www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Thanks to the help of the gentlemen of this board I am slowly learning Spanish with the Pimsleur CD's. Last year I finished the first 10 CD's (20 lessons) before my trip to CR. While I could not understand most conversations, I often got the jist of what was being said and was able to make my desires known. The guys I was with spoke zero Spanish and were actually getting me to talk to chicas for them.

Here is my question for guys that have gone down this path, how many lessons did it take before you became somewhat comfortable with the language? I am really busy with work and family, but want to set some kind of goal before my next trip in a few months. The tapes are tough for me. I am not a natural at picking up a language and it is difficult to focus on the tapes with all the things bouncing around in my head. That said, I usually do pretty well in life when I have a set goal and deadline. Thanks

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Missing CR

here's my 2 cents worth, tapes and books are fine, especially to help read, but unless you engage in daily conversation with latinos, you'll have a hard time becoming fluent, much less understanding rapid conversation....
plus, I've found a big difference in the expressions used from country to country...what is common expression in Costa Rica may not be understood well in Argentina.

But I'm guessing you just want to be at least fluent at a survivor level and it seems you're doing well so far

by the way, if you're finished with the first level spanish CD's you have, I'll be happy to buy them and/or rent them...I am currently using a 12 CD learning package from Barrons.

years ago, I lived in Spain for six months and became reasonably fluent and able to follow most conversations..many years later, I've lost much of my fluency...these days, I practice my spanish with the latinos in the metro area (Washington, DC) and sometimes watch spanish TV channels or listen to spanish radio

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(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

I was doing ok after level I. But I have a very good memory and Pimsleur is all about memory, not so much conceptual. And I have a background of studying Spanish also, which is also coming back quickly now.

I finished level I right before my trip in late October. I was surprised how much more I was able to understand and speak since my June trip (4 months earlier). I was even translating for guys talking to chicas. I was able to hold real conversations. There was still some Spanglish involved, but very little. In those 4 months, I hadn't done much as far as studying. I reviewed level I (30 lessons), that's pretty much it.

I took 3 years of Spanish in high school 14 years ago but I haven't used it since, but now that I started Pimsleur, a lot of it is coming back, mostly grammar and the different tenses (past, future, etc.). Level I was basically a refresher for me. I started level II recently and it's a lot of new stuff for me.

Pimsleur is the best in my opinion.

I did the Portuguese series I & II when I moved to Brazil in 1998. Helped a lot. I also agree with Calif........dude in that expressions used and slang are difficult. But, it really helps at the start.

Since then, I have done Pimleur Spanish series I & II. It has helped a lot on my trips to S. America and CR. But, when I return to Brazil, I'm a little screwed up for a day or two, I sometimes use a spanish phrase instead of a portuguese.

Stay with the Pimsleur.......it's worthwhile.

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Cigar smoking doesn’t reduce us, it elevates us; It makes us more content to be alone, or it helps us to enjoy our companions. It encourages us to dwell on the simple moments and celebrate the sublime.
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Hung like Einstein and smart as a mule.
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You're not drunk if you can lay on the floor without holding on.

I think you nailed it why I got stuck half way through the 10 CD set. I first bought it thinking I could listen while doing other things. I found instead I needed to focus on the CD in order to learn. On top of that I had a harder time if I was tired or thinking about other things. I have to somehow pick a time when I can just push everything else aside and focus.

As always, thanks guys. I think I think I will set a minimum goal of finishing the first 30 lessons before my trip, but hopefully go a little further.

Unlike several of the respondents I have never lived in a Spanish speaking country or taken several years of Spanish in school. I find that I really have to pay attention to the lessons. I do each lesson twice, typically in a two or three day period. This allows me to knock off a few lessons a week. That said, it is well worth the effort. The lessons are awesome, and even a slow learner like myself can pick up enough to increase the quality of the time spent in Costa Rica.

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Missing CR

Hey M.C.R.,

The Pimsleur is a great start, but there's no subsitute for actual practice.

I understand that you have work and family commitments; everybody does. I suggest that you watch Telemundo and Univision, listen to local Spanish radio stations, buy the occasional Spanish language newspaper or magazine and the like. Even better, befriend some Latinos and practice, practice, practice.

I had 3 years of Spanish in H.S. 30 years ago, and another 3 quarters in college about 20 years ago. I didn't really start to feel comfortable until a few years ago. The difference for me was actually living the language, using it on a daily basis. I grab the chance for live practice whenever I can get it, much to the dismay of some of my Spanish-speaking acquaintances.

Different guys learn Spanish differently. The Pimsleur would be useless for me, as I need context and interaction to learn. You may be different. Still, my strongest suggestions would be to continue with the Pimsleur, but please supplement it with a little real-life experience and practice.

This is why as your de facto counselor, I recommend that you return to Costa Rica immediately for some immersion. Lots of immersion. Balls-deep immersion!

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

Thats's the best advice I've seen posted on this twisted forum in months, I'm taking your advice too counselor.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

How does a Ch*ld learn his native language? Immersion. Books and tapes are great as satellite learning tools. But, as the other guys have stated, the core is to practice speaking and listening. Another great tool is to watch an English speaking television broadcast that is subtitled in Spanish. Many AMNET channels have Spanish subtitling. Learning a new language is a MULTIMEDIA experience. Books, tapes, pictures etc. I have found that eventually you will increase your comprehension by becoming familiar with situations. For example on my last trip home from CR, I sat next to a Dominicana who spoke zero English. I impressed her with my spoken Spanish however I still have some problem totally comprehending the language. But, given the situation and the EXPECTED conversation in that setting, things were much easier. Just my 2 cents.

dapanz1

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Paradise= Sitting outside the Bodega in Panama City about 1 am. Drinking cool Balboas with cool friends and blazin' hot Colombianas. I want to be there..RIGHT NOW!

This is exactly why I come to CR, to learn Spanish.

Guys... help is on the way! If anyone is having problems trying to translate their GF emails and letters, feel free to ask me to translate them for you. I am a now retired English/Spanish Professor and although there are sure to exist some barbarisms and coloquials that may differ from one country to another; Spanish is Spanish and it will remain basic throughout the world.

Glad to help!
Mario Alfonso
"mario.alfonso@att.net"
732.532.6588 (Work)
732.768.0355 (Cell)

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Respectfully,

Muff

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My Spanish is pretty good, and it's really encouraging that so many of us are trying to learn Spanish, by whatever means. I'm pissed at Pimsleur right now; they tout their course as being "audio only," which it is not. One must have the vocabulary lists at hand in order to learn the lessons. Being a blink, I can't do that.

Unless... I manually copy the vocab. lists to my talking computer. Which leads to my question:

Can someone explain to me how to type Spanish characters on a standard PC keyboard? Does one use the "character map" feature in Control Panel, or what? Sorry for the dumb-ass question. Thanks in advance for informed replies.

Cheers!

Paul

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

One little bit of advice guys... whenever you want to speak Spanish, do your best to "think" in Spanish. Thoughts and words will come out more fluently and she'll love you for it.
For me it worked with English, Vietnamese, German, and Korean. However, I've done my best to forget Vietnamese and Korean.

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Respectfully,

Muff

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I'd like to think in spanish, but the sex thoughts drown out everything else...

I am phucked.

RHM

ROFLMAO.

Muffdiver makes a really good point though, and it goes back to what I was saying about needing context and real-life use to reinforce the language.

If this wonderful thing hasn't happened to you yet, I swear it will: You will be sitting in a group of ticas understanding nothing...and then *snap* you'll understand 90% of what's being said. Maybe not verbatim, but you'll comprehend an awful lot.

Having the Pimsleur is wonderful, as is reading Spanish, watching Spanish TV and movies, listening to Spanish music and boinking Spanish-speaking women in real life.

If you keep practicing, eventually it comes. And more quickly than you expect.

And when it comes, you'll really feel like you've accomplished something. Just the coming of this sudden rush will leave you feeling a bit awed and spent, the experience of the "lingua franca" invading even your dreams.

And when you can say more than "sin condom" and "cuanta cuesta," you'll be able to utter pillow-talk and sweet nothings. My New Year's resolution includes learning the following phrases in Costa Rican Spanish:

"I want to caress your armpit with my tongue.:"
"I want to tie you naked to the bed, cover you with Crisco and spank off in your purse."
"Who's your androgynousDaddyMommy?"
"
"Have you a really ugly, amputee sister/friend? They make me hot."
"Turnips. I smell turnips."
"

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.