Am I just exceptionally slow?
Sorry for the question, but I am becoming incredibly disheartend attempting to learn Spanish.
I started by learning via Rosetta Stone (all 3 levels) and have found I can get 100% right without actually knowing exactly what it means (just dedcuting what is meant from the pictures).
I then find this online free community which is fantastic, however I am still really struggling as you all use such 'technical' language to describe the structure of sentences.
I'm a Financial Accountant and have never felt so stupid, it feels as though I need to re-learn English in order to learn Spanish.
Am I alone??
Sorry again Rich
13 Answers
Rparrett It sounds like you are being too hard on yourself! Please do not be discouraged or give up because we are all here to help you! You are Not slow or stupid we can assure you of that......because the fact that you have asked for help is evidence of that in some way!
Learning a language takes time and is not an easy skill to learn It is not an exact science and developing an intuitive feel for a language is just as much a part of learning a language as understanding the grammar. It is a process not a one time event or you can look at it as a journey rather than a destination! So plaese be patient with yourself.
You say that you are an accountant My father is a retired Chartered Accountant Working with figures is a diffferent kind of skill I don't have his aptitude for figures but I can still learn to apply my understanding of numbers in a more simple way to daily tasks whether buying things in a shop or learning to budget We may not all reach the top of the mountain concerning learning Spanish but we can still climb as far as we personally can and each of us will probably find our own level but it will be different for each peerson! This should not leave us feeling discouraged, for in my view, it is better to try and experience some success in any skill than never attempt anything for fear of failure or give up because learning presents us with challenges.
What should you do? I would encourage you to consider that:
1 We have 4 series of Spanish Learning videos here each building on what has been taught before and becoming more difficult presented by a qualified Spanish teacher as well as an excellent, well-resourced reference section featuring articles on verbs, grammar and many other topics that students of Spanish have struggled to learn eg direct and indirect object pronouns, ser v estar por v para, and the subjunctive etc...
2 We can offer you a variety of enjoyable games, activities and opportunities to help you develop your Spanish skills though the forum. eg Picture of the Day, and Word of the Day
3 We have a very friendly and supportive, vibrant language community made including many Spanish speaking natives and advanced students so that you can receive accurate guidance and help with your Spanish
4 We have a chat-room where you can practise your developing Spanish skills and help other people with their English skills.
I hope this helps 
I've been studying Spanish for 2 years now and I'm still a beginner. Don't give up!
If you focus on the extremes, there are basically two opposed approaches to learning a second language: the grammar-based and the conversational. It's quite possible to learn a language without knowing anything about the grammar (that's how almost everyone learns the 1st/maternal language [without a lick of grammar]). Your parents and (later) peers say things any you simply imitate them. You don't need to know why. It's enough to simply remember and repeat.
However, when it comes to the 2nd/3rd/etc. language, they will always be different from your 1st language (how different depends on the languages). Some people find this very upsetting/confusing and insist on asking "Why do you say it that way?" The answer that you got as a child, "Just because" may prove frustrating to you as an adult. That's where grammar comes in. It's very awkward to talk about the "hows" and "whys" of language without the grammatical terminology. It's rather like talking to a mechanic about your car's engine if you refer to everything in it as "that little black gizmo with the tube coming out" (or some such) or a plumber with a dozen different wrenches and half a dozen kinds of pliers in his tool box. These things have names and if you're going to spend much time talking about them, it's easier (in the long run) to learn the names.
It's probably easier to learn the basics of grammar in your own language first, since the examples will be familiar to you. (assuming that the languages are English and Spanish) For the most part, the terminology is similar and so is much of the grammar. If you surf the web, you can find many pages devoted to discussions of English grammar.
I'm learning english, but I've never taken a formal lesson, so when I came here I didn't understand most of the explanatios. "Subjuntive, preterit,etc", I didn't understand anything at all! So I searched on internet what those things meant, and I still do it sometimes.
Visit this thread and see how others are very much like you:
Do you feel down? Not learning enough? Come to Encouragment Island/Isla de Apoyo!
Persistence is very, very important. Hang in there!
I keep telling folks that it's not a contest, it's a process. A successful person like yourself, Rich, has a hard time because you are used to success. Just enjoy the learning process. I get frustrated with myself for having to look up the same word over and over again in the dictionary because I know I should have it down cold. And accents! Don't get me started! When I post something in Spanish I have to get on SD on a second window so I can go back and forth and use the SD dictionary to get the spelling/accents correct!
I keep saying that learning Spanish is lifelong hobby for me because it'll take that long to become fluent in it. Good luck, Rich, you are not alone!!
No, you are not alone.
You are far from alone. I have never been taught English grammar in a formal way and I struggle with a lot of the terminology.
Keep going, and get used to using google to look things up, and if you are still in doubt ask. If you don't know there will be at least one other person out there who will be glad you were brave enough to ask
And do come to Encouragement Island you will meet loads of people there with similar problems.
I have been studying for a year and a half and I am still a beginner. I took two classes in junior college and it helped, but now I find that I am forgetting it very fast. I have no one to practice with on a daily basis except our great people at this site. If you start with the lessons, I would recommend starting at the beginning for review and getting a Skype account (which is also free). If you want to send me a PM, I would be glad to introduce you to some people on Skype. We all help each other with our Spanish. Also, check our flashcards -- we have many excellent sets. As for the Spanish lessons and the forum, I recommend doing a little everyday. Have fun and never give up!
Here is the link to download Skype
Here are the Spanish lessons
I've been at it for 6 years in school and can't hold a conversation with a native speaker. The grammar is more specific in some ways than English is, and less strict in others. Also, don't be too hard on yourself about sentence structures. Did you really have to LEARN English structure, or did you just pick it up as you learned to talk? I've found that I actually learn more English grammar in Spanish than in any English class I've ever taken! It helps to review English grammar particulars so you can be aware of the comparison when you find the Spanish equivalent.
Don't give up!
I think this is one problem with Rosetta Stone. It gives a false sense of proficiency. I do use it as a tool, but I don't like it as a primary source.
On the other hand, my eyes and ears glaze over when I see a lot of technical terms that I never learned in English. I don't know if it is because I wasn't paying attention in elementary school or they didn't teach it. I do know that I was never able to diagram a sentence to save my life. I get along fine without the more techie technical terms because I've learned the how and why of conjugations. (Which Rosetta Stone is missing).
Hang in there, languages are lifelong studies.
Please do not be discouraged. You have a support group here to help you with your struggles. The main key is persistence and repetition. You have to continue at it and practice like anything that is worth achieving. I also agree with the fact that Rosetta Stone gives you that false sense of security. With language, you still need people to converse with in order to help you with your question and concerns. You have come to the right place and we are here to be supportive and helpful. Above all, don't let the technical or grammatical jargon intimidate you! You actually know more about language than you may realize. Relax, enjoy and meet new friends in this continual process!
I am also slowly learning Spanish. I live in a community where everyone speaks "Tex-Mex" but it is very harsh and abrupt. So I say to myself, "I don't want to say that!" a lot. Don't give up you are not alone
