Real Life practice
This is my first question on SpanishDict!
Its become increasingly more obvious that I need to do more actual real life spanish practice for me to improve. My question is what are some fun activities that I can engage in that will help? Also how can I get my bilingual friends to speak to me in spanish?
I have friends that are spanish but they talk to me in english so I'm not getting any practice. Locally there is a diecent spanish population and there some towns/cities that have a population of more than 50% spanish speakers. But even if I were to visit whats the best activity to engage in?
We have gone to several local authentic spanish resturants but when people see me (I'm very not-spanish looking) they want to speak to me in english. Like the waitor comes around, asks what we want in spanish, but then will ask me in english etc. Its awkward because I'm not fluent and if they do speak to me in spanish I don't understand much. I don't know how to get past this stump.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!!!
9 Answers
Here are some ideas:
- Line up an "intercambio" once a week with a native Spanish-speaking individual. This is a one-on-one language exchange where you speak in one language for half the time and the other language for the other half of the time. Ideally, you find someone who wants to improve their English skills. Because the setting is really relaxed (get together for lunch or coffee), this could be the most enjoyable part of learning to speak Spanish. For more information: myintercambio.com
- You can ask people to speak Spanish with you. For your friends who speak Spanish, you can always ask, "Ahora podemos hablar en español? Now can we speak in Spanish? Or, for those waiters and everyone else..."¿En español, por favor? Necesito practicar." In Spanish, please. I need the practice.
- When people speak too quickly for you to understand, tell them that you don't understand and ask them to speak more slowly. "No entiendo. Mas lento, por favor." Or, "Mas despacio, por favor."
- For my impatient bi-lingual friends who don't want to speak slowly with me, I just ask them to help me with a "Spanish Word for the Day." They tell me the word and use it in a sentence. This helps me to build vocabulary.
I had the same problem when I came to the USA and also when I visit France... Is the same everywhere.... they do not want or have the time to be patient with you, they are just bussy.
With you friends...just tell them... that you want to practice your Spanish and that you need their help 
I'm pretty sure that they will help you out....
This is what I did personally ( for my English)
Get a conversational Spanish class somewhere...college or university...
Watch lots and lots of GOOD Tele...(do not contain too much colloquialism or regionalism) maybe RTVE...Madrid....
A handy notebook by your side.... I carry a small recorder in my purse and I still record stuff.....
Listen to public broadcasting radio... or go to the library and get some good books on tape/cd to lien to them while you drive!
Language enrichment! And DO NOT STOP learning.... go on vacation to a Spanish speaking country!
You can find people with whom you can talk on Lenguajero and since the Spanish speakers are learning English, they´re in the same boat as you. I have found many pratice partners using this site.
Thanks for your input everyone! Firstly, I have asked my buddy to speak to me in spanish. But apperently its just as awkward for them as it is for me. Like what do we talk about if I only understand simple sentences? When I asked they were like, what are we going to say? Hola? Como esta?
I have tried watching spanish television but to be honest I can't stand watching any more novelas!!! lol. I have watched some actual spanish movies but I don't know where to find a good selection. I have watched some english movies that were spanish dub'd. They were ok. I don't watch too much tele to begin with so if i'm going to watch it it has to be something thats going to keep my attention.
I do listen to spanish music pretty much everyday. I have about a 100 song library now! I just downloaded a bunch of merengue. I am also learning how to dance, but thats another story!!!
I have been to several spanish parties now, but again because almost everyone there is bilingual I only get very little exposure to the language. And because I feel weird talking spanish I have missed opportunities and spoke english even though I knew what was being said and how to respond.
I also have gone to church in spanish. I know thats a great opporunity to practice greetings but when I'm actually there I chicken out a little and end up responding in english. I also have a goal of going to a resturant and ordering in spanish only.
I guess I just need to get past that nervousness and I'm looking to figure out how exactly to do that...
Also, hitchens, none of my friends spoke spanish either. I made new friends with spanish people!!!
I tried "Lenguajero" I like it a lot! Me Gusta!!!
Just about any town of reasonable size has private language clubs where people get together once a week to simply converse in their chosen language. If I was able to find one in Akademgorodok, Russia (mid Siberia), you can find one too!
You lucky guys. None of my friends speak Spanish. I hae no way to practise. learning the language is therefore infinantly more difficult for me.
Why don't you just ask your friends to speak Spanish with you? They will never know you want to learn unless you tell them. 
I had a lot of bilingual friends as well, and I used to practice with them whenever I was with them.
Also, I used to go to Mexican dances in my town. I never really had any conversations there, but that is just me. It was a blast though!
You can try to speak with yourself first. Try to imagine that you are speaking with Spanish native speaker, maybe after that you will brake your fear and will speak in Spanish, not in English, with real native speakers.
We also host a skype chat on this site, which is hosted by two of the administrators of this site for free and you get to know some people you might want to interchange with
If you are interested, read this.
