I can't seem to pass my spanish class
I don't know why I can't seem to do well in spanish. It's most likely because I don't know anyone to help me except this site in particular. But even so I have a D in Spanish 1. I am always told that I can't be doing badly in the 1st one because it's supposed to be easy. I honestly, don't want to retake this class and it's half of my freshmen year is over. I watch the videos in the learn section but I still don't seem to be improving. I DO study for tests but I always end up studying the wrong topic and fail the test. Now I'm really afraid of whats going to happen and considering what people have told me of the next spanish years I don't know what to do. I'm not doing horribly in my other classes but it's only this one. I just can't seem to do well on foreign languages as I have already tried to learn Korean for a month and failed to do so. I have looked around this site and I'm depressed that even after learning from this site that i can't learn. Please give me some sort of suggestion or solution to this.
5 Answers
My dear friend,
I am sorry you are having such a difficult time with Spanish I. Experience tells me that a new language learner should always:
Relax. Learning a new language requires your brain to get used to new sounds, spellings, rules. There's no need to take it all in. Break down the learning process into smaller segments you can handle one at a time.
Do not think of Spanish or Korean as a new language (we adults are funny when dealing with labels). Think of them as an extension of your own language. Example: Besides knowing the word "house" for a home, you also have another word to describe the same object:"casa". This tricks your brain into thinking you are expanding your vocabulary and not having to overcome a language barrier.
Read, read and read. Practice makes perfect.
Listen to Spanish radio and watch local Spanish TV. If you have no access to either, look up videos on Youtube.
Find a native speaker or someone fluent to converse with.
Do not be afraid to make mistakes. We all do. Every day. All the time. Even native Spanish speakers like me.
Do your homework and post it here for corrections.
Remain curious about everything in the language. Ask a million questions. Curious people tend to learn more and faster.
Enjoy the ride.
No matter what, do not give up!
I agree with francobollo´s except for one thing.
Write, Write, and Write. When you write a different part of the brain is used that has a longer retention span than seeing or hearing.
Take notes in class and then rewrite them at home.
For flash cards write your answers don’t just say or think them.
If your receive study guides write your answers on a clean piece of paper and correct. Repeat until you no longer need to correct.
Also, teach someone else what you are learning and you will retain a lot more.
I second francobollo's advice and would also add that you should go through the homework you have gotten back thus far. It is good feedback to help you understand where you need some more practice, and where you might need some further conceptual clarification. Get with your teacher or a tutor to work on this. Post your questions and homework attempts here, and we will do our best to help you.
There were two things that haven't been mentioned here that helped me a lot when I began learning Spanish: -1) When you have to learn new vocabulary, get a piece of paper and write the words along with the english meanings over and over again. This sounds tedious but if you just do it for 5 minutes a day it really helps. -2) Put some conjugations, vocabulary, or grammar rules written out on paper (or I used a white board). Then put this on a place you look at often, for example, tape it to a wall by your bed or on a corner of your mirror. Just glancing at it a few times a day helps commit it to memory.
Best tips
And find a native, and TRY to use that language, if you can't express yourself in the next language, don't cheat by using your native language(s) ...write/say whatever you think will sound right, then you'll get corrected if needed, lol. In Spanish, knowing English, your guesses will be right more often than you'd expect.
