how are you learning?

Question

I went to Mexico for 5 weeks, the first 4 weeks I went to a great interactive school in Oaxaca (Espanol Interactivo - I highly recommend them. Not only for the quality of instruction, but they are very nice people who help you in countless ways, like having friends in Mexico)

I went not knowing hardly any Spanish at all, and came back being able to speak a little bit and make some simple sentences. I know I do not speak well, but it's much better than nothing.

Now that I am back home, I fear I will ose all that I worked so hard for. I have very little opportunity to speak and I can feel myself more and more reluctant to try. I am doing this and practicing to myself in my head every day, but I can feel it slipping away.

How are other people learning? What programs and methods have you found the most helpful? There are 100s to choose from and one can spend tons of money, but I am most interested in what secrets work for you in incorportaing Spanish into your day and if anyone has found Ipod or workbook programs or games or ways of hearing the language that they think are most effective. What works for you?

Answer 1

I feel your pain! I am also trying to learn spanish and have a difficult time finding ways to practice what I learn. Rosetta Stone was a great resource for me but I found it wasn't giving me the explanations that I needed to really understand things. It is wonderful for helping memorize words and really does drill them into your brain but when you get into more difficult verb conjugations and things like that it left me in the dark. I started searching for resources online and found this website! Now I have given up Rosetta Stone (so expensive) and am doing all I can to learn - for free - right from here! It is easy to make your own flashcards too. My belief is this doesn't have to be expensive.

I am not sure where you live now but I am sure there are people like you looking to practice. Check out craigslist or local papers for these types of meetings. I am taking salsa dancing lessons as well and have found most of the regulars speak spanish. I can practice with them while also learning to dance - two difficult tasks to combine!

Good luck in your learning! I am a relative beginner with spanish, if you'd like someone to practice with via email just let me know!

Answer 2

Hi Kitty,

This is a common question on this site and I'm glad you asked. I always love hearing what others are doing to learn Spanish. First, I think it is great that you were able to study in Mexico for several weeks. Many members on this site would love to be able to study in a Spanish speaking country, but for one reason or another, that is not possible.

I have spent quite a bit of money on C.D.'s and other audio programs, only to be disappointed. I can honestly say that this is the most helpful website. It provides as much, if not more of what the expensive programs give you, but for free. Currently, I supplement what I learn on this site with several workbooks, flashcards, Spanish TV and the help of Spanish speaking friends. In addition, I occasionally use a site called LoMas TV. It costs about $10 per month, and provides Spanish videos, with English transcripts that you follow along with. Every so often, someone on this site will post a link to a good site.

You have already experienced the best way to learn, which is in a Spanish speaking country with native speakers. I would encourage you to continue speaking several times a week with any friends you have made in Mexico. Skype them and also communicate through email or in chat rooms. You will also find this site to be very helpful. There are people from all over the world here who share the goal of wanting to learn either Spanish or English. You would be a welcome addition, especially with your first hand knowledge of learning Spanish in Mexico.

I hope this helps.!

• I considered LoMas, I love the slow down option on the videos. I also want to return to Oaxaca - the expensive part was the plane tickets, but an apartment was about $400./mo and the lessons were $105/wk, plus few people speak English there. Great! - kittybrougha Sep 28, 2009
• Also: is there a workbook that you have particularly liked? Do you make your own flashcards? (and thank you for making me feel so welcome, so far I love this site) - kittybrougha Sep 28, 2009
• LoMas does not have level 1 videos for beginners like me. - RogerHH Sep 28, 2009

Answer 3

In response to your follow up questions, I have used several different work books. One that is excellent for beginners is "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Learning Spanish". It covers all the basics, provides an overview of the language and prepares someone who is planning on traveling to Latin America or Spain. Another favorite is "The Everything (Learning) Spanish Book. This one is a little more in depth, but is still easy reading. I would suggest "600 Spanish Verbs" by Berlitz when you are ready to do some serious work on verb conjugation.

As for the flashcards, I do use 'Speak in a Week" Flash (1001 Flash Cards) They are color coded according to parts of speech and are easy to carry around. I also make my own and would suggest labeling items around your home in Spanish (ex. refrigerator, mirror, microwave, etc.) This way you will be absorbing tons of vocabulary as you go about your daily routine. In addition, this website has excellent flashcards. There are tons of sets ready for you to study and/or print. Definitely check that out.

Every so often, I just go to the language section of the book store and see what's new and exciting as far as learning Spanish is concerned. I usually always find one or two new books that motivate me and keep my desire to become fluent a top priority. I also forgot to mention the importance of having a good Spanish/English Dictionary available. When I do purchase new books or dictionaries, I try to give away the older books to others who are learning. The dictionaries I have been able to give to friends who are trying to learn English. I hang on to a few of the really good workbooks so I can have them for easy reference. Happy Studying!!

Answer 4

Yes I can feel some of your pain. It is very hard to retain without someone to talk and practice with. I have taken some formal Spanish lessons with a teacher who also has regular days for spanish speaking students and teachers to get together and practice. I think there may even be a weekly get together. Some weekends in the summer it is picnics and get togethers outside just to speak with one another in Spanish. Its just a thought, but they may have something similar where you live. Seems to work for some who have the time to get out.... Just my 2 cents.....lol

• Thank you - it IS painful! I think you are right, I must force myself to find and use opportunities to speak with someone live. I'll look... - kittybrougha Sep 28, 2009

Answer 5

I have been studying Spanish for about 6 weeks. I read a number of sites with descriptions of grammar (they are easy to find using google) and just joined this site yesterday. I have found the following site to be useful for practicing conjugation, since it allows you to select all of the simple tenses at once, and leaving the "category" blank seems to pick words from all categories:

http://www.onlinespanishhelp.com/conjugationTrainer.php

You should be warned that a couple of the answers are incorrect, but over 99% seem to be right.

I also watch Spanish language television (with a dictionary in my lap) and attempt to read articles from La Opinion. I live in a predominantly Hispanic community, so it is easy to find native speakers to listen to and make fun of my attempts at speaking. I hope to spend a month of immersion tutoring in South America in a month or two.

Answer 6

A few things I do are, study in all of my free time (I realize this time will vary for everyone), I have started watching only Spanish language movies and I make all my Spanish speaking friends talk to me only in Spanish (they repeat a lot).

Answer 7

All I can tell bout this is:

Most likely, you know nothing about English grammar, however you can read, write and express yourself in English very well.

Why do you need to study Spanish grammar to be able to do the same thing you do in English so well, or not so well, whatever.

Just dedicate your time to read a good novel in Spanish, ideally one that you already read in English and you absolutely loved it. Transcribe it in Spanish to a notebook as you translate it, and read it out loud while you record your reading for later review. Watch movies in Spanish only, without the subtitles. etc... And I am sure you will have tons of questions.

Answer 8

I have used a lot of resources - extensive use of this website, reading simple Spanish story books, completing Spanish grammar workbooks. One thing that has helped, or at least made the learning more enjoyable, is watching taped movies from the Spanish channels. I will watch and listen, and even though I understand less than 5% of what is spoken, I can pick up a lot from the context of what I am watching (especially if it is a movie I have seen before). I jot down phrases that I hear, then come to this site for translation. If the movie is close-captioned, it is even better.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

How about signing up with one of the many sites which offer Spanish lessons over the internet ?

Answer 10

I would really like to find something to listen to in the car. I have done Pimsleur 1 and 2 but would like something a bit more conversational or bi-lingual.

Although I only spend about 40 minutes a day in the car, it feels like that is 40 minutes I could be learning in.

I have tried a couple of podcasts but they seemed to be a bit hokey. Does anyone have any ideas here ?

• I've tried a few things, but I still haven't found one I like or that works for me. In fact, I wonder if this just doesn't work very well for me, I can't seem to focus on it (cursed ADHD!) - kittybrougha Oct 12, 2009