Spanish Fantasy Word Collection 1

I'm currently studying Spanish. I had a semester in college a few years ago but am now learning the rest on my 'own' through the Internet, an old textbook, dictionary, etc. As of this date, it's been three months since I picked the subject back up.

I notice a lot of the websites for basic Spanish learning will give lists of vocabulary followed by simple sentences. I've read sources that are strictly against learning lists of words. Their argument is that it's all route memory when you do this. They argue that you'll forget because they aren't attached to anything else in your mind. I do noticed that a lot of these lists seem to be random in nature. One list I remember had mouse (el ratón), pineapple (la piña), and shoe (el zapato). I suppose this is good if you ever have to talk about a mouse eating a pineapple in a shoe. Otherwise the usefulness of such a list is limited.

The best language teacher I was ever exposed to had an interesting technique. He would let people study whatever they thought was important. This seems a better technique because then you'll study the things you like to speak about. The mind remembers better if it can find order in something. You also remember better the things that are of interest to you personally. Emotion has an effect on memory.

What I've decided to do for myself is to make my own collection of words and simple sentences based upon my interests. I like fantasy stories so the first one I created was a collection of fantasy related words. I have the list below. I share this with one disclaimer: my Spanish grammar is still a work in progress.

Spanish Fantasy Word Collection 1

Dragon-El dragón
El dragón es grande.
The Dragon is big.

Unicorn-el unicornio
Los unicornios son hermosos.
Unicorns are beautiful.

Goblin-el duende
El duende es molesto.
The Goblin is annoying.

Gargoyle-la gargola
La gargola es grande y fea.
The gargoyle is big and ugly.

Goblet-la copa
La copa de plata es chillón.
The silver goblet is gaudy.

Magic-La magia
La magia es peligroso pero útil.
The magic is dangerous but useful.

Magical-mágico
El perro es mágico.
The dog is magical.

Imaginary-imaginario
La gargola es imaginaria.
The gargoyle is imaginary.

Wicked-malvado
La madrastra es malvado.
The stepmother is evil.

Mysterious-misterioso
Los duendes son misteriosos.
The Goblins are mysterious.

Mythological-mitológico
Los dragónes y los unicornios son mitológico.
Dragons and unicorns are mythological.

Fairyland-país de las hadas
País de las hadas es mágico.
Fairyland is magical.

To make this list I first looked up the words in a Spanish-English dictionary. I then searched then in a Spanish dictionary online to get a definition (in Spanish). I took the definitions and ran them through a free Spanish to English translation service online. I did this to help confirm it was the correct word to use. The system is of course not perfect.

I started this check system because it gets me to read more complex Spanish sentences (the definitions). It helps to try to understand it yourself first before translating. It also gives some insight into the differences in the way Spanish puts thoughts together as oppose to English. The other benefit is that I can do this system on my own without having to bother an actual person. Afterwards, I have the final product checked by a friend who has Spanish-speaking relatives.

Resources

The Free Dictionary
http://es.thefreedictionary.com/

Spanishdict
http://www.spanishdict.com/translation

Merriam-Webster's Spanish-English Dictionary, ed. Eileen M. Haraty, Merriam-Webster Inc. Springfield, MA, 2003.