when will i learn spanish to where i can understand it and respond?
When will I learn Spanish to where I can understand it and respond?
5 Answers
Hola Amber and welcome to the forum.
Your question is of a subjective nature. A definitive answer therefore cannot be made.
However, everyone is different. Some people have a natural propensity for learning languages, and others do not.
One thing is for certain, you will learn how to read and write Spanish before you will be able to understand a native speaker.
Keep doing you lessons to learn the basics. Try to find people who speak the language to help you. If you can afford it, a private instructor is the fastest way to learn.
Of course, it all depends on your willingness to stick with it until you begin to understand the language.
You are on the right website for learning Spanish. Here you will find people more than willing to help you, as long as you make an attempt to answer a question or post a question.
I wish I could give you an answer like one year or two years, but I really can’t.
That being said, it does take time and effort before you begin to learn the language.
The main thing is to enjoy the learning of the language, and don’t get frustrated.
Good Luck…and have fun learning the language.
One thing I don't agree with Rolest is about being certain that you will learn to read and write in Spanish before understanding a native....
hmmm maybe he might be right after all.
Can you read and write in Spanish right now?
Please answer.
And also ponder about the following:
You know how to read, write and express yourself in English, so there isn't much more you need to learn to "acquire" Spanish.
In reality what you need to do is to translate what you know in English to Spanish, which is hardly "learning" Spanish.
See what I mean?
Do you know English grammar? If the answer is no, please do not try to learn Spanish grammar because people tell you need to learn that before or concurrently in order to "learn" Spanish. It isn't necessary, and you can attest to that since you speak and "function" in English without knowing much, if anything, of your own grammar.
If you still have the urgency to learn grammar let that be your own, so you understand more of your own language, in order to apply that knowledge for when you want to learn the Spanish grammar.
I'll be back tomorrow to check your answer. 
And I hope this if of help to you and others.
Hernán.
There is a progression from words to phrases to sentences. You have to be able to understand and say sentences in order to have a conversation. As for grammar, you don't need to learn the words that describe Spanish grammar, but you do need to learn the basic concepts.
At the level of words, you need to learn the articles (and other determiners), pronouns, prepositions, and some adjectives and verbs. For the verbs, you have to learn the proper conjugation so that "ser" is one word and not fifty--some would say this is grammar.
Phrases are then formed by linking words together appropriately. There is some grammar here as well, but Spanish natives learn to speak without it.
Sentences are then formed by correctly joing phrases together. Once again there is some grammar, but no real need to learn the technical jargon unless that's your thing.
At this point, it is not a matter of time, but a matter of how many sentences you know well. Some have said that 2000 sentences provides a minimum level of ability for communication in everyday circumstances.
For me, learning Spanish grammar has been essential, but it isn't necessary for many people--they just absorb what patterns they need without it.
I have been studying spanish for about four years at a university, and I am now getting to the point where I can walk into a room where spanish is spoken and understand a vast majority of what is said. Responding can sometimes be more difficult, as vocabulary is something that only comes with time and lots of studying.
I agree that you need to learn how to read and write before you will really be able to just pick up and start talking with people. It takes a lot of time and effort, especially, as some above have mentioned, you don't really know the parts of English grammar very well. When I started, I had no idea what preterite was in English, or how to identify a gerund, and I have had to work twice as hard because of that. However, it is possible to do--it just depends on how determined you are.
If speaking is your primary goal, I would also suggest that you focus on oral interpretation and presentation as well as reading and writing.
Either way, I wish you luck and enough patience to get you through!!
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