God’s love.
Whatever you decide May God Bless You,
Mrs. Brenda M. Sales
Synergy Spanish will help me by allowing me to speak spanish more fluently. I will also be able to assist my two daughters with their Spanish homework as well as communicating with spanish speakers around me. I am presently persuing my degree in Language, Communications and Society and International Relations and having the knowledge of a second language would be an asset to my career path which is being a Public Relations Officer and I would like to travel in the near future. I need this opportunity badly and would be thrilled if I can get this scholarship to enhance my area of study.
Barry Faber once said: “I could not believe that everybody else did not share my passion.” Unfortunately, I could, you see I didn’t always have the desire to learn another language and part of my problem I believe is that as children we are not thought the importance of our heritage, to be proud. I say this because when I was a child I could not understand why I had to be thought Irish in School, as it I compulsory here in Ireland. I was only told I had to learn it. You see, in Ireland we have two national languages: Irish, and English. The latter being the most prominent. The Irish language is very much alive and well in parts of Ireland called the Gaeltacht and it has become more popular in recent years thanks to a TV channel TG4, and celebrities such as Hector Ó hEochagáin, and Des Bishop. However, it is sad to say that most Irish, including myself, don’t speak.
We don’t begin to learn Irish in our schools until 1st Class; that’s third year of primary school with children of 6-7 years of age. I remember before starting 1st class the one thing I dreaded most was knowing that I had to start learning Irish, I hated the idea, but I didn’t know why. I thought it was another thing invented be the teachers to make school miserable. You may think that at this stage that I was to young to learn about the importance of our heritage, and you may be right, but you’re never too young to be instilled with a passion for what makes you Irish or what makes you an American, or British, German, Spanish, Mexican…and so on. But the fact was my parents didn’t and don’t speak Irish and nobody I knew then as a child did either, except perhaps for my teacher.
I only became interested in languages when, as a waiter, I came into contact with a foreign culture the Poles and I seen how patriotic and proud of their country they where. This is why I believe that confidence may be one reason why you will succeed in learning a new language, with fear and lack of confidence being a reason why you may fail. I know all about fear, it’s how I ended up learning Spanish. I used to work in a hotel and most of my work mates were from Poland. I suddenly, out of nowhere developed a fascination for the polish language, I liked the sound, and I liked the Polish people’s attitude towards life. I learnt a few phrases and was told I had a good accent, but this wasn’t encouragement enough for me to lose my fear. You see, I just couldn’t put my hand up and say, hey, I want to learn Polish. I was afraid I would be laughed at and that I would fail. I no longer work in that hotel and since I have lost contact with most of my work mates, so I gave up on the idea of learning Polish. But, during my time in the hotel and after, I still hadn’t lost the desire to learn a new language, which I found Strange; I always hated languages in school, and in fact at Secondary level I chose no languages to learn meaning I had only Irish to worry about, I also dropped out early to work. This meant I never came into contact with another language for years really.
It took contact with another culture to spark an interest. In school I didn’t realise learning another language meant experiencing another culture. I became interested in Spanish because I liked the sound of the language, and the fact that it was phonetic, making it easy to read - - always looking for the easy way. Another reason why we fail, we want it to be easy! Also, as a child there was a popular American sitcom in which there was a girl with red hair that I liked………..and she spoke Spanish from time to time………a strange reason maybe, but one nevertheless.
I started learning Spanish in secret about this time two years ago. I remember at first I couldn’t even whisper a phrase, for fear of been heard. It took up until recently for me to stop……………………. and stand up and say, I want to learn Spanish.
Language learning in school almost killed any passion that I now have, it’s not mentioned in the above, but this is the primary reason I want to break the language barrier, first starting with Spanish. I don’t know if my heart will ever be in it to learn Irish.
Anyway, that’s my story, oh, by the way, my name’s Padraic McDonnell. I am a Science Student, and I’m far from being a child at 26 years of age. Yes I never completed secondary level, but I was able to join third level as a mature student. I am doing very well; I always had a logical, scientific mind. This leads me to another reason why I wanted to learn Spanish, and why I think that learning it will change my life. I don’t personally believe in disabilities, only in varying degrees of ability. But one problem I always had was writing, physically writing, it’s almost illegible. This hasn’t held me back coming up to the three years I have been in college so far, but I was recently forced to concede that I have to make an appointment with the disability officer in the college. What has this got to do with learning languages? Not a lot probably, but I really believed one of the problems I had was expressing my thoughts on paper. However, when I started learning Spanish my English improved, my learning improved, it forced my to take a different approach, and it can only get better, even if my Spanish isn’t. Unfortunately, I’m so busy with college that Spanish has taken a back seat, as I have regained a lot of confidence in my abilities. I think it’s sad that the one final hurdle in my life that I don’t want to avoid will be never be hurdled, I want to jump that final hurdle. It was all those little Spanish hurdles over the last two years that helped me overcome so much that I want to continue this path, no excuses this time.
How will learning Spanish change my life? It already has, how will learning Synergy Spanish change my life? It maybe able to help me overcome my final hurdle. Thank you for reading.
Thank you,
Padraic McDonnell
Like you said many times Spanish is a great language.
I have taken a few courses in school but much to hard to understand and all the teacher care about is the time they spend in class.
I have given up for now on spanish to be become very good in this language.
I have made new friends in Cuba anr I try to jearn the words that are most importante to know.
If I am given the chance to learn a new method I will try one more time,hopes it workls
I am a 79 year old volunteer at a local hospital. I am a Greeter and in that capacity I am the first person that a visitor sees upon entering the hospital. We are located in an area that has fairly large population of spanish speaking people. Many visitors, regardless of their ethnic backgrounds, feel ill-at-ease and uncomfortable. This is especially true of latinos that do not speak english. I recognize them immediately by the lost expression on their faces. When I greet them in spanish the smiles on their faces makes my day. If I could speak more fluently, I would feel more sure of myself in conversing with these people and making them feel at home in the hospital.
I have wanted to learn Spanish since I was very young and got a library book, ‘Una Invitacion a Espanol’ by Margarita Madrigal. When I was about 12 I bought a Doubleday book with two records and learned a bit about the language. Unfortunately, I was possibly lazy and I also didn’t have much encouragement so I still do not speak Spanish.
I want to learn Spanish because it is such a beautiful and musical language, because when I return to Spain and Peru I should like to be able to converse with people, and because it is good to know many languages. One could also help others trying to learn the language, especially by encouragement! Thank you.
My desire to learn Spanish came from a trip I took to Ecuador. It was so frustrating to want to communicate with the wonderful people there and to always have to reley on a translator to be present to help me. It was also amazing to watch the translators, able to go between English and Spanish with such ease and to see there heart in helping both people communicate ideas and respect for each other. I was in Ecuador because I sponsor a child in the Compassion International ministry. I got to met the whole family and would love to get to know them better through letters, but I really want to visit their land again. My heart is to help the family I met develope their business so that not only they but their community might be released from poverty.
Hi Marcus - Just a line to let you know that I am 70 years old, my wife is from Peru (and doesn’t speak that much English), and I am a cashier at Walmart - constantly called upon to act as an interpreter because I know a few words in Spanish. - I would love to speak the language fluently for a number of reasons - primarily to engage my wife in deeper conversations (she has Cancer and I am spending much more time with her but the language barrier is a greater problem than its ever been because I want to say so much to her but can’t), and lastly I would like to cement my position at Walmart because I need their insurance and even though I would love to be home with my wife I find it necessary to work to keep the insurance. - The more I am useful at my work, the greater the chance I will be able to keep my job in these tough economic times. - And lastly, I love the Spanish people and their language and it would be a crowning personal achievement to my life if I were to accomplish this. - I have tried all other courses but I just am unable to make any headway by trying to memorize words. I think your course holds out the greater promise and if given this opportunity I would commit to you that I would follow through and make you proud that you selected me. - Your friend, Jack
I have been trying to learn Spanish for awhile now . I understand written somewhat but have trouble with the spoken. and also understanding native Spanish speakers. I like to travel in Honduras and Central America and most of my travel is off the beaten track not in the tourist areas and I like to converse with the local people and learn their cultures. Spanish would open so many more doors for me. Your program would really help me as I am retired I have a lot of time but not alot of money. Thanks.
Thak you sir for your interest. I am having no problems with anything. I am assisting five grand children in learning Spanis as i study and they are doing well. Thank you for your course. Muchas gracias.
Dear Marcus after living in Spain for six years and having had four different teachers and a cupboard full of books and cd´s I still struggled to put a sentence together. Although I could not really afford it I payed for Synergy Spanish and found that I was making better progress than I ever did before.
I told some friends about it and now they join me with studying twice a week. We are all over, or in my case, close to pension age and we all struggled mightily with verb tables which we were told was the only way we would learn. Hard work and very daunting. We enjoy our synergy spanish lessons and feel a lot better about our efforts.
If I could afford to take it further and afford all your courses I´m sure that I and my friends would become good communicators with our Spanish neighbours.
I really believed that I would become fairly fluent long before now but now I believe it is possible. It would make such a difference to both my Spanish and English friends if I could progress enough to have meaningfull conversations and help others to improve so that they can do the same.
I have a Spanish friend who is very lonely and has problems with family, she comes to me for support but because I don´t have enough spanish I can do little to help her but make sympathetic noises and do the odd practical favour. I do long to be able to discuss things with her and give her a shoulder to lean on as she is very depressed.
Keep up the good work with your courses, they really are a better way to learn.
I have been trying to get fluent in Spanish for about 30 years without much success. I teach reading to many poor young Mexican American children who are struggling with English. Knowing their language, I will be able to communicate better with them and, as a result, I believe it will be easier for them to learn how to read. By becoming fluent in Spanish, I will be able to expand my circle of kids and thereby help larger numbers of kids to excel in reading and in language which I hope will make life easier for them.
I would like to learn the spanish language as my partner is from Argentina and her entire family speaks spanish. She is also raising her children to speak spanish since they are very young, and it is the main language spoken at home. I would love to communicate with her family, children and friends as I am the only one who doesn’t speak in their native tongue. I am 33 yrs old and have been trying to learn via many different methods yet to no avail. I respect my partners parents and as a sign of respect, I am trying to learn as to save them from speaking english and not being able to fully express themselves. They try really hard to involve me in their conversations but unfortunately my partner ends up translating most of the conversation for me and I feel embarrased. This program seems to be one that could really benefit me in my current situation and I am most confident that I could learn and be able to speak fluent spansih.
It will help me with my next chosen charity, our aim is to get the homeless of Malaga into accomadation.
The aim of the charity will obviously help others.
hope I,m lucky
Hi Marcus
i know it wont happen but i try anyway i find it hard to retain alot at my age
i am 59 and my daughter has a house in spain which i use as often as i can
i loved the spanish way of living i have try for a long time now to learn to speak
spanish but stil cant it is very expensive to go to a school and also course on
the internet are expensive.so to win this course would be like wining the lottery
i never won anything in my live so i would not expect to win this
i would give anything to speak spanish as i think it is a lovely lanuage
i would love to think that i could achieve learning the grammer anyway
we wait and see what happen i will say a pray to god for help
that all for now thanking you.
phyllis moran
Hola Marcus,
Here’s my entry for your scholarship offer - very generous of you.
There is a couple who live on my street and with whom I have become quite close. The husband is originally from Uruguay and his new wife has recently migrated from Cuba. It is now almost two years that she is in her new country (Canada) and is still having great difficulty communicating in English (She spoke no English when she arrived). Even though her husband has been in Canada for more than thirty years, he too is not able to communicate effectively. So, with my limited Spanish, I have been called upon many times to help them in their dealings with the government, the bank, the cable company … and the list goes on. I am helping the wife with her English and we have become quite good friends. I would so love to be able to speak to them in their language!
I enjoy going to Honduras with a church group to a children’s home each year. I have had some training in Spanish, but I am not fluent! I would like to communicate more with the children and people at the Destino Mission in Siguatapeque, Honduras. Also, I would like to help Hispanic Adults learn to read Spanish/English when I retire!
Hola Marcus
I would like to recieve the Synergy Spanish course because I have applied to work in an orphanage on a volunteer basis in Dominican Republic. I have worked with children and youth all my life and this would be a dream come true. They want me to have a basic understanding of written and spoken spanish when I go. I am a single mom putting my daughter through college and I can not afford the luxery of taking extra courses myself. I have used the material you provided and it really works. I have tried other methods but they are not as effective.
Sincerely Cindy Gould
I bought your Synergy Spanish course last summer and began working my way through it in September. I met a lovely Spanish man while on holiday last summer and we were only able to communicate using a phrase book and sign language, as he does not speak any English. We now speak every day on the phone and he is amazed at how well I can talk to him. He has to speak slower for me to understand him but I am feeling a lot more confident as I can now converse a little with his parents too.
I am a student nurse (with only a small bursary for income) and I am unable to afford more of your courses at the moment, which I would love to be able to do because in my opinion the Synergy Spanish was worth every penny and was really good value for money.
I would like to work in Spain when I am qualified. The area I want to live in has a growing population of British people (many retired) but the Spanish people do not speak any or very little English. When people become ill, it can be frightening and moreso if they cannot describe their symptoms or understand the medical staff. I hope to be able to reassure ex-pats by both caring for them and translating for them. Therefore being able to build on my learning would be both a personal and helping others achievement.
Hi Marcus
I bought a bar in Tenerife 8 months ago with my partner Noelle, and it has been a nightmare trying to deal with the suppliers and going to all the different departments to register all the different things its a major disadvantage not been able to speak the language and deal with people on a personal level without having to employ a translator which dosent come cheap I did your 1st course which thankfully was sent free and found it to be all that it was proclaimed to be I was translating english to spanish and spanish to english which I was amazed at Id taken lessons on a few previous occations but it was no comparison to your course it was such a joy to do I would like to win this competion like thousands of other people but failing that as soon as I get some money together I will mbe purchasing more of your courses
my very best regards
Michael
If I should win it would permit me to speak with and understand what is being said to me. Which would improve my life in many ways. There has been an influx of spanish speaking persons in my area. I would very much like to be able to communicate with them in their language rather then feeling like they should learn english Although I am not so young I do not feel that I cannot learn to speak and understand spanish . However the money is a problem since I live on a fix income like many others.
I can help others in the community and my fmily too. I can help my family learn spanish so they will be able to communicate with spanish speaking persons. ANd I will be able to help spanish speaking persons learn english. In this way we all win. We gain friends and co-workers, and lasting relationships with our new neighbors
I would like to learn to speak Spanish because I am interested in helping at the Apoyo por migrant farm workers. We have several hundred Mexican workers come to this area in April and stay until Oct-Nov. The Centre looks after many facets of paperwork for these people. If I were able to speak more and better Spanish I could help a lot of these farm workers.
I live in Spain and would like to speak the language. So far I have found that the trial lessons that I received from you are much easier to assimilate than courses I hve attended here.
Dear Marcus… I wish I had other than selfish reasons for studying Spanish. As a young college girl back in 1943, I had a grant from Barnard College, supposedly to study archeology in Mexico. I knew little about archeology, and even less of Spanish … I remember feeling less than human with my inability to communicate…and because of that sense of isolation, I have restudied my Italian and French in anticipation of spending time in France and Italy.. And NOW Spanish. I still have dreams of spending time in a Spanish speaking country.. It may be too late, but I can always dream.
You know, Marcus, that I was a very enthusiastic student of Bola de Nieve, and Spanish Ear Training and very reluctantly took a leave of absence. I am still hoping to be able to return as a paying student .
I do trust you are well settled in Australia, and I know, of course, that with Australian English you are very much at home.
My best to you and Elena,,,Marcia Paulen
Dear Mr. Marcus
i’m jihane from Lebanon,and i like to learn the spanish language,because it will really change
my life.
You could imagine that if one day i travel to spain,or to any country in latin america,i will be so proud to talk the spanish language fluently with spanish or mexican people…it’s so amazing!!!
Learning the spanish language can also change my professional life:i can work as a translator
in a decent company.
i hope i can learn the spanih language and speak it fluently
Muchas gracias,Jihane
Bueno, que voy a contarte, Marcus. Primero: de echo no creo que aprender español cambiariá mi vida en absoluto. Pero es una satisfacción para mi estar tan perfecto que posible.
Segundo: quando aprendé español muy bien, voy a cambiar los idiomas en todos los paises en Europa a español.
Abrazos, Xans.
Hi Marcus,
I have been listening to your early recordings almost from your beginnings. I am picking it up a little at a time. I have not had anyone to practice spanish with until recently. I have a mexican born kind of nephew in law (nothing legal there). I now have a grand nephew and grand niece whom are half mexican. I would like to be able to share with them one day their spanish language. They may not learn it any other way to start. Later they can choose of course. I am sending them to you when that time comes.
My biggest problem with learning spanish is affordability. I am a student at The University of Phoenix. As a result, there are many things that I cannot afford right now. Since I am in my lower fiftys, I know that age IS NOT a barrier to learning. In fact, they have a class that I would be very honored to take if I could afford it. It is a language-culture class which takes place in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Maybe by the time I am doing my bachelors, I will be able to go do that one.
I really cannot answer the questions that you presented in two parts. For me, they go hand in hand. I am in school to get my Associates in Information Technology. I would love to be able to get a job with that degree in another place, maybe even Cuernavaca. I would also enjoy being able to help others in other places learn more about computers. I think that way about Mexico because they could really use the help. I have a few good years left yet and I want to enjoy them and make up for some of my past mistakes.
Have a good day Marcus, (and everyone reading and participating in this contest)
Thanks for the opportunity to get involved in it to.
Marcus, not only am I a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, since 1986, but I am also a 100% Disabled American Veteran, having served in the Air Force from 1979-1983. I have not pastored a church since 1996. I have (am) worked at taking care of my own family and my mother.
A lot of what I do presently is out of my home. Also, I am secrectary for our local DAV(Disabled American Veterans) and past Commander - all volunteer hours. Added volunteers hours go to our local Jefferson County Veterans Council and I am one of five members for the Jefferson County Veterans Board of Commission.
I try to take nothing freely, but rather give back. Being on a limited income has kept me from pursuing Spanish, thought I’ve wanted to understand the language for years so that I can communicate with that population and assist them, not only the veterans, but families also through spiritual works and programs. I feel God has that in my future, but I must FIRST prepare myself for that work; hence, I do have a heartfelt desire to study Spanish.
If you would help me to achieve that goal, I can only ask that GOD himself pay you in bigger and better ways.
Thank you for your works!
Cathy J. Price, 920-563-2545, Wisconsin
Hola Marcus:
Seria un placer tener la oportunidad para mejorar mi espanol. Ahora yo entiendo mas que yo hablo, y eso quiero cambiar. Trabajo con mucha gente que habla la lengua y me gustaria communicarme mejor con ellos para ayudar mas a los empleados que no hablen bien el ingles. El espanol es una lengua muy bonita y la cultura latina muy rica. Cuando hablo con un hispanoparlante a veces me dicen que tu eres de Cuba o de la Republica Dominicana, por parte de mi piel, pero no soy latina. Estoy trabajando muy fuerte para hablar con facilidez. Este curso me ayudara muchisimo para seguir adelante. Gracias por la oportunidad.
Florecita
Hi Marcus,
I’m 16 years old, and languages are a passion of mine. I’m taking french at my high school, but i really want to take Spanish as a major in University (along with french). The problem is, there isn’t a good spanish course here, so i don’t think i would be able to do it.
I really would like to study spanish in university, where i would get to work for a year in spain, most probably teaching english to spanish kids. It sounds really fun!
I haven’t been able to buy a complete course of yours yet, because it’s something my parents think is really stupid, and a waste of time, and obviously i don’t have any money to pay with myself.I really want to prove that it isn’t a waste of time, and that i can actually do it!
I guess this answer is a bit of both the categories. The first, because it would enable me to take Spanish in Universidad, which really would make my life so much better, (and so much more enjoyable for me!) and the second because i would be able to go to spain to help the kids there learn English!
Just as a side note, other languages i can speak/am learning include Urdu (the pakistani language), French, Greek and German.
Hola Marcus,thank you so much for helping me learn the little spanish i speak.Twice a year i have been going to Lanzarote for 9 years,i have made a lot of very good amigos and they are so patient with me.They can speak english but my spanish is un poco [not sure if that is right] I would love to surprise my friends at christmas by arriving and speaking spanish with out the oh oh oh i know it but cant remember it. It would be wonderful to speak to these wonderful warm and generous people in their language . Thank you Marcus and i hope you and your family have a very happy new year Regards Maura Rodgers
Hi Marcus,
I turn 30 this month and I am from Canada, and recently (like 2 days ago) proposed to my beautiful girlfriend who is from Mexico City.
I have tried your introduction to the course already and find how it teaches me incredible. I actually learned enough basic spanish to ask her parents their blessing (they never met me yet, nor did they see it coming!!). But I really want to be fluent in Spanish as my fiance’s parents do not speak english and it is really important for me to be able to speak with them easily without having the need of a translator every time. (Which I needed when I asked them for their blessings. Thank god for siblings!)
With me learning Spanish I would be able to return the favor and help them where they need when it comes to English. Both my fiance and her family. To be able to understand what they wish to say, to hear it in Spanish and provide the English translation will help tremendously to bridge the cultural gaps that my family and my fiance’s family will eventually experience.
2009 is indeed my year for Spanish, my year for a new life of marriage to the most incredible person I have ever met. 2009 is when my life starts officially.
Thanks for listening!!
I will be moving to Laredo Mexico in July as a new missionary and I need to learn Spanish
I am 79years old and it will help me in my mission work.
Hola Marcus, Category 1
I have been trying to laern spanish for the past ten years. My husband is from Argentina and since we met it has always been my dream to master the language. Unfortunately I have not quiet yet and I know when I do it will change my life. When we go to Argentina I always feel so stupid at not been able to say what I want to say. As we are planning to move over there in the next year I really need to improve. I have just finished studying your synergy spanish course and found it amazing. I feel alot more confident. I would love to take part in your bole de nieve course but missed the last openings. I really enjoy your courses and your method of teaching. Hopefully in the near future I will master the language that I love so much.
Grascis por su ayuda,
Sonya Saralegui
I have been with Marcus Santamaria for quite a while now and sticked with him because He is the only one who makes me understand and teaches the NECESSARY phrases. I first heard about it when I asked my girlfriend about Spanish lessons because I wanted to keep my job as Office Administrator. Most of the foreigners I work with speak only Spanish and I speak just English so it is difficult for us to communicate properly.
I always wanted to pay for his courses but I’m unable to do so as I’m the only one at home working to pay all the bills. The free courses I did have brought me a far way as I can construct basic sentences and can sometimes understand if they (my coworkers) speak slowly.
Synergy Spanish will allow me to broaden my capacity to understand and to speak Spanish. Learning Spanish will not only improve my life but the life of others because I’ll be able to help my other coworkers and my niece, an aspiring air hostess.
I would love to learn Spanish because it would give me the freedom to travel to a broad range of countries, and even live overseas which has been one of my dreams since I was a child. I have an Aunty who went to live in Madrid and she said it was the best experience of her life, it would mean so much to me if i was able to do that too. The memories and experience would be extremely valuable to me.
I have been following the sample lessons for all the Santamaria products for some time now, and am plan to post a glowing review on my language learning blog. The Santamaria products (Synergy Spanish et al.) will certainly help me to change the lives of others for the better. I have been planning to enter the Peace Corps in a Spanish-speaking country for some time now. The thing about his products is that they are very pragmatic. They are also very enjoyable. This is not some learn-spanish-in-a-week phrasebook. This is real world stuff for talking to natives. Even the cognoscenti in the various language-learning forums praise his products. I started studying Spanish over a year ago. I am an auto-didactic language learner, and have yet to take any kind of formal Spanish class. I wish I had the Santamaria products when I began. Nevertheless, they are certainly items that will help me even at this intermediate stage of learning. If I didn’t think so, I would not waste my time writing this treatise about it! I really want this fabulous line of products. Actually, I wrote to the company a couple of months ago asking them to provide some kind of package deal. Maybe this came out of my idea? If you read my website you will see that I have used a plethora of Spanish-learning products. Right now I am working on FSI Programmatic. There is no SINGLE product that I know of that will take you to fluency. However, this ENTIRE LINE of Santamaria products will take you a good step in that direction. I should know, because I have gone through every sample lesson Mr. Santamaria has sent out. Are my motives purely altruistic? No. I enjoy learning Spanish. It gives me great pleasure. However, if I win this scholarship then I will be able to take one small step for me, and one giant step to help others who live in poorer areas of the world. Even if I am not accepted into the Peace Corps, I plan to travel extensively to Spanish speaking countries and volunteer some of my time. If you haven’t tried his product, then go to www.synergyspanish.com and sign up to be on his free mailing list. I think you will agree that the samples are awesome. Perfect for the car too, and they come with transcripts. He teaches you how to build up sentences, slowly at first. Then they get progressively more complex. The speaker is a native Spanish speaker with a very pleasant voice and good, clear pronunciation. I recommend using these products in combination with something like the FSI courses. I can’t wait to see Bola Part 2.
Hola Marcus what a wonderful opportunity to learn spanish. I would really like to learn the language properly as i moved to spain 3 years ago after my mum died making a new start for us. Life is very good here for me but I do have a language problem as you will know. Though thanks to your free lessons I have learnt some of it. What I would really like is to be able to speak like a native. I need to see a specialist at the end of the month and I need to pay for a translator for this. What i would really like is to be able to go by myself and fned for myself and the language not to be a problem. Thank you for inviting me to enter this competition and give me the chance to be able to live in spain without any language problems. Once again thank you for all the help you have given me up to now to be able to stumble my way around.
I want to be able to tell mama’s here (Todos Santos BCS, Mexico, 5 years) how beautiful their children are. To tell the vendor on the corner that his tacos are the best. Talk to the local curandero about the herbs in my garden. Read poems of Marjorie Agosin in her native language. To yell at my Mexican pup in Spanish as she yanks towels off the line. Tell everyone here how thankful I am to be a guest in their magical country. Thank you for the fish from your ocean, the mangoes and avocados outside my back door…. And my name would be Maria.
Gracias.
I have been trying to lear Spanish ever since I went on a mission trip to Venezuela 6 years ago, but without much success. People came up to me and tried to talk to me but I didn’t know a word of Spanish, so when I came home I decided to try to learn Spanish so I could go on mission trips back to Venezuela or other Spanish speaking countries. I feel that I could help the people that I meet and work with so much better if I could speak their language, however iI have had avery difficult time learning it.
I also live in an area where there are many Spanish speaking people, so it would help me to be able to communicate with them.
Marcus - I am a dentist in Columbus, Ohio, and we have a sizeable Latino population. Becoming fluent will greatly help me to help them at my office - especially the ones who are trying, but aren’t too fluent in English. Also, I teach the bible at a non-denominational church here and would love to get to the point where I can have spiritual conversations with Latinos. Many of them, like people in our society in general, have never had someone explain God’s offer to them who’s not being weird and pushy. I would like to be able to do that with speakers of Spanish. thanks Jeff Wilcox
Hola Marcus:
Felize año nuevo. Thank you for all your assistance thus far. Learning Synergy Spanish will change my life in that firstly I would be on my way to becoming bilingual. Secondly It would aid me in my Spanish courses that I am presently pursuing and thirdly I am from the Caribbean, Spanish speaking Venezuela is our closest foreign language neighbor and it would be absolutely marvelous to travel Venezuela as a fluent spanish speaker and revel in all its beauty and culture
Learning Synergy Spanish will allow me to assist others. Many spanish speaking tourists visit our island all year round. Unfortunately because spanish as a language is so dormant on the island many of our visitors find it difficult to meet a native with whom they can communicate freely. By learning spanish I hope to be able to be a friend to spanish speaking visitors who visit my country. Also I have a four year old and we have been having a lot of fun with the limited spanish that I have learned. She is truly in love with the language and it would be great to build on that as well.
Hola Marcus
I work in hospital in Kissimmee Florida. More and more patient in the hospital are spanish speaking and I feel compelled to learn spanish so that I can help patients, understanding their jproblems and communicating with them. I feel language barrier makes my task difficult and also I feel I am unable to help humanity. I have been trying to learn spanish for about a year and feel like not getting anywhere. If you can help me would be much appreciated.
Yasmeen
Hola Marcus
I work in hospital in Kissimme Florida. More and more patients in the hospital are spanish speaking and I feel , they need help but I am unable to. Therefore I am compelled to learn spanish so that I can help patients in the hospital and community in general. My language barrier makes me think I am of no help to humanity.
I have been trying to learn spanish for about one year and feel like not getting anywhere. If you can help it would be greatly appreciated.
Yasmeen
Originally I started learning Spanish, because we met a really nice Spanish family when we were on holiday in France, they could speak a little English. A couple of years later we visited them at their home in Northern Spain, unfortunately when we rang to say whereabouts we were too, Grandmother answered, and try as I could, I could not make her understand, which was upsetting for her as well as us. I studied at an adult education centre for three years, which when I got my NVQ 1 & 2 I was really happy. I could not continue to study as my daughter had a mental breakdown, which has resulted in our having to look after her children quite a lot. I try very hard to read my Spanish when I can, I have not a lot of confidence in speaking but am determined one day I will speak and understand Spanish for me, more than anything.
I have been wanting to make the time for several years to learn Spanish and work on becoming fluent in order to be a better asset to the company I work for and help me move forward with my career. Spanish is very rapidly becoming a strong language barrier for many and I would love the opportunity to be abe to help narrow that gap. I have not been able to apply myself, financialy, as well as I would like since my husband of 17 years had a serious heart attack a while back and is not able to work any longer. I work 40+ hours a week and have to do most of the things around the house because he is very limited in what he can do without risking another, probable fatal, heart attack. I have been fortunate enough to have him longer than the doctors predicted and do not want to jeopardize whatever time we may have together. At the same time I would like very much to be able to learn more skills to be able to support us better.
Hi Marcus,
Well, years ago, in one coffee shop, in Barcelona, when asked what I wanted to order, I pointed at a cake I was so desperate to eat. Young boy, behind a counter, said: “Torta?” With my eyes, wide open, I asked, in Serbian (almost convinced I was right!) if he was a Serb, as the Serbs say “torta” for cake as well! How embarrassing! That day I learned there are some other (and beautiful) languages besides Serbian! Didn’t it become a good reason to repair such a damage by studying Spanish?
Saludos!
Gordana Shuman
My husband and I go to Costa Rica to work with some missionaries down there. Being unable to speak Spanish has been a real hinderance to me. I have tried several methods, but I am hearing impaired and have a difficult time hearing just what is being said.
I would love to go to language school, but cannot afford to do that. I have a friend who is trying to teach me but we can only get together a couple of times a month, so from lesson to lesson there is no one to practice with so I forget what she is teaching me. I read a little and try to teach myself that way, but it sure is hard.
If I could afford it, I would love to try your method and see if there is any hope for me.
How would learning spanish change my life? It would make working in Costa Rica so much more pleasant and meaningful. To be able to really communicate with the people that I know and love down there, that would be awesome for me.
Just wanted to add this postscript to my earlier posting.
I originally started to learn spanish because I travel to central america every year. I thought that if I am going to continue to do so I need to learn the language rather than depend on others to know my language. I think it is only respectful that I do so as a guest in their country. I have found that it has also helped me to be closer to my teenage nieces. They are taking soanish in school and it is a way to interact with them that they find interesting and helps this old man to be close to his nieces. I am also considering possibly retiring or moving even sooner to central america. I am the type of person who likes to help others so if I do end up living there it will help both me and others around me. I hope to be in a financial situation to do more volunteer work in that part of the world.
Hello marcus,
I actually do not want to join this contest, because so many people with very urgent reasons obviously are more in need of this opportunity to improve on their lives. But I would like to state something about Marcus and his Spanish courses.Two years ago I almost was killed, due to a surgeon’s error during an operation. It took me a very long time to recover. During this recovery period I stumbled acrosss SYNERGY SPANISH on the internet and it changed my life for the better. It actually turned out to become my lifejacket which give me back interest in life, in living. I learned to speak Spanish on an acceptable level, found a new job where I can use my new Spanish skills. I managed to keep this job mostly because all other colleagues, which are younger then me, do not speak Spanish. I am 56 now, earning a small salary but I will manage! As long as I am improving on my Spanish, I will be able to perform in this job. That is why I constantly are looking for opportunities to improve on my skills. Like visiting marcus website, enjoying his free gifts and still being on his e-mail list. Mucha feliz para el vencedor! Marcus, puedes publicar me direccion del correo electronico.
Jo
As I said before I have been able to learn more from the way you teach than I ever could in my 62 years.It is still going slow but I am learning. My reason for wanting to speak spanish is because I realize i will need to work late into life and I am a nurse, if I were able to speak more freely with my spanish speaking patients it would work better for both of us. Also I have a lot of spanish speaking friends and I would just like to be able to speak with them in spanish. I know thats not all that much of a reason but its whats important to me.Anyway thanks again for your teaching style, its going to take time but I know I will learn.
Hola Marcus,
I began learning Spanish 7 years ago. I take it seriously in that a day does not go by that I do not read, speak and listen to Spanish. It is a slow process. I remain encouraged and focused because I am a Paramedic. My ability to help others is dependant on communication. In a Spanish speaking densely populated area, it just makes good sense to learn Spanish. Other Paramedics see me becoming more confident and they are also encouraged to learn. For me, when I can provide care for someone and communicate with them in Spanish, I feel excited and my enthusiasm is contagious. Patients are appreciative of my efforts and my ability to develop a rapport with them supports good patient care.
I did purchase your first set of CD’s (Synergy Spanish) and found them helpful. I look forward to reviewing your other programs. I am on a limited income, as are all Paramedics, and therefore are requesting that you extend your offer to me. Your program is clearly a helpful tool in the learning process.
Thank you for all your support.
Ron, NREMT-P
I live in Houston, TX where speaking Spanish would be great asset to living here. A lot of my neighbors are bilingual. I would love to be able to communicate with them in their native language. Learning spanish would also help increase my chances for employment in other areas within my company.
Hi Marcus
To make a very long story short, for over a decade people have mistaken me for someone that speaks Spanish. I have regularly had complete strangers approaching me speaking Spanish to me. So I finally decided that it was time for me to learn Spanish. So in the spring before my only trip to Mexico I tried to take Spanish classes, hoping to be able to speak by time I took my trip in October. I was really disappointed and felt quite unintelligent after having completed my classes. I was so confused that I couldn’t even put a sentence together and was limited to only a few expressions I learned. I met so many people while in Mexico that I couldn’t speak more then a word or two with and felt even more frustrated. I would so have loved to be able to have a even a short conversation with them.
After I got back from Mexico I was on the Internet and came across your program. I did your free chapters of synergy Spanish. I believe that I have learned more from those few chapters then I did in the classes I took at my local College. I then did the free chapters of shortcut to Spanish and found them to be as easy to understand as the synergy Spanish. I was so inspired by how easy to understand your programs were that I bought the synergy Spanish and am now on chapter 17. I look forward to my study time and truly enjoy the time I spend learning Spanish. I am even feeling confident enough to make my own sentences. Had I only seen your program before I took my classes at the college I would have used the money to buy your program. Two months ago I lost my job as part of the companies down sizing and since then I have been trying to talk my friends into sharing the cost of buying your programs but to no avail. So if I were to win I would be so grateful. I am also extremely interested in and have been doing research into going to Mexico to teach English. I think that being able to understand as well as speak Spanish would be a huge benefit for me while teaching English. I already know that your programs are easy to understand and learn so I am asking you to choose me for the Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009. By choosing me you can be confident that the lessons would not be put to the side and forgotten about.
Synergy Spanish will help me in sooo many ways. I have been using Shortcut to Spanish for the last 4 months, and am amazed how I am picking up the language. A looong ways to go,yet. I have a beautiful love from Venezuela, living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We have talked alot about her moving up to my city, Calgary, Ab. Canada, or me moving down there with her and her daughter and son. I would much rather get employment down there and move there. Synergy Spanish would open the door for me from any Sales aspect if I had English and Spanish. 36 years of sales experience would go so much further with Spanish as a second language. Also, all her friends and her son and daughter speak Spanish. I would love to be at the many gatherings I have been at with her and her friends, and not have them have to speak English because I am there. It is frustrating for me, and I am sure it is for them, although they are very polite about it. Her son refuses to speak English in front of her ( for reasons we have not figured out yet), so it is even more uncomfortable for me with him. He’s 18. Those are the reasons your Synergy Spanish would so help and compliment my work with Shortcut to Spanish and Informal Spanish which I use now.
My husband has lived in Mexico and he is completely at ease communicating in Spanish. When we go to visit, I sit like a bump on a log unable to join in on the conversation at all. Some of our employees are Latinos and I am unable to communicate with them. Learning Spanish will
change my life by enabling me to be a part of the group on vacations and I will also be able to communicate with our employees and their families. But I don’t want to just barely get by, I want to be able to fully communicate as if I were a native. Thank you for the Synergy Spanish course I am studying. I thought I had a learning block. I just could not speak Spanish. I took classes and I still could not speak at all. But I am amazed at my progress with Synergy Spanish. Thank you again.
Hola Marcus,
Wow what a response! I live in Australia and when I am able to and can speak Spanish I plan on walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage. At this time I am uable to afford your course. Thanks for the opportunity to enter your competition.
Best Wishes
Paula.
Hi Marcus,
I need to speak Spanish because I am a Realtor and there are tremendous deals out there I would love to share with my neighbors if only I could speak the language.
The other reason is as a volunteer at a nursing home I could spend time talking with the people
a lot more.
With the economy as bad as it is, I can not afford the classes and would love the opportunity to earn this scholarship. Thank you so much and God bless.
Linda
I’m a teacher. I work with at-risk and incarcerated youth. A high number of our students are not English speakers or have very limited English skills. I have taken the same Spanish course at our local community college twice now… and both times came away with little more than rules for grammar. If it weren’t for my students, I’d give up now! I am unable to effectively help these students — the very students who need the most. I end up feeling like I fail them each day. So how will learning Synergy Spanish change my life and the lives of others? To change lives, you have to first build a relationship — to build trust. And how can you effectively do that if you can’t communicate or speak the language? The kids I work with typically have the least — in terms of resources and opportunities. They need the best teachers — and when I learn Spanish, I know I will then be able to give them just that..
Hi;
I was trying to learn spanish few years ago but that doesn’t work for me. I spent so much money for nothing. Now, I found a good one, the synergy but I can’t afford it. Learn spanish will change my life by getting a better job in the haitian diplomacy or in United State and make me feel better if I can communicate with other people.
My spanish will help others young students because I get an association where we help people learn how to read and write. And as computer gury I would like to help some spanish people also as I help others.
Hello, I am a landscape architect who has worked internationally, including getting the wonderful opportunity to live and work in Mexico City for a few months. It was an amazing opportunity to be able to live and work there and work on projects including a predesign for the last surviving river in the valley currently in danger of being taken over by squatters. After two trips to Mexico City in total, I have fallen in love with Mexico and its wonderful people and wish to help and do great things there in order to help preserve their natural resources. After just getting back from a year working in Germany where my primary projects were based around sustainable design and water, I am more determined than ever. But I have one major problem, my Spanish is only at a basic level so in order to work there, I need to work around people who can translate. This is very hard when trying to work with different groups of people and be able to convey design concepts, present and have a dialogue. This is a huge barrier between me and my dream to be more involved with landscape architecture in Mexico…where there is such a huge need. While working there, I met so many amazing people that I still keep in touch with through letters of basic Spanish but I would love to be able to have real, dynamic conversations with them.
Now that I am back from my great opportunities to work abroad, I am having trouble finding a job because of the terrible economy. This would be the perfect time for me to take classes in Spanish, but I have no money to take them. When I saw this opportunity I thought that this could be the perfect opportunity for me to be able to continue following my dream of grabbing hold of a stronger connection both professionally and personally with Mexico, especially during this time when I have little money and so much time. Thank you very much Marcus for your time in reading this.
Hi Marcus,
I travel to Latin America for business and also conduct training for many of our reps from there as well. Some do not speak English well and I am always impressed with, and envy, their confidence to just speak out. I always miss these perfect opportunities for each of us to learn and improve because I feel I dont have a good knowledge base to start with. At the very least, it would be alot more fun for myself and the reps if we could have more casual conversations.
I enjoy the Latin culture and hope to do some extensive lesiure travel throughout all the countries. My daughter has completed her minor in Spanish (neuroscience major) and is currently in Nicaraqua. She knows that fluency in a second lanquage is a tremendous career booster and I wish I could have the same skills to offer.
Rich
Marcus,
I have enjoyed reading your website and why people from all walks of life want to learn spanish. It would be a true honour to continue to learn spanish using all of the resources and tools of Synergy Spanish. It would be the most rewarding gift that anyone could give me … the gift of learning a new language and only a proven course like Synergy Spanish and its components can help me achieve this. Feliz ano nuevo 2009!
I am an older person, but I still go out and talk to people about the bible. I have found though that more and more of the people that I come in contact with are spanish speaking, which means I am unable to communicate with them. This makes me unhappy, because I would like to be able to impart bible knowledge to all. Thanks
My husband’s family lives in Valle De Bravo, Mexico and we are planning to move in with them sometime this year. I know that Synergy Spanish would help me to learn the correct spanish speaking and understanding skills I need to speak to my in-laws and enjoy my time with them in Mexico.
My learning Synergy Spanish could help my in-laws understand me. Also, one of my goals in life is to (while living in Mexico) become a Childrens English teacher, so If I was to learn Synergy Spanish, I could reach my goal by knowing exactly what to say to my students, and teach them correct English, so If they ever decided to visit America they could have the English skills they needed to get a great education, job and even make Americanfriends. I have read my four free lessons of synergy spanish and actually understood how to use most of the words. I dont have enough money to buy Synergy Spanish, so I f I was accepted for the scholarship, not only would I be blessed to have the opportunity to learn a new and very necessary language, I would also be able to reach my goal (and the goal of spanish speaking children) and teach English to kids with dreams of traveling to America.
1] Learning Spanish has boosted my confidence as a person. It is mentally challenging, and as I in my 50’s, I find that I need a mental challenge to keep me feeling young. I was at a hospital where I work the other day, and a little girl was sitting in a hallway by herself. I could tell she was Hispanic, and I was a little concerned that she was by herself, so I sat with her. I had my name tag on, so she could tell I was an employee. I spoke Spanish to her and found out that her grandfather was in the hospital and ill. The girl was no more than 7-8 years old, and happened to be bilingual, but it made a big impact on me. What if the girl didn’t speak English, and I had to rely solely on my Spanish. I’ve got to learn this language. It may be a little old lady at a grocery store, or a little girl in a hospital, but if I can just speak their language, then maybe I can help them, and make them feel a little more at home in a foreign country.
Thank you for the opportunity to apply for a scholarship to your programs. I have been receiving your e mails for about a year and have learned some spanish from the e mails you sent. My family on my mothers side is Mexican. Growing up, my gramdmother would speak spanish to me and I underrstood her. For some reason the rest of the family spoke primarily English. My Great Grandmother spoke no English at all and I understood her at a young age as well. I took Spanish in High School for two years and learned quite a bit but the rest of my family did not speak spanish. Only my Grand Mothers. That was about 26 years ago and since, both of my Grand Mothers have past away. I lost almost everything I learned in my youth about the Spanish language. Now I am 42 and have remarried a beautiful Mexican lady. She speaks English much better than I speak Spanish. She prefers to speaks Spanish over English. She has three daughters and only speaks Spanish with them. The girls speak both languages fluently. I don’t feel like I am a part of the family when we are all together because she doesn’t like to speak English with the girls. We go to family gatherings often and her entire family speaks Spanish because she prefers it. Again, I don’t feel a complete part because I can’t communicate. Her family can and would speak English around me but my wife is most comfortable speaking her native tongue. This is a huge barrier for me because I want to communicate more with my wife in Spanish. She does speak English with me but I think it is only because she loves me and because I cannot speak Spanish. Also, her father is 81 and lives in Mexico with her sister and brother, we visit frequently and of course, they speak no English. Again, when I go with her to Mexico, I feel out of place. I have recently changed job positions at work and I am around Spanish speaking employees I would like to be able to communicate with. It would be a huge blessing if I could learn to speak Spanish in your program. It would allow me to feel more a part of my new life with my wife, my new family, new friends, and those people I work with daily. Thank you for the opportunity and your time.
Adios.
Hola Marcus ,
Oh , let me say I have a love story with spanish or “i’m in love with Spanish” ,I started to love spanish since i was a teenager based on the beauty of Spain ; specifically the southern region of Spain : Andalusia with its charming places and rich culture and kind simple people plus the beautiful pronunciations coming out of the spanish speakers that is irresistible for any lover of it . But my Spanish career came into practice when I got my Becholar of English Language and felt totally ready to give all my time and efforts to Spanish. As an arabian girl who lives in a country where English is the second language to be spoken , I felt so bad at the beginning because there was no interest of learning spanish for many people specilly in my southern region where I live . And it was hard for me to go to the capital in the north and join one of the private schools there in terms of the far distance and the tuition fees.
From there , I decided not to rely on circumestances and wait for a chance that may never come and I directly browsed the Internet to find out anything about Spanish . after one year has passed , I found my self provided with many sheets of learning basic spanish gramatical rules and audio materials to help me through the pronunciation , I baught a dictionary as well and I kept practising regardless the number of mistakes I was making or the comments of the surrounding people about my “crazy intention to learn spanish” and as I love to defy my self in the real life , I used this point to help me with spanish . I knew many spanish speakers online from USA , Argentina , Guatimala and SPAIN itself .They kept and still encourage me and tell me that I’m getting better time by time , so the way to see me improving gradually and without joining any school has made me feel that all my efforts through learning spanish were absolutely fruitfull and up to now I feel optimistic because I never regret the time I spent in learning Spanish.One important point I would like to mention is that your tips and lessons helped me alot and more than I expected because I found them easy , flexible and practical , they shortened the time I might be spending in learning many expressions and pronunciations.
One last thing I would like to say to those who are thinking about learning Spanish : Before you start you learning always remember : Whenever there is a well , there is a way ” and ” Practice makes Perfect” so go for it and enjoy your time.
Saludos a Todos.
Dear Marcus,
I would like to learn ro speak spanish before I go To Spain to walk the Camino to Santiago de Compostella. I am going with 2 old school friends. we are all in our 60th year. None of us speak spanish, very few people in New Zealand do. Speaking even a litttle bit will greatly enhance our enjoyment of this great adventure.
Happy New Year toyou and your family
Judy
Hi Marcus
Well after reading all the above comments I don’t stand a chance of winning. Good luck to the 2 who do, I am sure they deserve it. I have an English friend who lives in Spain with her husband who is Spanish. She is like a sister to me. I have been trying to learn Spanish for many years now, I studied every night for over a year when my son had a major car accident some 4 years ago, since then I have not been able to concentrate and get back into learning spanish. I need that push to do it. I need to hear more spanish as listening and understanding I find very difficult. I would love to be able to speak to my friend in Spanish as she is very dear to me, I can hold a limited conversation but remembering the words is difficult. But as I said I cannot understand when people are speaking the words dont sound the same.
I would like a chance to win your scholarship but I do understand there are people who need it more than me. Muchas Gracias y bunos suete a todos
Hola Marcus
Ah! 26th Jan Australia dias.
I am a nurse in country Australia , from England originally, got married in Gibraltar, with family in Sevilla.
Would love to be with the family, but have to be able to speak Spanish to work as a nurse.
I have been trying hard to learn, but being older finding it that much harder, and cost prohibitive. Why not $A?
In a small country town, I have not found a Spanish network to practise speaking. To be able to speak Spanish would be life changing for me to enable me to move to Spain.
Dear Marcos,
I have had a love for Mexico and its people for a long time. More importantly, I have a love for my savior, Jesus Christ. I’m going to answer both questions in this way. Being totally blind, I am limited financially. These are great courses and I have completed one and am working on the second, synergy Spanish. Once I am fluent in Spanish, I hope to spend time with the Latin community teaching the Bible and training pastors to do the work of God in Mexico and Central America. I know many people want to learn Spanish for a variety of reasons: however, my motives are eternal in nature. A million years from now in heaven, there will be people worshipping Christ because they have heard the Good news of God’s love through Christ our savior. If God has judged me faithful, may he bless this effort with this scholarship. Thanks for your teaching material.
Joe Thompson
Marcus,
To answer your question
How will you learning Synergy Spanish help others?
Me learning Spanish will help others in the sense of encouraging cross cultural communication and understanding.
Best regards, Michael
I lived in Venezuela between the age of 11 and 13 and learned some Spanish words whilst living there. I was scared of speaking Spanish, and the Spanish lessons at the American School were based on reading from a book and very little about conversing in the language. I have always wanted to speak Spanish fluently,. This may be my chance.
The facility I manage has a growing population of Hispanics with very few that are able to communicate clearly in english. It is difficult for them to communicate there needs, issues, and wants to me without me having to track down one of our “interpreters”. It would be benefical to me, our company, and the workers if I were able to respond quickly, and directly with these individuals. Thank you for caring enough to make this offer.
I moved to Spain recently and have started the free Spanish lessons which have been very helpful.I want to enter for the 2009 scholarship because I want to live and work in Spain.It will also help me teach my wife and two kids for a wonderul life in Spain and travel to other Spanish countries.I pray God to make it possible for me to win.Amen!
We have been going to Nicaragua the last three years to do mission work, and this year to Honduras. It was the poverty and hunger that we saw on our first trip with a medical mission team that lead us to come home and begin the work of developing a dehydrating program to provide the hungry in the world with dried fruit and vegetables, food that would otherwise be wasted where we live www.novgleaners.org. I have learned some basic Spanish but would love to be able to communicate with the locals without the help of an Interpreter.
We just moved to Spain and I need Spanish language to work and help teach my family.It will help us integrate faster and better.May God help us.Amen!
I am currently living in spain doing the only job currently open to me - teaching english. To be able to speak Spanish fluently would change my life. Currently I am in a relationship with a Spanish speaking boy. Despite the language barrier we manage but to speak Spanish fluently would change my relationship for the better. There are so many things I am unable to communicate to him. Further, speaking Spanish fluently would enable me to undertake my PHd in Pyschology here in Spain and apply it´s benefits to Spanish society. I´m interested in Transpersonal Psychology, a new field within Psychology and to be able to pioneer this in Spain would benefit not only myself but others. I would be able to work effectively and efficiently with the local people around putting my qualifications to best use. This is my dream - once I´ve mastered Spanish of course!
Benito, my husband died about four months after I moved to Mexico with him and his family. Now I have a newborn son. I don’t have any relatives so I want to live here with my husband’s family. I want to raise my son here where his family is, because I know what it’s like to be raised without a real family. Here my son has a grandma and grandpa That has been really fun, they are so nice to me.
Amost everyone here doesn’t speak any English. I’m trying to help some of them learn English, but I also want to learn Spanish. This is very hard because they speak so fast. I’ve been here for a little over a year now and still don’t know much Spanish. It would change my life because it would help me connect with my son’s family.
Being able to do your Spanish course would make huge difference to me.
With the looming prospect of no sales in my real estate business in Turkey, we gave away all our belongings, bar a few suitcases, took a leap of faith and two months ago moved to Panama!
We set up a website all about Panama (called everything-panama.com) and in researching it, fell in love with Bocas del Toro, which is where we live now. I speak French and Turkish (and English of course, being English) but I need to learn Spanish as soon as possible. I love your approach to learning a language and would normally have bought such a package straight away. Right now however, for the firs time in our lives, we are totally broke, living on a wing and a prayer until we can sell some real estate here.
It would make such a difference to me to be able to speak Spanish as it will allow me to speak to the locals, integrate into life here more quickly, be far more professional in my work and most importantly, to earn money. It would also allow me to do EFT and Quantum Touch healing for the people living here. Being able to do that makes me happy, making someone else feel better!
Please give us your free course. It would make my day (well, year actually).
Helen
After going on a mission trip to Mexico I decided I would be more useful if I learned to speak their language. I took 4 semesters of spanish at a local jr. college, knew a lot of words but could not put sentences together. I bought spanish learning CD’s in stores and took an on-line course, still not much progress. My youngest daughter just got married to a young man from Mexico. He speaks english well but I know their children will be bi-linguel . His family speaks very little english. Your synergy spanish and shortcut to spanish have helped me to express myself in spanish, but it is still difficult. I know I need more lessons and training. I am 70 years old and don’t learn as quickly as I did when I was younger, but your classes have made learning easy for me.
Hello, Marcus,
I want to learn Spanish to improve my life and to improve the lives of others as well. I have been a teacher of English as a foreign language for 25 years. My students have all sorts of problems in learning the foreign language. I hope I can understand their problems better by learning a foreign language myself and I hope I can introduce a new learning approach to them. China is now opening to the outside world. More and more people want to learn English and Spanish because Chinese, English and Spanish are the three languages spoken by most people in the world. However, I find myself forgetting a lot of the things I’ve tried so hard to memorize in learning Spanish. My poor memory frustrates me from time to time. I’ve been searching for different approaches to learning Spanish and I find your approach very interesting and helpful. But I don’t know if synergy can really help me blast away the blockage of poor memory resulted from aging. If it can really do so, I want introduce it to my students as well. Muchas gracias!
Dear Marcus,
Thank you first of all for offering your services to two individuals. There is such a need to learn this language not only to help individuals but to help our country on a larger scale.
1.Learning Spanish will help me as an older adult, improve my cognitive ability, connect with others, build bridges in my community, allow me to better connect on mission fields, and broaden my world.
2 Learning Spanish will allow me to help others, as I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has just relocated to Chicago, and the need to speak Spanish is a must. I will also develop a program to help others learn this beautiful language through the library system. I have not been able to secure employment in part because many jobs require speaking Spanish. I have served in several areas, and have on many occasions had to use an interpreter, and I believe this has been an obstacle to developing a working relationship with the families. The caring component seems to get lost when an interpreter is used.
I would purchase your services, if I had a job, but would also like to begin learning the language of Spanish while I am unemployed.
Thank-you again for your generous spirit, I’m certain, that this offer will reach many people.
My wife & I have been learning Spanish for the last few years. The reason is to facilitate our permanent move to main land Spain in the near future. Our belief is that, the better our language skills when we move to our new home then the easier it will be for us to be accepted by the local inhabitants. Your courses have been a blessing to us giving us a greater insight to new methods of learning. I am about to retire from work and we will have more time to devote to your language lessons in the future. Muchas gracias por su ayudar.
Hola Macus,
I wish to continue to learn spanish in order to be able to perfectly and fluently converse with my patients since i am a nurse by profession. I have been learning through your scripts and appreciate the much teaching you have given me, i wish to continue even more.
Learning Spanish would un-lock the path to moving to be with my true love, always by her side … This is my powerful wish to the universe
Hi Marcus, Your first level Synergy Spanish is a marvel. I recently spent 3 weeks in Cuba and was well understood by everyone. This surprised me and especially my husband. I would love to win your course as I am going to Cuba to facilitate a project around autism that I have started with the support of a charity here in the UK. The objectives are to raise awareness in the community and for medical professionals, support families after diagnosis, teach support staff in schools and develop supprt services. A vast undertaking and much more effective if I can increase my understanding of what is being said to me. But again many thanks for your help so far.
My husband, Benito, died about four months after I moved to Mexico with him. Now I have a newborn son and he has all his family here in Mexico. I don’t have any relatives so I want to live here with my husband’s family. I want to raise my son here where his family is, because I know what it’s like to be raised without a real family. Here my son has a grandma and grandpa That has been really fun, they are so nice to me.
Almost everyone here doesn’t speak any English. I’m trying to help some of them learn English, but I also want to learn Spanish. This is very hard because they speak so fast. I’ve been here for a little over a year now and still don’t know much Spanish. It would change my life because it would help me connect with my son’s family.
My husband, Benito, died about four months after I moved to Mexico with him. Now I have a newborn son and he has all his family here in Mexico. I don’t have any relatives so I want to live here with my husband’s family. I want to raise my son here where his family is, because I know what it’s like to be raised without a real family. Here my son has a grandma and grandpa That has been really fun, they are so nice to me.
Almost everyone here doesn’t speak any English. I’m trying to help some of them learn English, but I also want to learn Spanish. This is very hard because they speak so fast. I’ve been here for a little over a year now and still don’t know much Spanish. It would change my life because it would help me connect with my son’s family.
I belive that Spanish needs to be learned in my area of British Columbia because we grow a lot of friut and also have a large number of vineyards,as well we are a very busy tourist town. Osoyoos B.C. We as a small town swell to 30 thousand in the summer months and as we do not have enough people to do all the work, men and women are comming to work here, from al lover Mexico. I have taken some of your Spanish lessons but not near enough, so if you happen to pick me I would be so greatful, it would sure be halpfull to have a better comand of Spanish when dealing with new employee who have little english
I’ll just thank you now for your kindness in giving this chance to become more fluent in Spanish
yours,
Anna Maria
I retired fairly soon after starting my synergy spanish last year. I am presently residing in Spain and have the use of a friend’s accommodation in Costa Blanca for the time being. I would like to use my skills here as I often read local papers about the increase in reported abuse against women. I was previously a paid worker in a women’s refuge which supported women suffering domestic abuse. I am also trained and qualifiied in counselling but would need to be fairly fluent to be of any use to women in need. I now have time to give something back to society.
Hola-
Buenos dias! My name is Joshua and I am 18 years old from Houston Texas. Over the past year my life has been slightly hectic, between my sisters pregnancy, and following my chosen career path in Cosmetología. I have been continuously practicing, actively learning, and educating myself con la hermosa lengua de Español. It has turned into a passion of my own. I already have the urge to pass on what I’ve learned myself to others, such as friends and family. I believe that your system would be of an utmost help to me completely! I would make use of every resource that I would be given.
Muchas gracias a Ustedes por todo!
Sinceramente,
Joshua
Hello Marcus,
I arrived in La Romana, Republica Dominicana on December 12, 2008 as a volunteer at the Haitian Baptist Mission hospital. I plan to stay for 1 year working on the construction of the hospital that is for the benefit of Haitian immigrants that work on the sugarcane plantations. These people receive no benefits from the Dominican government and are paid very little. The hospital is in operation now on a limited basis and offers deperately needed services to the Haitian people at little or no cost. My task is to coordinate the efforts of groups of Americans that arrive each week to help build the hospital with the native construction workers who speak only Spanish. Current tasks include building a dental office, setting up a CT scanner and building an Emergency Room. My effectiveness will be greatly enhanced when I can communicate in Spanish and thousands of Haitians will benefit. The hospital currently has 80,000 Haitians in its service area.
Thank you, fred
I have been trying for the last four years to learn Spanish. I have taken informal classes, paid classes and bought computer programs. As a secretary at a church I feel the need to be able to communicate with anyone who walks through the door. Lately, with the economy the way it is, we have had a large number of people who need help. By being able to communicate with the Spanish speaking population in our community, I feel I would be a much greater help than I am now. It’s very important to me to be able to help everyone who comes in!
Hi Marcus
My name is Tammy Smith and I am a American Citizen and have never been out of the United States. Five years ago my life changed when I decided to try something different. I went to a Latin Club and once I heard the music and seen the different dances I went cracy in a good way. I met so many Spanish people and they accepted me like they had known me all my life. My first thoughts was, this is who I am. I took dance lessons for about a year and then all the other latin dances I learned from different people on the dance floor. I have been in a couple of relationships and they were wonderful. I have met so many good Spanish people and helped in a lot of different situations the best I could. It is difficult and takes longer to communicate when the language is so different. I want to learn Spanish so bad but I need more help and through what Synergy Spanish has already taught me it doesn’t seem to be enought and I can’t afford the lesson even though they are at a good price. I would love to go to Mexico and be about to help people and more so in the United States there are so many that I could help learn English and while there learning make sure that are given correct information. It is very important to me to learn Spanish. I want to thank you in advance for all the information you have sent to me..
Hola! I am from anglophone Ghana, in West Africa, and before I joined the Electoral Commission of Ghana, I taught French in Secondary School. My work as electoral administrator takes me to other countries and I meet a lot of people too. If I am able to speak Spanish fluently, I will be more useful to my department since many of our workers only speak English. I met some Spaniads during the general elections last year and they were very proud to meet me. I have greatly benefited from your free lessons and I hope to win the scholarship to enable me to continue. Muchas gracia!!!.
My husband and I have taken several mission trips to Guatemala for christmas shoebox distribution. Every year we go to a certain orphanage where I have connected with one of the girls there. Unfortunately, because there are so many group members and only a few who speak spanish, I haven’t every gotten pass the initial “Me llamo es..” phrases. I would love to be able to communicate with Christina on a more personal level. I also work for Big Brothers Big Sisters where we have a large hispanic population. Part of my job is recruitment, The parents will sometimes call to talk to us about enrolling their children…unfortunately we only have two spanish speaking employees who are rarely available. I feel being more fluent in spanish would allow me to better serve this population of our community.
Hello Marcus. In a word I want to learn Spanish so I can communicate with 10 siblings of my husband, who, of course, is Mexican. However, I doubt this will be easy because I am “too old” - this is my second marriage; first husband died. I just want to learn this lovely language because ever since I was a child I have loved spanish music and the romance of the language. I was born on the Rock of Gibraltar of English parents… it’s a long story to get to why I am in Texas! I have spent 12 years teaching my husband English but I haven’t had time to learn too much espanol! Gracias por todos leccions (free) and feliz ano nueves.
I would like to learn to speak fluent spanish for 2 reasons:
First, I know that the continuing quest to learn new things throughout your life keeps you young and your mind sharp. It also tells those younger than us, that learning and school never stops; a good example to be copied and passed on to the next generation.
Second, I teach ESL through the local literacy council in my town. It’s a non-profit organization that survives on grants from various foundations private and public. The people we serve aren’t necessarily the most economically able. They are from every walk of life and mostly come from Latin America; Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Colombia. When they arrive in the US, everything is new and they are very nervous about speaking english. I would like to put them at their ease by speaking to them in their native language and assuring them that learning to speak english like a native is no big challenge. They’ve already done the hard part by getting here (the US). Speaking spanish will help me tremendously in my job and I will be able to better relate to my students as they struggle to acclimate to their new lives here in America.
I have already purchased your Synergy Spanish course and it has helped me beyong measure, but the next level on my march to proficiency and fluency is beyond my means and I and my ESL students would be most appreciative of the scholarship and the chance to benefit from your offer.
I have been trying to learn Spanish for a few years so that I can communicate with the new hispanic ministry that my church has hosted for about two years and it doesn’t seem to sink in.
Money is also an issue since I am taking care of two families so it gets very tight sometimes but we do manage to get by. Thank you.
Mike Trexler
well i am a 16 year old teenager and i have always wanted to learn spanish!! I am so passionate about learning it i love everthing about this beautiful language, i love the latin culture and just everything they do!! If i could learn how to speak and understand spanish fluently this would be absoulutely amazing. It would be such a great experience, i could go travel and have more fun speaking with the locals and do so many more things i would be able to get such a great traveling experience. I could learn so much more, its so hard to explain, but i could get in tune with the latin way of living. I could speak to much more people who speak spanish where i live and impress them with my skills. I can even teach people around me and get them more interested in learning the language. Like my family, and friends are very impressed that I want to learn spanish. And whenever i meet a spanish speaking immigrant i could help them out with getting what they want, like directions or food for example. It makes me so sad to see they way some latin immigrants are treated in the U.S. I watched a news video of a mexican immigrant wanting to order only some coffee in the shop and he spoke no english, but he was being expressive,like making hand gestures towards what he wanted and the coffee shop manager was being so mean to him and making fun of him sayings things like i don’t speak mexican,go back to your country” and this poor man just wanted some coffee!! it made me so upset, its just so wrong!!. This is another reason why i feel it could so beneficial to learn; by helping people out. Like i feel like their is a part missing from me since i do not know how to speak spanish and i want to fill that gap. I can’t even express how much i want to learn this beautiful language with words. It would be just such a great experience. I feel like i could do so much more if i could speak spanish . If i could aford to fluently learn i’d do it in a second. I even want to move in a latin speaking country…..that would be amazing; thats a dream i really wish to forfill, and i could fit in so well if i fluently understoud and spoke spanish. I wish i could express this better, but being 16 and and super super excited to learn my thoughts are just everywhere. This is something i really really really want to do. Their is sooooooo much more i could do with my life if i knew spanish. It would be the chance of a lifetime, and its a huge dream of mine.. and i hope i get the chance..
Well I am a 16 year old teenager and I have always wanted to learn Spanish!! I am so passionate about learning it I love everything about this beautiful language; I love the Latin culture and just everything they do!! If I could learn how to speak and understand Spanish fluently this would be absolutely amazing. It would be such a great experience, I could go travel and have more fun speaking with the locals and do so many more things I would be able to get such a great traveling experience. I could learn so much more, it’s so hard to explain, but I could get in tune with the Latin way of living. I could speak to much more people who speak Spanish where I live and impress them with my skills. I can even teach people around me and get them more interested in learning the language. Like my family and friends are very impressed that I want to learn Spanish and they want me to go for it. And whenever I meet a Spanish speaking immigrant I could help them out with getting what they want, like directions or food for example. It makes me so sad to see the way some Latin immigrants are treated in the U.S. I watched a news video of a Mexican immigrant wanting to order only some coffee in the shop and he spoke no English, but he was being expressive, like making hand gestures towards what he wanted and the coffee shop manager was being so mean to him and making fun of him sayings things like I don’t speak Mexican, go back to your country” and this poor man just wanted some coffee!! It made me so upset, it’s just so wrong! This is another reason why I feel it could so beneficial to learn; by helping people out. Like I feel like theirs a part missing from me since I do not know how to speak Spanish and I want to fill that gap. I can’t even express how much I want to learn this beautiful language with words. It would be just such a great experience. I feel like I could do so much more if I could speak Spanish. If I could afford to fluently learn I’d do it in a second. I even want to move in a Latin speaking country…..that would be amazing; that’s a dream I really wish to fulfill, and I could fit in so well if I fluently understood and spoke Spanish. I wish I could express this better, but being 16 and being super, super excited to learn, my thoughts are just everywhere. This is something I really, really, really want to do. There is sooooooo much more I could do with my life if I knew Spanish. It would be the chance of a lifetime, and it’s a huge dream of mine… And I hope I get the chance…
Hola Marcus,
I am 45 years old. In 1978, when I was in the ninth grade at 14 years old, I knew we needed to know Spanish, even though French was so popular. Somehow back then I knew we were going to have an influx of Spanish-speaking people in the United States.
I took Spanish classes all 3 years in high school and one year in college and loved it! I learned a vast vocabulary, but only could speak the basic Spanish greetings fluently.
Now that my career is established as a nurse practitioner, I want to learn Spanish fluently!
I continue to practice with many of my Spanish patients, interpreters and take Spanish courses.
Winning this Synergy Spanish conversation course will teach me what I need.
Gracias,
Bessie Burns
for the few words I’ve learned , mostly thru your course, I can remmember several instances when I made a comment in spanish to a Spanish speaking person, I saw their faces light up because they didn’t expect a spanish word from me….I would like to continue to put that glow on more faces.
I go to mexico once every year. It would be so nice to be able to talk to all of these wonderful
people that I have met there in their own languge.
I feel that I am to old to learn a new language. I’m 68.
I was a very successful Senior Diagnostic Radiographer in England. I had worked for the NHS for over 27 years and was one of the lucky people who could say they loved their work.
In 2005 my husband had a very back accident at work which left him disabled. Our lives completely changed. I had to leave work to care for him which, left us unable to cope with our previous expenses. So we had to think about selling our house.
My parents had moved to Spain a few years earlier, and we had always said we would “ONE DAY”. We loved Spain, the people, culture and food.
So we moved to Spain. The weather would elevate some of my husband’s pain and we had enough money left to buy a small property in a beautiful little town not far from my parents.
We can not afford for me to have lessons as my husband has only a small pension, So over the 4 years we have lived here in Spain, I have tried to learn Spanish. I have been able to teach myself the everyday things so I can shop and order things and get by. Our 10 year old daughter who speaks fluently tries to help me but I so want to be able to learn more. I want to be able to talk and express myself which, I just cannot manage to learn by myself.
My husbands condition has improved over the years, so that he can look after himself, during the day. If I could learn enough Spanish to be able to return to work, I would be no longer wasting my education and training and we would be able to afford a few luxuries now and again.
.
I was attracted to Synergy Spanish because I could see it Synecould improve both my life experiences and those of my students. How?
As an experienced language teacher of English and languages other than English ( Zulu, Southern Sotho) I am well aware of the frustrations many learners, especially adults have when trying to learn a second language. As soon as I saw your course I knew that it could provide me with the support I needed to be able to quickly grasp the language and be able to communicate effectively in Spanish when travelling in Spanish speaking countries like Central and South America of which I do a lot.
I knew too that I could learn much as a teacher in making it easier for my students, who are generally adult migrants and refugees who´ve recently arrived in Australia, to quickly gain enough language skills to be able to intergrate into society and start a new life in their new country.
Already, what I predicted has proved to be true in my case and I´m confident on my return to Australia and teaching I´ll be proved right again. Thanks Marcus, you´ve many refreshing new ideas which makes learning fun. I´m keen to try them out.
Hi Marcus!
I´m going to be voluntary help in Fuengirola, Costa del sol, Spain.
A group of our church member, has proposed me to assist and educate them when spanish is a problem. I used to help them with IT-problems and will take care for the new challenge.
Please help our group to expand their language skills, they all use English as second language, and feel the local people are looking down to them and making problems because off their missing Spanish knowledge.
Regards Jan
Dear Marcus, We have just bought a small house in Spain. It is very popular to buy house in Spain but we don’t have too much money but are tired of cold weather in Poland and we love Spain, so we have spent our savings to move to Spain- at the begining for holiday, but soon, when we will retired we intend to move for ever…perhaps even work there……we are medical doctors. We have choosed house in a small Spanish village…….your course will help us to comunicate with citizens, travel along the county…..
Hola Marcus,
I have travelled to quite a few Spanish speaking countries and always told myself that I would learn the language. Well, years went by and I didn’t do anything about it. Just over four years ago, my brother in law married a wonderful lady from Colombia. My husband and I went to the wedding in Bogota. Her family was wonderful to us, but there was a bit of a language barrier. Some of them spoke quite good English, but some had no understanding. I vowed at that time that I would definitely return to Canada and sign up for some Spanish classes. I did that, and have taken these classes for almost 4 years. But I was very frustrated as I did not feel that I was moving forward with my understanding and my ability to speak the language. I joined your course and in the very first lesson, I finally understood some of the things that I just didn’t get before. I absolutely love your courses. I would love to be fluent in Spanish - that is my goal. I look forward to being one of the winners
Un poquito Espanol y muy mal. I work at a Thoroughbred Horse race track and am the main contact in the general office for the horsemen on the backside. The majority of the horsemen speak Spanish; many speak no English at all. If I were chosen to be a winner of the Synergy Spanish Scholarship 2009, I would be able to communicate with and help resolve problems of the people who are critical to the success of any racing stable! Thank you in advance for your consideration
Hey Marcus!
I am so glad you sent me this e-mail! I love it that you don’t just give up on e-mailing me about the Spanish lessons. I was really busy the last month. Thanks for encouraging me to take interest in this course. The biggest reason that I want to learn Spanish is so I can go to our Mission in Bolivia (in South America) and help out there. This year marks the 21st year that the mission is standing in Bolivia. As a church, we help the people learn proper economic/agricultural skills, aid in medical care and have fundraisers to help fund the operations there. There is a school located there as well as a church. My dream for the past few years has been to be able to go there and help out. I have always only heard about the life there and seen pictures but I want to experience the life of those less fortunate then myself. I think it will help me appreciate more how much I have here! My goal is to help those less fortunate then us and I think that this is an awesome opportunity!
In order to be able to help out in Bolivia, I need to be able to speak Spanish. I have worked on some of the Spanish lessons and really think that it is an amazing language. It just sounds so perfect! Thank-you so much for letting me know about this Synergy Spanish 2009 Scholarship!!!!
Saludos,
Diana Lagendyk
I work at a Country Pub / Hotel just outside of Auckland, New Zealand. We have a lot of tourists and some backpackers come through our doors to sample a bit of Kiwi hospitality. Some of these wonderful travellers don’t speak good English and struggle with their words, but the look on their faces when I ask ‘¿hablas español?’ is so incredible. The difficulty falls away when they can communicate in their own familiar language, enough to order a beer, a coffee or a meal. Even with my limited knowledge it is enough to put them at ease and it is such a buzz for me to see what a difference this makes for them. It is great for me to practise my spanish speaking but I also know I am helping people in a way that I hope I will be helped when I eventually get to travel to a spanish speaking Country.
It’s hard for me to just answer one of these questions because I feel they go hand in hand.
1. How will learning synergy spanish make my life better?
Learning spanish will make my life better so I can speak directly with the parents of my bilingual students rather than have a translater. I had one mother tell me that she wished I spoke spanish so we could get to know each other better. I want to continue growing professionally by knowing the culture of my students. I also want to expand my travel and speak more to native speakers. This would open a whole new world, give me a new perspective on life. and make my life more expansive. Finally, my goal is to become a bilingual principal ( I already have my principal license).
2. How will learning synergy spanish improve the lives of others?
Speaking spanish would improve the lives of others because I want to volunteer as a teacher in places like Guatemala, Mexico and areas in South America. I recently contacted a Director at a school in San Marcos la laguna (Lake Aitalan) in Guatemala who need teacher volunteers and school supplies. I would love to volunteer as a teacher every summer to such places in need. I feel that my life and theirs would be altered forever, and lifelong relationships of respect and support would be formed.
Marcus,
I have experienced all of those obstacles you mentioned and I know how frustrating learning a language is. I grew up in south Texas and everyday I wonder why my parents didn’t encourage me to learn Spanish while I had an the best opportunity ever. I have learned Spanish through your courses and others but still have significant problems understanding. We lived in Peru for two years where my kids started learning and I sometimes have to ask them how to say something..ha. Finally learning Spanish at a level I can confidently communicate would enrich my life completely as I love traveling and as you know if you speak the local language you experience so much more. But more importantly I want to learn it for my kids. I want them to become fluent and I want to be a part of that. To read about a culture is one thing but to experience it is a completely different thing. I want my kids to experience it and learn to respect other cultures and to do that they need to experience it. I am near retirement and when I do, I want to take my kids to Latin American to work with volunteer programs when we can, this way they experience the culture. This would not only benefit me but my children and the people we are able to help. It is my dream to finally be proficient in Spanish and through this program I believe I can accomplish that dream.
I’m an old geezer of 87 and through past courses of Synergy Spanish have learned enough
Spanish to communicate, but my aim is to become really fluent. I have volunteered to help new immigrants from Mexico and other Latin countries many of whom come to work during the fruit harvesting season.. These people arrive in an Anglo world without friends or family and they rely greatly on our ability to converse with them. It is difficult at times because my level of Spanish is not good enough to assist them in all instances. Therefore I believe raising my level of Spanish through further Synery courses would assist me in assisting them.
I live in Vancouver, BC with my husband who is from Argentina whom I met and married on our 3 month anniversary after meeting each other. I have been trying for 2 years to learn spanish but it is coming along very slowly. We would love to move to Argentina to be with his family as they are not able to visit Canada like my family could visit us in Argentina but we feel that I am not ready for the move until I speak spanish more fluently. I know if I can learn faster it would be a tremendous step for my family, I would be able to help care for my family and get a job if I could speak both English and Spanish. I have started with your classes and they are amazing but your scholarship would change my life!
I have always loved Spanish and always wanted to speak it fluently. I am now dating a man who is Spanish and we are going to have a baby, but he doesn’t speak English very well so our communication is very limited. He is away a lot with his job and it would mean so much to me to learn this language so that I can teach our child. I have learned a lot from the free lessons you have sent me and they are much appreciated!
Gracias,
Heather
1) I have been wanting to learn Spanish for the past 30 years. When I was in college I was chosen as a student missionary. I was supposed to go to Peru but they closed the position before I even left. I cry to my husband, “why couldn’t I have had that opportunity when I was younger?” He just says if I had gone to Peru I wouldn’t be married to him. He’s probably right. My son is attending a university in Argentina. My 2 daughters are planning to join him in Sept. When my attempts to learn Spanish start cutting into time or money and I wonder if it is worth my efforts at this age my husband reminds me that my grandchildren will be speaking Spanish so I better learn.
2) I am a dietitian and feel I could benefit the community by conducting health and cooking classes. A guy from my church takes a group to Mexico every year on a mission trip and wants to do some those classes there. Sometimes I have patients who speak Spanish and are not as comfortable with English. It is a lot easier to make people feel included and at home when you can speak their language.
Hi Marcus ,
My wife and I came to USA from Poland long time ago. We are near our retirement age now and
we plan to move to Costa Rica , where we have a few friends (english speaking) .
Learning your “Synergy Spanish” will not only help us to function in our new country , -
it will CHANGE OUR LIFE !!!
Your method of teaching is a REVELATION !!! I came to this country through Germany and
learned both , German and English “the hard” and long (old) way….,- so I see the big diffrence .
Thank you very much .
Yours , - Zbigniew .
Hi Marcus ,
My wife and I came to USA from Poland long time ago . We are near our retirement age now
and we plan to move to Costa Rica , where we have a few friends (English speaking) .
Learning your “Synergy Spanish” will not only help us to function in our new country…,
it will CHANGE OUR LIFE !!! I came to this country through Germany and learned both , -
German and English the “old, hard” (and long) way .
Your method is a REVELATION !!!
Thank you . Yours , - Zbigniew .
Marcus,
Truthfully it is difficult for me to separate #1 and #2. Because, in reality, for us they are tied together. Using and learning Synergy Spanish would help my wife and I in that we would then be able to help others. We have already used your original Synergy Spanish and found it to be a great help. We spent some time in Bolivia as volunteer missionaries but had to leave due to some unrest in the country. But we would like to be able to return and continue our work. We made so many wonderful friends even though we were not able to communicate as well as we wanted. The Spanish culture is so kind and caring and to learn that as well as such a beautiful and descriptive language is a true pleasure. And even if we are not chosen thanks very much for the chance to express our feelings for the Latin people and culture. And thank you for your generosity in giving all of us the opportunity to improve our language skills.
Kindest regards,
Bruce Weible
I am now 60 but ever since I was at high school, I found having any skills in another language helped me to0 understand so much more in literature, art,music and,yes, even sport. The discipline of learning a language has also proved beneficial to many other aspects of learning. This. and the sheer pleasure of study of language at this stage of my life make the prospect of acquiring a new skill truly exciting!
Hola Marcus,
I have been stumbling around with the same basic spanish skills since high school. I am currently as fluent in spanish as my 2-year-old is in english. I plan on returning to teaching elementary school in California next school year. I would love to have fluent, meaningful conversations with my spanish speaking students and their parents. It would give me the opportunity to provide a better education for my students. I also want to teach my son. I want him to grow up in a broader community - interacting fluently, meaningfully, and confidently.
Learning Synergy Spanish is my dream.
I’m in love with Spanish sound.
I love Spanish songs and Spanish dances.
I love everything that has some connection to Spain.
I wish I could some day speak Spanish as natural Spanish girl, despite I was born in Moskov.
I have been learning Spanish since July 08 and have been using Livemocha website plus Elisabeth Smith material. I am still not very good at making small conversation in Spanish without having to think about what I want to say before I say it and my vocabulary is still very minimal. I have used your freebies and think they are very good and I like the way you explain certain grammar points (I like to know why). The main reason for my interest in this language is because I have a property in Tenerife and visit often. All my utility bills and tax information is all in Spanish and I often feel intimidated because I cannot speak the language. I need to go to the local Town Hall to fill a form in and can’t face going because of the language barrier!!
Hola Marcus,
I am a german native living in England and have been to Tenerife about 15 times during the last 20 years. I have picked up some bits of Spanish now and then, even started taking part in a Spanish conversation class some years ago, but have never mastered speaking fluent Spanish.
Now that I have taken up learning Cuban Salsa I want to learn the background and the names of the figures, I have got a renewed enthusiasm for learning Spanish.
I also create silver jewellery (see website) and would love to add a spanish page to my website, (as well as the german one I am going to add this month!) It would be great for Spanish speakers to be able to access my website!
Muchas gracias
Karin
Hola,hope you had a fantastic new year with your loved ones and that you managed to get some rest.Firstly thank you for the lessons i have been receiving,its really help me to get the basics,secondly as you said,it can or it is exspensive to learn,so whatever lessons iv been getting from you i have been downloading to study.I think its great what you are doing and i wish that it was not so expensive to learn,so thank you for the lessons i have been able to get and good luck.Take care and god bless!
Saludos
Hola Marcus
i would like to learn Spanish for many reason, first of all coz i really like the languange and as i speak french and english i feel it’s very easy for me, but i have no enough time and money to learn it. Second i believe Spanish language is the Third language in the world so it’s very important to learn it and improve it. Third and most important for me now, i’m trying to do business with South America and speaking Spanish will give me a big hand to increase my business , so i’m interested in both category
Category 1 - Synergy Spanish to make your life better
Category 2 - Synergy Spanish to improve the lives of others
i hope my dreams comes true through you
thanks a lot for your vacancies
Many moons ago, I (an Asian American) saw a pair of Spanish eyes from across the classroom. I was the dark rebel dressed in black, she the little foreign princess type. I was the fraternity boy and she was the studious catholic. We were opposites, destined to compliment each other. There was a connection and we both sought it out. Not at first, we had our lives and our time would have to wait. However we became very good friends, often discussing troubles with our current partners as best friends do. Our encounters were always nervous and enthralling, yet comfortable as if we were friends for so long. The laws of attraction, Love, work in mysterious ways. So much time would pass, on and off, the great distance of the Atlantic would separate us, and the cultural and religious differences would challenge us. In time, we prevailed. The rest is history as they say. We built a life together, sought out our dreams, succeeded and became a happy family of four.
My parents came to the United States so many years ago seeking a better life. To this day, every day is a struggle to survive. They were looked down upon, discriminated, abused and taken advantage of. Never have they been able to integrate. They have no education, but they knew what they wanted for their children. They worked hard, like slaves and endured the American dream. Trying to survive, they neglected what else their children needed. But they were providers and they provided. Only now, I realize how much I appreciate what I have. Unfortunately, the damages are done. We rebelled against traditional Chinese culture; we embraced our new American ways. We rejected our language and as time passed, it became more and more difficult to communicate with our own parents, and for them to understand our challenges as outsiders in our world.
As time passed, I sought another life. A life of one that thanks to my Spanish eyes I knew we had. A life that was filled with our family, not the surrogate families of friends. We sought to simplify the complexities of capitalism and the need to consume and pay for everything good. Our destination was Spain. The timing was perfect just before the crash and at the height of the economic strength of Spain. In a strange twist of fate the circumstances of my own life growing up have come full circle. My ability to communicate with my own children and the new friends we have are limited. I thought it would be easy to assimilate. I was educated, I would learn from the mistakes of my parents. Learning another language, another culture is much more challenging than I thought. Incredible how quickly small children adapt, they mimic and they learn at an incredible rate. However for those of us in the upper years, seems like an insurmountable task. We are tainted, set in our ways, imprinted with a base of knowledge that makes “new” difficult to comprehend. Additionally we have a different focus, unlike children their only responsibility is to learn, ours however is “life”.
So this is my story, not so different from those of the past and not so different from those of today. Nevertheless, I hope in more time the challenge of language and culture disappear and I may go on “living” without the challenges we take for granted when we are in our “home town”.
Hi I am a 31 year old female who has been desperately trying to learn spanish since i was 13 years old in secondary. I am from the caribbean and my country has a mixture of people. Today alot of spanish natives froim Venezuela are visiting and alot of them are now migratin to my country.
It has always been my dream to learn the art of spanish and my desire to speak the language fluently. My name is spanish, my family tree on my fathers side is spanish and I cannot communicate with them.
I am now grown and have children of my own . My eldest daughter is doing spanish in school at a junior level and I will like for her to continue, my downfall will not be hers. I will love to learn the Synergy Spanish so that I can uplift myself as well as help my 13 year daughter to have a better appreciation for the language.
I am a hairdresser and need to learn Spanish to be able to communicate with new clients, if I am to be a success.Being able to speak spanish fluently is going to open up a world of opportunity for my daughter/s and I .
Thank You for giving us that chance in the Carribbean.
I love your spanish courses. I am now on Shortcut to Spanish Level 2. Before your course I took Rosetta Stone. I learned alot of words but I still had probelms of making sentences. I also wient to Adult Night School . This is the best and most easiest to learn course. This is just a beautiul way for me to learn. I am retired and I spend most of my time studiying your Spanish. Tnanks for eveything. I am 62 years of age and I cannot get enough. I will continue to learn more. My main problem is that when I read to much my eyes get tired. But I just love your courses. Only one problem. I would like to see the words that I learned from the beginning of the bood to the end of the book repeated over and over so that I can remember them. Just a suggestion. Thanks for everything.
Eleanor Gause
i am living in Jamaica browsing the net i found your website i just took the chance and click on it, learning Synergy Spanish basics has changed my life a lot because i have been talking Spanish to people who i know and reading the prescription in Spanish. i am so happy because i have a friend from Sri Lanka and i am helping her to speak English and at the same time my few Spanish words is helping her too.
Hi,
I bought your synergy spanish course some time ago because I came to La Paz Mexico on holidays. I have since decided to spend most of my year here every year & have many Mexican friends most of whom know a little or a lot of English. They are great task masters & are helping me emensly & it works in reverse. I am a 62 year old lady & seem to be busy all the time. I ride my Harley with several groups of riders & am working on a piece of property here so I have a varied group of friends. I constantly miss dates etc because of my bad Spanish & I am getting very frustrated with my slow progress. I get alot of emails in Spanish & have trouble reading them. I can usually make myself understood but am having trouble understanding them..I keep asking people to speak to me in baby talk & some seem to understand but most do not. I find children are easier to converse with. I think I know more Spanish than I get to use because the conversations go so quickly & I don`t think quick enough to reply. I am in the process of opening my own Co here & desperately need to upgrade my Spanish. Many of my Spanish friends want me to help them with their English, which I am certainly willing to do. The people here are wonderful & a pleasure to be with.
I am married to a Puerto Rican man and when ever we are at his family gatherings I can’t understand what they are saying and it makes me feel really uncomfortable. We travel to Puerto Rico all the time and it would make it so much easier if I spoke the language. His family is always telling me I need to learn spanish. I know a little, but not enough to speak it fluently or to understand everything. I have ordered short cut to spanish level 1 and level 2, but only received 1 CD with level 2 I thought I would have gotten more lCD’s like level 1, I also can’t seem to find my CD’s. I think it is a wonderful course and I would love to win the Synergy Spanish Scholarship . It would really benefit me and make my husband and his famlily really happy if I learned the language fluently.
” How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life? ”
Hola Marcus, I am applying for category 1 scholarship.
Our daughter-in-law is Mexican and canoot speak English well. There is a wide communication gap when my wife and I try to talk to her. Currently we use our son ( a fluent Spanish speaker who studied in University of Salamanca and worked in Mexico for 4 years) to interpret.
We have a grandson now and his first language is going to be Spanish. Hence we need ( at least one of us) to learn simple spoken Spanish to get to know both of them well as they will spend more time with us when our son travels.
I can write Spanish quite well and read El Pais online, using a dictionary. But words, verbs and tenses get mixed up when I try to speak Spanish, making me tongue tied.
Exchanging notes written in Spanish is not a good way to get to know Olivia - and Emiliano as he is growing up.
Hence I hope that I can get your scholarship to study Synergy Spanish.
Saludos - Diip
Ever since I was a boy Ive wanted to travel to South America and meet the lands of the Mayans and Incans. This year I have secured three months off work and plan to head south starting from Mexico and travelling by bus and local transport as far as I can go in that time, visiting local villages and ruins hoping to make many good friends along the way.
So for me personally your scholarship would provide me with the necessay tools I will need to be able to better communicate with the wonderful people of Latin America and improve my chances of really connecting with local people along the way.
I sincerely hope this trip is just the first of many.
William - Sydney, Australia
Wow, there are so many entering that I know I won’t have a chance but here goes. I want to be able to teach the bible to those who speak the Spanish language. The Spanish language is very beautiful. Where I live on the west coast their are many Spanish speaking people. When you can speak Spanish you can help by interpreting at the hospital, at tax office etc. I once took a friend to the hospital to help her. When trying to interpret I was sadly lacking. I felt so useless and inadequate.
I’ve been through many courses, including college on and off. Finally a program that is immersing me fully - I am excited and hopeful. Learning a second language will open doors and invite relationships with others that was not possible due to language barriers. I am staying with a program finally - all the way, thanks to Synergy. I am not frustrated anymore.
So I can speak to my wife.
Dear Synergy,
It is very good opportunity and for all the right reasons your scholarship is offering.
I am from Asia and am not sure that this offer valid for me, but nevertheless I would like to try as not trying is a blockage to me from realizing my real self and goal.
Learning Spanish has always been my aims as I am a language lover, but learning it in my country which do not offer much opportunity and cost wise, it has been a wall in my mind.
By getting this scholarship, I hope to show it to my family, friends and country men that things do happen when we want it hard enough and never waver in our own belief.
I know by realizing this opportunity, I would be a better person trying to serve and indirectly spread a love for the language in my own countries men.
Trying might lead to a more tiring road, but not trying to realize my dream is like euthanasia to my dreams.
Wish all the others all the best though and may the best person realize it.
My reason for learning spanish was originally to be able to order a beer and food while vacationing in Cuba. This has led to a life changing experience for myself and my family.We were fourtunate to be invited to our bartender’s home for dinner during vacation.We all were suffering from the language barrier but enjoyed ourselves immensley. This has led to many more visits and my use of synergy spanish.We communicaite quite well although I need more ear training.It is remarkable how things we take for granted are treasured by a somewhat oppressed society, soap ,rubber ,paper, pens and medicines.It has become my obssesion now to try and help myfriends in Cuba.In Canada airlines will allow you to take a bicycle free on vacation. this past November we took two bikes and gave them to our friends. It was like giving them a car, something they could only dream of obtaining. To feel their true gratitude and love was so rewarding ,something not all that common in today, society. I have vowed to speak spanish with them on our next trip so your kindness would greatly be appreciated by all of us. Thank you.
Hello Sir, Well I’ve never done anything like this before, so here I go. I’m not a young man . Viet Nam disabled vet, livining on not enough to get by in the USA. I’ve been living heren in the high desert lands in the state of Zac. MX for a few years and met a young woman and fell in love. We were married last year and will be having a baby boy early in March. She speaks some English and has a 13 yr old boy . He isn’t happy about us . Living his whole life in one rm. with his Mom In her Parents house with three of her younger brothers. I was just getting by alone ,now I have my new younger wife her son and our new baby on the way. What I’ve seen of your course seem so interesting and easy to use and learn with even for an older vet like me with a basic education. I tried a disk and it wasen’t any good it was for a child but it was hard for me not like what I’ve seen with your course. She has four other brothers that are married with children. I can’t talk enough to say very much . She can’t always translate what they are trying to say. I’m the older American their only daughter married and no one can talk to him and he can only talk to her. I need to be able to talk to her son and our baby,her family . Your course would in rich so many lives and families. My life would be transformed in every way, we rent have a car older than she is! I’m just one of those soldiers that served his country got a hand full of different injuries and now he can’t live in his own country on the pention he get. Yes your Synery courses would change our lives and help take away one of my handy caps I believe your Synery courses are the only help I can get to be able to help myself. I need so much assistance in every day life to just get by, that your courses would change our world here in Mexico and deepley touch so lives beside mine. They say now he is part of our family why dosen’t he want to learn to be part of us . This is a case that needs help alright I don’t speak any other languages and only have a basic education but what i’ve seen of your course even I can be able to speak Spanish . Thanks in advance for taking the time to read ,my needed reasons why for me and for others. You have a great gift to the education world to but this together for someone like me to think he can due it. Airborne , All the way.
Dear Marcus,
It is very difficult to fully express in words what learning Spanish would mean to me. Spanish is apart of me, apart of my culture and yet for most of my life it has felt out of my reach. My dad was an immigrant from Mexico to the US. My mom is Spanish. My dad was very proud of our culture but he saw kids in our neighborhood struggle with “broken English”- speaking English mixed with Spanish and he thought it would make it easier on me to learn English first. He wanted me to learn Spanish and thought I would just learn later, when I was older. I wish it could have been that easy, unfortunately, “later” never came.
I, being Mexican and Spanish, my family on both sides speak Spanish and I have always lived in Spanish speaking neighborhoods. I lived the culture and I looked like everyone else but still did not belong because of my language barrier. Learning Spanish was something I wanted ever since I could remember, since I was a little girl playing with friends or spend time with relatives that I couldn’t communicate with. Numerous times through my life I have had Mexican people, like me, talk to me in Spanish expecting that I would understand, expecting I could help. You don’t know how bad it felt to have to say time and time again “I’m sorry, I don’t speak Spanish.” And the look on their faces every time was the hardest to take. Just another reminder of how I didn’t belong, that I wasn’t honoring my heritage by speaking the language. It wasn’t for a lack of trying. I grew up watching Spanish TV and my mom’s novelas, understanding so much but I couldn’t speak it to save my life. I have tried every method and course imaginable and each one left me feeling like it was hopeless, like the time for me to learn had passed me by.
Until I found your method.
Your teaching method has truly given me hope. Your method is the only one that has ever made sense to my mind. There are so many courses out there, that I have wasted money on. They make big promises and when you’re done you find you barely “get by” in the language, like a tourist. I have no interest in being a tourist speaker. I want to truly master the language. I want to live with Spanish in my everyday life no matter where I live. Your course holds a common goal to my own- language fluency and dominance. Your way of teaching is so in tune with how people’s minds work and learn. So much so, that what is taught becomes more like second nature and less like the usual struggle, trying to extract from your mind the words to communicate effectively. Without that “second nature” element to learning, I believe true fluency will always elude language learners. Other courses lack the tools that are necessary to become truly fluent and “advanced”. I love your method and will never use another. I have every course book you have released and would love to complete your other courses but right now I can’t afford to continue with Bola de Nieve or sign up for Spanish Ear Training because my husband has been unemployed.
So, what would learning Spanish mean to me? It would mean I would never again have to turn away someone that needs my help and I can open the door for so many other opportunities to serve my Latino community. It means being able to connect to my heritage, to people in my culture and neighborhood and feel like I belong. It means never having to utter those dreaded words ever again- “I’m sorry I don’t speak Spanish”. It would mean never having to see that disapproving expression on some ones face and feeling that same disappointment in myself. I have now seen my daughter have to do the same. People automatically speaking Spanish to her and her having to say she doesn’t understand. Learning Spanish would mean that my daughters could also learn the language while they are still little and they would never have to feel the same disappointment I have.
When I was 14 years old my dad was on vacation and told me the following week we were going to Mexico for my sister and I to visit my family there for the first time. He told me it was very important that we meet them and see where we come from. I can’t tell you how excited I was to go. My parents would have to translate of course, but I would finally meet the people from the letters, pictures and phone calls and see Mexico for myself. It would have been a special trip. Three days after my dad told me we were going he past away suddenly from a massive stroke. As you can imagine, that had a huge impact on my life and made my goal all that more meaningful to me. Learning Spanish would mean fulfilling a wish my dad had for me, one that I also have for my children and myself. I would finally be able to visit my family and feel closer to my dad when we can talk together and share each other’s memories of him. It would mean honoring my father and our heritage. It would mean fulfilling a lifetime goal and dream. It would mean forever being filled with gratitude for the ability I have been given and the desire to use it to the good of those around me. This is what learning Spanish would mean to me and I know in my heart your method is the path I have to take to get there.
Thank you for your consideration, work and generosity,
Linda Sappington
I am a mother of two, I live in Canada. I have made a “bucket list”. things I would love to have done before I die. Learn how to play the Guitar, learn sign language, and become fluent in Spanish. I have taken lessons at the college, I have tought myself stuff online. But I am struggling with Spanish. Where I live, there is not very many spanish people. Everything I have ever wanted in life has always excaped me for one reason or another. I am desperatly trying to make sure this is not another one. I want to learn another language for alot of reasons.
To meet new people, to help others, to advance my career, to teach my son, so he may have the chance to learn this beautiful language and meet people from another ethnic background.
I could go on and on.
Please help me finish the most useable item on my bucket list..
Sincerly Donna
To have a chance to learn how to speak and understand Spanish through Synergy Spanish Course is a dream come true. My life will never be the same again…because I will be able to go out there with confidence speaking Spanish fluently - and with that I owe to you Mr Marcos Santamaria. I would like to have the Bola de Nueve in the CD if that is possible. Thank you this brillant course you develope.
Living in Spain for 4 years,and 2 years of lessons,I still can’t hold a conversation with my Spanish collegues, and friends.The Spanish people are so very kind to me and especially when My Dog died. to be able to help them and other people in the way they help me, would make me feel very proud. it would also be a fantastic help in my work.. . so here’e hoping I may be a lucky winner, ( I have never won anything before) maybe 2009 will be the first.
Hallo,
I`m norwegian,and my daughter have moved to Spain for a couple of years ago. Now it seems that she will stay there,because after a year she met a boy,and now they live togather in Barcelona. While I was visiting Barcelona I found out that there are not many people who speak english in that aerea. When I came home again, I started to go on spanish classes. I`v been doing that for a year and a half now. All my free time I am studing spanish,but it is very difficult.
I have downloaded some of your free lessons,and feel it seems easier to learn that way. The reason for not buying your course even thow i want to, is that its complicated paying over net in norwegian money. Hope to win one course of you, so that in my next time in Spain I will be able to comunicate with people,And the family of my “son in law” Love Astrid
Learning Synergy Spanish will help me to effectively work with underprivileged children in Latin American countries.
I would love to learn spanish because it is a language that i admire so well. I only speak and understand english right now and I think to function properly in the global world you need more than one language. And spanish happens to be my own choice of a second language amongst others.
Thanks
I would love to learn spanish because it is a language that i admire so well. I only speak and understand english right now and I think to function properly in the global world you need more than one language. And spanish happens to be my own choice of a second language amongst others. I also look forward to studyng in Spain
Thanks
i would really like to learn spanish because not only will it give me lots of opportunities in life i also really love spanish its something i like to do whenever i have spare time i always try to learn something newand well of course since i discovered your website i’ve learnt a whole lot from it i’m also really encouraged and i hope i can take it further so i too can one day become a spanish teacher
I spent the Summer of 2008 in Cusco Peru, where I volunteered with children in an after school project (http://www.aldeayanapay.org/) I arrived there without a word of Spanish, whilst there I took two weeks classes of Spanish and studied from various books throughout my time there. Because of my lack of Spanish my tasks with the children were mostly games or art as you can get by without much verbal communication in these. I have continued to try and learn Spanish. I want to return to Peru this year again, but hopefully on this occasion have a much better understanding of the language and be able to communicate freely with everyone. This would also enable me to volunteer in lots of different projects with children of all ages and communicate properly! There were many occasions when I thought I was saying one thing in Spanish & the kids would be in convulsions laughing as I would be saying something completely off the walls!!!
I work with spanish speaking people in a medical enviroment and need someone to help with forms etc,. I would like to be able to talk more with my patients and their parents by myself. I aso do mission trips to spanish speaking countries and it would be of great help there. Thanks for the free lessons I have used. It has helped but I need more. Darlene
Hi!
My husband and I are missionaries in Ecuador. I need to learn much more Spanish and know that your programs work very well. It would benefit me to learn for safety reasons as well as make it much easier to deal with some of the situations we deal with here in order to help others. I guess I am actually answer both questions in one. Knowing Spanish well will benefit me by making more me more available to counsel persons here and will benefit others because we are want to have classes that will help people obtain better jobs and help in their homes. There are so many different aspects of the ministry, and there are so many people that just need someone to care about them. We help at a deaf school for children and are actively working with young people as well.
I know that your programs would help me and those whom I may be able to help greatly. The reason I know your programs work is because I bought your first program ‘Synergy Spanish’ and is what communication skills I have now, but I really need to continue learning.
Thank you for making these courses, the way you explain things and your positive attitude make it seem possible to really learn Spanish! I love living here in Ecuador and I love the people, I just need to know how to better communicate with them.
Thank you,
Kim
A few years back I began to have epileptic seizures. The drugs to control this are strong and unfortunately make remembering difficult but of course I need to keep my mind active and learning as this will keep the drug’s effects on my memory to a minimum. With the cost of health care in the US my husband and I must move to a country we can better afford and that in our case will be south of the US border. In a way this is no great hardship as we love Mexico and have visited there in the past but I don’t want to be completely isolated with the lack of language AND the lack of ability to drive. I have done your first course and it was wonderful for me. I could go over it again and again which I did. Doing the follow ups would be tremendously helpful to me for a whole variety of reasons. Thanks for even having the idea of the scholarships !
Learning Spanish would make our trips to spain more enjoyable and less frustrating. You cant imagine how desparate i feel trying to communicate with our spanish friends with a dictionary in hand and not managing to express myself properly.
I will learn spanish in 2009!!
Reason #1: My husband is 4th generation American born Hispanic. His family, for several generations now have felt that the English language was extremely important to their success and discouraged Spanish speech with their young. We, Raul and I, love to visit Mexico and do so every year. We both have picked up a few words with your downloaded classes and also each time we go but would love to speak confidently with the people there.
Reason #2: I am Reiki II certified and am also trained in EFT. My goal here is to share these healing modalities with as many people as I can. I think people with fewer “blessings” on this planet deserve inexpensive and/or free healing. If I understood the language better, I believe I could teach self healing EFT to many who need it. I would love to help Raul overcome this childhood instilled blockage to the language (using EFT) and then add your lessons to that gift. We have a small and growing community of Hispanic people here in our little town. We have often talked of working with them but feel discouraged by the language barrier.
I’am a pensioner and I have moved to Spain to live.
I have had no langauge training before so it would be a big achivement to learn spanish and as I live in a spanish community it would help me with all sorts of paper work and to be able to speak with my lovely neighbours
best wishes
Joyce
I have been unsuccessfully trying to learn Spanish for many years. The little bit of progress that I have had, has not been enough to make a real difference in my life. I find that I can not gain enough knowledge to push my language skills to the next level. At my previous job there was real need for a Spanish Speaking Teller. I was trying very hard but could not even get close to the level of fluency that was needed for the position. Now that I work for a communications company the need for fluent Spanish speakers is even greater. In my office of about 200 people there are only 4 bi-lingual coordinators. I am studying books and flash cards but I am still not making enough headway. I can understand some spoken language, but can not speak enough back to the client to affectively fulfill their needs. Successfully mastering a new language would improve my earning potential for life.
In my personal life I have yearned to be able to fully understand Spanish because I lend my support to a Spanish congregation in my area. I tried this avenue because it worked for my sibling who has become very fluent and now lives internationally. The members are very patience with me. But most often they revert back to speaking English in my presence. I really want to be able to submerge myself in the Spanish community because my life is already so affected by the culture and the language. My husband also has an interest in Spanish. I would love to be able to help him learn through my own personal progress and mastery.
I feel that I am the perfect candidate for this scholarship because despite set backs and disappointments, I am still very dedicated to learning Spanish. I think that a new approach will be the gas that I need to go all the way to fluency. My life would be more enriched by better more fulfilling opportunities in my company and others. I would also be able to take a more active part in my Spanish congregation. Lastly I would be able to have the freedom of movement that my siblings have. I want the confidence to travel and live abroad. Through enriching my life with language I will be empowered with the ability to help others do the same.
Thank you for your consideration,
N. Anita Ponder
All my life I’ve been involved in voluntary work, mainly with people who have learning disabilities or experienced abuse. If I won the Synergy Spanish, thIs would mean I could then go out into the Spanish community and offer my experience, knowledge and skills voluntarily. And most importantly - be able to speak with them in their native language fluently (rather than in my native Scottish tongue).
Thank you Marcus
learning Spanish is a challenge I would like to take on so I can travel the Spanish countries and understand the latin culture. I would like to master Spanish and be able to speak it fluently. Your lessons are remarkable! Your way of teaching unique. I have tried normal classes and extension courses but none match your way of administring the lectures.
I live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and have been learning Spanish. I have been enjoying the information that I have gotten through your web site and want to thank you for making it available. I go to a Conversation for Amigos “class” in the local library here in SMA 2 times per week. I have been helping as many Mexicans as possible to develop more English language skills as they are also helping me. I would like to be able to help more people by developing more skills through more knowledge of your program. I hope that you will consider me for your scholarship plan so that I may more fully understand and share the beautiful and interesting language of Spanish. Thank you.
Hi there
My name is Mona and im from Norway. The reason why i should win, well there is probably people taht deserve tp win more than me. But i hope im one of the lucky ones. My dream is to learn spanish before my spanish exam in may 2009, so that I can finish my studies an become a nurse. I really want to work as a nurse in latin amerika, but the language is keeping me from my dream.
Saludus Mona
Thank you for this opportunity Marcus,
I am trying to learn Spanish on my own….and I am slowly learning. He ensenada el espanol a mi….jajajajajajaja. ( I love to laugh in Spanish!!!!) However, I sometimes am afraid that I will not learn enough….soon enough. You see, I believe God has called me to go to Mexico and do missions work. The time frame that I have is approximately 2 1/2 years. I want to be ready to communicate with the people in Mexico and to be able to accomplish what God has for me to do there when God tells me the time has come to go. I am hoping to be self supporting while living there…and I pray that God can use my talents and abilities.
Thank you for your consideration…
Espero Dios te cuide y te bendiga grandemente,
Allen
Learning Spanish would make both my life better, and the lives of others better. 3 years ago we began going down to Mexico to help out at an orphanage - my husband in construction and myself in the medical field. Since then, we have built up some very special relationships with many Mexican’s who live down there. We have been able to adopt a girl who will be graduating this June and then we will be able to bring her up to Canada so that she can go to College up here. Our son is now working at an elementary school in Mexico teaching English and dating a beautiful Mexican girl. We are also in the process of trying to sponsor 2 men to come and work at our shop.
To be able to communicate with our new family and friends would be such a priveledge. Right now it is so difficult as our Spanish is limited, as is their English. It is difficult for me to take classes, as money is tight and I work most evenings -living in a smaller community, that is the only time a class is offerred.
If I knew Spanish, I would be able to work with and speak to the people in the migrant work camps when we go out and do health clinics…often times we do not have enough translators and this makes communitcating important details about their medications etc challenging.
So far, I have been learning from your free lessons that you offer, and have found them to be such an easy method of learning.
Thanx so much for all you are offerring.
Sandi
Hola Marcus,
I would say quite a response. I certainly did not have the time to look at many of the comments.
I’m living in Patzcuaro Mexico, I had 2 years of Spanish 1 when I was in high school, only was passed if I promised to not take Spanish II. At the time it seemed like a deal made in heaven.
Now living in Mexico, maybe it was more like a deal with the devil. My partner works in the local soup kitchen and she speaks less Spanish than I do, I help out now and then so I can see if I could speak better Spanish, we would be in a better position to help some of the locals that really need it.
So that’s my idea on helping others, I’m not sure how I would expand on that, but I think the possibilities are great. Of course learning Spanish would enhance my own life greatly.
Saludos
Jack
Hola Marcus,
I am a teacher’s aide at a public elementary school with many Spanish
speaking children. Synergy Spanish will enable me to help them break
through frustrating isolation and discouragement. They are hungry to learn.
I earn the minimum hourly dinero, but my reward is the light on a child’s
face when they find joy in learning.
Marcus, it is a treasure multiplied if you remove every barrier and allow me
access to Synergy Spanish. When students discover that I am learning along
with them, the light comes on and their enthusiasm is multiplied.
Feliz año nuevo,
Richard McIntyre
Teacher’s Aide
Powers-Ginsburg Elementary
110 East Swift
Fresno, California 93704
Dear Marcus; Hi, my name is Susan. Reading some of there entries has warmed my heart. My story is a simple one. I love the Spanish language. I am a stay at home mother of 3 little toddlers and have just started my own travel business “5 Starr Travel”. Learning spanish would allow my businness to blossom… I have tried CD Courses and learned a small anount, but not enough to have a conversation. I would also like to place my children in to spanish courses once they start school, my understanding of the language would strengthen there’s. As a mother my highest hopes are for my childrens future, and being multi lingual is an asset.
thank you for your consideration,
Susan Lewis
Ontario Canada
Hola Marcus,
First, Muchisima gracias!! I am so glad that now I can understand at least a line in each conversation my colleagues use. I am working for a humanitarian organisation with country offices in various countries around the world and headquarters in Barcelona. I desire to learn Spanish so as to serve the less fortunate better. Most - three quarters of the communication that goes on between the country office and head office is in Spanish. I spend much time trying to understand exactly what is being communicated. Ihope to learn Spanish so as to spend more time working with the less fortunate in Africa, where I am based.
Buenos dias, gracias Marcus.
Hi learningspanish would really change my life. I am getting married in July to a mexican and i am having a really hard time making spanish sentences. It would really help me as most of his family speak spanish and it’s really hard to communicate with them. I mean they really love me but when i go over to there house and they are all talking i’m just the one sitting in the corner. I can understand spanish, it’s just making sentences is what is hard for me. I would really like to learn before my wedding so i could write my vows in spanish and me able to say them aswell. I think it would also help me to fit in with his family better and would help me on my honeymoon when we go to mexico to visit the family that could not make it to our wedding.
Thank you for your consideration
Christine Smith
Alberta, Canada
Learning Spanish will help me speak with my boyfriend’s family who dont speak a word of english! (not to mention being able to speak to my boyfriend in his native language etc)
i really enjoyed your first lesson. It made sentence structure easy. I am from Chicago. My wife is from Spain. We recently moved there to keep her job. I am an electrician/carpenter by trade. However because of the language barrier, I am teaching conversational English. It’s funny because the same is true with learning English. It has helped my students as well. I am able now to talk with the people of Spain. Although listening is very difficult and I really need some help with this. I understand the differences with the America’s Spanish and Spanish from Spain. The advanced listening lesson sounds great! As well lesson 2-3. I would love the opportunity to show how well your course works in all countries. My friends saw an immediate change. Claro sí, money is tight for everyone. However, I read many good reason for others to receive the course. I wish for them all to receive it! Thank you for your consideration! Eric Stadtherr
Hola Marcus y Buenos Dias!
Learning Spanish would comprehensively transform my life as I have a Mexican Girlfriend, who one day will hopefully become my Wife. My dream is to visit her Family in Mexico City and to be able to converse fluently in Spanish, subsequently culminating in affirming my relationship with them, entwined with her group of friends. We may eventually emigrate to Latin America, therefore, it’s fundamental for me to master my linguistics, to be accepted Culturally, for personal esteem also for the Heritage and Nurture of our Children, when they are eventually brought into this World!! I have been learning Spanish sporadically within the last 18 months, this frustrating me that I haven’t advanced as much as I’d like. I visit Barcelona frequently to spend quality time with my Girlfriend and experience difficulties with Speaking and Understanding the language (despite the Catalan Dialect).
Providing me with this opportunity will strengthen our relationship further, enabling me to also teach English successfully to Spanish Children!!
Ojalas que un dia mi sueno sera mi realidad!!
Muchas Gracias mi amigo por todo tu ayudar!
Ciao
Julian
Marcus, I’m 62 years old. I have established a demonstration farm in Honduras for the Chorti Maya Indians and taught agriculture in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. My spanish needs much, much improvement. If I could communicate better many more people could potentially have a better life. I do study spanish every day, but progress is very slow. I like your approach to learning and would put your material to benefit many people. Thanks, Conley Williams
Hola Marcus,
After reading some of the messages here, I don´t think I should get the scholarship but I would just like to make a few comments. There are so many good reasons for winning the scholarship like humanitarian and missionary work in Spanish-speaking countries. I am a grandmother with a son-in-law and 2 grandchildren that speak Spanish. They live in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood in Puerta Vallarta. We spend the winter months with them helping with housework, laundry, cooking, baking and shopping and babysitting. Our neighbors do not speak English and most of the people in their church are Spanish-speaking. My husband and I struggle to learn Spanish, but we enjoy the challenge. I am still working through your first course as well as some of the one my husband bought. I like your approach as well as your involvement with your students. BTW I hope you and your family are enjoying your new home in Australia. Your children will likely develop an Aussie accent if you stay there for any length of time. I have friends there too.
Thanks for keeping in touch, even tho´ I am very slow with learning. Hasta luego. Betty
Hola Marcus,
Puede ayudarme por favor ? I live in Andalucia and after 8 years of trying to learn spanish, not failing dismally, but struggling with “Andaluz” I need help. I have spanish friends who I would dearly love to have a fluent conversation with, luckily for me they are very forgiving and have a good sense of humor. I have received your e-mails and have found your sinergy spanish method an excellent option. I hope you will consider me for your C-1 scholarship prize, It would make a massive change to my life and stop me pestering my children for help.
un abrazo
Feliz año nuevo
Denise
I would like to learn Spanish because more and more spanish and mexicans has moved into our community. I want to be friendly and understand their culture. I really have a desire to share the Word of God becase there are not alot of Spanish churches in our area. My biggest foe is i’m nearly 60 years old and my memory is not what is used to be.Thanks for reading my comment.
I have worked overseas for many years for a UK tour operator. The benefits and experience that comes from working in various different countries are second to none. However it can be very unsettling as you are never in one place for very long and you soon lose your sense of belonging, the tourism industry can also be quite bitchy so you live your life in a stressfull environment. As a result of this I feel very lost in my own life and have been suffering with depression, I need a goal to focus on. I am embarassed that I have worked in many spanish speaking destinations and yet still cannot speak spanish as it is much quicker to get things done conversing in english rather than trying it makes you lazy. So this scholarship would give me the opportunity to learn spanish, give me something to aim for and hopefully at the end a sense of achievement. From what I have seen of Marcus’ teaching methods this is exactly what I have been looking for as I have struggled with more traditional methods and this has also knocked my confidence. When I can converse fluently in spanish I would be able to work outside of the UK tourism industry which would be much nicer and more rewarding I would also be able to immerse myself in the local culture something that I haven’t done fully before as I have always felt unable to do so because of the language barrier. I would also be able to help the local community more as I have found that when I cannot communicate properley I feel I may come across as patronizing which is not the case at all and this makes me feel awkward. Thank you.
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for allowing a wee “Scottish Grannie” the opportunity to take part in your offer of help to learn Spanish. I have been trying (with your help) for some time now, alas struggling a lot, (my fault of course), I think it must be, as we say here in Scotland “auld age” and perhaps a little frustration.
I did live in Spain for a time, but found it very difficult to find an amiga, as the place we were at was mostly English speaking (how sad is that), so, hard, as I tried, I could not find anyone. As I now live back in Scotland not much chance of finding a Spanish amiga here, but I do visit Spain whenever I have the opportunity.
I am a Psychic/Medium/Paranormal Researcher and would dearly love to be able to share my experiences with Spanish speaking people, as I think they are very spiritual and have a lot to share with others.
Keep my fingers crossed that I am in with a shout.
All the very best to you and your family.
Adios or “cheerio the noo”. xx
Beatrice, Scotland.
Dear Marcus
My family heritage generates back to Spain. When i was little my koro (grandfather) use to speak to me in the language. I have always wanted to learn Spanish growing more so know for my koro and what he gave me. I also work for a training provider and we have alot of international students coming over from chilli, Brazil, south America region.
I love and enjoy the culture, even when we have a reunions (family). It makes me feel alive and in another world. Be able to speak Spanish would be an achievement and delight, to finally say I DID IT, I CAN DO IT. It would fill my heart with much joy and delight, also as a memory to my Koro (Joseph Manuel).
Gracias Marcus
Christina
Christchurch
New Zealand
dear marcus
me and my spanish wife along with our two young children have just relocated to her home city of bilbao in northern spain. to be closer to her family and also our children will have not just english and spanish taught to them naturally but the basque language aswell. i thought i was prepared for it but it is completely different to what i expected. and now i just seem to have no confidance when my wife is not around . i need your help!
mucho gracias marcus
Hola Marcus
I have been studying Spanish since September 2007 at my local Community College. The reason for this is that I have developed a strong friendship with a family in Vitoria, Spain. I visited Spain for 3 weeks in April 2008 with my girlriend who teaches english as a second language to Spanish students. It is through her program that I made friends with a young student and his family. I just returned from a second visit to Spain celebrating dia del reyes with this family.
All this to say that there is a mutual adoption here…I have adopted this family and they have adopted me. The recent visit I met many family and friends of my host family….it was truly an immersion experience. I now want to become fluent in Spanish and seem to have come to a blockage. I am comfortable in a room of people speaking Spanish and I keep hoping that at some point my ears will “open up” and understand the conversation.
I would love to win your contest and have more experience in a supportive environment to learn to become fluent…to not only respond in Spanish with my trusty diccionario but to hear and think in Spanish.
I have the goal and the opportunity…now I need the next step…your programs.
Rose Anne
HOLA, marcus. Como le va? Tengo cincuenta y nueve anos (I can’t even make my PC insert the tilde). I have a bad heart since 2003, and I am disabled to work. I have been studying spanish really heard since I had to quit work. I also don’t have dinero mucho, and I thought if I could learn spanish, there would be a great need for an interpreter here in Tuscaloosa, AL., with the spanish population growing so fast. They need help in the Court System, In Health System,and community. But, as other students have also found out, it is very hard to learn a language when there is no one to converse with you. I have spent hours in front of my PC, reading and listening to free spanish courses, only to realize I am missing something. Spanish Ear Training is the thing I need most, but I can’t afford the prices for the courses. But, since I have read the Blogs here, I can see that there is a hugh number of young people who are in greater need than I to recieve your language gift. Therefore, I wish them luck with your contest.Thanks.
Hi Marcus,
I just want to thank you for all the email support you have sent me over the last year and a half whilst i have been studying your short cut to spanish courses and synergy spanish, which have been a great help while trying to master the spanish language.
My dream is to be able to open my mouth and confidently have conversations with the spanish my spanish friends that i have got to know over the last few years, some of which do not speak any english. One of the problems i have is that i tend to blank alot and cannot find the words to express what i want to say, another is that i have an acute hearing problem which causes me not to here high tones well, and if there are alot of people around me talking all at once i cannot here the person talking to me. These two problems cause me to miss hearing a question and at times hearing whats being said at all and after grassping what i can i try to answer and either the wrong words come out or none at all.
What ever help i can get, would be a tremendous benefit to me.
Thanks again.
Laura.
Two and three year old speak better English than I speak Spanish. I am 75 years old.
I would love to speak fluent Spanish so I could interact with all the Latin members in my church and be able to reach out to those whose English is scant or zero; and, be able to share Jesus with them and help them to know God.
So many people have such a heavy accent I get lost after the first couple of words. I was raised mostly in Texas and learning Mexican Spanish would be a joy.
Thank you for this opportunity to enter this contest.
Shirley
Spanish used to be “all Greek” to me. But with Synergy Spanish I have been able to relate to this language and soon started to appreciate its fine rhythm, efficiency and richness. So there is no stopping me now until I am able to read Cervantes’ Don Quixote, Gabriel García Márquez and others; I think I’ll stop short of Borges…
Before that, I want to learn enough to be able to speak to my wife’s family in Spanish (even if it is the Buenos Aires version). Just now I am looking forward to talk to the new generation - a bunch on “ninos” in this extended family that are all around three years old, I should right now be able to cope at that level…
All this should bring quite some positive change into my life!
I work at a police department and I can’t tell you how many times I have been in situations where knowing Spanish could of helped me help someone else. It would of been so awesome if I could of stepped up and translated and got the situation resolved faster. I work in a community that has thousands of spanish speaking citizens. My goal is to be able to help these citizens out with little things like directions to their desired destination to big things like helping a lost child get back home. Just being able to greet people in the morning at a Circle K or Coffee shop is so much fun to me. I really love the spanish language and desire to know it so much better.
Thank you so much, Marcus, for all the free Spanish lessons and the inexpensive prices for everything else. I’ve really enjoyed them and have learned a lot. And giving these scholarships is a very generous offer. My reason for wanting to win the scholarship is simple - my husband lost his job last August, and we’re having to cut back on things. Learning Spanish is something I do just because I want to, so it’s difficult to justify spending any more money on Spanish lessons. I realize this doesn’t compare to the entries I’ve read above and that you’re only giving two, so my request is this: please continue emailing us bonus and sample lessons. They are wonderful and so appreciated! Thanks again! Have a terrific day!
I work in and live in a community with many Spanish-speaking people. I work full time at the YMCA, a non profit organisation that provides financial assistance to those in need for a variety of different things. These people are often turned away or told to make a separate visit to a business when a Spanish-speaking person is available. This happens at my Y and I see it every where I go … the YMCA to arrange for childcare, the library to acquire a library card, the post office to mail a package or purchase a money order. I feel compelled to help but my Spanish is less than primo and I am afraid of telling a person the wrong thing. …! All the other (1000s) of reasons have already been submitted!
Hi Marcus
I have just moved to Mexico15 months ago with my family.My wife is from Mexico no problem there,my oldest son is six & doing realy well in his spanish no problem there,my youngest son is three & doing well picking up English & Spanish.So the problem is me i am finding it so hard to understand what people are saying to me & hard to have a conversation as i know little Spanish & lack confidence to speak in Spanish.Speaking Spanish will change my life from been isolated to into grating with my extended family & the community around me,also when my sons talk Spanish with my wife i could be part of it.
How will it help others.It will help my wife in two ways,one she wont feel like the only adult in the family when we go out,two it will help with the running of our small business.Exp talking with clients.It will help my mother in law as she dosnt speak English & why should she.The list of changes are endless but over all it will mean a new beging & to feel at home.
Gracias
David
I have been looking at Spanish for a long time,Iwould use it to help me do Missionary work, in other Cuountries. I could also speak to spanish Church members.I also speak German.
Thank you
E,Christen
Hi Marcus,
I have been trying to self-teach myself Spanishfor 6-12 months now and I haven’t really gotten any where with it, and as I am a High school student I don’t have the money to afford a tudor, or to puchase something like this.
I have a friend who I talk to over the internet that lives in Spain. He knows enough English so we can communicate, and he has gotten me interested in learning Spanish. I would love to end up going to Spain to meet him one day, but I wouldn’t feel there be any point to it, if I can’t speak Spanish, because I wouldn’t be able to communicate.
I only know very little now, but I really need help to learn. I don’t know enough to actually speak anything, or I might but I’m afraid of making a mistake, or saying a whole lot of random words because I got mixed up. I would love to be able to speak fluent Spanish, and then maybe try another language after, as I would love to travel around Europe later on. So I would love to have an opportunity to learn fluent Spanish
Thank you
Amy
Hola Marcus,
Como esta Usted? All the best to you, your family and your spanish team for the New Year and may the Lord continue to bless and keep you all throughout the year in good health and strength. Thank you for the good work that you have started, it is an encouragement to us all to learn spanish. I am happy for the opportunity through your scholorship to further my spanish learning. I have been always interested in learning spanish tried it before but never was successful due to the way it was taught not at school but by this wonderful lady who has a passion for teaching others. I started studying with you and I have come a long and I am enjoying it I will be grateful for the opportunity if I am chosen to be a receipient of one of your scholorships. I live on a caribbean island and I am of a mixed race and half of my relatives including my grandparents live in Venezuela and I am unable to communicate with them because of the language barrier. I dont visit often because of that reason, the last time I was there it was in 1990 but I would like to see them again soon. Thank you for being a wonderful human being with a passion for others like me who has this great need in our lives. God Bless.
Marcus,
I have been in a relationship with a Peurto Rican for 10 years and he is fluent in both English and Spainish. I have visited his family twice in Peurto Rico and although his sister and father both speak English, I am unable to communicate with his mother. She is a wonderful person who is committed to her family. I do not expect any of them to adjust for me, it is their heritage and I want to be a part of it. My fiance does not have the patience to teach me and I have tried two different Spainish CD learniing methods and I cannot get my tongue around the sounds. In addition, my grandchildren have given me all of their notes from the Spainish they are learning in school. The Latino population in my state of S.C. continues to grow; learning Spainish would be an asset in my personal and professional life. I, like many others live week-to-week and am unable to purchase your lessons; I have previewed them and would look forward to the instruction if I were chosen.
Hi Marcus
I would very much like to win the spanish lessons as i have little money to buy them. I live in Tenerife where most people speak english so it is difficult to learn spanish. I try to speak to the locals but i have no confidence. I am 53 year old women and the lessons would greatly help me thanks Jan
Hi Marcus,
I am Dede, study german as a foreign language (Deutsch als Fremdsprache) and i should do my practise in teaching german for Indonesian. Many didactics methods i have been reading and learning, but i had not found the simple ones, in which i can teach easy and my learners can learn easy and fast. My olny one problem: the leaner did not ever practise all what they have learned, it means, what i have taught was useless and the result said: C minus for me, i was not good at teaching!
I was stressed. depressed and wanted have fun with any new language to „forget“ my german, it was spanish, by coincidence i browsed google and found how to learn spanish with synergy. I read it and tried to understand it. It works, i got the spanish easy and i have tried to use the synergy in my german class, it works too! The leraners can learn german happyly, easy and quickly. The most important: they can use their german now! The methods of Marcus Samanta helps me for lives, and my professor has said „you are the best teacher!“ and therefor i have gotten a scholarship to take a sommer course in Germany and found some friends from Spain, Equador and Mexico. It was unbelievable that i could practise my spanish with them and we are now good friends. Pero aun necesito aprender el buen español mucho más, porque acaba de ayudarme para combiar mi vida. Muchas Gracias, Marcus. Eres mi Héroe!
Dede
I am planning on becoming a member or HERO Holidays. In am minute you go to under developed or poor countries and help in as many different areas as possible. Whether it be helping to rebuild homes or builld new ones. Another option is education. I am currently a child and youth care worker for the School board where I live. I also have a building background. Continuing my Spanish knowledge would be of great assistance for this kind of relief work. I did purchase the Synergy Spanish course and found it to be an excellent aid but am ready to go to the next step.
The oppurtunity would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You,
Scott Rayner
Boy oh boy! Lots of people love your program.Most do the job,good for you.
I would love to enter for free classes. I’m just resently laid off and looking for new career.IAl;ot of paths that I would like to seek require you bto be bilingual. This would help me tremenlously( spelling bad sorry)I have three kids that are learning to speak spanish in their schools too. Please consider me in the one of the two to be choosen.Thank you so much for all your kindness and hard work , Rosalyn Koskin Romomof3@chartyer.net
When I was very young and my grandparents were alive in the Philippines, we were speaking Spanish at home. But when they passed away, the Spanish language died with them. Now that I am working at the front desk for a non-profit hotel in downtown Vancouver, we have Spanish speaking guests who have difficulty speaking English. When I try to speak to them with my very limited Spanish, I could see great relief in their faces. It gives me great pleasure in being able to be of some service and help others by simply speaking a little Spanish. Learning Spanish more to higher level will definitely assist me to be better at my job by removing the language barrier from our Spanish speaking guests and help them feel more at home in a strange land.
My reason for wanting to become fluent with Spanish is that I now have a grandson who is in a kindergarten Spanish immersion program. I want so much to be able to help him do well as there is tremendous value in being bilingual. I have run a languages-over-lunch program at my company for the past ten years. I’m currently in a spanish class but learning slowly due to the old techniques used in the U.S for language study. After studying French, Latin, Italian in school many years ago, I never became fluent in any. I know the vocabulary and verb declensions but putting it all together seemed so much easier with my trial use of your teaching method. In fact, I found my progress amazing after just a few of the sample lessons I downloaded. I am trying to convince my fellow students to go out to your site to check it out. I hope they have. We live north of Boston which has a heavy Latino population so I know this is one language I would have the opportunity to use on a daily basis. I’ve never won anything before but I thought it was worth a shot knowing that the prize would be very valuable to me personally and I did want it to be known that I know your method stands out from any type of language training I have seen in the past. Keep up the good work!
It would work wonders for my self-esteem and confidence if at the end of your course I am fluent in Spanish. I have always wanted to learn but just felt that it was too difficult. You make it seem easy and if I could achieve this it would really give me a great sense of accomplishment and help me believe in myself.
Since retiring and moving to Mexico 5 years ago (living just outside of Guadalajara on
Lake Chapala), I have tried several approaches in an attempt to learn Spanish. I can honestly
say that I am not at the level I would have expected after five years. I genuinely desire
to become fluent in Spanish and I know that the locals here in Mexico would be grateful
as well. I love living in Mexico and I feel I should be able to speak Spanish and should NEVER
expect the Mexican community to speak English for my benefit.
this won’t be too long. i’m 68 years old, retired and would like to learn spanish
so i can communicate with spanish people. this will help me, and also help
them understand our american people and cunture so they will be great
citizens..
eddiev
OK, heres how it is. I was married to a man from Leon Mexico for 7 years, he speaks fluent spanish. Our son speaks very little spanish as his dad doesn’t want to speak the language, (he chooses English). I have made it a point to learn as much as I can and I have learned MANY words, unfortunately I have a really hard time making sentences. ( I know, it’s pitiful) But I REALLY, REALLY want my son (*8 years old) to learn to speak spanish (not his mothers spanglish)!! We travel to Mexico every year and Aaron learns about his culture and the language (what I can speak) from his very white mother!!! Now, I am a Registered Nurse and spend a lot of time learning and growing and I KNOW with the proper tools, I WILL learn the language and then teach my Son to speak it as well. He has expressed an interest in the Health industry (as did my older son) and learning to speak spanish will make him such a valuable asset and a wonderful advocate for spanish speaking people. I thank you for taking the time to read all of these requests…WOW, what a task!! I also want to thank you for creating such a cool opportunity for people! Mucho gracias!!
I’ve had the good fortune of going to Mexico several times in my life. In Mexico I’ve seen many wondrous and beautiful sights. But meeting the people has become the most important thing to me. But you can’t really get to know someone when you only know a few words and simple sentences. For all the good times in Mexico, there have been bad moments. I know the terror of being lost. I know the helpless feeling of being sick and not being able to ask for help. I know the fear of not knowing if people are taking advantage of you. Even the simple things like just trying to find food that you like can be overwhelming. During those tough times, I’ve had an English speaking Mexican step in to bail me out. These gracious Mexicans have inspired me to learn Spanish to help Spanish speaking people here in the U.S.A.. Many times I’ve seen the expressions on the faces of Spanish speaking people who are experiencing the same problems that I have in Mexico. I desperately want to be that gracious person that steps in to bail people out. I would reach out every opportunity to not only help but also to make friends. Also I would like to help Spanish speaking kids in the area. My kids are grown and I miss coaching and scout leading. I’ve coached baseball, soccer and football. I have years of experience working with kids and have a lot to share if only I could communicate. A scholarship would fill a need to serve. Helping others would make my life better. Nearly everyday for a year I have been using free Spanish lessons on the internet. A lot of the free teaching that I’ve received has come from you. Thank You! If I was given a scholarship I wouldn’t waste it.
During the past year I have been studying Spanish . Utilizing free info I’ve found on the internet . I have especially benefited from your website synergy spanish.
My godchild is a native of south america (she was born in Lima, Peru). When we met in 2006, Brigitte was far behind iin her schoolwork. She was nine years old and in the third grade. Our deal was this, I would help Brigitte with her school projects and homework, she would try to improve her grades and I would study spanish??? She received an award for most improved at the end of the school year, she was sooo proud. However, I was not as successful??? with my spanish studies — Much to my regret. \
things changed for the family iin december 2007, her parents could no longer afford the house they were renting and it came that we accepted legal custody of Brigitte. We were so happy, we went everywhere, her friends were always at our house. Her schoolwork continued to improve. But unfortunately in september 2008 Brigitte and her family had to return to Peru. It was no longer possible for her parents to remain legally in the USA.
I miss her everyday, she is twelve years old and a truly good and beautiful child. She could accomplish so much here in America, but she was forced to return to peru.
Brigitte and I met in 2006 when my husband and I moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She lived across the lake from our condo with her family. It was an instant bond. I can’t explain it??? We really met because of my dog Dixie Rose. Brigitte has trouble remembering names and for about three months called me Dixie????
We went to Disney, SeaWorld, and this past summer I wanted her to see more of the country I thought would be hers, we traveled to the outer banks north carolina (my husband and I had been there many times, we are avid campers). Brigitte was so happy and a great car traveler, she never complained and it was a loong trip from Fort Lauderdale. We had a wonderful week. She talks about it all the time. Have you ever been to north carolina? the outer banks?? we met some people while we were there, they were from new york, (where I grew up) and susan agreed with me that it is truly a magical place. I will always remember our trip and am grateful to have shared this expeirence with Brigitte.
My new goal is to travel to Peru next year, and it would make the arrangements so much easier if I could speak spanish. I have a pretty good command of the vocabulary and the rudimentary rules of grammar. I also can comprehend for the most part a simple conversation, of course, if spoken slowly, and clearly. but i need more practice listening and speaking the language. It would be such a great surprise for my Brigitte to hear me speaking her language. of course it would also be utilized here in the Miami area where there are so many spanish speakers??? The ability to speak spanish would enable me to share experiences with so many more of my neighbors as well.
It is unbelieveably generous of you to offer the scholarship. You have given so much already your website has been a valuable resource for me during the past year. thank you once again for your help to make my surprise for Brigitte come true!!!!!!! — Gloria Hage January 22, 2009
hi marcus
thanks for teaching me a bit of spanish and i,m lucky to have as my teacher.u taught me for free. i love u.
please send me more teaching material
God bless
simon
hi simon from[ kenya] Africa, u are the best spainsh teacher
Learning Synergy spanish and any other spanish you have to offer will allow me to communicate with my girlfriend’s (mother of my 3yr old son) family when we travel to South America later this year. I know there is nothing more frustrating than being surrounded by many people who want to get to know you and you them without being able to communicate with each other. It would mean a great deal to me and my girlfriends family if we could get to know each other as it is expensive to visit each other considering they’re in Colombia and we’re in Australia. This way atleast I could communicate with them on the phone.
I currently live in Spain with my husband and three children, who are all bilingual. I work as an English teacher so my job involves me speaking English all day and I only ever speak English to my children as it is important to me that they speak English fluently. I can speak very basic Spanish but can not hold a conversation. This is frustrating in all aspects of my life, from talking to the parents at my children’s school, to having family dinners and even helping with homework. My struggle to learn Spanish makes me very dependable on all my family members. Receiving help with my Spanish would transform my life and that of my children.
Hello Marcus
I am a loser not a winner.
I believe learning spanish at my age, 52, will help me communicate with my hispanic husband better and this will benifit him also so that he can communicate with mw since he doesnt know English.I want to be able to hold converatations woith his family when we go to Mexico.I cant even talk with them on the phone yet.What little bit I have learned isn’t enough and I get nervous when I try to speak with his family on the phone.My husband works many hours everyday except Monday and he doesnt have time or patience to teach me.I need help.
Estimado Marcus,
I purchased your Synergy Spanish course a while back and found its approach extremely helpful towards learning Spanish, which I have been trying to do rather unsuccessfully for several years. I have spent countless dollars taking community courses, buying self-study books and tapes, and even taking some one-on-one lessons in Guatemala! I will soon graduate with a law degree (very deeply in debt) and desire to work in the area of human rights law which was the entire reason I wanted to become a lawyer. It is extremely difficult to find a job in that (generally very low-paid) practice area without being “fluent” in a second language. After I graduate I will be returning home to the NW US to find work where Spanish is the most essential second language, especially for the field of immigration law. I would love the opportunity to continue learning from your programs (especialmente Bola de Nieve y Bola Mas!) because out of everything I’ve tried so far your methods are the best way to rapidly improve my ability to not only speak, but to understand(!) spoken Spanish. I sincerely want to help protect the rights of those who come to the US seeking a better life for themselves and their families, but most of them, unfortunately like myself, only ever learned their native language. Es necesario que apprendo hablar bien Espanol! Marcus, me ayuda por favor!!
Muchas gracias,
Rochelle.
Dear Marcus, I would love to receive this scholarship. I have been wanting to learn spanish because I feel that everyone needs to not only know their culture language, but also know how to communicate with someone from another culture. I have spanish cd’s, spanish programs that I’ve loaded on my computer and I’ve even taken spanish courses, but none have been able to help me. I have found that when I take a spanish class the instructor wants to immediately start speaking the language before you have learned it. I have found that to be very frustrating. I currently work in the medical field and there is always a need for spanish speaking people who can communicate with those who are not as fluent in the English language as some would like for them to be. I would definately use my newly acquired skill to help in any capacity where it would be needed. I think that communication is the key to a better world because we all share a common interest somewhere. Thanks for considering me.
Leslie
I’m hoping to overcome my shyness and my tied tongue by learning to speak fluent Spanish.
I am 71 years old and moved to Mexico 2 years ago so that I could afford to live on my American Social Security checks. This is working fine and I love it here. I am learning some Spanish but am a long way from conversing. I have been volunteering, teaching English to children. This is definately the key to their growing up and getting decent jobs, Not knowing a lot of Spanish has not been a barrier and I am amazed how the young minds absorb the language. I feel I could be even more effective if I understood and could speak more Spanish, plus understanding my neighbors, shop keepers, bus drivers, etc. I believe being active and continuing to learn is the key to keeping young, so I will continue striving to learn the language here and expect some day to achieve this. I believe your lessons would speed up the process.
Until I retired in 2002 I taught English to a secondary level multi-lingual classrooom. Since many languages were spoken, we all had to unite in one common language, English. The desire to communicate with each other and to succeed in gaining an American High School Diploma was strong and these students were successful in becoming fluent English proficient. The teacher (myself) experienced enormous satisfaction in learning about many different cultures and my passion for bringing them to English proficiency was strong. As a result, I did not meet my personal desire to learn a second language. Although I studied Spanish in college and know much vocabulary, I cannot converse in it. It would have been unthinkably selfish and unprofessional to attempt to indulge in Spanish conversation in the classroom when I could not treat equally the other students in their respective languages. I had no opportunity for contact with these students outside the class time. Consequently, on retirement, I had great satisfaction in the work I had done with these varied languages and cultures. In retirement however, I am left with a longing to complete my Spanish learning. I realize that while I helped others to achieve their goal of becoming English proficient, I have failed myself miserably by not reaching my personal goal of becoming fully Spanish language proficient. I would like an opportunity to meet my personnel goal of becoming proficient.
2009 is the year I am going to learn Spanish!! 2006, 2007, and 2008 should have been the years I learnt Spanish…but the time has slipped between my fingers and so has the confidence I had back in June 2006 that I would be speaking Spanish by the end of the year.
In 2006 I met the man I knew was my future, and apart from all the complications, we were determined to let love be the most important decision maker. He spoke Spanish (barely any English) and my Spanish vocabulary included only ‘Tornado’ and ‘Burrito’. For four months after we first met, I wrote to him from my home of Norfolk Island (Australia), and he wrote to me from his home of Easter Island (Chile) and by using ‘Google translate’ he taught himself to speak English! In December 2006 I made the decision to move to Easter Island to start a new life with him. Armed with my ‘Oxford Spanish’ Book and Audio I was a confident 24 year old, sure of my intelligence, and convinced that I would be a Spanish learning magnet! Bogged down with grammar, and confused with Chilean Spanish (as opposed to ‘Oxford Spanish’!!) I slowly tried less and less, and found that my relationships with people in Chile and Easter Island depended on their grasp of English, instead of my ability with Spanish. It seemed that I had started a downward spiral which exponentially got worse as time went on. I wanted to take lessons, but money was always an issue, and computer access at that time was difficult…a large part of me just gave up, and i sadly waited for my return to an English speaking country where i could express myself properly again.
In one month I will be happily marrying my Spanish/English/Rapa Nui (Polynesian language) speaking man, yet I still cannot converse with him in any tongue but my own….i desperately wish to learn his language like he did for me (without Google translate if possible!!)
The past year we have been living on my home of Norfolk Island (Australia) and my idea was that this would be my intense Spanish learning time, but in effect is has become the opposite. With full-time work, family commitments and the feeling of a ‘comfort-zone’, the year has passed and I am not much better off than I was before I left Chile.
Now….in three months we are returning as a married couple to live in Easter Island and Chile…and I am determined that I will be an English-speaking wall-flower NO MORE!! I have completed a ‘Teaching English as a Foreign Language’ course and now, all I need is the elusive Spanish language to roll off my tongue…and I will truly be happy and capable of making the life there that I deserve, teaching English to others, sharing with my husbands family and finding new friends of my own (ones that don’t necessarily speak English!!). Stuff all the grammar for now – Marcus your Spanish way of learning is exactly what I need to give myself a big kick in the butt – and I look with excitement at the ‘Bola Plus’ course which I dream will help me to become the fluent Spanish speaker I desire to be, after I have conquered the other facets of the course.
I had only one New Years Resolution this year, and that was that by the sunset of December 31st 2009, I will be able to make a resolution that does not include learning Spanish – because I would already be a confident, capable, sociable Spanish Speaker! Good luck to you all out there!! Tu puedes!!!
I teach first grade in an area with a growing Spanish population. It is a small rural town in , Lousiana. There isn’t anyone person in the district that speaks the language to the parents or the students. I believe that becoming proficient in Spanish will allow me to be able to converse with my Spanish speaking students and their parents. It will make for a more rich educational experience.
Hi Marcus
I suppose that most of my adult life I have wanted to learn another language. I tried liguaphone German, Italian and French whithout any great success.
Learning Spanish is now my one desire and this year I am determined to be successful. This resolve has been germinated by my trying your first synergy course which astounded me with the revelattion that yes! I can learn Spanish. I am now 70 years of age,retired and living in a Spanish Pueblo. My neigbours are all Spainsh speaking wonderful people and my life this year is going to be transformed when having mastered the language I will be able to reciprocate their kindness to me. Many thanks to you and your system of learning which has given me new life and drive, and yes even at my age I can learn and learn well. I now look forward to the next chapter of my life.
Yours gratefully
Lawrie Norton
Marcus you ask how will my learning Spanish help others?
Although I live in a Spanish Pueblo and learning Spanish will mainly help myself it will also be of help to others around me in that I will be able to express my gratitude to them for their kindness. Speaking fluent Spanish will also allow me to make my own contribution by being able to actively and effectively take part in the well being of my adoptive community. Synergy has given me tthis opportunity and I am going to grasp it whole heartedly during 2009.
Many, many thanks
Laawrie Norton
hola marcus!
my name is bekki and im a 21 year old canadian living in lanzarote, one of the canary islands. ive been here for 6 months and been trying course after course with no improvement. the reason why im so determined to gain spanish is to help others. at the moment ive been dedicating most of my time to planning an ‘around the world pay it forward experience’ my goal is to travel around the world and conduct an experiment using the pay it forward philosophy. in short, is doing one act of random kindness with only asking for them to pay it forward to another person in return. resulting in a chain effect! hopefully concluding in how all people, no matter what nationality, culture or walk of life react the same to kindness and generosity and pay it forward in return. so armed with a video camera and some cool ways to help out others ill be set to go! starting in south america, looks like peru, all i need is my spanish
ive downloaded your first 4 lessons and it just clicks! getting these courses would help me more than you know! and hopefully in return helping much more
thanks so much for your time
bekki
After the quick sudden death of both my parents this year, my family made the decision to move to Mexico to care for my 94 year old grandmother who was now left alone.
My daughter is in a Spanish school and learning the language quickly. I find myself lagging behind due to the lack of resources and time. I want to join the parents association but I do not speak the language. I want to go to meetings but language is my barrier. I have become adept at sign language for shopping but I want to have friends and freedom which requires my speaking Spanish.
With my commitment to live here in Mexico it is necessary that I learn to communicate with my neighbours and community to fully appreciate this beautiful country that I now call home.
Synergy Spanish will give me the chance to finally SAY WHAT I MEAN and MEAN WHAT I SAY… en Español!
Lena from Sweden.
Hola Marcus,
I have been living in Spain now for four years and have spent a fortune (which I cannot now afford)trying to learn Spanish.I understand the grammar but I can’t speak it! I sing wth a Spanish choir and am the only non-Spanish member. I would love to be more pro-active in the conversations which take place–I feel so helpless.PLEASE HELP ME!!!
Dear Marcus
Thanks for your system. I have used all of your free offers. I have been studying Spanish for 38 years and still can not speak with the fluency required to get around my favorite country, Mexico.
My life long desire is to travel from north to south, east to west in Mexico traveling on local buses and staying in small hotels. My language skills at not up to that task. I can get food and ask for directions but not buy a bus ticket or negotiate a room for the night.
How would your course change my live? It would give me my life long desire to make that trip before I reach my 75th birthday. It would give my something I can not achieve without your help.
Thanks again for your efforts to make this world a better place with communication skills between cultures.
Larry Kehler
I love learning Spanish and Synergy Spanish enables me to do this is both spare time during the day and later at night by studying off materials which I can print. Learning new things makes me feel great… and I’ve had pretty good succes with Spanish, so that makes me feel even better. My Spanish teacher (I only took one beginner course, the rest I have learned on my own) thinks I’m doing quite well, she thinks I should teach Spanish. She got me thinking, even though it would take me several years, I would enjoy that as a career. Also, I want to help my daughter and husband learn Spanish - such a boon in our modern work market. Thanks for all your help! Cecile Belliveau
My hometown was an English-speaking southern community. Many cultures have arrived recently and speaking Spanish would help greatly with my son-in-law. If my daughter has an emergency, my son-in-law will need help. His English is better, but his understanding is not 100%. When my grandson had his tonsils out in October, 2008, my son-in-law was confused and thought they were going to break the child’s jaw. He was in tears until my daughter explained the procedure. I had no idea of what he was going through. I would be honored to have a way to learn Spanish. Many times I do not understand my three-year old grandson who mixes the two languages. I would work hard and learn as much as I could. I certainly would use it with our family.
My husband & I moved to Spain, on retiremnet, in 2004 & our lives would be greatly enhanced if we could speak Spanish. We have tried to learn but the local free lessons we had are given by local teachers who do not speak any English, which is not very helpful when you don’t understand something. Also, they tend to speak far too quickly. Our house is inland in the campo & we do have rather one-sided conversations with the very friendly Spanish people there. It would be so much better if we were able to build relationships with some of them together with people in our “local” pueblo & also to be able to talk to our doctor (at present, we mainly rely on using written translations from our computer). When we can, we go on excursions with Spanish pensioners, hoping the little Spanish we have might improve with our having to communicate with them. We like to go out for lunch to Spanish restaurants, especially ones which are in slightly more remote areas where English is unlikely to be spoken & where we are likely to be the only English people. We’d certainly feel more confident about going further afield if we could speak Spanish, be understood & equally to understand what was being said to us. It’s most frustrating to sit or stand there trying to make out what is being said, knowing that we’re looking totally blank.
Dear Marcus, The reason I would like to learn spanish fluently is because of my job. I work in a Hospitality Industry and have to communicate with most of the spanish speaking employees and the customers on daily basis. I love the spanish language very much. Speaking spanish fluently will difinetely give a boost in my work position. I had noticed that with the limited spanish I learnt from your free lessons, when I tried to communicate with the people at my work place, they all appreciated, which gives me a lot more encouragement to learn more. I have a real thirst to learn this language and as I said I love this language. I want to thank you, for all the free lessons you have put on the computer. You are a saviour for all the people like me who wants to learn spanish. God bless you. Keep up the good work. Muchas gracias.
Isaac.
Marcus, thank you for your downloadable lessons you provide free. I’m getting back on my feet after suffering illness for years and bringing up my child on my own. Having a 2nd language will help me get a job, and will truly be momentous to my confidence. Best of all, this is a fabulous opportunity for my child to learn another language. This would be a truly once in a lifetime event for us. Imagine if we could converse to our fellow Spanish speaking Aussies? My dream is to one day get healthy enough to fly over to South America and visit all those wonderful Aztec, etc. towns/cities, I could actually talk and feel like part of my surroundings. Magical, but dreams come true with effort and visualisation, and the chance to win and use your language course. Thank you.
Hola Marcus. I have been living on the South coast of Spain for two years now. I guess I am learning what is termed as ’street Spanish’ which is great but really I need to get a better grip of the basics so that I can progress further. My boyfriend is Spanish & very ‘Andaluz’ as are most of my friends here which I believe is like trying to learn English in Newcastle (very strong Northern accent there!). The more Spanish I learn the more opportnities I have about learning about Spain & the culture here. I want to continue growing with the language & the whole lifestyle here & these lessons will allow me to do that. My next aim is to go to Argentina on a volunteer project but I prefer to wait until my Spanish is much improved. I can hold conversations on a number of subjects & be understood but I know I am making so many mistakes. My friends are so kind & do correct me but not all the time as that tends to make conversations rather slow! If I was to have this opportunity that you are offering I would study hard & use every ounce of information you have. Eres muy generoso y gracias por todo la información disponible al ordenador. Saludos, Rose.
1) Synergy Spanish can change my life by allowing me the opportunity to better communitcate with the growing minority of Spanish speaking people that cannotspeak englsih. I have always wanted to learn Spanish but never had the opportunity it wasn’t taught in school where I attended. I work in the medical field and it is important to communicate with patients. I love the language and has always had the desire to learn.
2) As I said learning spanish will benefit those I come in contact with on a daily basis, by allowing better communitcation and better care. Especially to the olders spanish speaking whio don’t understand much English. It’s not about travel, if i could afford to travel, I could afford to pay for a class.
Hi Marcia
I would love to win your competition because learning to speak fluent Spanish would have an incredible impact on both me and my clients.
I live in rural Andalucia, my children speak fluent Andluth, arguably Spanish, but I struggle! We have lived here for 5 years and although I muddle through with the most basic and ungramatically correct Spanish I would enjoy a much better quality of life were I to be fluent.
I am a masseusse and beauty therapist and own a shop here, were my spanish better I would be able to expand my business by providing more services for the Spanish speaking population.
Personally it would be wonderful to understand what my son and his friends were talking about!, be able to help my fellow expats in their dealings with Spanish beaurocracy and generally find out more about the culture of where I live. I usually find out that an event has happened 2 days too late!
Your course looks great and the snippets I’ve received via your emails are really useful. I’d love to participate in the whole thing and be able to communicate as effectivly as I can in English.
Thanks for listening, and keep the info flowing
Kindest regards
Sarah
I am 60 years old and am now living in spain. My husband can understand spanish and picks it up by listening, He says I should do the same and that I do not need lesson or need to pay for cds etc. BUT HE IS WRONG. I need to HEAR the words and SEE the spelling to understand ,we all learn different ways and as we get older it is a little more difficult I think. Explanation are also necessary for me. I cannot learn anyother way. Repertion also for me I think. We live in a village and the spanish is a little clipped, slang also. So I would like to learn correctly, it would be no good if I went out of the provincia and could not be understood. I have enjoyed your free spanish thank you. I have joined an Associacion para Mujeres, para Bolillo, however they all talk very fast and as I say with lots of slang, dropping the s off the endings of words and putting two odd words together eg Hasta Luego becomes uego You can see my difficulty
Thank you for all your help in the past Maeve
Sometimes I have a strange feeling that there is no way to get back this very best, that has already been in my past. As if nobody is waiting me anymore in that magic place, where my heart still wishes to succeed. And at that moment I see myself, crossing the hot sunny street and some curly boy, who sells stuff there, is holding out for me a bright, colourful bead on the string…No entiendo mucho, pero….! I am ready to live Spanish language as a genuine, authentic life. I have a very good feeling about your course and I’ll do my best if I get that chance. I think Spanish is a special language and culture, that can teach us 1 very important thing: live la vida loca and express freely your ideas and emotions. Hope, you can help me with the least
I believe this course would change my life and open up a whole new world for me. Having spent 2 months living in Spain I found it very flustrating not being able to speak the language. I bought different books, cd’s even took a night course in Spanish but still was unable to grasp it. Having read your programme I believe this is the one for me.
I intend to go to the Philippinnes at the end of this year to teach ESOL. I know that if my Spanish is good it will help the students as I can use it when essential in communication both in the class oom and out of it.
This is voluntarhy workj with the Theosophical Society and I’m really looking forward to it.
Thanks for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship and for all your help over the year.
Aoife Brennan
Since becoming close friends with a family in Colombia who I have chosen to sponsor I had struggled to learn even a basic level of Spainish, and living in the UK and dealing with pracitical issues of how to send money and keep in contact made things even harder. I had already tried a number of different courses all of which didnt click and I was becoming resigned to the fact the practical difficulties of keeping my promise to help felt like a mountain I couldnt climb. By accident looking on the internet I found the first component course of Synergy Spainish and for the first time I have started to make progress in speaking and learning Spainsh, and whats more important I have enjoyed it and can now have basic conversations by telephone to my friends in Colombia, and I have fulfilled my promise to sponsor them. I really cant believe this would have been possible without SynergySpainish starting me down a road I now believe takes me somewhere, and has made a difference to other peoples lives as a result. A sincere thank you for this from me and them, and I would reccomend these courses to anyone who formerly thinks they were not good a learning languages. Yes it still demands effort and time,.. but it does work.
Hola Marcus
My dream was always to live in Spain last year my dream came true I landed myself an English job and live around many Engish people which made my transition to a new country very smooth but this has not helped me in anyway to speak the language, I have tried very hard listening to cd’s in the car, mp3 while i’m gardening, working on the computer and having lessons, but the one thing I don’t have is the confiedence to speak to the natives I am hoping that doing your course will spear me on to get out there and just speak, it will make a huge difference in my life at 49years of age. I know deep down learning a new language can be learnt and I keep telling myself this, It will help me in my work and social life as there are so many new people I could communicate to given the confiedence. I thank you for giving me this opportunity to learn in a more simplified way.
For the last one and a half years, my wife and I, both retired, have lived in San Miguel de Salinas, a small town in Costa Blanca. There are a large number of expatriates living here, most of whom chose to settle here rather than on the nearby coast, in order to live amongst Spanish people and to attempt to become integrated into their way of life.. However, due to language difficulties, the various communities, Spanish, British, German, Belgian etc. all appear to lead parallel lives, never truly integrating, despite a strong desire on all sides to do so.
We have learned that there is a mistaken perception amongst the Spanish residents here that foreigners do not wish to learn Spanish or to mix. Having talked to expatriates who have lived here much longer than us, we do not believe this is true. The real problem is that many people begin learning the language but give up after a while due to the slow progress they make studying by traditional methods., (in local classes, the past tense is not taught until year 3 or 4!). Many then label themselves as failures or say they are too old to learn. Luckily, both my wife and I have a background of learning other languages, so know that we can learn, but we too feel frustrated that ,despite living in Spain and regularly attending classes, our progress in the language is very slow , and we can still not communicate effectively with our neighbors and really be part of the local community .
We have studied the parts of your course which you have generously emailed to us and have been most impressed by them. . I am sure that if we had the opportunity to study all your material, we could become living proof of the success of your methods. Our hope then would be to actively promote your courses amongst the thousands of residents in the area who are also looking for a way to successfully learn Spanish.
We very much want o be part of and offer a service to the community in which we live .We have joined the local Neighbourhood Association and with them have discussed ways of bringing the communities together. The Association, in cooperation with the local mayor, would encourage joint activities and ways of sharing cultures, but all require a certain level of confidence in the Spanish language. If successful ourselves, we could encourage others to take this path to learning so that we can all help to bring the communities of this friendly town together. Moving beyond the “Holas” and friendly nods to engage in real conversation and communication would make living in a multicultural environment a happier and richer experience for us all..
Hallo Marcus
I hope it´s ok if i answer both the questions. I feel that it would be right to do.
Learning spanish would help me get closer to the people leving in the countries that i spend my vacationes in, and make it possible for me to speak with the spanishspoken people in Denmark. I am sure that kommunikation between people from different countries will make an understanding of the way we all live, and create the respect for the differents we need to live among eachother. It is a dream i have had for meny years but it seems impossible with the systems of learning spanish we have in Denmark.
In Denmark we have some families who came here because they no longer where safe in there own countries. Many og them are from south and middel amarika, Mexico, Chile, Urugua and so on. The youngsters sometimes have some intergrationsproblems and ends in trouble. I wannt to work more as a volumtary and try to help them get back on track. The major problem is that the parents only spek spanish, and it is importent that the parents become a part of the comunity. I do believe that It would mean allot for them and there childrens future if we where able to speak with one and another, and it will be easier fore me to be a part of their community, and that way help them bette. I hope for the best. Con Saludos Grande Kim Denmark
Hi Marcus,
Learning Synergy Spanish will definitely change my life in many different ways, but the most important is that I will finally SPEAK SPANISH after dreaming about that many years.
At the moment I am an international student in Denmark (my home country is Estonia) and sometimes I have to travel by train here. During these train trips I have been into Spanish twice, I mean I have heard people speaking Spanish. Once, one older man asked for some help, but he didn’t speak English and it was so bad that I couldn’t help him:(. At this moment I really felt sad because of not speaking Spanish yet.
Even though I am young, it is rather difficult to find time for studying new language next to school and work, but I noticed that by using your trial study materials from Synergy Spanish it was fun and it really got me into Spanish:). I amazed how quickly I learned new words and sentences by using Synergy Spanish.
Probably/hopefully speaking Spanish will also help me in my future job, as I am studying sales and marketing and therefore, the more languages I know the better.
If I will be the very lucky one and will get your chance to get the scholarship, I promise to go and live at least for a year in a Spanish speaking country as it is my real wish. Now I am thinking about Spain or Mexico. I haven’t decided yet, but probably Spain is more realistic, but one day I also have to go to Mexico as well, as it is very interesting country with interesting culture and I want to meet people there. And I also want to see my friends in Mexico and speak with them with their own language.
Last year, I went to Barcelona and I got tears in my eyes when I realized that I will leave that city and country the next day. I just fell in love with the people and their lifestyle, their culture, climate, food, everything, and of course the language:). So, living in Spain would be something like living in a real dream:).
And yes, one reason is also to make others jealous:) I want others to admire me and my ability to speak Spanish;).
It would be the chance of life.
With all the best,
Raili
Marcus, I have been studying Spanish on and off for quite some time. I have had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, which set me back a while.
I sure would like to go on studying the language, as I go south every year and every opportunity I get, I try to find people who don’t mind me, practicing with them.
I have 18 grand children from 3 to 22 years, many of them already learning Spanish.
They all speak French and English fluently.
My learning it better will encourage them to pursue. Besides I like Spanish, and your course is the best I have tried.
I bring my Spanish CDs and play them in the car, this way I am never bored waiting for someone.
Muchas gratias Marcus
Diane
PS I have been reading all the Emails you received, it will be a tough decision for you. Good luck!
Hi Marcus. My name is Kathy, and I live in Nelson, British Columbia. My husband is a Spanish teacher at the local high school here. For some reason, I have been fighting letting him teach me Spanish. We both have a love and passion for Latin cultures, and have traveled to Spain, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. I desperately want to learn the language, as I have watched my husband communicate beautifully with the locals, and create some wonderful friendships along the way. When I am in the moment, and watch people’s faces light up when my husband starts speaking fluently, I know I must learn it, out of respect for their culture as well as it being a bonding experience for my husband and I. I guess I am looking for motivation, something to push me forward into learning this most beautiful language. I know the experience of traveling with someone who can speak the language, and have also experienced travel when no one has the skills needed to speak. There is just no comparison in the way you see that country or its people.
muchas gracias
Kathy Koep
Hi Marcus. My name is Kathy, and I live in Nelson, British Columbia. My husband is a Spanish teacher at the local high school here. For some reason, I have been fighting letting him teach me Spanish. We both have a love and passion for Latin cultures, and have traveled to Spain, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina. I desperately want to learn the language, as I have watched my husband communicate beautifully with the locals, and create some wonderful friendships along the way. When I am in the moment, and watch people’s faces light up when my husband starts speaking fluently, I know I must learn it, out of respect for their culture as well as it being a bonding experience for my husband and I. I guess I am looking for motivation, something to push me forward into learning this most beautiful language. I know the experience of traveling with someone who can speak the language, and have also experienced travel when no one has the skills needed to speak. There is just no comparison in the way you see that country or its people.
muchas gracias
Kathy Koep
Learning Synergy Spanish will be for me the beginning of a brand new life. It has always been my most cherished dream to learn to speak a brand new language and Spanish has been my favorite. I thing knowing the language will open many doors that are currently close for me. Moreover it will empower me in my efforts to reach out to Latino immigrants.
Hola hermano Marcus, Thank you for Synergy Spanish. I have totally enjoyed learning your method of speaking Spanish. I have bought books, tapes & etc., however listening to your tapes was more informative than any other. I need to learn Spanish because my husband is a Pastor and the church is located in a predominately latino area. We also have churches in many countries outside of the USA, such as Africa, Phillipines, Mexico, Spain and India. I really want to reach these people when we go to these countries. Also, when I speak in Spanish it shows that I have really taken an interest in them and their culture. Please consider me and I thank you in advance.
Also, I have completed the Synergy Spanish and need to go the the next level. If I do not win, can you suggest which level I need. Again, thank you and God bless you, Marty Alexander
I want to learn the beautiful spanish language so I can travel to South America and Central America and get to know the people. From there I want to write stories for children of these cultures in combination with stories for the children of North America. One book, two languages!
My focus will be on helping children to feel great about themselves and get the life skills to avoid the need to use harmful things to help them negotiate the world like drugs, alcohol, gangs and inertia.
Fear is a common thread that children have in the world today and I want to help them overcome it.
Please consider me a candidate for this scholarship. My sincere thanks for what you are doing!
Hello Marcus,
Learning Synergy Spanish would change my life by enabling me to communicate with my in-laws.
I have been married to a Spaniard for4 years, and have been struggling to learn the language ever since. I have tried endless courses which just seem too hard to do with my busy lifestyle. For the entire 4 years of my marriage I have avoided answering the phone of an evening for fear that it will be my in-laws, and I’m not able to communicate with them properly and maybe even seem rude with my basic Spanish language.
If I was able to have a method like Synergy Spanish I have no doubt that I would get the confidence and vocabulary I need to start communicating in Spanish and start getting to know my in-laws, especially now that I’m pregnant.
I thank you for the help you have given me so far.
Hola Marcus
I would love to have a control of the Spanish language to feel comfortable enough to do the work I love to do. I love going to Spanish speaking countries on mission trips. I have been several times. I speak enough Spanish to get my point across but not to completly do what i want to do and that is being able to talk with the people without having to rely on a translator right there with me all the time. Also with my job as a paramedi I need it more now because we have a large population of Spanish speaking people in our area now and it makes it easier to talk directly to them rather through a child of theirs that speaks english. Also I dream of visiting Spain some day. I would be very greatful for the opportunity to be able to learn and master the language. God Bless
Hi, I am a special education teacher in an inner city school district in California. Some of my students have multiple disabilities. Their Spanish speaking parents do not have time to learn English. Even though there are translators for meetings it would be GREAT if I could easily call up a parent and have a conversation. I’d love to be able to give good news or ask why the child was absent. These little gestures would be very meaningful and would enrich all of our lives. Blessings, Beth
I am 55 years old, I am currently taking a Spanish Class at an Adult School, which is great, the teacher is awesome. But, I realize that, that is not my answer, I drive 80 miles round trip to work and have the time to utilize your program to the fullest. But, aside from all of that I have always wanted to learn Spanish, so that I can be a more vital citizen of California and since we are so multi cultural. I also would love to achive this goal, a goal that has slipped through my fingers as I have raised my 3 daughters. Would love an opportunity for me, for me to use the other portion of my brain and enhance my life to the fullest with your program .I thank you for your consideration and for this winning opportunity for someone..
Darlene
Hola Marcus;
I am a social worker in San Diego County, Ca. My job is to visit elderly and disabled adults and children in their homes, and set them up with care giving services to help them stay in their homes. Otherwise, they would have to be placed in nursing facilities. Sometimes, I’m required to visit families who are Spanish speaking and speak very little English, if any. Usually, I muddle through the interviews in English and get the job done, but when I leave, I never feel like I have totally understood their situation.
I’ve tried learning Spanish, but I just couldn’t seem to grasp it. I took Spanish in college and I remember the agony of trying to memorize conjugations for the irregular verbs just so I could pass the exams. I managed to graduate without being able to speak one full sentence in Spanish. I’ve also taken many adult courses in Spanish that teach the same way, first learning to conjugate verbs, and never teaching us to actually speak Spanish.
When I took your Synergy Spanish course, I was delighted to hear you giving lessons without one reference to grammar. I played the lessons and for the first time, I was learning to speak Spanish and enjoying it! I recorded the lessons on my tiny MP3 player, attached it to my shirt collar, and practiced Spanish everywhere I went. After finishing the 25 Synergy Spanish lessons, I tried out some of my new skills with the next Spanish speaking family I visited.
She was an 89 year old woman named “Guadalupe”. She was originally from Mexico and was in desperate need of assistance in her home. She was withdrawn and aching with arthritis, but when she heard me trying to speak her language, her face really lit up! Here was this gringo trying to speak her “lengua materna” and she was really taken with that. I asked her simple questions like “¿Qué parte de Mexico que usted vive?” and “Cuantos hijos tiene?” Honestly, once she opened up and started talking real fast, I didn’t understand too much of what she was saying; but I was able to figure out most of it by catching a few words here and there. I felt good when I left her house and felt like I better understood her needs and concerns.
The most valuable lesson for me though, was that I was able to develop a rapport and relationship with Guadalupe that wouldn’t have been possible speaking only English. Since then, I have been strengthening my Spanish skills with each and every home visit to a Spanish speaking household, and I get the same reaction every time. I’m greeted with warmth and appreciation for stepping over to their side of a language barrier.
Synergy Spanish has opened a new door for me. It has opened my eyes and heart to a new experience and a new culture right at my doorstep. Continuing my Synergy Spanish lessons would really change my life by enabling me to feel good about my interactions with the Spanish speaking families that I visit, to further understand and enjoy the Spanish speaking people, their countries and their cultures, and to continue to light up the faces of people like Guadalupe.
Gracias, Marcus
Hola Señor Santamaria
Learning Synergy Spanish will enable me to help many people who speak spanish as their only language. I work in the Social Security Disability Court System where there are hearings held before an Administrative Law Judge. If the claimant only speaks spanish and do not have representation it can be an overwhelming experience for them. Not only do I believe that by learning spanish I can help ease some of their nervousness and fears but I can hopefully help them maintain a sense of dignity. Thank You
As a pharmacist, I deal with quite a few spanish speaking individuals. Unfortunately, I do not speak Spanish and it makes it very difficult to inform them of how to take their medications. There are quite a few individuals who I see are having difficulty in taking their medications and I believe I could help them better their quality of life if I could converse with them. I currently speak 3 languages, ( english, hindi, punjabi) and would love to speak Spanish. I would also like to volunteer in 3rd world countries to use my skills to help others such as in Cuba, Dominician Republic, and other spanish speaking countries. As you can see, I have alot to offer and would love the opportunity to learn and communicate with others.
Appreciate your kindness in offering the spanish scholarship. I have taked 4 years or so of spanish. Hear better than speak, so to speak. Perhaps, You may know of someone who would be interested in allowing me to participate in a scholarship Learning to speak Dutch and German. We Lovingly appreciate your generous offer and know that many other young adults could utilize this Loving scholarship that you all offer. Sincerely as one, James A Anderson
Category 1 - Synergy Spanish to make your life better
I have followed the work of “International Living” for years, and hope is to retire to a Spanish speaking country in Latin America. But I don’t want to live in an ex-pat community, but to share my life with the local people, for which a knowledge of Spanish is essential. I have traveled to this area many times, plus many times to Spain during the 6 years I lived in Paris, where I used to go to the Costa del Sol when I could get away from my job. And I know to be happy there, I need to speak Spanish much better than I can today, as today I only can read Spanish, as they speak too fast for me to follow them, and I have problems in speaking as vocabulary comes to slow for me to speak properly. I anticipate my life will be much better after I can make all this happen. But i need help to improve my Spanish before I could do any of this. Charles Wilkes, San Jose, Calif.
I am 72 and I have spent many years trying to learn Spanish. I studied French in high school and just cannot seem to get it out of my head. i have traveled to Mexico twice and to Equador I took a Spanish course while i Mexico.I have also got relatives in Spain and visited many times. I can understand conversations fairly well, but find it very difficult to speak,
I would really like to be fluent before I visit them again.
Joan
My learning spainsh will help othes because : having been born to parents whom never married and were not of the same background, I never learnt my fathers language. Meeting his family when I turned 17 was wonderful and not being able to comunicate with my Grandmother was horrible. Although she had lived in the US for over 40 yrs. she had never mastered english and of course I did not know spanish. Before she pased away she ask me if I would promise her that I would learn her language so that I could teach my children Spanish and help those whom spoke no English learn the language. I promised her I would. And when I learned it I would see that not only my children but my grandchildren would know what it had meant to her that they know from where they came. it was important to her that I know that she accepted me and was so very horified that she had not been told of my being born. For all those years I lived right around the block from her and we never had time to make up all the yrs. that were missed. However since she has passed I have been able to keep half of my promise. I have volenteered to teach English to Spanish speaking people. I have involved my family as well, so that they know the spirit of the people that they are part of. I do have a bit of the language down , but not enough to use when approched in the store by someone who needs help and only speaks spanish. It is my greatest wish to learn this. I want to be able to teach my children and grandchildren this language. I have taught them simple phases - words.Which is what I have learnt so far. It would mean so very much to me to be able to learn and have the ability to teach and speak in my Grandmothers native tongue. Thank you
Hi There,
I lived in Cartegena Columbia and Panama for five years, I spoke about as much spanish as a six year old. Embarrassing to say the very least, I made the best freinds of my life. After I moved back to Seattle I invented a safety product. NOW I can go back and actually help the people that need help the most….the kids. Spanish would mean the world to me. To be able to communicate in THEIR language and tell them how their kindness to me, a guy who didn’t speak “with” them made my stay something I’ll never forget would be wonderful.
Marcus I have an ability to give back and I could use your help.
Muchas Gracias Senior, Mike
Synergy Spanish would be such a blessing in my life because I am a college student and I am currently unable to take a Spanish course because of the money and time. Being able to be a fluent speaker of Spanish would let me improve the lives of others by being able to translate in situations of teacher and elementary children when they can’t understand eachother. My current major is Speech Language Pathology and living in Southern California requires a lot of SLP’s or their assistants to be bilingual, but I am not even close, and i would love to learn to help these elementary school children be able to learn in school like other children do. Thank you for giving out this opportunity!
I live in a part of California that has a rapidly growing populatiion of Spanish speaking people in all walks of life. For both personal and business purposes, developing fluency in Spanish would make it possible for me to communicate much more effectively with other Spanish speakers, avoiding confusion and misunderstandings. Having tried other methods of learning Spanish with very limited success, your program appears to be what I need to gain mastery of the language.
I have two great reasons to hope to win your Spanish Package. First I am a Kindergarten teacher who has and will continue to have several Spanish speaking children in my room. I want to be able to help them learn English as a Second Language and for me to better know their first language will make their successes and transition to speaking English so much better. I will be able to converse with their parents and tell them and help them understand how important it is for their children to learn English. Many times, as teachers we cannot communicate with parents and explain to them how to help their children at home because they do not understand how to begin helping them. Being able to explain to them in their own language would help them understand how to help their children be successful at school and with their homework. Secondly I teach adults English as a Second Language at our local community college two nights a week. Again, to know their language well would help me teach them pronunciation, speaking, reading and writing. I could explain the directions to them in Spanish and then I could help them, then learn the second language of English so much better. We could make the transiton to English so much smoother and easier if I know how to converse with them more readily. With English being a Latin root language, just as English is, I could share with them the common cognates and the false cognates from the languages. I feel like I could just be so more productive in my teaching and could interact better with the parents if I understood the language and culture so much better. Since my name is Linda Lopienski, I always tell them that I am part Spanish (Linda) and part Polish (Lopienski). ha ha. I would so, so love to have the opportunity to become versed in the lovely Spanish language. To be able to speak and be understood by a native speaker has always been my dream. I do believe dreams come true!! Sincerely, Linda C. Lopienski
Thank you for your offer of scolarships. My husband & I live in Acapulco, MX. I know only a very few words. I have tried to learn through books & private lessons which result in my getting frustrated & having a migraine headache! We are serving in Acapulco helping people who speak English learn the Bible. However, there is a great need to assit Spanish speaking people as well.
I have an autistic grandson who speaks fluent Spanish. He understands & comprehends more in Spanish than in English. What a thrill it would be for me to communicate to this wonderful boy who is limited by his autisim.
My two reasons for wanting to have the benefits of your scolarships: 1. To assit in my Ministry. 2. To communicate & have my 11 year old grandson understand what I am saying to him.
Sincerely,
Sandy Beauchemin
I have tried many different courses and I can not seem to catch on.My husband is from elsalvador and he has tried to teach me.I would love to be able to communicate with his family when we go to visit.
I work in immigration as a private representative for people trying to obtain their visas to enter the United States and many of my clients and visa hearings are in South America and Mexico. I truly feel that if I was able to speak and understand spanish better I could be a much better advocate for my clients and their families. It would certainly help me to help them.
I have tried to learn Spanish on and off since 1968. I actually became somewhat fluent after learning Spanish in high school and making quite a few Spanish speaking friends. I was able to converse on many subjects, but moved to Iowa in 1972 where no one spoke Spanish. Although I had hoped to teach my children to speak Spanish. Unfortunately, I wasn’t even close to remembering enough to do that. Over the years I have continued to try to teach myself Spanish. I’ve taken classes and have been driving around with Spanish lesson CD’s. I can now tell you I’m an editor in a publishing company in Spanish! Unfortunately I’m not. I’m a 55 year old Lieutenant in a volunteer fire department in South Florida. There have been many times when I have tried to help some of the many Spanish speaking residents while out on fire/rescue calls, but there was no one there who spoke Spanish, including me. Our area has become more and more bi-lingual with too many people not being able to tell us what their problem is due to the language barrier. I volunteer to help people, but too many times I’m frustrated because I don’t understand what they’re saying!! How do you help when you can’t understand?!?! I have been trying to learn Spanish for 40 years and will continue to try. Like everyone here, I know I can do it, I just have to find the right program. Maybe yours will be the one. Thank you for your most generous offer. You will be making someone’s dream come true!!
Hi Marcus:
I would think that you have your hands FULL trying to pick 2 winners from all these entries, so I’m not going to bore you with my story on how it would make my life better by being able to communicate with co-workers and how it would make our annual vacations better when we go someplace warm where they more than likely will be speaaking spanish.
Good luck picking your winners.
Thank you for this great offer!
I want to learn SPANISH this lovely musical language. I have two sisters in law that are married to my 2 brothers. So I have nieces and nephews that speak most of the time in Spanish and I don’t understand them. I love to be able to learn Spanish please consider my comment. Thanks again. Mucho Gracia.
This sounds like an amazing offer, though having read some of the previous submissions on this page i don’t know what i could say that probably has not already been said a hundred times, but no one gets anywhere in life by letting such things intimidate them. My reasons for desiring to learn spanish are to be able to communicate comfortably in countries where spanish is spoken. My church has sent several mission groups to mexico and i would like to be able to be a blessing in ministry, by acting as a translator, to be able to serve others and lend a helping hand in the world. Thank you sincerely, for your kind offer. And may the person you choose use their future fluency in spanish to do good things. :0)
That would be great, to win your course!
I’m from Germany, but I hope I speak enough English, to learn Spanish.
I’m very ill and can’t buy a course and so I write here, perhapse I can
win it, because I like the Spanish language.
Many greatings from Germany
Alfred
Hello Marcus,
Synergy Spanish would enrich my life big time. I use to be able to speak Spanish pretty well after living in Mexico for six months. It was a total joy to speak to people and share myself and learn about them, what their culture was about and to know what craftsmen and women were doing specifically and all the details people can tell you ONLY if you can communicate fairly adeptly. There is a richness created by opening up communications with latin people that really is uniquely satisfying in my life.
Regarding helping others, I would love to know fluent Spanish which Synergy seems like it could assist me in doing. I am a Master NLP and Advanced Hypnotherapy practitioner. I have since the first time I experienced the culture and people of Mexico and Central American, later South America, have loved it all. I would like to be able to help individuals of the latin culture here in San Francisco with my powerful change work. I do not feel I could do it justice with my present, lower level of speaking abilities. It is exciting to think about the satisfaction and pleasure I could get doing this for them.
Cat #2. I have three children, ages 7 and twins age 9. There father is Puerto Rican and our extended family, grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc, speak very little spanish. Their Great Grandmother passed away recently and so with them not able to express their love to her. They carry this with them and do not want the language to be a barrier in the future. My goal is for them to learn the language as it is part of them. They also have great ambitions to be ambassadors representing the USFSA to other Latin Countries which require them to be fluent in Spanish. Your scholarship would give them a the opportunity to follow their dreams and their hearts.
With Respect and Regards,
Pamela Crader Rodriguez
I work with Spanish Musicians and Entertainers, who i do publicity work for, and it is sometimes difficult for me to work outside the Latin Markets in America, due to the language barrier. I have learned some basic Spanish, but I need to learn faster, and more professionally. It is hard for me sometimes when I am in a business environment and the people around me are speaking Spanish, as I feel sometimes I am missing out on some important information. Sometimes I have to stay quiet so people don’t realise I have that disadvantage. Please help!
I would love to win your scholarship. I am a student in Australia and have been using all your free aids to study Spanish and have found them to be great. I’ve found that even in Australia I bump into Spanish speakers all the time and have the opportunity to chat. I plan to go back to Mexico to learn more Spanish and then volunteer in Guatamala over the summer - but I need to improve my Spanish.
- cheers Kate
RE:
2) How will your learning Synergy Spanish help others?
For the past 9 years, I have been teaching English in China, at universities, corporations, and K-12. My specialty is in whole-brained approaches, using brief movie segments for improving listening comprehension, “lowering the affective filter” (Krashen) and promoting RolePlay.
At my new position at SongYuan Foreign Studies College, I have been talking to the President about developing the Spanish program to meet the future needs for a massive increase in Spanish speakers in China. China is expanding its presence in Latin America, yet very-very few schools have Spanish programs. (See BELOW.)
A Scholarship will allow me:
*to test the materials, for myself and our students, to determine their effectiveness, and the possibility of promoting the materials in China’s schools/MP3-learning market
*to progress to an Advanced level in Spanish, and be a more effective InterCultural Resource person
Songyuan Foreign Studies College
Songyuan City, Jilin Province, China 138000
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I am a 43 year old female. Staying in South Africa. Due to our economy being in such a state was my husband retrenched. I had to lift my but and help. I used to sort post at the post office but have worked my self up as a girl Friday in a small Engineering Firm. I stay in Johannesburg which deals with most in-out ports to other countries in the world. Johannesburg Has many opportunities for me to be able to get us out of this financial state we are in. All i need is to be able to speak another language. I choose Spanish. cause although, my mind is set to make a success of my life, is there still some space for being romantic. And Spanish is for me, Thee most romatic language ever. So with my experience i am getting now as a girl Friday and being able to speak Spanish. Am I sure that I will be finding myself a decent employment. This goal of mine can only be reached if I get chosen for the bursary.
Thank you for the oppertunity
Ronelle Lombard
I have be laboring with trying to learn spanish every since I graduated from college where I took french and not spanish which was a mistake. I have been taking classes on and off for over 20 years and my wife and friends believe I am some sort of joke and that I should have a PHD in spanish and yet I can’t seem to get beyond si y no!
Will this be different?
ken
I read that 25% of the world speaks English. Everywhere I travel, someone can speak English, when foreigners come here, they learn English. But too often English people become spoilt and don’t bother extending the same respect to other countries. I want to travel South America, and do volunteer work with the wildlife and with the less fortunate people - perhaps in schools or hospitals. I would like to be fluent in Spanish to talk to the locals about their lives, their beliefs, their stories.
I am so interested in the world and culture and language. I have been studying Spanish online for a few months, but my speaking and listening is terrible compared to my reading. I feel it would be selfish of me to speak only one language. Synergy Spanish could help me achieve my goal of learning Spanish and with this second language, my life will be enriched through being able to talk honestly and comfortably with spanish and latin american cultures - and I hope I too would be able to enrich their lives through my volunteer work.
Hi Marcus;
It’s tough to answer one question when they both apply. My interest which has been an interest for so long is becoming a real need and a future requirement. I’m homeschooling my son and he has a requirement for two years of foreign language and we are trying to teach him spanish, boy is that difficult. But after learning a few words I’ve noticed how much it’s needed at work as we have spanish patients where I work and I cannot properly assess them because I don’t have a clue what they are saying. So as you can see learning spanish would greatly affect my life not just as an educator but as a health care provider. the language barrier walls have to come down. I wish you very good luck with your most difficult decision. This will be tough for you with so many great people wanting so badly to learn.
I would like to learn Spanish to better communicate with the Mexican people that we do Christian outreaches with. We work with missionaries in the state of Sonora near Huatabampo who do childrens ministries. They have a very successful outreach which involves going to very poor areas and towns and ministering to people and children in those areas.
Thank you
Answer to question 1: How do you feel if you can underestand somthing that you didn’t yet? It’s like you wear glasses and sea the world more beautiful and more clear, when you know a new language. beside that , you can tell and wisper your words to many more people who may like to correspond you.
Answer to question 2 : well , what would be a greater motive than his whih others see you feel and act better than before and you enjoy your time?
Hi Marcus,
I want to buy property in Spain in the next four years and am learning Spanish with my Spanish neighbours once a week. It is my dream ambition to travel Europe and have property in Spain. Speaking the language is essential to me. I will find a way and persevere. I am encouraged by your methods and would very much like to try them.
Kind Regards,
Jeannot
I am medically retired, living in Panama. I work with a group of very poor children here. Since I do not speak much Spanish, our communication is difficult. If I could speak Spanish fluently, I could be much more effective in helping these little ones… without having to go thru an interpreter. Your program is beyond my reach financially, and my ‘disposable income’ is used to feed these children, and to help meet their basic needs. Your scholarship will be a big blessing to someone… how kind of you to make this offer.
knowing well spanish will help me, hopefully,to get nearer tomy adopted son in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, and helphim further his carrer as a pianist. it is the aimof my life, and once the language barrier overcome ,i hope thongd will gosmoothly.thanks judith
I have started studying Spanish with you, after one trip to South America. I am returning later this year to work as a volunteer on a health project and speaking Spanish will make me so much more useful in this task.
Thankyou
My daughter just turned 13 and is showing a new interest in Hispanic boys in her class. I want to learn Spanish not to interefere but to know what the conversation is!
Buenas días Marcus,
I am so happy that you brought this opportunity to my attention.
In 2008 I started to teach English to a group of native Korean students. They are all under the age of 13 and I cannot speak Korean. As I got to knowing these students I saw how important it was for them to learn English and how much they had to offer our country. Today they speak English fluently (we are still working on grammer and literature) and they are achieving academic excellence in their English speak schools.
Later on in 2008, I wrote an article in the Varsity Blues magazine about High school in Mexico and how their everyday tasks and sylabus differs to the typical South African school. I learned with that: how Mexican students battle to learn English when they move into American States. I also learned that many mexican students sometimes leave their secondary education in order to help their parents financially. I believe that if I continue to study Spanish, that I will be able to teach students in these types of situations.
Thank you for your time.
Hello, Learning Spanish would drastically change my life. I moved to Spain 5 years ago, lived here 2 years, moved to England for a while and have now moved back to Spain for good. I am also married to a Spaniard. I have tried to learn but it’s hard for me to apply myself as I always feel so overwhelmed with trying to memorize word after word. Learning Spanish would enable me to better communicate with my partner and his family and friends which is the most important thing. I feel terrible sitting around the family dinner table looking at them talk and wondering what they are saying. Secondly, we run a website for West Highland White Terriers in Spain and it’s sin total Spanish. I helped form the page but am unable to post or read what others write or add any information of my own. The page is set up to help people take better care of their dogs here in Spain, and to inform people about the proper treatment of the dogs.
I am a Pastor, I love the Spanish people and the language and one day one to do missionary work in Mexico.
Hello Marcus
I apreciate the synergy program. I certainly benefit from the program as its simple methodology allows me to better grasp this new language, but my peers and staff will benefit more from my services, because I work in a bilingual environment where spanish is a requirement.
Dear Marcus,
Learning Synergy Spanish will help me and some of my friends of the International Ladies’ Regular Meeting Round at El Cortado Bistro in Playa del Ingles on Gran Canaria Island to (better) communicate with Canarios. At the same time it could help to improve/practise my/our English knowledge as my/our mother tongue is German.
Thanks a lot for zour excellent idea!
Hi Marcus,
I live in Cape Town, South Africa and am a high school English teacher by training and profession. Some years ago I worked in Gainesville, Georgia where many of my students were Spanish speaking. They fell in love with me, and I them and the language. Thing is I love traveling and meeting folks from different cultures. Only way i can do it ia to work abroad using my skills. Now that my kids are grown it’s easier for me travel and, in 2010, God willing, I plan to travel and work in South America teaching English as Foreign language. I also plan to walk the Santiago de Compestelo , and journey to Machu Piccu as a spiritual experience to express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life.
Kindest regards
Merle
Hola , due to the world cup coming to South Africa in 2010 , I would like to be able to communicate with spanish soccer lovers coming to our beautiful country South African , I would like to be the transporting Spanish tourists and going to watch my favourite team Spain .
Dios te bendiga
Zakes
Dear Marcus
Learning Spanish will be the greatest present I can give to my dear Spanish friend, Nevenka.
And I might be able to get a job overseas, as there is no other way I can get a work permit without a degree.(I live in South Africa)
Thanks!
How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life?
When I move to Spain will not be a forigner an a forgin land. I will be a neighbour and a part of my new home; Spain.
I have tried many courses during my 4 years in Spain but I still cannot converse fully with my Spanish friends,this is the only down side I find living here.I dont think your course will be any different from the others but if you can prove me wrong I am willing to eat my words.
Regards
James
Hi Marcus.
I am 64 years old, my wife and myself retired to the Costa Blanca in Spain four years ago,allthough I have learned a few basic words I would love to be able to converse with my Spanish neighbours, we live in rural Spain where very little English is spoken. I find it very frustrating having to engage the services of a interprator for things like doctors appointments and dealing with matters concerning the local ayuntamentio. We are in the position where our houses have been declared illegal which puts terrible pressure on us when we are unable to even read the police notices we have been receiving from the Valencian Police regarding demolishion of our house.
Best Regards
Brian
Hola Marcus
I live in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands and work as an Accountant helping English Speaking people with their taxes and accounts. My colleagues are Spanish and I have to deal with the Spanish tax office and government offices. I have been learning Spanish since moving from England to live here 2 years ago, I am English and I know I need more practise to be able to speak Spanish fluently and make my life living in Spain easier, to be able to have a conversation with my colleague without writing it down and to be able to help my clients more easily. My ambition is to be fluent as soon as possible.
If you can help me it will be greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards
Lindsey
Hola y que tal? I am a native English travelling gringo. I love going to Mexico and have many amigos y amigas. Although I am not a gringo I am from Canada. I want to be able to use my Spanish to explore the mysteries and mystique of all the history throughout the Spanish speaking countries. My hopes are to go to a down to either Mexico or South America and teach Spanish as a foreign language. Other interests as well as learning local cuisine seeing the festivities of the year and doing artwork at the tourists places. Thank-you very much.
My wife and I bought 3 hectares in Mexico a few years ago with ideas of building a home and living there permanently. While working on our property we have become friends with the neighbors and were shocked at the poverty and need that surrounded us. We ‘adopted’ a family of five and became the godparents of their little girl. Our Spanish has been very poor and communications difficult but it’s still been fun and very rewarding helping them. We realize that we need to help at the community level and are thinking about adding a classroom to the village school or maybe add a room on to the church. It really doesn’t cost that much for just one room so we will move ahead with that project when we can. There are so many ways to help and so many people who desperately need it. Our lives are just beginning in Mexico and Synergy Spanish has already been extremely helpful. Looking ahead we will be doing a lot to help people and being fluent in Spanish is going to make it happen so much faster and so much better. Gracias Marcus - Love your course!
Hola
My reason for learning is not one of need or any great charitable reason, it’s to prove to myself that I can learn a language. I am 47 years old didn’t do well at languages in school. I have always stood in awe of people that could converse in several languages’. I have taken up this course and I am truly amazed at the speed I am moving through. I can think my way ahead in Spanish. This has given me the desire to grab every bit of Spanish I can. In a few months I am going to Spain with some friends on a bike trip. I want to amaze them!
Thanks so much for giving me the confidence that allows me to believe that I can learn a new language.
Hola Mr Santamaria, necessito hablar espanol. I have been following your audio lessons for more than a year now. Winning this scholarsip will allow me to conduct business in Spain using fluent Spanish - I do harvest forecasting and agriculture planning for the citrus industry, and Spain is a major citrus producer. Thank you for making this sponsorship available.
Hola Buenas Dias, Marcus thank you for the wonderful opprtunity you are offering. Although still working with your material I had to withdraw from your excellent courses for the time being because the Euro/Pound exchange rate has reduced my income by 30%.
I live in Spain and have been here for almost 2 years. I can get by fine with ordinary day to day matters but lack the ability to coverse fluently. Your courses would enable me to gain that ability and I can use that ability to improve the lives of others.
I have been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 17 years and during that time have been pretty much continuously ”In Service’. On the usual voluntary unpaid basis I have handled Public Relations for AA in England locally and nationally. I have been a conference delegate at AA UKs national conference where I learnt a lot about helping still suffering alcoholics at levels above that of th individual through negotiation with professionals (doctors, lawyers, religious leaders etc) Here in Spain there are tremendous opportunities to use that knowledge to build higher levels of co-operation between English and Spanish speaking AA and between AA and the professional community. There is no doubt that your courses would enable me to work towards that end. Also I believe that the very fact that you had made this language training available to me and knowledge of the uses I intend tp put it to would enhance relations with Spanish AA and enable us all in the fellowship of AA in Spain to move forward towards being of increased benefit to the community and the still suffering alcoholic.
Many thanks for this opportunity
Alan
I am a supervisor for a company in San Diego and we have many bilingual employees working for us. As a supervisor, I am supposed to be knowledgeable, confident and professional, but that is quite difficult to do when I can’t communicate with my employees in the language they are most comfortable with. So, learning Synergy Spanish would help both me and my employees.
Blessings,
Chad
Hi Marcus,
You’re The Best!!!
Only an open hand like yours can receive again.
If you believe you can achieve.
With your program I’m able to learn and speak this warm language.
Perhaps there are people with more reason than me to win, but, God willing, if I’m to get this sponsorship it would mean the world to me so that I can be able to speak when we move to Spain to reunite with our children. Thanking you in advance. Alet
Hi Marcus, well a scholarship would change our lives immensely. I have lived in Mallorca Spain for 9 years and my spanish is very poor. I have a 3 1/2 yr old daughter who speaks Spanish better than I do!!!!! I am a single dad and dont want to be single forever! It would enhance both of our lives, as well as being able to improcve my chances of obtaining extra work. I would love to be able to hold a converstaion with some of the lovely Spanish girls who live here. I work in catering and at the moment it is only British or German people who use my services. This year the year of the “crisis” I need to look for new business. 2009 a new start? who knows, I hope so.
Best regards
Jerry.
I am finding it difficult to separate how my learning Synergy Spanish will help me from how I think it will help others. My work as an activist and community organizer to counter oppression and to promote liberation and justice through the healing of trauma is dependent on my ability to understand and communicate effectively. My community is growing and changing everyday as more and more people who speak Spanish as their primary language come to live or are born here. Many recent immigrants to my community have histories of violence or trauma and have difficulty finding support when they arrive here. All have rich life experiences and amazing stories to tell. I believe it is vitally important at this juncture in human history, and in my life to become bi-lingual and culturally sensitive and competent. In addition to being a wonderful experience it is simply the right and fair thing to do. Out of respect and with great curiosity, joy, and enthusiasm I am working to learn Spanish as quickly as I can. With the help of this scholarship, learning Synergy Spanish will not only improve my relationships and deepen my connections, it will help to stretch my mind and grow my heart. At the same time it will help me to be a better friend, advocate, activist and community leader for others.
Thanks very much for this great opportunity,
Elaine Walters
The Trauma Healing Project
Oregon, USA
hello my name is tom. i need to learn spanish for all reasons. 1 to be able to communicate better with my girlfriend. but more so to communicate to all the people who live in spanish speaking countries. south america. i am very intrested in helping people to help themselves. have you ever heard the saying feed a man a fish for a day and his hunger is satisfied for a day. teach a man how to fish feed him for the rest of his life. that is what i want to do i am simple intelligent man with a dream and a vision you could help me on my journey marcus.
i am at the moment studying community supported agriculture. an idea that brings food production back to the locals and keeping within much smaller areas reasons being that you know were your food is coming from so less fuel used healthier foods less chemicals a chance for all t o get involved as much as they want to. im also into music and spreading good uplifting messages through this medium and to me it be a great blessing to get my message to more people than just english speaking countries.
i want to help the world i have the time and the energy marcus.
help me help the world i know i can do good
I retired to Spain 2 years ago and I have tried to learn Spanish with little success and decided to just plod along and pick a up word up here and there. However, recently a friend had an accident and I had to take her to hospital it turned out she had a broken foot. I found that with none of the medical staff speaking English it was very difficult and frustrating to get help for my friend and I don’t want to find myself in that situation again.
Regards
Mel
I KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING HELP ME TO DO IT ………………..
I’m into internet marketing and I’m looking to address the hispanic market and I need to translate many of my sales material to spanish, and to provide product to the hispanic market.
Hola Marcus
I have to admit that there’s some pretty good reasons listed above, but I’ll throw my name in the hat. I was in Chile for 6 months last year doing volunteer English teaching with the Inglés Abre Puertas Min Edu. program in a impoverished, public basica school. Although I am a trained teacher, my ability to teach English was severely compromised my inability to use Spanish to control the class, including being completely oblivious to when the students were verbally abusing me. Honestly, my classrooms were a zoo at times. Not being one to rest easily with failure, after much deliberation I have turned my back the comforts of my teaching/management position in my middle class High School in Christchurch, and have resigned, in favour of returning to Chile to teach those lovable little #&^@s some more English!
I need your course because nothing, I mean NOTHING else has worked for me thus far aside from the Synergy Spanish course. However this course has only just gotten me off the ground; I need some serious tuition between now and June, and having resigned from my reaching job here and needing to save for another volunteer excursions, money is a significant factor. Please give serious consideration to my application: learning Spanish with this course will allow me to open doors for hundreds of Chilean teenagers, for whom the future currently looks a little bleak.
Richard
Hi Marcus,
I am praying to win your invaluable Spanish collection because I and some church members are forming a non-profit organization, Inc. that will provide necessities to the people of Mexico, Guatamala, and Honduras. Your program would benefit the organization in that some of the members speak no Spanish whatsoever, which is a necessity for communication. Also, it would be a wonderful asset to be able to communicate with the people (children and elderly included) to educate them to all that we will be providing and doing in each area/country. We will have medical, dental, educational, nutrition, clothing, and household items that can make a difference in the lives of others who otherwise may not have the ability or funds to provide these things for thier families. Our first trip is tentatively set for Feb. 2009 and then another in May 2009. We have faith and belief in God that our needs will be met. You have a wonderful plan to help others learn Spanish and I personally thank you for sharing your talent and generousity.
Gracias a Dios !!!
Mary
Synergy spanish has already helped me to communicate more fully with my new Husband (Cuban) but being able to speak fluently with his family and friends would enable me to become even more a part of the family.
I would also like to help others in the UK to understand and communicate more fully in Spanish becaue as you say, most languages are taught never to be spoken and this is a great shame, so lets get out there and do something about it.
Dear Marcus
We have lived in South Africa for the last 28 years and have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves especially the weather. However, we have decided to move back to England our homeland with a view to moving to Spain. Now 90% of the English, God bless their souls, never try to learn any Spanish when they visit or live and subsist on Fish and Chips or Pie and chips not wanting” any of that foreign muck”
We want to become ‘Spanish’ by speaking their language and showing the respect they deserve. I have really enjoyed your way of teaching and a sponsorship would put the icing on the cake.
Saludos
Graham
Thanks for the opportunity to tell my story. Like most of the nation Chicago has been hit hard with foreclosures. I am a new attorney who helps people save their homes by defending against the foreclosures. I live in a African American/ Hispanic community called South Chicago which has been particulary hard by the foreclosure crisis.
I would like to learn Spanish because I can reach out to more people in my neighborhood. Some of my neighbors have been victims of rescue fraud, where unscruplous investors have come in and swindled homeowners’ out of their investment. Many of these individuals have rights they don’t even know about.
I have one Hispanic family as a client but due to the language barrier, I end up talking to the daughter more than the father. If I could communicate better I think I would be more helpful to my Hispanic neighbors.
Dear Marcus,
I love your courses, and listen to them repeatly even the easier ones which I have well in hand. Repetition is the key to success. Using and reusing them allows me to be able to recall them much more quickly when I am speaking and listening. I have subscribed to or purchased all of your courses (as well as several others for that matter) and am making good progress, but I would really like to become fluent and then plan on taking up French. I had to purchase a newer IPOD to fit all the courses.
I have a girlfriend in Argentina and being married I am sure you are aware that men and women have a hard enough time communicating when they speak the same native language, but it is ever the more difficult when neither is fluent in the other’s native tongue. I hope to be able to communicate with her.
As well I am in the mining business, but I have not ventured yet into South America so much as I am waiting till my spanish improves a bit more. If done properly mining and mineral exploration can be profitable for the company and also for the surrounding community in the form of jobs creation tax revenues etc. I believe it is also the responsibility of the company to give back to the local community. We should always try to make a lasting positive impression on those around us in work and play during our life.
Sincerely,
Ralph
You are right when you say, you have “mental blocks” when learning spanish, as I have found. It is the teacher and course that make it possible to break these barriers as I have found from experience. We moved to Spain to retire and help with my husband’s recovery but decided that we wanted to live in a small spanish village to mix with the locals rather than on an “English urbanisation”. We are gradually making ourselves understood but it would be so nice to have a conversation with our spanish neighbours and intergrate more fully in the activities of the village. If I am lucky enough to win this sponsorship I know that I will become a fully intergrated member of our community and moving to Spain was the best thing we have ever done
WOW!!!!, what an opportunity .!……………..My ambition to encourage integration between British and Spanish people here in Costa Blanca where Ihave lived for 5 years since retiring from teaching (now living alone)would be more easily acheivable.
Living in a small pueblo I meet many spanish and yearn to embrace their language.Your offer would enable me to truly interact and converse with the people I now live around.
CHOOSE ME! por favor
Julia
To date I have used many methods to try and learn Spanish (something I’ve deidcated myself to every day for 6months now) software packages inc Rosetta stone and linkword. The best so far has been a course of Michel Thomas CDs which are truely excellent and I recommend those highly, however from what I’ve researched into this course (spanish synergy) and the freebie I’ve done, it seems very good and in the same mould as the Mt cds. I’m also having lessons once a week but I’m still a million miles away.
As to how it would change my life, first and foremost a very good friend of mine (who’s Spanish) has moved back to Pamplona to take up a job working with abandoned and homeless children and I’d very much like to communicate with him fluenly. Also I would one day like to travel and being able to speak another language fluently (especially one so widley spoken) would open so many doors and bring with it such a wealth of diversity and enrichment to my life by opening doors to a different way of life and different perspectives of life and living, that the benefits would be endless, and of course the differnt ways of my lifeperspective would hopefully widen and enrich those who I come into contact with and form good sound friendships.
Many Thanks
Stuart
Hi Marcus,
I am Swedish and there are not many speaking Spanish around. Still, I would love to speak this fantastic language and learn more about Latin America. The only thing stopping me is my inability to speak it. I once learned English but this is different. Could me an age thing though… I keep forgetting new words. I keep coming back to your website - it’s so encouraging!!!
Many thanks,
Ulla
i believe that cosseted within each language in their expressions there is a veneer of discernment which adds a unique hue to the perspective of human experiences that we share with our fellowmen. The colours contained in the Spanish language which provide these enhancements have an exciting vibrancy about them, and i would like to master the Spanish language to explore the thoughts of the Spanish philosophers and artists in
their work, and to share conversation with people of that language group, to explore these differences and add to my own wonderful experience of the miracle of being.
Hi Marcus,
very impressed witht he course i downloaded and have statrted. I am certainly learning more from your course than any others I have tried.
I am living n Spain and have just been made redendent, so learning Spanish is now a key driver in my life - finishing the course and graduating onto the streets here would enable me to search for a much wider range of jobs.
We are attending a local English Church, and as a booster to my Spanish I plan on trying to teach themens group there how to speak, as for all my failingsi seem to be - thanks to you - ahead of them. Two doors down from our Church is a Spanish church - and they hold services in Spanish- we have been a couple of times and can join in the songs - but need to bring them home and get on to Bable fish to find out the words. The Sermon is way beyond me today - but a kind lady did some translation for us. Oh to be able to be the one interpreting for others to help enhance their lives!
I believe it is right and proper to speak the local language of our adopted country - but with an old and tired English brian it is a real challenge. However with you course behind me I know (from the rapid progress I made on the first part I downloaded and indeed the free lessons we tried) I know I can ctrack this with your help - but $1830 is three months food! So the food wins at the moment.
Thank you for a great boost anfd God bless.
Chris
How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life? As i have lived in Spain for the last 3 years , and find i very hard to lern Spanish it woulc change my life by been able to talk to my spanish friends.
Hola Marcus,
synergy spanish can make my lfe better by opening up a whole new world of people, infomation and experiences for me, making it possible for me to go intop direct contacts with people in the spanishspeaking world without being shy and nervous about my shortcomings in spanish. To be able to sepak a foreign langage is by far the best way of opening up a new
world for my discoveries - thus making my world bigger and anhancing my opportunities both at work and in my private life.
Martin
Hi Marcus
Thank you for the opportunity to apply for a scholarship. My name is Clive and have moved to the beautiful island of Mallorca just over a year ago, with my wife and two golden retrievers. We live in a very Spanish part of the Island with a rich local culture. Although I am picking up some words it would be so much better if I understood more and could even have conversations with my neighbours. The problem that I have is that I do not understand verbs and tenses, the books that I have looked at, all require a degree in Latin. Gaining a place on your course might be a small step for mankind but a huge leap forward for this man.
Best Regards. Clive
hola marcus, i hope i would be a lucky man.-) i simply love spanish langauge and always wanted to master it, your synergy spanish helped me choose the right track and stay motivated by learning.
muchas gracias para todos y espero que yo tenga sufficinte suerte,
abrazo
Yousef, Germany
A lifetime of trying to loose weight is the same as trying to learn spanish,no success.
Hola buenas dias, Marcus,
Gracias fir your kind offer.I have learned only up to Leccion tres so far, and I love it.
Me gustaria mucho hablar mas espanol pronto para visitar Mexico (and many other spanish speaking countries).
If I win the ackage I promise to learn it. I am Israeli, and I feel close to people with latin temperament. I am 65 years old, and I have studied a lot, but rarely did I enjoy it as I did your sample lessons. Apart from the enjoyment of learning, I will probably use it in my travels and to speak with Spanish speaking people here in Israel.
Not a good enough reason to get the package? well, Me gustaria…
Thanks a lot, gracias mucho, תודה רבה, Ora
I am British but currently living in Marbella in Southern Spain and have been with my Boyfriend for nearly 2 years {he is from Argentina and only speaks Spanish} When we 1st met I knew very little Spanish and for the 1st three weeks we carried a dictionary around everywhere we went so that we could communicate. To this day I don’t know how we did it, but we got by, day by day and when I forgot the dictonary and we muddled through the date. After 5 months we moved in together and I have never taken any professional lessons and only learned from my boyfriend and from watching only Spanish TV for 2 years. I understand my level of Spanish is higher than some people who have commented on this page, but the problem I have, is the Spanish I have learned is not correct and so most other people don’t understand me. My Boyfrind and I seem to have our own language. We are wanting to get married next year but before we do, we want to travel to Argentina for a holiday to meet all his brothers, and his parents. I do not want to show myself up, and I would love to be able to actually hold a proper conversation with my future In Laws and brother In Laws. We both feel very strongly that our children will be brought up multi lingual and therfore this would help me hit the ground running for teaching our kids both English and Spanish in the future.
After reading a few of these comments I am thinking you are wishing you didnt do it. I am doing the opposite of you.I am leaving Australia and moving to Mexico. I started on your coarse 18 months ago when I went to Mexico for a two week vacation and fell in love with the country,people,food,customs,culture,weather,history…it goes on and on. I ended up staying 5 months and visiting 6 states. I would have to say that Mexico to me is the most exciting country in the world…a bold statement but after growing up in Australia and living over 20 years in the USA and 3 in England I want to try “Amazing Mexico” now. Not an easy move for me but i will do it. The countries mention are so sterile in comparison.I felt such emotion while there. After a festival in Oxaca state I enjoyed watching 13 dances from ONE state….even a pineapple dance…we grow pineapples in Australia…we have no dance, period. Thanx to you I can read and write most of what you taught me….speech is another story! But im off to my next adventure in life ready or not.
Dear Marcus
For the last one and a half years, my wife and I, both retired, have lived in San Miguel de Salinas, a small town in Costa Blanca. There are a large number of expatriates living here, most of whom chose to settle here rather than on the nearby coast, in order to live amongst Spanish people and to attempt to become integrated into their way of life.. However, due to language difficulties, the various communities, Spanish, British, German, Belgian etc. all appear to lead parallel lives, never truly integrating, despite a strong desire on all sides to do so.
We have learned that there is a mistaken perception amongst the Spanish residents here that foreigners do not wish to learn Spanish or to mix. Having talked to expatriates who have lived here much longer than us, we do not believe this is true. The real problem is that many people begin learning the language but give up after a while due to the slow progress they make studying by traditional methods., (in local classes, the past tense is not taught until year 3 or 4!). Many then label themselves as failures or say they are too old to learn. Luckily, both my wife and I have a background of learning other languages, so know that we can learn, but we too feel frustrated that ,despite living in Spain and regularly attending classes, our progress in the language is very slow , and we can still not communicate effectively with our neighbors and really be part of the local community .
We have studied the parts of your course which you have generously emailed to us and have been most impressed by them. . I am sure that if we had the opportunity to study all your material, we could become living proof of the success of your methods. Our hope then would be to actively promote your courses amongst the thousands of residents in the area who are also looking for a way to successfully learn Spanish.
We very much want o be part of and offer a service to the community in which we live .We have joined the local Neighbourhood Association and with them have discussed ways of bringing the communities together. The Association, in cooperation with the local mayor, would encourage joint activities and ways of sharing cultures, but all require a certain level of confidence in the Spanish language. If successful ourselves, we could encourage others to take this path to learning so that we can all help to bring the communities of this friendly town together. Moving beyond the “Holas” and friendly nods to engage in real conversation and communication would make living in a multicultural environment a happier and richer experience for all..
“Tengo Sueno”, yes I think somebody said it before me but I also have a dream. Hailing from the grey UK I yearn for a bit more sun, somewhere healthy where my children can grow up and get a taste of another way of life. The ultimate for me would be to live and work in Spain and immerse myself in its culture, the ability to communicate in Spanish will help me realize that.
Just by listening to the lessons I get a lift because I feel I am at least taking a step in the right direction each time I listen and join in. Key to this is the fact that the lessons actually work and are enjoyable, I have them loaded up onto my MP3 player and while I do get a few strange looks from people as I jog round the town mumbling in Spanish its actually fun and very fulfilling.
So although I know the question is ‘how will Synergy Spanish change my life?’ I am happy to say that although I have only had the pleasure of listening to the ‘free lessons’ it already has changed my life.
At present in the UK the credit crunch is in the process ‘crunching’ and my job has gone the way of many in the UK and it is at such times that little gifts like Synergy Spanish really counts for a lot. I applaud Synergy Spanish for creating an immensely enjoyable way to do something really worthwhile and I must also thank everyone involved for giving me and others like me a little lift in our time of need.
Regards Pete
Hola Marcus,
Thankyou for giving someone such a wonderful opportunity to learn Spanish.
We have children whom we have adopted from South America & now we have searched & found familia there. For now we are reliant on others to assist us with our communication. What a gift it would be to us & our children to be able to speak to them whenever we wanted too. We need us much help as we can to achieve this dream. Thankyou again for your generosity.
Carina
I took the Spanish Synergy course and it helped a lot, Unfortunately I can’t afford to continue or I’m sure I would. Good Luck to all you Spanish learners who can.
John McMillan.
Hi Marcus, when I stayed in Mexico in a so-called “casa del migrante” in order to help these poor migrants and refugees I started improving my Spanish using your method - back home in Germany I still continue to practice my Spanish whenever I meet Spanish speaking people visiting our Church.
Manuel Merten OP
member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) - Parish Priest
Spain has already changed my life radically — three years ago I left a fine journalism job in the United States, sold everything, and moved to a tumbledown farming compound on the Meseta in north central Spain. Here my husband and I are making a dream come true: we are rebuilding our place into an overnight stop for pilgrims along the Camino de Santiago trail. We´re part of a thousand-year-old Spanish tradition of hospitality and Christian hospitality, and have received a warm welcome from the 15 people who still live in our pueblo.
I did not come here unprepared. I studied Spanish for two years at my local college, and spent a month in Mexico at an intensive Spanish training course. I thought my Spanish was OK. But after living in a Spanish country for two years, in the heart of Castilla y Leon no less, my Spanish is still a joke. My neighbors just shake their heads when I try to communicate anything beyond generalities. And sometimes they can´t help but laugh.
This is heartbreaking for me. I have invested everything in this place and this enterprise, but I still must ask for patience when trying to communicate within my own community, and with Spanish pilgrims. That´s why I signed up for Synergy Spanish — which is really building my confidence, BTW — but why I really need to “go whole hog” and master this language. I do believe I have some kind of mental block, as nothing else I´ve attempted to learn has defeated me so totally.
I am 70, Scottish and now live in Spain in a small village where there is no English communication. I am trying to learn Spanish but my memory is not retaining all of the data. I am very keen to integrate with the local villagers, who are very friendly and helpful. Therfore it is necessary for me to be able to communicate with them so that I can enjoy my life and retirement in Spain. I am also the President of our community of mainly English speaking people who rely on me to deal with Spanish workmen, suppliers, deliveries, local authorities etc. So if I can communicate on a level that the Spanish people understand I will be helping my fellow owners.
Bob Brownlie
Jacarilla-Alicante
Spain.
Hmmm, well all I can say is that I really want to learn Spanish. I’ve been to Spain several times, travelled around South America where I also volunteered in a Bolivian orhpanage (but was unable to communicate with the children too my full potential!). I started several Spanish classes but left them both as I found they moved too fast for me personally….I’m not going to give up! It wasn’t till I came across Synergy Spanish that I actually felt like I was getting somewhere and not sitting there overwhelmed and confused as I found with the Spanish classes. I plan to live and work in Spain in the year 2010 to kick off my next big trip. Nothing particularly special or different about my comment, just the fact that I don’t want to give up and this will be a VERY nice booster!
Cheers
Tara, Australia
While I beieve Marcus that all those testimonials are genuine, you don’t need them and they are an impediment to your efforts.your programmes are absolutely great for (relatively) effortless Learning. I hink they arte brilliant in conception and strategy. Do not overload with this sort of congratulations because you do not need them. Just offer more.
Yours with gratitude
Brian Jones
I’m not a stupid person, I have a degree and master in engineering and a master in business. Can I learn Spanish? Doesn’t seem that way! I can make boring conversation that lacks any depth, but that’s where it stops. I just want to be able to integrate socially and professionally in the country I have chosen to raise my children. I’m just tired of being insular!
John
My wife and I are well past retirement age and every year we spend the winter in Spain. At the moment, we feel so isolated not being able to communicate with everyone around, having to point at things that we want to buy and not being able to understand what they are trying to tell us. It would improve our lives so much if we could understand the language and be able to fit in with all the locals. We have started by buying your Synergy course but, to be able to feel part of the vilage, learning the whole course would so much improve things
It will give me back my independance & allow me to talk to the doctor,dentist etc without my son sitting at the side of me.I can hold a very basic conversation with people if face to face but the telephone presents its own challenges. I live in a town with no other English speakers except my son so the differnce to me would be life changing. I am able to speak “pigion” spanish but as we live just outside Valencia in Spain I am also having to try to understand Valencian as well which makes things so much more longer to understand as most of the people in the town use Valencian as thier first language. I love the Spanish language & would so love to be able to talk properly to my 4 year old Grandson & his other grandparents.
I retired to mainland Spain just over 3 years ago. I live a few kilometres outside the village,so I don’t have the opportunity to speak to the villagers on a daily basis. Although I am able to make myself understood in the shops, or make very limited conversation, I still struggle to understand their responses and keep having to ask them to either repeat what they have said, or say it slowly. Traditional study methods (the Hugo spanish course, and beginners’ Spanish class in the local town hall) have not produced any noticable improvement. This is so frustrating, because I was invited to be on the committee of a local association set up to cultivate multi-cultural links in the local comarca, but had to refuse because of my poor Spanish.
Were I to win the scolarship I would be able to take a more actve part in the village affairs, and with theconfidence gained from better language skills I would be able to assist (on an informal basis) other British ex-patriots who are moving into thevillage, either as interpreter when required, or encouraging them to learn Spanish. Before I retired I helped people master computer skills, and I am confident that the techniques I employed in that area could be usefully used to help others begin to learn a second language.
Sounds quite fine and very agreeable to me (the last known non-speaking English lady. Alas.
Will it ever come to pass, that with an effort and ease I might definitely become capable of passing through that barrier — the Spanish language — for me. (For some other extreme unknown or false starts, I am yet on the outside of this most beautiful and romantic of languages). I’d love to enter your promotional or whatever it is at the possibility of another language.
And doesn’t it seem just when you are about to board that plane, boat or train, strap that parachute on your back, descend into the Grand Canyon, spellbound down and back — some Hope there is to track, your way is suddenly covered with any and everything that would/could impact your landing or take off, and all the in between! downright mean and obscene!!
yet, we try now and again, to push away that oh soo small package and WOW! what a react!! I would so love to accomplish something.
Thanks
Pat Church
I have just qualified as a midwife. Once i have gained sufficient experience my goal is to take my skills to south america and work with “medicos sin fronteras” on a longterm basis which is an ONG working in the poorest parts of south america… I need the spanish language to accomplish my dream. I have one year to soak in a much spanish as i can to prepare me for my adventure. Your program would be an incredible blessing.
Hola Marcus, I would love to be considered for your amazing offer. I am retired and have just finished a sponsored Trek for the Mentally Handicapped in Peru. I felt so proud that I could say a couple of words in Spanish to the local people I met there. This was learned from your Shortcut to Spanish which I am still trying to master. Having completed the Trek which was a big challenge for me as I am in my 60’s ,
I would love the challenge of being able to speak fluently your beautiful language. I dont envy you your task of choosing who should win your prize as everyone has equally good reasons why it should be them. Good luck, and well done to your winner.
Many thanks,
Caroline
After reading many of the comments it seems pointless to tell! My husband and I go to P.V. Mexico a couple times a year. We have become involved in the “Children of the Dump” charity which gives the children that live at the dump schooling and solid nutritious meals. They teach the children English, Math and computer skills so they can work in the tourism industry. They have had great success. We would like to be able to volunteer in the school programs and just interact with the children better.
It’s already the 26th, and I doubt I am the most worthy of this prize, but nonetheless:
2) How will your learning Synergy Spanish help others?
I would probably answer this question by saying that Synergy Spanish would help me communicate with native Spanish speakers across the globe, which is very helpful for when I am talking to someone in Mexico trying to learn English. I dislike having to dominate the conversation, but unfortunately South Australia isn’t the best place to learn Spanish due to demographics etc. If I were to use Synergy Spanish I would use it to help Spanish-speaking people learn English by explaining in their own native tongue, and then help other English learners learn Spanish as well.
Gracias y hasta la vista.
Chrisso
this course will change my life as i will have better chances in employment. I moved to spain one year ago and I am very limited in the work i can apply for as i do not have the language. it will also allow to converse and make new friends. this course will open many doors for me and give me the chance to improve myself on this beautiful island (mallorca)
Im in year 12 this year and im very eager to travel next year. So while i am at university i plan to do an exchange program to spain, im hoping to study medicine, particulary radiology. I hope to set up my own practice in the future where i can help those who may not be able to afford such medical treatment. Winning this scholarship will help me help others by learning spanish and being able to communicate with the locals and make my stay more enjoyable and rewarding.
I really want to learn Spannish for a lot of reasons. Well it is a beautiful language, and some of the places I most of all want to travel to are Spannish speaking countrys.
I don´t really know what I want to do in the future, but I know it must have something to do with helping people in need. Not at least in Latin America. Then it would be a great thing if I could comunicate with the people there. I can do so much more if I learn Spannish. I know I have to do something, I really want to do something to make the childrens lives better, I could even take care of them myself. I feel so frustraged when I can´t do anythinh for them! So I kind of do know what I want to do in the future. It just would be so much easier if I could speak Spannish…
Currently, I work as a Financial Counselor at a hospital. I have alot of spanish speaking patients who come to the office seeking programs for unpaid medical bills. This course would help me to learn more formal and accurate spanish. I enjoy helping people and doing all I can for my patients. This course would help me to improve my spanish speaking skills and give me the ability to speak more fluent spanish. Learning the language correctly would improve my job performance and allow me to help more of my spanish speaking clients. In addition, this course would allow me to pass the spanish skills down to my son and daughter. Spanish is a beautiful language and would definitely open more doors for promotion at my job.
Hola Marcus
I have been living in Spain for a number of years, and although my knowledge of the language is improving almost daily, yet I am far from being able to carry on a flowing conversation.
The town, near where I live, was never really a tourist trap, and so English is not widely spoken.
My life would be so enriched if I was fluent, insofar as I would be much better able to enjoy all this beautiful has to offer.
The area (urbanisation), where I live, is home to mainly Spanish people, many of whom are much older than myself, and I believe that I could assist them with some of life’s difficulties, if I could converse freely with them.
Elige me
Donal Marron
I’m 50, still young to do a lot of things
I would like to pass the examination to become a guide of my hometown, Venice. Italy.
Therefore I need to know Spanish (besides English) which is not so easy even though there are many words that are similar
I’d love to learn the language to be able to show properly my beloved Venice to Spanish speaking visitors.
Ciao da Venezia,
Flavia
Hi Marcus,
My reasons for wanting to learn to speak Spanish are truly selfish in nature. You see, I married a man who is a native of PR approximately 16 years ago. He is fully bilingual and being that we do not live in an area where Spanish is spoken we communicate solely in English. Whenever we are around his friends and family I feel completely left out. Not only that, our daughters are beginning to learn Spanish in school and I would love to be able to encourage the use of a second language by conversing with them at home so that when we are with the side of our family that speaks Spanish we can all join in.
Hi Marcus,
I moved from Belgium to the United States 3 years ago …As an Immigrant it is pretty hard to beaccpted here…During those 3 yars I used to work with a Mexican immigrant and over time he became a very close friend…About th only friend I had here…We got along real good…he spoke a couple of words English and he tought m some words in Spanish….We had no problems communicating. and understood each other with no problems….Now due to the economic crisis the company we used to work for has closed and we got laid off… My friend Marcos moved back to his family in Mexico…Now I realise that I don’t know enough Spanish and he doesnt know enough English in order to understand each other on the telephone…Talking to someone In real life when infront of you is a total different ball game…
To be able to learn the entire course would be so awesome….so I could talk to my buddy and actually understand what’s being said…..
hi just to say the more Spanish I can speak the more I can help the old folk hear in Spain, they need a lot of help and we try to give them some help but without the language we can not be of to much help. Roland
For me to be able to speak Spanish would improve my life 100%. I have lived in Spain for the past 10 years in the countryside, where I have the most wonderful Spanish neighbors, who try so hard to communicate with me. I long to join them in their Feistas, and just refuse most invites because I feel foolish being here for so long and not able to speak with them. i have been to so many classes, read books, bought endless material, but other than a few basic words I seem to be stuck. but I live in hope.
Many thanks for this opportunity.
Pauline Harpin.
Hi Marcus
My wife and I are heading over to South America this year to do some mission work. Katy will be working with disadvantaged children, and I will most likely be teaching English. Both of us have VERY basic Spanish, but obviously need to know more in order to be a blessing to everyone we meet over there. For us, learning Spanish will improve the lives of those we are helping in South America, but it will also help us because we won’t be so discouraged or stressed by a lack of ability to communicate clearly. Since we are not getting paid to go, we are trying to find free Spanish-learning resources we can use. We would LOVE the opportunity to learn Spanish from your courses.
Thanks for doing this. Whoever gets the scholarship, it’s a really nice thing you’re doing.
Paul & Katy
Meeting wonderful people from all around South America, I have come to love and appreciate the Spanish culture. I am already bilingual and have developed this yearning of learning Spanish. I have made some investments towards this goal already, both in terms of time and money and need to get more regular with a program that works.
It would be a bright, shiny day when I will be able to carry out a conversation in Spanish (at least a few sentences) and watch the smiles of pleasant surprise on my South American colleagues and friends. That would be my small way of respecting a rich and full-of-heart culture.
¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!¡!
¡HOLA!
(: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (: (:
¡Wow – all these entries to read!
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MY NAME IS SARAH, AND THE REASON THAT I WOULD love, Love, LOVE TO BE THE LUCKY ONE THAT WINS THIS FANTASTIC PRIZE, IS SIMPLY THAT I AM IN LOVE WITH ALL THINGS SPANISH. (and I have really tried to catch your attention with my entry!!)
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I have fallen in love with Spanish music. I have learned a little Spanish music on my violin, and my boyfriend Jay, who calls me his Carino, has even began to learn Spanish guitar, just for me…
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But even more exciting has been the Argentine Tango..
For some time now, Jay and I have been taking Latin American dancing classes, and have already become quite good at the Rumba and Cha-cha - and of course the Salsa
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In my most precious dreams, I find myself in Latin America or Spain, immersed in the cultures of the Spanish-speaking people. I want to dance, play music, and speak with the Spanish – and not just as a tourist..
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It would be PERFECT if I could speak Spanish Properly by the end of this year, because by then I’ll most likely be married, have my studies completed, and be free to travel.
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My biggest barrier in learning Spanish has been the lack of an appropriate, affordable method. I have no one to teach me, and so I have tried to teach myself. I have listened to my three Spanish tapes over and over – ¡I practically know them off by heart!
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I can tell you:
* How to order black coffee or mineral water from a restaurant;
* All about the Spanish alphabet
* How to count in Spanish up to 100
* That I want 6 eggs and some tinned sardines
* That if you take the second right, then turn left at the end of the street, you will find the bank on the corner…
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¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?BUT FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I CAN’T PUT TOGETHERMY OWN SIMPLE SENTENCES, SUCH AS “¡I LOVE THE SPANISH LANGUAGE – PLEASE HELP ME TO SPEAK ITt! ¡PLEASE LET ME WIN!”
¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?
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I moved to Spain four years ago with my husband and two children, both girls went straight into spanish schools. I am so proud of how they have settled into the spanish life style, learning the language and making many new friends of all nationalities. Myself. i have been struggling since day one with the language. I have had many lessons from different sources and i am still stuggling with the basics. To help me, i have applied for a teachers assistant post working with young children and hopefully i will be able to learn from them. At the moment though i am unemployed so money is short, so any help would be gratefully recieved. Many thanks Helen.
I took the Spanish Synergy course and it helped a lot, I would like to continue with the lessons coz they have really helped me alot.
dear mark i’m married to a wounderfull spanish women and she doen’t speak english and i only speak spanglish i know it is trying for her , our lives would improve so much if i could speak proper spanish …………bob
Hi Marcus
My husband and I moved from England to Spain 2 years ago and are desperately trying to improve our Spanish. I find it difficult for several reasons: I am 39 and seem to be slower at picking things up and remembering than I would have been if learning at school. We are self-employed and most of our customers are English speakers - this means that we spend the majority of our time here speaking English and not Spanish. We would like to improve our Spanish to the level where we could advertise for Spanish customers, and would also like to integrate more into the Spanish culture here - but of course speaking pigeon Spanish limits us doing this! Although I am actively learning Spanish and am now at intermediate level, it is coming on slower than I would like! I am impatient to be able to speak fluently and then be able to achieve our goals to integrate completely!
Liesl
Hi Marcus
Well, today is my birthday and with the solar eclipse I’ve decided that the rest of my life is going to be the best of my life. I’m 41 years old, have always dreamt about working in either Spain or South America. Being single with no children I’m taking the first step, I’ve handed in my notice on my flat, and will be working in Spain for 6 months to earn enough money for a CELTA and then I’ll be on my way. I always thought I’d never learn Spanish because I’ve never been able to roll my r’s but after 5 days intensive practicing - I can !! So a whole world seems to have opened up for me ! And with the first 4 lessons of your programme I’m yapping on the phone to my family who don’t understand a word I’m saying !!! So in all restlessness to try it out ‘for real’ I’m eager to learn more through your method. In answer to the first question - how it will change my life, I can only say immensely. I believe we become the people we are through our experiences, relations and interaction with other people and as I, for some reason I can’t actually explain, am drawn to Spanish speaking countries I know I have to be able to communicate in Spanish. For what purpose I don’t actually know yet, I just know that it will ignite all things good !
Hello, my name is Doug. I work for Home Depot in Georgia. I work in the electrical dept. by the front door.
Part of my job is to greet everyone I see, and try to give assistance. Other employees avoid Spanish speaking people, I have tried using the Franklin (Spanish-English Translator) and the employee picture hand book.
The Spanish customers are very grateful for even the least effort to try and help, but I can feel there frustration.
I have lived in Florida before and I know the first generation may never learn English, they have old ways, and family and friends to depend on. There children will do well, they will speak both well.
I may never be able to travel, but I would like to speak to every one I come in contact with, and make them feel welcome. Thank you Doug
I need to learn spanish quickly and unfortunately have a limited budget at the moment… My boyfriend is argentinian but he speaks much to quickly for me!
I look forward to learning!!
Hi Marcus
I have been trying to learn spanish for about 5 years with very little sucess. I have learned words but can not put sentences together and when I try I have a mental block. I visit Spain 4 0r 5 times a year and when I visit I have to go to English speaking Bars, shops etc. because I cannot speak the language properly. Learning to speak spanish properly would be a godsend and would open up so many barriers. It would also allow me to help other english speaking people who are in the same position as myself.
Hi Marcus I would very much like to win your price because it would help me learn spanish I live in a spanish comunity and would like to converse with the loacals .
Dear Marcus!
I have studied spanish for 3 years and I know a lot of words, but I find it very hard, to put them together in a conversation. I think your system will provide me the tool that I miss. I often go to
Spain and would love to be able to speek with peoble in their own language.
Preben
Hi and Thanks Marcus.
There is one reason for wanting to learn Spanish, me , my wife and 3 off my daughters live in the Canary Islands in Spain for many months a year for health reason’s. And it is embarrassing not to be able to show the natives the respect to communicate with them in there languish. I try but it usually end’s by me finishing in English. I speak Icelandic, Norwegian and English and use all 3 languishes every day, and it would be a dream come true to be able to communicate in Spanish, and open the door to all the wonderful new thing that the culture and friendship would give me and for me able to giving something back.
Gunnar Sigfusson
Dear Marcus….This is surely redundant as I have responded earlier to this very gracious offer… but I do want to be sure of leaving no stone unturned! Marcia
I have recently changed careers from teaching in a progressive school which serves primarily privileged students to teaching in a school which serves students who come from the most challenged circumstances. Most of my students are poor inner-city teens, and they have all been in trouble; in fact they are incarcerated. Some of these students are recent immigrants from Hispanic countries. I love my job. I love being able to encourage and foster hope and education in these students. For the most part they are lovable kids who need a second chance. My greatest disappointment in my success has been that there are a few of these students with whom I just cannot communicate well, because their English is still rough. I think that I would be a better teacher if I could communicate also in Spanish with these students. I can see that they are frustrated by incomprehension of their lessons, and I wish I could help. They would be encouraged in their struggles with English if they saw me striving to learn Spanish. So, this course would help me to help others.
Marcus, having moved to inland south of Spain nearly 2 years ago with my wife and 13 year old daughter, everyone told us my daughter would be fluent in 6 months. Now in her 2nd year at spanish school she is struggling to talk to friends and teachers in spanish. She spends hours upon hours in her room translating her homework using a dictionary or the internet before she can even think about learning or completing it.We are now at the stage where we are seriously thinking of returning to the UK so we can rescue our daughters education if we have not already damaged it.Your courses could be the light at the end of the tunnel for my daughters education and our dream of living in Spain. Thanks for your time. Ian
I am desperate to learn Spanish as I moved to Costa del Sol, Spain two months ago and I wish to find employment. Although there are English-speaking vacancies around, I feel that ‘when in Rome………’ so feel that it would be unfair to take a job which a Spanish person would be capable of doing until I am as good at speaking Spanish as may of them are at speaking English. It’s fun too having a go at commuicating and can give the locals a good laugh when I get the words wrong!
Hola!
How will your learning Synergy Spanish help others?
What better way to learn Spanish, than by teaching Spanish?
If I were one of the lucky two to win your fantastic scholarship offer, I would use my learning to assist in teaching Spanish to a number of co-workers that also have an interest in learning this phenominal language. We meet two to three lunch breaks a week and use a competitors learning package. Though that application is good, I feel that it is limiting in breadth and scope.
I expect Synergy Spanish to help me tie in all that I have been trying to learn on my own.
Thank you!
Hi Marcus
I have listened to your audios and I am a little more understanding BUT at the hospital today I was LOST!! Being fluent would make A great deal of difference to my family..
I would also be able to go to the doctors with others to help them when they in that stressful situation.
Spain is such a big place and to be able and confident to speak to the locals would unlock so many doors.
Thanks for all you have done for me so far.
A very dear and close friend of mine is fluent in speaking, reading, and writing Spanish but I often assist him with his letters and documents in English. I am studying Spanish in order to better communicate with my friend and to travel and experience the binational culture of the border region, where I plan to relocate. Since my friend is involved in local social and political activities, I believe I can better assist him and the community by becoming fluent in Spanish myself and that would include speaking, reading, and writing.
Dear Marcus
Wow what a hard job you will have choosing the winners. It is truely inspiring reading peoples comments and their desire to speak Spanish. Mine is a more personal goal, to achieve learning a language, having just spent two years in Spain and whilst learning the basics it is a sorry tale to tell and I feel embarressed to admit that I did not come away speaking fluently. So I actually find it hard to believe that I could be fluent in a year.
Good luck choosing a more worthy cause!
Dear Marcus
On visits to Spain I’m ashamed of my lack of language skills, I know it would greatly enhance my enjoyment of Spain and increase my freedom while there. Part of the dream is to live in Spain but dread being caught in English zones due to the lack of the language. It would hopefully encourage others to make more effort, [since if I can, anyone can!!]
My favorite word in Spanish is ‘Esposa” with two meanings - wife & handcuff. In my opinion the same meaning!
I have always desired to learn Spanish, but being married, raising two children, putting them thru college, weddings, etc., I have not had the time nor available resources to take lessons.
Wife (Handcuffs) says I am too old to learn! I say otherwise and would love the opportunity to do so, but being on medical disability and limited income, can not afford the cost.
I have received your e-mails for years, but have not been in a position to order the courses. This would be my opportunity to really learn a new language!
Thank you and have a good day!
S. Carter
I am in Guayabitos Mexico for the winter and work hard every day to grasp the language here. II am studying the spanish couse each morning for an hour or two. I am working with rwo young people 4 days a week for 1 hour to teach them english so they can get better employment in the hospitality industry. I am learning also from them. My husband and I volunteer in an orphanage which has no english spoken. I have days when I feel I will never speak the language fluently. Although I know a lot of words and phrases, I struggle with getting it all together in conversation. I have found your training very helpful and would be excited to be offered more so that I could pass on my learning by helpng folks less fortunate here.
Sincerely,
glenda bueckert
Hi Marcus-
I am close to 81 years old and living in Costa Rica for 3 years on my Social Security. I found your teachings on the US gov’t site snd have tried unsuccessfully to learn Spanish from them. I mean no reflection on you or your teachings as I am sure I am my own worst enemy; But I want badly to learn Spanish in order to be able to teach NVC (NonViolent Communication) to as many people as possible here. Costa Rica has made a good start toward world peace by no longer having an army among other measures. However there is still, in my mind, a need for individuals to learn to live together and create an atmosphere where each one’s needs are being met. NVC creates this but it needs to be taught and practiced consistently. I want to provide this but need to learn the language in order to do so. Perhaps you have the answer for me to give up my roadblocks.
1. Spanish will change my life because it will allow me to understand my Mexican wife and mother-in-law more clearly, which greatly helps me to avoid any future beatings or attempts on my life.
2. Spanish will help me to help others as well. I don’t want my wife to carry the burden of teaching our son and daughter two languages by herself. It is something we should share together as a family.
Thank you Marcus. I love your program!
Dear Marcus,
Im hopefully going to practice real hard on your synergy spanish so that I may learn Spanish to speak with my husband’s family. Its very difficult for me to not beable to be the loving person that I am because of the communication barrier between us. I then would love to teach the children over there some basic english, so that they too may have communication with my english speaking friends. Thank you for sharing your insight on spanish with us and how you too over came adversity. My dream is to have a loving communicating relationship with my husbands parents, as well as the rest of his family. I am glad that I came across your websdite. This Is my year with Synergy Spanish!
Thank You
Veronica
Dear Marcus, I admire your persistance, in pushing the subject. Being a German citizen, I am living now in Spain, at the Baleares. Although I worked my whole life internationally, ENGLISH was the language, and even on business in Spain, people were educating their ENGLISH. This was one of the reasons I never learned the language. Of course there are many books and teachers, trying to convice others to accept their way of teaching as the BEST. ( Including the NASA Program. I have tried the teasers of your system, and agree that yours seems to fit best into my needs. It can be loaded on an iPod, and you can use it anywhere.
My present problem is, that I am on pension now, and having lost my assets, due to the banking crash, I have to wait until I can afford it. As you can see, there are many reasons for not responding positively.
Hoping for the better time, I remain as your fan.
Hans
I am the founder of a 501(c)3 in the US. The purpose of our non profit foundation is to support the children at Hogar Miguel Magone Orphanage in Guatemala, about 30 minutes from Guatemala City. Orphan’s Hope Project, Inc. was incorporated in April 2007 so we are a fairly new organization.
I just returned yesterday from my 7th trip to the orphanage. I usually stay 2-5 weeks on these work trips and live in the orphanage while I am there. I provide the orphanage with volunteer workers, school supplies, school shoes, backpacks, shirts, other new clothing, $ for private schools, tools and other needed items, a new phone system, internet service, office computer, a custom made walk in freezer, new mattresses, and much more. I wire money to the orphanage on a regular basis. We even built a new capilla on the orphanage grounds in 2008 and when the new stained glass windows are installed in February 2009, the chapel will be finished.
I can communicate with the children but would like to be much more fluent than a basic Spanish I level. My goal for 2009 is to study Spanish each morning before going to work. Please help me attain the level of fluency in Spanish this is so necessary for me to continue my work at the orphanage.
You are welcome to visit our web site to learn more. www.OrphansHopeProject.com. Thank you.
Dear Marcus, thank you for the opportunity to win a free course to speak Spanish. I would love to speak Spanish. I am a food service manager and it is very difficult to do my job because of a language barrier. I finally got an employee that does speak a little bit of English but she somethimes have problems understanding me. Sometimes the other employess think I didnt say what to do for that day or evem get mad if I tell her what to tell them to do. It makes the day very hectic. On top of dealing with rude customes sometimes. Never the less the day must go on. I think your system would benefit me greatly.
Dear Marcus, I am a school counselor that has the pleasure of interacting with many Spanish speaking students and their parents. The problem I experience is not being able to converse fluently with them. When I try to speak Spanish they are very appreciative. I feel I could help with their transition to our school and community much more efficiently if I were more fluent in their language. I would be very appreciative if you would consider me for your scholarship. I would put what I learn to use on a daily basis.
Dear Marcus,
Thanks to your synergy course–I can now hold very basic, modest conversations with my spanish-speaking workmates. Better communication leads to better understsanding and lessens tensions in the working place!
My goal for the year 2009 is to achieve ”basic” fluency!
Bon Journo! I would like to use the language to communicate. To me a language is so important, when you can speak to others then there are no barriers. I am only 88 and still have some time ahead, I hope. When ever there are people working around here and they speak only Spanis, I know they must feel apart from us, but that should not be. In Europe, children learn up to 5 languages but here in Canada, we are limited to 2 official languages. It is only after one has quit school that one can travel a bit and see how ignorant we are. All the best.
Hola Marcus,
Habla un poqo espana pero yo quiero el. I think Spanish is a beautiful language and I want to some day translate for the police department to help my hispanic community. I will be transferring to the University in April and need a jump start.
Thank you for this consideration.
Jamie Price
I have a reading disability, but work daily with Spanish speaking people. Although I have tried numerous times using other programs, I have been unable to learn Spanish well enough to communicate effectively. It would benefit all if I could find a program that I could really use to learn Spanish.
Dear Marcus,
I lived in Buenos Aires for three and a half years. While I was there I ordered several of your courses. They were a great tool for me. When I first arrived I couldn’t speak a word of Spanish. Now I can have a conversation. Though most of the time I end up asking people to repeat themselves several times before I understand what it is that they are trying to tell me. They are usually willing to work with me, but I feel bad that I don’t understand them the first time. Now that I have moved back to the USA I don’t have the regular day to day use of Spanish and find it difficult find people to talk with. When I use my Spanish it is usually to talk to friends from BA on the phone. Because of the lack of gestures it is far more difficult to speak with them than it was when we spoke face to face. I would sincerely like to be able to have a good conversation over the phone with my friends.
The next issue is price. Though I would like to be part of your Bola De Nieve and Bola Plus it is a bit out of my price range.
Many thanks for what you have done. With out you I don’t think I would have ever learned as much as I have. Your system of teaching is fantastic.
Thank you,
Tim Bastian
I grew up with various languages all around me in Washington DC. Unfortunately with poor choices on my part I never followed through and actually LEARNED a language. I have thought about going back to school to learn Spanish or any other language because I feel being bilingual in this day and age is almost a necessity. Very recently (just last week) I lost my job. I know I’m not alone in that with 1,000 people applying for every job opening so, anything I can do to be a more appealing applicant is a good thing. Being bilingual would help me secure that job to continue supporting my family. I’m raising three teenages (scary thing without a job because they can eat more in one day than a small Mexican village in a week). I have worked in a church for the past 9 years, being bilingual in Spanish would have helped me. Living in Florida, Spanish would be beneficial to me, and to any employment situation I may find, especially in the field of ministry.
2009 is the year for me and if there is anything i really want to do this year is learn to speak spanish. My boyfriend is from Argentina and we are thinking of moving to spain to live and work, therefore learning spanish is the way forward.
My company is relocating to another city therefore my job is going to be made redundant, i’ve already paid for a beginners course, and i’m not sure if i’ll be able to pay for the rest of the course as jobs are so scarce at the moment, and i know Synergy will help me complete my goal.
Hi Marcus,I struck gold when I clicked on your Spanish lessons. Apart from English my only other language was Gaelic and having been 58 years in Australia my knowledge of it is now very slim. It was by accident I clicked on Spanish and I’m sure glad I did. You have been a born tutor and most generous with your lessons and time and I’m very grateful.My husband was very sick most of last year and just before Christmas he went to God and now my interest in Spanish is helping to fill that void. Thank you . Esther
Dear Marcus,
I am a native Houstonian of pure Mexican descent. When my parents were young, they, like their peers, were trying to “Anglicize” to fit into society. A result of that process was that they refused to speak Spanish to their three children. They were afraid that we would speak English with an accent.
For my entire life, i have cursed my parents for taking from me what is parat of my heritage. I have taken Spanish in school and studied your free classes and understand quite a bit of Spanish. But i so DEARLY want to be conversant. It is a burning passion to be able to speak to the myriad of Hispanic peoples that live close by and show off my heritage.
I have kept every one of your emails. I am a faithful Synergy Spanish student. I am praying that I win this Scholarship and that it is the silver bullet that wins me my Spanish speaking prize.
With warmest regards,
Victoria
Marcus - I have read the entries of the people who have responded before me and I know you will have a tough decision ahead. So many wish to learn Spanish and for so many reasons. My reason is to assist with dog rescues and adoption work in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I live in Canada but travel to PV every year to help with this important work. While the animals we rescue through the local SPCA don’t seem to care if I can speak Spanish, it would increase my effectiveness if I could communicate with the locals. If I were to learn Spanish, many animals would benefit - please consider me for this generous scholarship. Thank you.
Debra Lawes
Love. I am in love with a man who’s native language is Spanish and have a deep desire to communicate with him more intimatly in his native tongue.
Respect. I would like to show respect to him and the primiarily spanish speaking community in the are in which I live by sharing thier language.
Compassion. I would like to teach Commpassionate Communication (aslo called Non- violent Communication) the my surrounding community.
Fun. I would like to have FUN, learning and sharing in more ways than I have available to me with just Amerispeak.
Happy Day,
Sharon Small
i wish to learn more synergy spanish as i live in ireland and hope to teach english and electrical renewable energy methods to communities in the canary islands and hopefully in some countries in south america.
Slainte go foill……
Bye for awhile…..
Astaluego y gracias por tu tiempo.
Miguel irlandaise
Hi Marcus,
For the past 4 years I have been participating in humanitarian projects in Peru on the Amazon river. I want to be better able to communicate with the people we are there to serve.
After trying other methods with little success, I have learned so much already with Syngergy Spanish. It is very convenient to download the audio portions to my MP3 player and listen while I do no workout orlistne to the conversations in the back ground while I am working.
I am moving to Mexico in 3 months and need to lrean as much as possible before I arrive. My Synergy Spanish will go with me to compliment my daily exposure to Spanish when I do arrive.
I am a nurse and plan on working with two differnt orphagnages in the area where I am going and need to learn as much as quickly as I can.
Gracias para considercion de mi.
I have lived in Costa Rica for three years and although I have surprised myself by the amount of Spanish I am now speaking and understanding It’s still not enough. I find myself gravitating toward the expat community instead of mingling with the locals. I know some people that I would love to have friendships with but find I can;t have anything more than a superficial relationship with them.
I am taking a course starting on the 7th feb. to teach English as a second language. I have been teaching the local children English since I came here. As I have no prior experience in teaching I get very frustrated that I can only teach them very little. English is very important for the people here as our small community depends very heavily on tourists. If these children don’t learn English their options are limited to working in the plantations. If my Spanish is improved I feel I will be in a much better position to help the children with their English.
Hola Marcus,
My family try to take a holiday every year. Most times we go to a Spanish speaking country. I continually tell my children that they need to work on their spanish. I think it is time that I worked on mine. I have also recently gotten involved with a company that does missions work in Brasil. My wife and I are hoping to go and help in the coming months/years.
Gracias
Brad
Dear Marcus,
I have tried to learn Spanish for over 25 years, and have failed. I have taken many courses both in Ireland and in Spain and still can not master a breakthrough with the Language. How very frustrating.
Maybe with your methods it will happen………….and thats the reason I would dearly love to win your prize.
If I am successfull and learn to speak with fluency, Ireland and the world will hear about my success.
Keep up your good work
Robert
Dear Marcus, I am Pastor of a small Church in Chula Vista California. The community where the Church is located is mostly Spanish speaking. The Church is changing from ministering to English speaking to those who speak Spanish as their first language. I now have an interpreter for communicating in Spanish. I would love to be able to show my love and concern for those speaking Spanish by learning to communicate with them in their native language.
I KNOW THAT LEARNING SPANISH WITH YOUR METHOD WILL CHANGE MY LIFE IN THE GREATEST WAY. I TRAVEL TO MEXICO MANY TIMES A YEAR AND HAVE MANY FRIENDS THERE, I SPEAK SOME SPANISH, BUT I FEEL THAT IF I COULD JUST GET IT DOWN FLUENTLY THE BARRIERS WOULD BE BROKE DOWN FOREVER AND I COULD COMMUNICATE WITHOUT HESITATION WITH ALL OF MY GREAT FRIENDS IN MEXICO AND I EVENTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THERE AND BEING FLUENT IN SPANISH WOULD OPEN UP SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WOULD MAKE ME HAPPIER! I HAVE USED YOUR METHODS SO FAR AND I HAVE IMPROVED GREATLY, HELP ME KEEP IT UP!
I want to learn spanish because I will be joining the peace corps next year and need to be able to communicate in spanish to go to spanish speaking countries. I think it would benefit others because I will be able to teach during my time in the peace corps and help others learn new skills.
I have spent almost my whole like trying to learn spanish and have not succeeded yet. i want to succeed!
Amanda
I’ve tried unsuccessfully to learn Spanish for years. I work for a non-profit organization that assists children who have been abused. My area does not have a large Spanish -speaking population so when a child who speaks Spanish is abused, it is difficult to get an interpretor who speaks Spanish and who is also trained in the special techniques of interviewing these children. Brenda
Hola Marcus,
My husband and I are missionaries. Currently we are helping to establish a Spanish Church in North Charleston, SC. Most of the members speak Spanish and no English. It is imperative that we be able to converse with them and help them learn English in order to be more employable. We have a food bank, a clothes closet and have just opened a free medical clinic. If we have this course available we can also teach Spanish to the workers who are English speakers. It would be a tremendous help and blessing for all of us. How fantastic to join together in a common language. Muchas gracias, Jude
Hola, Usted Marcus,
For years I have traveled to various countries in the world and always noticed how the North Americans always expected the natives to speak English and that no attempt was made to communicate in the applicable language. I have come to the realization that I am one of those people. I have started to learn Spanish as a gesture of respect to the native people of the countries I visit, not to mention the enjoyment I will get from being able to communicate in a clearer fashion.
Adios and Gracias
WIll add one more thing… my husband and I are 68 and 69 respectively. We don’t have many years to perfect our command of Spanish! Jude
Dear Marcus,
I am interested in learning Spanish to help me communicate with Spanish speaking people in our community. It would also be a huge benefit for me to enable me to speak and understand Spanish in the work and ministry I do as part of my responsibilities at Church and para-church agencies I represent. It would be a wonderful blessing to me because of being on Social Secuurity dissability due to a heart transplant, which has left us in serious financial difficulty.
Thank you for your consideration,
Dale Lehman
Hello;
I would like to apply for scholarship #2.
My wife and I are taking our kids (aged 7 and 10) out of school for an entire year to travel throughout North America to do volunteer work. As preparation to this, my wife is currently going to Mexico to do a service learning project. She is going with a group of 25 university students over their spring break. It is a project to help build houses in rural Mexico.
We plan on spending most of our time in the south, helping as many different projects as we can. It would be immensely beneficial to our entire family to be able to communicate better. The ability to properly speak with those that we would be working with would benefit the projects, the people and help to enrich many lives. We anticipate arriving in areas with large Spanish speaking populations in the fall of 2009, so the timing would allow us to learn as much Spanish as we can prior to our arrival.
There are many people here with wonderful stories of help and sharing. We appreciate what you are doing and am sure that, even by sharing their stories, they have enriched others lives. I have enjoyed reading the posts and wish everyone the best in their adventures.
take care.
Mark
Hola,
I work on an ambulance in rural Texas in a poor border town, 90 miles from the nearest hospital. 95% of the population speaks Spanish and close to 50% only speak Spanish. It is vital that I become fluent in Spanish to provide proper emergency medical care. It is my greatest fear that because I am limited in my Spanish and have to rely on translators, if available, that I will miss information that could be the difference between life and death. The first rule in medicine is do no harm and my inability to communicate could actually lead to harm.
The people in my community have welcomed me with open arms and I hope to repay their warm treatment by being able to better communicate and being able to provide better medical care. Thank you for a great product.
Renny
Hi Marcus
I would like to speak fluent spanish because i would love to communicate with my boss and understand him more. He is from spain and they are building a hotel in my country. I am working with them for more than two years now and can’t understand most of the things he said.
Please help me.
Best Regards
Hello Marcus,
I would like to learn Spanish for several reasons, after some brief consideration my top reason would be to introduce my daughters to totally different culturals and learning environments than what they are acustomed. We could travel and learn first hand about others and enjoy there culture without the barrier of language impedeing our experience. We are in a changing world, there has never been a tiime in history where it is to ones advantage to learn a second language. IIt will be use ful in all aspects of life, Travel, Job oppurtunities, Business ventures and Freindships, This will greatly impact my daughters lives in an immeasurable way.
Thank You.
Dear Marcus,
The idea of being able to speak Spanish fluently like a native is truely a dream, which i am not sure will be realised. I have lived in Tarragona for three years now and although i can have basic conversations, I really struggle to have more than that. I normally have a complete mental block and can no longer remember what i want to say in Spanish or in English. Which makes me feel very foolish! My children who are very young speak both Spanish and Catalan fluently but are reluctant to help their mother. Although i am very happy in the area, i do feel that being able to fully converse with other parents would make life a lot easier. I have tried private classes, group classes and studying alone - none of which have been successful. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Kind Regards
Rebecca
1. How will learning synergy Spanish change my life. The answer to this is really quite simple … We moved to Spain permanently two and a half years ago. At present I spend hours trying to learn enough Spanish to communicate fluently with our new friends and neighbours. I find I can read Spanish fairly well and can even listen to our new friends and understand the basics of what they are saying .. BUT, I fail miserably when I try to communicate with them. I cannot remember the correct words quickly enough to genuinely participate in the conversations. Learning Spanish via the everyday training packages which are available has not resulted in me speaking Spanish .. I find this very frustrating. I long for the day that my wife and I simply walk into our local venta and strike up conversations with all our new friends. I believe Learning via Synergy Spanish will help me accomplish my dream. 2. How will learning synergy Spanish improve the life of others. As above, following on .. my wife is much better than me at holding Spanish conversations, but as I still struggle, we cannot fully practice with our new friends. If I was more confident .. we would get out daily and find more and more ways to practice our new language.
Learning with Synergy Spanish will prove I can do it.
I am the project director for a mobile literarcy bus called the Gus Bus. We bring a free book bag exchange program and storytime to over 25 at risk, low income neighborhoods in our community. Over 90% of these neighborhoods are Spanish speaking. In collaboration with our local food bank we recently added a food bag component. Now children and families can come on the bus and hear a story, check out free books and get a bag of health snack food. We have been serving the community for over 5 years and have become a trusted icon in these neighborhoods. We have become a one stop shopping for the people we serve, matching families with needed resources in the community. Due to budget restraints I have had to cut staff, letting go of my fluent in Spanish staff member. I am now on the bus and suffer from not being able to communicate effectively with the parents and children. I have repeatedly taken classes and workshops and continue to stumble along. I need to be fluent so our program can continue to make a difference in the lives of our Spanish speaking families in out community. Last year we served close to 1000 children in our neighborhood sites. I hope you will find me (and our program) worthy of your generous offer.
Dear Sir: Firstely I want to thank you for allowing me to view the first four (4) lessons. I am now on lesson three. My age is 79, widored, living alone. I have Macular Degeneration and use Zoom Text, which allows me to see the screen. I am studing Spanish in order to speak with the many medical Spanish speaking people. Secondely, Keep up your work and May God Bless You and Your Family. Thanks, Ted Pace
Marcus/ It is simple language aka communication is the key to more peace in the world. Language and cultural barriers are one of the root caused for world conflicts. That and money and greed of course. We cannot talk those traits away, butB understanding people’s history and cultural makes it easier to find common ground with all.
Many times in foreign lands I have misunderstand something someone said and took it the wrong way because not knowing the language I was on the defensive and not bold enough aka confident enough to pursue the conversation further, Thanks
I work with an electric utility company - who deals with companies throughout the world - mostly Cuba and Venezuela. I would like to learn Spanish to be able to communicate in Spanish so as to avoid embarrassment t both my company and myself.
Mr. Santamaria,
If you trace this email you would verify I’m corresponding from my residence in Mexico. 14 years ago I married into a family with little means. Since then; I have opened my heart to 6 nieces and nephews under the age of 11. My wife and I at this time are now the only means of support in every manner for these remarkable children. I communicate the best I can; be it in person and/or by phone/email and messenger when at home in the states. I maintain it is my moral obligation to do everything imaginable to help my nieces and nephews succeed in life. To learn Spanish effectively and truly articulate clearly will help the children to completely digest from A to Z when I speak with passion of life, respect; education etc and I help me grasp and comprehend what they say so that I can do my best to accommodate each of their needs. I have one chance; an opportunity of a lifetime to change 6 lives from less fortunate circumstances and environment and pave the way to new heights and open horizons now and in the future. The fact is that it starts with me and how I transmit my knowledge, feelings and wisdom in Spanish!
Thank you for your time,
Myles
Dear Marcus,
I have taken several of your courses and have learned so much. I may not be a fluent Spanish speaker but I can get my thoughts across. I would love to excel in Spanish because I love Mexico and its gracious people. It would be an honor to be able to speak to them fluently in their own language.
Your courses are a language blessing.
Thank you,
Billie Urich
Hola Marcus:
My boyfriend and I are moving to Lake Chapala this fall. We have both taken Spanish courses, he has succeeded while I, well, haven’t done so well. I have always been known as a “slow learner”, I distinctly remember a comment on my 14th birthday by my own father, “it is a good thing that she is pretty”. I would love to prove to my family (and myself) that Spanish is a possibility for me. My boyfriend says that luckily for me most people around the Lake Chapala area speak English so I will feel comfortable there. I’ve taken his word for it as I, unlike him, am making this move on faith and a prayer. Please help me to “get a little faith in my learning ability” and not feel like the “stupid Newfoundlander” that I have become to accept.
Gracious, Deborah
Dear Marcus:
I am an attorney in West Texas, where we have a great deal of ESL individuals, to whom Spanish is their primary language. I handle both criminal and family law matters. While I have tried many programs to learn Spanish, I have been unable to overcome the mental barriers I have to learn to speak the language. Our office also handles a great deal of low income cases on a pro bono basis, most of whom are ESL, or solely Spanish speakers. Becoming fluent in Spanish would allow me to work more directly with these clients, rather than through an interpreter, and would create a greater feeling of confidence in my clients, since they could then communicate directly with me, in the language they are most comfortable with. Additionally, on a personal note, I would then have the language skills to teach my four year old, and to better navigate my way through Mexico and South Texas, when we are traveling as well. Thank you for your gracious offer. I am still wrestling with the first series of services I purchased from you, and some day, your program will finally get it through my thick skull. Until then, I will take all of the help I can get.
Best Regards.
Hello Marcas
We spend 5 or 6 months a year in a small beach town just 1hr north of the popular beach town of Puerto Vallarta Mexico. The discovery of this small town has driven the prices of every thing up except wages. However a Mexican national can make almost double the average wage if they know how to speak english.
English is taught at the local “preparatory” and at the primary level here, and any of us who studied a second language in our native schools know how well that works, it doesn’t! What I would like to start is a free english spanish “club” where english and spanish speakers can meet and practice together. I attended something like this in Canada when we were living in a larger center there were three groups beginner, intermediate and advanced, there were three bilingual facilitators. They had a very good formula set up in 15 min blocks grammar, 15 min vocabulary drills and then 45 mins or so of conversation.
I believe this would work very well in this community improving the lives of the Mexicans but also the english speakers(we should never stop learning no matter how old.) Plus it would build good will, understanding and friendship amongst those who live, work and vacation in this beautiful little corner of the world.
What a great idea Marcus , thank you for the opportunity!
Hola Marcus,
I have come to a crossroad in my life. It has always been extremely important to me to speak Spanish as a fluent second language. I have visited Mexico many times and just love the ambiance, friendliness, and the romantic sound of the language. I was fortunate enough to have someone that paid for me to have a private tutor for approximately one year in which I feel that I progressed amazingly (especially since I would love to live in Mexico at some point in my life). Then my whole life fell apart from me when this person left me to start my life over with nothing to start with. I, unfortunately, had to give up the one thing that I looked forward to every week which was my Spanish time. I desperately want to begin my studies again, but I don’t know where to turn. Perhaps my luck could change with your 2009 scholarship.
I hope that you can help me to make a new start.
Have a great day,
Cindi
In learning Spanish - I work in the Human Resources/Payroll field - the learning the language of Spanish would assist in communicating to the spanish speaking employees - to insure they understand their benefits and any other questions or concerning relating to their employment.
Thanks you
Hi Marcus,
What a generous offer on your part. I would love nothing more than to participate in your program as soon as possible.
I am currently in a relationship with a wonderful man who was born in Venezuela. While his English is excellent, not everyone in his family speaks it at all. I spent the New Year with them, and while I had a wonderful time, there were many conversations that required that I nod and smile without fully understanding what was being discussed, let alone was I able to contribute anything from my end.
He and I are about to graduate with our Master’s degrees, and we will then be moving to Charlotte, NC to be closer to his family. It would mean the world to me to be able to communicate with them and to participate in the events they run in the Latin American community there. And, next year it would be a dream-come-true if I could celebrate with the whole extended family as a real participant and not just a spectator!
Unfortunately, with student loans needing to be paid and post-graduation employment still elusive, finding the funds to cover my Spanish lessons will be a challenge. Your scholarship would be an amazing gift.
Best regards,
Andrea
Being more knowledgeable in Spanish should help me get a date with much better looking women when I go to Costa Rica.
I am working in a close-knit spanish community and want to be a part of them.
Regards rudy
I will certainly use increased Spanish skills to help others - I am a high school Spanish teacher, but wish I had better skills myself. Improving my Spanish would make me a better teacher, and also I could pass on what I know to my students.
Since submarines are constructed here, I would like to be able to communicate better with families, from Spain and South America who are on short term contracts in order to help them to integrate into the life of the community.
I have been the Business Manager at our church, St. Michael’s, in Fernandina Beach Florida for almost 5 years. During that time, our spanish population has steadly grown and they deserve ministering and communication of church on goings and business as much as anyone else in our community. However, there is a small language barrier that I would like to overcome, and it is Spanish.
Most of our prishioners that are spanish sur-named speak fluent english, but some do not. I know that there must be a huge frustration when it comes to their ability to communicate their needs or wants especially on a religion basis. Imagine having to arrange for a baptism, a marriage or worse a funeral and not being able to communicate during these emotional times?
In any event, this is why I would like to become at least conversational in spanish, these people are human beings as much as the rest of us and deserve God’s presence too.
God bless -
Tom…
Hello Marcus,
I would like to speak fluent Spanish becuase my husband is from Puerto Rico and we are about to have our first child. I would very much like my child to grow up speaking Spanish, but my husband does not have the patience nor time to be both of our teachers. I would like to participate in helping my child develop this skill. Also, by learning Spanish I will be helping not only my little one, but it will help my relationship with my in-laws and create a positive environment for our new family member.
Greetings Marcus,
I have a Panamanian mother & French father, both fluent in their languages. However, as a child growing up in New Orleans, both cultures were not honored & parents were encouraged to only speak English to their children in order to not “confuse” them. What a travesty - little did these people understand the life long personal benefits of being bi/tri lingual.
Later, we moved to Panama where I enjoyed 6 beautiful years immersed in another culture. I took Spanish in high school just as everyone else - my mother still refused to speak spanish to us (long story). Anyway, my heart has always remained there even though I returned to the U.S. for my adult life.
Now, I am a college professor & have been to Panama in the last 2 years trying to see how I can help with their education system or other type of mission/volunteer work with children. I’m really close to making this dream come true for this summer now. So, instead of just getting by, I am committed to finally learning spanish fluently.
These are my reasons for asking you to consider my story and selecting me to recieve your generous offer. I just found your website last month while in Panama & have already started studying the introductory chapters you provide on your emails. I really think this method will work for me!
Thank you very much.
God bless,
Mitzi
Hi Marcus
The scholarship idea got me to think about my motivation to learn Spanish. I am retired and spend lots of time with my 2 year old grandson. I expose him to Children’s Spanish TV but believe he would benefit most if my wife and I were speaking correctly. Your course would provide the tools to solve the problem. My available time to learn combined with his ability to learn would give us the most leverage for your course. Trying to be a good role model and expand a young mans future abilities.
Regards
Doug
Hi Marcus
I have retired to Spain and would love to speak the language as I find it so frustrating not to be able to talk to the locals.
Cheers Peter
Synergy Spanish will help me to communicate with students, teachers and the people of Colombia when I participate in an exchange program between my university in Sweden and Universidad Nacional de Colombia in Bogota. We also intend to start some supportive projects for the internal refuges in Colombia where it bee necessary for me to speak Spanish to fully participate.
I am a member of Friends United who have a program in Honduras which gives seminars in Texas to Honduran teachers, who have built, with the help of the Rotarians in each city, 5 Resource Rooms. These Resource Rooms give the country school teachers access to a computer, printer, Acu-Cut, laminator, lesson plans, school supplies, ideas on how to teach more effectively. Thus far our program has helped 3,000 teachers. I have been, as a member and worker,participating in this program for 5 years and have had to depend on others to interpret the language for me. This means that I am crippled, in a sense, in my effectiveness and productivity. I want to learn Spanish so I can be a 100% contributor to Friends United’s efforts to help the teachers learn how to teach and thus help to educate the children in Honduras.
I would like to learn Spamnish so I might help he Hispanic community of Bonita Springs, with housing. The Spanish people have been mislead. When they purchased homes the terms of their loans were not explained to them. Many are now in foreclosure because they can not pay their mortgages due to rate adjustmens, etc. I think I would greatly benefit the Spanish speaking community if I could communicae with them. It breaks my heart to see so many lose their homes. They work so hard and deserve to have someone who can speak their language who is honest, loyal and compassionate. When I have had the opportunity to work with Spanish speaking people, I have interpreters and translators, to insure the terms of a contract are crystal clear to them. I would very much like to be able to communitate with them myself and eliminate the interpreters and translators .
Good morning Marcus,
Being able to speak Spanish would make it easier to help elderly people who have lived their lives with leprosy. I am s retired nurse on a fixed budget and you would be my guardian angel enabling me to do this good work.
May a guardian angel look after you so you too can continue your efforts to help other learn Spanish.
JP
I have taken a few Spanish courses, plus try to study at home with a friend. When I have written material in front of me, Spanish does not seem all that difficult. However, as soon as I have to speak without the help of reference material, it becomes a real problem. What is most difficult for me is to understand what accomplished Spanish speakers are verbalizing when I hear them on tv or radio. Would I be so lucky to receive a scholarship? By the way, I’m now retired and do not have the funds for taking any comprehensive courses, esp. in this economic downturn. But, I remain determined to gain a much better knowledge of elementary Spanish.
Gracias,
Liz
Hola Marcus.
Muchas muchas gracias para su Curso de español de Sinergia. Seré 69 este año y soy feliz decir que puedo decir ahora el español Básico con mis amigos españoles. Gasto la mitad el año en España y he hecho muchos nuevos amigos porque puedo comunicarme ahora con la gente que no dice el inglés. Esto me ha dado una nueva vida entera ya.
Dear Marcus,
I’m a Dutch woman and our sun is luckily married with a Bolivian girl. The reason that speaking Spanish is very important to me, is that I want to communicate with her, with her parents, her brothers and sisters.
kind regards, Corrie
I am a member of a group called Friends Unted whose goal is to help the teachers in Honduras to become more skilled and effective as they attempt to educate the children in their country. I have been participating in Friends United for the past 5 years and in that time we have been able, with the help of the Rotarians in each city, to establish Resource Rooms in 5 cities. These rooms have a computer, printer, laminator, Acu-Cut, lesson plans, school supplies, and creative ideas to help them make education more exciting and more effective. All these are available to the teachers, particularly the teachers in the rural areas. Also, Friends United offer some seminars in Texas each year for teachers in various areas of Honduras to be trained and motivated to be better teachers. I want and need to learn Spanish so that I do not have to depend on others to interpret for me. I want to be more effective in the part I play to help educate the children in Honduras.
Marcus, I am having fun learning Spanish, I am slow but sure. I have the Synergy Spanish and love it. I have all the things you give to us to help and thank you for that. I find the flash card system you set up to be a great help. I also have the Shortcut to Spanish lessons that you gave us and am working with them. I am retired and love to work voluntary programs, and in my location I work with over 85% Spanish speaking people. Like so many I am far from rich and winning this would surly be a blessing. But if I don’t win, I would like to say “thank you” for all you do to teach us and at very fair prices you offer. Best to you and yours, Keith
I really could use these free lessons. I am disabled and on a fixed income. I have always wanted to learn another language. I have already started Spanish. It comes in handy around here. There are lots of Spanish speaking people here. So that is why I could use this offer. I am taking lessons I can find on line for free. That is all I can afford.
Thank you
Hi Marcus,
I am a Chinese woman age 44 years old. I have four kids. I want to go live in Ohio if I have a chance. I want to master (try to master) one foreign language and I choose Spanish. It’s because a lot Mexico people not very good in English or even understand it. I already know how to speak English, Mandarin, Malay and some others chinese dialect (like Cantonese, Hakka and Hokkien). I am a divorcee, so budget is one thing I need to be careful. I just need to speak simple Spanish and the rest I will slowly catch up with the people around me speaking Spanish when I am going to stay in Ohio. As an Admin. Asst. now, I hope my knowlegde of able to speak various languages can help me to find a job when I am in Ohio. I want to have a good use of my Spanish if I master it and not just for fun.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Your sincerely,
Rachel
Solo se unas quantas palabras en Espanol. During the fall harvest season here, I hire a Tex/Mex crew to work the night shift at our cotton gin. Each evening when they arrive for work, I show the truck driver (who speaks no English) which modules of seed cotton to put in the gin that night for processing. I know enough Spanish to get my instructions across, but I can hardly understand him at all.
One night a few years ago, I noticed a module isolated out of place on the yard and I told the truck driver in my broken Spanish to gin it before moring. He jabbered a response, but I could not make sense of it. Rather than try to understand, I repeated and insisted that he gin the module. With those instructions, I went home to bed. Later, in the wee hours, I was awaked in by a phone call. It was the clerk at the gin calling to tell me the gin was on fire!
What the Mexican truck driver had tried to tell me earlier was that the reason that module was set away from the others was because it was suspected of having a small smoldering fire hidden in it. He had tried to warn me, but I had no ear for his lengua. Luckily, when the fire spread to the gin, it was put out with minimal damage, but it was very costly nonetheless. Boy did I catch heck.
Imagine the pain and expense I could have avoided had I been able to speak and understand Spanish.
Marcus…
I have been a leader for mission trips to Mexico, Central and South America for the past 17 year and while my Spanish is passable, I really need to have better command of the lanuguage to communicate while in-country. We work with the poor of the poor and hold a Mission Bible School each day for the children at which time we feed them and their parents a meal.
Moreover, I teach beginning Spanish classes at my church. Having a better knowledge of the language would be most helpful in preparing my students for applying what I have taught them in class. I use the classes as preludes to my convincing the students to join me on mission trips.
And finally, as a plant manager, I have been able to employee Spanish speaking employees from several countries. Many managers in the area will not hire them as they can not communicate with the employees directly. I would like to improve my skills to fully comprehend everything the employees desire to discuss with me.
In summary, I would really appreciate the opportunity to learn have a copy of Synergy Spanish to learn more about the people whom I can serve.
Gracias…Dave Wuellner
Learning spanish will help be teach and converse with my two year old daughter. She is now speaking a few words in spanish by watching Dora the Explorer. I would love to give her the chance to be bilingual early on in her life and this free course can do it for us.
travelingabroad most times whenever I heard people talking in spanish I dont know if they are saying something good or bad about me especially when they are staring at me it makes me feel embarass I’m glad I start this course so I can understand a little about spanish
I have struggled with Spanish since college and living in a part of Pennsylvania with many Spanish speakers I wish to be able to be a welcoming bridge in the community. As member of the business association, as a pastor and as a citizen, I believe that we all bring value to our community, and yet we can be rather parochial in our action. It is my hope that fluency in Spanish will allow me to be a community bridge builder.
That’s not all. I’m a grandfather to be. I’d love to be able to nurture this newest member of the family with exposure to Spanish. I believe that is a gift that enriches society, education, working life and development.
There’s more. I’m a part of a church that has missional links in our local city to a Latino congregation. Right now I’m limited in my ability to help others build connections because of the language barrier and my own limitations there. Speaking fluently would help a worshipping community of 250 people connect with a sister community just a few miles away.
Finally, I will be a richer person for seeing the world through another language. Language brings nuance, perspective and humility to those who wish to bring the world together. Your scholarship would allow me to become more fully a part of the common good.
Hola Marcus,
I grew up in NYC around a large puerto rican/ domican population. at a early age I developed a love of the spanish language I did not understand it nor could I spealk it but I picked up the accent! For the last 44 years I have been taking classes, listening to tapes reading books and magazines trying to learn the language. I can speak a little, but I knew in my heart that the way language was taught made it harder to learn. Your course will open up a new world to me. I speak the limited spanish I have when ever I can, at work or anywhere I find someone who will llisten and speak back. I hope to master spanish in my lifetime. I really want to spend some time in a spanish speaking country with in the next 2 years. I spend as much time as possible practicing for that time. Hopefully I will be the lucky one!! If not, well I still am lucky because I can speak a little now and I will never quit till I am fluent.
Gracias para esuchando a mi historia sobre mi vida.
sinceremente,
Janis
Like Rick, I am also on disability. I have met some wonderful Spanish speaking people, and would love to converse with them in their native language. I studied Spanish back in 1970, in high school, but only remember a few words. Please help me to really learn the language. I would greatly appreciate tis opportunity. Tthank you.
i am disabled and have a meagre income and trying with free lessons online whenever i can get them,so i tried my best with whatever is free for this is all i can afford,my income is so small that i cannot go or enjoy vacations as other people do,i am grateful for what ever free spanish lessons i can receive from synergy spanish systems —thank you very much –laull
hola marcus
To learn Spanish would mean so much to me because… i am half Cuban yet no one in my family spoke the language. except my grandmother. i found out through older aunts and uncles that my great grandfather who was Irish was ostracized by his parents for marrying an Indian woman . they lived on a reservation where the gave birth to my grandfather who later married my grandmother Evelina Hernandez. now , my grandmother spoke Spanish but was forbidden to teach any of the 14 children they had? I feel this was a unjust act by my grand father. to take this from them , a part of their culture. It was not his right! after hearing that my father also forbade my grandmother to teach us (grandchildren) i was even more determined to learn. over the years i have been taking every chance i could to learn Spanish. i am also teaching my children and grandchildren all that i know. it is my DEEPEST DESIRE to give the next generation back the heritage. that was basically DENIED them!!.
Sincerely and respectfully,,
viola haris
Dear Marcus,
If I won this course it would make a positive impact on a great number of people. I have been trying to learn Spanish on my on for a couple of years now. I study almost everyday, I still experience unbearably slow progress.
Each year I volunteer in the desert with ‘No Mas Muertes’. We go out in teams to put out water and food and offer medical aid to people who are making this dangerous crossing to come to the United States. Each team must have one fluent Spanish speaker, sometimes these are in short supply. Without the language I am not able to comfort, explain life saving options, or medical treatments to the people we encounter.
I also work in the migrant centers on the border where people who are captured by border patrol are dumped out, often times still hundreds of miles from their homes with no food, water or money. The migrant center can offer these things as well as information on buses and a safe place to stay. Here again without the language I am handicapped in my ability to fulfill what my heart knows is a basic human right.
This spring it is my greatest hope to expand my ESL tutoring to group classes at my academy. These will be free classes, a ’survival’ English class for migrants who have arrived recently. There are no services here to meet this need. I will cater to their work hours and to their specific needs. Without the English language they are unable to function sufficiently in their day to day lives. Often this leads to vulnerable or even dangerous situations.
Lastly, it is my dream to start a social project to offer opportunities to people who live in extreme poverty. I cannot realize this dream without the Spanish language. It would not be feasible to accomplish a project of this nature without being able to establish the trust and understanding that the native language would assure.
My time currently is divided amongst these ambitions and my full time business. I do not have any time or money left for going to classes for Spanish. I have the ability to study and be disciplined on my own but I need the help of your course to make these dreams a reality. Together we could make a positive change in the lives of many.
Thank you for your consideration,
Deb. Stuart
Hi Marcus, I retired to Mexico two years ago with my husband … I found your site last year and enjoyed the free classes. I have recommended your site to a friend in the states who is enjoying and benefiting from all your courses and has encouraged me to continue with your program…I really want and need to speak spanish..I love my community (a small colonia in Puerto Escondido)..I give english classes to three children here but need to communicate with them in spanish too..besides not being confident when I speak I have even more of a difficulty understanding…I am on a limited income and I would love to be considered for this offer…muchas gracias
I’m going to marry a spanish speaking person and he is a cop the works with translation to the spanish. Would be great if I could work with the none speaking eglish people and help them also.
Hola Marcus,
I have been su estudiante para 3 anos. I registered for your Synergy Spanish course. I work in healthcare and there are many spanish speaking patients. Also I am absolutely passionate about helping people to be debt free. Before I began working in healthcare I used to be a financial advisor at a bank. So it is very important to help people buy homes and be smart about money and avoid financial traps. I love the Spanish language and I am determined to master it. If you kindly invest it me it will not be a wasted investment; your donation will not only touch my life but the life of ever patient and client with whom I come in contact.
Muchisimos gracias
Su grateful estudiante
Makeda
Buenos Dias Marcus,
I’d like to thank you so much for making taking the time to share your teaching with all of us. I was introduced to Spanish in my elementary years and just could not seem to retain the language. It was like “parrotting” for me, so I couldn’t seem to use the lessons learned in real life.
Well that was over 40 years ago. I am now assisting Graduates in the School of International Studies and although my Spanish is understood by others now, (and I might add they are amazed!), still when they speak very very fast I have a hard time keeping up at times.
Our Mexico Office has been already inspired to teach others the language since I’ve been learning. For myself it would be greatly beneficial to have the ability to follow the conversations of incoming graduate students from our Spanish speaking countries without the need of an interpretuer.
Again thank you so much for sharing your teaching methods with all of us. I would never have gotten this far without using your methods. You are greatly appreciated!
Nine years ago I started an alternative education program in the Appalachian mountains. I am currently responsible for 38 children’s education from preschool through 11th grade. These children are homeschool children, mostly from lower income families, that attend our Learning Center about 3 days a week for intensive studies in math, language, science, and history. We have been experimenting with acceleration techniques that take the ceilings off and let the kids go as far as they wish. Several are 2 to 3 years ahead in math, science and language. The environment is joyful and learning at TLC is fun.
My friend, who is an educational genius and a linguist discovered your website a year or two ago. She was amazed at your techniques and approach as it was similar to how she thought language should be taught. We would like to add your materials to our curriculum at TLC. Most of these families would never be able to afford this. I love people you think outside of the educational box! Thanks for your great work!
Hola,
Learning to speak and understand Spanish is one of my top priorities. I recently moved to Panama and hope to spend the rest of my life in this beautiful country. The people are so warm and friendly and I really want to communicate with them in their language. I want to give back to the community (especially the children) and just know I can contribute in a way that will make life better for them and for me. Being able to speak Spanish will help me accomplish this goal!
Sylvia
Have retired to Spain, on the Costa Blanca, have lived here two years, and love it, But is a struggle to talk to Spanish people as they talk so fast. Don’t know if I will ever master this language but intend to keep on trying.
Hola Marcus!
I bought your shortcut to spanish course last year and started learning from it and it’s been great — better than my high school spanish by far!
I’d like to enter Category 2 - Synergy Spanish to improve the lives of others:
Because I’m an advertising copywriter — which means I write sales letters ,websites, etc that get people to buy amazing products (like your spanish course sales letter!) and what I would like to do is get really fluent in spanish so I can start selling things to the spanish markets as well so I can help a totally new and HUGE group of people that currently aren’t being marketed to the way they should be!
This would be great not only for me but for all the spanish speaking people I come into contact with.
Thanks Marcus!
Caleb
Dear Marcus,
You asked us to answer one of your questions, but it is impossible to answer one without answering the other. I bought your first Synergy Spanish course and loved it. Since learning these lessons I have been trying to learn more and along the way I have made friends with some wonderful Mexican people that live in my city. I never would have made friends with these people if I was not learning Spanish. They try to help me with my Spanish and in turn I try to teach them English. In learning Spanish I have learned more English (like grammar and new words!), became more knowledgable about other people (we’re all the same), became more creative and found happiness in having new friends. It has changed the lives of others because one of my new friends said she has lived in the United States for 30 years and I am her first friend. Perhaps God wanted her to have a friend and He helped us meet because of the wonderful Spanish language! God works in mysterious ways! ¡Dios es Amor, y que Dios te bendiga!
I have been receiving your emails for quite some time and have recently started paying more attention. I just completed my M. Ed. in Elementary Education and will soon (hopefully) be teaching my own class of students in Northern Virginia. So many of these students speak Spanish as their first language and I would be a much more effective teacher if I could understand and speak Spanish. I took Latin and French many years ago and I am sure I can learn Spanish too!
I know and visit Sisters who work in Mexico helping the poor. I have visited them and am going again shortly and plan to go failrly often to help out. Not speking Spanish is a handicap as I need one of the Sisters with me to translate.
I have gotten to know some of the children and their parents and they always look forward to my coming. I receive letters from them in Spanish. These letters and my replies all have to be translated, an added burden to the Sisters. I sure could be much more helpful to assist these poor of Mexico if I could only speak their language.
Rita
I have started to do some business in Latin America, but I am limited because of the language barrier. Being more fluent in Spanish would open many more options. Also, I like to give back some profit to the people of the country it was earned in. Hopefully my increased knowledge would benefit some other people also.
Marcus,
I know that I already did this once, but I can not find it in all the other comments. I don’t want to waste anymore time looking for it so I’ll repeat myself here.
I want to learn to speak and understand Spanish so that I might be able to actually converse with my 81 year old mother-in-law. She is such a wonderful person and I have always been sorry that we could not communicate in her native tongue. Although she understands a lot of English it is difficult for her to really totally communicate with me in English as it is with me in Spanish. I have tried for over 30 years to learn enough spanish that I could speak and understand spoken Spanish well enough to be able to really communicate. I have been a total failure.
Marcus, if you can teach me to understand people speaking Spanish, you can teach anyone. I have in the past spent a lot of money buying all the commercially available courses, I had a tutor for 2 years, I have tried all the stuff that is on the Internet, I can not seem to grasp something that will allow me to think in Spanish without trying to translate everything I hear to English and we all know what happens when you do that, you are lost before you know it.
My mother-in-law is Puerto Rican. She likes to tease me and and often times makes riddles or jokes that only she thinks funny. My husband says she would drive me nuts if I really understood her all of the time, but I can not help but think that I am missing out on a lot by not being able to really communicate with her.
There is a second reason I would like to learn to really speak Spanish. There are a lot of volunteer opportunities available in my city to help Spanish speaking people. I would love to tutor them in learning to read and write English. I feel I need a much better knowledge of Spanish before I can do this. My husband does a lot of this work. He volunteers at a clinic in an area of the city that has lots of Hispanics. He also does work at the Children’s Hospital helping families there. I would to help also.
When I spent all the money I did earlier on Spanish programs, I was working. I am now retired and on a fixed income. I just don’t want to waste anymore money trying to learn Spanish. I’ve already done that.
So there are my two reasons, learning to know my extended family better especially my mother-in-law and being able to volunteer in the Hispanic community.
Sue
i have the synergy course. and i am perservering with it. i dont know if i will ever become fluent? i am moving to spain next year becourse i am disabled and need the warmth for my condition. i love the spanish people and way of life. i hope above all else i can intergrate with the spanish people.
yours trully. loyal servant.
g whitson
Dear Marcus,
I am retired and have recent ly moved to a small town from the Island where I have been living for a few years. There are Spanish students attending classes at the local colleges and, therefore, working in the local establishments. I would like to be able to greet them and make small exchanges regarding their families back home. When peoples of other countries have made the effort to speak English with me, I have always been so appreciative.
Thank you,
Carol
I just purchased a house south of Guadalajara, Mexico but find it frustrating to converse with the locals in regards to the everyday maintenance and renovations that have to be done. The mexican people are great and are trying to help me in any way they can. Learning & improving Spanish would be a godsent. I love it here but it does get frustrating.
Hola from Mexico
R.T.
Aloh Marcus,
I have been getting your emails for years now. I’ve tried learning Spanish a little bit at a time, but I still do not feel confident enough to speak with Spanish speakers who come to my window at work.
You see, I work for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office as a civilian. I handle 10-20 identity theft cases a month. The sad fact is these people who are coming to our country to better their lives have already become victims of identity theft, a crime which affects your ability to get work, causes you to pay undue taxes, and may destroy your chances of building credit for years.
I have learned how to say the necessary things to get the English Identity Theft packet filled out. Things like ” escribe su nombre aqui” and “cual es su feche de naciemiento”, but most of these people need someone to talk to them and help them through the process after the form is filled out. The amount of government agencies someone has to contact is enough to make most of the English speakers quit. This also hampers the investigation and results in less criminal prosecutions.
By learning Spanish I hope the honest hard working people legally coming to the United States can get a better welcome than some have gotten.
hi marcas i am 30 now and i have been trying to learn spanish for 3 years i have a little boy and i work so learning is hard. i feel i have a great understanding of spainish but need that something extra to fit together all the pices that are missing.
Learning spainish would change my life alot in the way that it would change what skills i could offer out in life. for one i’d be able to talk to my spanish freinds so it would change our relationship.If i could talk fluant spanish i would share it with as many people as i could i’d even become a teacher if i could but most of all i would make sure my little boy ever wanted to talk spainish he would be able to. thanks for reading this,
kelly.
Hi Marcus
I am a 76 year old blind veteran and a member of the BVA. There are many Spanish speaking vererans in this organization that I would like to be able to talk to and help in some way. My aim is to first learn the skill and then the ways of using it will happen. I am two thirds the way through Synergy Level 1. The course is perfect for the way I have to learn with my low vision.I am looking forward to using Level 2 and ear training. Please keep developing more CD’s they are fantastic.
I live in an area of the United States that is predominately hispanic. I come in contact with these wonderful people at work, out shopping, and on the streets and cannot comminucate with them. I’ve tried many methods to learn spanish, but so far can only speak a few sentences and I fear when I use one as a greeting, I cannot understand thier return greeting nor join any conversation they might try to start with me. I am an older person, but my mind is sharp and I know learning to speak spanish would enrich my life. I hope I am chosen for a scholarship as my husband is disabled and I am the only person working in my home and I cannot afford to pay for spanish lessons. Thank you
I have been comunnicating with a gentleman from Peru and our relationship is developing beyond just friendship. Since I don’t speak Spanish, we communicate online in English. His English is limited, so It is too difficult to try talk on the phone, plus too expensive for both of us. The last email I received from him, he spoke of how frustrating it was not to be able to express his thoughts and feelings to me as he would like. I would love to communicate with him more in Spanish, but being on disability and my finances being very small, I can’t afford to pay for Spanish lessons. Since he insists upon paying for my coming to Peru, it will be later summer before I will make it to Peru to meet him and his family. Since his family only speaks Spanish, this is another reason I need to learn Spanish. thank you
Mr. Santamaria,
If you trace this email you would verify I’m corresponding from my residence in Mexico. 14 years ago I married into a family with little means. Since then; I have opened my heart to 6 nieces and nephews under the age of 11. My wife and I at this time are now the only means of support in every manner for these remarkable children. I communicate the best I can; be it in person and/or by phone/email and messenger when at home in the states. I maintain it is my moral obligation to do everything imaginable to help my nieces and nephews succeed in life. To learn Spanish effectively and truly articulate clearly will help the children to completely digest from A to Z when I speak with passion of life, respect; education etc and help me grasp and comprehend what they say so that I can do my best to accommodate each of their needs. I have one chance; an opportunity of a lifetime to change 6 lives from less fortunate circumstances and environment and pave the way to new heights and open horizons now and in the future. The fact is that it starts with me and how I transmit my knowledge, feelings and wisdom in Spanish!
Thank you for your time,
Myles
My motives for wanting to be selected for the free lessons are purely personal. I contracted a debilitating muscular illness some 10 years ago, having served a military career of twenty two years, it could have been contracted somewhere around the world. I saw countless numbers of doctors and consultants, with no success as to what or what has caused the problem. My own medical practitioner at the time suggested that if I could afford to live in warmer climes, then that would be his advice, because physical stimulation of the muscles is very, very painful. Spain has become my new home but unfortunately my ability to learn the language is eluding me, I am currently studying with a personal tutor, but the grammar is not being assimilated. I have got a comprehensive vocabulary but am unable to put the words into meaningful sentences with the use of verbs etc. My doctor insists that I speak in Spanish or take an interpreter, which I totally agree with, I am in his country and should speak his language. I have doubts about your comment that anyone can learn the language, age has nothing to do with it, is difficult to agree with. I have always, in the past, been able to learn things very quickly but I now struggle with simple tasks and would have been able to assimilate the Spanish language very quickly, it is to say the least depressing at times and I wonder if I will ever get there. The next problem is finance, with the current world recession my money is dwindling daily because of the exchange rate and I may have to stop the lessons. As I have said my reasons are purely personal and there will undoubtedly be people with similar circumstances. This would undoubtedly change my life to having total freedom and independence which I do not have at the moment. As for how it would be used, there are always requirements for interpreters at the hospital, on a voluntary basis and that would broaden my Spanish language base and help others who are in need.
Greetings from Acapulco, Marcus…i could very easily write to you and tell you how learning to speak Spanish fluently will help MY life….i have a long list. but rather than bore you with that, i d like to briefly tell you how my fluency will DIRECTLY impact others and very dramatically.
You see, i am the only Doctor of Chiropractic here in Gro, Mexico. I have been here going on 2 years, have enrolled in an overpriced school, faithfully attended 2 hours a day 5 days a week,put up with the staff and teacher s coming late everyday, learned a lot of verbs and grammar….well you know the rest, i still cannot hold an ongoing conversation in Spanish…I then resorted to a tutor in my home for less $ and many hours…he too worked on Mexican time, so we parted company.
Most recently, for the past year, i have been involved with a wonderful, beautiful Acapulquena lady, who do not speak any English.. it is amazing to me that we continue to have a great relationship, even though we don’t verbally communicate that well. My Spanish is better then her English if that tells you anything…
Anyway, how your course could help others is simple…Everyday, i sit across from suffering patients, many of whom have suffered for many years. Oh yes, i have finally found a bilingual assistant who bails me out ,when i have NO idea what the patient is trying to tell me, but there i times that i can tell , not only is the patient in pain, but they are frustrated that i do not seem to understand what they are trying to tell me..
.If i could just think in Spanish and communicate back to the patients, i know i could help them even more.. What i do physically to the patient has NO language barrier, but emotionally i know that they will FEEL more at ease and get more out of their treatment if they sensed that i was truly bilingual.
I really want to be able to serve my patients to the best of my ability. With the Spanish language mastered once and for all, i know this will be possible.
Please consider me for your scholarship program because the people of Gro Mexico deserve someone who can communicate with them and change their lives from one of great pain and disability to one of health and vitality. Thank you. Dr Cary
There have been many changes in my life in the past few years, both personally and financially.
Currently, my husband is now living in Mexico because that is where his business opportunities are. It has been difficult to be apart and try to keep the family connected knowing our future will be in Mexico. I am working here but our goal is to be together and speaking Spanish is a huge part of achieving that goal.I have visited twice in the past 10 months to Guadalajara and San Miguel de Allenda but am shy to speak other than a few greetings.Truly enjoying the country and the people there I know that I must be able to understand and participate in their lifestyle in their language. I know that our family life will be changing in a big way and I must contribute to that end.
Since I will also need to work once I arrive there , speaking Spanish is a necessity.
I am motivated and appreciative of the help I have already received with the complimentary 4 chapters of your program and thank you for a great beginning.
Gracias, suzanne
Hola Marcus, My answer really covers both catergories… I have always wanted to by bilingual ever since entering high school. French was offered my freshman year and I took French that year. Then Latin was offered the last three years. I took one year of Latin (which was one year too many!! I wanted a language I could SPEAK!!! In downeast Maine where I live there are a lot of Mexican migrant workers; I work at the local grocery store and see many Spanish speaking people during blueberry and wreath making seasons, which cover basically August through November. So a couple years ago, I started studying Spanish. I took a 6 week mini course at our local college and the rest of the time I’ve been studying on my own, with various books, cds, and whatever free info I can find online. I recognise quite a few words now; I have a Spanish Reader which is simple and yet slowly expanding my reading vocabulary — but not in speaking. I’m still not good at seeing English and translating into Spanish. And I haven’t begun to think in Spanish. So I would love your course for both personal enrichment and also to be able to communicate with the Spanish speaking people I see so frequently. I know how I felt years ago when traveling in a foreign country, not knowing the language, and there were so many people who did their best to communicate with me in my language. I would like to be able to do the same for others.
Sincere thanks for your consideration.
Muchas gracias
Ramona
Learing Spanish will help me communicate with poor children in dominican Republic .It will enrich theirlives and mine.The idea of Scolarship is wonderful. If I receive this scholarship your gesture would become contribution towards making this world a better place for some people.
Dinesh
Learning Synergy Spanish would enable me to assist people in my work, as well as my volunteer efforts. I am a Realtist and Property Manager and my inability to speak Spanish leaves many people unable to obtain housing, as well as jobs (as porters, etc.) since noone in the office can communicate with them.
My volunteer efforts in politics and social work would be enhanced and it would allow constituents concerns to be heard and resolved.
My learning spanish would make a big difference in the Hispanic community, but more importantly in the world community, since community barriers are constantly being dissolved.
Thanks for the opportunity,
Lois
Dear Marcus,
I would like to learn Spanish better for many reasons, my wife and are planning on serving a mission in a Spanish speaking country for a year and half to serve the people of that area. We have tried several methods and have found yours to be the best where I am now studying the Synergy Spanish component one first course.
We currently travel to Mexico a lot where we have fun scuba diving but also help out an orphanage when we go. It would be really nice to communicate with the children and the staff of the orphanage more effectively. I would be definitely create a more effective and meaningful experience for the children and us.
My son is currently serving a mission in Peru and is now fluent Spanish speaker. He will be returning from his mission in fifteen months and we have set a goal to speak Spanish effectively when we pick him up in Peru. It would be so special to us to personally communicate with the people he has worked with in their own language. We love the Latin American people and to communicate with them well would mean a great deal to us.
Thank You,
Eric
Hola Marcus! I have retired in Mexico, living on a fixed income and I really love this country and its people. I have become involved in three programs in my surrounding communities as a volunteer. First is a program for mentally and physically disabled children using horseback riding to improve both their physical abilities and stimulate them mentally. You could not help but be amazed at the progress of some of these children. It would make anyone smile! Second is an orphanage where I volunteer as a meal server for children from infancy to age 12. Finally, I am getting involved in a food delivery program at one of the local elementary schools that serves meals to impoverished students. I got involved here when I heard of an 11 year old girl at this school that committed suicide because she could no longer stand her constant hunger. The common thread here is that I love these children but I can’t communicate with them! I need to learn Spanish - fast! I have tried your sample programs and have purchased Synergy Spanish and I think it is a God-send but I need more. Your methods are terrific and I am finally able to begin to learn my new language, but I need to be better so I can converse with these wonderful niños. Thank you
Hola Marcus!
I have been trying to learn Spanish for a while now and have given up a number of times for all the reasons you just listed! I have bought a couple of programs that are suppose to teach me how to speak but I can hardly get past the first level. I work a full time job and dont have much time to sit and study they way these programs want me to. I’m a single mom and have 2 boys to raise! I feel kind of silly (and not very smart) each time I give up - what kind of example am I setting for them!
There are 3 guys that I work with that speak some Spanish as well as some English and some German! I have tried talking with them in Spanish but I’m stuck with saying the same things all the time! I have been to Mexico once and would love to go again someday.
I want to show my children that we are never too old to learn new things, and that just because you dont succeed the first time that they shouldn’t give up - there is an easier way to learn if you just keep looking and trying.
Fay
id like to answer question #1: how will learning synergy spanish change your life?
id be forever grateful to speak, to be liberated from my dumb expressionless imbecility, a persona i wear uncomfortably and by default. im not a helen keller, i tell myself or an anne frank, and yet i behave as tho id lost my ability to speak, or to listen even to the sounds the birds make as no more than sounds, separate notes that do not cohere…
im lost in spain without the help youve extended me, and i dont know how much longer i can really survive without meaning. i ask myself: how much longer can i take the uncomprehending looks, the stares of solicitous friends eager to see me progress…
and yet without any money or aid in terms of lessons that make sense, i can only see myself continually reduced to a childlike shyness, condemned to live through unbearable silences of incomprehension and imbecility…
but i think your course will prove to me, assuming i will understand the proofs you have put together, that i am in fact not an imbecile but a moron…that is to say not merely an idiot who moves through space but one that can be helped to progress in intelligence with a little bit of care, affection and attention thrown my way….
thus, i can only see myself being profoundly altered through your course…and grateful to be able to make myself understood beyond the kneejerk and guttural, frozen speech that has me cloistered at home afraid to make human contact…
i used to think that there was something perhaps deeply anti-human in learning a language from a computer and yet for someone like me whose only window to the world of spanish culture and language is through the net, i now think that you could be my lifesaver.
i long to learn synergy spanish as a manwhose head’s been forced under water… longs to breathe or someone whose been deprived of meaning for over a year and a half of life in spain seeks understanding…
i think youd have my gratitude for life if you gave me the opportunity to express myself to all the people ive come to love and respect in spain. to all my friends who expect me to improve and who i feel im letting down because of how inept i seem at learning spanish.
Marcus,
I have bought several of your courses and I need to thank you. I have learned more in the last 6 months, than I have in the last 6 years. I needed to learn Spanish very quickly. If all goes well, very shortly I will have a finacee who was born, raised and currently lives in Mexico. She has three children who also primarily speak Spanish. I have completed Shortcut to Spanish 1 and 2 and Synergy Spanish. I enjoyed greatly learning with your method. All I can say to you is that my increasing ability to speak and understand Spanish is a godsend!
Soy muy feliz con sus cursos. Ellos son fáciles de usar. Ellos me han dado la gran alegría en mi capacidad creciente de decir y leer el español. ¡Mi única pena es que no los encontré más pronto!
Gracias
John
Marcus, I hope one day to be able to improve the lives of others through being able to speak Spanish. But, today, I am going to answer the question of how learning to speak Spanish will change my life. I have had a burning desire to speak spanish for about 10 years. I have been very frustrated, however, because all the highschool courses and online courses that I tried (and would spend HOURS listening to tapes & studying) seem to add to my knowledge of Spanish, but when I actually tried to have a conversation, I usually could barely catch a word or two they were saying. I would get a terrified “deer in headlights” look and my mind and toungue would freeze up. Hopelessness tries to creep in, but I am not willing to give up!
I have 3 young kids and I would love to be able to teach them to learn to speak Spanish. I live in a community where there are plenty of opportunities to converse with native spanish speakers daily. Also, every year my church hosts a community project and the majority of people that come are spanish speakers, I would find it so fulfilling to become a bigger part of that service project. I feel learning spanish would enrich my life and open up so many more opportunities for relationships and possible travel opportunites. Learning to speak spanish is not only a practical thing to do, but it is also a confidence builder. Apparently, I am not a natural language learner, but I feel like if I can conquer learning Spanish, I can do anything I set my mind to do!
Hi Marcus,
I started with Synergy Spanish because the company I worked for was getting a growing number of Hispanic prospects. Those 138 words increased my productivity and income. I have purchased Shortcut to Spanish and have really increased my vocabulary. I have moved from sales to the technical support division where I now provide support to our Spanish speaking clients. Synergy Spanish is a remarkable way to learn Spanish. One of my coworkers is from Columbia and she was amazed at how simple and easy the course was to follow. She has said on many ocassions that she wished there was a course like Synergy Spanish for English. I have encouraged several of my coworkers to use Synergy Spanish and they are now using those 138 words to communicate effectively. Thanks Marcus for dedicating yourself to making learning Spanish an easy and pleasurable venture. I hope to continue with some of the advanced level courses in the near future.
I live in a predominantly Spanish (Mexican) speaking neighborhood, and have a hard time communicating with the people. As the Spanish speaking population increases nationally and hear in Texas, I feel we are all going to need to be bi-lingual in the future. Being laid off after 22 years prevents me from enrolling in a traditional language course, but I still wish to learn.
Thank you.
I have been trying to learn Spanish for a few years. I have some close friends that live in Mexico and I visit there a couple of times a year. I have always felt that if I am in Mexico, I should be able to communicate with the people there, at the very least, out of respect. We always assume that people should be able to speak English when they come to North America, and I have always felt that when I visit another country, I should be able to speak some of the language. We have a very large Latino population in our community, and it would be wonderful if I could help them to communicate with the people here. Most of them speak very little English, and have trouble making themselves understood. I would love to be able to help them make themselves understood. I love the Spanish language, and have made a promise to myself that I will learn it this year. It would be wonderful to be able to travel to any Spanish speaking country and be able to speak to the local people. Thanks…Laurie
Hi, Marcus, I recently returned from a trip to Mexico. I made many new friends there and would love to be able to communicate more completely with them. After my trip, I decided I finally knew what I wanted to be when I grow up ( I am 47). I would like to start a new business as a travel guide to Spanish speaking countries. In order to do this, I will need to be fluent in Spanish so that I may travel, speak to native people and set up safe, educational, intriguing trips for my guests. It sounds like the program you are offering will get me up and running very quickly with immense success. At my age I don’t have time to waste!!! What a great opportunity this will be. Thank you so much for your generosity in helping two more people achieve their dream.
Hello Mr. Santamaria, I am a 19 year old Bahamian 2007 high school graduate and my concern is the inability to pay for lessons. I’ve always wanted to learn spanish though, there are alot of jobs that require you to know a second language and I just love the way it sounds and how the words roll off of your tongue
I took spanish for three years in high school, seventh through nineth grades, but nothing ever really stuck in my mind and because I did not continue it in the remainder of my high school years the little that did stick kind of got missplaced :$ I just want you to know know that from your synergy spanish snippets of lessons you sent me I learnt something that acctually stuck, its not much to talk about but I enjoyed doing it, sounding out the words & feeling so accomplished when i could answer before the recording :D. I may not win this and I don’t have a job right now but hopefully I will soon and be able to purchase your entire lesson and that way when I do go abroad to college i will be able to speak to spanish friends and classmates in their native tongue without feeling uncomfortable or unsure of myself or feel left out of the equation. Thank you so much for the opportunity and the emails Mr. Santamaria, I really appreciate it 
Angie
I just recently got downsized and I really need to upgrade my skills. I have been trying to learn Spanish for years but have failed. I need to have someone to talk with in learning spanish. I hope by upgrading my technical skills and learning Spanish this will help me. I cannot financially aford it at this time.
BJ
I have taken 4 years of Spanish in College and still am not able to hold a conversation or make sentences. I like your course but cannot afford it. I am on disability and have lots of time to learn. My friends and family are hispanic and I’m the only one who cannot speak the language. If I’m blessed with winninng your course I’d be so thankful.
Constance
this would be a great help with me speaking to my family i was born and raised in the states but many members of my family did not get the same opportunities and dont speak english well or at all. even my grandmother who lives here is more comfortable with spanish and the older she gets speaks less and less english. it is also something i would ike to teach my daughter and carry on the language of my family i have taken spanish classes and it was noticably different than how my grandparents speak so i had a really hard time learning. i was taught english as a child to help me speak to people around me and for school and i would very much enjoy speaking in spanish and being a bigger part of the latin community
Dear Marcus,
I’ve been trying to learn Spanish, but I’m just not picking it up fast enough and I feel like I’m running out of time. First, my mother-in-law has alzheimers and is already starting to forget some of her English, so I’m worried that over time we are going to lose our ability to communicate (and my husband and I are her only family locally). And, second, we just decided to take her back to Peru to visit her family in April. My husband hasn’t been back since he was 4 months old and he has a lot of family that’s looking forward to meeting us, but if I can’t learn quickly, I won’t be able to talk to them! So those are the two ways it would make my life better…thank you for the opportunity to be selected for this course.
Kara
Im currently living in Spain, trying to find teaching work, to teach others English. I need to learn Spanish to help teach students and understand what they are trying to communicate to explain it back in English.
Living in Spain, is totally differnt for me, as I came from Australia. Learning Spanish is helping me to communicate with people, my room mates and new friends that I have meant.
Hola Marcus
I am 74 years old and live in Spain. I have been to various Spanish classes and tried very hard to learn the language. Unfortunately in one class the teacher embarrassed me and made me
feel totally inadequate in front of the other class members - result I feel I will never learn
properly and yet I so desperately want to be able to chat to everyone. I visit the doctor and specialists at the hospital and am able to tell them (after research ) my problems. However
when they tell me their opinion I am at a loss not fully understanding. I also have this problem
when speaking to shopkeepers and strangers. As my finances are limited I would appreciate this opportunity.to really learn Spanish and communicate properly with everyone.
So many times I have started Spanish and done courses but I seem to get to a certain part and stop I don’t know why.
Marian
I am a 72 yer old Senior, who lives on a fixed income. With your scholarship I would learn Spanish well, which is a great for my continued healthy brain. I need a healthy brain as I want to visit Spain in the next few years with my daughter, She is a severe epileptic who lives with me. I can help her with the Spanish that I will learn. I also was a grade school teacher before my retirement and I would help anyone in my community, especially children, to learn Spanish at no cost to them. I live in B.C Canada, which is a place where many people go to Spanish speaking plces for vacation, so it is a perfect place to be to learn Spanish.
Thank you for this generous opportunity that you are giving us. I would be very happy and grateful for this opportunity. However, I wish all contestents good luck and whoever receives this wonderful gift, I know will be the right one.
Thank you very much,
Marion
I am a mother of 3 young great children. My husband works alot away from the family to pay for me to go to school and for all the necessities that we need on a daily basis. He speaks Spanish and English but can not read it. I can read it but not understand it. So my children are going to be left out in this world if I can’t figure out why I haven’t finally picked up Spanish enough to be fluent or to relay and teach to my family. I am a Sunday School teacher for 3-4 and I have a 5th grade who only speaks Spanish. I can read to her in Spanish but i don’t normally know what I am saying. Fully trusting that i am reading the Bible but still wanting to know what i am teaching to her and to anyone in the same manner. I have one more semester and I will be certified to teach 4-8 grades. I can not wait. But I am nervous about my language barrier. Please help… I can reach out to so many people that I wouldn’t other wise be able to reach out to.
Thanks,
Cynthia
Hola Marcus,
Having every possible barrier to learning Spanish sounds mighty fine to me! I wish us both success on this venture. Yours is a monumental task, in view of the learning problems that some of us have. But I have faith in you, and eagerly look to this venture.
I really believe that the biggest obstacle is the student himself. After all, if a little kid can learn the language, how can we feel that it is so difficult! In fact, children raised in multi- language communities have been capable of learning several languages at once, many much more difficult than Spanish!, and their WRITTEN language looks to be impossible!
But as President Obama says, “We can do it!”
I have a niece who is learning Farsi, and she is not upset with it! Our problem is mostly ourselves, says I! We underestimate the gift of our marvelous brain!
Saludos, de Don.
I have tried learning Spanish all my life. I even grew up in a blended family; my step-father was from Mexico, and he and his family spoke Spanish around us all the time! But he didn’t want his children to learn because he wanted them to assimilate in U.S. culture.
I am now in my fifties, and have listened to tapes, had tutors, gone to classes, and I still can’t speak Spanish. I’m blocked, get tongue tied, it’s a mess.
I work in the schools with a large Spanish speaking student population. I would love to be able to speak with students, and their families, so I can help them navigate successfully through the system, and help students with their studies. It is so frustrating for all of us trying to learn, and struggle every day because we can’t communicate effectively with each other.
Well, I have signed up for this course about a year ago. At first it was great but then my friends had trouble understanding me. You see, here they speak Castellano and I guess it is a bit confusing. So just said the hell with it. However the course did turn out good for one of my friends who borrowed it and used it to learn english. Now we can converse. She is of course 20 years junior to me and a lot easier to learn too I imagine. I am 63 this year and sure wish I could converse easily with my friends and at the hospital. I live in central Argentina now.
Well I will keep learning this course because it was by far the most advanced and easiest way to learn Spanish. Keep up the good work. And please know that thier is nothing out there that can even come close to your course anywhere on this global village.
thanks
joe
Marcus,
Learning Spanish will impact not only my professional life but my personal life as well. Personally, I married a wonderful man from a wonderful family 12 years ago. The majority of his extended family speaks only spanish, while we have developed good relations, the language is a barrier to really integrating our families. I also teach 7th and 8th grade students who are at risk of dropping out of school, the majority of the parents speak spanish only. Removing the language barrier will help me better serve my students and be able to communicate in a more effective way with their parents. it will also help the parents feel more at ease and understand our school system and hopefully remove some of the fear that keeps them from being involved with their childrens education.
Alissa
Oh would I give anything to be able to speak fluently in Spanish! The opportunity to learn another language is a gift. Learning another language broadens our horizons and gives us the opportunity to understand another Culture. It is through this understanding of how others think, live and eat that we learn tolerance. If everyone had the opportunity to become fluent in another language I am sure that the world would gradually become a better and more peaceful place for all of us to live.
It has been 4 years since I began taking Spanish lessons at a local Spanish school where class after class we sat and learned grammar. I became reasonably good at basic Spanish grammar but do you think that I can converse in Spanish? Not on my life! I would give almost anything if I could hold a decent conversation and know how the other person feels and thinks. My conversation skills are minimal. What I have been looking for is a program where I can listen and speak and begin the think in Spanish. Of course I live in an English/French speaking country (Canada) and have very few opportunities to speak with anyone and practice makes perfect – use it or lose it! The advanced levels in Synergy Spanish sound to me to be the perfect panacea to my ill of not being able to communicate in Spanish.
A little over 3 years ago I spent some a month in Guatemala where I was fortunate to be able to assist in bringing aid to a Woman’s Co-operative in one of the most rural and poor areas that had been devastated by a flood. These women were attempting to get a co-operative going which would produce products for market at competitive prices in the hope of developing a viable operation which would give them some resources to provide a better life for their families. How little these people had but how much hope they also had. It was then I decided that I would go back to Canada and learn Spanish and return to the Country to try to make a difference in a few peoples lives by sharing of myself and some of the resources that I have been blessed with. I never dreamed that learning a language would be such a challenge and without language skills it is difficult to really make a difference. If I can become a bit more conversant I will return and hopefully I can further improve my Spanish ‘on the spot’ and follow some of my dreams and give back to some of those in need. If I am able to help just a few children to get an education or make life easier for a few I would feel that I have been able to return something to this world which has given me so much.
Marcus,
i am living in spain right now. i am an english teacher. i moved here five months ago with no knowledge of spanish. my fiancee is from madrid. we speak mostly english in our conversations. we met in the US so it was natural for us from the start. We met when she was doing a year of school in colorado. i was working there at the time and we met through mutual friends. At first she didn’t speak a lot of english. She tells me now that she didn’t understand a lot of what i was telling her when we would go out to restaurants and sit and talk for hours. She just liked to listen to me. Well, now it is two years later and she speaks fluent english and may be going back to study in the states again next year.
and here i am still having problems and more problems learning spanish. i go around the streets and stores of madrid hearing words, just flying through the air. I get the gist of this and the gist of that but then miss entire parts of conversations. I constantly feel like an alien in my day to day life. it really does feel like i am on another planet sometimes, going out with Carla and her friends i try and try but in the end i seem to just sit there quietly after a while not able to really participate in the conversation. This happens again and again. At my school where i teach i am one of the “native speakers” they have brought in to help with the english teaching. i have roughly 150 students, all in the 8th grade. i feel a little ridiculous sometimes expecting them to learn so much from me when i am having such a difficult time learning the language they grew up with. i feel like i could really help them learn more if i understood their language well. i could prove to them that you can learn a language in a short amount of time and that it is not impossible, as some of them feel it is. This way i could spark some motivation in them. Many of my students are very bright and some are very good with english but there are others who are fairly new to the language and if i could help them or give them some directions or encouragement in spanish it would really feel great and be a great help to them. it’s strange because all of the other “native speakers” in my school have masters degrees in spanish or have been speaking spanish for years. i am the odd man out.
I could go on and on about how getting this package and learning fluency on my own time, which is quite tight with all my classes, would help me. And i haven’t even mentioned all of the family get togethers and meals i have with my fiancees family where i am always sharing pleasantries and not much more, in my bubble separated off from all the conversation and revelry.
your first part of the course gave me the most progression so far and i would love to continue with your programs.
hope all is well with you,
benjamin briggs
Marcus,
The Synergy Spanish System can a HUGE help to my future. In 2011 I am retiring early (at 57 1/2), and I am going to be a full time missionary! God has been working on my life to go in this direction. I plan on spending some of my time in San Felix, Panama helping the Panamanians and the Nagbe-Bugle Indians in the camarca(reservation). I need to improve my Spanish so I can teach them construction trades so the can get better jobs. I NEED to be able to speak well!
I also plan to spend time in Honduras with the MAMA Project on construction projects and some medical brigades. I have been to both places in the past and this year I am going back to each place again. I really want to speak the best I can and I need YOU to help me with that by granting me one of the prizes. May God continue to bless you.
Hi
I live in Kent, England and went to evening classes for 2 years to learn Spanish. I know words but am unable to have a conversation in spanish.
My husbands best friend from school married a Mexican lady and they have a beautiful daughter. I am very close to them and would love to support her in teaching Spanish to her daughter, as we are not part of a Hispanic community my friend has alot of work being the sole speaker/teacher. I believe it would be of great help if I could speak Spanish so her daughter is more surrounded by this beautiful language.
Muchas gracias
The way that synergy spanish would improve things for me would be emence. I would be able to communicate with my fiance’s family and not have to reliy on him being by my side every moment to translate things for the both of us and we would be able to have conversations. As well he would like only spanish to be spoke in our home and for our children and this is a huge barrier for me as i do not know how to speek spanish and having a hard time trying to learn myself with no program. So as you can see this would greatly improve my as well as my future families communication leves by leeps and bound.
i believe in communication as one of the greatest assets in a building, maintaining and resolving relationships. And the basis of relationships are truthfulness, willingness to cooperate and most profoundly UNDERSTANDING. this is clearly the art of saying something and saying it well as well as the immeasurable friendliness one get from the bond of language.
this has ever spurred me on to learn the spanish language. its a beautiful and rich language and overall its one i have a great admiration for. i know one day i’ll get the and that will be very soon. i may not have to environment to do this as my country is within the west african region and the french language is more popular, but that cannot deter me. people have done it and so would I. i know there are many more like me who would love to learn the language and i hope with time i can make things a lot easier for them.
thank you for this special oppurtunity to relate and i hope relations will continue.
Dear Marcus:
I married a woman from Mexico a year ago. She and her 14 year old son live with me in the US. Learning English has been difficult for her, so my ability to translate into correct Spanish helps her a great deal. The more important benefit to my becoming fluent however, is for my 14 year old stepson. His English is coming along fine as he makes new friends at school. But his Spanish is suffering. Since he moved to the US he has been missing out on the Spanish he would have learned in Mexico. I am trying to build a program to help him with Spanish grammar and writing so when he is 18, he will be fluent in both languages.
We have also become involved in Flying Samaritans, which is a group of pilots and doctors that travel to poor areas of Mexico and provide free health care. I am a pilot, and my 14 year stepson would like to become a doctor. Our only barrier is being fluent in both languages. My Spanish is Ok, but since i speak English most of the time to help my wife and stepson, my Spanish growth has plateaued. I need more help.
I love the way you have organized your courses, they are better than the others I have used and reviewed. I am continuing my Spanish education, trying to improve, understand more, and communicate more effectively.
Thanks for creating your course,
Fred
Hola Marcus,
Learning Spanish and speaking it fluently would change my life in several ways. The main reason however, is for my children. I have boy and girl twins who are eight months old and I want them to be bilingual. Their father is from Equador and we have a bet going. He says his children will be teaching me Spanish and I say I will be teaching them Spanish and once I have mastered that it is on to Italian. Their Father is fluent in 4 languages. Please help us out. It would change our lives drastically.Im already very much involved in the Spanish community and go to several diffenrent events where Im the only american girl. I understand pleanty but having coversations that are not Spanglish I find difficult. It would be wonderful if one day I could become a translator and travel to various countires. This would mean the world to me and open up a world of possibilites. Plus my children would be bilingual and may be able to learn other languages as well.
Muchos Gracias- CarLe
Ifi could fluently talk in Spanish it would open up a whole new world to me.I visit spain 4 to 5 times a year.I can speak a little to get by with,but cannot converse with anyone properly.It has been my dream for nearly 20 years to be able to speak Spanish.I am fed up with going to Spain and having to let Spaniards speak to me in English.If they make the effort then so should i.I would love the opportunity you can provide to enable me to achieve my dream
WOW! I hope Im not to late to enter. I work and live 18 miles from the Mexican Border. Where I work many of our visitors speak only Spanish. I also set up scheduling for our craft demonstration program that involves 8 artisens that only speak Spanish. Being able to Interpret the Tumacacori National Historical Park to our spanish speaking visitors would be a huge bonus for me! Not only for me, but for them as well. We only have one brochure written in Spanish for them, and it has very little information, so being able to speak to them would help them understand the history here so much better. It would also help me to develop a living history character for my tours, if I could speak spanish, it would really bring the park to life for the average visitor!
Thank you for this oppertunity!
Gabby
Hello Marcus
I retired a year ago as a specialist support worker at a college in Nottingham. I supported students with all types of learning difficulties to progress in their education and also in their life skills. The joy that I derived from seeing these young people achieve and move on with a better quality of life is hard to put into words. My husband and I hope soon to move to Spain as my daughter has a second home in the Benissa area and we have spent many happy times there. I would very much like to use my skills on a voluntary basis in Spain but need to be able to speak Spanish. I have tried so hard to learn both in classes and with all kinds of resources without success. Somehow I was not able to gain enough confidence to make conversation. Finally I was about to throw in the towel and blame it all on the fact that I was too old when your email arrived like a light at the end of a tunnel . I went into the free lessons and could not believe how much more simple it seemed. I am convinced that I can learn by your methods.
Sandra
Hola Marcus,
I am writing this hoping that I am fortunate, blessed enough to be one of the two who receive this course. I have been trying to learn Spanish for what seems like a long time. I am a Senior Citizen on a limited income and have been using what you have had on line and it is very helpful and seems much easier than anything I’ve tried before. However I have not been able to afford to purchase the lessons. In any event, I wish you much continued success with the Synergy program. You have been blessed to receive the knowledge that you are sharing with all Spanish language learners. I am intending to learn to speak Spanish because of my grandchildren and Spanish speaking friends. I would like to be able to communicate with them in their language as well as persons I come in contact with at the grocery store and other places. I am also hoping to be able to travel to Panama with my grandchildren. Thank you for you.
I would like the free lessons so I can talk to my new granddaughter - Alba - who was born recently. I will also be able to talk to her Spanish family and join two families English and Spanish in a better understanding of the different cultures that we both have.
Hola Marcus
My husband and I have bought some land with the very, very scary intention of retiring to a new villa in the Spanish mountains. We have started evening classes but all we seem to do is learn how to conjugate verbs and each week we then forget what we leaned the previous week. I think my husband is going to give up and he expects me to learn for both of us but I am even older than him so how fair is that? Our land is up in the mountains above Lorca and nobody there speaks any English. We need your help to make our dreams not turn into a nightmare. I realise though that this all sounds very selfish in the light of people who want to help others so good luck to them.
Louise
Dear Marcus,
I am a full time volunteer in Aguascalientes, Mexico working with an orphanage (Dulce Refugio) and have been learning spanish…. slowly! For me it’s kind of a trial by fire method of learning as the kids and other staff help me out. Learning spanish fluently will help me out by letting me work better with the kids and other staff.
One of my biggest desires is to be able to talk with the kids at a good level in order to help them work through some of the problems they face such as feelings of abadonment, abuse and neglect as they adapt to living life at the orphanage instead at home with their families.
Thanks for considering me and for offering a scholorship.
Skip
I have been to Peru twice in the last 2 years. The focus of my trips there is to spend time with the indigenous people learning their ceremonies and energetic healing practices. I know only a tiny bit of Spanish. Knowing more would make my visits there more productive and enjoyable.
I really like the Peruvian’s I have met and want to convey my appreciation to them in a language they can understand.
warmly,
Cielle
First off, I would like to thank you for your generous spirit. That is something that is very rare these days. I have been a fan and customer of your products for years. I have never been disappointed with the surprising effectiveness of your methods.
I am a full time educational volunteer for over 20 years. Each month I voluntarily devote at least 70 hours to helping people who have lost hope find hope. Often times this is with ones who speak Spanish and other beautiful languages. As a result I am constantly studying languages to better help others…however Spanish is by far my favorite. When you can speak someone else’s language you are better able to reach them, because that is the language of the heart.
To make a living I perform comedy shows as a mime artist. Sometimes I work at resort chains in Mexico. Having fluency of the language would be a colossal help.
4 years ago TRAGEDY struck. I was diagnosed with the debilitating disease called Myasthenia Gravis. All my muscles in my body became paralyzed including my vocal muscles. The very things that brought me so much joy (namely teaching, volunteering and performing) were now only a dream. The only thing I was capable of doing was speaking but only with great difficulty. A surgery to help put my disease in remission failed and accidentally cut the nerve to my vocal chord. Now I had no voice (and in my opinion very little use). The only thing that I could do was study and strengthen my mind. I figured if my body was paralyzed and weak my mind didn’t have to be. I used your beginner course to give me back some self-confidence and self-worth. I was determined that one day I was going to beat this monster and get back to helping others. Because I couldn’t work we eventually lost all the money we had.
To make a long story short (hopefully), I am now at a point where my disease is not as debilitating, it is still a daily challenge. I am still recovering from the financial blow delivered by the disease. Sheer determination, exercise and support has helped me to regain a lot of my muscle control. I am back to volunteering, performing and teaching. A wonderful doctor invented a surgery to help me speak again. The same determination I am using to conquer my disease each day I wish to apply to your course. Your course coupled with consistent motivation can make the seemingly impossible become possible. Having your course would give me the ability to give my disease a loud and resounding slap of defeat in it’s face. Thank you for taking the time to read this long email….and you thought mimes didn’t talk. (-;
Etenem, Canada
1) How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life?
from the tender age of 9 i fell in love with the spanish language and the spanish culture. I started doing spanish in the 7th grade up until the second yea of college but i find it extremely difficult to master the spanish language. It is very strange to me because i believe i know a lot of vocabulary but when im suppose to speak to a spanish speaking individual i completely choke as i am not able to communicate properly. I intend to go into the tourism business and that requires me communicating with people of differeing backgrounds especially from spanish speaking countries
Since in Jamaica there has been the large proliferation of spanish hotels which means more spanish tourists.
i really would like to get this free lesson as it totally redefine my life and give me confidence to communicate with spanish natives. i get few opportunities currently to speak with spanish natives so it is very difficult to work on my oral skills. i am ver pasionate about the spanish language annd culture and it would be a life long dream come true if i get the opportunity to become fluent. Please consider my humble request in satisfying this need as it will not only be very beneficial to me but my community as a whole as i would also like to teach the language to children to empower them to live their life for the greater good of mankind
Thank you again for this opportunity and please consider this request. I know it will definately make me master the spanish language
Dear Marcus,
Just wants you to know that I always admire the ways you are doing. Opening the chances for your students. It is a very kind of you. Even if I am not the one who get this
prize, I still want to thank you for a very good opportunity that you has gived all of us.
I believe, whoever get this prize, all of us will be happy with them.
Since I had a chance to know you, I fell like I had met a very very good teacher, very good friend, who always take a good care and helpful. Dear Marcus, your method is perfect and help a lot for the one who wants to learn Spanish.
Nowaday, many Thai students are interesting to learn Spanish, more and more, but for the beginer, it is not easy. So, I would like to give them a chance like I got it from you, and your method. I love the ways you taked care of your students, helping them to understand and able to talk in Spanish. So this is my answer, to help them -the students and people to understand more foreign language, especially, Spanish. I will do my best to help them and give you a chance to proud of me-your student.
Do not worry Marcus, anyone who win your heart are always win my heart too!
Thank again. God Bless You!
Kob Khun Ka!
Dear Marcus
I am almost 60 and I came, from Scotland, with my husband to live in Tenerife 13 months ago. I have spent so much time and money on other courses to try to learn Spanish but until I found your coures I was not learning much.
I would love to speak good Spanish, not “Spanglish”, so I can communicate much more with the local people,be able to intregrate more in my wonderful new community and not have to spend so much money hiring a translator every time I have to deal with officialdom.
If I could speak better Spanish I would love to help Spanish speakers that I know to learn more English. I know that they would like to.
I don’t expect to win this fantastic prize but thought I would use this opportunity to say “thank you” for making me believe in myself and making learning Spanish easier and very enjoyable.
Kindest regards
Audrey
I would love to learn Spanish because it would help me and the people I work with tremendously. I inspect housing complaints, and I have a hard time understanding what the complaints are or explaining what needs to be done in order for them to comply. I do feel that I am too old to learn Spanish.
I need the Scholarship to help me learn Spanish fast which will enable me get a job in Spain.I just moved to Spain with my family and would want work,integrate/communicate well,travel and make friends with other Spanish speaking people of this world.God will make it possible for me to win.Amen.
Dear Marcus,
My wife and I have been travelling throughout central america for about 10 years each winter. My mother in law has been with us on all but one occassion. Our trips have been in Costa Rica, Belize, Nicaragua, Panama and usually have last about 2 weeks. Each year I have tried to learn spanish, but have never been able to actually learn but aa few words & phrases. It would be so wonderful to communicate with everyone in these magnficent places. We plan on going for longer trips after we retire in a year or so, and would actually like to live there. Learning spanish certainly is a must if our goals are to be met. Thanks Carl
Ola Marcus,
I work for the School District in many capacities. I have been asked several times to interpret for Administrators or the Registrar when at school. They know I have been a long time learner (6 years now) of the Spanish language. I love the language and long to be fluent. I do not have an opportunity at this time to practice, however.
I hope to someday be fluent.
Debi (Paloma)
I am ministering to Spanish speaking people in the area. I am able to read Spanish and understand it a little, however, I am not able to speak it or understand the spoken language. Having to go through an interpreter is a great hinderance in my ministry.
Fr. Jim
Marcus:
Well here we go. It’s the final day and like always, I have put this off until the very end. The life of a procrastinator, it’s not glamorous, but it’s something many of us struggle with. Thought, to be painfully honest, procrastination was not the only reason I put this off until the last day. In all reality, I feel unworthy of the scholarship. I have taken the time to read many of the entries and to tell you the truth, many of them are heart touching. There are many people that need this scholarship and I would even to go as far as to say they deserve it more than me. That being said, I still have to put forth an effort and let you judge. So here is my story.
I’ll start by saying, as a teenager I hated the idea of learning Spanish. My dad encouraged me to take it in High School, but being a typical teenager (whom of course “knows” more than his parents) I decided would take German instead. During this time of my life, my church was very involved with a Hispanic church in El Salvador. Many members of my church traveled to El Salvador multiple times a year to help minister to the country’s people. I, of course, had no interest to go despite multiple invitations from my friends and many adult leaders. I just wanted nothing to do with Spanish culture.
I’m not sure why the change of heart came about, but I have a suspicion it was due a close friend I had in college (and perhaps a bit of heart change from the Lord). She was extremely passionate when it came to learning about Hispanic culture. I suppose it rubbed off on me more than I’d like to admit. In December 2006, I decided I would teach myself Spanish. The process was more challenging than I expected. After half a year of trying multiple work books, a computer program, and other various reads, I went on my first church trip to El Salvador.
Let me tell you, it was amazing. I still was not able to communicate very well (without a translator anyway), but it confirmed my desire to learn Spanish. After the trip, with a rekindled passion, I doubled my efforts in self study. I admit that I learned a good number of words and many grammar rules, but something was missing. After all my efforts, my ability was at best, college Spanish 1. And that was only with written Spanish. I could not communicate spoken Spanish well at all and I found that construction of sentences was still a challenge.
I came across your website in the fall of that year, but I just couldn’t justify spending more money on Spanish prgrams, no matter how good they sounded. In March 2008, I put a hiatus on my studies due to multiple frustrations. The funny part is, I needed the language more than ever. Currently, my job is in park law enforcement. Apparently my area has a large Hispanic population. It is very popular for this group to come to the park and play soccer. The problem comes when I need to enforce certain rules and am unable to do so because of language barriers.
This can lead to a cascade of events that are less than beneficial for both sides. The soccer players cannot understand what I am telling them and most certainly cannot understand them. So it is tactically unsafe for me and can become unsafe for them when I misinterpret their actions. It’s a horrible feeling when you have to deal with a people you care about in a stern manner because you cannot understand them. I love law enforcement. I love the Hispanic people as well. There is a dire need for law enforcement personnel in the St. Louis, MO area that can speak Spanish. I plan on meeting both these needs. Being able to speak the language will help me to stay safe in my profession, as well as help the Hispanic people that understand the laws in the area they are living. I hope to achieve fluency as quickly as possible to meet this need. I believe your product can help me do this in a more timely fashion. I thank you for your consideration (as well as putting up with my story).
Respectfully submitted,
Josh
I would like to learn Spanish so that I can speak to Hispanic people fluently. We have so many Spanish-speaking people in our city now. I love the Mexican and Spanish people and I think the language is so beautiful and romantic. I took a short course recently that my company offered to us and realized how much I desire to learn it, even though I have not studied it since high school. My teacher said that she could not believe that I had not studied since high school because I did so well in the class. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Learning Spanish will change my life by opening my mind to new expressions, feelings and experiences.
Marcus, if you can teach me to understand people speaking Spanish, you can teach anyone. I have in the past spent a lot of money buying all the commercially available courses and still I struggle to grasp the fundamentals.
Thanks for making this possible
My dream has to be able to do mission work in South America. I am now retired and have the time to devote but want to be able to communicate with the people I desire to help and teach. I have had the thoughts that it might be difficult learning at a “not so young age” but started with your 4 free Synergy lessons and now know this is deffinitely something I can do! I would love and appreciate the opportunity to complete your whole course!
Thank you!
Karen
Hi! My Name is Ndidi Ananaba and I am originally from Nigeria. I grew up speaking English but not my native language, Ibo. My parents never actually though my siblings and I how to speak Ibo, but they spoke it to us thus, we understood the language but cannot have a full conversation in that language. So, what does that have to do with Spanish? Well, two years ago, I moved to Houston, Texas and here, Spanish seems to be a second language. This piqued my interest in learning a little bit of Spanish. I took some free online lessons and while I learned, I found something very interesting start to happen. Not only did I start speaking a little bit of Spanish, but the Ibo I thought I never knew began to surface. I began to find it easier to speak my native language more fluently than I spoke before. I guess learning a different language, like Spanish, opened the language center in my brain
Not only will learning Spanish help me improve my Ibo skills, it will also help me better communicate with the different everyday Hispanic people in my community. I’m a kind of person that enjoys encouraging others but my limited Spanish ability prevents me from fully encouraging the people I meet. I also have a desire to travel and I believe this will open up lots of new opportunities for that.
Thanks for the opportunity you have given us with this scholarship and your free resources. God bless!!!
As I work with Hispanic people in “English as a second language”, my ability to communicate with them in their language would make the experience more educational for them and more enjoyable for me.
Gracias for your help.
hola Marcus
learning synergy Spanish will not only change my life but also bring a whole new dimension to my 13 week old baby daughters life as she grows.i can teach her to be open minded and embrace another culture by sharing the Spanish im learning and at the same time giving me someone to converse with.thats a win win situation in my book.
Many thanks Marcus for a simply wonderful way to learn a language.
As I work with Hispanic people in “English as a second Language”, being able to communicate with them would make the experience more educational for them and more rewarding for me.
Gracias for su consideracion
Hello I work in a public school that is 80% ESOL I would love to learn spanish to be able to help the children pass the assesment test that are required to move to the next grade. The school system puts lables on these children and classify them below avearge learners, I think differant I belive that if I could speak spanish I could help the kids and their familes.
Karen Sutton
How will your learning Synergy Spanish help others?
As a Past and future PTA (Parent Teacher Association) President at my son’s school, speaking spanish fluenty while networking with Hispanic parents and community leaders, for parent involvement and student success would greatly benefit our school. Parents from other countries (South and Central America & carribean countries) do not completely understand the educational system in the United States. But they are very concerned and know that their childing getting a good education is the key for success. I would love to have workshops for the spanish speaking families to explain key elements of the school process, answers questions and help them realize their dream of having their children succeed in school. This will not only help those parents and students but will also create a positive effect to helping all students, the school district and community. Our school is the 1st newly named Barack Obama elementary School in the county with 49% hispanic children. All of these children (and parents) are so proud and realize now, even more than ever that nothing is impossible, study hard and never, never give up. Thank you for helping me help others.
Marcus,
I desire to learn Spanish to improve the lives of others, but I fully expect that it will make my life much fuller as well. The community of faith where I call home, Raleigh Mennonite Church, has been looking for a way to be real neighbors to the immigrant population in our area. We have decided to do this by way of an ESL (English as a Second Language) program that we refer to as EWoB (English Without Borders). The program is somewhat broader than some other ESL efforts in the area in that we also try to expose the students to other practical life-skills they may need to survive here in the U.S. while teaching them some English.
Now, while I am able to communicate with many of the students on different levels, it would be much more effective in building relationships to be able to communicate in their native tongue. This would allow for more productive interaction to the benefit of the learners. My better understanding of Spanish would also allow for deeper, more trusting relationships and that is what I mean by suggesting it is both to the benefit of others and my own benefit that I desire to learn Spanish.
Regards,
… Jeff
My son lives in Mallorca.He is to marry a lovely Spanish girl so I would like to talk with her & also her family & lots of friends I have met on my many visits. My son speaks fluent Spanish so would be good to talk to him in Spanish also. I have really appreciated all your downloads. I am just learning about that. Gracious.
I live in Houston and most contractor jobs on my house are done by Spanish speaking people. It is such a barrier not to be able to communicate smoothly with them for language issues. I remember one day in downtown Houston an older lady kept asking me for directions in espaniol and I could not understand or speak so I could not help.
If I knew spanish it would open the doors to much of the world and the people across the globe given that half the world is Spanish speaking. Be it for travel, business or simply communicating with a fellow human being. I always thought how awesome it would be to be able to speak the local language fluently when visiting a foreign land. When I visit Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Lake Titicaca and so many other amazingly beautiful places in south America or Alhambra or Madrid or the Pyrenees in Spain, it would be such a thrill to chat with the locals in Spanish, learn about the country, the people, and their lives directly from them, not from travel books. There are few ways to bond with people more than to be able to speak in their own language. I come all the way from India and yet when I go to Mexico I speak to the people in effortless Spanish! If I could do that, it would be sheer magic!!
Marcus ,I live in New Orleans. There is a fast growing Hispanic community here and I hear stories everyday about how they are being exploited in the workplace. I would love to serve as an advocate for them. However, my very limited knowlege of Spanish is not sufficient. Thanks for providing your services to all of us.
In New Zealand there are an increasing number of Spanish speaking people, but almost no professionals who understand.
as a doctor I will be able more comfortably to understand the symptoms and history of these people as patients
Dear Marcus,
I have been so blessed by the Spanish programs that I have been able to purchase. You are a wonderful instructor.
I have three reasons that I desire to learn Spanish.
#1 We have a new family in our church and the wife only speaks Spanish. I would like very much to become her friend.
#2 I have always wanted to go on a missionsry trip. But when I finally get to go, I really want to talk directly with the people.
#3 I teach Jewelry and Metalsmithing classes at our local Community College and I would love to be able to offer it to Spanish speaking people.
Thank you for all that you do to prepare us to be better friends.
Bobbie
How will learning Synergy Spanish change my life…
Hola!
I have tried to learn Spanish now for 4 years, since I met my partner who is Colombian, but I regret to say that I have not had much success. My partner is part of a large family who are from Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru, but currently most reside in Britain. As they are very close, we meet very often. However, unfortunately, since I speak little Spanish and some of his family speak little English we cannot communicate very well. I do feel sad about this since they are such a lovely family and a few of them I feel that I don’t know well at all, even though I have known them for 4 years. I have tried to encourage my partner to teach me Spanish but he has been studying for his PhD and does not have any time at all to teach me. It would really mean so much to me to be able to speak Spanish. I have tried very hard to learn, but I just don’t think I have found the right method for me. I hope that Synergy Spanish will be able to change my life!
I have been out to Colombia once to visit other members of my partner’s family. We are planning to visit again at Christmas, I just hope that by then I will be able to communicate with them on a much deeper level.
Many thanks,
Saludos!
Deb
Hello Marcus,
I have been following a few Spanish programs, using CDs, online classes, spanish tv, schools etc so I have some knowledge of Spanish. My main problem is speaking the language. I learned that my grandfather was from Panama and spoke Spanish but he died before I got the chance to meet him. Ever since hearing that story, I decided that I wanted to learn the language inside and out as well as to have my children learn it. It has been my dream to be bilingual and live in a house where only Spanish is spoken but in the outside world we can also communicate via English. Recently I have been teaching one and two words to my partner Spanish so we can communicate a little and he is elated. I wish I could teach him more so we would both be fluent and he also wants our kids to grow up learning the language. We plan on hiring a helper from a hispanic background who will only speak Spanish in the house and to the kids. My partner and i also plan on taking a lot more vacations this year and next year and it would be a pleasure to be able to feel and comfortable and be able to communicate with a lot of individuals in their native language. I remember once I went into a few stores to make funeral arrangements for my cousin and the owners only spoke Spanish and we had a hard time communicating through my one word or gramatically incorrect Spanish. That was a bit embarrassing after a few years of study. I would love to also be more marketable and confident in my abilities of the language and being bilingual. I would also share my acquired knowledge with the world as I know I can make a difference in lives. Thanks for the opportunity and good luck to all those entering. One Love.
I am a retired nurse, I would love for my Spanish heart to be able to reach Spanish minds so I could serve and broaden the horizions of all whom I am able to communicate with, also to have mine broaden by them hoping for an inter change of love and encouragement, I,ve heard that a smile is the universal language, but I feel Spanish with a smile may complete the conversation, Even if I don’t win , This is a great thing you are doing , Soo Looking forward to the day when we wil all be united in a universal language, I would like to say Gracias”. I hope I said Thanks’
Hi Marcus
I am 50 yrs old and have been trying to learn spanish from school days.
My 14yr old daughter feels I’ll never learn.
If I get this scholarship I will be the best testimony for your work. I will also be able to encourage all her school friends to get your programme. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY HEAR ME SPEAK……..COMING FROM ZERO to Fluent.
I am English and have lived in Spain 6 years, trying to learn Spanish! The most difficult part is understanding when they speak to you.
If I could understand, I would dearly enjoy helping the English community where I live.
Most of us need an interpreter when attending the hospital or any utility office etc. The interpreters charge by the hour and to the pensioners it is money they need for themselves, especially now.
Anthony is the Name
God’s work is the Game
To learn to speak spanish will help me synergize God’s work as it allows a few more people that I can relate to.
Dear Marcus,
I graduate this spring with my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Masters. My ultimate goal in life is to return to Peru and work with sick children at a home in Chaclacayo, Peru. I currently know basic Spanish. I will practice in Florida or Texas for several years to pay off my loans from school. Both of these states have a great need for healthcare workers who are fluent in Spanish. I also spend some of my vacation time going on medical missions to Latin and South America. I would love to serve this population without the need of a translator.
It has been the desire of my heart to learn Spanish fluently so I can serve the Spanish speaking population here in the states and abroad.
So learning Spanish would help me to serve this population and this population would be helped by the fact that I can speak fluently with them.
Thank you so much for your consideration.
God bless,
Karen Robinson, RN
Marcus
today may be the deadline but don’t let my line be buried…..please choose me for the scholarship……thanks and God bless you
Hi Marcus,
I have a great love for the Spanish language and have been taking Spanish lessons for over 5 years. However, I cannot master making sentences fluently and remembering vocabulary. I feel so inadequate because I’m over 50 years old and feel my memory is not what it use to be. A younger gentleman in my class befriended a couple of Latinos and now he speaks it very well. When we’re in class together, he makes me feel even more inadequate and discouraged. I don’t have any Latinos to befriend. I signed up for your online course–The Spanish Ear Training which has helped me a lot. However, due to financial reasons, I cannot afford to continue the course. I very much desire to become fluent in Spanish and would love to win the Synergy Scholarship 2009. Thanks for all your help.
I live and work in Tenerife and need to speak spanish fluently I need the scholarship to fulfill my dreams
I am a doorman from Colchester,Essex County,England.I started learning bits and pieces of Spanish when I did a club in Santa Cruz,Tenerife,Canary Islands in 1991…I had a bad experience there and got injured.Upon my return to England I had another bad experience in a relationship split.The two combined laid me very low spiritually for quite a while…but I was brought up to dust myself down and get up and have another go.I look for the good in everything and the most positive thing that came out of that disastrously memorable trip was the early stages of learning what I think is a beautiful sounding language.Even now when I put it to the test people are impressed and I think people find that admirable especially when it comes out of the mouth of a lowly doorman.I would like to sharpen up what I have learned already and expand upon it and eventually master it so I can impress people with my ability to communicate in any Spanish speaking circle of people or their native country.
I have used it many times to my advantage in nightclubs to keep the peace.
I now own my own Security Company and want to finally lay my ghost to rest and finally turn what was a travesty for me into a triumph before the desire in me subsides and my Tenerife experience haunts me for ever.
Help me achieve my 18 year obssesive objective please.
Gracias Amigo
Michael Herlihy
I never thought I could learn another language especially spanish. It seems so hard to master , so it’s my challenge to get past and learn the language I always wanted to learn, no matter how difficult it is. I also want to teach my grandchildren so they can see from me how easy could be.
Hi Marcus,
over 40 years ago I was “forced” to learn Spanish at school despite the fact that French seemed to be the language to learn at that time. How naive we are. Once I got to the age where reality strikes I considered it too late to learn and besides “doesn’t everyone speak English?”. What a sad testament to our(my) mentality. I have since struggled on many occasions to learn Spanish (and failed), for all the reasons you outline. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could truly change all that? I sincerely hope you can, I have my doubts but I’m willing to be convinced.
Thanks,
Steve
I see that learning spanish is not only a desire, but also a necessity; I live in Detroit,Mi., I frequently visit California, mainly the Los Angeles area communities and churches sharing the Gospel of Christ and encouraging people I meet on the various transportation systems whit words of hope and listening to them. La has an ever growing Spanish speaking sitiation and transformation going on, even to read the signs require Spanish knowledge and understanding and I,m looking to help with some of the Latino churches in the Southcentral area.
Dear Marcus,
I have lived in Costa Rica since the year 2000. I need to speak Spanish in my everyday life.
Everytime I go to a grocery store or a hardware store, I am anxious that they will ask me something that I don’t understand. I believe that if I were to live with a Spanish only speaking person that it would not take long for me to become far more fluent. The reality is that my friends are all English speaking people. Therefore, I don’t practice it as much as I need to on a daily basis. I am actually embarrassed that given the amount of time that I have lived here, that I am still speaking beginning Spanish.
The reason I am living in Costa Rica is so that I can live on what I receive from Social Security.
I am not in a position to spend a lot of money taking classes. Unfortunately, classes are not cheap here. I have taken some beginning courses. However, they have not provided me with the success that I desire.
I did not learn of your classes until today (January 26th, 2009). Should I be chosen to receive your coaching and instruction, you can be assured it will be put to good use.
Thank you very much.
Sharon
I just love the language, have been night school for the last 3 yrs learning I visit spain often and just know that there is a reason for me to learn this, its my life path.
Twice a year I go to Mexico to work with the poorest people there, and have just returned from my 17th trip. This fall I also traveled for a month with a non-profit organization to the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. My job was mostly to report what the medical personnel were achieving. While back home in the States, I work with the Hispanic population and tutor weekly in an ESL class. In the past, I have written grants, and also been in emergency rooms and lawyers’ offices trying to help my amigos. Having a better command of Spanish would help me with my communications with them, which in turn, would help me express their needs to the English speakers I come in contact with, both orally and in print.
I am a Deacon and I work with the poor. Mainly people of all ages that are incarcirated and very often undocumented. I am having a real hard time with the Spanish population and I’m really never sure if I communicate properly. I am commited to this work that is so very necessary.
Thanks for your consideration,
Dan
I live in Canada & am English speaking Canadian. I like to travel & have done a little bit of travelling to Latin American Countries. I would like to get involved in the rich social & cultural areas of South American people. There are lot of Spanish speaking people who would be migrating to Canada soon. I would like to be part of the Welcome wagon party & assist New Canadians in their native tongues.
Hi My name is Kesha M. and I am in the business of helping people out of this financial crisis we are experiencing and there are a lot of people that I come across that could greatly bendfit from my services if only we could understand each other I work with people all over the united states but the majority of my work is done in AZ and FL which are both spanish speaking states so not only would this allow me to help other people more effectively but also help my self, and my family I have a niece and a nephew that just started taking spanish at school and I would love to be able to help them and learn with them as well. Thanks for your consideration and this oppertunity.
Marcus,
I am a law enforcement officer in the state of Indiana. I work in an area where the Spanish language is dominant and in most cases is the victim’s or suspect’s only language. I am a little over forty years old and I’ve been attempting to learn Spanish since leaving New Mexico. I was born in Socorro, New Mexico where I was raised most of my life. Naturally, Spanish culture is in my blood and I’m sure its no surprise to hear that most of my family is fluent in the language.
While on duty, I meet with Spanish speaking civilians on numerous occasions. Not only my life, but the life of those I’m trying to save depend on me knowing the little Spanish I can speak. On nearly every occasion I must try to contact a translator to have them relay to me the situation at hand. Unfortunately in my line of work every moment counts. For every second that I am trying to contact a translator, is another moment a suspect has to get away, only endangering my fellow officers and other civilians.
I always try to be courteous and respectful with every one I work with. I feel that when I have to call a translator, I lose connection with the civilian I am helping. If I am working with a suspect, speaking to him or her is much more professional and beneficial than talking to him through a translator.
Your program is just what I need to not only help my career but make my visits back to New Mexico much more rewarding. I can’t wait for the moment when I can meet my family and not have to process every word they say before responding. I want to be able to walk through the streets at work and at family reunions not having to worry about the next time some one only knows Spanish!
Thank you,
Jerry
I am a Physician in Phoenix, Az, after just moving from the East. Many of the patients I see only speak Spanish. I am having a very hard time communicating with them and I need to learn the language. the hospital has no Spanish class and i will need to learn on my own.
Any help i can get will help both the deserving patients and myself.
Dear Marcus,
My wife,Barbara (age 68) and I (age 82) are world travelers. From 200 thru 2007, we made 20 trips to China. We often took groups with us (usually 10 to 16 people, who paid for the trip, and one group of family members. Guess who paid for that group!). We knew a little bit of the language and we made many Chinese friends. Our credo is that when we travel to a foreign country we are visiting someone else’s home and we act accordingly. For the last two years, we have stopped visiting China mainly because traffic has become so bad.
We have, instead, visited Europe. Most of our trips included Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Almeria, Seville, Toledo, Malaga, Valencia and many small towns). Learning Synergy Spanish will be of tremendous help because we truly travel to meet people and learn from them. How wonderful it will be to let our new friends know that we respect their culture and that we wish to be true friends, not just ships passing in the night.
I work for a ferry company which has sailings between England and Spain so am constantly in contact with Spanish people. They often converse with me in their native tongue and although I can just about understand what they are saying, I am in no way competent to answer them in their own language. So I would very much like to be fluent in Spanish in order to help both them and myself.
To be able to communicate effectively with others is a basic human necessity. Without the ability to express yourself fluidly in a different language, the result is both isolating and frustrating. You are immediately disadvantaged and separate. I have experienced this by changing my location and starting a new life in Spain. I have always worked with underpriviledged children, and am an Early Years Specialist. Jaded with the educational system in England, I decided to end my career and have been fortunate to be able to change more things in my life by meeting a wonderful man, with whom I now live in Spain. Limited funds, mean that I’ve been unable to continue to afford lessons and have discovered your system via the internet. I realise, having stepped away from my previous career, that I still want to work with young children and their families and have years of experience and expertise which I would like to share with others. The only problem at the moment is my Spanish is very basic, and I need to be much more proficient to enable me to work effectively with others.
I would like to share with you that I admire your generosity in offering opportunities to others, to not only improve their lives, but the lives of others. Whether or not I am selected, this excercise has motivated me more towards my goal of speaking another language as fluently as my mother tongue, and am optimistic that sooner or later i’ll achieve this via your system!!
I assist hispanic clients and their families and the vast majority speak only Spanish. I have worked in this environment for the last ten years and have picked up a lot of Spanish. I am not fluent and would like to be so as to help communicate better for them. I will continue learning as I go with or without help but it would be great to have some guidance in my lifetime quest. Although my father spoke Spanish he was not able to pass this talent onto his children. There is no one that would benifit more than hispanic people in the WIchita area if you give me this chance to succeed. Thank you, Vincent Garcia
Thank you for offering me a chance to be the one to obtain the Spanish coaching package which will set me on my way to making my dream a reality. It has been my dream from I was first introduced to the language to make Spanish another language for me. I am interested in learning Snergy Spanish because it will change my life by allowing me easy accessibility to spanish speaking countrys and getting the position that require fluent spanish translation. It will allow me to communicate with friends visiting from Spanish speaking countrys. It will allow me to be better able to assist my daughter in completing her assignments more fluently and accurately. It will help me to build spanish conversation with her so as to enhance her ability to speak spanish fluently and increase her ability as she grows older.
I have many reasons and ways I would use Spanish to help others:
* I volunteer to help refugees and immigrants to New Zealand with settling in to life here. We have had many Colombian refugee women and children arrive lately, and it would help us all very much if I could communicate better with them in Spanish, while helping them learn English.
* Through my work, I communicate with people in part of our company Chile who do their best with English, but it would be helpful to be able to converse in Spanish with them. The nature of our work involves keeping their workers safe and well, so there are benefits to many others in improving our communication.
* I have a dream to go to Central America and do voluntary work helping the animals there, particularly monkeys, so to speak Spanish is important when working in remote areas that know no English, while working together to care for their animals and environment.
Please choose me for a scholarship. Thank you!
Hello Mr. Santamaria, I live in Southern California and I would like to learn Spanish in order to do everything I can to work against the racism and prejudice that I see around me. It would mean a lot to be able to reach out and help build bridges between the cultures that are melding together here. Thank you, Shannon
I travel to Colombia about 6 times per year. Learning more spanish would be very beneficial to communicate with more Colombians. I know some people in Colombia also speak English ,but the majority do not. I love latin culture and way of life and I can understand more if I am fluent in their language.
I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. We do a worldwide community service in conducting free home bible studies. This is being done in over 246 countries around the world. In our particular community there are several Spanish familes who migrated from Mexico. When we come across these families to offer them a free home bible study, I am stumped due to the lack of knowing Spanish. I would love to communicate and offer a free bible study if only I knew Spanish. We do have Spanish speaking missionaries but none are close by where I can enlist their help. My only alternative is to offer Spanish bible literature, but my real desire is to share the knowledge of the Bible with them if only I could speak Spanish. Thank you for offering us a chance to win this scholarship!
I have been trying to master Spanish now for over 6 years and have not come across a better system than yours Marcus. I have just become a father again and must admit I have not had much time to follow my usual routine.
I have a target to meet which will fall just about the time you are foreseeing will reach the stage to be speaking Spanish confidently and fluently.
I have been trying to get employment at the British Embassy in Santiago, Chile. My dream and aspiration is to move to Chile with my Wife and Children, Jenny my wife actually comes from Maipu, nr Santiago and this would be our hope that I will be able to master the language to give me the chance to get a job with the embassy. I have tried in the past but my Spanish is not good enough.
I believe you are my only chance of mastering the skills I need.
Thanks for all you help in the past and I look forward to the chance to get to the level needed.
I must admit I love the Spanish language which should be the main reason to persevere.
Have a very happy and safe future Marcus, and all the very best to your family too.
Ronald.
Marcus, I have taken your Synergy course and been helped so much.
I am a missionary with Tapestries of Life visit our site. www.
I am in my 60’s , have raised my family and plan to spend the rest of my life being Abuelita Abby as the precious children refer to me in the desert south of Juarez
I attended Language school for 6 months in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and it was grammar, homework, and very intense, I have learned much more from you.
I need to be able to pray with, tie little shoes , brush hair, sing and play with the orphans as I
will be living on site in their orphanage upon completion.
Please consider my need to speak to the children. Even Rosetta Stone didn’t give me all of what I need to serve in the nation. I am of Cherokee heritage and currently reside in Texas at the Outpost where I cook and clean for the mission teams who come to build.
God Bless. I have been doing this type of missions work for 30 years, with many church references if you need them to consider my petition for your generous scholarship.
Dios te Bendiga.
Thank you for giving some one this opportunity to win what i can only imagin to be a fantastic package.
I would love to be able to speak fluent spanish, and with your course i am getting there, i’m learn the language because for one its somthing i have always wanted to do, but secondly my boyfriend is latin american and his family and friends can not speak any english and i have struggled to communicate with them, also i would love my children to be brought up with both spanish and english so they wont have to struggle like i have.
thanks for your fantastic course its the only way to learn spanish.
Hay Mark, I started this because of my work. I’m A firefighter and have a lot of contact with hispanics. It’s only right to be abel to talk with them. If they are hurting, it’s easier for them to speak their lang.and more comfortable for them to speak their lang. instead of trying to speak english and maby not know what to say. And so far what you have sent me is working. So that’s why I’m doing this. To better help another sector of the population I serve.
Hola Marcus! I actually minored in Spanish…was hoping to learn it well enough to teach it, since I absolutely love the language and was studying to teach French too. I grew up in France and have a passion for helping kids get beyond their country and culture and experience more of the world. I believe the best way to do that is to give them the gift of a second (or third) language so that they can connect with others in that culture. I also thought that learning Spanish would be a good challenge for myself. You see I learned French as a five year old girl suddenly immersed in the culture. But as an adult…could I rise to the challenge of TRULY learning another language? It is the same challenge you posed yourself. Unfortunately, although I learned to write and read fairly well in College, I could not master conversational, daily, basic communication. I have used other tape series, watched hours of Spanish television, listened to the radio and continued to read…nothing has helped me master the language to the point where I would feel confident enough to approach another Spanish speaker in the store. Since I recently graduated (a month ago) I am woefully in debt to my education, and as much as I would like to I can no longer invest financially in my education until I pay back some of what Uncle Sam lent me. However I am not giving up on my ultimate goal, which is to be fluent in Spanish, and not only to speak it myself, but to teach it…But I must master it first. If your method truly works, it would be a wonderful gift first for myself, and then for all the children it would impact. If I can learn a foreign language from scratch in my…um, 30’s…then I know that they can learn it also and I will know better how to help them get there, whether it be in French or in Spanish. Although I’m sure you would prefer to promote the Spanish…(have you thought about using the same method for other languages?
Thank you for considering a last-minute, language loving teacher.
Sincerely,
Kelly J.
I believe my calling in life is to help others. I was drawn to Latin America many years ago and have become completely enthralled with the lifestyle and culture.
When I entered college I had no idea what i wanted to do with my life but have since then felt called to the nursing field. My dream is to use those skills in the latin countries I have come to love.
I have been studying spanish for many years and am in a relationship with someone whose first language is spanish, I have just had no luck picking it up well enough to be confident.
Native Spanish speakers, alot of the time have a hard time explaining why things are the way they are. I believe native English speakers who now speak Spanish explain their learning methods better and can communicate what it really takes to learn it as second language.
One day my dream is to use my nursing skills to help Spanish speakers in Latin America. And also I want to be able to help others who are struggling to learn Spanish with my knowledge through this program.
Being a college student makes money a little hard to come by, so this scholarship would not only help save money on your program but also the cost it would take to continue taking classes. I think this scholarship would completely change my life, in that it would be a major stepping stone into achieveing my life goals. Does it really get much better than that?
Thank you for the consideration!
Hi Marcus, end of november I cancelled my apartment in El Burrero, Gran Canaria und lived in december in Playa del Ingles, south of Gran Canaria, while my friends found a new apartment for me, back again to north. The point of return is the wish to live only with spanish people and not in a tourist centre. I always improve my spanish learning and I will speed up after having done all the work to be done in my new apartment. Now, beeing back I am very happy to be able to continue speaking and learning spanish with your god given method.
For this year I wish all the best for you and your family !
Werner
to recieve a chance to win this couse woul be a blessing because I have an outreach program at the church that I attend and the majority of the kids that I work with are hispanic and the course would help me learn to communicate with them as well as their parents. also it would be a plus at my job because all but 3 of my co-worker speak spanish.
I feel this would help me to reach out to more at risk kids and abused women.
I know I am not stupid - I recently graduated from Fresno State University with a nursing degree, after starting college at the age of 47. But, I feel stupid after years of trying to speak Spanish with no success. My boyfriend is Spanish Basque, and in 2007 we traveled to his family house near Pamplona. I spent 2 weeks without being able to communicate with anyone but my friend. How much I missed by not being able to understand family stories and tales of the Basque country! Learning Spanish would permit me to converse with patients at the Veteran’s Hospital where I work. Older people often revert to their native tongue when they are anxious or confused, and I would love to speak to them without having to use a translator. I have hope that your courses could give me the confidence to speak with patients, Spanish friends, and the large local community of immigrants here in the Fresno area, and in turn, teach my 3 grown children who are eager to learn a new language.
Hola Marcus,
I have a wonderful retirement life in Mexico, and speaking Spanish would make my life even better. More importantly the lives of my Mexicano friends and neighbors would be improved, through cultural synergy.
Before I left Toronto, Canada, I enrolled at the Spanish Center in a Course for Absolute Beginners. I attended every class, did my homework and failed. I repeated the course and failed again. Undaunted I traveled to Baja California Sur, Mexico. I took more Spanish courses in Cabo San Lucas and a very expensive interactive course over the Internet. Living here for eight years I was still struggling with Spanish and getting by with Spanglish.
I know the culture of Mexico is embedded in the Spanish language. I wanted to live it. I took your sample course of Synergy Spanish. It was a revelation. Mis amigos mexicanos are amazed at my progress. Naturally I’ve signed up for your complete Synergy Spanish.
Mucho gracias,
John
Hi, Marcus,
I am not very good at “sucking up,” but I really would like to win the courses.
I will be 75 years old in a few days and am in the process of learning Spanish because my wife and I moved to Panama about four months ago. I have already reached a point where I can manage a lot of basics, but I feel overwhelmed when someone responds to a question as though I was born here! So far, I can understand very little of Spanish language television because of the rapid speech and my limited vocabulary. I need a much better understanding of verb tenses and a much larger vocabulary. Your courses sound great for someone who has a lot of catching up to do.
I don’t aspire to write the great Spanish novel, but both my wife and I need to become capable of really good communication with our local friends and neighbors. We have elected not to live in a “gringo” community but have only non-english speaking Panamanian neighbors.,
We do have some American and Canadian friends, but integrating into the local culture is our goal. Becoming much better speakers of Spanish is key to that.
Thanks,
Bob the gringo geezer.
Learning Spanish will allow my wife Joy and I to move to our muched loved Estepona in southern Spain. Speaking the language will allow us to integrate into the community which we have grown to love and admire over the years of vacationing in Andalusia. Good Spainish WILL change our lives, by giving us more confidence and happiness.
Marcus - help us fulfil the dream by giving us Spanish in a year. All we need is the right push - in the right direction - by the right person.
Here is hoping - Peter & Joy
Dear Marcus,
Hi! I’ve spent my life helping others but, unfortunately, now it is me who needs the help. A few years ago I became disabled and unable to work, landing on Social Security Disability. Since that time, I have been trying to learn something that would allow me to work at home, on my own time as I am able, but it has been extremely difficult. One of the factors that makes it so hard is the fact that I have been totally unable to find affordable housing at my new income level. Because of this, I have had to take up alternative solutions such as house sitting and, when not available, living in my van. This instability in my lifestyle, on top of my illness, has made it very difficult to get things done, to say the least. I’ve researched other countries, looking for a place with lower costs of living and good exchange rates and have located a few places that might allow me to live on my small pension. But the idea of going into a foreign country alone, as a disabled woman, when I don’t even speak the language has held me back from making a move that could potentially be the start of a whole new life for me.
Since the countries I have identified are all Spanish-speaking, I took your level one course and thought it was GREAT. By the time I was done, I was able to easily express some of the thoughts and sentences I wanted to say. The problem, however, is that I still have virtually no listening skills and the vocabulary wasn’t quite big enough to give me confidence to make a move on my own. If I could speak Spanish more fluently, it would give me the confidence to navigate the many challenges of moving to a foreign country, finding an affordable place to live, and getting the help I so desperately need. And, who knows, maybe I could even find a way to put my language skills to work for some extra cash!
I applaud all the people here in this forum doing great things to help others. I wish I didn’t have to compete against them as they are all so deserving. But I am fighting for my survival. Speaking Spanish could remove a major barrier from my life, helping me move forward again with hope for a better tomorrow. Winning this course would be like having a life-saver thrown to me on a storm-tossed sea. I’d be forever grateful if you’d help me stay afloat.
Dear marcus,
I have been so into learning Spanish ever since my Father passed away, he was born in Honduras,my mother was british,she never did learn how to speak spanish,all of us sibblings, never did, looking back I wished and regret that I had learnt Spanish for my fathers sake, ever since I subscribed to your free lessons, it has been such an inspiration to me..I understand so much now..but regret not being able to afford to pay for the courses, Thank you so much for all the free lessons i have received from you so far.I wish my father was alive to hear how much I have accomplished in the last few years, he would have been so proud of me,I use to listen to a lot of Spanish songs, but never really understood the meaning..now I recognise so many words, and it has such meaning to me..My favourite is Jose Feliaciano,”porque te tengo que olvida”,it touches me in such a way its hard to explain.All I know now if my father was listening and watching me sing some of the spanish songs, he would be so happy and proud.Thank you so much.I would love to keep learning and exploring the spanish language, and someday be able to give back what I have learned.Thank you for everything.
Dear Marcus. We are expats living in Panama. We have been studying with your method for a year now and have learned much but, as usual, learn some and there’s much more to learn. As we attempt to teach our acquaintances some English words it makes our lack of Spanish much more noticeable. My wife studies the beginning part of the synergy Spanish almost on a daily basis and needs the audio portion in order to learn the pronunciation. We love it here in Panama, have adopted some extremely poor people to support and feel we aren’t even making a dent in the needs they have. Our current and only true desire, is to be able to converse and work with the local population in an understandable manner. We have deeply appreciated your program and, like many others, wish we could afford all of it.
We simply want to say “thank you” for the free programs you have offered and the ones we could afford. They have been life-savers and although we would love to be the ones you choose for the full program, that doesn’t diminish our gratitude for what we currently have of your program.
Best of wishes to you, your company and workers.
Leland (78) McKinzie and Janece (72)McKinzie
P.S. We have found that with your program, no one is too old to learn.
Thanks for your help Marcus.
I moved to Cancun, Mexico 11-13-07 to live in another country was part of my bucket list….so now I can check it off my list. I work here and in Febuary I will have my 7th grandson so its never too late to do what you really want to do!!! Thanks for all your help…I barely knew what hola meant when I moved here, thanks to your e-mails I have done better. Please give the scholarship to a more worthy person, at least I can still work thanks to God.
Blessings to all that are trying to improve their life and others.
I work in a whearhouse with 95% spanish speaking co workers.
Im the shipping clerk.
My job is based on communicating with the other workers to see how far down the line we are to completing an order.
Some of these guys laugh.
I really dont care but the only way I will get the respect i deserve is to speak spanish.
Thanks.
How can this help me ,let me count the ways !!!!!!
Like many others I too am going on my second mission trip to PERU. I must tell you that it is very scary when you only know how to say Hi. Last year i got seperated from my team and I was terrified.
I also work as an office manager for a landscaping company and it is really hard to hire people and get their correct info so they can get paid when I cannot even ask their address. The Landscaping industry is full of Amigos in the South
I could go on with many reasons, but the bottom line is I would be greatfull if I was chosen, I cannot afford to take lessons and I will probablly never learn without them , but God called me to Peru and I will obey !!
Tahnks
Amy Branch
Hey Marcus, If I could be fluent in spanish, I could probably meet the love of my life. It would probably be my last chance to live and love again. I could improve the life of a woman by bringing her here to the states. I try to learn every day but to be fluent seem to be most dificult. I would live in a spanish speaking country if I could for a year of two and then I think I would be fluent. Unfortunatly I do not posess the means to live in latin America for two years, and jobs don’t seem to be easily obtained. So I just keep on trying to learn as best as I can. Tino…
Thanks Marcus,
Learning spanish would be a great blessing in my life. My wife and I are currently assigned as service missionaries in a spanish congregation in our church. We’ve been in this assignment for one year with a little over a year to go. My wife speaks fluent spanish because she lived in Spain for two years. I on the other hand have really struggled learning the language. Our congregation is made up of people from Chile, Honduras, Argentina, Spain, and Mexico. I love serving these humble people and would be able to better help them if I were fluent in the spanish language.
Thanks again,
Kerry Clark
I am now in my second year of teaching at an elementary Spanish Immersion public magnet school. There is a mixed population of both native Spanish and English speaking students in the school. The students receive half of their daily instruction in Spanish and half in English, resulting in a bi-lingual community, no matter what their native tongue. The students also interact with and learn from each other, creating bridges of understanding over what may have been considered a cultural barrier under less ideal circumstances.
I am very inspired by the global emphasis of this learning community, and would like to do more to enrich my classroom, as well as my life outside the classroom, with an infusion of culture. As a music teacher in this Spanish Immersion school, it is not a job requirement that I learn to speak Spanish, but I have both a personal and professional interest in doing so. Personally, I have an interest in traveling internationally, and learning at least one other language will be very helpful in that endeavor. Professionally, I want my students to experience the magic and joy of the universal language of music, and I want to support the dual language focus of the school.
Latin America and Spain both have a musical heritage that is rich with tradition, infused with rhythms, instruments and sounds that can’t help but inspire one to get up and move! I have incorporated some Spanish music into my curriculum, but I feel very limited and frustrated by my lack of proficiency in the Spanish language. While my middle school and high school Spanish classes at least gave me a foundation for pronunciation, it did little to develop my conversational skills - or to put it more bluntly, I can read it or sing it, but I don’t understand it! I often find myself going to the Spanish teachers in my school to ask them to translate music texts for me. I would like to be much more independent in my Spanish fluency, so that I can be unencumbered in incorporating Spanish cultural enrichment into my music curriculum. Also, while most students at my school have at least some English skills, there is an occassional student who starts the school year knowing only Spanish. This obviously creates communication challenges for both the student and I, and I would like to be able to support every child I teach to be successful in their efforts to learn. In a bi-lingual school, language should not be a barrier. If my students can be bi-lingual, so can I!
In an effort to combine both my professional and personal goals, I have written a grant proposing to travel to Spain for one semester, starting in January of 2010. After six months of immersion in the Spanish culture that will include staying with Spanish host families in various localities throughout the country, language lessons, training in traditional Spanish dances, plus sight seeing and ravel, I hope to then return to the United States with a strong command of the Spanish language, a wealth of authentic musical experiences to share with my students, and memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. It is my goal to have a very solid foundation in my conversational Spanish by the end of 2009, in preparation for this trip. I very much appreciate your assistance in making this goal a reality. Thanks for creating an effective, cost efficient way to make this possible! I look forward to hearing from you.
Hello Marcus,
We have enjoyed the 138 Word Course. My wife Charlotte and I need to learn Spanish to be able to minister to Spanish speaking poeple here in the United States. Our goal is to start as many Churches for U.S. Hispanics as God will allow. We are in our 50s.
Thank you for the opportunity,
Ivan Taylor
Missionary to U.S.Hispanics
Edinburg TX
Learning Synergy Spanish has and would change my life. Iam a senior citizen living on the Baja
with my daughter,her husband, and three grandchildren, granddaughters 21 and 17, grandson
11 all who speak Spanish very well. This would help me to understand and speak Spanish with them. Also shopping, church, social events and learning about the culture. This is my home.
Learning Synergy Spanish would help in teaching English to Spanish speaking people, especially the younger highschool and university students. I have an Associate of Arts and a Master of Science. Worked with English as a second language with Spanish Speaking people in the United States. This would be wonderful for me. Gracias, Mary Marchetti
Marcus,
I received your e-mail this morning. What a great opportunity! As I’m sure as I’am writing this it must be for a reason.
Please let me explain. I was learning to speak Spanish with my wife, fifteen years next August, as we had planned to go to Mexico this next year and seek out her decendants. She was Native American born and has family ties to somewhere down south. Several months ago she became ill and because of her diabeties complacations, well she will not be able to make the trip.
I had promised her, before she passed, that I would do the best I could to gather as much information on her decendants as possible. Somewhere her sprit dwells and lives on with others.
Thank you,
for this is a great opportunity
R. Green
1. I am unemployed for over year because most of the jobs require bilingual. I am english speaking and a senior in a tri-linquial environment. I have attempted to learn spanish at night school, and through tapes at the library. To date, I can read several words but can’t speak or understand spanish like I should in order toget a job. My unemployment will end in April ‘09.
2. With the exposures I have with the school district, I can be of assistance to the hispanic population who have only young children interpreting for their parents. It would be a tremendous aide in helping those families that are limited to spanish speaking only to learn english.
Hello,
I am a social worker in Phoenix Arizona. I facilitate child and family team meetings and assist family members access professional behavioral health services and locate community based family support resources. A large number of families I assist are of Latin American decent. Often I attempt to communicate with the family and the children in Spanish. I tell them I am a student of Spanish and this seems to be a real ice breaker and serves to put the families more at ease. The majority of the children are experiencing some type of difficulty with school work. I tell the children I am a student of Spanish and need all the help I can get. I compliment them on the amount of Spanish they can speak and ask for guidance when I make mistakes. I contrast the amount of Spanish they can speak compared to me. I point out to them they are already smarter than I am as far as knowing how to speak Spanish. This often empowers the children to recognize their ability to learn and also to help me while I am trying to assist them with their current challenges. I believe lasting personal assistance is relationship based. Synergy Spanish helps to remove potential cultural and language barriers that could present as obstacles to building a trusting relationship based on mutual respect. Having an ability to access the entire Spanish coaching package will allow my social work with Latin American families to continue to progress and ultimately be more effective.
Thank You for your consideration,
John Knapp
I am medically retired, living in Panama. I work with a group of very poor children. I require the assistance of an interpreter in order to communicate with these children. I would like to be able to speak Spanish fluently, in order to better help these children (I believe that falls into category #2). We (the interpreter and I) do activities with these chilldren - to broaden their horizons and to bring joy into their lives. We teach them a variety of things — from skills to spiritual lessons. I responded to your scholarship contest yesterday, but (later) realized that I had failed to meet your criteria (of explaining which one of the two categories I fall in to).
I would love to purchase your programs, but the cost is out of my reach. My disability income is fixed and limited. As much as possible, within my means, I feed children and help to meet their basic needs.
Thank you for considering me for a scholarhip. I could certainly use it.
Trish
Marcus, the reason we are interested in your Synergy Spanish courses scholarship is for my son and myself. Within the past 2 years we have both studied Spanish in college classes. He is a Business major, with his future ahead of him, and wants to become part of a company that works in Spanish speaking countries. He will soon have his Bachelor Degree. My husband recently retired and we are making choices about where, and how, to spend our retirement years. We are lifetime church members and would love to use retirement years to do mission work in a Spanish country. Our family doesn’t have the extra money for the course and would seek to be encouraged to reach these important goals. (we enjoyed our Spanish classes very much) Spanish people are great family oriented people. Thank you.
My vote goes with Andrew Tecson of the Phillipines. I hope you give him the scholarship. I don’t know him, but he has the best reason that I read for qualifying for it.
Dear Marcos,
I have read only a few of the comments written to you, and I can’t think of one reason that I am more deserving than these other fine people to benefit from your offer. I have, however, decided to give you my story. (at least part of it)
I live in San Juan Cosala, a small village in the Lake Chapala area (Lake Chapala is the largest lake in Mexico, and located just south of Guadalajara.). I have lived here for almost five years and I am deeply involved in our church’s Mission’s Project. We minister to the people in the town of San Juan Tacomatlan, east of Chapala. I cook 50 liters of soup each month to deliver to needy families in the village, besides all of the other causes we contribute to. I can barely get by on my limited Spanaish, but somehow a smile gets us there. I understand a little, but I could do so much more if I had the confidence of a native speaker.
Our chuch is the sponsor of several other Outreach projects in the area and we even helped send a young Mexican man to Canada to learn English. He ministers to many of the Latin American youth.
I feel so close to the Mexican community here. They have so little, but are willing to give so much. I would like to spend the rest of my life in Mexico, leaving it, I hope, a little better place because I was here.
I believe, that by bettering my Mexican language skills, I could be an advocate for the people of the town and inspire other English speakers to do the same. “When in Rome……”
With Sincere Thanks For Reading This,
Joannie Smith, San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico
Your courses have helped greatly. I us them often to refresh what they mean and also the pronunciation. I wish I could retain the phrases, and the meanings longer than I do. I work with spanish speaking amigos and amigas. We have developed good social relationships with our families. Your courses have helped so much in our communication.
Hi Marcus,
I have always felt & have been told repeatedly that I could never learn Spanish this late in my life. I just turned 30 years old on January 24th 2008!
However, I have been receiving your emails for the past few weeks & already feel a lot more confident with Spanish and know with continued practice I will one day be proficient in speaking a foreign language.
I am currently only 2 weeks away from launching a clothing brand & with the help of Synergy Spanish - I believe it will allow me to expand internationally to a multitude of Spanish speaking countries by 2009!
I have also partnered with a variety of charities(Jimmy V Foundation, Camp Erin, Kay Yow) & feel that with a global expansion I will be able to give proceeds from my fashion label not only to those less fortunate in the United States but also worldwide!!
Thank you for your consideration,
Jason Carnevale
my reason for wanting and needing to learn Spanish quickly is that the love of my life is Cuban. He speaks very good English, but I would love to be able to speak to him in his first language. It would change both of our lives forever. I am an English student, and can not afford to but lessons anywhere as the cost of visiting \Jorge is very high. I save all my money, and your 4 free chapters have already opened my eyes to what amazing things I could do if only I spoke Spanish. I thank you for giving everybody learning Spanish and think you are doing zn amazing job of transporting other people’s lives. Although I know I shall not win anything, someone, somewhere shall have their life changed by you and that is a remarkble thing to do.
Thank-you
Love Marie x
Hi Marcus,
I work with a group of 79 Catholic churches in the Chicago Archdiocese. Many of these churches are in Spanish speaking communities. I have struggled with learning Spanish—I wonder if I am too old. People are so kind to me and seem to appreciate my efforts to speak in Spanish, but to truly be effective in ministry, I really need to become fluent in Spanish! The Catholic Church of the future will be a predominantly Hispanic church and my desire to serve in the church will require me to be able to speak with and understand the language and the cultures of the various Spanish speaking people in Chicago. I would love a scholarship to give me the opportunity to study Spanish using your method! Thanks for considering me!
i work at i job i dont really enjoy and i would love to get another either at a hotel or working at the airport but because i only speak english am not able to, i really hurt when i listen to others speaking more than one language and i cant, have tried on my own to learn but there is a serious blockage there i will just learn a few words and at the end of the day i dont remember a thng and its very frustrating i would also love to have my 9 years old son speak another language which they dont teach at his school but now there is one problem, cant afford the money its way out of my reach and the truth is i know i wont be considered just to let u know, bye monique
Mr Santana, I lived in Central America for 2 years teaching agriculture and setting up an Ag school for the Chorti Maya in Honduras. My spanish is not very good and I need to become fluent, as I am going to Peru in Feb. and Mexico soon after that. My work helps people have more food by producing it for themselves instead of it been given to them. I study spanish every day, but I’m making very little progress. Thanks , Conley Williams
I have been trying to learn Spanish for about a year and a half. I have been able to use my limited Spanish to assist people with their income tax returns and on a medical mission trip to Honduras. My primary reason for learning is that through friendships developed with Hispanic friends I have embraced the spirit of the culture, and that change in thinking has empowered me to begin living life more joyously. In the next ten years I hope to travel with my family to ten different Spanish speaking countries, and also to host a Spanish speaking exchange student.
I will soon begin a new career as a flight attendant, and speaking Spanish would open up the opportunity to fly to Central and South America and for me to better serve Spanish speaking passengers. I am anxious to prove to my teenage son that I am not too old to realize the joy of setting a goal and working hard to achieve it.
Thank you for the opportunity to apply for your course scholarship. I just recently found your Synergy Spanish course and I have just started learning. I am over 50 years old and it seems to be more difficult for me to remember words than in my younger years, but I am very excited to be trying. The way in which this course would help me to help others relates to an opportunity that recently allowed me to work with students and reserve managers from Central America. Our group has provided free training to these local participants in the methods used to study the biodiversity of the tropical forests and in the use of sustainable natural resource management to help improve the local economy of these rich natural areas. Our approach is to “train the trainers” so that they in turn can teach others in their own countries to help conserve the remaining natural resources including plants, soils and animals. The training we provide will allow those trained to develop alternative management approaches that will benefit the local peoples while conserving the important remaining forests in their countries. As you can imagine, a language barrier inhibits how much we can accomplish in any given session. Luckily, many participants in our first session spoke enough English that we were able to work through the required information, but it would have been so much better if I had been fluent in Spanish. I am very determined to learn Spanish before our next session so that I can explain the equipment and methods in their native language. I believe your course and materials can make this happen. We would like to work with local students and professionals throughout Central and South America. Thanks again for the opportunity to apply for your course scholarship.
I am writing to you again this evening to tell you that this is such a generous offer to the lucky two people that you choose to have a scholarship. I know that it will be very hard for you to decide, especially after reviewing all of these emails. I sincerely hope that one of those people will be me, but whatever you decide I want to thank you for including me in your email offering.
Have a great evening!
Cindi
My husband and I have been trying to learn Spanish for a couple of years. I have used one of your programs, and I feel that it is really great. However, we still have a long way to go to be fluent in the language. I have a license to teach English and English as a Second Language, but can only get a job as a teacher’s assistant because I do not speak Spanish fluently. On the salary that I am getting, I cannot afford to go to college to learn Spanish, even though that is what I would love to do. It would be so helpful to be able to speak to the new students who do not know English yet, and to speak to the parents, many of whom do not learn English.
My husband has gone to Panama a couple of times on a mission trip to help people in remote areas to have a better life. He has always gone with interpreters, but you lose the close relationship when you have to speak through an interpreter, and one is not always available. I would also like to go to a Spanish speaking country to do some mission work, such as teaching or helping in some other way. They have so little, but are so thankful for what little bit they have that it puts us to shame. Also, I am hoping that sometime in the future, my husband and I can retire in one of the Central American countries, enabling us to help more people, and allowing us to learn the culture and language of these people.
Winning your scholarship to learn Spanish would be a dream come true. Your program is so good that if I could afford it, I already would have purchased it.
Linda
Well just a little hope, you may still pick me, and I will faithfully do my best and make you very proud that you choose me. A faithful student of your Spanish classes.
Anna Maria
You are great, thanks for being so generous with your knowledge. yo necessito a apprender mas espanol ayudar mis clientes - who are first time buyers in Hartford Connecticut. Gracias, paz Leslie Coll
This is going to sound strange, but my dream is to dream in Spanish! Let me explain. I have always been drawn to Spanish/Latin culture. Lately, I have started taking Latin dancing like salsa, rumba, cha cha and tango - so my rhythm is already latin. Now what’s missing is the language. By mastering Spanish I will be able to act as I feel, and the ultimate test for accomplishing that would be to dream in Spanish. The passion is there, now I would like to master the language to make it all happen.
Hi Marcus,
I have enjoyed your course. It is helping me to do useful work at an orphanage in Mexico. The children are up to 15 years old and are supported solely by donations of time and money. My donations are mostly time and meals, and as much as I can providing enrichment for the children. Being fluent in Spanish will help greatly in this work. Later this year, I will also be working at another orphanage in the area.
These children need all the help they can get to give them a good start in live.
Thank you so much for your generous offer.
How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life? 2) How will your learning Synergy Spanish help others?
Hola Sra. Marcus Santamarí, gracias por el interés que muestra usted con sus estudiantes. Primeramente, learning Spanish, for me being an indian, is passion. I have the urge of taching Spanish to any one who want to learn and I alos encourage people to learn Spanish for their living bread as well for me. I wanna improve my Spanish Language Knowledge to spread the same to everyone who are in need of it to the extreme level in any country given an oportunity for me to learn and teach.
Muchas gracias,
Recuerdos,
Anthony Lazar de Bangalore, India.
lazarooficial@yahoo.com
I grew up in Central America but relocated to Canada when still very young. Unfortunately, I lost the ability to speak and understand Spanish during those early years–well, except for the odd swear word or two I’ve mysteriously been able to retain.
As a result, I’m now unable to communicate with the portion of my family that still reside in Honduras. Learning Spanish would enable me to maintain contact and strengthen family ties. I would also like to learn Spanish, as being multilingual will help with finding work in the worsening economy. At some point in time, I’d like to visit South or Central America for the first time since coming to Canada in the early 1970’s and would like to be able to speak/understand the language and more fully experience and absorb the Latin culture. Learning Spanish will help to keep my promise to my Latin relatives that I would learn the language and some day visit them. It would be a way to start getting in touch with my roots. Being able to communicate with my relatives would allow me to understand and better appreciate the lives and stories of my Latin relatives which is very important to me.
Learning Spanish would be a great start to learning other related languages like Italian or French, so I see this not so much as an opportunity to learn Spanish but to gain a method to learn other languages and experience other cultures. This would help me with my dream of being a world traveler someday.
Language is the key to learning about a culture and people. This is a key I would very much like to gain.
thank you.
Synergy Spanish will change my life by expanding it.I want to keep my mind active and growing and theres no better way than learning another language.Learning is wonderful but I also want to experience it through travel,connecting with others in thier enviroment opens up a whole new perspective.Thank-you for what you have given me in your course.Sincerely,Melanie Madill
The synergy spanish courses you have strung together have certainly been researched and well thought through. They are user friendly and gripping, evoking a feeling of wanting to develop the language. As for me, I took on the course as I am keen on connecting with my son, who had taken up an intense study of the Spanish language in one of his earlier years of undergrad in the United States. Presently not only does he speak Spanish lucidly but also writes his papers in the language. Corresponding and speaking with him even at the fundamental level will certainly help in enhancing my spanish language skiills. Above all, I could convincingly recommend the course to others and infuse in them the desire to learn this ever popular global language.
I would love to finally be fluent in the language of my ancestors. Growing up, I wished that I could understand and speak Spanish to my grandparents and my mother.
I have used a number of courses to speak Spanish. I can basically understand most of the words and can work out what people are talking about but when I have to speak Spanish to a Spanish speaking person, I get a mental block and all the Spanish I know leave my head!
Winning the scholarship will help me make my lifetime dream come true!
Thank you very much for the opportunity of applying for the scholarship.
After reading so many touching stories from people who want to learn Spanish so they can volunteer in Spanish-speaking countries, it’s almost embarrassing to admit that I want to learn Spanish for myself. I have longed to speak conversational Spanish since I was 10 and moved to mining town in New Mexico with a predominantly Hispanic population. At that time I desired to learn Spanish because we gringos were often ridiculed in Spanish and I wanted to know what insults were being directed to me!
Later I moved to Texas and began to hear to beauty of the language as longed to understand the Spanish conversations that swirled around me. Determined to learn, over a period of years I began buying various Spanish learning methods including computer programs, books and tape courses (including all 3 levels of Pimsluer). Each time I attempted to learn, I would diligently apply myself for weeks, listening to tapes, making flash cards, reading grammar books only to find I could say some basic sentences, but could not have anything approaching a real conversation. When I did attempt to speak Spanish to a native speaker, their response was never what I was taught on my tapes, and it was delivered so rapid-fire that I couldn’t understand a word causing, me to panic and switch to English. After numerous experiences of that sort, I became convinced that I just didn’t have what it takes to learn a foreign language, that I had, as you put it, a blockage.
I’m now in my mid-fifties and have just about given up on learning anything but basic sentences in Spanish. I feel that I have wasted hundreds of dollars, not to mention hours and hours of my time, over the years. This has been a terrible blow to my self-esteem. I taught myself how to type, I taught myself computers and I went back to school and earned an associate’s degree and graduated with a 4.0 at age 40, so why can’t I learn Spanish?
Marcus, I did purchase your basic Synergy class and was very pleased with the results. While doing your course, I realized that I knew probably a couple of hundred words, but I hadn’t learned how to combine them until you showed me how. I even started thinking of all the different ways to construct new sentences. I felt as if I learned more in that course than all the others I had tried combined. I so wanted to sign up for your ear training course but didn’t have the funds to commit.
I especially hope you will consider me for your scholarship package as my daughter has married a Mexican who speaks little English and I would love to converse with him in his mother tongue.
Thank you,
Debra
Hi Marcus,
I am Daniel Sit. I live in Hong Kong for 40 years. In Hong Kong, we can speak fluent Cantonese and English. Hong Kong education system stress on English and Chinese. We seldom have chance to learn Spanish. Recently I met some Spanish at Macao Venetian Hotel. They can speak Spanish but no English and I just can speak English. The communications between us was not smooth. Hence, we have to depend on a translator.
I have never been to Spain and I am planning my business trip on Feb. I suddenly discovered that with my English I cannot survive in Spain. My friend told me that Spanish is the 3rd international language which spoke in many Latin Amercia countries. I am starting to learn Spainish in my spare time. Also, I asked my daughter to study Spainsh to enhance her language skills.
Now, I will recommend my friends to learn Spainish to explore a new world. If we can speak Spanish, we can travel to Spainsh and many Latin America countries. It will make our horizon
wider and better.
Thank you Marcus for keeping me inform about the Spainish knowledge.
Daniel Sit ( Hong Kong)
I would like to learn espaniol as quickly as possible because it was the native tongue of my great grand parents and i would like to find and interact with my spanish speaking family in Venezuela. I would also like to be an Ambassador of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Latin American countries. Later i would like to teach english to our spanish neighbours… some of them rarely ever see or hear english and feel as trapped as i do. I would like to have a greater appreciation for the songs i sing like, “Besame Mucho” and “Solomente una vez”. Would like to learn and write Gospel songs in espaniol. Want to get my children involved and teach it to under-privileged children.
Derick
Trinidad y Tobago.
Hola Marcus!
como estas?
yo mue bien. Gracias Adios
I would love to learn Spanish, my Husband speaks it well, i understand a little but when it comes to speaking it seams like i cant, i have taking a little spanish in Mexico for a few weeks one evening a week, but did not learn much.
we have been doing some Mission work in Mexico and we want to go again some time this year
i feel like if i only could speak SPANISH i would be so much more ready to go, the Spanish People are such wonderful People, and so eager to talk, i always feel so bad that i can’t cammunicate with them, they are so frindly i hate that i can’t speak with them, we recive Phone calls from Mexico some times and it is vary frustrating not being able to speak with them, spanish is a beautiful language and i would love to speak it, and it certinly would help me for when we will go out there, to do mission work. yes money definetly is a factor if i could aford it i sure would of already have bought your program, i have gone over a few of your lessons and i like the way you teach them, i have listend to a few other lessons and they seamed so complecated that i gaved up, i sure would love to learn spanish, as a mater of fact i need to, we are going back to Mexico this year and i would love to be able to speak to them, i don’t want to go back out there and take lessons one night a week and not get much out of it.
If i will win this Spanish Scolarship i will do my wary best and try to learn as much as i can, so that when we go out there at the end of this summer, that i would be able to cary a conversation with my new friends, i’m vary excited, i sure am looking forword to this.
Muchas Grasias
Marge.
Okay, hopefully this is enough to get at the least clarity in understanding second attempt toward any proposal as so offered brings with it the pain or idea of not being genuine. This same email was sent to my address and responded immediately since your offerings are impressive and would love to reach out to others as one minister the good news of God’s kingdom as only true hope for the entire human family. Once more to thank you for granting opportunity for exceptional chance which can only hope to win. Meanwhile please continue focussed recognizing whatever one is doing praising of the one and only true God Jehovah is something to be done willingly or by force, be assured as deserved so it shall come about as promised that great day!
Dear Marcus,
I find myself bridging two worlds, coming from the Midwestern US, where there were mostly European sand Scandinavians in our town, and German was the only language offered in our schools. My daughter’s grandmother was born in Mexico, and she has spent the last few years finding her heritage, studying Spanish in high school, college, a summer course in Guatemala, and just this past fall, in Mexico. Though she has not been able to find family to visit there, she is at home with new friends she has made and has become fluent and has learned to dance the beautiful Folklorica dances. I have been trying to learn Spanish and, even after all these years, the German comes to me first. I want to be able to speak with her and to read the beautiful literature…Lorca, Jimenez, Paz, Fuentes, Marquez, Allende…and so many others, and talk about them with her and understand the beauty of the Spanish language. I want to be a part of her world as it has become richer and more fulfilling for her. This is how becoming fluent in Spanish would help me. It would also expand my world, prepare me for travel in Spanish-speaking countries and help me to meet new friends, and, also, as I look at volunteer opportunities, it would give me a chance to be of service to more people. Besides this, I would just like to fully embrace a warm and colorful culture.
Hola, Marcus
I saw your mail today. Mellamo Gülbahar Tursun. Soy de chino. Tengo 41 años y tengo dos hijos, un chico y una chica. I like learning languages, especially Spanish because I love the people and their cultures of the Latin America. Hope I can know much about them. However,
I cannot afford the fee for your courses at present. I’m a minority living in China. I have found there are much in common between my culture and the one of Latin Amirica via watching some video clips. Therefore I am eager to obtain your scholarship and it will be my great honour if i can get it, but it won’t discourage me if i cannot get it. Muchas gracias por su ayuda. Saludos
Gülbahar
Dear Marcus,
Oh my! It was 11:45 California time when I sent it! I didn’t realize you might be in a different time zone.
Thank you for giving me this OPORTUNIDAD.
I did use your metod and made a huge prigress in study spanish, so i will be grateful if i ‘ll have the ability to proceed with it.
thank you.
Dear Sir, I work with low-income Spanish speaking children in preschool programs and through 6th grade in after-school programs. There is a lot of frustration on the part of both the children and the parents that want to help their children because of the lack of language skills and the lack of proper schooling. I teach the children how to believe in themselves and daily try to remind them that their parents and I are getting old and they will be in charge of this fine country very soon. I cannot seem to bridge the gap to teach the parents. I make the time for them in my last hour before I go home but the language gap constantly hinders the way I express myself. These kids and parents truly have next to nothing and our programs are supposed to reach the whole child but barely teach them because of the difficulties in giving examples in Spanish translated into English. My gift to them is high expectations and a way to get there. As far as Spanish goes, I just have two left feet. Please help. Robert -Pomona Unified School District (Mr. Bob) Thanks
11:07 California time on the 26th of January 09 bye
Good Luck everyone - don’t know how you will choose Marcus. I was going to enter but after reading some of the entries I think there are lots more deserving entries than me.
Hola Marcus,
I am the town clerk and the court clerk in a small mountain town in southern Colorado. About 67% of our residents are Hispanic, many of whom come directly from Mexico. Often only the children in the families speak English.
My duties include interfacing with the public on behalf of the Town Board, problem solving, billing and collecting for water and sewer utilities, zoning administration and administration of the municipal court (among other things). I often have to request our police officer (we have only one) or our maintenance man to help me by translating questions from our residents and my responses. If they are not available, I try to get along with my “pidgin” Spanish which is not satisfactory for me or my customers.
I need to be able to speak Spanish every day at work. I have to discuss a range of issues from animal control to zoning (really A to Z). I am always concerned that misunderstanding can occur when I am not in control of the conversation. I am especially concerned about conversations related to municipal court matters.
Years ago I had one year of high school Spanish, and I have purchased some of your courses; however, I know the ear training course and the Synergy Spanish II would be extremely valuable to me.
Thank you, Marcus for offering your expertise to all of us.
Hi Marcus,
If I win your scholarship, my patients and clients will be so happy. I am a traditional healer, trained therapist, homeopath and teacher. Most of my services I offer free of charge. If I could talk to my patients/ clients directly rather than through a translator, they would feel more at ease and I would be more effective. It would be impossible for me to improve their lives without my own life being improved; Everybody would win.
Many Blessings,
Suzette
Saludos Marcus,
Cuando era una coordinatora para una programa de adolescentes in un barrio Latino en la ciudad de Nueva York, ha experienciencado el poder de Espanol. Con el uso de frases muy simplemente, como “Me llamo Noemi,” y “Mucho gusto,” I saw doors open into the lives of mis estudiantes y sus padres. Cuando necessito a llamar las hogares de mis estudiantes, even a few words of Spanish helped me establish rapport con madres que tienen Ingles limites. When I met family members in person, being able to start the conversation in Spanish helped tense parents to instantly relax and feel that we had their best interests at heart.
In the short term, Synergy Spanish would help me not only to learn to carry on a more extensive conversation with my students and their families, it would also help me listen to and understand their needs and to therefore serve them better.
In the long term, I want to create health programs that help Latino populations make healthy choices to avoid diabetes and heart disease. Synergy Spanish will help me gain the most in-depth experience possible as a I do a summer internship either in Central America or the US-Mexico border region. It will also help me ask Spanish speakers what features they would find most helpful in a health program, and help me to craft future programs accordingly. Having begun to cross this linguistic and cultural barrier because of Synergy Spanish will mean that I can go beyond merely being able to translate existing Spanish health materials, to being able to construct a culturally appropriate program based primarily on Hispanic patient input.
Gracias por todo y un prospero ano para ti!
Hola, Marcus!!!
Many people have written many words about why they need to learn Spanish BUT I am going to use only a few - I desperately NEED TO SPEAK SPANISH!! I am living in Spain for over 2 years and for some reason am completely blocked when it comes to learning this beautiful language. If your course can teach me how to speak and understand Spanish - I would be a living testimony to the effectiveness of your methods…and I would be indebted to you for life!!:)
Besos,
Claudia
Hi Marcus…
I originally saw this email a few days after this offer came out and I was blown away by the number of responses, so much so I thought there was really no point! But hey…it’s worth a try, right?
I have been amazed at how well Synergy actually works. Just through the few sample lessons you have provided I picked up some *real* Spanish in a matter of hours. My husband (a native Spanish speaker) was amazed. I have found nothing comparable. Unfortunately money is tight and I have never been able to purchase any of the Synergy programs. I have had it on my wish list for goodness knows how long and I have been raving on about it to so many others!
How could Spanish change my life? Well, as mentioned, the other half of my family all speak Spanish! They try so hard to speak to me in English, and I always feel horrible not being able to speak in return. I teach students with English as their second language and now know first hand how frustrating it can be! My dream is to be able to speak to my beautiful mother in law in her own native language and tell her just how important she is to me - and to be honest, there isn’t much time left to do that! I need something that will help me FAST!! I know that Synergy Spanish is the key.
So regardless of whether this post gets lost in the 1000+ other responses, please know that scholorship or no scholorship - this system is worth every penny!
Hola Marcus the reasons for me wining this prize would be tremendus as one day in the not too distant future i would like to emigrate to espania as i find the people warm and very freindly
Dear Marcus;
I am 76 years old (in 2 months) and my body is riddled with Arthritis. I would love to move to Mexico, a country which has fascinated me since I was a child, and whose warm sunshine would help to ease my pain.
I, too thought I was too old to learn Spanish until I read about the 96 year old whom you taught. I feel hopeful now that I could do it.
I am a retired Registered Nurse who still likes to help people and have read about orphanages in Mexico who require assistance. I would love to volunteer my services to help children whom I love.
I am certain that the winner of this contest will deserve it, and I thank you very much for the chance to win your generosi offer.
Yours truly,
Mary Lauren
My name is Ertan . I like Marcus’s example lessons and I have a friend from Mexico whose main language is Spanish. She visited me in Turkey two years ago but I should improve my Spanish or I will teach her Turkish
Thank you Marcus
I started your course 2 years ago when I planned to walk the Camino in Spain late in 2007. I have continued with these lessons as I had made further plans to visit Argentina and Chile in early 2009. At this time I am able to communicate my wishes quite effectively but cannot follow a native speaker at all. I plan to keep on learning and practising and one day may arrive at the pearly gates of perfect conversational and grammatically correct idiomatic Spanish.
Helllo,
I was born in El Salvador and emigrated to Canada at the age of eight. I speak spanish, french and English (the third and second languages I learned only by watching tv!). Unfortunatelly I have a blockage when it comes to teaching Spanish and English to my two boys (ages 8 and 10). I am ashamed to admit it, but they almost don’t understand a word in Spanish or English.
I have been teaching them the basic notions, but it is obvious that my teaching methods are inefective.
I hope your lessons ca help my children have a brighter future.
Thank you.
Tania from canada.
Hola Marcus
I moved to Spain last year and have worked hard trying to learn the language. I have a bed & breakfast and accomodate guests from all over Europe. It is really frustrating for me when my guests (from all over Europe) speak Spanish and I can’t converse with them. I have learnt many words but have no confidence to engage in conversation with the local Spanish speaking people. If I try and speak Spanish the response is very fast and I cannot keep up with it. I need to practice speaking and listening and If I’m lucky enough to be selected I’m sure this course will help me immensely. I love the language and have no difficulties with the pronounciation as I am Welsh and many sounds are similar. It would be a dream come true to be able to speak fluently in this wonderful romantic language.
How will my learning Synergy Spanish help others? I am a Canadian teaching english in Zorritos Peru. One of the main obstacles in teaching the adults english is my inability to explain many of the exceptions we find in the english language. To explain, in english, to native spanish speakers would be like telling a blind man ¨look sir its over there!¨ Learning spanish would be a tremendous opportunity to communicate the many abstract irregularities found in the english language.
Dear Marcus,
Synergy Spanish will help me and others because I am moving to Madrid from the UK in September. I am a 60 year old retired lady who is moving her life to the Spanish capital. I want to be able to communicate with others and be able to understand what others are saying to me. At present I am attempting to learn Spanish by attending a class on Fridays. You are so right about the methodology. I appear to be learning a form of Spanish that is centred around reading and writing correct grammar. Surely a language is meant to be spoken? Isn’t this how we learned as babies by repeating what our mothers’ said to us. I would dearly love to win your complete course as I’m sure it would help me communicate flently and boost my confifdence and prove that you are never too old to learn.
Hi,
Learning spanish will help me in communication with people the people in south america, i’m from africa and we are both 3rd world, so it will really help me in collaborating with people over there to exchange ideas on how to improve our countries and societies.
Dear Marcus,
My wife and me and our little West Highland white terrier Hamish, sold every thing we had and left England for good, three years ago and moved to a small mountain town called Mula, in Spain.
None of us could speak Spanish, and I was the only one who had ever been to Spain before!
I was in the Royal Navy in my younger days and I ventured across the border from Gibraltar into Spain for the day. No one spoke English and I could only say please and thank you in Spanish, so I had a pretty quiet day of sight seeing. I was fifty nine at the time, so it was a massive leap of faith moving to a country where we could not understand the language. And to compound our problems there are only a handful of people out of fifteen thousand in the town who speak or understand English!
I sent for your course a couple of years ago, and it has helped us to communicate with the locals. We can now go into the shops and make small talk about the weather and our health, we can ask for slices of ham or cheese, fillets of a particular fish and joints of meat. I can ask for a top up of unleaded petrol for the car and buy fire wood.
But we would love to be able to have a conversation and join in the laughter when someone cracks a joke, or go to the small theater in the town and watch a play or a film, or go to the local book store and buy a novel and understand the story. We feel we are missing out on so much more that this place has to offer and we feel that your next level of Spanish courses would unlock these treasures for us. But times are hard, even in a paradise such as this, money is the key to the treasure chest and we don’t have the key. But life is still good and we enjoy the sunshine and the fruit from the trees, and although we can’t communicate as well as we want to we have made some wonderful friends out here and would never leave. We have a new member to our family, a little curly headed Spanish dog called Pedro and our little west highland Hamish has taken to him like a brother, so we guess Hamish at least has learnt Spanish.
Hasta luego,
David Edgar
hola!
Learn spanish would change my life 360degrees,for better of course.My boyfriend is Spanish and we are planning to move in few years to Spain.I am Polish.We are leaving in Brussels, and communicate in English.
Knowing spanish I would make him happy, and finaly I could communicate with his family.
I am nurse so it is necesary to know language if I want to work in Spain.
If I could learn it I would be happy,I wouldnt stress about future, about leaving in Spain, planning children and only enjoy.
Spanish is one of the most beatiful languages in the world , it gives great opportunities for better life,in my case
un besito
I studied Spanish in university. It is my dream to retire and live in Spain. I am able to read Spanish, and understand it when people speak slowly. I have difficulty speaking it confidently and understanding the native speaker at a normal linguistic pace.
Hola y buenos dia
I am immersing myself with your first course and I have found it very helpful but I need to expand!! Learning Spanish for me is for personal reasons and for love. To be able to converse with my new friends and “family” in Cuba would be the topping on the cake! Eventually the language will come but I don’t want to wait years!! Currently I am traveling there 4 times a year. My writing & reading skills are getting better but listening & speaking need help!
Years ago(in the 70’s), when I was in the travel business, a coworker suggested that I learn Spanish because this would become the second language in North America as far as travel - at the time I had my doubts - I should have listened!! Because he was right.
I have read many comments and you have a difficult choice to make. My reasons seem to be similar to yours, when you met the lady of your life …..
My family moved to Spain 3 years ago, and I am currently flying back to the UK every week to earn a living. I have started a small business in Spain, but have struggled to get it off the ground due to my lack of conversational Spanish. (You can buy in any language you like, but selling is a different matter.)
I can offer a fantastic service to motorcyclists in Spain, if I could make myself heard.
Mastering Spanish would mean I could live with my family and see my daughters grow up, rather than spend all week in a hotel, and all weekend at an airport.
Please help, and change my families life forever.
At age 56, my dream is to learn Spanish fast enough and well enough to be able to spend the remaining years of my psychotherapy practice listening and speaking in the Spanish language. The primary cultural influence in Florida where I live is Hispanic/Latino. I am determined to reach not only the minds but also the hearts and souls of my Spanish-speaking patients in counseling. I can only do this by learning to think and speak in Spanish. I am in a position to make a difference in the lives of many families who need counsel and deserve to have it in the language in which they “live and move and have their being”. To me the gift of fluency in Spanish would mean nothing less than gaining a new soul. Please help me to afford this pearl of great price! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
Samuel Miller, LMHC
I would like to learn Spanish to enrich my life and to help others. You see after a car accident I lost my short term memory. Where I had once been fluent in many languages I now struggled with even English. My family is very diverse and losing the ability to converse in Spanish meant not talking to the very ones who helped me through many difficulties in life. I became very isolated as my frustration grew. I’ve tried many programs, but since I still suffer with my memory I’ve not been very successful. As a result when we go to visit our Spanish family and friends my children our forced to be excluded in many of the activities since they are in Spanish. Enough about me. The second reason I want to learn Spanish is to help others. Before I lost my memories and skills, I use to teach children and their parents to speak English. I taught life courses for adults that included: Computers, Your rights as a human, how to succeed in a world full of greed, etc. I was very busy in my community and I’d love to be so again. With you wonderful program I know that I’d be able to learn and teach my children. I am financially unable to purchase the program otherwise I’d have it already. But I know from the samples I’ve tried that your program works. The proof is in my son, who after hearing the sample play repeated everything and with confidence went outside to speak his new phrase to his classmate who is Spanish speaking. That’s all the proof I need.
Thank you for creating something so wonderful.
I do a lot of trips to Mexico to work at a Children’s Home and Women’s shelter in the Baja, and am now currently working with an organization that deals with recovery from abuse (all kinds) and will in future be travelling to Spanish speaking countries for this. It would make my life and communication much easier to be able to speak directly to people instead of through a translator, which is what I do now.Since I do this as a volunteer, I can’t afford to do much financially and have simply tried to learn from the translator’s, which doesn’t always go well. Oh well. I know that I am too late for the contest, but wanted you to know how I used the first basic course that you put out.
Hola Senor Marcus,
I am very happy to congratulate you for this great initiative that you take so i like and appreciate it very much but i’m in Haiti then, i don’t have credit card therefore try to see what you could do for me Please ! because i am very fond of the course in fact i’m a keen on it. Ilove it dying !!!!!!!!!
MICHEL Jean Maxo
.
hola…spanish and me doan exactly get along…and i kn im 1 day late and i’m sorry about that! bUt im styll going to try…
Spanish is a challenge for me! I am a student but my teacher isn’t the best! Life gets soo frustrating without a good teacher and with the kind of grades i’m getting in spanish! I hav tried and i have tried…but there are no results! I jus doan see any hope for myself…I am appearing for IB in a few months but my spanish is far from where its suppose to be…and if i do not pass spanish…i will not get a diploma…=’[…which means my future will be ruined because of one subject! Your program is the only hope for me…I cannot afford the program, the least I can do is try, even though this might be a failed attempt, but there is nothing wrong in trying! I have tried soo many things…but i jsu seem to hate it these days…i remember the days when i use to love that subject…but now each time i hear or think about spanish…i feel like crying! this is because i feel so helpless! If I do not get this then i don’t know what i will do! my future can be affected by this…as all my other subjects are looking great…90s but spanish…40s…and thats just in skool…I might fail my exam and that can seriously affect my chances of getting into a great university…because i plan to do something great in this world, something to help the world, to give back…to make a difference…i jus need a little help to get there! if you give me a chance I will prove it!
God bless!
I am 75 years of age and am simply learning Spanish to improve my mental capacity with studying a subject that I love. I hope to progress to reading Spanish literature and am sure I woud succeed with your help since I am already inspired by the lessons I have already received for which I thank you. I wish I could afford your course. Kathy Burrell
Hola Marcus,
It is a previledge speaking to you, it is also a great opportunity to partake in this contest in order to win a scholarship. It has always been my dream to speak spanish fluently. Recently, I made friends with a Cuban nurse who is on contract in my country. I spoke to her once for about an hour, and I realize how much I need to learn the language. I love the spanish language and I love communicating with people. I am working in a Ministry where I meet people from all parts of the world and I feel so cheated because I cannot communicate with them as I would like to. I must commend you on the great job that you are doing and I also encourage my son who is 16years old to practice with me because soon he will be writing final examine in spanish in my country mi hermana prequntame por agua en espanol, tienes cuatro anos.Quiero mi familia hablar espanol. I love you, keep up the good works, even though I may not be picked, I still what you are doing, it helps people to appreciate each other better. Lo siento, for submitting this late I just saw it and had to submit to it, thanks for the opportunity. Hasta la vista
i want to learn spanish so i can understand others and help them to. i been wanted to do it for a long time. Learning Spansih always seem interesting to me. i have friends that talk it and it seem fun to learn what they are saying.
1) How will learning Synergy Spanish change your life?
I am currently unemployed and have been for about one year. I have been the 2nd or 3rd in line for a position where the only thing that separated me for the person who was offered the position was the fact that I did not know Spanish. This opportunity woul improve my life because it would help me improve my chance of being hired.
Thank you,
Lisa
Hello dear Marcus!!
Here’s my chance
Thank you for that! 
All the best Marcus,
I’m german, live currently in England since several years and have in recent times felt more and more that my place truely is in South America.
So I’ve decided to move to Colombia by 2010. I know I will make it either way, but I know as well how much your course has already helped me, helping me to break my barriers, to speak and dare!
Himari Roswitha
Well…for me at 59, I am convinced that…..
If wishes were horses then dreamers would ride.
Some of these good people are so worthy of this prize that I have no conceivable idea how you are going to decide.
I hope that all your wishes come true
I use your course for our homeschool. We want our daughter to be fluent in Spanish so she can help others. I am learning it along with her (after trying six times). We live in central Arkansas and have a lot of migrant workers in our community. Sometimes they need a friendly voice to answer a simple question or get advice. I would like to be that person.
it will help me to talk to the pople that
it will help me to talk to the pople that I do bizz. with see I’m atruck driver and lot of the places that I go have spanish speacking wortker it would hep me and them to commute so much easier.Not to mention that I have always loved the latino people some of my family are marred to lantino it would help out alot to improve relations. thanks for lessoning
Hi Marcus.
I am 71 years old and I am from Scotland. I’m hoping to travel extensively later this year. Being able to speak spanish would be a great benifit as most of the countries i’m going to are spanish speaking.If I win your free course i’ll be able to travel more.
Thank you
Frank
I have enjoyed languages since my early days, I particularly find Spanish to be interesting because many words used in the English language are rooted in others, Italian, Spanish and many others.
I would like to add to my skill set and communicate with many others particularly in the workplace as I work in the healthcare arena. I live in an area with a very large Hispanic population who I would love to communicate better with. Racking my brain for the right word from time to time can become quite a daunting task when trying to conduct business. The more we try, the better at it we will get!!!!
Bom Dia
Hi. I am a school psychologist working in a public school in Georgia, which has a high Hispanic population. In my role, I am often asked to evaluate Spanish speaking children who learning English as a second languge. Teachers often refer these children because they feel that they have a learning disability. I feel that it is unfair and unethical to test a child in any language other than in their native language, especially when the purpose of the evaluation is to determine whether or not the child has a disability. On the other hand, some teachers don’t refer Spanish speaking children who are struggling academically when these children may actually have a processing problem or learning disability that is unrelated to the language that they speak.
The bottom line is that I feel unequipped and unable to evaluate these children. I would love to be able to access their needs in order to insure that their academic needs are being met in the most efficient way. In order to do this, I need the ability to communicate with them in their native language of Spanish.
I have used your Shortcut to Spanish materials and love them. It has really helped me with reading and writing skills. However, I am still very far off when it comes to being able to communicate verbally in Spanish.
Thanks so much for all the resources that you provide.
Hola,
I am Cecile and I am responding to the contest.
If I learn Spanish very well I can assist the children at my school and also in my community to become knowledgeable in the subject. I am a primary school teacher and in my country of Trinidad and Tobago, spanish is becoming compulsary subject. In addition to that, Trinidad is a neighbouring country to venezula and ipersons travel between the two countries. I think that it would be great if I can communicate verbally instead of having to use signs.
Hola, I may be too late to enter! I would love to use your method to learn Spanish for myself and my family. We have helped several young people from Madrid who have visited our youth service in Queensland Australia while on exchange. To be able to communicate more effectively with them would be a great help to assist them in their continued development and dealing with the life issues they are facing.
We also have a sponsor child in Honduras, and have plans to work with community welfare and leadership development in Spain (I have already been once for this is May 08).
My 3 young children are language sponges, and would devour your course.
Hello Marcus
When I was young and going to school, I wasnt very bright, consequently I was not allowed to take another language lesson. which is terrible isnt it? Now I am in my 60s and living in Spain thought I would never be able to learn another language because it was drummed into me when I was younger that Imy I Q was low, but since learning a little of your course, I am delighted that I can communicate on a small level. I had tried many different classes since being in Spain over the last 8 years but I was not getting anywhere. It would be my dream to be the winner of this competition to further my Spanish to be able to communicate properly with these wonderful Spanish people
Best Regards
Millie
Spanish Synergy to improve the lives of others.
My husband and I have adopted two little boys from Guatemala. Our oldest, Hunter, is 8 years old and has been with us since an infant. He speaks only English. We learned of a little boy that was an “older child” and considered “special needs” because most people will gravitate to help the babies…not to adopt a child past toddler age. We decided to adopt him anyway.. His name is Hudson and he is six years old. He and his brother Hunter are doing great. Hudson only speaks Spanish. We are older parents (age 56). We have a grown (biological) daughter and two grandchildren and are now blessed to be raising Hunter and Hudson. t has been expensive to get them here and attend to their medical needs. (Both boys had medical and/or dental needs that had to be addressed right away.) Hudson is recovering from surgery beautifully and is now being treated for another lesser medical problem. Although we have health insurance, we are still left with 20% to pay plus deductibles and things that are not covered. I stay home and teach the boys. They have needs that I can best attend to here.
My husband works for the city Water Department in the Storm Water division. We are still paying hospital and medical and medicine bills. With God’s help, we have the basic needs covered. However, we can not afford to pay for the Spanish program. It would benefit both boys to be fluent in English AND Spanish. I need to be fluent in Spanish to help them. When they are grown, people will look at them and expect that they can speak Spanish. It would help me to keep them more “in touch” with their culture. We have lovely Spanish speaking neighbors. We seem to have many of the same values…church…playing with the children…doing things together as a family…but we can not communicate easily. If I could speak Spanish and help the boys with it, we could talk easier with our Hispanic neighbors and share more of that heritage and culture which would be so good for the boys. We want Hunter to learn Spanish and we don’t want Hudson to lose his as he learns English. I know how to study. I am motivated. Our boys, who are now American citizens, can now reach out to the future from the foundation of a loving family, good medical and dental care, a good education, a strong church and community, and to have the opportunity to be bi-lingual would be the icing on the cake. I would love the opportunity to help them if I received this gift from you.
They in turn would be able to help others. Who knows, it might even make the difference in what college they attend, what career fields they enter, and even who they marry. If I am chosen, we will make very good use of this gift, in our family and in our community.
Sincerely,
Nancy Shulll
Hello, I just want to that everyone has a good reason and it is obvious that we all would like something free, but the truth is you have a difficult decision in choosing. None of us want to sound selfish and come off as I deserve it more than anyone else. We all want to have the opportunity to learn spanish with good coaching. So I tell you my story anyway. I was the top student in Spanish 1 in High School. I was selected to go to Spain and my mother said no way. HuH? What is the purpose of studing and when you finally do well you get rejected for doing well. All you hear is go to school. Do well you can go to college make something of yourself. You be the first grandson to graduate college. I said to myself that all sounds good but what the use when I prove myself to be workiing hard you say no when the school selects me and the county wants to pay. I quit studying. I never lost interest. I have just lost out on valuable experiences with meeting others. Holding an actual conversation with others in their native tongue. What a joy it would be to be able to sit and coverse with someone else in another lanuage. The is a great one.I know because I am learning sign lanuage now and just to break that barrier and communicate with someone who is deaf is beyond tremendously rewarding. I want to speak spanish and be able to communicate with other people in the second most popualr language in the United States and possibly the world.
Hola Marcus
Synergy spanish will help me to communicate with spanish people, because now I live in Spain. I need to speak and understand spanish well, especially when I need the doctor or have to go to the offices and to speak and understand a telephone when somebody call me.
And learning synergy spanish will help me to help other friends and other people
Hello Marcus,I believe it’s the best spanish course that I ‘ve found. I received 100 essential words and I know all of them and I received 4 lessons and have been learned some differences between English and Spanish and it was great, thank you verry much for the way
how you teach.Several month ago I bought the 31cd’s for to pronounce the words correctly but I let them in my old computer in Belgium .Now I’m living in spain because my health condition, I would by great if I’ could gett it back. I dont have so much money to spent on courses but that was verry emportant for my.
Greatings georges
hola,
senoir santamaria,
i have been enjoying what i have been able to learn, but i feel like i get stuck. not sure why??
This scholarship program you have been offering is great. I am so dissapointed i did not get to enter. there has been an ice storm which caused my electricity to go off. I recently was able to log back on to my computer and found my email.
Please let me know if you offer any more in the future. Gracious.
Saludos,
Senoria Mary B. Hall
I live here in southern California, I pastor a church in Lancaster,Ca, I have spanish speaking people that attend our church and more would come, but I don’t speak spanish. I like your program. My finance is not the best right now, but God knows that I really want to speak spanish in order to continue spread the gospel. God bless.
Marcus,
“Are you short of money and can’t afford to pay for lessons?”….Yes!
My business,’Pottery” has been taken over by
“Cheap - loaded with led-Imports”.
The locals,now short on money,are buying “Pottery” brought in from countries like “Mexico”,and “Thailand”.
Handmade art is out of the question while we suffer in these hard times.
Therefore! I am going broke.
I do thank you for the “Freebes”.
Jerry Alexander
Hello Marcus,
I want to learn Spanish because I am an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Teacher.Of the 41 students, I teach all but one is Hispanic. Our school system has a population of 700 Hispanic students from Mexico, Cuba, and Guatemala. Many time I need to communicate with parents and students, and I therefore feel helpless in those situations. Leaning Spanish will help me translate for teachers, counselors and administrators at my school and other institutions in my community.
It finally happened, our older son got married! Our new daughter-in-law is half Spanish. Her mother is from Zaragoza, Spain. While our daughter-in-law is fluent in both Spanish and English, her mother and mother’s family primarily speak Spanish.
I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet them, but would really appreciate the opportunity to communicate with them in their native tongue. Synergy Spanish would provide me with the opportunity to do so.
A secondary motivation is that my wife and I love to travel. We spent some time in Spain two years ago and traveled by car around the western part of Spain. I welcome the opportunity to be able to communicate directly with the Spanish people and to learn more about this country that has now given us such a wonderful daughter-in-law.
Dear Marcus,
I joined a spanish class was held at my office in 2000 for two months and I realized that I have a love for the language. I have been told that I am at an intermediate level however I have two problems 1) I have not been able to master the conjugation of verbs although I have spent a lot of time on it. 2) I feel silly when I hear native speakers since I can only understand a few words that they say.
I cannot afford to purchase your programs and rely on the free stuff available on the internet. I would be grateful if I were so lucky to be chosen.
Thank You.
Dianne
I have no amazing reason to want to learn Spanish, it is just something I’ve always wanted to do. I took lessons through work and had a lot of trouble remembering all of the rules when it came to verbs, regular and irregular, past, present and future tenses…. too many rules for me to remember!
Some day I would love to travel to Spain, Peru, Argentina, Chile and Mexico as I know people who live there and I would love to be able to communicate with them in Spanish.
I practice what I do know on my children and you know, they’re picking up on it without even realizing it!
Some day I will speak Spanish fluently and I would love it to be sooner rather than later.
Thanks Marcus for all your helpful emails!
Manuella
I have bought the first course and found it great, however I would like to learn more so as I can be a hospital visitor in my home town of gandia spain, helping others, Ken symonds aged 73.
Speechless,i think that you’ve pretty much received all comments to last till the end of 2009.So let me not bore you with another.I will be very grateful to be considered and it will obviously improve my communication with so many spanish speaking persons,as i would like to teach english in Spain.
I thank you for your time and once again appreciate the effort.
Saludos
Liesel
Dear Marcus, Thanks for all the informations received on my e-mail address I have kept each pages. You said Spanish can be learned very quickly and yes that is true but as a Senior Citizen and living on a income I cannot pay for any of your course sorry if I have misslead you
Your Spanish is kind of easy for me as I am french decent and a lot of word are the same. I spend some time in Arizona with our son and have fun practicing my spanish here and there.
No free prices for me not lucky in that field.
Love you Marcus for everything you are doing and may God keeps you in his arms and
protect you and your family.
Thanks again,
Janine
I know it’s past the date for consideration however, if there is any way I could be considered for a scholarship I would much appreciate. My mother is from Bogota, Colombia. My father from here in the United States. When I was small my sister and I didn’t know English. However, my mother was hospitalized for three months. Our caregivers mentally tortured us and physically abused us because they couldn’t understand us. So they literally beat the spanish out of my older sister and myself.
My mother never made us learn again. She is now 83. Whenshe was recently hospitalized she didn’t know English. As a result, I couldn’t communicate with her. My mother is better now but, that was a scary. I don’t ever want to be put in that situation again. I have relatives; aunts, uncles, and first cousins I would like to communicate with in Bogota. Not to mention how it would help me to find a better job in these tough economic times and help me immensely in my ministry. Muchas Gracias Yovnne Matthews
Being in the ministry of a multiculteral congrgation, it is in the best interest of the people I serve to be able to comunicate fully the concerns of the Spanish speaking population. It is my desire to accomplish this that’ll serve three purposes in changing my life as it change others, help in identification in teaching the English Language to Hispanics, and help them to improve their life understanding the written word as I learn of the different cultures within their language in different areas and regions. Everyone wins as we all learn. Being able to speak such a beautiful language helps us all. Having read some of the other responses, I would not want the job you have of having only the choice picking only two. Many are well deserving. Thanks for the consideration and bless you for what you’ve done already.
i have short of money and can’t afford to pay for lessons
I’m leaving for Mexico on Thursday to visit some Sisters who run a nursing home and also help the poor in various ways. I will be helping them while I’m there. I’ve already spent a month working with them, and not speaking Spanish was a real handicap. I plan to return annually to help out. I believe your course would help me to learn enough Spanish to allow me to commnicate with the Mexicans next year. This way, I will not have to always be accompanied by one of the Sisters.
I appreciate all the help you have provided so far. I’m only sorry, I didn’t know about your course earlier.
Muchos Gracias!
Rita
just put me on your email list for all informative updates, thanks fred evans
I am attempting to learn Spanish to help me in my avocation: Pastorial Care Ministry. Our local hospital has many Catholic patients that speak only espanol. I have managed to learn many of the prayers in Spanish but there is a void in my ability to relate to and provide spiritual comfort for the monolingual patients. I am determined to overcome my barriers and thank you for the “head start” Synergy Spanish has given to me.
learning Spanish will help me a lot in life mainly to interact with more people, learn different customs and easily integrate in new places as i progress thorough my career.
If i am to learn Spanish and be really good in writing and speaking, i will endeavor to spread the language in the sub Saharan African continent where most people do not have the means to learn global languages and i know they are many out there who are keen to learn the language. I am also attempting to learn Spanish as i want to tour Mexico one day
to speak spanish fluently would open the door to a new world - a world where I teach others to speak spanish and a world where I teach others in the spanish language …… who know what other doors would be opened.
well with all these people here reading some I dont stand a chance. I am scottish living in England with my partner who is peruvian, the talk spanish there and he speaks to his sister & brother frequently as they live in London & then there is me who can understand bits but it is like a jigsaw I cant get bits so now dont bother to try anymore because I feel inadequate or stupid, now he tells me we are going next year to peru to visit his mother its her 80th birthday & meet his brother & family there, no way I said I wont understand anything there is no point, I dont want to go where he is translating every word I say he wont enjoy it and he cant talk properly to his mother & family, so I will stay here with my daughter & he can go alone for 3 weeks as I would just be an inconvienience and be stupid not being able to understand so I am not going to go, I wish I could learn something more than I know already as even now I cant hold a conversation it would be nice but Id rather not go and be a burden for translating.It would improve my life in understanding my partners family and be able to be understood and be able to not be left out at partys etc or just a basic conversation as at the moment I just stay at home & not go with him I got fed up going and they talk spanish all the time so feel left out so now I just dont go anymore.
Hello Marcus,
I hope you read this too,unfortunately i saw your email today!
I have to learn spanish because i NEED it to communicate for even my primery needs here.
(i am in Barcelona)
So sorry I opened this email late,but I’m still interested in learning spanish because I know that with your method,I believe it would remove any barrier.I need to learn spanish to communicate with people on vacation plus I really love the language
How would finally learning to speak Spanish enhance my life? I have studied Spanish throughout high school and one year in college. You would think I have a better grasp and yet here I am with barest of ability to speak it under my belt. I grew up in the Bronx in an area where I hear Spanish being spoken at every corner and yet, I cannot seem to move beyond elementary conversations. My conversations starts out fine and then they ask me beyond “como esta” and other daily pleasantries and then Im stumped! It may be a blockage in my mind or inadequate system of language education I have undertaken, but the end result is the same. A language that I have been trying to learn since the very first time I heard it…. when I came to the US from the Philippines at a tender age of 13, and now that m 35… still eludes me and I sincerely believe that winning this scholarship would skyrocket my journey into the fascinating hispanic culture. I no longer have to simply enjoy eating a paella in a restaurant but be able to converse with people about what is the best thing on the menu. I no longer just have to feel the salsa/merengue/bachata music but actually be able to understand and maybe sing along as I dance to it… I can go visit with my friend in Ecuador and not be afraid to be left alone because I may not know how to ask for directions to go back to my hotel. I want to speak and be able to understand spanish in depth finally and just go where I may and not be afraid of not being understood. Spain here I come…once I know Spanish, a language everyone should know.
Hi Marcus
Spanish is the most melifluous language on the planet (’mariposa’ ‘amarillo’ ‘luna’). Spanish speakers through whose veins this language courses, have ‘duende’, and understand passion and love like no one else. If speaking another language means having another soul (and I believe this to be true), I need to explore my Spanish soul.
Fran
Hola mi profesor
Me llamo Rosa, me gustas mucho su lecciones y ahora puedo hablar espanol. Que bien!
Muchismas gracias!
Nos vemos,
Rosa de China
Hi MArcus
We have a second home in Spain, love the people, the culture and the language but unfortunately at this stage we are not there long enough to speak the language, I am sick of speaking pigeon Spanish even though it does give my Spanish friends and neighbours a good laugh. I would love to be able to speak fluent Spanish.HELP, I would be so happy if I was fortunate enough to win this course. Many thanks Kathy
Hi Marcus.
I was in Peru in 2008 and found that learning more spanish will be a great help when traveling there. Not many speak english so spanish is a must if you want to get by on your own. I live in Norway and every year Q’ero indians come to Norway to teach. They speak quechua primarily but also a little spanish, so again spanish is important to communicate properly.
Best Regards
Christian
Spanish is the most melifluous language on the planet (mariposa, amarillo, luna…). Spanish speakers through whose veins this language flows, have duende, and understand passion and love like no one else. If it is true that to speak another language, is to possess another soul (and I believe it to be true), I want to discover my Spanish soul.
Fran
Helloo ! Actually i ‘m not sure that u’ll read all this stuff but anyway why not to try ! I need spanish just because i really like it ! I have quite a lot of friends from South America and from Spain ! They ar all inviting me to visit them but till i can’t speak spanish i won’t go ! The reason is that i really would like to understand them , their feelings , the way they have fun and it is not possible to do in english ! I want to know all those speciall words , games and understand everyone! How could my spanish help others ? well … i live in ukraine and not much people here know spanish i guess i’ll help them to discover how beautiful it is and how different are people from spain and latin america from us how fun and happy they ar ! I know that i don’t have a chance but anyway i wanna say thanks for ur emails ! =)
Hola Marcus! I want to learn Spanish for myself, but also for my son Elijah Miguel, who was adopted from Guatemala in 2007. I want him to be able to speak his native language, and I believe it is my duty to help him learn. In order to help him learn, I need to learn myself. My level of fluency is somewhere around the high school level, when high school was 20 years ago.
I do a decent job of using the Spanish word for various things, but not such a good job of speaking actual sentences. I do sometimes feel like it might be too late for me, but I don’t want my own issues to affect my son.
Thanks,
Trish
Learning spanish through synergy lessons can broaden my job prospects in spanish speaking countries.
When I will be able to speak spnish, the people know me and want to learn spanish will be turning to synergy lessons.
The influence of Spanish is increasing each day. I am a 70 year old man who has a “Block” on learning another language, but the need in always there. I volunteer with organizations that help handicap children, people with medical needs, or people who need to learn how to integrate into their new socitity.
Thank you Marcus for opening up a vision for me, Yes, marcus, to learn and know another language is to know another world. Wherever i go in “my” world, i meet so many others who speak spanish and little english, whether it is a neighbor family on my street, coworkers on my construction site, the caballeros on the horse ride through the rain forests of costa rica, or the hispanic people that come to my monthly talks. Learning spanish would allow me to open up to “their ” world and see it not as my world or their world but as OUR world. This would also allow others to open to “my ” world. i am also spiritual teacher and although the spirit/universe/God has a language of its own, this same sprit/universe/God comes through in “expression” - spirit, air, breath, sound, voice - allowing “language” to be the element for communion between peoples….. thank you marcus for being this “inspiration” (spirit, air) for so many people and for allowing me the opportunity to be the same…..
The reason I learn spanish is to communicate easily and understanding way with people i come across in life from Spanish speaking nations. I am a priest, I would love to visit south america, i see lots of families broken, divorced, and some or may be more , even do not know the love of God. I want to speak to couples who are going through challenges in their marriage to bring them back together and so their families remain united and the children have peace and being loved and cared. Many hispanic children are abused because the parents have left them to fend themselves and they are being victims. I want to help them as much God allows me to help.
My learning Spanish will benefit many Hispanic adults in my community as well as myself. Working for a non-profit adult education agency, I get calls and visits daily from Hispanics wishing to learn English as a second language. Since their English is either non-existant or limited and my Spanish is the same , we have much difficulty communicating in order to arrange for free English instruction.
The ability to speak, read and write Spanish would greatly enhance my ability to communicate with these individuals and provide instruction for these adults, thereby improving the quality of their lives.
I would like to learn to speak spanish for two great reasons. My first reason is the most important one. I have a new son-in-law who speaks very little English. I would love to be able to communicate with him in more than broken words and phrases. Secondly I would love to learn to speak Spanish as a benefit to all the migrate workers we have here. Our region we live in is 98% english speaking only. I have tried to get my work to let me take classes so I can learn but unfortunately they told me if i want the classes I have to pay for them myself. I feel bad for the guys when they come into our store and need help and no one can understand them. I do my best but most of the time it just isn’t good enough. I
Dear Marcus
My reasons for my daughter and I to learn Spanish are as follows.
We have recently sponsored a child called Anny through World Vision who lives in Honduras. She is 3 years old and we want to be able to communicate with her through letters etc.
Also our friends are leaving NZ to go and live in Bolivia as missionaries.
Once again this is a Spanish speaking country.
I would love to be able to go to Honduras one day and visit Anny.
I am a solo parent with two teenage children.
I am also on the Oversees Mission Committee in our church and we are the sending church for our friends to go to Bolivia.
I feel that understanding the language will help me to understand the conditions that they are faced with because a lot is often lost in the translation to English.
Even if this is too late for the competition I just wanted you to understand my reason for learning Spanish and I thank you for the chance to try out the free lessons you have supplied. I haven’t had time to try them yet but I am looking forward to doing so in the very near future.
You seem to have interesting material with potential for marketing.
I am a veteran educator that wants to promote the use of your
language programs in our K-12 regional education system.
I am interested in receiving (borrowing also acceptable) for
review a complimentary set of your materials.
If interested to cooperate towards my effort to develop and to
implement sales for our mutual benefit, please confirm.
I am Yannis Mousouros
2773 Davis Ridge Road
Ringgold, Ga. 30736
Hello Marcus,
I think spanish will help my life be better because it helps me in taking another step into the world, where not only can I speak English but I can speak spanish and in most countries being able to speak two or more lanuages becomes an asset to you because you can deal with others of different cultures. I for one would like to travel to different countries and meet new people, and I may end up in a situation with someone who speaks spanish and I don’t want to just stand there and not know what is being said or asked because I don’t understand. So learning spanish is a big deal for me, and for the career and I would like to pursue in.
God Bless,
-Sara
I live in Catalunya in a village. I do not work anymore. Im not doing to badly but cannot understand when they speak Spanish. I do not hear it enough. When amongst Spaniards, they speak Catalan. I can read this I have to. I need a disk that has everyday Castilian Spanish, spoken clearly
I think spanish will help my life be better because it helps me in taking another step into the world, where not only can I speak English but I can speak spanish .and also Learning spanish through synergy lessons can broaden my job prospects in spanish speaking countries.
Learning Synergy Spanish will change my life by making me to speak and write confidently in spanish and consequently get employment in Spain where I am residing. Due to the fact that I have not been able to speak spanish, I have not gotten a job in Spain and I strongly believe that if I could learn spanish through Synergy Spanish I will be able to speak and write spanish which will enable me to get a job in Spain.
This scholarship opportunity, if given to me, will break my barrier of lack of fund in continueing learning Synergy Spanish which will consequently change my life by enabling me to know how to speak spanish in other to get employed in Spain.
1. I could land a job at a call centre as a Spanish speaker since they have become a rarity here in the Philippines.
2. I believe that the knowledge of Spanish would help me uncover some mysteries of our nation’s history and enlighten my countrymen to what binds us as a country… our Hispanic heritage.
I want to learn Spanish for love! I am in my mid 60’s and the new love in my life is Spanish. When we met, she could speak a tiny bit of English and I could speak a tiny bit of Spanish. Now, after three years, she speaks excellent English and I still Speak a tiny bit of Spanish. I want to hold her in my arms and speak beautiful words to her in her own language. I want to have conversations with her friends and get closer to her world. I want to share my thoughts with her on philosophy, the colour of the sky, the beauty of the mountains and the songs of the birds; I want to be able to whisper sweet nothings to her in the morning, express my emotions, talk about the weather and how to make French Onion Soup - but I want to do it in HER language to bring us closer and magnify our love. And do you know the craziest of things - I have had a house in a beautiful village on the Costa Blanca for 40 years; I moved my studio here 12 years ago, commuting between Spain and UK to visit my clients; and now I live here permanently. You would have thought I could have learned Spanish with all these incentives - but somehow my brain just doesn’t get there. I have tried intensive month residential courses, one-to-one lessons, CD and computer courses and adult school. So, I just wonder if anything will work.
Hola Marcus,
As for me learning Spanish Synergy will help others a lot especially orphans and poor people in my country Zambia. they are few doctors in zambia and if I become a doctor, I will do my best to improve the lives of other people Marcus because I believe to succeed in life is not to have money, cars or a big house but to make other people feel good and happy about themselves and that´s what you are doing Marcus! by giving the Scholarship to people because you want them to be happy and feel good about themselevs, that´s my dream! I always dream of being a doctor who can help people in a special way in Zambia or any African country. I want my dream to come true and I think God has answered my prayer because I do believe in him. I also want to build a orphange in Zambia and that´s has been always my prayer and my wish to help orhans and street kids to have a home because in zambia there are a lot of street kids Marcus. I want to study medicine here in spain and they don´t use english in the school of medicine, they use either catalán and spanish and they told me to study both languages and I have started learning at home but it´s not enough for me, now you see how much I need you Marcus, I really need you a lot. And they are people here who are doctors who have already said that if I learn spanish, they will pay for my studies being as a doctor. All I need Marcus is your Spanish and I believe it will help me to study medicine and help, serve other people who really want help. I have nothing to say much but I just wanted to say thank you and may God bless you for being nice to people. I will tell you a lot about myself next time. Iam a orphan and that´s why I want to help orphans Marcus.
Muchas gracias
Marone
learning spanish will definately change my life because i will be offered many opportunities and i definately love spanish and would love to become a fluent speaker it has always been my dream to speak a different language and i think spanish is definately the right one
Synergy Spanish will change my life for the better, let me explain. I live in Trinidad and my country is what we would call a colourful country (multi-national). As we move forward to achieve our country’s vision 2020, its not becoming imperative that all citizens become bilingual. I chose to learn spanish because spanish is now becoming a second language in my country, being very close to Venezuela. However, since I was in secondary school my passion for learning spanish never died, in fact, it was rekindle when I observed that it is imperative for me to learn the language. The Venezuelan embassy in my country offers a spanish course, however, I am struggling to understand the techniques and as you mentioned by ears are not tune to the fast pace. I believe your scholarship will assist me in this regard and thus develop into a fluent speaker.
I just found out about the scholorship. May I please submit an application for the scholorship? I pray it’s not too late to enter.
Gracias, and have a Blessed Day!
Senora Bobbette Davis
I would like to speak Spanish because I work for St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic a non-profit organization that helps Mexical children who are physically disabled or with other medical problems. These children are so happy with so little and they do not speak any English nor do their parents and it would be such a thrill for me to be able to communicate with them and close the distance between that language barrier. They are such happy children and they bring me such a wonderful feeling even with the language barrier and how very special it would be if I could talk with them. Thanks so much, Patty
Answer to #1: Learning Spanish would open up a new culture for me, and job opportunities especially since I’m 61 yrs. old.
Answer to #2: Since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Louisiana area several years ago, many Hispanics have moved into our communities. Learning Spanish would allow me to communicate with the Hispanics and help in howeverI can, even if it’s simple directions.
Habla espanol um poco, pero no entiendo muy bien. That’s about the extent of my Spanish education.
Hi Marcus,
I am an artdealer and speak French [ which I learned 20 years ago as an adult. I spend a fair amount of time in France and use my French on a regular basis. About 5 years ago I started going to Spain looking for artists to represent. For the first time, I was running into Spanish artists who did not speak French, so I decided I needed to learn Spanish so that I could communicate with them effecitvely. Since learning French had come fairly easily to me, I was initially frustrated that Spanish [ although having a common base language of Latin [ which I also learned in school] seemed so difficult to learn. I would be very happy to use your courses, and think it might just be the ‘breakthrough’ that I need!
Thanks
Ted Robertso
I wish I had known about this contest earlier. I am married to a wonderful and beautiful lady from Mexico. I would like to be able to communicate with her family. There is a Spanish church in our area and, since I am from a preacher/missionary family, I would like to one day be able to preach to them and help them in their spiritual work. Ultimately, I would like to be a missionary in my wife’s country, Mexico. Looks like I am too late, but keep up the good work.
Dear Marcus,
How kind of you to think about offering the scholarships. I hope you are able to sift through the many to choose from. I will make this quick.
My heart is to communicate with the women we work with in Costa Rica. Just this morning, a mom, of a troubled 12 yrs old, was in tears but I could not talk with her to find out what was going on. I’m 54, find spanish difficult, some sort of block! We have lived in Costa Rica for almost 5 yrs. Our dream is to encourage the less fortunate in the poor communities near us. That is why I need spanish.
Thank you.
Hope Hilstad
Both of my sons and my stepson speak spanish. Even my daughter in law and two grandchildren speak better than I do, in spite of my repeated efforts at ” self teaching” books and a total failure with Rosetta stone. Speaking spanish would make my travels to visit my family so much easier and would greatly decrease the stress my husband and I experience when trying to visit Spanish speaking countries. . I desperately need something that works !
Hi Marcus!
I am living in amsterdam Holland.I was very eager to learn Spainsh but it was quit difficult to speak because here a lot of south American are living and I am working in a cosmetic shop.Gratually I was taking interest in spainsh but I felt hesitation.Finally I got your e-mail and then i getting better and better in spainsh. now I can speak better Spainsh not too much but good.Its only because of your lessons of spainsh. Thanks a lot for this.
Before arriving in Mexico a few months ago I subscribed and downloaded your basic training course. I fell victim to procrastination and did not review the material on a daily basis. I am in Mexico with a friend who speaks Spanish. He also speaks four other languages (I hate him!) Estoy bromeando!
I enjoyed taking photographs of everything I’ve seen in Mexico including the people. In order for the portraits of the faces I capture to look alive I feel you must engage in some saw of conversation so that when the person is sitting in front of the camera the pictures I take are full of life.
I can’t get that unless I can talk to them in Spanish. I’m down here for a total of three months I’ve already spent one of those months. I must say what little I’ve learned from your course I have been able to get my point across even if it means making a fool of myself *smile*.
I study every chance I get. I can feel the pressure! Tonight I’m going to figure out what I need to say in Spanish order to ask and receive directions. I am sure I will have tons of stories to tell when I wind up in China!
By the way I am returning to Mexico for another three months. I think I see how important it is to communicate with someone that does no live around the corner. I must be able to speak Spanish clearly by next year this time. I have many years so it is very hard for me to remember what I’ve studied. Is there a pill for that?
¡Qué le vaya bien!
Elton
Hi Marcus,
I have 3 reasons for wanting to learn Spanish……..1) it is important to keep one’s brain active and challenged as one gets older 2) I have a godson who is Mexican, and his parents speak Spanish mainly, and I would like to be better able to communicate with them 3) I am getting closer to retirement and I hope that when I have the time, I will be able to do some volunteer work down in some Latin American countries, and be able to communicate with the local people.
Spanish sounds like beautiful MUSIC
I teach in a 2-room schoolhouse, in a rural community, the poorest county in our state - in a very small Christian school. We have a very difficult time competing with the public school system with all their advanced technology. I was a Spanish major years ago before I went into elementary education, and was fairly fluent, but I have lost most of my oral fluency. I know the grammar and can read some, but in order to teach my students so that they will really be learning how to speak, I need to be fluent also. I have already enjoyed your free lessons, and have learned a great deal, but I cannot afford the rest of the course. It would be so wonderful to be able to help my students succeed in Spanish through mebeing more fluent or through being able to help them through your course also, if that is possible. These young students need to know Spanish in our culture today and it will be such a benefit to their futures if they have a great foundation in it through your help. Thank you and God bless you, Marcus.
Hi Marcus, I will be travelling to Spain in August/September to watch the Baseball World Cup . I am busy with lesson 2 and find it the best way to learn and understand Spanish. To speak I know I will have a problem, as I do not now any Spanish speaking people, to help me with the pronunciation. Many thanks, I appreciate the help, Gussie .
I want to find out what my mother-in-law is REALLY saying about me. I also know many spanish speakers and would le to say more than”Como Esta”.
I live in Trinidad and as such I am surrounded by Spanish speaking neighbours. Communication is the key to abundant life. I need to be able to communicate effectively with my neighbours if I am not to be left out.
I must have this scholarship because I want to understand and liase with my neighbours.
Two years ago I went back to school to learn to do income taxes. At the time I did not realize how many spanish speaking clients did not understand the complexity of doing a tax return.
I feel so helpless because I am unable to convey to these clients all the ins and outs of the tax systems. As a result I feel I cannot give the best solutions and in the process maybe they are not getting the most compensation they should be receiving.
I am 76 years young and my mind is still clear and sharp.
After this tax season is over I intend to learn Spanish so I can help my clients. I feel they deserve the best I can give them/
I like the the way your course is presented.
I will use spanish to communicate with my neighbors, and by doing so will be able to help them with their problems.
Fred Holmes
Dear Marcus, I have really enjoyed your courses and have learnt a lot but want to be able to converse fluently with a Spanish speaking person. I would love to go to a Spanish speaking Country. Can you give me some clues. I am thinking of going somewhere where I can either go to a Spanish school or go somewhere where I can help children in poor places. what do you advise? Is it true that you are coming to Australia, if so where will you be? In case I can continue my lessons closer to home.
Thank you again Marcus, your lessons are great.
Regards
Carol.
Hola,Marcus
Thank you again the help and support that you are making for those who are seeking to open to enligth through the knowledge and I found on you someone who had the sens of helping ohters like me and the rest .the only thing is to go ahed.
Best
Brahim from Chad
Dear Marcus,
My husband and I moved to Costa Rica two years ago. We live in an all Tico neighborhood in Carbonal de Grecia and our neighbors couldn’t be nicer. They have taken us into their families and we attend many social events. Many are very kind in slowing down so we can understand better, to the point, that one mother complained that since her daughter met me, she now speaks Spanish with an American accent! Our neighbors have been so kind to us that I have been trying to give back by starting a children’s library in our home. (Books are a luxury they simply can’t afford). So far I have 35 children who take out children’s stories in Spanish. Often the kids will try to chat with me or ask me about a book, and I do not always understand them. I can read some, but need to read so much more so I can recommend appropriate books to them. I also need to improve my pronunciation so they can understand me better. Most extra money goes into buy books for the kids and it is difficult to afford your excellent lessons.
Suzanne Yankowski
How would taking this class enhance my life? I was in love the first day I took it in high school, and my love, over the years, has never waned. We have a lot of Mexican immigrants here in Iowa, and it has become very clear to me, that polishing up on my espanol is not only my wish, but a true necessity! My son-in-law (yerno) es Mexicano, y mi hija y yerno ahora tiene una bebe, y quiero hablar con mi nietos en inglese o espanol! I have never felt as alive, as enthused about anything, as I have about Spanish, and so many words have been borrowed back and forth, que pienso no es saltar grande entre inglese y espanol! i have helped several Spanish speakers in stores when they couldn’t get the store employees to understand what they wanted, and I feel that there is a NEED aprender la lengua espanol. It is not only a need, it is a placer para mi aprender otra vez, la lengua que amo!!!!!
How will it enhance my life?Let’s see.I worked in Hongkong for 7 years,but now I’m a nanny here in Spain.Though my employers `speak English I still want to learn Spanish bec. it’s difficult to adjust to a foreign land when you don’t speak their language.I got homesick,I missed my family and friends,but I am here now and I want to make the most out of it.But it’s difficult to make new friends bec. very few Spanish speaks English,and I don’t speak Spanish,so the language barrier keeps me in meeting new friends.We don’t understand it’s other.I can’t learn from my employers bec. they want me to talk to the kids only in English.I also want to apply for residency here after maybe about 2 yrs. so I can find a better job and hopefully get my family here later.But I know getting a better job is imposible if I don’t speak Spanish.That is why I need to learn,and I need something,a module,a lesson.or whatever,that works.Taking this class will help me settle down here,and be able to petition my family later on.Being away from them is a sacrifice for me,but if there is something I can do so they can join me here,I will do it.¡Muchas gracias!
Hola.
Soy estudiante de Kenya. I really love Spanish but cant just grasp it due to limited resources and few people that we can converse with. many of my colleagues don’t know Spanish and this breaks my heart. What makes me want to know Spanish is the fact that i would like to work and reside in the Caribbeans and so I have to prepare myself for the sake of conformity. Am sure with a good Spanish and English record I would be able to stand a shoulder high in my career prospects.
Hasta pronto.
Hola Marcus. When I hear Spanish spoken I am immediately drawn toward those who are speaking. I have a great desire to be able to communitcate with those who are speaking. I adore listening to Spanish being spoken. It is such an expressive language and filled with such passion. I want so badly to learn how to speak and communicate in this language.
I am a believer in your teaching method. I have told many people about your easy to access website and of the level of speaking success that can be reached in a very short period of time. I know this because I have previously invested over $1000.00 CAD for a 9 month Spanish Speaking course. I finished the course with nothing more than a binder full of information but with little ability to express myself in a language that completely intrigues me. I felt so frustrated and left the course with little if any confidence to speak the Spanish language that I have fallen in love with.
I go to a little Latino restaurant in the town where I live so that I can listen to the Latin patrons speak. I try to practice what I am learning from your course with the servers.
I would like to take my children to a Christian mission in Oaxaca. I would also like to visit Hualtuca on my upcoming honeymoon. I want to experience the Mexican people and their culture. I want to be able to communicate with them in their language.
Your course has given me a new confidence and re-instilled my belief that I can learn to Speak Spanish. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us and for continuing to help others learn this most passionate language.
I would be absolutely be “over the moon” if I were chosen for your scholarship program.
Thank you for taking the time to read this message. All the best to you Marcus.
ADRA
I am pretty slow at everything I do, so it could take me years to learn just the basics of Spanish. And I would really like to learn it fleuntly because my Mom helps people get their papers and their green cards, etc. So it would really help me to learn Spanish.
i belong from a poor family n i cant afort the purches
Hi Marcus,
I know that this is really after the deadline but I could not afford to pay the internet bill I am sick with a nerve condition that they donot understand so working full time is difficult. Any way I wanted to explain. (Thankyou so much for the free lessons that you have given) without them I would have never gotten as far as I have.
How will learning synergy spanish change my life. I would be able to communicate with my husband, his family, and friends. I could communicate with the customers that only speak spanish rather than calling for help. I t is all I have ever wanted was to have a close nit family. I want to be in all of my husbands life and he in mine but, I feel so uncomfortable when he can communicate with everyone and my girls and I are the only ones sitting there not being part of anything. I can only imagine what it would do for our relationship if I and my daughters could be involved in their lives, the feeling of belonging, to share my thoughts with them, to be able to answer the phone and talk to my husbands mother or aunt or sister would be the most rewarding thing for me. I have 2 different friends that are spanish and they speak verly little english and I get together with each of them once a week with the english to spanish paper that I have and help that all that I can but, if I actually knew what I was talking about imagine what I could do for them. Thanks again for the lessons!
Alisha
Hola Marcus,
Your words best express my thoughts. You nailed it for me, You said it best……..
……”Have you actually been trying to learn Spanish with methods based on a system that was never meant for use in speaking to a living person? Is it any wonder you have experienced a “blockage. The METHOD itself was your barrier to learning.
But what if we could remove the barriers to learning?”
Synergy Spanish would help me in two major ways. One, I would be better able to communicate with our Mexican sub-contracted drywallers and two, my twice yearly mission trips to Mexico would be a great asset in helping those less fortunate than myself.
May you prosper in 2009.
James from Pennsylvania
Dear sir : I bought your course and I am very satisfied. I followed your suggestion to learn more and better by reading more. So, I suscribed to ¨ Think spanish ¨ which is also very interesting, when I receive the magazines because I didn’t received the ones for the month of July and september 2009. I wrote to them three times by e-mail and received no answer at all. Would you please give me your opinion about that. Please note my new e-mail addres because I am interested with all your productions.
Hola Marcus
Thanks so much for making it possible to follow your spanish course
I have been studying your course and I am learning so much with your proven method
Even my kids (8 and 10) like your lessons
Easy for them too to follow
We are all from the Netherlands, so with this course they have a headstart to learning a new language
With my kids and all money is always short
I am sad that I am not able to pay for more parts of the course, because it would help us all in becoming really good in the spanish language
Thank again
Ok, i´m 55 and live in Barcelona, Spain, i have been living here for 4 years, and everyone converses with me in english (including the guys in my band who are both Spanish), i have to admit i just can´t to get a grip on then language, as soon as i try to speak everything i know just disappears, i can read both Catalan and Spanish and understand about 80%, my partner is Spanish and speaks some English but she is getting frustrated with my inability to learn, even with her help!! We have a lot of music project plans for next year and it is important for my relationship and with these projects that i need to vastly improve my Spanish, as i will have to deal not only sponsers but with some child music projects too!! help!!
I am from Ethiopia and my mother tongue is Ameharic, I learnt English at school. Now, I work for Aid agency that helps hungry people in Africa and the rest of the world. As a requirment to carry out my work, I need to have 2nd languge to help others. I have tried many classes, on-line sources and others but the Synergy Spanish leasson (specislly the 138 words) help me to know the basic spanish in just two weeks. I am planning to continue with you till the end and accomplish my goas of learning Spanish to support others.