Learning the language: Spanish - Page 5

Biggles172 wrote on Mon Mar 9, 2020 9:43am:

I and quite a lot of other Brits go to Bar One on a Friday afternoon at 1700 where we have lessons with Juan who is native Andalucian. 5 euros for 90 minute lessons and he can also do one to one to one tuition for just a little bit more....

Matthew wrote on Sun Feb 2, 2020 11:01am:

Hi Karen, You are getting some good suggestions here. If the advice works for you then great! I reckon they would not have worked for me, but they would have helped. I don't wish to sound like a cocky Paddy dictating to Brits but the following worked for my wife and I:-

1. Buy a Teach Yourself Spanish book complete with CD. On first glance and listening you'll be as confused as me on Grand National Day picking out my horses which usually lose. ...

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2. Open Chapter 1. Read it through and don't be dismayed when you pick up nothing. Listen to the Chapter 1 on the CD where you'll be equally confused. This is where you decide that this can be a hard slog or I'm going to enjoy my Spanish learning experience.

3. Begin Chapter 1 again. Learn what's on offer paragraph by paragraph. You're in no rush (if you are just give-up now). Enjoy what you are doing and note that you are actually learning piece by piece. Use the CD especially for pronunciation and answering any questions. Don't fool yourself. Take it paragraph by paragraph and don't progress to the next until you come to grips what you've read. If you leap ahead you are only fooling yourself. It's no harm to remember you must enjoy this.If you don't you're wasting your time.

4. You've mastered Chapter 1. Great! Clap yourself on the back, you deserve it. Now, you want to progress to Chapter 2. No, hold on! Go back to the start of Chapter 1 and do the whole chapter again ensuring you left nothing out and you're acquainted with everything therein. I bet you're enjoying yourself more on completion of this.

5. On to Chapter 2. Again take it paragraph by paragraph and don't go forward until you understand what you have read.You have mastered Chapter 2 after re-reading. Great! You've achieved more and it's becoming more fun.

6. Can I now progress to Chapter 3? No Way! Go back to Chapter 1 again and take it paragraph by paragraph again. If you are happy, then take on Chapter 2 again and paragraph by paragraph. Bring yourself up todate with any task. Listen to the CD again taking note of pronounciation.

7. Practise your Spanish with anybody who is prepared to listen to you. Waiters/waitresses are usually helpful to anybody making the effort. Be thankful for any advice they give. 

8. Listen to Spanish Radio. Forget about the wall-to-wall greatest Spanish Hits and disc jockeys screaming at you and blabbering away in some goddawful Spanish. Try Radio Nacional, especially at night, when dj's speak more clearly and slowly. You won't understand much, but you'll make out lots of what you are hearing. 

9. Bring your Teach Yourself Spanish book everywhere you go. Take it out, peruse and believe it or not you are learning discreetly and effortlessly. 

10. Listen to Spanish Radio in your car.

11. Word Box:- Cut light cardboard into small rectangles and insert a Spanish word on one side and write the English equivalent on the other. Do this every day with Spanish words you do not know. Your vocabulary will increase and with little effort. Remember you must still enjoy what you are doing!!!!!

12. Don't apologise for what you are learning. 

13. Now you are ready for Chapter 3? - No! you're not. Go back and learn Chapter 1 again and then do the same with Chapter 2. Then take on Chapter 3. Before you progress to Chapter 4, return to Chapters 1,2,3. Do the same with future Chapters.

14. Set yourself about 13 weeks to get through the whole book, but if you are slower, be patient, just keep enjoying what you are doing and believe me you'll have that Cortez feeling eventually.

15. You'll suffer set-backs, you'll meet people who'll knock you back, but keep on. You have a goal - only you can achieve it.

16. When will your learning stop? The answer is Never. Extend your word box to take in Spanish expressions on those small rectangles.

17. Listen and look at  good Spanish television if you can find it. News programmes might be a good place to start. Read El Páis perhaps once a week. Enjoy what television you're watching and enjoy what articles you read.

18. Do your own thing. What suits your partner/spouse might not suit you. Plough on and smile or should I say Smile and Plough on . . . . ?

19. You are now speaking good Spanish and you have no embarrassment or fear in the ayuntamiento or in local shops. Pass on your knowledge of English to Spaniards and non Spaniards; you'll make friends that you never thought you would. Don't become cocky (like me!!!!!!!) and remember at what stage of learning you once were.

20. Oh! - Keep on smiling - it works, repeat, It Works.

Yvonne Mrs J wrote on Tue Jan 19, 2021 7:57am:

Hi Karen, 

I think KatySJ's tip is great: 'The first is to talk to yourself - when you learn a new expression, say it to yourself again and again and again - in the shower - when you are cooking ... all the time. Greet your reflection in the mirror every time you think of it!!' 

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I struggled at the start and found that having imaginery conversations with myself really helped, no matter how simple. Also, I put name tags on furniture, the bin, the kettle etc, and would say the name when I used it. 

I hope this helps! Good luck! 

RickV wrote on Mon Jan 18, 2021 7:37pm:

That is such useful advice from Matthew. I came to Spain two years ago, but am on an English site, where I never hear Spanish; except from the staff - who never mind me getting it wrong and are always willing to help. Never give up. Everyone learns at a different pace. Duolingo tends to use south...

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... American Spanish - so be careful with that. Never be scared to use whatever Spanish you have  - in a bar/shop/street - anywhere. The Spanish will smile and talk to you at a million words an hour - smile back!

I'm not going to give you more advice, except to follow Matthew's - especially to enjoy it. Spain is wonderful and the Spanish are friendly.

KCSunshine wrote on Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:40am:

Thanks RickV.  After procrastinating for a couple of months, I’ve now started a Spanish group with my new mantra “I must try harder”!

KCSunshine wrote on Tue Jan 19, 2021 8:38am:

Thanks Yvonne.  We are now here in Spain and I started a Spanish group last week.  It’s good to be with others who are starting at the very beginning too. I do find myself ‘talking to myself’ when practicing- the dogs must think I’ve gone mad!

LosPardoslady wrote on Tue Mar 9, 2021 6:50pm:

Have a look at 'butterfly spanish' on YouTube - yes the girl is Sth American but she will tell you what is Spanish and what is Sth American. 

She has an easy style and you can play it over again to help it stick. 🤗🤗Relax, if you can, all the Spaniards I know will do their best to help you. ...

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