Learning Spanish Fast
Well I prefer fast to slow when it comes to learning, but unfortunately I'm one of those people who don't easily pick up another language, I marvel at those that do. So I'm probably the best person to write this section as I really need to root out what works and what doesn't, as my brain seems to have a kind of shut-off valve if I go into overload mode. And learning a language sure does activate that valve in me!
We all know there's nothing like travelling in a foreign country with a willingness to learn the language. It's total immersion. There are opportunities to learn everywhere, not just when face-to-face but there's signs, newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The language you would like to learn is right in your face so to speak. But when you get back home to your own country, well it's obvious the learning comes to a sudden halt. So I'll focus here on some of the things I've found and still am finding, that works from me when learning Spanish as a second language back at home.
Feedback Welcome
By the way I really welcome feedback and ideas on this subject. I'm a learner and I would love to hear of your own experiences and suggestions. The best of them I'll quite happily put up here with a byword. I think of this web site not just as a way of presenting what we do, but also as a resource for us all. You can make contact by using the form here
Learning Spanish slowly but steadily
Well that's a better heading for this section! Here's a short list on my own experiences so far in learning Spanish when not in a Spanish speaking country.
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Michel Thomas Spanish
This is an 8 hour audio only
course recommended by a friend, and comes as a
series of CD's. It's well recorded and packaged.
It takes you through a series of lessons where
Michel Thomas is teaching two learners, a woman
and a man. It seems well structured and I'm sure
it works for lots of people but for me it brought
up how visual a learner I really am.
I need supporting material such as a book so as I can follow along and see what they're talking about. Without this I'm afraid I couldn't take more than 20 minutes of it, (usually driving along in the car listening to it), before the shut-off valve was well and truly activated.
It advertises this course on the cover as, 'No Books, No Writing' (as you can see by clicking on the image), but Michel I want the books the writing and pictures! That combined with these CD's would make it a way better course for me. Perhaps you may find it works well for you, it's very popular and widely available.
I'll be adding to this section as I go along. So check back in from time to time hopefully my feedback on learning Spanish will be helpful if you or a friend are as well. I'm determined to extend my working knowledge of Spanish to the level of being able to carry out very fluent conversations. I can get by at the moment but the word fluent wouldn't come to mind.
I also sometimes write about my experiences in learning Spanish, (and much more), over at my blog http://www.trailsblog.com
Trails of the Spirit facilitates Sketching Workshop
Adventures in Peru and Ireland
