Michel Thomas Spanish vs. Learning Spanish like Crazy Review

These days, knowing a second language like Spanish is almost imperative, giving you an advantage in the job market or making your vacation much more pleasurable. Traditionally, learning another language can be difficult and time-consuming, requiring long-term classes, dry textbooks and hours of homework. However, now there are many options for learning Spanish with audio CDs, which you can listen to in your car or on your mp3 player, allowing you to learn at your own pace.

Though there are many Spanish language CDs available, I will review and compare two popular ones: Michel Thomas Spanish and Learning Spanish Like Crazy (LSLC).

Michel Thomas Spanish

This program comes from world-renowned linguist Michel Thomas. You can take classes at his Language Center (available only in New York, Beverly Hills or London), or purchase his 10-CD set for $79.95. The discs are comprised of 30 lessons of 20-30 minutes each. You learn along with two other students on the CD being taught by Thomas himself.

In a short amount of time, you will be learn to express yourself in basic Spanish; this is ideal for business travelers or those going on vacation to a Spanish-speaking country.

The Michel Thomas Spanish method is all-audio. There is no memorization, books, writing, tests or homework. Thomas is adamant that you learn best when you are relaxed, and his teaching method is based on three simple ideas:

• a comfortable, stress-free learning environment
• a simulated classroom setting where you work along with other students
• a memorization and note-free way to learn.

Thomas’ concept is to learn words first (especially those that are similar to English words, like importante, necessario and conversacion), then tie them together into common but simple phrases, and finally build them into longer, more complex sentences.

Learning Spanish like Crazy

Patrick Jackson, a New York lawyer, closed his practice and moved to Colombia where he “discovered” an easy method to learn Spanish. Frustrated from trying to learn out-dated or overly complex Spanish, he analyzed all the Spanish courses he had attempted, took the best techniques from each and discarded the rest, and came up with Learning Spanish Like Crazy.

His is also an audio-based course, made up of 30 lessons of less than 30 minutes each, noting that people learn best in short increments. His program comes in 15 CDs for $197 (vol. 1, 30 lessons) or you can download his digital version of 30 lessons for $199.95. You can also purchase the CD Platinum Package of 50 CDs for $347.95, which gives you a mountain of bonuses, including several advanced courses, Spanish idioms and insults, and the FSI Fast Course (developed by the US Department of State to teach government personnel Spanish).

The Learning Spanish Like Crazy CDs teach real, everyday Latin American Spanish, spoken by native Latin Americans. Instead of learning overly formal phrases like “How do you do?”, you will be taught to say “How’s it going?” or “What’s up?”. The course is taught almost entirely in Spanish, with English used now and again for some important explanations, so you are immersed in Spanish without translation. The simple method of listening to and repeating phrases spoken by native speakers is the concept behind LSLC.

Summary
In summary, both Michel Thomas Spanish and Learning Spanish Like Crazy seem to be quite similar.

Both:

• are based on an audio-only format (no writing, homework or books)
• focus on conversational Spanish
• require repetition

The differences are:

• LSLC uses native speakers, while Thomas (a non-native speaker) himself teaches his course
• Thomas uses two students on his CDs, and some may find the beginner student a little annoying, while LSLC only uses the native speakers
• Thomas’ clientele list includes celebrities, diplomats and executives, while LSLC’s students are made up of regular people
• LSLC is roughly twice as expensive

Each program claims to be fun, relaxed and provide results in a very short time. Of course, you will get great results only if you practice often, so there are no miracles or magic potion here, as one might think from visiting both websites.