Learning Spanish and other languages online
Many people learn a second language. And they may be motivated by a variety of reasons to do so; for work, as part of their studies, to travel, to communicate, as a hobby, etc. Up until relatively recently there were only two principal options if you wanted to learn Spanish or any other language – take classes locally at a college or school, or travel to another country to take classes from native speakers. Both have their drawbacks. Locally given classes may be at inconvenient times, or difficult to get to on a regular basis. And travel to another country is expensive even before you start paying for your classes.
But now there is a third alternative- taking language classes online. It is one of those platitudes that people often quote that the world is shrinking with the expansion of the internet. We can be in contact with friends anywhere in the world almost at any moment. We can also take advantage of instant communication offered by the internet to take Spanish or other language classes online. And this can have various advantages. Not only can you do it from your own home at a pace and schedule that suits your life, but it can cost a fraction of what it might cost to take classes where you live. While this may not be true for a language like Japanese, for a language like Spanish it is certainly the case. Individual classes in the US for example may cost upwards of $30-40 per hour. But taking them online with your own personal teacher may cost from just $7.50 (http://www.spanishonlineclass.com) to $20.00 (http://www.spanishinbariloche.com/learn-spanish-on-line.php ) per hour depending on which country your teacher is based in.
Online language teaching methods use a combination of a voice/video software such as Skype or other proprietary systems combined with live chat, shared browser, shared white-board, etc, so that there are a number of ways for the student and teacher to interact during the lesson. This variety of modes of communication can keep classes interesting and help to diminish the distance between teacher and student.
Teachers will also assign homework to the student which can be done and returned by email prior to the class so that the teacher can go over it with the student to correct mistakes.
One important factor is to have a reliable internet connection with a reasonable speed. Nowadays most internet connections satisfy these criteria, and as long as you are not still on dial-up modem internet your connection should be fine.
A headset with built in microphone is recommended over the external microphone and speakers that comes with most laptops these days. The sound quality will be much better with a headset, which is a key consideration when taking Spanish or other language classes.
It is surprisingly easy to develop a good rapport with your online language course teacher and online Spanish classes, for example, offer a genuine opportunity to learn at your own pace according to your own learning style with a live teacher at a very reasonable cost. And as most reputable sites advertizing online language classes offer a free trial class you have nothing to lose in giving it a try!

Online Spanish classes
Trying to learn a language from a CD that promised to have you speaking like a native in only 2 weeks? There are any number of “scientifically proven” methods of language learning out there that promise to teach you virtually any language in no time at all.
Without denying that there are indeed methods of learning a language that have a basis in what we know about how the brain works and how we acquire a new language, in the end there is no substitute to actually practicing speaking with a native speaker who is also qualified to be able to correct your mistakes and encourage proper development of your new language skills.
But what if you can’t afford the time to visit the country where the language is spoken, or your schedule does not allow you to take regular classes at a school or institute where you live? That is where, thanks to the miracle of the internet, you can connect with a native speaker from the comfort of your very own home. Live online language classes are a growing phenomenon as more and more people seek to master a new language, whether for work, study, or pure pleasure.
There are numerous language schools that offer classes with live teachers, and often at prices way lower than you would expect. Take Spanish for example. There are schools in most Latin American countries that teach foreigners to speak Spanish. And as the cost of living tends to be much less in these countries than in the US, Canada or Europe, for example, you can connect with a live teacher for a price that is surprisingly easy on the wallet.
In Quito, capital of the small but incredibly diverse country of Ecuador, where the Spanish spoken is reckoned to be the clearest and purest of all, there are schools like Yanapuma Spanish School. As an extension of their highly successful Spanish classes in Quito, they also offer live online Spanish classes for just $8 per hour. Compare this with similar classes in San Francisco or Chicago that can set you back $25-35 per hour.
You can set your own schedule of classes for 1-4 hours per session, as many or as few days a week as you like, at a time that suits your own busy life. So whether you already speak some Spanish and just want to learn more, or are struggling with endless repeating of phrases from the CD you bought, live online Spanish classes offer great value for money and the best way to develop your second language skills by talking with native speakers.
Most schools, like Yanapuma, will offer a free trial class so that you can see if you are comfortable with that style of learning (and most anyone from the computer generation most certainly will be). Even for those who came late to using computers, who may already enjoy video conferencing via Skype to their grand children in other parts of the world, the format is easy and un-technical.
There are a wealth of resources available on the internet for learning almost any language, and with the help of a good teacher, you can work in a systematic fashion through interactive materials that will encourage your language learning. So what are you waiting for?
If you have set your sights on mastering Spanish, then give Yanapuma Spanish School a try: http:/www.spanishonlineclass.com. 
The author is director of Yanapuma Foundation, a non-profit NGO that promotes sustainable development in Ecuador. The foundation is partially funded through the profits of Yanapuma Spanish School.

Medical Spanish online
If you live and work in the USA or Canada, speaking Spanish is becoming almost a necessity as use of Spanish continues to grow at a steady rate. And if you work in the healthcare sector, speaking Spanish is increasingly important as a significant portion of the patients will communicate best or uniquely in that language.  Being able to listen to a patient’s story and understand their symptoms in their own language is an important tool in making the correct diagnosis. And being able to communicate correct treatment and dosage to the patient is obviously a vital part of successful patient care.
In order to satisfy the need to learn Medical Spanish, specialized courses are springing up that offer to teach doctors, nurses, medical students and other health professionals, medical vocabulary and usage in Spanish. But what if you are a busy professional or student with little time to spare to take part in courses in your city, or lack the time to travel abroad to study on a dedicated course? The answer just might be to take your Medical Spanish classes online, with a live teacher who can instruct you in usage and help you develop the correct vocabulary for your particular area.
Spanish schools like Yanapuma Spanish School (http://www.yanapumaspanish.org/...), based in Quito, Ecuador, offer different levels of dedicated Medical Spanish programs, for students who want to study in Quito, or online, or even a combination of both. Quito is recognized as the place where the clearest Spanish is spoken, and Yanapuma’s teachers are experts in coaching students in the Spanish language in general, and in Medical Spanish usage in particular.
The school offers a Professional Medical Spanish program that is an 80 hour course that can be taken in Quito with an optional medical practicum for students. Or it can be taken online, or as a combination – 40 hours in Quito and 40 hours online. There is also a regular Medical Spanish program that is for students whose level of Spanish is not sufficiently high to take the Professional Medical Spanish course, or whose needs are not quite so strict. In either case the one-to-one classes are conducted by professional teachers who have taken extra training in teaching the medical Spanish programs.  
 Most schools with online language programs will offer a free trial class so that you can see that you are happy with that style of learning. This will give you the chance to check that your audio and video is working right, so that you can sit down face to face with your teacher for classes.
One of the great advantages of learning online is the wealth of materials that are available for study. Your teacher will be able to guide you through this material and present tasks to you at a suitable level that you can work with on your own.  So whether your specialty is gynecology or orthodontics, your teacher will be able to help you with materials of the right quality at the right level for you.
A search using your favorite search engine will reveal courses of all shapes and sizes for studying Medical Spanish. You can find out more about Yanapuma’s dedicated courses on their online class website – http://www.spanishonlineclass.com. It is worth asking any school for contact with former students who have taken the same course so that you can judge for yourself the worth of the course and that it will live up to your expectations.
The author is director of Yanapuma Foundation, a non-profit NGO that promotes sustainable development in Ecuador. The foundation is partially funded through the profits of Yanapuma Spanish School and works with hospitals and clinics in Quito and the rest of Ecuador.

Learning a second language when retired
One of the things you often hear said is that it is good to keep the brain active as you age. And one of the best ways to do that is to learn a second language.  Stimulating the brain in this way has been shown to actually help in regenerating brain cells. For many retired persons the thought of going back to study again is akin to being told you need to diet – all pain and no gain! But it need not be that way, and learning a new language can open doors, expand horizons, and lead to a new appreciation of life, especially for people in their 60s and 70s.
What’s that you say? You can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Don’t believe it.  To prove it why not try it for yourself? One easy way is to sign up for online classes. Any good school that offers online classes will offer you a free trial class so that you can see how it works, meet a real teacher and begin the fascinating process of learning a new language.
If you are interested in learning Spanish, and if you live in the USA or Canada you probably should be interested, you can try a free class with a school such as Yanapuma Spanish School. They are based in Quito, Ecuador, where the Spanish spoken is about as clear as the high mountain air of this lofty capital. For the cost of your internet connection, which you are already paying anyway, you can try without risk a free class, spending an hour with an experienced Spanish teacher. Even if you know no Spanish at all (I challenge anyone to tell me that they do not know at least 10 Spanish words – gracias, por favor, mañana, hasta la vista (baby!), adios,  . . .) that will not be an impediment to communicating with your teacher and beginning the process of opening up new horizons.
And if you feel inspired after the trial class you can continue with classes for a mere US $8.00 per hour, almost the price of two cups of coffee these days. And once you learn about the history and culture and incredible diversity of Ecuador, you may even be inspired to visit Quito to continue taking classes with your teacher in the flesh. Another option is to travel the country on one of several set programs that explore different environments and cultures of this gem of a country, accompanied by an expert guide and companion – your Spanish teacher.
Far from being a time to potter aimlessly around the house or garden wishing the grand children would call, retirement can be an exciting time to expand into new areas, learn new skills, and remember what it is like to be young again in spirit, if not in the flesh. And learning a new language can be a key element in this rediscovery of life’s potential. And all it takes is to sign up for a free online language class . . .
The author is director of Yanapuma Foundation, a non-profit NGO that promotes sustainable development in Ecuador. The foundation is partially funded through the profits of Yanapuma Spanish School (http://www.yanapumaspanish.org).

Children learning a second language
Many young parents dream of having their children grow up bilingual. Not only does it open up more horizons for them as adults fluent in more than one language, but it has been shown to be an advantage in developing the capacity of the brain and enhancing thought processes. But if you are not part of a couple that already speaks two languages or are not living where the spoken language is not your own, you have little chance of making your children bilingual from an early age.
But this need not be the end of the dream. You can make use of all the internet has to offer to introduce your children from a young age to a second language. Not only are there a wealth of educational materials in different languages available for free, but you can sign yourself and your children up for live online language classes. Spending an hour or two once or twice a week with a live teacher, using interactive materials and games, can encourage your children to learn a second language as a fun and interactive activity.
It is important though to choose an online language school whose teachers are knowledgeable and well versed in the skills of encouraging children to learn. It is important that there be a “good chemistry” between the teacher and your child, and that they begin to look forward to the class, almost like looking forward to chatting with a favorite aunt or uncle. Once the rapport is established, your child will do what comes naturally and simply begin to soak in the new information like the information sponges that they are when young.
For English speakers Spanish is the favorite second language of choice, especially in the US and Canada where its speakers will soon outnumber English speakers. So giving your child a good start on learning Spanish could be one of the best things that you can do for them as a parent. But where to look for a reliable online Spanish school for your child?