Introduction and helpful ideas on learning

Question

Hi all,

I am trying to learn spanish and teach my kids the little I know (they are 3 years and 7 months old). I only have 1 friend that knows spanish, it is not her first language, she proberly has been speaking it for about 4-6 years and she speaks it at home as her husband doesn't speak english well. Other than her, I only have the TV, radio, books, one time a week of 1 hour practice.

I was wondering how good is the TV and radio in helping me learn it. I was also planning on joining one of our spanish churches and taking my kids there too (Our denomination as spanish churches in my area) but am wondering if they would like at me weird because I will not understand all that they are saying. I also feel strange speaking to my kids in it as sometimes I wonder if I will mess it up for them. I can say a few phrases to them but then it is mostly english. As of right now my son know a few body parts and a few phases/words like venga aqui, deme un beso, hola, adios

Also I keep hearing to go to a spanish country. But that is difficult with 2 kids and a husband that only speaks english. Not to mention I did go to one for 2 years and attended a spanish college, books were in english but classes and church and everything else in spanish. I guess I picked the wrong place as there had been a great amount of people that spoke both languages and by roommate spoke only english. And here I am almost 8 years after leaving Puerto Rico feeling like I am starting over again. I know I was catching on to it as I had a dream in it and was grasping most of what was been said.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

¡Hola!, Curls8 :

We recently had an enquiry about Spanish language web sites that might be useful in learning Spanish. From that earlier enquiry, a list was developed. You will See The List Here, and included in it are some games that might be suitable. Some of the sites may be too advanced, but, look each one over and ask yourself if any one or more of them are useful to you.

I will try to keep the list up to date so perhaps you could check back on it from time to time.

Recuerdos/Regards,

Moe.

Answer 2

What about bringing a Spanish-speaking person to your home...an exchange student or perhaps an au-pair? In exchange for room board, teaching English and even perhaps enrollment in a local school or community college, you could ask your guest to speak Spanish with the children and exchange lessons with you.

Answer 3

This is a wiki I ran across today ... a wiki "how to" for "How to learn Spanish" It may have one or two useful ideas for you.

Answer 4

¡Bienvenido!

I've tried many combinations to try to enhance my learning. I've found Spanish radio the least effective, since there is no visual reference to what is being said. I've found recording and then watching movies in Spanish is helpful, especially if closed-captioning in English is available. I pause when I hear an unfamiliar phrase, write it down, and come to this site to get help from the more seasoned members here.

Good luck! ¡Buena suerte!