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Post by dlg3000 on Feb 14, 2013 21:23:36 GMT -5
I want to learn Spanish and have fun learning it. Can I be fluent in Spanish in less than a year? I would love to learn another language and I already know some Spanish. I would like to be able to watch lucha libre or a telenovela and fully understand what the people are saying. How do I go about learning Spanish and have fun with learning the language? I have a problem with concentration and being bored easily. I tried to learn Portuguese but it got boring after awhile and I lost interest. I cannot carry on a conversation in Spanish but I can read, write, and make out what a Spanish speaking person would say however. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Post by BoilerRoomBrawler on Feb 14, 2013 21:32:11 GMT -5
You have the right idea in watching Spanish-speaking programs. There's no better way to fully absorb the language than to hear it in actual use. That said, you'll have a rough time at best making heads or tails out of it if you don't learn the basic grammar and sounds of the language first.
Go to your library and see if it has any language learning audio programs. Borrow different Spanish-teaching books. Don't just use one. Study one, and when you're finished with that, check out another. Different sources teach the language differently, but at least you'll repeatedly absorb the information with various differences that hopefully accumulate into new information.
Unfortunately, I doubt you'll master Spanish in a year. It's difficult to master any language in that span of time without being absolutely surrounded by it and practicing every waking minute, and that's just tedious. Just try to learn more every day you can and relax.
Buy a translation dictionary if you are serious about this. Try to look up at least one new word a day and use it in practice sentences. Practice writing sentences in Spanish to more fully absorb its rules.
Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Every mistake you make is one you can correct and learn not to make again.
If you're lucky, maybe you could get someone else - friend, family member - in on it to some capacity. They don't necessarily need to learn it with you, but they could ask you how to say things. You'll either be able to tell them or you'll have something to look up.
If you're luckier, you'll already know someone or more who already fluently speaks it. They can correct you and teach you themself.
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Fiddleford H. McGucket
El Dandy
My Mind's been gone for 30-odd years! Can't Break what's already broken!
Posts: 8,748
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Post by Fiddleford H. McGucket on Feb 14, 2013 21:48:36 GMT -5
Ok...The way I learned what little I did was a "practical course in High School. Instead of teaching Phrases and Rote repetition We learned Basic verb forms and conjugations to write and speak more naturally.
Basically once you learb verb forms you can speak the language better. On the plus side, Verbs are mostly easy for Present tense, and slightly easier for Past and Future tenses
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Post by BoilerRoomBrawler on Feb 14, 2013 21:52:17 GMT -5
Ok...The way I learned what little I did was a "practical course in High School. Instead of teaching Phrases and Rote repetition We learned Basic verb forms and conjugations to write and speak more naturally. Basically once you learb verb forms you can speak the language better. On the plus side, Verbs are mostly easy for Present tense, and slightly easier for Past and Future tenses Agreed. I think verb conjugation is the most important element of Spanish grammar to master above the others because it is so different from English verb conjugation which is uniquely complicated and disorganized among European languages. That really goes for any language though. I may not know a verb, but once I know the infinitive, I can conjugate for every tense and every person perspective.
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Post by Bone Daddy on Feb 14, 2013 21:57:31 GMT -5
All you have to do is find a Spanish speaking BF and you'll be fluent in no time from talking to his mom
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Post by g1megatronfan on Feb 14, 2013 23:39:59 GMT -5
They claim Rosetta Stone is pretty good. From a personal experience...I would suggest staying away from taking classes. I had to take two "beginners courses" in college as a part of my degree requirements.
It was an experience...one that I never want to have again. I ended up being able to speak a little but it was an aggravating experience to say the least.
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BigBadZ
Grimlock
The Rumors Are All True
Posts: 13,923
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Post by BigBadZ on Feb 15, 2013 1:24:45 GMT -5
If you are looking to master the language within the year, I recommend Rosetta Stone: Rosa Mendes edition
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Glitch
Grimlock
Not Going To Die; Childs, we're goin' out to give Blair the test. If he tries to make it back here and we're not with him... burn him.
Watching you.
Posts: 12,787
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Post by Glitch on Feb 15, 2013 2:09:56 GMT -5
A little bit of advice: don't try to learn it from the taco bell menu. That made from one awkward funeral.
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Post by dlg3000 on Feb 15, 2013 8:15:13 GMT -5
Thanks, all.
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Banecat
Don Corleone
Speak of the devil and he shall appear
Posts: 1,455
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Post by Banecat on Feb 15, 2013 8:44:17 GMT -5
Keep in mind that if you aren't regularly using it, it's easy to lose progress. You're best bet is to make friends with several fluent in Spanish and try to use the language with them as much as you can.
5 years of middle and high school Spanish and all I remember is how to conjugate a verb but then again I think I have only one Latino friend these days that I don't see to often.
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Sam Punk
Hank Scorpio
Own Nothing, Be Happy
Posts: 6,321
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Post by Sam Punk on Feb 19, 2013 20:11:58 GMT -5
Ok...The way I learned what little I did was a "practical course in High School. Instead of teaching Phrases and Rote repetition We learned Basic verb forms and conjugations to write and speak more naturally. Basically once you learb verb forms you can speak the language better. On the plus side, Verbs are mostly easy for Present tense, and slightly easier for Past and Future tenses From my experience I'd say this is a good idea.
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Sephiroth
Wade Wilson
Surviving
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Member is Online
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Post by Sephiroth on Feb 19, 2013 20:22:30 GMT -5
When people ask me how many languages I speak, I tell them that half the time English is a problem.
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Square
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Official Ambassador
Grand Poobah of Scavenger Hunts 2011
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Post by Square on Feb 19, 2013 20:32:59 GMT -5
Duolingo. Google it and thank me later
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