Is Being Surrounded by Spanish an Easier way to Learn it???
In spanish class I am always surrounded by spanish, but then again I don't know what the teacher is saying. No english is allowed in class.HELP
7 Answers
Hi!
To answer your question, yes of course being surrounded by people who speak Spanish will for sure make it easier to learn not only because you learn how to pronounce the words even if you don't understand them but you'll find yourself learning without needing a translation 
Oh . Do not be worry . You will master in Spanish , be sure . Just wait and try more.
And pay attention there is always someone that is in worse situation than you .
For example myself 
Good for you that now you should just understand Spanish in classes as a foreign language. I had to understand English in English classes .
Some years ago when I was primary student in English , I had been disappointed to such extent I left learning it for some years . But now I see I can do it .
And I really express my regrets for that years .
You know what did i do for my English , I tried to live with it . not just learn it .
If you really want to learn Spanish , live with it . Speak Spanish every where , not important you can make sentences or not . Just speak even if you make mistake .
Immersion is not the easiest way, if you don't have the basics. However ,you will learn faster. If your teacher is only speaking in Spanish , then I would think you are in the wrong class. A class that allows no English is at least second or even third semester. The bright side is you found this site and are doing the lessons. Welcome and Buena suerte.
It certainly is as your ear becomes attuned to the language even when you're not concentrating on it. But if you don't have that luxury you can play recordings, listen to music, read literature etc as a fairly good second best 
It is probably be the most effective way to learn any language if you actually want to learn the language but, in my view, motivation to learn is a key /critical factor since you can be surrounded by all these unfamiliar sounds but if you (any person) are not receptive to them and shut them out you will not learn anything. It is not enough just to be surrounded by language you need to be open and receptive to learning it!
Perhaps it might be possible to pick up a limited vocabulary without really trying to learn a language if you are constantly surrounded by the language, but real progress would require a willingess to engage with the language in an interactive way of actively listening and applying what you know on a daily basis.
Learning a language is definitely an active process rather than a passive one although by observing how children learn language it is obvious that it can also be unconsciously rather than consciously and formally acquired.(As adults do in classes) simply through understanding the rules of the language through observing and imitating the way natives .speak. This way hopefully you should learn to speak fluently but may not necessarily be able to explain the reasons for grammar rules etc...
If you are struggling with the immersion method there could be a number of reasons for this:
1 You have not allowed enough time to see results. You do not say how long you have been learning Spanish in this way. Other people may have also had more exposure to the language than you have and may therefore have an advantage of already being able to understand more.
2 This method may not be so suitable for you. Not all methods work for all people because people are unique and ''one size does not fit all '' no matter what politicians may say/imply. You may learn better when you can be allowed to ask questions in English too.
3 You are trying too hard to translate word for word what the teacher is saying rather than understanding from context, body lanaguage eg gestures etc... Is your teacher a native speaker? I guess he/she probably is but this may not be the case. Learning tnaturally through immersion in the country which speaks the langauge you desire to learn is much easier because if you want to buy something and do not know what it is called you can point to it or ask
¿Qué es este, por favor? = What is this please?
o ¿Cómo se dice ? = How do you say it? and point to the object at the same time
I learnt a useful tip from a lady who taught me privately. She had a degree in Spanish and was married to a native from Spain. She would often get me to listen to tape recordings of native speakers and instructed me to understand the heart of what was being said instead of focusing in on individual words and trying to translate word for word in your head..which is next to impossible in view of the speed that most native Spaniards naturally speak lol 
You could try talking to another person in your class and pair up with someone who could help you or even see if you could join a small social grouping/cluster of people in your class who seem to be understanding what is being said and ask for help. If all else fails try to talk to the teacher outside the lesson time and request a meeting where you can be free to explain the difficulties you are experiencing. He or she may be far more sympathetic or understanding than you think/imagine.
Please let us know how you get on.. we do care here
I hope this helps 
¡Lo mejor para aprender...submergirse totalmente en la cultura y el idioma!
Not if you don't study. Especially not as a beginner. I've been surrounded by Catalan for a whole year and I've learned like 10 words.
There's been almost no contact with Spanish and -I like to think- I've learned a lot just from study and the internet.
