Full submersion isn't easy to find.

Question

What's the next best way to submerse yourself in Spanish? I have come to the conclusion that I just don't practice enough, thanks to all the great responses that I got with my last question. I would love to fully submerse myself in the language and culture but have a family of three wonderful children and great husband so that isn't possible. I'm looking for the next best thing. I don't have friends that speak Spanish and my husband is Latino but doesn't have the patience to conversate with me...Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

"conversate" should be "converse". Conversate does not exist :~) - Jack-OBrien, Feb 25, 2012

@ Jack-OB and OP : same with "submerse". Debe ser "submerge". It's a simple mistake, though. Like a blend between immerse and submerge. - Goldie_Miel, Feb 25, 2012

Answer 1

The best way to fully immerseyourself in Spanish, is to go to a Spanish speaking country. Preferably other than Mexico for a couple of reasons.

• 1) Mexico is next to the U.S and you will find a lot of English speaking people there.
• 2)Because of its proximity to the U.S., Mexican Spanish has a lot of English influence and you can find words that are not quite Spanish, but "Spanglish", and others that come from the Aztecs and Mayans. You could still learn a lot there, but you are a little limited by these issues.
• Living in a Spanish speaking country will push you to your limits until you get to the point where you "hate" Spanish because your brain is fighting against it. Once you are done with that period, your brain will give in and you will start experiencing the weird feeling that you think people are speaking in English when they are actually speaking in Spanish. That phenomenon occurs because your brain is processing the language at the speed of speech. Also make sure, once you are immersed, to avoid listening to music in English, reading in english, watching T.V./ movies in English, chatting, etc. That will only send you backwards in your learning process.

You know, it seems everyone says that Mexico is bad for learning Spanish, but this is not true. Some (not all) people speak with "Spanglish"... Actually, I have not heard much Spanglish at all, and I have been here for 3 years. - NikkiLR, Feb 25, 2012

Actually, the only Spanglish I really hear is from my hubby... Since he speaks English, he switches between the languages. This is only because he likes to practise his English while I like to practise my listening skills. :D. - NikkiLR, Feb 25, 2012

I agree with Nikki. There are many places in spanish where you can live and never hear English or Spanglish. The border areas proabaly are not as good as deeper into the country. I lived in Mexico for four years and spoke 99% spanish. The 1% was when - gringojrf, Feb 25, 2012

an American would ask a question in the streets. Mexico is a very friendly and safe coutnrty (again avoid the border towns). I can't wait to return to Mexico. - gringojrf, Feb 25, 2012

Ohhh. nice! I agree... avoid the border towns. I live in Central Mexico right now. :) - NikkiLR, Feb 25, 2012

Good point! The border has to be the place to avoid. - farallon7, Feb 25, 2012

Very nice :) I can see Nikki and gringo the point of steering clear of the border towns and farallon your comment has helped the most! i feel like I've blocked myself from getting to the point of "hating" spanish. It has become so frustrating that I hate - pandabear2, Feb 27, 2012

Ha ha ha! Welcome to the club! I did hate/loathed English for a short period, but that is passed history! - farallon7, Feb 27, 2012

Answer 2

You have a live- in -Latino he has an intelligent wife, compromise and converse ,

everyone wins including the children , you can become a Spanish speaking family.

Getting him to compromise is like pulling teeth lol. The problem isn't getting him to say he'll do it, it's getting him to follow through. I'm teaching the kids vocabulary but eventually I'd like to teach them to conversate. - pandabear2, Feb 25, 2012

Well best of luck I know it is easy for us to give homespun homilies but you are on the cutting edge and know that full story - ray76, Feb 25, 2012

Answer 3

Read read read! Spanish magazines, newspapers, online articles, ect. Also I would suggest watching Spanish TV, listening to Spanish radio, or convince your husband to talk with you

I like that...These suggestions give me good ideas. Maybe childrens books? lol I have been working on trying to get my husband to speak Spanish to me for over a year. Finally I said either hablame en espanol or buy me Rosetta Stone. - pandabear2, Feb 25, 2012

Children's books are good because they have simpler plots and easier vocabulary. It's also good to try and find something that is in Spanish and English so you know you're understanding it all. - Jadey7, Feb 25, 2012

Answer 4

How would you say full submersion isnt easy to find in spanish?

No es fácil conseguir una inmersión completa en español. - Cordobesa, Feb 25, 2012

No es facil encontrar immersión completa en español. - gringojrf, Feb 25, 2012

Immersion = English. Inmersión/Sumersión = Spanish - farallon7, Feb 25, 2012