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Recognising but unable to understand

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11 messages over 2 pages: 1 2  Next >>
seemewoo
Newbie
United Kingdom
Joined 4559 days ago

21 posts - 22 votes

 
 Message 1 of 11
11 January 2014 at 1:59am | IP Logged 
Hi,
I have got to a stage with my Spanish where I can listen to the language being spoken, and recognise the
words being said, however I can't understand them.

For example if i listen to a lesson in assimil, I recognise the words on the audio, however I have to sit and
think what these words are before I understand what the audio means.

Sorry if this isn't making much sense but this is the best way I can explain it :-/

It's really frustrating because I know the words, I just can't seem to understand the meaning of them quickly
enough.

Any tips would be much appreciated!
1 person has voted this message useful



tristano
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Netherlands
Joined 4038 days ago

905 posts - 1262 votes 
Speaks: Italian*, Spanish, French, English
Studies: Dutch

 
 Message 2 of 11
11 January 2014 at 9:37am | IP Logged 
It's happening the same also to me with Dutch. It
was like that years ago with English. It's
absolutely normal, it's a normal step in language
learning. First it's noise, then you start to
recognize words, then whole sentences and
eventually it becomes better and better. It just
takes time. Try to watch how many videos with
Spanish subtitles you can.
4 persons have voted this message useful



Serpent
Octoglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
serpent-849.livejour
Joined 6588 days ago

9753 posts - 15779 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish

 
 Message 3 of 11
11 January 2014 at 11:15am | IP Logged 
Subtitles are often inaccurate though. Audio with transcripts is less distracting.

GLOSS is a good source of matching texts and audio, in Spanish, French, Portuguese and many other languages (though sadly not the ones limited to prosperous countries like Italian or Danish). Click "source" on top.

Consider also getting an unabridged audiobook if you feel ready to use one.

Edited by Serpent on 11 January 2014 at 11:17am

4 persons have voted this message useful



Bao
Diglot
Senior Member
Germany
tinyurl.com/pe4kqe5
Joined 5757 days ago

2256 posts - 4046 votes 
Speaks: German*, English
Studies: French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin

 
 Message 4 of 11
11 January 2014 at 12:49pm | IP Logged 
What they said. And, repetition helps. Repetition of material you've listened to before as well as listening to new material that is similar to what you've heard before. For example, when working with GLOSS I might work through one lesson with audio + transcript (and activities if I had the time), use the audio of one I'd already worked through before and play it 2-5 times, and then listen to maybe three new lessons at the same level with similar content to what I've already worked through before. Of course, I expect to understand the finished lessons, but if I understood too little of one of the new ones I'd just mark that one down for the next day.
2 persons have voted this message useful



luke
Diglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 7196 days ago

3133 posts - 4351 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish
Studies: Esperanto, French

 
 Message 5 of 11
11 January 2014 at 12:56pm | IP Logged 
seemewoo wrote:
I have got to a stage with my Spanish where I can listen to the language being spoken,
and recognise the words being said, however I can't understand them.


Two things I found very helpful taking my Spanish from where you are to where you want to be.

1) Reading an easy book for native speakers. For me, one of those books was Los Siete Pasos para Ser
Feliz
. The audiobook is also available and is read by the author, which I like. Also, I think there is a little
magic in a book originally written in your target language versus a translation for taking you to the "next
level".

2) The Spanish as a Second Language 4 You website has a bunch
of podcasts that are meant to help learners. What Teresa Sanchez (the blogger) does is explains everything
she says in several ways with lots of synonyms and circumlocution. She speaks fast, but once you get
comfortable with her podcasts, I think you'll find a lot of benefit in your other listening.

Good luck!

Edited by luke on 11 January 2014 at 1:04pm

1 person has voted this message useful



seemewoo
Newbie
United Kingdom
Joined 4559 days ago

21 posts - 22 votes

 
 Message 6 of 11
11 January 2014 at 3:20pm | IP Logged 
Thank you all, I had been listening to a lot of Spanish music on the radio and the football commentary (since I
love football) and i see now I need the input to more easy to comprehend :-)
1 person has voted this message useful



Serpent
Octoglot
Senior Member
Russian Federation
serpent-849.livejour
Joined 6588 days ago

9753 posts - 15779 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, FinnishC1, Latin, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Studies: Danish, Romanian, Polish, Belarusian, Ukrainian, Croatian, Slovenian, Catalan, Czech, Galician, Dutch, Swedish

 
 Message 7 of 11
11 January 2014 at 5:08pm | IP Logged 
Football ftw! :)
GLOSS has some lessons explaining football to clueless Americans ;) should be easy if you're not new to the topic :P
And here is some useful vocabulary/phrases :-)

Edited by Serpent on 11 January 2014 at 5:10pm

1 person has voted this message useful



seemewoo
Newbie
United Kingdom
Joined 4559 days ago

21 posts - 22 votes

 
 Message 8 of 11
12 January 2014 at 12:03am | IP Logged 
Thank you there going straight into my anki deck! And athletico madrid are looking good this season! Be nice
to see someone else top the leauge besides real and barca!


1 person has voted this message useful



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