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Learning Spanish the Hard Way
https://forum.costaricaticas.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=39676		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Sr Miguel [ Tue Dec 20, 2011 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Just finished my third degree - Spanish. It took 6.5 years, taking one course per semester. Would I do it again? Absolutely! Is it worth it just to learn Spanish? Probably not, but the process itself has been great. I will always maintain that college courses are the way to go in order to really get into the language. Also, now that I've read close to twenty novels in Spanish, which was prompted by and facilitated by the course work, I'll attest that reading books in Spanish is a fantastic way to practice the language, while picking up additional vocabulary and phraseology.

I'll be in SJO in January. Maybe I'll find a little honey to practice with...
Author:  HOU [ Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
congrats

pretty good for an old man
Author:  Question [ Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Good job man.

What are your other degrees in?
Author:  Sr Miguel [ Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Other degrees - English and MBA
Author:  Cujo's [ Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Sr Miguel wrote:
Just finished my third degree - Spanish. It took 6.5 years, taking one course per semester. Would I do it again? Absolutely! Is it worth it just to learn Spanish? Probably not, but the process itself has been great. ..



Way to stick that out, I'm not even sure if I've had a relationship that was 6.5 years long :lol: If you monger to (any) Latin American country, knowing Spanish will pay you back in all the hidden ways not seen by others, trust.. :idea:

When does ur quantum physics semester start? :P


Cujo
Author:  Dr.Mario [ Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Good work bro!!! It will make all the difference.......



the DR




<------OG respectin the Spanish skills---- 8)
Author:  Devo [ Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Congratulations! I find the biggest problem is not learning Spanish, but retaining it when there is no one to speak it with. I think that I learn more Spanish on a 7 day vacation in Latin-South America than 10 night classes here at home.

Devo
Author:  Mongeral [ Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Wasn't in Mark Twain who said something to the effect of :
"The best way to learn a new language is in bed with a beautiful woman who speaks it."
Author:  Sr Miguel [ Sat Dec 31, 2011 11:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
My opinion: sleeping with, talking with, just being around a latina who only speaks Spanish is great practice, just as reading novels in Spanish is great practice. Also, personal opinion, there's nothing like those first four basic college courses, in which you really get a grammar foundation; then follow it up with some advanced courses. According to the linguistics course I took, there are two basic means of learning a language - the grammar-vacubulary method and the direct method. Grammar-vocabulary being the "college method" and "direct" being the conversational teaching method. For an educated person, I think the grammar-vocabulary method is far better, because it is in-debth. Follow it up with a lot of practice and you'll be way ahead of the curve. While taking college Spanish courses, I also took a lot of private lessons, including in CR, where I would spend three hours a day with a private instructor, then whatever other time I might have with my favorite Nica. However, I still feel like I have a long way to go. Can't wait to get started!

Looking forward to arriving in CR January 15.
Author:  Estebanh [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
I congratulate you for learning Spanish the right (but hard) way. I have taken several courses at the community college and absolutely nothing stuck. Without reinforcement I was able to retain nothing.

I have taken Skype Spanish lessons with my current teacher in Ecuador for 5 months (twice a week, one hour each). For my last lesson, my teacher brought in another (very attractive) teacher. For one hour we conversed in Spanish and I understood and was understood by her the entire time. It is now my opinion that one-on-one is the best and most efficient way to learn.
Author:  Sr Miguel [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Estebanh, I also took private lessons. I was going to CR three times per year and taking a week's worth of three-four hours per day of conversation and doing it one hour per week in the US. Everytime I would learn a new word or phrase, I would write it down and memorize it. Opinion - private lessons are helpful and even necessary b/c in college you really don't get to converse. However, the benefit of the college route is the pressure - homework, quizes, exams, papers and presentations. I memorized my ass off and still work on memorizing vocabulary, as well as reading novels in Spanish. It's a lot of work trying to be fluent.

A couple other benefits of the college route include first, hot women. And they treat the old guy (me) just like any other student. Second, there are a lot of interesting courses. The last one I took was 20th Century Spanish (Re: Spain) Liturature, taught by a Spaniard. I learned all about the time leading up to, during, and after Franco (all taught in Spanish). Interesting stuff!
Author:  Cujo's [ Wed Jan 04, 2012 6:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
If nobody is around for interaction..go ppl watching or whatever and think/say what you see in spanish..that way the dialog is always somewhat there.. :idea:


Cujo
Author:  Thirdworld [ Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
I need to get back on my Spanish. Mine has gotten worse because I don't go out that much. Not so much not having conversations in Spanish as not having much conversation at all. I am going to do a search. I seem to remember months back someone mentioning using a teacher on skype that was pretty reasonable.
Author:  Xman00 [ Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
Pm to Thirdworld--- I had only her email not her web site , so I did not post that here.

I am challenged in English,( as my boss said I am the person you ask for the answer, but never ever allow me to write it up), But she has got me down the road farther then I ever expected and soon will put this to use in MDE, and I do have hope to be able to make small conversation with a beautiful lady while in bed as Mark Twain suggested

However a few months ago some posted a web site address to join a group ( 2-3 bucks a months) where you can go on line and practice with some who is trying to learn anther language , non teachers, jus tome who wants to learn English, take turns talking in each other language. Does any know that web site, I think I know enough to get started there now
Author:  Estebanh [ Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Learning Spanish the Hard Way
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=37841&hilit=Skype+Lessons

please don't mention that you heard about this on a sex monger site...thanks :)
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