www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This is exactly my problem. I am trying to learn Spanish and I have realized, I do not even know English yet. Is there any hope? Does this short coming make one program or another better for guys like me?

Guys who are starting out on level 1 or 2 should not concern themselves with subjunctive verbs. Unless you plan on having an in-depth conversation with a chica, you won't need it.

Study:
present
past
imperfect (another type of past)
future

It goes without saying, I thought, that one starts with the most simple and basic tenses. Of cousre, its all about how far you want to go, and what your goals are. If you basically want to suck "please suck me now" or "Can I C*m in your mouth"- there really is little need to learn the langauge. That said, if you a love of Latino culture is part of your reason to travel, learning the language is a joy.

_________________
I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

Yes, start with the simplest and don't go any further. There's really no need to. I may be wrong, but in my opinion 95% of the guys don't go to Latin America to experience the culture (that's not saying they aren't respectful of it), but more so to experience the Latinas themselves. For the other 5%, learn your subjunctive verbs.

I think that even if you start out going only for the "Latinas" knowing Spanish will gradually suck you into better understanding of the culture too and even interset you in certain aspects of it.
It is certainly true that when you know another language you also have another life.

_________________
Softbob

There is nothing either good or bad
but thinking makes it so.
HAMLET

If I could add anything of value to this thread, this is it: Whatever tape or CD prgram you listen to, you must REPEAT EVERYTHING YOU HEAR OUT LOUD WHILE TRYING TO NAIL THE PRONOUNCIATION EXACTLY. Do this consistently.

The reason for this is because that is he only way to limber up your tongue when trying a foreign language. If you don't repeat everything you hear, you will find over time that you can understand what is said, but will be unable to speak well.

Also, if you are in a place where you can practice your Spanish, go for it, ask for corrections and don't worry about making mistakes. If you are hung up on not wanting to make mistakes, take a drink, or two it will relax you

_________________
Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

Perhaps your precentages are true- but for the 5%, mastry of all very forms a cool thing. As El Viejo said, lots of speaking out load is key. Grammar, reading, speaking, listening and writing are all part of a comprehensive program. If you are really interested in learning langauges, here is a great forum (and where I have learned most of what I know).

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/default.asp

_________________
I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

The theory for learning espanol is the same as learning any language. I have taught english overseas and picked up quite a bit of Mandarin, Bahasa and Spanish in the process.Basically you need to focus on 10-20 words a day. "Learn spanish like crazy" is a great cd as it focuses on the applied learning and repetition theory of language acquisition. Basically learn a few words and repeat them to memory each day along with a few new words. Way too many people focus on perfect verb tenses, etc. Not important till way later in the process. Vocab and assembling short useful sentences is the key to a good start in any language. The good news for English speakers is we have Spanish sounds and words in English. Our language is truly a bastard language so all of you guys have been using and making sounds ranging from Greek to Arabic to good old espanol and probably didn't realize it.

I have a completely different perspective on this. I started taking college courses in Spanish in 2005, basically one course per semester, with a few exceptions. I've been studying Spanish vocabulary for one hour per day, seven days a week, for four years. I took private lessons for two years, one hour per week, just conversation. I went to CR twice per year and took private lessonse (just conversation) for a week at a time (Universal de Idiomas, a school I plug a lot). Then I got a Mexican GF here in the US who speaks less English than I do Spanish - we always converse in Spanish. Now I have one
Spanish course remaining to earn a degree in Spanish; I've read ten novels in Spanish and I still don't consider myself all that fluent! There's always a lot to learn.

To me it's an intellectual passion, like exercising your brain to stave off all of those dementia-related problems of growing old. I agree with one of the contributers here, who said something like, "If the chica insists on speaking her bad English, move on." I always do. Practicing Spanish is part of the fun in CR.

I've never listened to Spanish discs/tapes in the car (boring!), but I do listen to latin radio stations. You can always pick up something new.

Also, I don't think it's worth the effort unless you enjoy the ride!

I'll be back in CR end of December, dancing salsa, merengue, bachata and speaking Spanish with my favorite Nica, Yessenia. Hope she's still around!

I agree with your strategy miguel. Radio stations can be good. I used cd's from Bruce Springsteen to Dave Matthews along with having my students watch "Friends" when I was teaching English.

I've enjoyed some success using Michel Thomas' Spanish CD sets. There is no memorization of grammatical rules or vocabulary... rather his system uses the power of mental associations. It's particular helpful if you are able to chat with a Spanish speaker regularly.

_________________
Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Rosetta Stone is overrated. Try Fluenz, or Busuu.com

Im taking my son to Medellin with me this Xmas. It will be his first time in South America.
He has been studying Spanish using a combo of Pimsleur and Visual Link Spanish www.learnspanishtoday.com

It is really helping him alot at forming complete sentences and the computer based program
has lots of interactive games to help expand tour vocabulary.

_________________
Rainman3

Hank, where did you get it, how much is it?

Yes, I agree also. Plus, in order to really leran the langauge you actually have to practice it in conversation. Books, CD's, and computer programs are helpful, but there's nothing like practicing it live.

If you don't know any Spanish speakers, go online and find one. There are people in social websites that would love to practice their English also, so maybe you could help each other out, a little of English for them and a little of Spanish for you.