First Things First
Can anyone please tell me what should I be focusing on, I am a beginner crying to learn Spanish for the first time. I enrolled in a class to learn Spanish but after sitting in a classroom for six hours listing to the instructor i am as confused now as i was before I entered the classroom. I was given papers with instructions on them and learn to pronounce this in Spanish and e-mail the answers to the instructor. Again i don't have a clue on how or what to do to begin learning a language that I don"t know anything about. Can someone please Help me???
3 Answers
Hi I saw your first question about singular/masculine. Is 'crying' a typing error or is it really that tough? When learning nouns always remember them as la casa, el perro etc
Are you school/college age or a later learner? I learned French from age 11 and chose to learn Spanish when 16 though I forgot most of my language through lack of use. Having enjoyed some Spanish films and travel I joined a class and started learning again.
I cannot remember how I started learning at the very beginning.
Many people suggest lots of listening before you try to talk but if you have already started classes that is not realistic. Do you have a good grounding in English grammar? Spanish grammar is different but it helps if you understand what an adjective/adverb or direct object is.
Do you know how you learn best - visual/hearing/ doing or reading and writing? For new vocabulary . I like to write it down and then I look at it regularly reading it out loud and where possible try to use it. I like the physical action of writing it down, but I do keep a note on my computer. If I read an article which includes vocabulary I think interesting I keep a note of the sentence or phrase that it is in. Make up some flash cards or keep a small notebook handy or use an app on your phone When you start it helps to learn phrases and increase them eg the red car, the big red car, the big red car with four wheels.
Learn how to say the alphabet in Spanish - great for if someone spells something. Pay lots of attention to pronunciation and the rhythm of the language. You may as well make an effort for good pronunciation from the beginning and Spanish has very few rules as to pronunciation. I have previously posted a link to some videos by Jane Cronin who lives in Spain and now teaches English speakers how to speak Spanish. Have a look at them.
I don't know why you are learning nor your motivation. You need to learn and revise every day even if it is only 15 minutes. Try to listen to some Spanish music. For example Manu Chao Me gustas tu is catchy. As you are based in the USA it should be easy to listen to some Spanish on the radio or TV - this is to get used to the sound and rhythm, you will not understand much
Only note down vocabulary you think may be useful. When you first start there is so much to learn just to be able to say a sentence so you waste time if you learn words you don't need You could try labelling your possessions!
Make sure you learn the useful verbs especially ser, estar, hacer, tener. Katydew on this site has organised many games threads to encourage learning verbs.
Try listening to some of the podcasts on Notes in Spanish. They start at beginner and Ben on the site also gives learning tips:
I also think the BBC interactive video Mi Vida Loca is useful
I am puzzled at you being in a lesson for 6 hours - are you doing an intensive course? It seems a long time to have to concentrate.You should use your lessons as a framework as your teacher should be skilled enough to build your language skills logically. Eg at an early stage you will learn ir a [go to ] to express the future. Later you will learn the future tense You will learn how to issue commands [the imperative] some of which will in fact be the subjunctive tense.
Do try to revise what you have learned - if you want to communicate you need to learn the basics well.Try to improve speaking, reading and writing. If you can read some things try and read out loud.
I can recommend a language course in a Spanish speaking country because to learn a language you need to understand the culture.
In the end you will work out what works for you, sometimes you will be bored, but you will be surprised how much you know. When you learn a noun also learn any related adjectives or adverbs. Note patterns where English and Spanish are similar
here is a site with some ideas
Post again if you want further advice - I dont want to overwhelm you or put you off.
A beginner's focus should be centered on.
(1) Basic greetings --good morning, good afternoon, how are you? I'm fine, etc.
(2) Vocabulary with a focus on where you are learning the language. If in a class, learn vocabulary dealing with books, paper, teacher, student and so forth.
(3) Learn the forms and use of the verb "ser" (to be) I am, you are (formal and informal) he/she is, we are, they are, etc.
(3) learn how the verb "estar" is used in greetings as in "How are you" (save the other meanings of "estar" for later.)
(4) Learn the basic forms of verbs in Spanish. The infinitives are different. They are identified by endings "ar," "er," and "ir," instead of the preposition "to" at the beginning.
Ex. "to speak" = hablar' "to eat" = comer, "to write" = escribir.
(5) After this learn the personal endings of each verb. They change each time the personal pronoun is changed.
(6) Begin to build "baby sentences" by combining the vocabulary you have learned with the new verb forms.
This is how a class should start. I can safely state that in my classes, at least at the beginning of a semester, no one is confused or puzzled. However after 9 or ten weeks into the course, if a student hasn't kept up on his studies, confusion may then begin to mount.
