At what point should I try conversing in Spanish?
I've nearly completed the first set of lessons, and I belong to an offline Spanish speaking group, but it seems to me in order to really start conversing I need a LOT more vocabulary as well as a good understanding of the various verb conjugations. I left the last meeting of the offline group feeling very intimidated even though a few people graciously took the time to help me along, but I'm reluctant to go back until I have a better grasp of how to form sentences and understand what's being said back to me. At what point should I try again? After the second set of lessons? I'm aware I'm going to make lots of mistakes, but I'd like to feel like I have a decent shot at holding my own in a basic conversation. At what point have people here taken the plunge into actually conversing?
8 Answers
Hi , welcome to the forum. I'd advise you watching a TV show, a soap opera or whatever you like. But it needs to be something that after one point you can give up attending what people say as you'll know what they are going to say because you already know the subject , the personalities so you can focus on how they build the sentences.. in a situation your brain will think "Ah, this person is going to say yes... But how?" So, you'll be focusing on the way that they do it , you won't be trying to understand what they say... Therefore, in daily life, while speaking, you'll automatically say those sentences in correct cases! It helped me a lot , but it takes a few months to get used to it... I hope it helps you also 
And also , of course the more you speak , the better you do it..
I've met many people in my life who managed to learn Spanish -or other languages- within a year (or so) to such level of perfection, that it was nearly impossible to tell that they were foreigners. The secret? God knows, but I can tell you something: they all were eager to talk from day one, and they all repeated your words like only a baby or a parrot would, all the time, and they were eager to use them again and again... so they could communicate. People who wait until they are fluent before they talk... they hardly ever talk at all.
The more you converse in Español the better you will become. Pratice makes perfect. 
Immediately! There is no better way to learn than to talk to people face to face, especially people who know more than you do. It can take quite a while to become "conversational", especially if you don't practice holding conversations. It sounds like you have a perfect situation, too. Everyone else in the offline group is there for the exact same reason you are - to learn and speak Spanish. Just jump in and do it.
Let me give you some inspiration with the story of a fireman ( i saw this on tv) who moved to poland at age 40. He spoke no word of the language (and it is one of the harderst languages in the world, equivilant to learning 3 easier languages). But he went to a bar, slowly picked up basics, learned how to ask for a drink, learned how to talk to people, all by sitting in the bar and talking and listening (though obviously not in one day) and now speaks perfect.
This should be easier in Spanish + you have the benefit of this website.
Thanks everyone - lots of helpful advice! ¡Muchas Gracias!
I left the last meeting of the offline group feeling very intimidated even though a few people graciously took the time to help me along, but I'm reluctant to go back until I have a better grasp of how to form sentences and understand what's being said back to me.
Oh, my an answer to my prayer. I've been discouraged and wondering if I would ever get the grammer to put a sentence together. It is rather intimidating and like you say when folks help it does feel so wonderful. I was fine until Lesson 2 and I feel lost in the grammar. But I am going to try.
Another wonderful answer to this is Heidita; she is one of the administrators. She's got some exercises about, Pepa. Strictly for beginners. [Click here to go there.][1] It may not be exactly what you are looking for but it is full sentences; not fragments and does use vocabulary from indicated Lessons. Maybe some of those sentences could somehow be used in conversation. The first step is the hardest. A friend of mine knows I enjoy John Wayne movies. She gave me a poster which reads, "Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway!"
So hopefully all this feedback will help you and all of us to continue to "saddle up"; learn. Thank you again for your post! And welcome!
Hi Alli and welcome to the forum. It's never too soon to start. If you're in a group already then I can almost gaurantee you're more advanced than me and I try to talk whenever I can. Get on Skype and join in the sessions on Saturday evenings. It's very casual and no one will push you into speaking so you can just listen in until you feel comfortable.
