"Professional Spanish"

I had the pleasure of meeting several car salesman today.

One of them told me, "Yeah, I'm fluent in Spanish, but I can't speak technically. Can you help me with that?"

So, really, this young man has everything! He knows the rules, he knows the sounds, but he lacks the words. Well... that's not too bad. What is language any how? Lots and lots of words.

So, let me help him find a great resource: (Other than a dictionary....that's just TOO overwhelming, and if you know me at all, you know I don't do well with overwhelming stuff! So I break it down for you.)

Here's the break down:

1) Pay Attention to what you say.

2) When you speak to anyone in English, any customer, when you're done, head back to a desk, or a table, and jot down any three sentences you said. (Having a notebook dedicated to this is a good idea)

3) Then, within 24 hours, look it up. Email me, use google translate (and a good dictionary) and see it through. Write down the translation.

4) Practice it. Say the sentences at least three times.

So, that's for the self-sufficient, really motivated, on-the-ball Spanish student.

For others, here are some great books that "break it down" for you:

1) published by Barron's (Authors Navarro and Ramil)

This is a thematic approach and has phrases, and LOTS of vocabulary, as well as an extensive glossary and index. Excellent. (But no mechanics or auto parts in that book, sorry Jeff at Toyota)

2) is another GREAT resource, and DOES Have tons of technical nouns, and pictures to help Jeff learn new words.

To find out HOW to get those words into his brain, I hope he'll shoot me an email.