What Do You Think Is The Best Way to Learn Another Language (Spanish)?

hasher22 on 05/04/2023 - 14:45
Last edited 05/04/2023 - 15:32 by 1 other user

Hey guys,

I only know English and I want to learn Spanish when I go overseas in 8 to 11 months time. I don't want to know just the basic phrases as I am going for a good few months, I want to be as fluent as possible just to have a decent conversation or even Spanglish.

I have downloaded Spanish learning apps and been using it everyday for repetition but I feel it's not effective as I see the English word, Hello, then the Spanish word, Hola which is fine but the test gives multiple choice and I know the right word or phrase but it's just remembering.

I feel I learn better if the test was like, "what is the word for hello?" And I would need to think about the Spanish word then the app would reveal the word when I press the reveal button.

I don't have friends that speak Spanish so I am alone

People have said to read Spanish kids books and watch any Spanish shows with subtitles then just repeat what they say?

In your experience guys, I know everyone's learning curve and how they learn is different but what do you think is a common, effective way to learn another language? As I feel repeating words in an app, going to websites isn't doing it for me.

Thanks!

Education & Work

Comments

  • coffeeinmyveins on 05/04/2023 - 14:49
    +6

    The best way to learn another language is to be immersed in it. Literally live in Spain for a year and you'll probably learn more than you would doing hard study with an app.

    But without doing that, you can probably do a few different things together, which combined will slowly get you there. Remember that there's a big difference between written language and spoken, which one you prefer to do will impact how you approach it.

    1) Find a tutor
    2) Use duolingo app or similar
    3) Change your keyboard/phone to Spanish
    4) Buy books about learning the language
    5) Put subtitles on with TV shows/movies
    6) Get a penpal

    honestly, you won't learn a huge amount in 32 weeks. You'll be able to learn enough to do basic things but you won't be able to hold much of a conversation.

  • GG57 on 05/04/2023 - 14:51
    +3

    Are you going to Spain? Where? Or another Spanish-speaking country (which may have a different dialect)?
    Adult education classes would be my initial suggestion, assuming you only want to be conversational level.
    Duolingo might work for you.

  • Muzeeb on 05/04/2023 - 15:06
    -1

    No tengo sugerencias, pero espero que lo pases muy bien en España.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 05/04/2023 - 15:21
      +1

      ke?

      • JDMcarfan on 05/04/2023 - 16:01
        +1

        que?

        • GG57 on 05/04/2023 - 16:05

          I assume they are referring to Kinetic Energy?

    • dtc on 05/04/2023 - 17:01

      Mi sugerencia es tomar grandes tazas de chocolate caliente para el desayuno.

      • Muzeeb on 05/04/2023 - 17:24
        -1

        I agree Estoy de acuerdo

    • Ulysses31 on 05/04/2023 - 21:28

      Oui, Signor.

  • Stewardo on 05/04/2023 - 15:11

    You can do night courses in Sydney CBD.
    Duolingo daily will help.
    You can also watch Spanish tv shows on Netflix in Spanish with Spanish subtitles so you can hear and read.
    Spanish radio on tune in app, or podcasts.
    Once you have some proficiency, the best way to proceed is full immersion. Going to Spain or Latin America will help, the only issue you will find is many younger people will know English, and will respond to your broken Spanish with an English reply. Also the Spanish in Spain is quite different to latin America. Like Glasgow to Louisiana is different with English.

  • seannami on 05/04/2023 - 15:18
    +10

    I'm a linguist/applied linguist and currently specialise in language teaching, so here's my two cents- this is not by far the only method, but it's a way to get a bit of functionality in the language relatively quickly.

    You may want to start with something like Duolingo or Pimsleur just to get the first little bit of the language so you have a reference point before you dive head first into immersion (your brain will just filter it as 'noise I cant interpret' otherwise). This will let your brain latch onto the words and structures you recognise to signal it to listen. I have done this with both Dutch (Duolingo) and Japanese (Lingodeer, Pimsleur). It will also give you the syntax you need- if you do word based flash cards or the "what is the word for X" tests you'll have a vocabulary but no idea how it fits together. At this stage you basically want a feel for the language and some familiarity to trigger your attention- it's noticing and contextualising that makes immersion work.

    Being that you want to focus on being functional in Spanish for a time, make sure you are listening to Spanish- music, TV, whatever from right now. Don't focus on learning the words they are saying or translating, just get used to the way Spanish sounds, try and concentrate on hearing the sounds and the patterns of speech, not translating them yet. Do this in the first phase while you are developing your baseline with the learning apps.

    Once you feel like you are comfortable with the basic sentence structure and have a bit of a base vocabulary to work with and have a feel for the rhythm of the language, then you want to go to immersion, kids books (then move to novels), TV, radio etc- as natural a form of speech as you can find. Do this at the same time as moving into the lower-intermediate levels of your apps, books, classes, podcasts whatever that are actively teaching you. The at the same time is the key here.

    Potentially look at short courses at local community centres or community groups- Spanish is a widely spoken language so there are likely to be some learner groups around (even online by Zoom). You can practice by speaking out loud (reply to the radio), but speaking to someone who can give feedback is best.

    • seannami on 06/04/2023 - 08:56

      Oh and the watch and repeat what they say method you mentioned will help with pronunciation, not so much with active use- replying to them will focus you more on comprehension and use.

  • sam-1966 on 05/04/2023 - 15:24

    As others have asked, where are you going that you will be speaking Spanish as it is different depending on which location. My daughter learned Spanish at high school - her first teacher was from South America and the next from somewhere else.

    Depending on the location, maybe see if there is a local ethnic club (Spanish, Columbian etc) that you could go to and see if one of the members might like to teach you one-on-one - they can really force you through it.

    My daughter was doing nursing placements and had a patient from South America - she could pick the accent was different from her teacher. Anyhoo - when she said something in Spanish the lady was delighted and insisted that my daughter respond in Spanish to her. She also taught the other nurses how to ask about her pain levels in Spanish - as people who speak English as their second language get older and develop dementia they can regress to their original language.

  • AustriaBargain on 05/04/2023 - 16:13

    Best way? Probably private lessons from Penelope Cruz.

    • dtc on 05/04/2023 - 17:02
      +2

      as if you would pay attention to what she is saying

  • Hansi on 05/04/2023 - 16:16
    +1

    Watch Narcos with subtitles

  • jizmo on 05/04/2023 - 16:50
    -1

    Only takes 10 minutes and you're a pro Árriba Árriba

    Andale ándale https://youtu.be/t7-nb1wlnyA

  • Mechz on 05/04/2023 - 18:46
    +1

    The only 2 phrases you need to know.

    ¿Dónde está el baño?

    And

    Un cerveza por favor.

    But also maybe;
    Kee-ta-tay puta madré

  • GordonR on 05/04/2023 - 19:23

    Italki is a site that connects you with native speakers who will converse with you online (for a fee).

    The fees vary wildly depending on whether you are speaking to someone who is essentially a tutor or someone who does a few hours a week as a hobby and of course someone from Mexico is likely to be cheaper than someone from Spain.

  • shmoney on 05/04/2023 - 19:59

    get a spanish gf/bf

    • Ulysses31 on 05/04/2023 - 21:29

      Why not both?!

      • moar bargains on 06/04/2023 - 20:25
        +1

        Por que no los dos?

        FTFY

  • Hardlyworkin on 05/04/2023 - 20:45
    -1

    Where are you headed? If it's Latin America then spend your first month at a school, living with a family. Somewhere cheap and set up for this like Guatemala. Learn some basics here and immerse yourself there.

  • Sinnerator on 06/04/2023 - 07:59

    !

  • ForkSnorter on 06/04/2023 - 11:15

    Nothing better than a well-designed textbook. Each chapter should introduce some words/linguistic structures to memorise. Then you read sentences/do exercises using those words/linguistic structures. Then you read a text/passage that includes those words/linguistic structures. It's really effective, and rewarding. I would try to find some books like this from libraries/2nd hand bookshops.

    Even better is to aim for variety. Immersion via multiple learning methods (textbooks, apps, videos/TV shows, classes, etc.) all at the same time.

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