Learning Spanish (1 Viewer)

[Judge Smails]

So I was a typical Espanol 101, 102 hack in high school. Live in So Cal so picked up a fair amount through day to day osmosis. Still, I envision spending a month at a time in Mexico during retirement and know the language would make it much easier. So starting to plan now. I've read about Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, etc. Would like to spend 30 minutes or so a night for the next few years getting more conversational. Anybody try these or other methods (other than 6+ months just living in the country - not an option for me right now). Suggestions, mi FBG putos?

 

[Quint]

i'd go Rosetta Stone, and combine with speaking to locals to learn more non-Castilian phrasing.

Buena suerte Chingon.

 

[GilbertGrape]

Duolingo.com is pretty basic but it has an easy to use format that I like.

 

[Tecumseh]

Try this.

 

[John Bender]

Gotta speak and practice it every day.

I did 6th grade through college and luckily my first job out of school required it on a daily basis. There were days I wouldn't speak english for 12 hours. That was worth more than the 12 years of school. Find an intensive Spanish course with a teacher who will bring you into communities to speak it instead of learning out of a book.

 

[Judge Smails]

Gotta speak and practice it every day.

I did 6th grade through college and luckily my first job out of school required it on a daily basis. There were days I wouldn't speak english for 12 hours. That was worth more than the 12 years of school. Find an intensive Spanish course with a teacher who will bring you into communities to speak it instead of learning out of a book.

though I know ideal - don't know have time for that....

 

[Judge Smails]

Try this.

Intrigued. Have you or others you know had success with this method?

 

[johnnycakes]

Something like 121Spanish might be worth looking into because they use live tutors. When I was learning Chinese, I used a similar program called SpeakMandarin.com... it worked very well, as the lessons were via skype with a native speaker.... the teachers in my program had advanced degrees in teaching chinese as a second language.

In any event that live format should not be overlooked.... you can get your mistakes corrected immediately rather than keeping repeating your mistakes. You can ask questions.. it's a good format.

 

[johnnycakes]

Down In Mexico

Down in Mexicali

There's a crazy little place that I know

Where the drinks are hotter, than the chili sauce

And the boss is a cat named Joe

(Chorus)

He wears a red bandana

Plays a cool piana (piano is pronounced piana in this song)

In a honky tonk, down in Mexico

He wears a purple sash, and a black moustache

In honky tonk, down in Mexico

Well, the first time that I saw him

He was sittin on a piano stool

I said "Tell me man, when does the fun begin?"

He just winked his eye and said "Man, be cool."

(Chorus)

He wears a red bandana

Plays a cool piana

In a honky tonk, down in Mexico

He wears a purple sash, and a black moustache

In a honky tonk, down in Mexico

In Mexico...

All of a sudden in walks a chick

In Mexico...

Joe starts playin on a latin kick

In Mexico...

Around her waist she wore three fishnets

In Mexico...

She started dancin with the castanets

In Mexico...

I didn't know just what to expect

In Mexico...

She threw her arms around my neck

In Mexico...

We started dancin all around the floor (In Mexico...)

Until she did a dance I never saw before

So if you're south of the border

I mean down in Mexico

And you wanna get straight

Man, don't hesitate

Just look up a cat named Joe

(Chorus)

He wears a red bandana

Plays a cool piana

In a honky tonk, down in Mexico

He wears a purple sash, and a black moustache

In a honky tonk, down in Mexico

[spoken by Carl Gardner:]

Yeah, como esta usted senorita

Come with me to the border, south of the border, that is

In Mexico, yeah in Mexico

You can get your kicks in Mexico

Crazy, come with me baby, come with me, come with me, crazy, yeah

 

[Tecumseh]

Try this.

Intrigued. Have you or others you know had success with this method?

No, but it's pretty logical. I've been meaning to give it a shot, but, for whatever reason, I just haven't.

 

[cstu]

Meh, I have Google Translate and that is getting better all the time.

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

Been using this: http://www.catacademy.com/

Love it.

 

[James Daulton]

Pick up a Latina side piece.

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Get a Spanish speaking mistress and communicate only in Spanish with her.

Set all radio and T.V. stations in your house to Spanish only stations.

Go hang out on a Spanish language version of this site.

 

[AAABatteries]

Meh, I have Google Translate and that is getting better all the time.

I've wondered how long we have until a Babelfish technology is invented.

 

[sports_fan]

How many of you guys have successfully learned a new language as an adult? I always hear it's much easier to learn when you're young. I've tried to learn a new language a few years ago but gave up on it before I made any real progress.

 

[rifkin]

Duolingo.com is pretty basic but it has an easy to use format that I like.

My wife was learning Italian before our trip to Italy in August and she used both Rosetta Stone and Duolingo. She said she liked Duolingo for learning to how to converse for practical purposes (dining, asking directions, how to's of every day life) than Rosetta Stone. So maybe try duolingo and then practice at restaurants and markets to gain some confidence.

 

[Gator Shawn]

Duolingo is nice because it's free and is organized well. I don't know that fluency is the goal with duolingo, but I might start there. I am also interested in learning, so I am going to look more into the link posted by Tecumseh.

I wonder if private tutors are any good. I see some use Skype.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/search/bbb?sort=rel&query=spanish%20lessons

 

[Chemical X]

we learned Italian and found that the 'dummies' books for quite helpful.

 

[eoMMan]

How many of you guys have successfully learned a new language as an adult? I always hear it's much easier to learn when you're young. I've tried to learn a new language a few years ago but gave up on it before I made any real progress.

Bump.

Anyone learn a new language as an adult?

I'd like to get fluent in Spanish within 5 years.

 

[Judge Smails]

Not bad as far as resolutions go. Only 3 years later.  Been doing Duolingo lessons every day for a month now.  Love it.  Brilliant UI IMO.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Tried relying on my HS Spanish when i first moved to NM. Turns out very few New Mexicans knew or cared where the library was....

 

[Galileo]

So I was a typical Espanol 101, 102 hack in high school. Live in So Cal so picked up a fair amount through day to day osmosis. Still, I envision spending a month at a time in Mexico during retirement and know the language would make it much easier. So starting to plan now. I've read about Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, etc. Would like to spend 30 minutes or so a night for the next few years getting more conversational. Anybody try these or other methods (other than 6+ months just living in the country - not an option for me right now). Suggestions, mi FBG putos?

 

 

[skol asylum]

Maybe create a thread here for each language to practice?

 

[AAABatteries]

Tried relying on my HS Spanish when i first moved to NM. Turns out very few New Mexicans knew or cared where the library was....

 

[peaces]

Ese gato loco nunca me deja acariciarlo 

 

[Slider]

That crazy cat never lets me caress him

 

[eoMMan]

Hola muchacha. Mi espanol es no bueno. Yo soy blanco. Yo soy gringo.  Yo soy listo y fuerte. Tu eres guapa.

Mi esposa es boriqua.

 

[Gordo]

Old thread. Any new ideas or resources out there your using? I'm just starting with Duolingo.com.

@Judge Smails, you fluent yet?

 

[Mister CIA]

Hey pendejos!

 

[steelerfan1]

So I was a typical Espanol 101, 102 hack in high school. Live in So Cal so picked up a fair amount through day to day osmosis. Still, I envision spending a month at a time in Mexico during retirement and know the language would make it much easier. So starting to plan now. I've read about Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur, etc. Would like to spend 30 minutes or so a night for the next few years getting more conversational. Anybody try these or other methods (other than 6+ months just living in the country - not an option for me right now). Suggestions, mi FBG putos?

You still going strong JS? I tapped out with Pimsleur and Duo. My mind just can’t retain it.

 

[Dez89]

Many years ago a Mexican guy I knew told me that the best way to learn a language was with a long-haired dictionary.  Turns out he was right.  I'm sure there are better and faster ways to learn Spanish, as it took me a loooong time to get to where I am today, but the long-haired dictionary route provides a lot of fun and motivation.

But I've also found that the absolute key is practice.  You have to continually practice and use the new things you learn.

 

[Chaos Commish]

But I've also found that the absolute key is practice.  You have to continually practice and use the new things you learn.

This. I lived in Panama for a year as a kid including classes taught in both spanish and english. At that age i retained a lot and breezed through spanish classes in high school. Still I was barely (even humorously) conversational. Later I employed mexicans and that really helped, but when that ended so did the quality of my spanish. Use it or lose it. 

So I made a project out of it in the beginning of Covid isolation. Duolingo is fantastic. In order to practice, I watch Mexican shows (captioned in english) and listen to spanish language music often translating lyrics. I just finished the series Yankee. Mexican drug cartel show, and I am now able to turn off captions. I am fluent at this point. Duolingo, practice, exposure, practice, practice. 

I've decided to tackle Mandarin. haha

 

[Dez89]

In order to practice, I watch Mexican shows (captioned in english) and listen to spanish language music often translating lyrics. I just finished the series Yankee. Mexican drug cartel show, and I am now able to turn off captions. I am fluent at this point. Duolingo, practice, exposure, practice, practice.

I always get irritated when the English subtitles don't match what they say in Spanish.  And even worse, when the Spanish subtitles don't match what they're saying (in Spanish).

 

[Chaos Commish]

I always get irritated when the English subtitles don't match what they say in Spanish.  And even worse, when the Spanish subtitles don't match what they're saying (in Spanish).

you will hate the show Yankee.

 

[Judge Smails]

Old thread. Any new ideas or resources out there your using? I'm just starting with Duolingo.com.

@Judge Smails, you fluent yet?

Hah - no. But back on a 25 day streak of DuoLingo. Committed to get better and better

 

[Gordo]

CBS Sunday Morning just had a story about a guy that speaks about 40 different languages.  I figure I should be capable of 1 more beyond English.

 

[Dez89]

CBS Sunday Morning just had a story about a guy that speaks about 40 different languages.  I figure I should be capable of 1 more beyond English.

Username checks out.

 

[matuski]

https://www.languagetransfer.org/complete-spanish