Best way to learn a new language (Spanish)
 

Okay other that "move to Spain"

I am always looking to learn new things so I have decided to learn Spanish. So far I have checked out books/tapes at the library (yeah I'm cheap) the books are okay however I have yet to find a tape I like, the type that gives you a phrase in English then the same phrase in Spanish. You see there is nothing I like on the radio during my commute home so I figure I could get a forty-five minute lesson each day... if I could find that kind of tape.
One lady friend suggested going old school and take a class... and the local community collage has classes... at five thirty... WTF they have evening extension classes for people that work then schedule them for five thirty!?!

Anyway, anyone have any experience/recommendations?

Thanks,
Scott (48 year old student)

You quote Ben Frankin in your posts. Why not learn Spanish the same way he learned French? He is quoted as saying he learned french "while reclining on the pillows of my lovers beds."

I'm doing this right now. Here's what I am doing:

1. Get your self a bilingual girlfriend. :)
2. Pick up a Spanish English dictionary and a general "Learn Spanish" book.
3. Listen to Spanish radio. Diez, siete pointe uno (107.1) is good and is diez, siete pointe siete (107.7). Both are in LA.
4. Watch Spanglish TV. There are some really hot chicks on these shows so it's worth the watch.

It's not enough to be able to hear the language. You have to speak it and see it in action for it to sink in. At least for me.

Suerte!

yes indeed....

Go to any fast food place below Nebraska.


Senor Poh
Yo tengo un '77 Carrera(race car in Spanish) 3.0

Anyone try the cassette tapes?

Oh yeah! Even the bad shows have Hot Chicks!

Take a class. I do not reccomend the community college/adult ed stuff. If you're a "motivated" person, you're better off paying for lessons from a good school.

I've been taking classes for 5 months now and am amazed at how quickly it comes. My wife is from Mexico, so it was essential to learn to speak with her family.

Take a class, and pay good money for it. It will help motivate you to learn. Go to class. Get the book Spansh in 10 minutes a day and use the stickers all over the house. Speak it, as much as you can. The best books I've found are the ones made by Barrons. They are small, easy to carry and full of good information.

James

date someone that speaks the target lanquage, or take a class. i dont think you can get it from a tape.

i used to be fluent in spanish, because we had a nanny that taught us. i spoke cantonese, spanish, and then i learn english. sad that i lost spanish, am losing cantonese, and have bad grammar in english.

(Tongue planted in cheek) Move to Spain?!?!?! You're already in San Pedro! :) Seriously, I have/had similar thoughts over the last few years and I think really the best answer is a combination of some formal or semi-formal (tapes, CD's etc) courses plus, and most importantly, practice! I have done the CD thing too, but you lose it very quickly and the pronunciation is really hard to perfect. And that completely disregards the dozens if not hundreds of unique dialects and variations within each major language family.

Most likely you know bilingual or even Spanish-speaking only people who will humour your efforts. I agree it is not easy for most people beyond childhood to pick up new languages. I am trying to steer our son towards at least a working knowledge of Spanish, given where we live.

No problem in southern AZ. SInce we have a large Hispanic population and since I like Mexican food, simply talking to a waiter, waitress, clerk and asking how you say something in Spanish gets 99+% affirmative reactions. If you are willing to learn, they are willing to share.

For those without that advantage, the tapes have something a book does not have..pronounciation. For example, chicken..pollo is pronounced as it poyo. Chile Rellano is Chil Reyano. Once you learn the basics, then at least you are prepared to ask and answer simple questions.

If you need a penpal or something like that I'd be willing to cooperate.

And if you finally move here just give me a call ;)

Other than that I learnt my English taking lessons after school (in my teens). I thinks you should take some lessons and then I strongly suggest you start reading books in Spanish. Find the easy ones (there are limited vocabulary versions of many classics.

I also suggest you read books you have already read in English so you don't get lost and begin doing the right connections between the two languages. I did this to learn Portuguese (which is 90% similar to Spanish).

I write English better than I speak it and that is because of the reading. It helps not lose what you have already learnt.

PM if you think I can help you further.

I think you guys are pretty lucky... In Australia it's English or English. I come from a French/Norwegian background, but no one alive still speaks either.

When wifey and I were in California last year on holiday, I came away thinking it would have been great to learn Spanish. But whenever I think Espanol, all I see in my mind is Salma Hayek - can't concentrate on much else!

Paco, you do indeed write English better than some of the English speakers here on the board ;)

Find a ladyfriend who speaks the language! Ben was very smart indeed! Worked for me with both spanish and German.

I spoke spanish as a kid as I grew up in Mexico for 4 years, then later on moved to Europe and found out quickly that Mexican spanish is not the same as is spoken in Spain! Big difference in many areas so make sure which version you want to speak.

Joe A

As a kid my parents would take the family to Spain for a good part of the summer. I became quite fluent while there.
As the trips changed over to other non-spanish speaking destinations the capability to speak faded. However, many years later, when relatives would visit the language would gradually come back to me. So, I agree with putting yourself in an environment surrounded with what you want to learn.

Also, I believe this may be the type of aid you asked about: http://www.pimsleurapproach.com/learn-spanish.asp?

dos cervezas, por favor.
Dónde está de baño?
Tendré el especial.

Re: Best way to learn a new language (Spanish)
 

Hey there, Scott...
.
I see that you're in San Pedro, Mexifornia.
If you're not in a hurry, you could sit back, let it all go down around you, and then in 5 - 10 yrs. you can learn it via total immersion. But it'll be Mexico's version of Spanish.
So there ya go.

This is funny. I dont know about French or Spanish, but Japanese is definitely not gender neutral. It is real funny to see a tough Marine who has learned Japanese from his girlfriend over there, but the time he learns the difference, he has developed quite a few girly sounding habits.. :Datashi wa daisuki desu yo!!!

Yep. I learned a few phrases the easy way, but learned that lesson the hard way.


"Marion, call the American Embassy!! For the love of God, I don't speak Japanese!!"

First,

Television, not just any program you want to watch "Telenovelas" they speak slow and they do a lot of gestures that will help you identify what they are talking about.

Listen to Radio

Start to read spanish bed stories for kids they are short, they have pictures and as you learn more you move to more difficult books;)

You forgot "mas camarones por favor" .... :)

JoeA

When I was 12 my family moved from Kentucky to Long Beach, Ca. and I didnt know once ounce of Spanish. Not even uno. I took spanish in class the first year I was there and continued through high school. My parents bought a house on the beach in Baja, Mexico and we went almost every weekend for about 7 years. I tried to speak to anyone who would talk to me in Mexico and picked it up pretty well. I think the best way to learn is take a class or get a tutor to converse with.

Thanks guys, just a few points.
Yes I live in San Pedro (Los Angeles) so there is no shortage of TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, in Spanish. It is also very easy for me to have a quick trip south of the boarder (3-4 hours by car) to do the immersion thing. Add to that I have plenty of friends/co-workers who are "English as second language" types, biggest problem there is they seem to think you can learn a language in a few minutes and want to have a full on conversation in Spanish.

The books from the library are a good start, however they don't do much for pronunciation, however having been born and raised in S. Cal. I have pretty much heard it all.

I definitely want to take a class, where else would I look other than a community collage?

The girlfriend thing is a great idea... however that Anglo girl I have been dating pretty regularly may not like the idea.:D

get a job as a busboy in any restaurant, your co workers will teach you spanish, but beware..."Maricon" does not mean
"you are a genius with a nice smile and all chicks dig you";)