Think Language audio magazines (French, Spanish, Italian)
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2016 5:10 pm
Preamble
Many members of the this forum are already familiar with the “Think Language!” series of audio magazines that are available online for the study of French, Spanish, and Italian. Although I no longer subscribe to the these monthly magazines, I continue to receive the publisher’s newsletters. Having just received the most recent “Think Language!” sales promotion, it occurred to me that the numerous newer members to this forum might not yet know of this study aid, hence this post…
Think Language audio magazines (French, Spanish, Italian)
Second Language Publishing launched the “Think Language!” series of audio magazines in 2002. There are currently three editions of the magazines for students of French, Spanish, and Italian all of which are offered for annual subscription, for 12 monthly installments, as downloadable PDF documents . The magazines are approximately 25 pages in length. Downloadable MP3 audio recordings of the articles are included in the monthly installments (approximately 60 minutes in length). The magazines are designed to assist adult students expand their familiarity with the art, geography, history, food, and culture of the countries were these languages predominate and, in so doing, with the related vocabulary. A partial glossary is included within the articles to assist the students with items of vocabulary that are likely beyond the more general vocabulary acquired in most language courses. The articles are written in the narrative style. While the level of ability required for reading these magazines might begin in the neighborhood of the CEFR level A1, students who have already achieved a level of A2 would be more comfortable. The accompanying audio recordings are delivered by native speakers at a comfortable conversational cadence; neither rushed nor too slow.
Here is the LINK to the publisher's website:
http://www.thinklanguage.com/
Comments and Critiques
I subscribed to the Spanish and Italian editions of these magazines a few years ago and I was quite pleased with the product, most particularly because the articles represented a refreshing departure from the topics and vocabulary that most standard language courses offer. There has not been much discussion of these materials on the HTLAL; however, a couple of members pointed out that the magazines contained the occasional error; while I did not notice any, this might very well be the case. I drew this particular observation to the publisher’s attention and, in her reply, she expressed her sincerest regret for the presence of any errors, she confirmed that the authors of the articles were all university-educated native speakers of the target languages, and she offered to transmit any errors to the writers for review should I submit specific examples. In defence of the writers, she opined that they were “like the rest of us”; that is, they were making their best possible efforts at presenting interesting materials for the enjoyment and edification of the reader but that, (like the rest of us), they were not grammarians. In my own defence of this publisher and her writers, I shall “cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)
Tips on Pricing
The publisher is presently offering a reduction of 100 $US off their regular annual subscription. In addition, they are including access to the previous monthly magazines for years 2015 and 2016. In my opinion, this offer represents a significant opportunity to acquire a large quantity of “low intermediate” native-language materials with accompany audio recordings for both study and enjoyment. Should anyone wish to take advantage of the offer subsequent to its withdrawal, I would recommend that they simply send the publisher an Email via the “Contact Us” portal requesting the sale pricing. You might also wish to sign up for their newsletter, particularly as it is distributed to announce other sales opportunities.
Tips on Downloading & Printing
First, please note carefully that your downloading privileges are valid ONLY for the period covered by your subscription. For this reason, you should download ALL of the materials that you have paid for! Second, while it might be tempting to print the very attractive, multi-colour PDF files on your colour printer, doing so would cost you a small fortune and, for this reason, I suggest that you download them onto your computer for your future enjoyment and, should you wanted printed versions, that you print them in BLACK ink only.
Related Products
Some members might be familiar with a series of "related products" published by McGraw-Hill:
Read and Think English
Read and Think French
Read and Think Italian
Read and Think Spanish
The above McGraw-Hill CD-book sets are related to the Think Language monthly magazines, but they are not the same product.
The articles appearing in the CD-book sets are partial extracts from about two-year's-worth of previously-published Think Language monthly audio magazines, regrouped by theme (art, geography, history, food, et cetera). However, the accompanying CDs contain only a small portion of the original audio recordings. That is, for an entire two-page section in the CD-book sets, which is comprised of perhaps a half-dozen extracts from the monthly magazines, frequently only the first extract in the entire section is accompanied by an audio recording. Quite a disappointment!
I queried Think Language about this apparent over-sight and the owner replied that she had supplied the entire set of printed and recorded materials to McGraw-Hill (and sold them the corresponding copyrights) in the anticipation that the latter would publish a CD/DVD-Rom containing all of the audio recordings to accompany whatever selection they chose to publish. She expressed her regret concerning McGraw-Hill's decision to include only a portion of the audio recordings; however, having sold the rights to the materials, she could not intervene in the matter.
I have included this additional note as some commentators erroneously believe that they can acquire the equivalent of the "Think Language" magazines through the purchase of the McGraw-Hill CD-book sets, at a lower price. I reiterate, they are not the same product! Buyer beware!
EDITED:
Subsequent addition of "Related Products".
Formatting.
Typos.
More Formatting and Tinkering.
Many members of the this forum are already familiar with the “Think Language!” series of audio magazines that are available online for the study of French, Spanish, and Italian. Although I no longer subscribe to the these monthly magazines, I continue to receive the publisher’s newsletters. Having just received the most recent “Think Language!” sales promotion, it occurred to me that the numerous newer members to this forum might not yet know of this study aid, hence this post…
Think Language audio magazines (French, Spanish, Italian)
Second Language Publishing launched the “Think Language!” series of audio magazines in 2002. There are currently three editions of the magazines for students of French, Spanish, and Italian all of which are offered for annual subscription, for 12 monthly installments, as downloadable PDF documents . The magazines are approximately 25 pages in length. Downloadable MP3 audio recordings of the articles are included in the monthly installments (approximately 60 minutes in length). The magazines are designed to assist adult students expand their familiarity with the art, geography, history, food, and culture of the countries were these languages predominate and, in so doing, with the related vocabulary. A partial glossary is included within the articles to assist the students with items of vocabulary that are likely beyond the more general vocabulary acquired in most language courses. The articles are written in the narrative style. While the level of ability required for reading these magazines might begin in the neighborhood of the CEFR level A1, students who have already achieved a level of A2 would be more comfortable. The accompanying audio recordings are delivered by native speakers at a comfortable conversational cadence; neither rushed nor too slow.
Here is the LINK to the publisher's website:
http://www.thinklanguage.com/
Comments and Critiques
I subscribed to the Spanish and Italian editions of these magazines a few years ago and I was quite pleased with the product, most particularly because the articles represented a refreshing departure from the topics and vocabulary that most standard language courses offer. There has not been much discussion of these materials on the HTLAL; however, a couple of members pointed out that the magazines contained the occasional error; while I did not notice any, this might very well be the case. I drew this particular observation to the publisher’s attention and, in her reply, she expressed her sincerest regret for the presence of any errors, she confirmed that the authors of the articles were all university-educated native speakers of the target languages, and she offered to transmit any errors to the writers for review should I submit specific examples. In defence of the writers, she opined that they were “like the rest of us”; that is, they were making their best possible efforts at presenting interesting materials for the enjoyment and edification of the reader but that, (like the rest of us), they were not grammarians. In my own defence of this publisher and her writers, I shall “cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)
Tips on Pricing
The publisher is presently offering a reduction of 100 $US off their regular annual subscription. In addition, they are including access to the previous monthly magazines for years 2015 and 2016. In my opinion, this offer represents a significant opportunity to acquire a large quantity of “low intermediate” native-language materials with accompany audio recordings for both study and enjoyment. Should anyone wish to take advantage of the offer subsequent to its withdrawal, I would recommend that they simply send the publisher an Email via the “Contact Us” portal requesting the sale pricing. You might also wish to sign up for their newsletter, particularly as it is distributed to announce other sales opportunities.
Tips on Downloading & Printing
First, please note carefully that your downloading privileges are valid ONLY for the period covered by your subscription. For this reason, you should download ALL of the materials that you have paid for! Second, while it might be tempting to print the very attractive, multi-colour PDF files on your colour printer, doing so would cost you a small fortune and, for this reason, I suggest that you download them onto your computer for your future enjoyment and, should you wanted printed versions, that you print them in BLACK ink only.
Related Products
Some members might be familiar with a series of "related products" published by McGraw-Hill:
Read and Think English
Read and Think French
Read and Think Italian
Read and Think Spanish
The above McGraw-Hill CD-book sets are related to the Think Language monthly magazines, but they are not the same product.
The articles appearing in the CD-book sets are partial extracts from about two-year's-worth of previously-published Think Language monthly audio magazines, regrouped by theme (art, geography, history, food, et cetera). However, the accompanying CDs contain only a small portion of the original audio recordings. That is, for an entire two-page section in the CD-book sets, which is comprised of perhaps a half-dozen extracts from the monthly magazines, frequently only the first extract in the entire section is accompanied by an audio recording. Quite a disappointment!
I queried Think Language about this apparent over-sight and the owner replied that she had supplied the entire set of printed and recorded materials to McGraw-Hill (and sold them the corresponding copyrights) in the anticipation that the latter would publish a CD/DVD-Rom containing all of the audio recordings to accompany whatever selection they chose to publish. She expressed her regret concerning McGraw-Hill's decision to include only a portion of the audio recordings; however, having sold the rights to the materials, she could not intervene in the matter.
I have included this additional note as some commentators erroneously believe that they can acquire the equivalent of the "Think Language" magazines through the purchase of the McGraw-Hill CD-book sets, at a lower price. I reiterate, they are not the same product! Buyer beware!
EDITED:
Subsequent addition of "Related Products".
Formatting.
Typos.
More Formatting and Tinkering.