Strategies for retaining info
Hi, I'm trying to learn Spanish, and as much as I study I cant seem to retain any of the grammar knowledge that I accumulate. It's like, I think I understand it, but the moment I try to speak Spanish with somebody I totally blank. With vocab I use flashcards and it works like a charm, but it's a little trickier with grammar. any ideas?
5 Answers
One trick that helped me advance somewhat is to get a Spanish book, preferably fiction, maybe one you're already familiar with in English, and read it out loud, in the comfort of your own home of course, as you don't won't to be taken away in a strait jacket. Each day your pronunciation becomes better and you start seeing patterns form. Don't look up every word you don't know, but maybe 3 or 4, and add to your vocabulary each day. When I'm out of practice, I do this to get my mouth moving again. I also watch telenovelas on Hulu with captions on; it really helps me with my comprehension. Hope this helps. Poco a poco.
You are not alone amigo/a
Oh was it not so !
I would dwell in paradise anon.
Lay the grammar at your feet ,
and speak with honeyed tongue,
the language of a shepherd boy,
in a mystic mountain of Iberia.
But sadly it is so ,
and there is nought to do
but head down and bum up
with dictionary and verb book
swat and counter swat , until
that magic day that from deep
within your jumbled brain
there emits a phrase , a word
mayhap a sentence , and joy
abounds , and could it be that ;
La lenguaje de españa es tuyo.
I noticed that you have just joined Spanishdict.com. Just in case you haven't have a look at the courses and the lessons yet.. they are very useful and very well organized.. Have a look http://www.spanishdict.com/learn
Keep practicing, all you need is time just like any other skills. Good Luck
