A cool tool to improve your reading comprehension and pronunciation: Announcify

Hi there!
Google is a box full of surprises. They never let you down. I just discover this new app for Chrome or Android. The concept is so simple, it reads out loud websites. There are several languages available and Spanish is one of them! Nice!
To be honest I have to say that intonation and rhythm are not that authentic but it really helps beginners to listen the target language at home or somewhere else using their phones. The only accent available in Spanish is castilian...still waiting for more variety! 
It reads out loud SMS, MMS, Gmail, and much Google apps like Twidroyd or Plume.
The way the app displays the text highlighting the piece it reading is very educational and intuitive.

Follow directions for installation procedure:

1. Add Announcify to your browser (Chrome)
2. Change your settings. Select Spanish.
3. Go to a website written in Spanish and click on the little bird (you'll find it on the right upper side on your screen) Try this one for A1 level (beginners) about Recycling.
4. Our little friend will select the Spanish text found on the website and read it out loud for you.
5. Relax and learn

Sources:

• Announcify

Lunaprofe 9/06/2014  No comment

Sound like a native

Yes, it's have been proven that interaction is essential for learning foreign languages. 
Yes, if your teacher is a native speaker can be your best option for interacting.
But, what happens when your teacher is not there or is not a native speaker?
You might want to use other tools like this one below to keep improving on your pronunciation (also calls phonetics for some people)

One of the main points of this site is that you have available a native speaker 24 hours a day just for you and it also comes with pictures and explanations (in Spanish) to help you out with tongue's position.

It can look too technical but it really comes in handy to grasp difficult sounds.

One of the best things is that this great tool is at no charge, thanks to Iowa University.

Activity:
Just as an informal practice or for a formative activity you can try something like this:
- choose a sound you are having difficulties with [ll, y, ñ...]
- practice that sound for an evening using this tool, choose 4 words to practice
- present 4 words containing that sound to your classmates and then to your teacher (ask him/her for feedback)

Remember, practice makes perfect!


Source: 

• http://soundsofspeech.uiowa.edu/index.html#spanish

Lunaprofe 4/16/2014  No comment