Caporegime
Does anyone want a code for Super Duolingo for 3 months? I seem to have got it as an Xbox perk and it must be used by 1st July.
Best way to approach learning Spanish?
- Thread starter easyrider
- Start date
Soldato
Just bumping this back up.
My learning has been useless, just really been lacking finding the time to study. My wife and i have started a private class each week for an hour, but we went in with the request we're less interested in grammar and more wanting to focus on conversation. There's been a few new language platforms which seem to advertise this as being a better method for learning the language from a more casual point in the last few years. However since we started it's more normal classroom style lessons. Although she does adapt it a little for us and it's nice we can go armed with questions each week from things we've picked up.
I've also just signed up for a free trial for "Beelinguapp". It seems to focus on listening/reading and has the English underneath and it's nice to be in a little more control. The articles/stories can be selected personally too so you're reading things you are interested in.
I'm likely to sign up for a family plan which covers 5 logins, assuming i don't think it's rubbish in before the end of the trial. We only need 2, so if anyone is interested give me a shout.
My learning has been useless, just really been lacking finding the time to study. My wife and i have started a private class each week for an hour, but we went in with the request we're less interested in grammar and more wanting to focus on conversation. There's been a few new language platforms which seem to advertise this as being a better method for learning the language from a more casual point in the last few years. However since we started it's more normal classroom style lessons. Although she does adapt it a little for us and it's nice we can go armed with questions each week from things we've picked up.
I've also just signed up for a free trial for "Beelinguapp". It seems to focus on listening/reading and has the English underneath and it's nice to be in a little more control. The articles/stories can be selected personally too so you're reading things you are interested in.
I'm likely to sign up for a family plan which covers 5 logins, assuming i don't think it's rubbish in before the end of the trial. We only need 2, so if anyone is interested give me a shout.
Wouldn’t say no, Duolingo has me fairly limited!
Associate
I think the only way to learn a language properly is to surround yourself with the culture and language.
My partner's Spanish but we live in the UK, been together a fair few years and I can understand a good amount of the language but struggle to do any social talking in it.
Think the motivation isn't there when it's not a necessity to use the language.
My partner's Spanish but we live in the UK, been together a fair few years and I can understand a good amount of the language but struggle to do any social talking in it.
Think the motivation isn't there when it's not a necessity to use the language.
Soldato
Sure thing. My free trial has another couple days but will give you a shout when i upgrade
Yeah, it's definitely useful, although i've found it's still limiting if you don't actively study too. I was hoping it would just naturally happen for me, but i've been here around 13 months now and whilst i'm better than i was, i'm nowhere near where i should be. Not helped by the majority of people around here speaking Valenciano!
Associate
Ah, have you got a social circle who speak in Spanish? I think if you know anyone who speaks English and Spanish and can attempt to socialise in the language but be corrected or ask if unsure about certain words, that would be ideal.
This.
I’ve been trying to learn Italian for a year or so now(on and off) and unless you’re committed to a fair degree of immersion then it’s going to be a frustrating road.
I’ve tried Pimsleur, Language Transfer, Busuu and honestly(after I got some basics nailed) I got more from watching an entire TV series in Italian with Italian subs than I did through hours of lessons. The biggest problem is Italian TV/movies are bad or non existent so its hard to stay motivated to consume.
The reason it’s so easy for European countries to get to grips with English is content, there’s so much of it, they are forced to use it.
Oh, a tip for people, ask ChatGpt to converse with you in the target language, give a list of what you know so far and ask it to build out from there.
Soldato
Not a massive one. I've been looking at joining some cycling/hiking clubs. Most seem to be mostly Spanish and then not sure how they'd be at English and i'm a little apprehensive as i'm not the quickest rider and so don't want to be the one who can't communicate AND slows them down
My conversations seem to split into 4 groups depending on the person
1 - Conversations with locals who speak no English (or claim they don't). Don't generally like English people and so are a bit grumpy full stop.
2 - As per 1 where they say they don't speak English, but when they realise i'm trying to learn Spanish and am making an effort will speak slower and try and communicate. Usually speak decent English in the end!
3 - People who speak a little English, not well enough to be able to correct me, but with a mix of my basic spanish and their basic english we can get through whatever i'm after
4 - Conversation with people who speak English really well. Therefore after realising my Spanish is rubbish will just speak in English
My main flaw is listening comprehension. I can build phrases to generally express myself easily enough, but my understanding of their replies is rubbish. The other day i had a call from a local builders merchant. I knew the company name and yet when they said it i barely picked it up! Phone calls are always difficult though since you have nothing to go on whatsoever.
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Soldato
Yeah, this is a plan for us. There's a Spanish show called La Casa de Papel. Which weirdly translates to Money Heist! The issue being it seems really fast paced and without having a decent base it's not picking anything up at all. I'm hoping this is where that Beelinguapp helps to give a kick off. It's a little slower and allows repetition and we can they build up to tv shows.
We did try finding kids cartoons purely from a learning point of view, but struggling to find one with both Spanish audio AND Spanish subtitles. Seems to be one or the other on most platforms
I didn’t realise you were living in Spain.. also didn’t realise I’d replied earlier in the thread.
I get what you’re saying about fast paced. Are there no sitcom type shows, ones that have family gatherings, meetings in coffee shops, restaurants?
You can also re-watch your favourite English movies in Spanish by changing the language settings on Netflix. I’ve found that the subtitles aren’t the best though as they are generally auto generated after the fact and don’t match up with whats being said but might work for you?
Just remember it takes so much time to get any level of decent comprehension, just try to enjoy the journey with good shows or content.
I get what you’re saying about fast paced. Are there no sitcom type shows, ones that have family gatherings, meetings in coffee shops, restaurants?
You can also re-watch your favourite English movies in Spanish by changing the language settings on Netflix. I’ve found that the subtitles aren’t the best though as they are generally auto generated after the fact and don’t match up with whats being said but might work for you?
Just remember it takes so much time to get any level of decent comprehension, just try to enjoy the journey with good shows or content.
Soldato
Yeah, been here around a year, there's a thread floating around somewhere where i documented most of the major challenges etc. The main downside is we're in a very rural area (local population 1300) and because of that people are a little more traditional and speak Valenciano so even when i think i'm getting to grips with it i speak to someone and understand nothing! There are some English around (maybe 20%) but they're mainly retired and so any social activities are during the week when i'm working.
I've definitely set 2025 as my year to really crack on and make more effort (starting now rather than waiting till 1st Jan). I've found i've made a lot of excuses the last 12 months. Mainly as we've had a lot of stuff to sort out with jobs/tax/residency/exchanging driving licences and all that bureaucracy type stuff. It's mostly over now so hopefully we have a little more downtime.
I've definitely set 2025 as my year to really crack on and make more effort (starting now rather than waiting till 1st Jan
). I've found i've made a lot of excuses the last 12 months. Mainly as we've had a lot of stuff to sort out with jobs/tax/residency/exchanging driving licences and all that bureaucracy type stuff. It's mostly over now so hopefully we have a little more downtime.
Associate
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I may know someone
Soldato
I've been plodding along, although I think the hockey stick learning curve has started to plateau and it's a little demotivating. A few things mentioned ring a bell, like having a phone conversation is soooo much harder than speaking face to face. Understanding spoken Spanish I've moved to perhaps he hardest thing, but I also feel like as you learn more, you get better at separating a sentence that sounds like one long sound, into all the different words. It is also frustrating they speak so many different languages. I was in Girona about 3 weeks back and every now and then I had no idea what I was being told, but maybe that was Catalan not Spanish.
I'm curious to know how you get on with this. I'm not sure how it defers to just reading Spanish news sites and watching Spanish TV programs?
Soldato
I think for me it's the speed and being able to easily rewind it, along with having the English underneath for comparison. My listening doesn't quite seem there and so tv shows move quickly and i don't feel like i take it in. Combined with trying to watch it with my wife and maybe we want to rewind different sections etc and so this gives a little more control.
Soldato
The new AI based conversation apps probably seem the best way to move forward. The main option i have is that i have a slight lisp and the app never picks up what i say. Made more annoying that i can speak the same phrase into Whatsapp or to dictate an email on my phone which works fine for most of it. However the language apps just fall to bits 
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Associate
In a similar situation, but I'm gong top make an effort this year. Like you say, I can follow a conversation pretty well, but speaking is an issue.
Associate
If you have one left, yes please
Soldato
Sure thing (providing i'm right the family licence gets 5!), i've found it quite good so far. It's has news articles so whilst they're not always relevant the notifications to just read/listen to an article increases the liklihood you actually do it!
Some nice little quizes after each article too so you have to really take it in too rather than just cruising through.
Soldato
If you do, and there's space on the list, I'd like to give it a try please.
Soldato
Sure thing. Will update in a couple days. The pricing on the app is bizarre. I don't know if it's because of Black Friday but there's currently an option for an annual account for €25 and each of us subscribing individually works out cheaper than a family account. When we first subscribed it said €50/yr or €70 for a family account so the family account made sense.
I'm not paying an extra €20 just so you guys get free Spanish
I'm not paying an extra €20 just so you guys get free Spanish
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