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Spanish and French learning log by Sash | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| sash2619 Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4994 days ago 13 posts - 14 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: Spanish | Message 1 of 11 15 March 2011 at 11:05pm | IP Logged |
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I was following this forum for several years. I think it’s the best site for avid language learners. I was studying Spanish off and on for over a year now. I had a very casual study approach mostly by watching Spanish TV and working on my vocabulary by using word lists, dictionaries etc. Now I want to get really serious about my Spanish and achieve basic fluency within the next few months. I would like to use this log as my personal accountability system. It will also help me track my progress better.
I would estimate my current knowledge as follows: Reading: I started reading Harry Potter book 1 this week and was very surprised that I can understand almost everything without using a dictionary. There are still many unknown words but I know enough to follow the story. Newspapers are a little more difficult to understand. I guess I need more political and economical vocabulary. Writing: poor. I did not work on my writing at all aside from typing the words in flashcard programs. Grammar: very poor. I am comfortable with present tense only. Past, future and dreaded subjunctive tenses are unknown to me. Listening comprehension: so-so. I studied Spanish before mostly by watching LaAm TV programs and novellas. My listening comprehension is definitely better than my grammar. I can follow the story and understand quite a bit. I would estimate at around 40% comprehension rate. Conversational: I have no idea. I haven’t tried talking in Spanish with anyone yet. Study plan: 1. Platiquemos – starting with Lvl 1 unit 8 (I completed the first 7 units about 6 months ago) – for grammar and vocabulary acquisition 2. Harry Potter book 1 - currently on page 8/152 Active reading with frequent word look-up 3. Flash-cards review. I use Byki program and I am using wordesgalore word list to create flash cards. 4. I started watching El Elegido and Los Unicos shows from Argentina (I can watch them on-line). On weekends I am going to watch Monte Cristo (from Argentina too) 5. Grammar book – I haven’t picked one yet. Any recommendations will be appreciated. 6. I am also thinking about finding a language partner as soon as I build courage to practice my broken Spanish. I am going to spend at least 2 hours a day on active study (more on weekends). I have also started flirting with French. It’s my next “must know” language on the list. I found Rosetta Stone French LvL 1 in the library. I will start taking a closer look at French vocabulary and getting my ear tuned for French sounds. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| sash2619 Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4994 days ago 13 posts - 14 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: Spanish | Message 2 of 11 17 March 2011 at 8:56pm | IP Logged |
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I have completed Platiquemos units 8 and 9 and moving on to Level 2, unit 10. I am very impressed with this language program. Drills are great and the material is challenging. Though, the grammar coverage is not that great.
I am still in search of a good grammar book. I tried “Spanish Demystified.” Overall, it’s pretty good. But it’s getting a little annoying to ignore “vosotros” verb forms as I am studying LaAm Spanish that does not use this form. Also, I found some mistypes and obvious mistakes in the keys. I am going to review Practice Makes Perfect “Complete Spanish Grammar” book. Maybe it will be a better fit. I was practicing El Presento Perfecto tense this week. I created and learned over 250 flashcards in Byki in 3 days. I am watching Spanish TV and Spanish movies for at least 1-2 hours each day. I watched “Y tú mama también” with English subtitles. I am going to watch it again without subtitles this week. Next on my watch list – “ Hable con ella” de Pedro Almodóvar. Overall, I think I need to cut down the hours I spend watching Spanish movies/telenovelas and concentrate more on grammar/reading/Platiquemos for now. I have a feeling that my listening comprehension is reaching some kind of “plateau.” 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vanillabean Groupie Canada Joined 4999 days ago 53 posts - 63 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 3 of 11 17 March 2011 at 9:58pm | IP Logged |
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I'll be following your log! I am also studying Spanish. I notice you're reading Harry Potter in Spanish... have you found that helps you? I actually read quite a few news articles with frequent word look-up and I think it has helped, especially in terms of vocabulary - I seem to remember words better once I see them in context. Good luck with your search for a good grammar book, and if you find one I'd be interested in knowing what it is! :)
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| sash2619 Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4994 days ago 13 posts - 14 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: Spanish | Message 4 of 11 17 March 2011 at 11:04pm | IP Logged |
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Hi Vanillabean,
Thank you for stopping by! I am going to look up your Spanish log too. I find reading Harry Potter series extremely useful. This book is a very light read with simple vocabulary. Of course, I wish I could read Gabriel García Márquez but my Spanish is not at that level yet (hopefully soon enough:)). I would recommend to get Harry Potter books in e-format. This way you can use e-dictionaries for quick word look-up. I personally use Lingvo 3. By just pressing CTRL key it will show me the translation or I can add that unknown word into my flashcard database with one click. For me, reading is the best way to build good vocabulary fast. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| James29 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5366 days ago 1265 posts - 2113 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French | Message 5 of 11 18 March 2011 at 1:07am | IP Logged |
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Good luck with your studies. Thanks for posting the link to the Argentina TV station in the other thread. I have been looking for a TV show to start watching in the evenings.
1 person has voted this message useful | |
| sash2619 Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4994 days ago 13 posts - 14 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: Spanish | Message 6 of 11 18 March 2011 at 1:23am | IP Logged |
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James,
here is another link if you want to watch TV live from Argentina: http://vertelevisiononline.com/29/ This is a direct link for Trece but it also has other channels including Telefe and many others. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| sash2619 Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4994 days ago 13 posts - 14 votes Speaks: Russian*, English Studies: Spanish | Message 7 of 11 21 March 2011 at 4:08am | IP Logged |
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I think I have finally decided on the grammar books.
"Espanol en Vivo" by Nuzhdin - I wish the explanations were in English (it's in Russian), but the book is great. It has many exercises with the keys. (currently on lesson 2, part 2) "Gramáticas de uso del Español - Teoría y práctica" (A1-B2) - great brief explanations with illustrations and exercises. It lacks some depth but I can use other books to supplement. I have completed the first 9 lessons already. Harry Potter, book 1 - 17/152 (Fairly easy. I understand about 50% of the text without dictionary already. This is a great way to expand vocabulary.) Platiquemos - unit 10 (dialog is easy. I just need to finish drills.) Listened to about 4 hours of native videos in the last 3 days. I am not sure if it was already posted on this forum before. I found many free Spanish readers and old grammar books on Google books. Most of those books are fairly old (1950 or older) but can be still useful and it's free! For example: http://books.google.com/books?id=kvoboDztAlMC&lpg=PP1&dq=spa nish&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=XGdKAAAAIAAJ&dq=spanish&pg= PA77#v=onepage&q&f=false 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vanillabean Groupie Canada Joined 4999 days ago 53 posts - 63 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 8 of 11 21 March 2011 at 3:50pm | IP Logged |
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Thanks for posting the links to the free Spanish readers - those are great. I'll have to check out the other book you mentioned, as well as Harry Potter! When you're reading, do you look words up as you go along, or do you just read for pleasure and try to pick up on words from the context? I was just curious since people seem to approach that differently.
Keep up the good work :) 1 person has voted this message useful |
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