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I will learn Spanish, finally

  Tags: Spanish
 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log Post Reply
ptrk7
Newbie
United States
Joined 6648 days ago

29 posts - 29 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: German, Spanish

 
 Message 1 of 8
19 January 2010 at 12:46am | IP Logged 
In December I started again for the third time to learn Spanish. Last week I just made
a goal for my self so I am trying to do more studying. And I am determined. I have been
wanting to learn this language for the last four years.

I bought Learning Spanish Like Crazy that I am mostly using for now, mostly because it
was over a hundred dollars cheaper than Pimsleur Spanish on amazon.com. I was able to
get a hold on Pimsleur a week ago though. When I finish that I will be starting FSI.

I have only been doing one lesson a day, a few times in a day. I also write down the
words and phrases I feel least confident with that I can go over during break and lunch
at work. So far its been going good I am currently on lesson 13 as of tonight.

At work I am aloud to listen to mp3 player with earphones so I was giving the Pimsleur
a try, I went through only three lessons in that. It was a nice refresher. Although I
think I actually prefer Pimsleur better. I don't know if I should just focus on
Pimsleur since I like that better? or do both, one at work and one at home.

I thought I would have a journal just to keep track of how I am doing and what I am
doing. Advice is always welcome. I am also really trying to cut out the internet as
much as I can since its too much of a distraction so I only plan to post once maybe
twice a week.

I don't know what else to say right now so I guess thats it for now.
1 person has voted this message useful



xylophagous
Newbie
United Kingdom
Joined 5427 days ago

29 posts - 29 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 2 of 8
19 January 2010 at 8:13am | IP Logged 
Good luck with your studies. I'm also learning Spanish as well and will follow your log's progression. I'd say there's no need to cut out internet, it's such a useful resource, especially for language learning. I don't use the internet while I'm studying but I do make a note if there's something I want to look up and then check it afterwards.
1 person has voted this message useful



Astrophel
Tetraglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 5723 days ago

157 posts - 345 votes 
Speaks: English*, Latin, German, Spanish
Studies: Russian, Cantonese, Polish, Sanskrit, Cherokee

 
 Message 3 of 8
19 January 2010 at 5:34pm | IP Logged 
I'm also learning Spanish and Learning Spanish Like Crazy is a really good program...it's like FSI only it's technically not so it's cheaper.
1 person has voted this message useful



ptrk7
Newbie
United States
Joined 6648 days ago

29 posts - 29 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: German, Spanish

 
 Message 4 of 8
20 January 2010 at 2:05am | IP Logged 
xylophagous wrote:
Good luck with your studies. I'm also learning Spanish as well and
will follow your log's progression. I'd say there's no need to cut out internet, it's
such a useful resource, especially for language learning. I don't use the internet
while I'm studying but I do make a note if there's something I want to look up and then
check it afterwards.
I am going from 5-6 hours (insane I think) a day to about
1 or 2. I do find a site that I have been going to once in awhile studyspanish.com very
useful.

Anyway lastnight after I went through lesson 13 in LSLC a couple of time I thought it
got a lot more difficult so I decided to start doing each lesson from this point for
two days before moving on, so I did 13 again today. It'll take me a little longer to
get threw this course than I was expecting but oh well I'd rather take my time to learn
then rush and forget fast.

Also I indeed started to listen to pimsleur while I am at work. I was able to do
another couple lessons a few times each today with that. So far it is going good I'd
say.

I have this friend who is a native speaker, yesterday I told him I have been learning
for a couple of weeks so today he started to try to get me to speak as much as I can
(which is not a lot yet). Thats probably the hardest part of learning for me is
speaking since I can be a little shy.

Edited by ptrk7 on 20 January 2010 at 3:03am

1 person has voted this message useful



ptrk7
Newbie
United States
Joined 6648 days ago

29 posts - 29 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: German, Spanish

 
 Message 5 of 8
24 January 2010 at 1:43am | IP Logged 
Sadly, Thursday and Friday I didn't do much. I ended up going out and forgot about it. For today I just mostly did lesson 15 of Learning Spanish Like Crazy a couple times, and later tonight I will try to get a start on lesson 16.
1 person has voted this message useful



ptrk7
Newbie
United States
Joined 6648 days ago

29 posts - 29 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: German, Spanish

 
 Message 6 of 8
09 April 2011 at 11:58pm | IP Logged 
I figured to just use this thread instead of making a new one.

I am kind of having a hard time with learning Spanish, it's not hard, I guess I just get
bored with learning after about two months of study. When I started this log I ended up
stopping sometime in February, I started again back in November 2010 but also stopped in February. Not sure what it is about that month...

I was able to get a hold of the fsi course Platiquemos, I was on unit ten when I stopped. I am reviewing a little and going to start on unit ten again. I also have a textbook,
Easy Spanish Step-By-Step from McGraw-Hill, I am just going to start over in this book.
And also flashcards, podcasts, and practice.

1 person has voted this message useful



Irish_Goon
Senior Member
United States
Joined 6406 days ago

117 posts - 170 votes 
Speaks: English*

 
 Message 7 of 8
10 April 2011 at 2:28am | IP Logged 
*cough try Assimil *cough. All kidding aside though the motivation just has to be there. Use any means to motivate yourself or it will never happen, no matter the program that you use.

Some people here look at learning a language as a hobby, others as a life's endeavor, and some as a tool. The point is tha all of these type of people (as well as others) exist on this forum and at the very least ONE from each category has made a successful attempt at learning at least a second language if not more. For me personally I find learning another language a part of continual self-improvement, which to me is as important if not more than a job or specified schooling.

Self-cultivation is my motivation. Find yours and if you want it bad enough, you will achieve it.
3 persons have voted this message useful



iguanamon
Pentaglot
Senior Member
Virgin Islands
Speaks: Ladino
Joined 5253 days ago

2241 posts - 6731 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French)

 
 Message 8 of 8
10 April 2011 at 2:46pm | IP Logged 
I agree with Irish_Goon. Cultivation of self is my motivation as well. So many people look at language learning through the prism of course/books/programs. These are only a means to an end. To me, a language is about communication with people. That communication can be one way- through books/media or two way with people- either in person or electronically. The language is a means to an end. I've learned Spanish because I like the culture, the people, the music, the literature and the countries where Spanish is spoken. I like that I learn something new everyday I use the language.

To me, having a way to use the language is of prime importance whilst learning in order to keep my motivation going. I like to listen to music, read, and most importantly speaking, skyping and e-mailing in the language with native speakers. I'm doing that right now with Portuguese. It keeps me motivated and it's fun! The language is the key/tool to unlocking a culture. To do otherwise, for me, would be more akin to an academic exercise. Perpetual study, "until I am ready", is not my thing. I am not saying there's anything wrong with that for others. Others may enjoy that process as much as I do mine, it just isn't for me. I learn so much more using the language than I ever do from programs/textbooks/courses.

Edited by iguanamon on 10 April 2011 at 2:52pm



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