How long does it take?
Hola a todos! I have been learning español for about 14 mths now. I still cant understand the spanish tv or conversations between two people. I can pick a few words but thats about it! Is this normal? I am just a little concerned with my learning ability! If I dont understand now will I ever understand? I think I could be just hard on myself but I want to understand what people saying! Maybe I need a slap with a fish on the cheek to bring me back down to reality!
He estado aprendiendo español por 14 meses. No puedo entiendo la televisor de español o hablar entre dos las personas. Puedo entiendo un poco palabras pero eso es. Este es normalmente? etc etc etc etc.....................................!
10 Answers
It helps to tune into a Spanish radio station if you can. They speak super fast sometimes - but they repeat the same things over and over. About the 10,000th time you've heard a commercial, you'll be able to pick out the address, or the phone number to "llame ahorita!" and so forth. Also you'll hear the same news recordings and the same songs.
You know what I'd like? Sesame Street en español 
If you can, go to a Spanish speaking country for as long as possible. Take a temporary job assignment or apply to be a student in a university for a semester. That will help more than anything.
Oh, look:
Tons of kids' shows en español (you have to buy DVD/VHS)
Plaza Sesamo (with videos, online)
It takes a very, very long time to learn another language.
My experience has been that I can speak it better than I can understand conversations - somewhat similar to your own.
When I start a conversation and remain in control, I'm OK. But when a native speaker starts a conversation with me, I find myself saying, "Dígalo más despácio, por favor," which means "Say it more slowly, please."
Don't get discouraged. You will, soon, suddenly begin to understand words and phrases you hear.
If you can, rent Spanish movies and turn on the English subtitles. This is very helpful.
Mike, it takes a long time to be able to understand spoken Spanish on the radio and television. Please don't feel discouraged.
Keep on studying the different tenses (past, future, etc.) and it will increase your understanding quite a bit. Also, just listen to the podcasts in Spanish even though you don't understand all of it because it helps to just hear the language and its rhythm. I like News in Slow Spanish.
¡Buena Suerte!
Interesting that you mentioned the magic number of 10,000 times, Ltward.
There's a best-selling book that "documents" that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve great success.
The book uses examples of great musicians (the Beatles), computer whizzes (like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs), as well as athletes to illustrate its point.
Innate talent has little to do with success, the author claims.
Extraordinary success only comes with hard work.
(10,000 hours is 416 days, by the way.)
¡Buena suerte, todos!
It happened to me with English, too And still, when I watch a new film, English subtitles can be helpful.
I have been studying Spanish for 4 months, the last one in Ecuador with 4 hours a day of individual tutoring. I am right at the point where I am beginning to understand the TV news in Spanish, rather than just catching words and phrases in a flood of babble, and can have a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly. I think it will take a year of living in Ecuador to become fluent, but I am at the point where I can survive in a Spanish speaking country.
Well, I have taken Spanish for over 5 years, and I still hardly know anything. But, that's just kind've how I am. So, don't feel bad. Your not the only one!
I hear repeatedly that "total immersion" is the way to go. But if ALL you hear is babble then that does not work in my experience. You have to study as well.
There are those (e.g. Ikepueda) who seem to suggest that all one needs is "exposure" to a language and that, as a result, one will "naturally" (magically?) come to understand what is being said and be able also to speak. The six-seven years that most children require to obtain competence in their native language (and which occupies most of their waking hours) is more than most adults are willing to spend.
If, as is true for most, your total immersion includes instruction (geared towards people learning a 2nd language) your process can/should be considerably more rapid (because it can take advantage of your "general" understanding of language).
I am of two minds about the benefits/advantages of something like "News in Slow Spanish". On the one hand, it "eases" the introduction to spoken Spanish (as do many/most teachers) by slowing down the rate of speech. On the other hand, this does not represent Spanish as it is, actually, spoken.It is, at best, a stepping stone, on the path to listening to "real" Spanish. It is important to keep in mind that it is artificial (although it may well be helpful) and that the real goal is Spanish at the "normal" speed.
I hear repeatedly that "total immersion" is the way to go. But if ALL you hear is babble then that does not work in my experience. You have to study as well.
It is my first year and I have mastered it so what I think you should do is concentrate, relax, take a deep breath, and be patient.
