How much time should be spent talking to natives?
Talking directly to natives? We have grammar courses, and writing drills; how much time needs to be spent just trying to get a point across while speaking with a hispanohablante?
Can grammar courses and listening to recordings get you to a fluent level, or is it harmful to think that you don't need active speech to work on active speech?
What do you all think?
7 Answers
Talking with natives is invaluable. You'll pick up who they use natural Spanish [little by little], plus you'll get regular reminders of any little mistakes/ways to improve.
There are plenty of free language exchange sites and forums about so you can get Skyping with people keen to share languages. If you need recommendations let me know.
Depending on where you live you might be able find native speakers in your area. I'm moving back to the UK in May and simply searched 'Spanish speakers in **********." in facebook and found a page with the exact name and a surprising number of members.
Everything you do will help. If I watch a film I watch in Spanish, if I read a book it's in Spanish [minus the academic stuff]. But above all talking with native speakers is the way to really make progress. And a lot more fun than reading 10 grammar books in English..!
Just practice with natives as much as possible. You will soon realize that much of the grammar you have learned isn't used correctly or even at all, just as we often do in english This doesn't mean you shouldn't learn the correct grammar, etc. I took classes however the majority of my learning came from embarrassing myself in front of natives. The will tease you a little if they know you, but it is good natured. Everyone has those moments. Now I don't take any classes, I just use spanish more than half the day. I understand not everyone has access to native speakers, but look online for audio or something then. I am fortunate I live in a neighborhood in the USA that is predominately hispanic and the primary language in this neighborhood is spanish.
How much talking do you need? As much as you can get. All of the other stuff will help but you have to talk and listen to "get" any language. Languages are alive. They are in everyday use by millions of people. Grammar rules, vocabulary flashcards, listening drills only go so far. You have to learn how people, lots of people, use the language which is often ungrammatically correct yet generally excepted.
You said it when you said " ....just trying to get a point across while speaking....". That is the crux of language, communicating. Grammar and vocabulary are tools that help you communicate but talking is the only way to truly communicate. Yes reading and writing is communication as well but think about yourself and your daily life. How much time do you spend reading and writing with friends versus talking and listening?
Think about how children learn language. Do they take grammar classes? Do they practice writing sentences? No, they just start talking and everything else stems from there.
Now I feel a bit desperate. There aren't any native spanish speakers in my area. So is this mean that I won't be able to speak some day? Or maybe I just need to make more efforts? Can somebody give me a little hope?!
There are native Spanish speakers all around me now in Merida, Mexico, but most of them do not speak English. I would like to find someone who would help me in my first Spanish steps 
Can grammar courses and listening to recordings get you to a fluent level
I got to an intermediate level via internet courses, CDs, radio, etc. Then I needed online Skype lessons to get my speaking abilities up to that level.
Now that I've been in a foreign country for nine months and chatting as much as possible, jejeje, my speaking abilities are quite advanced.
As much as you can.
