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Cannot Study for Three Months | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| Yvadd Newbie United States Joined 3607 days ago 2 posts - 4 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 1 of 9 26 June 2014 at 8:42pm | IP Logged | ||
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I've been learning Spanish for about a month and a half now, and I'm making as much
progress as I expected. I had a good exposure to the language when I was a toddler so much of the vocabulary and grammar comes more naturally to me than other languages I've looked at before, but even with that I'm afraid I might lose what I've learned. I am leaving for Army training on July 16th. I will be gone for eight months. During the first three months I will not be able to study at all. Is there anything I could possibly do to retain what I've learned? I will have a notebook but I cannot bring a dictionary and I will not have any way to use a computer or any reference for words. I might be able to write when I have free time, but I will have no way of knowing if it will be correct. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| rdearman Senior Member United Kingdom rdearman.orgRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5030 days ago 881 posts - 1812 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Mandarin | Message 2 of 9 26 June 2014 at 9:54pm | IP Logged | ||
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You can talk to yourself in Spanish. I suspect that some of the other recruits will speak Spanish. Certainly when I was in boot camp about 25% of my squadron spoke Spanish. So talk to them.
3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| James29 Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5169 days ago 1265 posts - 2113 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French | Message 3 of 9 27 June 2014 at 2:08am | IP Logged | ||
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Get the Soldier's Creed, General Orders, core values, etc. in Spanish and memorize them in Spanish before you go. Then just keep repeating them in your head when you are there.
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| chokofingrz Pentaglot Senior Member England Joined 4983 days ago 241 posts - 430 votes Speaks: English*, French, Spanish, German, Italian Studies: Russian, Japanese, Catalan, Luxembourgish | Message 4 of 9 27 June 2014 at 5:07am | IP Logged | ||
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Take an mp3 player and download a buttload of podcasts and Spanish music before you go (or even a Michel Thomas-style course). This does require a bit of time, research and planning, but what were you expecting - shortcuts to success? (I don't currently keep up with Spanish websites but I'll bet there are many free podcasts on the web at whatever level suits you.)
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| Yvadd Newbie United States Joined 3607 days ago 2 posts - 4 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 5 of 9 27 June 2014 at 5:36am | IP Logged | ||
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Thank you for your helpful responses!
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| tomgosse Groupie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 3786 days ago 90 posts - 143 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 6 of 9 27 June 2014 at 2:38pm | IP Logged | ||
You could tell the powers that be that Spanish is your first language and you need the dictionary to help you "learn" English. :) If you can't bring it with you when you first enter boot camp, you can have a family member or friend mail you one. Buena Suerte! 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| rdearman Senior Member United Kingdom rdearman.orgRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5030 days ago 881 posts - 1812 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Italian, French, Mandarin | Message 7 of 9 27 June 2014 at 3:37pm | IP Logged | ||
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I don't know what the Army Bootcamp is like (I was in the Air Force) but they didn't allow us to have anything that wasn't issued by Uncle Sam. And trust me you aren't going to have time to be looking at books and studying.
Just try to find a Spanish speaker and talk to them. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Mohave Senior Member United States justpaste.it/Mohave1 Joined 3801 days ago 291 posts - 444 votes Speaks: English* Studies: French | Message 8 of 9 27 June 2014 at 5:10pm | IP Logged | ||
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I agree with trying to find Spanish speakers and talk with them and listen to their conversations. Before
leaving, try to learn the names of everything in your dorm, the cafeteria/food, learn verb conjugations for the daily activities in boot camp (ie running, climbing, jumping, marching, showering, etc). You indicated you would be able to have a notebook. I am not clear if it is a paper notebook or notebook computer. If it is a paper notebook, I would prepare ahead of time vocabulary lists L1 and L2 that you could study, and perhaps copy a couple of your lessons into your notebook. If it is a computer notebook, I would download podcast mp3s ahead of time. I've read good things about Notes in Spanish from those learning Spanish. I think your days are going to be so filled you will not have time for much else, but if you learn vocabulary about daily life, you can use self-talk practice as you are doing these activities, and perhaps be able to have simple dialogues with other Spanish speakers about daily life. 2 persons have voted this message useful |
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