Reading and Listening easier than speaking
Hi, I've just started learning Spanish and I'm amazed at how quickly I'm picking it up thanks to this site, however, I find that I can translate Spanish spoken to me and Spanish which is written much better than I can actually talk it. I have to think hard to string sentences together but when I hear it or read Spanish I can translate it really quickly and with little effort. I was wondering if this is a common experience when beginning to learn or if I'm in the minority. Thanks in advance for any replies.
9 Answers
I'd say in general it's easier to pick up written and/or spoken language than it is to speak it oneself. Not everyone will be good at listening or reading both, but overall it's easier for the brain to process information it receives than to output that information on its own.
Looking at a riddle with the solution in hand makes it much easier than having to solve it on one's own, no? And similarly, having someone else give you words and sentences already in a properly constructed form is easier than trying to construct that form on your own.
And the miracle method of getting better at speaking? Practice. If anything better exists, I've certainly never heard it. 
I am the same, I think the main reason for the difference is that with reading you have loads of time and there are visual clues, words often have some similarity to English words even if they sound very different. With listening, as someone else said, you don't have to think about the grammar just the meaning.
When speaking yourself you have so many things to think about, what do I want to say, what words do I need, how do I conjugate that verb, what word order do I need etc. No wonder it is hard.
I am in the same boat you are. I think it is very common.
One of the reasons for this may be that when the words are already conjugated for you, either in speech or text, your brain has less to dwell on and can focus more on word definitions. However, the brain may struggle more with creating a combination of word definitions and conjugations in a format which is easily understood. At least, that is my theory.
I have great problems understanding el idioma hablado.
Thank you to all for those answers, some of you took time to use an analogy which certainly makes it all clearer. Seems for the most part its a common thing and given the reasons you've all taken the time to post it becomes clearer why I'm having this problem.
Much appreciated.............. I dont feel so alone any more 
Also thanks to Yeser007 for your invite to Skype but unfortunately I'm not set up yet. Its a thing I'll have to do as I'd imagine it would be useful to be involved in conversations on this site. Great site BTW Thank you
Well I don't think it is common. I have the hardest time trying to hear and understand what is being said to me unless it is in a context that I am concentrating on, sort of anticipating. When trying to talk with Heidita I usually have no idea what she is asking unless we are talking about diving, our mutual interest, and even then it is a struggle. If something is written I can usually get the idea quickly and figure out the grammar as I go along with only a few words that I may have to look up. I envy you for your listening comprehension and if you have just started then I think you are well on your way to becoming successful and I would like to invite you to our chat sessions here and on Skype.
It depends on what you practice. When I first started I practiced by reading out loud. I got really good at reading and speaking, but I couldn't understand spoken Spanish worth a darn because no one was talking back.
Oh yes, I'm experiencing the same thing, Bigandra.. don't feel like a lone ranger! 
Welcome to SD!
This is a very common experience among those learning Spanish particularly for beginners but even for many people who have reached an Intermediate level like myself.
My understanding, grammar and most other areas are well ahead of my ability to speak it; although I can make myelf understood and combine some quite complex sentences together which I need or want to use but not always without mistakes! lol. ( I was recently disappointed when I decided to take part in an interactive audio thread because I had hoped that my Spanish pronounciation would have been more accurate in the recording not that I ever liked microphones much I think I have a natural antipathy towards them lol.) Upon receieving the feedback from one of our kind natives I realize that I still have a long way to go!)
One of the advantages of living in a country which speaks the language you are trying to learn is that you are surrounded by natives who can speak the language fluently so you are hearing it spoken all the time. When you are trying to learn it without such an advantage it becomes that much harder. So please don't become discouraged because you can improve with help I would recommend you do one or more of these things:
1 Join a Skype chat hosted by Heidita or one of the others (Engl: Heidi) and take part in some of our wonderful Skype chats where you ca be corrected by natives You will need to send your Sype details eg Skype user name to Heidi so she can add you to Skype chat!
2 **Find a native Spanish speaker with whom you can begin a language partnership :you help them learn/improve their English, or whatever your native language is, and they can help you improve your Spanish. This may develop later as a result of making friends with a native Spanish speaker through Skype chat.**
I hope this helps 
