What is the best way to learn a second language?
I've been reading a lot of the discussions recently specifically the ones about how grammar is not important and how learning rules for certain things (like imperfect vs preterit) is not important. While I totally agree with everything said about this, I have a major question: "How are you supposed to learn a language without all of the rule and grammar?" Now the obvious answer is by listening and learning through example or being around people who speak the language. But that isn't really an option for me. No one in my family speaks Spanish, nor do any of my friends/ acquaintances. My city probably has a Hispanic population of about .001%. I have tried to listen to Spanish music, watch Spanish TV shows on the one Spanish channel we get, correspond with someone in Costa Rica via email and even read Spanish literature (unsuccessfully, I might add), but that fact remains that I still don't know always how to structure a sentence and how to speak correctly. Take the imperfect vs preterit tense (what I have been trying to learn for the past month) How do I learn that without going to the rules? I really, really want to learn Spanish and speak fluently someday but I don't know how to go about it! I know this takes a lot of time and practice but I just don't know where to start.
11 Answers
Immersion courses, like Berlitz, are the fastest, easiest way I've found. They combine the natural learning method (listen, guess, repeat what gets reinforced) with a structured approach.
It's impossible to teach yourself a language to the point where you can hold a conversation. You have to have interaction with a real person. It sounds like you've also had some frustrating experiences trying to jump in over your head watching T V and reading literature. Remember that children don't start out watching Shakespeare and reading War and Peace. You have to start with Sesame Street and Dr. Seuss. You need to know at least a little bit before you can even do that. Whatever approach you take, having a human teacher of some sort will make things much, much easier.
Dating a native speaker. The best way of all.
"How are you supposed to learn a language without all of the rule and grammar?
Like children do: by induction. Even though you know the rules verbally, you cannot apply it fast enough to either speak or talk, so you have to learn your brain do the learning. If you can speak well, you will not be able to explain to anyone how you do it.
Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLgvSZ4LSJg
to learn in order to use and to use in order to learn
Best vicious cycle ever! 
Haha, I agree with Gocika!! Or, if you can afford it, go take a total immersion language course in another country. That had always been my dream and I did it last year instead of another type of vacation. I lived with a Mexican family and attended classes and social events. It really catapulted my Spanish to a new level rapidly.
Get a couple of DVDs of Spanish movies and watch them over and over until you understand them. It is better to get movies with people speaking Spanish rather than with Spanish dubbed over a film in English.
Get a book that was written in Spanish and has an English translation available and read them both together.
I began learning English when I was a teenager reading comic books, particularly Peanuts (Charlie Brown), at a local drugstore, cause they were too expensive for me: more than three or four bucks each one. I didn't learn grammar but I learnt a lot of vocabulary, specially nouns and verbs, like bite or bark, and some idiomatic expresions such as good grief and so on. It was so, I guess, because I could see the words written and the draws at the same time. Besides, Peanuts, by Schultz, was adressed to children, and its grammar and vocabulary were basically those intended for them.
How do you eat an elephant?
I also have practice conversations with myself when I'm out on trail with my horse (so that I don't get laughed at or have people try to lock me up.)
To make your reading experience successful, you can buy the book in both English and Spanish and read them side by side or get an e-reader and get a Spanish-English dictionary app (less than 10 bucks) and download Spanish books. You can ask your local library to get access to these books for you if they offer lending through Nook e-readers (like my library does)
try to find a spanish pen pal, use a dating web site to meet people from other countrys and ask them if you can talk and practice, alot of people from other countries speak english as well as spanish or they are practicing on their english so you to can help each other
There is a great series of workbooks called Practice Makes Perfect Spanish. I'd get either the general grammar one or the verb one and supplement with that. It does help most people to get explanations of things. Also, with the lessons here on this site, be sure to watch the videos.
Try to find out where that hispanic .001% of the population is in your city and volunteer with them, or arrange intercambios where you practice each other's languages together.
Good luck!
