How proficient in Spanish can I become with this website?

Question

Hello everyone!

I hope this question hasn't been asked a hundred times before. I didn't find a similar question in a quick search of the forums.

Using SpanishDict, how proficient in Spanish can I expect to become? I would like to be fairly comfortable with carrying on basic conversations for a mission trip I am taking to Ecuador in early 2013. Will the lessons on this website be enough to reach that goal? I have really been enjoying them so far.

I went on a similar trip to another Spanish-speaking country several years ago, and there were times when I was playing with a group of children and did not have a translator close by. I muddled through, but I told myself if I ever went on another trip, I would brush up on my Spanish before going (it's been about 18 years since high school Spanish).

Also, any suggestions on resources for Ecuador-specific dialects or words?

Thank you!

aehornpt, if you would change your settings to allow private messages, I have a message to send you regarding a Pimsleur set. - rheit, Sep 28, 2012

Answer 1

Also, any suggestions on resources for Ecuador-specific dialects or words?

Lots of dimunitives:

Hermanito, hermanita, ahorita etc

Also, the way Spanish is spoken in Ecuador is rather sing-songy, on returning home after spending a few months there any new Spanish speaking people I met would all ask me if I was Ecuadorian because of the sing-songy manner I had picked up.

Thanks for the info! Cute picture! - aehornpt, Sep 28, 2012

Answer 2

I think a lot of that answer is going to depend on how much time you want to spend with it. If you've had some Spanish, and have basic pronunciation down, I bet you could increase your proficiency exponentially. Will you be fluent, as good as a native speaker? No. But for basic conversations, I bet you can become quite good. You aren't, however, giving yourself all that much time to learn. Good luck with your endeavors, and study hard!

Thank you for the encouragement! I'm finding I am remembering a lot as I go through the lessons. My main hope is just to be a little less dependent on the translators than I was on my last trip. At any rate, it will be fun to try! - aehornpt, Sep 28, 2012

Answer 3

Rheit said:

I think a lot of that answer is going to depend on how much time you want to spend with it.

I got a lot out of making flashcards...many of them.

Also, reading the answers to questions (and asking my own) really helped...I took notes.

As for speaking, the Pimsluer tapes, which I found at my library, were great!

¡Buena suerte y sigue adelante!

I haven't had the time to listen to all of Pimsleur's, but what I've done is very helpful. My children have always refused to listen to Spanish in the car, when I have the most time. It was never worth disgruntled children. - rheit, Sep 27, 2012

Answer 4

A class that you go to every day, a textbook, someone to practice conversational Spanish with while living in a Spanish speaking country with this website for support over two years of constant study and you will be fluent.

That's what they told me. I only had the class every day, the textbook and the person to practice while living in Spain for one year and I'm not there yet. This website continues to support me.

Answer 5

Spanish Dict is simply not enough by itself. Get a textbook. A common textbook is "Realidades" from Prentice Hall. You should get it. Also have practice conversations over certain topics that you have recently learned about. Join a spanish club or have a practice interpersonal exam (a graded conversation with another partner over a topic. Good Luck!!!!

I don't think a student textbook will provide enough guidance. Sure, you can go through the drills, but without someone to correct you, how do you know if you are doing them right? A teacher's edition textbook might help, but they don't just sell those - rheit, Sep 27, 2012

to just anyone. Ebay and other auction websites don't allow teacher editions to be sold. The Pimsleur audio CD's would be well worth listening to if your local library has them. Quite pricey to buy. Somewhere around $240 for each level. - rheit, Sep 27, 2012

Thanks, I will look into Pimsleur at the library. - aehornpt, Sep 28, 2012