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Beginning to Learn Spanish... | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Advice Center |  | |
| Lily Newbie Philippines Joined 1123 days ago 6 posts Studies: English, Tagalog* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 1 of 10 13 January 2007 at 1:20pm | IP Logged |
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I'm very much a beginner learning Spanish and was wondering if you guys have any tips for me to learn it more efficiently? I've tried learning with the audio books and quite frankly I've found them to be a great way to start snoring immediately...:P
Im taking up Spanish classes once a week (3 hours a class), do you think that would be enough? Oh and I wanted to take up German classes initially but I found the ones available to my location quite expensive so I just decided to take up Spanish in the meantime and read up on German from time to time... If anyone would like to learn my native language (Tagalog) just send me a message and I'd be happy to help! Oh and hi! I'm new. ^_^ Edited by Lily on 13 January 2007 at 1:31pm | |
| tujiko Senior Member United States Joined 1131 days ago 140 posts Speaks: English* | Message 2 of 10 13 January 2007 at 1:50pm | IP Logged |
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Hmm. I personally have found audio programs (FSI, Michel Thomas, Learn in Your Car, radio etc) to be the most effective means of learning the aural/oral parts of languages. The classes will teach you how to read (and write if you're lucky), but the chances of learning anything beyond the basic stuff with them are slim to none. If I were you, I'd develop a self-study schedule with a few good audio programs and an hour a day of language time. Guarantee you'd learn much more that way.
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| Cypher Tetraglot Newbie United States Joined 1525 days ago 29 posts Speaks: English*, French, Spanish, Korean | Message 3 of 10 13 January 2007 at 9:04pm | IP Logged |
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If you're asking if three hours of class a week is enough, then it's obvious that you want to do more, so by all means do!
Learning the lyrics to and listening to music in your language is a great and fun way to learn new vocabulary and improve your listening. The language is usually simple, and the repetitiveness/catchiness helps the words just stick in your head. Listening to audiobooks and dialogues over and over might be dull, but listening to good music over and over isn't hard to do at all. There's a wealth of great music available in Spanish, but one singer I'd recommend in particular if you're still at a low level of Spanish is Julieta Venegas. Her lyrics and voice are pretty easy to understand, and her music is fun and catchy. You can download her whole discography for free via bit torrent, and get the lyrics here: http://www.todomusica.org/julieta_venegas/letras.shtml Some other fun bands with lyrics that aren't too tough to understand: La Oreja de Van Gogh Jarabe de Palo Mana It's pretty easy to find the lyrics for most popular musicians by just typing the name of the musician/band and "letras" into Google or Yahoo. Buena suerte! | |
| kenryan Newbie United States Joined 1283 days ago 2 posts | Message 4 of 10 13 January 2007 at 10:00pm | IP Logged |
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Discover studySpanish.com - they have all you need! Complete their material, and then start making Spanish-speaking friends.
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| Lily Newbie Philippines Joined 1123 days ago 6 posts Studies: English, Tagalog* Studies: German, Spanish | Message 5 of 10 15 January 2007 at 1:52am | IP Logged |
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Thank you very much. I will keep your great advice in mind. :)
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| Magnum Bilingual Triglot Retired Moderator Pro Member United States Joined 1715 days ago 352 posts - 4 votes Speaks: English*, Serbian*, French Studies: German Personal Language Map | Message 6 of 10 15 January 2007 at 10:08am | IP Logged |
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If you are a beginner you might want to check out Standard Deviants Spanish DVD. When I first started French the Standard Deviant DVD was very helpful. They make a program designed to keep interest and attention high. Almost every library has copies, so check one out it is free.
Once you look at Standard Deviants, you might want to try the on-line video series Destinos. It is designed to be equal to two years of college study. Good luck in your studies! | |
| tujiko Senior Member United States Joined 1131 days ago 140 posts Speaks: English* | Message 7 of 10 16 January 2007 at 1:41am | IP Logged |
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Oh, and something else. It's better to study for half an hour a day, every day, than to study for an hour today, then nothing for three days, then three hours on another day, and then nothing for a week...etc. Slow but steady progress is the way to learn a language (or a great many other things).
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| therumsgone Diglot Groupie United States frodolives.wordpress Joined 1135 days ago 71 posts Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: French, German, Italian | Message 8 of 10 16 January 2007 at 4:28pm | IP Logged |
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I agree with tujiko, it's best to reinforce what you're learning every single
day as opposed to only working for three hours once a week. You'll find that in many classes, people learn the same word over and over again without really learning it. Classes turn out to be just review, they don't build on anything you've learned. If you can try to force yourself to get through a few Pimsleur or FSI lessons, they will start to be more fun. I like to make my French Pimsleur course "me time." I sit with a nice warm coffee or cocoa, turn on the Pimsleur and imagine myself walking through Paris wearing haute couture on a quest to find Johnny Depp. It's silly, I know, but it makes the audio programs much more fun. I am currently at the end of a college Spanish program, and I wouldn't recommend the method. When we begin doing small group discussion, people just talk in English and then write down some sentences in Spanish. Really make sure your Spanish program is worth it before investing your time and money. ¡Buena suerte! |
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