Best way to learn Spanish?

[Austin]

depending on one's strengths, there are a variety of ways to learning spanish. i've tried a few over the years. in the past i tried doing it the formal way by taking classes at the community college level. however, there was way too much grammar and homework for me. i was only after building my vocabulary and improving my conversational skills. i did find the learning in your car and pimsleur series audio cd's pretty helpful though. as well as watching alot of telenovelas here in socal. the cd's were good because i used to drive quite a bit and spend a fair amount of time in the gym before my accident.

i'm hoping sometime soon to get the rosetta stone spanish program to get to the next level(s) since i have so much down time now. i hope that if i ever get back to colombia, i'll really be able to rattle off the ol' spanish. there are alot of country/regional/city specific words and slang that you can never really be fully prepared for until you actually spend time in a certain area and pick it up from the locals. and since i'm very limited now as far as my activities, i might make learning more languages a new year round hobby. since summer is over, my seasonal hobby as a bikini inspector is over until next year.

what is really important as well, and a point that many people overlook, is that you have to train your brain and ears to listen properly. you can study a foreign language all you want but unless you can "hear" and understand what native speakers are saying, you still won't be able to communicate effectively. this is where telenovelas, movies with english subtitles, etc. play a huge role.

[El Capitan]

Originally Posted by Austin

since summer is over, my seasonal hobby as a bikini inspector is over until next year.

Nice to have you with us this evening! Welcome back!

[LastLion]

Originally Posted by Austin

what is really important as well, and a point that many people overlook, is that you have to train your brain and ears to listen properly. you can study a foreign language all you want but unless you can "hear" and understand what native speakers are saying, you still won't be able to communicate effectively. this is where telenovelas, movies with english subtitles, etc. play a huge role.

Damn Straight about that Austin, that has been my biggest challenge and that only comes a reality with lots of personal and live interaction..

BTW big guy, I got the rossetta stone program (its on loan, but I think my friend gave up on it) , ever need it shoot me an email. I cant focus enough to sit in front of a computer long enough to give that program the best shot, my best is a quick post here at gringos than ADD o ADNDD o ADAA o DAA creeeeeps in and I am a done deal!

[Charlie640]

I have Rosetta Stone... and have retained alot of vocabulary due to the methods they use. I didn't find it especially usefull for conversational skills... at least not in the part I am up to.

Best way ofcourse is total immersion.... like what I am in store for this Sunday. A Peruana I hooked up with on LAC is in NYC for the next 90 days and she only speaks spanish. I will be in for major brain strain but it will be worth it.

[Bueller]

Don't forget podcasts.

[Austin]

well lion if you decide to unload your rosetta stone ilk, let me know. i might be interested if the price is right. otherwise i'll start monitoring the sw on ebay.

has anbody seen the current telenovela "the woman in the mirror"? wow...that paola rey is a definite hottie for sure!

[doylesmith]

The best way to learn any language is to spend time amongst the 'natives'. In the case of Spanish, a reasonably intelligent person will be speaking the language conversationally without having had any lessons whatsoever within 3 months at the outside. This is also a better way to learn the pronunciation than from a tape or a book and almost anything is better than the INTERNET or YouTube as many Spanish words and phrases have very subtle differences in pronunciation but mean very different things.

[JJJ]

The best way depends on your circumstances and your level. If you are an intermediate learner or better then you can really put yourself out there, making friends, practicing and picking up new words all the time. If you're a beginner then it's better to concentrate on specific courses and learn through modified Spanish.

Don't be afraid of making mistakes or talking in Spanish, just go for it and you'll soon improve.

[fad3r]

The best application for spanish is Tell Me More Spanish. follwed by Fluenz. Rosetta stones is not the best just the best marketed.

Also great apps on the iphone are:
Mindsnacks
Mosalingua