Tell us! What are your concerns about learning Spanish? Maybe we can help?
Everyone has their own specific concerns about learning Spanish! You know what? You are not the only one! Let's share our concerns, problems, worries, errors, etc. We are all in the same boat here! There's nothing new under the sun! What problems you experience, others too have undergone! Charlamos! Let's talk about it! Adelante! Let's go! Who's first?
Todo el mundo tiene su propio problemas acerca de cómo aprender el español. ¿Sabe qué? ¡No está a solas ! ¡Todos estámos en el mismo sitio! ¡No hay nada debajo el sol nuevo! Las dificultades que experimenten, ¡han experimentado otros tambien! Let's talk about it! Who's first?
No se preocupen de la gramatica en esto instante, mas vale el sentido verdadero!
Don't worry about grammar right now, more important are the real feelings!
13 Answers
I always have and think I always will have problems with certain things in Spanish. For example, masculine and feminine articles, correct tense and person of verbs, "se", and others.
I have just returned to Mexico and was in the line at the supermarket and started talking with the man behind me. It was a long line and we chatted (in Spanish) for about 10 minutes. Just before we parted he told me that my Spanish was the best he had ever heard in an American.
With that I can live with my problems because I know I can communicate with anyone without making a total fool of myself.
So whatever your problems are,recognize them, accept them but don't let them stop you (or even slow you down), start talking.
Well, my problem is speech. I just can't seem to understand a lot of what is said.:(
My main fear while learning Spanish was sounding foolish when I attempted to speak. Then I went to Mexico for an Immersion School Program in Oaxaca.
From the first day in the Administration Office I had to speak in simple Spanish sentences to get my point across (they do speak English but wait for you to try Spanish first -- sneaky, sneaky!). I barely managed to blurt out that I was there for Spanish classes.
Thereafter, the teachers spoke very clearly and slowly so that we could all understand. At the market I was forced to say what I wanted and ask how much things cost. What a challenge, but how exciting to learn how ordinary folks speak!
What I learned from my two weeks there was that I had all the vocabulary that I needed and could actually put the words together into basic coherent sentences
Being forced to speak Spanish everyday was what got me over the fear of committing errors. The people of Mexico (and now I find the same in Guatemala) are more than willing to help you learn--they are thrilled that you are trying to learn their language.
So, my advice, go to where you are forced to speak (even if it's just one-hour Skype lessions--PM me if you need a recommendation) because it will get you over the fear.
Gringojrf , Without a doubt you have hit on a hidden truth. We as students seek perfection. We want to use the proper vocabulary, employ the subjunctive when necessary, and pronounce the words correctly. As you have, I have traveled and worked in a Spanish speaking enviornment. As to your point, we actually are more likely to pronounce words correctly, employ the subjunctive, and use the correct grammar, Often times, more so than a native speaker.
Native speakers of Spanish, like native speakers of English, take their language for granted. I remember an important lesson I learned when I asked a friend of mine why he used the subjunctive. He said, "I have no idea what you are talking about! I just speak spanish, and I don't know why I use the words I use. I learned growing up, and I never studied Spanish in school!"
I was slightly embarassed, until I realized that I am studying it every day. Using it on Spanishdict.com. His experience is the real one.
The moral here is to never sell yourself short. You Spanish is likely to be much better than you realize.
Me Encanta said:
I am concerned about remembering the uses of and using subjunctive tenses and how important they really are in the true understanding of speech.
I was too, but it turned out to be much less stressful than I thought it would be!! What I did was: 1) learn the main reasons people use the subjuntive; 2) listen for it in conversation; and 3) try it out when I was almost sure that it was applicable; 4) learn from corrections that people made while I was speaking.
I use it a lot for:
Cuando regrese... Cuando quieras ....Cuando vaya (this is "cuando" with a future action)
Espero que estés bien...Espero que venga.... (this is "espero que" a wish)
¿Hay alguien que hable español? (this is asking whether a person/thing exists)
Ojalá que llueva ("Ojalá que" is always subjuntive)
My point is: Do you best to know the basic rules, listen for it's use to gather examples, and then put out a few words and wait for corrections...Don't S T R E S S.
I haven't got this problem about speaking
. For assorted reasons we lived in Andalucía for a little while. I knew some basic school Spanish and I had to speak because my husband didn't know a word of Spanish except for 'si' and 'gracias'.
I was happy, I got on well. My husband was happier and got on even better, please note.
It's only now that I've come back to England and decided to learn 'properly' and have discovered the subjunctive that I've started to feel I'll never get there. Ever.
That and watching some films, for expample Celda 211. I hardly pick out a word. Never mind, when I actaully go to Spain I usually get understood, subjunctive or no subjunctive.
Ojalá que hable mejor..
But don't feel hampered by lack of grammar..You can still talk! Follow my husband''s example agree to everything and say 'thanks'. It works.
I am concerned about remembering the uses of and using subjunctive tenses and how important they really are in the true understanding of speech. I have been able to get by using Present, preterite and imperfect, but I want to be able to remember the other ways to say verbs in order to broaden my horizons when it comes to a well-structured and logical conversation.
Like many others, I have problems understanding spoken Spanish. At times these are vocabulary problems, but mostly it is because what I "expect" to hear doesn't match what is coming into my ears. I ran into this in other English speaking countries, and once even had an extended conversation with a Scottish gentleman who I could not understand, telling him I ony spoke English. He of course, WAS speaking English. Very embarrasing!
I have been trying to get over this by volunteering to work with ESL students who are trying to learn English. Speaking with them, the speech patterns are starting to fall into place, and I also found another reality - Spanish native speakers are no more likely to really know Spanish grammar than the average English speaker knows the details of his own language. Now that I am starting to relax a little, I find it is easier to communicate!
I think the one that really gets me the most, and almost every time, is knowing when to use the imperfect or the preterite tense. To add more to the problem is having to choose between "ser" and "estar" when describing what "was" in the past. Ah well, I'll get the hang of it someday. 
Also as Rac said, it was a little difficult at first for me to understand a word that was being said on TV, the radio etc. But what I have found works extremely well is not to be so hard on oneself. Relax. Let the words go into the ears instead of trying to stop at each and every one to see if it can be understood - (this was really hard for me because I am quite a perfectionist and normally I'd much rather know all or nothing lol).
Anyway, we have to become like we once were when we learned our native languages as tiny children: we listened to our parents, and those around us, and we imitated. So I've learned to stop being so focused on necessarily understanding every word, but trying to get into the rhythm of Spanish (and what a beautiful rhythm it is too) and allowing the brain to make the links that it for sure will with practice. I also believe that this is the best way to correct many of the mistakes we make, the many fears we have and the many grievances we feel when learning a new language.
And as Nilda said, I also would like to say a BIG thank you to each and everyone of you here at SpanishDict. Seriously. You have no idea how much my perception has been opened by just this single venture into another language, another culture. It's just so beautiful because I know were all here for the same things: to learn, encourage and help each other. And it's in this that I have gained more evidence that goes behind the saying that "No man is an island."
Gracias. Muchas gracias a todos.
And just remember:
If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.
I think that it is going to take me a very long time to learn, I listen to music, television, and read espanol. Because words are spoken so fast, it is difficult for me to pick up the full meaning. I can pick up a word here and there and hope by the words and body language, and the way the words are spoken I might get some of it right. I just need patience and practice. Thanks for asking.
Rac said:
I just can't seem to understand a lot of what is said.
Listen for the vocabulary that you do know and don't concentrate on each word said. This will give you the gist of the conversation. Don't base your ability to understand on the TV news or news programs on the radio--they talk much too fast for you to get more than bits and pieces of the topic.
DO listen to the programs on radio and telenovelas (if you can stand them) because they use ordinary speech and you will build more vocabulary each day, especially from the commercials. This will give you sentence structure, how direct and indirect pronouns are used, and the ability to speak like the public does.
Right now, I understand about 95% of what people say and I wait until they finish before I say, "What was that word after 'esperaba'?" I only understand about 85% of what goes on in the news programs (BBC mundo), mostly because they switch from topic to topic without pauses or transitional words, such as "In other news...."
You WILL get it over time.
I can read in Spanish, but I don´t always understand what I read. Sometimes I think I know what the writer is saying, but when I check the dictionary, I find that the writer had another meaning in mind.
I am going through a number of Spanish podcasts that someone on SD mentioned in a Q&A (there are over 150 podcasts). I listen to the Spanish speaker (from Spain) as I read the dialogue. Later, I make a list of all the words or phrases I didn't understand and I write them down. When I read the transcript again, I find that I have a better understanding of the context and the sentence structure. It is slow going though, because I have so many words to look up (I'm only on Podcast No. 8). However, I'm not in a rush, and I know that my Spanish is improving a little more each day, thanks to this site.
To all of you on SD, I want to say, thank you. Thank you for: your fun games; your love of the Spanish language; your love for our SD family; and lastly, for correcting my Spanish sentences. You are the best!!
My overall sloooow brain. 
I can understand basic, short sentences if I have the vocabulary but as they go on I lose track very quickly. And if I'm expected to reply in Spanish, forget it. It takes me too long to process my own thoughts to respond (if I even know how to respond in Spanish) to keep up with the pace of the conversation and I end up looking like a deer in headlights.
I also know words but am unable to put them together because I'm constantly trying to remember grammar rules to get the meaning ("te" this, "se" that, conjugations, etc.).
Finally, I've found that trying to translate things literally doesn't work a lot of the time, and that you have to know phrases/idioms in order to understand the meaning of things.
That said, I've been told by Spanish speakers that my Spanish is "good" and I have also been told I need to practice more. I have been trying different courses online and skype sessions with tutors to practice speaking and listening/hearing/understanding Spanish sounds and words better. I think I need a consistent schedule and reinforcement, but I'm honestly not sure which direction to go. Sometimes I think writing in Spanish will help me think more in Spanish, just for practice, but I don't know the best approach.
