Experiences learning Spanish?

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

SANTA CACHUCHA!

SANTA MARIA! ... how much many languages come from Latin? Take the word night ... noctis in Latin ... night in English ... nuit in French ... noche (?) in Spanish ... notte in Italian ... and nacht even in German ... I think it was good to have such a common base

 

[Perrygoround]

Well... I'm latino, and all the examples you mentioned really get on my nerves too...

Music is a terrific way to get into another language. Most of my early english knowledge came from songs.
But, you can find pretty much any type of music in any language nowadays. If you're interested in spanish, you don't necessarily need to listen to "latin music". There are terrific "spanish speaking" rock bands, hip hop, soul artists.

Also, keep in mind that spanish will be different in different cultures. It's not the same spoken in Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, etc, etc, etc.
Supposedly, the purest latino spanish can be found in Colombia, so put on some Sofia Vergara videos and repeat after her....
(just kidding, she actually overemphasizes her latin-ness a little bit).

I remember one time a friend from Argentina referred to "neutral Spanish" the one spoken in Puerto Rico because, apparently, a lot of movies that made it to Argentina were translated from English there. I was surprised about that. I guess everybody finds their own way of speakin kind of, or at least not too far from, "neutral". I remember she told me that when she first moved to Spain, she had problems to understand some local words, even though we were speaking the same language.
In this case, my approach will be trying to learn the language in the way that is spoken by the people you are going to interact the most. If you will be travelling to Mexico, try learn from Mexicans, if you are going to Cuba, try to learn from Cubans, etc...

 

[slobake]

 

[buldog5151bass]

Nothing better than speaking the language. I learned more the year in high school I dated an exchange student than I did in class.

 

[SoonerBill]

More of an experience of not speaking Spanish. A govt contractor I was a manager for about 10 years ago had a management opening in Key West, Fla. They knew I love Key West. Had to be able to take it immediately. 90k salary, bonus to help with the outrageous real estate prices in Key West. One catch. Had to speak fluent Spanish. I know maybe 10 words all having to do with food or beer.

 

[FatFunk]

Nothing better than speaking the language. I learned more the year in high school I dated an exchange student than I did in class.

This!
You can study whatever languange you want. If you don't use it, chances are you'll forget everything.
Start watching movies with spanish subtitles, then spanish audio and english subtitles, then everything in spanish, then just audio with no subs.
Start wih movies that were originally in english, then move to spanish or latin america made movies (as those should be harder to pick up).

 

[slobake]

This!
You can study whatever languange you want. If you don't use it, chances are you'll forget everything.
Start watching movies with spanish subtitles, then spanish audio and english subtitles, then everything in spanish, then just audio with no subs.
Start wih movies that were originally in english, then move to spanish or latin america made movies (as those should be harder to pick up).

I like watching Star Wars in Spanish

"Yo soy, su padre"

 

[thedukeofno]

I’ve been learning Finnish for sometime. Pick up the book “Fluent Forever” and visit www.fluent-forever.com

You will want to use a SRS (flash card) type system, like Anki.

Good luck. You can do it. There are tons of 5-year olds who speak Spanish reasonably, and you’re way smarter than those little jerks

 

[elgecko]

I like watching Star Wars in Spanish

"Yo soy, su padre"

Narcos and El Chapo on Netflix are super entertaining ways to pick up some Spanish!

 

[Jim Nazium]

"Yo soy, su padre"

No! Es imposible!

 

[Drgonzonm]

Local comminuty college might have a class, take it. Since this a music forum, find a radio station that mixes spanish and english. Locally there is kanw,
If there is local genre, learn the music. There will be words that have implied meanings, some that will get your face slapped in a bar.
Play on vato.

 

[MrLenny1]

Watch spanish TV.

 

[Eric ER]

I teach Spanish and teach history in Spanish as my day job.

I would find a class from a community college as my number one entry point. I’m sure that some community centers might offer some as well.

Also, for practice (which is obviously the key to maintaining and improving long term), find language exchange partners. ConversationExchange is a website where you can go to find language exchange partners. You might trade a half hour of English for a half hour of Spanish. This also might help with any shyness since you’re both helping the other person learn. This isn’t of any use until you can hold a basic, even rough, conversation.

While watching tv and movies with English subtitles is a fine entry point, once you have the vocabulary, they need to come off. I would replace them with Spanish subtitles of the same shows.

Most likely, before you will have great aural comprehension, you will be able to read. Find easy short stories to start when you get to that point. 100 level college books are a great resource for exercises and texts (hopefully, you will have one because you’re in a class).

Plan some sort of immersion experience, one you can prepare yourself for. Like a trip to a Spanish speaking country. This might help push your practice and learning since you have the clear goal of enjoying speaking with people in a place where you can’t fall back on English.

 

[the harp unstrung]

True story...

I’ve been teaching my 2nd grade class for a few months...we know each other well.
They’ve heard me say and define the word ‘Context’ several hundred times.

17 of the 22 kids speak Spanish at home.

Time for Maths...noisy transistion time...I ask young Jesus to hush up, and mutters something, and the whole class gets so quiet I could hear the wind whistling through the bare trees above!
“Jesus, did you just curse at me?!”...and 10 li’l heads start bobbin’!
“Young man! Wait for me out in the hall.”
Start the Subtraction lesson...give ‘em a question to talk about and head out into the hall.

(long...good...story short)

Took him a l o n g time to admit it, and when I asked him which curse word he’d used he finally said “perro”.
I was utterly confused, and told him so...
“Perro is not a nice thing to call Anyone...but it’s not a Curse.”

“Oh yes, Maestro, in context it is!”

 

[Member8675309]

Duo Lingo app is cool. Classes aren’t a bad idea, but, if you’re really brave, immerse yourself in another language. Adapt or die is a strong teacher.

 

[Drgonzonm]

Grab a six string bass restring, and make it a electric guitaron, join a mariachi band.
Then after that there's heavy metal with a mariachi flavor. Be the gabracho in the band, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn another language, some polka, etc.,

 

[elgecko]

Grab a six string bass restring, and make it a electric guitaron, join a mariachi band.
Then after that there's heavy metal with a mariachi flavor. Be the gabracho in the band, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn another language, some polka, etc.,

 

[Perrygoround]

In some cultures "Perro" is the almost the worst thing you can be called.

Your story just made me remember that beautifull song by Temple of the Dog "Call me a dog".

 

[Eric ER]

Duo Lingo app is cool. Classes aren’t a bad idea, but, if you’re really brave, immerse yourself in another language. Adapt or die is a strong teacher.

Non-instructive immersion is fine if you’re just hoping to learn how to get by as a tourist. It won’t teach you really how to speak the language without any real help or a really long time immersed. Even then, you’re unlikely to truly learn how to speak the language as your are super limited by the contexts in which you can make meaning (likely restaurants, directions to places, etc.).

If you want to enjoy your immersive experience, then you probably want to at least be able to find your way and hold basic conversations with people. It’s much more rewarding to go to a new place and learn about them in their language than it is to figure out how to order food and find the bathroom before you head home.

It depends on what your goals are and how much you want to learn and experience.

 

[Drgonzonm]

Do your self a favor, do not use the Spanish word for monkey, while it may a term of endearment to some spanish speakers, it is an insult to many other cultures.