I tried these courses before I went to South America. They are useful for learning how people sound on a tape while talking at half speed using words and phrases that you will probably never hear.
I jibbed them off and did a GCSE at night school one day a week. Then I did an AS. It's easily doable if you have a plan to go somewhere in a year or two. It's really so much better to learn with other people and have exams to push yourself to study for.
However, once I got to Argentina I felt like I shouldn't of bothered at all. Once you get into slang, dialects, accents it all changes. I was totally lost.
I had to go back to basics and just ask bi-lingual locals what I should be asking for and what words people use etc.
The ONLY ONLY way to learn a language is to just listen,try,try, listen, try and then listen some more. Immersion is SO important.
I learnt more Spanish in 6 months touring (mostly speaking in English too) than two years of and countless books, audio books etc
Lastly... TRAVEL ALONE !! You're language skills will improve DRAMATICALLY.
Ride safe, Ted
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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