Listening is hard.

Question

Hi everyone. I am learning spanish and can write and speak a little. Probably the late beginner early intermediate level, but I have a real problem listening and recognising what has been said. When a sentence is said, I recognise some words but when i understand those words another 5000 words have been said. I can just keep up. The other thing is when a sentence is written, 9 times out of 10 I know the meaning of most of the words but to understand the sentence is a bit tricky sometimes. Can someone please tell me that this it is not me but just a thing that always happens when you are learning a new language. Does everyone go through this??? Any help will be appreciated. ohh p.s..... I am going to Argentina in March and I want to be able to at least have and understand a basic conversation. regards.

Answer 1

Hi Mike, This is defintely not abnormal (well at least I don't think it is)! LOL Yeah, I'm at about the same level as you even though I have been learning for like, 2 years, and it's a lot easier for me to say a sentence/write a sentence than understand someone else's!!! Anyway, you are not by yourself! (and it's good for me to know that I am not by myself)!

• thanku for that!! well at least i know it not me. i thought i was going stupid.jejejejejej. - mike123587 Nov 8, 2009

Answer 2

I first started studying Spanish almost 40 years ago, then had about about a 38 year hiatus when I was exposed to almost no Spanish. When I returned to Colombia last year, I couldn't understand why telephone answering machines were looking for messages when I called: "Buscando mensajes". Finally I realized that it the phrase was "Buzon de mensajes".

I just takes time and exposure. Don't get frustrated. We all go through a period training our ears to keep up with our brains, and getting our brains to hear and respond in Spanish, instead of having to translate.

Answer 3

Here is a site you might find useful: Spanish Listening Proficiency

A number of different voices, subjects and spoken Spanish that ranges from beginner level to "superior".

Yes, I myself get one CD story in Spanish "down" (i.e., I can understand it directly without translation in my head) and move to the next to find that I once again have the sense that I can understand nothing at all!

But I am encouraged when I go back to my beginning tapes ... ones I once listened to but couldn't even hear where one syslable, word, sentence or sometimes even tape!! ended and the next began. And yet I hear something that now sounds as familiar to me as English.

You are very fortunate to be able to go to a country where you will be immersed! ... and after that it should all be downhill.

Answer 4

Here is a site you might find useful: Spanish Listening Proficiency

Very interesting; especially because we get a lot of questions about "What dialect should I learn?" or "If I learn Spanish on this site will I be able to get along in ___? (some country)" It was mildly disappointing that they include nothing from Spain, Puerto Rico and Cuba. In the case of Spain, because that is often a concern expressed by our members who have been bombarded with the idea that the Spanish of Spain is totally different from (and incompatible with) the Spanish of Latin America. That it is different is true but the difference is comparable to the differences among many Latin American countries.

My reservations about Puerto Rico and Cuba are simply because (in my experience) they are the ones who are most prone to "swallowing" their "s's". I can understand their speech but it requires a certain mental effort to "supply the missing "s's").

I confess to a certain bias. According to this site, I am reasonably comfortable at the "superior" level, although my own evaluation would be "advanced-minus". False modesty is not one of my vices; so I think their grading scale is a bit tolerant/forgiving/optimistic."

Answer 5

Listening isn't as hard as you think. If you've been listening to Spanish everyday for a year, it shouldn't be a problem. I think speaking is the hardest because you need to be able to conjugate verbs, find the correct words, and form sentences in the blink of an eye.

Answer 6

Don't you worry. It was the same for me too. Still is, although, as some people mentioned in earlier posts, occasionally I catch bits and pieces that I can understand and that makes me feel better. I watch Spanish TV to help my listening and understanding. Hang in there! Learning a language is not a matter of a few weeks or even months, it can take a good while but it will be worth it in the end.

Answer 7

Hi, I'm at the same intermediate level and have recently discovered a good way to practice listening (and understanding) at different speeds and with different accents. It is at [link] www.lomastv.com and amongst many features my favourite is the s.l.o.w. button - also the listen again (to any phase - as many times as you like ! Do try it - there are several free videos to watch/listen to and hundreds when you subscribe. I've just done a month's subscription as a trial and I've found it worth every penny. Also with video it so much easier to understand when you can see the face(s) and the objects and the actions. Go try it and report your own reactions here ? Peter.

• thanks for that. i will try it now!!! - mike123587 Nov 9, 2009

Answer 8

Mike, keep in mind that Argentina has its own way of pronouncing and also writing, as much of their linguistic influence came from Italian. Much of their grammar is not traditional (some would say proper) Spanish, so take it with a smile and ask them to speak slower: they also speak rather fast. It is not like 'eating the s sound', but more like putting it a blender at different speeds. I love the way it sounds! And one more thing: argentines are amazing people, so I truly hope you enjoy the country. May I ask where in Argentina are you going to be? Try to go to the small towns in the south, such as Bariloche, especially if you like chocolate

• A nice, realistic observation! Great input zenejero! :-) - chaparrito Nov 9, 2009
• thanks chaparrito. gracias chaparrito! (eres chaparrito de veras?) - zenejero Nov 9, 2009

Answer 9

I share this problem.

So much so that I Digame mas despacio, por favor has become my middle name!

• With my friends, I've reduced that down to "mas despacio!!" They always smile and slow it down...and make fun of me. - Nicole-B Nov 9, 2009

Answer 10

Referring to Traceyadina's comment above in this interesting and growing list, I have looked at the [link] www.pimsleurapproach.com/learn-spanish.asp sales page and at the very end they say:

"Most language learning systems fail to acknowledge that writing only exists to represent the words we speak. So you should ask yourself, "Why should I learn to read Spanish if I can't even speak it?".

I like that observation, but haven't paid for a CD yet. They do not say what they mean by intermediate ? Can any one tell us more about this immersion method ?

Also how do you translate "immersion method" ? It is not inmerción (like in water) and I suspect it might be something like método enfrascamiento ??

Answer 11

Does anyone have the link to the pimsuler webpage. I might have a geese at it. If that works for me it will hit the nail on the head. woo-hoooo. Anything that can improve my listen and speaking will be as sweet as a nut.!!! Sorry aussie slang!!! I get carried away sometimes when i see something new that will improve my learning!!!!!

• The link is in my edited answer above ! - Peter_W Nov 10, 2009

Answer 12

Hola a todas. I just had another dream last night in spanish. From what i have been told this is a good thing. Maybe the more listening i am doing is paying off!!!!

• Yay! - chaparrito Dec 4, 2009

Answer 13

thanku guys for all your answers. i really appreciate it. my enthusiasm has gone from 100% to 500%. muchas gracias!!!!

Answer 14

Is the Pimsleur course aimed at spanish from spain or latin american spanish and is it american made or english made??? i am just curious. it mat be hard here in australia to buy it but i will have a look!!!

• check the libraries! public libraries are surprisingly good at carrying language cd's! - zenejero Nov 9, 2009