When did it start to change for you? When you started to progress

Question

Hi,

I've been really studying this last couple months. I never took spanish in high school and didn't know anything more than adios or gracias until about 5months ago. I had given up on language learning, but I'm I do love to learn, and it has always been a dream of mine to accomplish fluency. I put some hours in about 8months ago, and then it would be sporadic, until these last couple months. I've been trying multiple versions of the same thing to see what I like best. (Rosetta Stone, Fluenz, Barrons/Platiquemos, some podcasts, Pimsleur, some workbooks, michel thomas, flashcards, and of course this site/forums)

I've found what ever method I find is good to learn something the first way, I will use the other method to attack it a different way/ to reinforce it. For example I like audio versions because it forces me to say the word, whereas reading I'm a little stronger. I tried Destinos and while I thought it was awesome got bored of it because I couldn't understand a lot of what they were saying. (I know they said that's expected). No I'm trying again and so far 10 episodes in I'm getting a lot, but I found the other programs/studying really helped me to recognize verbs spoken. With the FSI Paltiquemos coures I think I will have to wait and go back to it.

Basically this whole introduction is to say that I'm very motivated.While I practice a lot, I know it is impossible to remember everything in one day. Did any of you guys use simultaneous programs? Al;so, at what level of study did it kind of start to click. Where maybe you could read, but you could actually spit the words out easily. Also I have the extra benefit of living in a neighborhood in the states where about 85% of what I hear on the streets in spanish.

Any input would be great, and thanks for reading this long long post!

Answer 1

Like you, I had worked hard and diligently with many different books, audio materials, courses, online resources, etc.

When I first came to SpanishDict, I knew I'd hit the love of my life.

I have noticed a huge amount of progress by putting in some time here most every day. Paralee's courses are unparalleled.

By putting my word in some of the "Games and Challenges" threads, I received valuable and almost instant feedback which indelibly encoded many things deep into my brain.

Reading Lazarus's posts and work in the reference section, I found many things which I had spent numerous hours puzzling over and reading Heaven knows how many different explanations in textbooks, would suddenly fall right into place with perfect clarity

The wealth of material here is staggering. But also people are always posting any special "tricks," mnemonics, and suggestions for other online material. Following up on their suggestions have led me to other "golden nuggets."

After only 4 months, I went and listened to part of a TV drama and found myself understanding a good portion of it. Then, while I was standing at the sink, I imagined I was talking to someone explaining what I was doing and why. And I realized, that very, very crudely I could say most of what I wanted to.

So my first stop every day is usually right here on SD!

Sent you back a long post, too!! ;) - territurtle, Aug 14, 2011

Thank you, so you only used this site after a while? What other programs did you use? - ionisme, Aug 14, 2011

Answer 2

Like you, I use material from a variety of sources, eg. Michel Thomas, Berlitz, Practice Makes Perfect, various on-line free websites.

What I like about this site is there are so many really helpful people who will explain concepts that you can't really get from reading reference books alone. Some of the articles written by Lazarus on here have helped me tremendously. For example, I really feel like I've got a good understanding of when/how to use 'se' now.

I don't think there was any particular point when I thought I had progressed, but for me it is a continuous process of learning and understand more and more as time goes by. I know I am progressing because I am starting to quite effortlessly read (simple) sentences now, whereas before I would literally read word for word and try to piece it all together. I am now seeing and understanding phrases, or groups of words in the context of the sentence.

Yes, I agree (si, estoy seguro) that there is no specific time when you can pinpoint that you have learned, but rather (sino) you will feel it and just out of the blue will begin speaking to people on the street if you live in a town of diversity. - carol-daniels, Aug 14, 2011

One of the problems I have is I dont live near any Spanish speaking people at all :'( - billygoat, Aug 14, 2011

Answer 3

I think that once you learn some basic sentence construction and know the present tenses well, that you should be able to communicate on a simple level. I know that I really moved ahead when I spent a lot of time learning the past tenses because that's what most people use a lot to tell stories...

Answer 4

I am still a beginner, but improving I hope. This site has really helped and I have some excellent materials through my OU course too. This site has the bonus of being free bu the OU will give me a qualification and for me the fact I have paid good money for it is motivation to keep going when it gets hard.

I first felt I had made some progress when I started using chat and skype a little and Spanish speakers understood what I was saying when I triend more han ¡Hola! y Adiós.

I have got a long way to go but I do think I will get there. I am not expecting to be completely fluent but I hope to be able to join in a basic conversazione.