Frustrated Spanish Student

[LastLion]

Ok, HELP!!!! I just got back from a short immersion school in Mexico. It was great I learned a lot, but I am a little frustrated here. I am using the pilmseur tapes and occassionlly the rossetta stone, but religously the pilmseur.. I feel Like i was taking steps in The class in Mexico, but now, I feel like I am losing it..

I have 2 years of high school spanish and all I think i learned was numbers and colors.. And not all the colors jejejej!! My problem is I cannot take a month off to study !!!! I own a business and I have other business deals happening all the time.. I listen to the cd lesson 2-4 times a day before I move on.. I am just finishing the first volume of pilmseur! I try to watch the spanish tv. but I have a hard time picking up what they say
I am hoping to learn enough to not need a translator on my trip in july or august, but it aint looking good!!!

ANY SUGGESTIONS??

[El Capitan]

Any chance you can find someone to converse with there in Calif.? Someone that speaks well, that has some patience, and won't crutch you out everytime you don't understand?

I know deals happen all the time in the buidling trade, but knock off at 6pm, and get a native speaker to sit and have a couple of Modelo's with you.

[HonkyTonk]

LL, I'm not fluent, but am conversational +; comfortable down there shootin' the **** with them.

I'll tell you what's worked for me, it might not work for you:

I date non English speaking latinas here in Ga. I've had a dry spell with work and all, but have been dating a woman from Bogota for the last 3 weeks. I havn't had to speak only Spanish since I was in Panama last Nov. She speaks zero English so I have to speak Spanish. It's amazing how much you'll learn if you're immersed in it, and it doesn't have to be down under.

Last year I hired a dude who came to my house and taught me Spanish how it needs to be spoken, not how I was speaking it. It was amazing the easy way he taught me compared to the cobbled up way I was used to speaking it; conjugating ER verbs and using them in simple sentences. All my formal studies were down the drain compared to the easy way he taught me. Unfortunately, I had to quit because of work schedules and other things. I plan to contact him again soon. $25 cash per hour; a bargain if I studied.

Verbs Verbs Verbs, that's the key to learning Spanish. Dating non English speaking latinas too.

There's no easy way to learn the language, just enjoyable ways.

Good luck and keep plugging away...

Now, let me get back to cleaning this bachelor's super dirty crib. I have a Bogotana visiting for the weekend.

[img]smile.gif[/img]

I've hired a private tutor and we meet 3 days a week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 1 hour. She's 23 and a native Carioca and my Portuguese has improved dramatically. I find the best way is 1 on 1 with a native speaker (while you're in the US). I also encourage you to buy the Pimsleur Comprehensive Spanish/Portuguese CD's and listen in your car, then download files to an IPOD made by Apple, you can buy at Best Buy for $200. I listen to the IPOD at the gym, walking the beach, outdoor physical activites or wherever a CD is not possible.

[LastLion]

Thanks El Capitan,, Here is my problem I have this latina friend and she helps a little, but we keep ending up back in english.. I have put out to the local schools to see if there are any teachers or tudors available. I would like a 2 hour class once or twice a week. Commuinity college is over an hour from my house....

Thank also TOnk,, I have a couple of latina girlfriends, they just speak english, and if we don't end up practicing in spanish we try that 3rd language. Unfortuantely that aint spanish. I think I need a true teacher. (of spanish)

I am looking... I feel a little better. With your support. I guess I aint the only student that ever tried to learn spanish,,, I listen to 1/2 to an hour of spanish t.v a day. I listen to the pilsneur tapes 2-4 times a day per lesson, and converse where ever I can.. I was hoping to have a break thru into conversation by now, but I just aint there yet.//
Any more thoughts???

Tonk I will trying with the latinas!!! Don't worry about that

Thanks Ray.. I am looking!!! I got Pilsneur just finished #1 volume
El Capitan i will try to get some more down time with some of my mexican friends

[El Capitan]

Persistence is the key LL, so you definitely have the right attitude. Overall, the best facilitatir that I EVER found was with a "diccionario de cabelo largo". So tell your latina girlfriends how much better IT can be if they speak, and do it in spanish. Obviously,, you'd be extremely grateful...LOL

Keep up the good work LL, and remember to keep the pneumatic nailer...well oiled...

P

[TheBatmanDude]

I have tried everything: I did the pimsleur cd's; just finished a semester at the local community college in Espanol; and next week I am starting with a private tutor once a week. Oh yes, I also watch Telemundo every night during the week, and check out two soap operas. Slowly but surely, I am getting there! Just do it all, is my advice. Bat.

[LastLion]

Thanks bat dude!!!! I will, I decided to take saturday and sunday off. I was going full bor for 3 or 4 months. Now that i sit back and listen I can se that I have actually learned a thing or 2..I have a cute latina coming over later., She is a friend and I am going to try to get her to help a little more.... I am searching hard for a tutor hopefully the rigth match will come soon!!!

[fbrettl]

Guys I clepped spanish in college last semester. Here's a tip: Watch spanish tv, listen to spanish music, buy cosmopolitan magazine or whatever you can find in spanish and you will advance rapidly. I grew up listening to my mom's parents talk in spanish and live in far west Texas 80 miles from the border, but never really had to speak it until I was 20 and running a big ranch. When you get immersed in it you will pick it up faster.

[TheBatmanDude]

Right fb. Forget to say. I also bought Rosetta stone DVD from an airplane magazine. I have done the whole spanish one all the way through. And speaking of immersion: I have satellite radio in my car, and i sometimes listen to "universal latino" the latin pop station. And, my tutor asked me to buy a Shakira album. So I did. Well, this colombiana has some major pipes. Nice music. My tutor is going to teach me spanish using the CD. This shoud be interesting. I'll let you know how it works!!! Bat.