How do you become fluent in Spanish

Question

For those Spanish speaking people who are fluent in English, and those English speaking people who are fluent in Spanish...... just how did you do it? What education\studies did you have in the subject? Do you think it is imperative to actually live\spend a lot of time in the other country?

I ask this because I am really pleased with the way my Spanish reading\writing is developing but every time I hear a native speak I cant understand a word lol! I'm wondering whether the only way to really grasp the language is spend time living in the country.

I hope Heidita doesn't put you in the dunce corner for this lol. - Gregory84, Jan 6, 2012

First I can't believe this question since is alive! Next I believe it doesn't hurt to get new aswers to a old question said in a different way. - Tasear, Jan 7, 2012

I am there too mate , it is very debilitating after working like a man in a flat cap I still cannot get a word of the spoken . - ray76, Jan 7, 2012

Answer 1

Sorry, but I could order food in Spanish before I started studying Spanish. . .I could also swear in Mexican Spanish.

When I started studying spanish I used to say that I knew "tourist spanish", then I became a beginner, etc. I didn't learn the groseria until later. jajaja. - gringojrf, Jan 21, 2012