Teaching Spanish in English or teaching Spanish in Spanish?

Question

What are everyones thoughts on this. I believe you should be taught in you native language and then gradually introduce spanish as you become more fluent.I find spanish is complicated enough to learn in english let alone learning in spanish. But I can see the idea of "total immersion " from the very start!! But hmm I dont know if it is a good ar bad thing????????????????????

• Hi mike, please use correct capitalization, thanks. - Heidita Nov 12, 2009

Answer 1

My first classes in spanish were only taught in spanish and since my advanced classes, in which my teachers go back in forth between spanish and english, I have found that my fluency has decreased, as I rely on my mother-tongue for comprehension as opposed to spanish. So I completely think that classes should be taught in Spanish with exception to the beginner classes in which the teachers can say instructions in english just to make sure they understand the assingment.

I was totally immersed in Spain for a semester and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Its not to say that its not totally frustrating at times and that you can really wish SOMEONE spoke english but if you can just get past that, the chances of really soaking up spanish increase dramatically. So yes.

Answer 2

I like to be taught Spanish only in Spanish.

However, I will look up something complicated, such as the subjunctive, to see how it is explained in English just to make sure I really understand it.

Answer 3

I like the progression that Paralee follows in her lessons. All of a sudden I realized I was listening and comprehending her topics as she had carefully built the vocabulary to do so.This is the only place I have attempted to learn a language besides reading it on my own.

Answer 4

I am not a Spanish teacher but I have had the chance of teaching Spanish to some Americans. For beginners I always tell them: "Hablar se aprende hablando". "I want you to learn how to speak Spanish correctly. Spanish, not 'Spanglish', like most Americans speak".

I do make a lot of emphasis in each and every letter of the alphabet, and how to say it correctly. And I also teach them the same way kids learn, they see, they listen and they repeat, they don't have any idea of grammar. I know that all of them struggle with the Ñ, the LL and the RR. But I tell them: "If a parrot can talk in spanish why you cannot? I know that it takes time and effort, and lots of patience, but I love to do it.

One important thing is that Americans are a lot more disciplined than us hispanics and tend to learn faster that some of the English students that I have had.

Answer 5

I think it is best to be taught the basics in English, then do total immersion in a teaching situation, then live in a Spanish speaking country for a few years.

• Now that would be an ideal way to learn Spanish! - --Mariana-- Nov 12, 2009
• I leave for total immersion on Monday and plan to move to Ecuador permanently early next year. - lorenzo9 Nov 12, 2009
• Oh, wow, that's really great! I wish you a wonderful adventure. :-) - --Mariana-- Nov 12, 2009

Answer 6

Hola a todos!!! Thanks guys for the replies.It gives me a bigger insight into what people prefer. I can see the idea of total immersion but my teacher sometimes teaches everything in spanish to describe what homework to do or why you should use this verb or that verb for this particular sentence, then after all that sometimes I have to ask her," what do we have to do for homework or why does that verb go with that sentence" etc etc etc and ask her to answer in english. Maybe I am just too hard on myself and consider myself as a perfectionist. But no matter what , I will learn this language even if it takes 50years!!!!