best ways to keep learning
I have been away from this website for about since November ever since my own computer's wifi went out. I am now at this time using a family member's computer until my internet is fixed. Glad to be back even if its a limited times.
Since then i have been elected to a board of directors for a non profit charity and i have noticed a lot of the fellow board members and other members speak spainish. So, my question is this, how can i study spainish well enough to understand? I know viewing the videos here will help but sometimes i need a little more practice.
Any other ways to keep my spainish skills sharp?
9 Answers
Okay here is a perfect example of where this forum is heading. Heathwill asked for suggestions on how to continue studying Spanish. His grammar and spelling are not perfect but he is a native English speaker.
Yet all he has gotten are two posts correcting his English and not one suggestion about the subject of his message.
Heathwill. There are many great websites where you can study grammar and vocabulary. Including many resources here as well. For listening I would suggest looking up the mini series Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish. Speaking practice is a little harder to come by. If you have Skype you might ask if anyone would agree to practice speaking Spanish with you via computer. Otherwse you can seek out spanish speakers in your community.
Heathwill, there are several ways to keep your learning up and going. First and most important, don't let others discourage your learning process.
- Listen to soft music. Ballads are a great way to build up vocabulary. Old music tends to have good quality of Spanish. Camilo Sexto, Roberto Carlos, Julio Iglesias, Jose Luis Perales etc. are good examples of good, soft music.
- Force your brain into thinking in Spanish. Try to think your "everyday thoughts" in Spanish. If you do not know a word, use your dictionary.
- Watch as much television in Spanish as you can. Sooner or later, your brain will start thinking is Spanish.
- Try to speak in Spanish as much as you can to Spanish speaking people and don't be shy! Encourage them to correct your mistakes. Corrections are much better received, when you ask for them!
I have been away from this website for about since around November, ever since my own computer's wifi went out. I am now, at this time, using a family member's computer until my internet is fixed. Glad to be back even if it's for limited times.
Since then I have been elected to a board of directors for a non-profit charity and I have noticed [that] a lot of the fellow board members and other members speak Spanish. So, my question is this: how can I study Spanish well enough to understand? I know viewing the videos here will help, but sometimes I need a little more practice.
Any other ways to keep my Spanish skills sharp?
Help the English learners here on this site and they may reciprocate.
Por favor, usa ortografía y puntuación correcta.
"Almost correct" is fine for communicating, but the message is less important than learning.
And I thought the purpose of language, any language, was to communicate. But now I clearly see that the grammar, spelling and punctuation is more important then the message, i.e. the communication.
So clearly in this case it was better that Heathwill "learned" that he English was less than ideal was far more important than providing him with an answer to his question, which to me at least, was clearly communicated.
I'm sorry if my grammer is not the greatest, my apologies. Plus it is funny that I am an ESOL tutor. I should have known better. To everyone that answered my question nicely, thank you.
Hi Heathwill . Here is a large list of the best Spanish websites. I am sure you can find something here. Welcome to the forum.
any ideas?
Heathwill I hope the answers you have got will help you. The most useful sites I have found are this one, of course, Destinos, memrise and the BBC site La vida loca.
I do agree that the question asked should be answered, but if we want to encourage Spanish speakers to use the site we must encourage English speakers to use correct grammar and capitalisation.
I'm sure I am not the only English speaker who assumes native Spanish speakers write using correct Spanish spelling and grammar and people learning English should be able to make the same assumption
Heathwill, respectfully, if you are going to serve on a BOD you might consider sharpening your English skills before attempting a foreign language.
Use: Spanish (not spainish).
It's enough to say "I am now using a family member's...."
When using "i" as a pronoun, it should always be capitalized.
This sentence should be: "Glad to be back even if it's [its is a possesive pronoun] for a limited time [singular].
I hope this helps.
