Michel Thomas Method - Spanish

Now - I am amazed at how successful this product has been for me.  I have been lucky that my library had the foundation, advanced, and builder courses available for hire.

I really do not know where to start with this product, and how I cannot rate it highly enough.  It has taken me from absolute beginner knowing a handful of seeming unrelated phrases, to a reasonable level of communication.

Earlier, I looked at Platiquemos Spanish.  A comparison of that with MT Method, is that the MT method has you speaking - constructing sentences - with a knowledge of how the language hangs together, pretty much immediately.  On the other hand, the Platiquemos method would take a long time - I had a knowledge of Spanish before looking at it, but admit I would be lost if it was my first entry to the language.

MT comes with NO books, you take NO notes, you do not try to remember.  You never criticise yourself for making mistakes - all the STRESS of learning is with the teacher. 

So how does it work?

Well, with the exception of the builder which is MT on his own - the foundation & advanced courses come with MT and 2 other students.  In the foundation course, they employed a quite hopeless English guy and an American girl who was much better.  In the advanced, a English woman, and an American guy - the pair in the advanced are much more switched on.   You are the invisible third student.

MT will ask the pair (and you) a question.  You hit the pause key, think of the answer - say it aloud, then one of the students on the CD answers, and either validates your answer or you got it wrong.  It really is that simple.  So, some examples?

MT would ask: How would you say?  I want
Response: Yo quiero.
This builds and builds to cover all verb endings in the past tense, present, future and the subjunctive.

A typical(ish) sentence would be:


Hablé con Jose ayer, desafortunadamente no puede hacerlo hoy porque estará demasiado ocupado.  Voy a preguntar mi amigo mas tarde.

I spoke to Jose yesterday, unfortunately he can not do it today because he will be too busy. I'll ask my friend later.

After the MT method is complete, you are not fluent by any means, however - the Spanish you can speak will be understood.    Their are drills in the MT method, but they are presented in such a fun way, that you are unaware of the amount of sheer repetition involved! 

There have been negative reviews about a lack of native speakers and the poor pronunciation involved.  However, this is simply an very in depth introduction into Spanish grammar.

There is not much given in the way of vocabulary, however there are many resources out there for this. 10/10