Spanish Language Learning Software or other suggestions...

[ChristineW67]

Hola!

I'm starting my Camino adventure mid June 2014. I have the time and desire, and would very much like to learn more Spanish. Currently, I can order food, gather essentials from a market, and behave in a courteous manner (salutations, please, thank you...), but I can't have a conversation. Worse yet, I can ask directions but cannot understand the answers. This last part worries me the most. I worry about getting lost in the larger cities and towns. I am easily overwhelmed by chaotic traffic and crowds, so understanding is often difficult even in English. I bought Rosetta Stone, but have a difficult time working thru the tedium. I'm interested in other options and techniques of language acquisition. I feel very limited by my ignorance and am ready to overcome.

Thank you for your kind suggestions,
Fondly, Christine

 

[HalfDomeOrBust]

Check locally were you are living to see if there is a conversational Spanish class this fall or winter. That may help you get thru some of your concerns. Buana Suerte and Buen Camino

 

[Anniesantiago]

I love love LOVE Rosetta Stone.
I'm working on the 3d course now.
I tried many other programs but it was the best for me.
The "tedium" only lasted through the first few lessons.

Anyway, somewhere on here is another thread with many many suggestions for learning Spanish, including some free options online that are good.

 

[tyrrek]

There is always some element of sitting down and learning the verb structures, tenses etc, which can be dull whether done in a class or through an internet course etc, but fortunately you have a good reason to learn and have lots of motivation.

If possible you could try watching Spanish language TV or listening to the radio. (The news and documentaries have good clear Spanish.) This can be a bit disheartening if you're still at an elementary level and don't understand any more than the basic gist of what's going on, but it's useful in 2 ways;
1) it gives you 'the ear' for Spanish, and gets you used to the sound of it. To many who haven't yet got 'the ear' a sentence sounds like one long word, and
2) it helps you to identify the 'linking and thinking' words/expressions that people use while they're thinking about what to say next (pues, entonces...etc) so you're more able to focus on the substance of what they're saying.

A one to one class with a strong focus on conversation to identify and fill the important gaps would also be good, and learning a verb and 5-10 words a day can be done anywhere. Stick words on the wall/fridge etc.

Buen Camino!

 

[Al the optimist]

As said there are many suggestions elsewhere but look up "Coffee Book Espanol" on the Internet for free short (around 15 mins) podcasts. Ideal while travelling or in gym. Presenters are Scottish, but help you learn the vocabulary/expressions.

 

[Stellere]

I absolutely love learning Spanish! I started for the Camino (which I'll be doing next spring), but I've found a lifelong love!

Free resources (easily found on google):

for survival-level tourist Spanish:
Coffee break Spanish (80 15-min podcasts)
Mi Vida loca (BBC interactive video course)
Pimsleur (not free, but available at most public libraries)

For a deeper Spanish (if you want more than tourist Spanish):

Destinos (cheesy telecourse from the early 90s)
notes in Spanish (podcast)
Duolongo (gamified language learning - for basic vocab and grammar)

Regardless of how deep you want to go with Spanish, I recommend finding a skype tutor on italki (about 10$ per hour), or a free language exchange partner (half the time you practice English, half the time you practice Spanish). Language partners only work if you already know some Spanish.

 

[newfydog]

Go to myngle, and book Skype lessons. Here's my Spanish teacher:

http://www.myngle.com/users/XIMENAMITZI

She is in LaPaz Bolivia, so her time zone is not that far off mine in the US, and I worked with her before a recent trip to Cuba.

I've worked with several French and Spanish teachers on video Skype. You get one on one conversations on the subjects you wish. You can do standard grammar review, or just talk about whatever is useful to you. I like to send them an itinerary and talk about places we're going. Rather than learning "my uncle has brown hair" I'll send them a picture of a bike, and we'll practice pronouncing all the parts, and describe what tools are needed to fix them.

Our last trip took us near my French teachers house, so he gave us a tour of the town and had us over for dinner.

 

[newfydog]

Destinos (cheesy telecourse from the early 90s)
.

I got addicted to Destinos. I'd skip the grammar to get to the next episode. When I got to Spain, I wasn't doing very well, and was frustrated that I had not made more progress. Then we had lunch in a bar with a Spanish soap opera on the TV....I could understand the whole thing! I had learned the basics of Spanish soap opera from those videos akkkk.

 

[Larrydemaster]

I did my 1st Camino in April and had your same basic level of Spanish, along with the frustrations of not being able to converse, since returning home in a June, I've started studying in earnest with Fluencia, an on line language class. It's $8/month and great. I am also joining a Spanish conversation class offered at the local tech school. I highly recommend both!

Buen Camino.

 

[Stellere]

I got addicted to Destinos. I'd skip the grammar to get to the next episode. When I got to Spain, I wasn't doing very well, and was frustrated that I had not made more progress. Then we had lunch in a bar with a Spanish soap opera on the TV....I could understand the whole thing! I had learned the basics of Spanish soap opera from those videos akkkk.

This made me laugh out loud.

 

[ChristineW67]

So many great ideas! Thank you all very much. I'll keep you posted on what seems to work. I'm also going to dust off the Rosetta and recommit. I did spend a ridiculous amount of money on the software. Love the Skype lesson idea too. I tried watching Hoy, a Spanish morning show, but felt lost. I'll try the soap opera idea - very funny.

 

[newfydog]

A bit more on the Destinos series---It starts off pretty easy, they do a good job of making you think you understand conversational Spanish. It goes to Spain, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Mexico etc which is fun. We did a trip to Puerto Rico, and we visited old San German just because in the show they had to go visit the Abuela to get her thoughts on whether Angel's daughter should marry some sleaze bag. It turned out to be a great tour guide to Puerto Rico!

 

[mike g]

I use a combination of resources LoMas TV paid subscription, SpanishDict.com in particular the "Word of the Day" I subscribe to Yahoo Spain a Dictionary and I speak Spanish to anyone who will listen. I live in southern California so there is no shortage of listeners. And no, I never took it in High School. One last thing, I never use slang.

 

[Pilgrim-S-414]

Duolingo was mispelled in one of the previous posts, http://www.duolingo.com/ web and mobile version
and its simply great language learning tool, can't recomment it enough.

Also I recently fugured out the Google Translate mobile app hat does text and voice translations
in Android version languages can be dowloaded offline

Hope you find it helpfull

 

[Tia Valeria]

The rtve weather forecast is good viewing and listening too (scroll down to 'ver video' photo link). The one about 16.00 is usually about 10 minutes, earlier in the day they are about 2 minutes. If nothing else it helps to get your ears tuned-in to hearing Spanish. We use it to keep 'in tune'.

 

[Kristin Johnson]

Once you get to a certain point learning a language, I have found that you really just need to practice... I'd recommend checking your local area for a conversation partner. This would help you gain new skills while building your confidence, and also in the spirit of the peregrino, to help out a fellow human with their own language goals.
Buena suerte

 

[Olivia Luna]

Once you get to a certain point learning a language, I have found that you really just need to practice... I'd recommend checking your local area for a conversation partner. This would help you gain new skills while building your confidence, and also in the spirit of the peregrino, to help out a fellow human with their own language goals.
Buena suerte

I agree! Practice, practice, practice.

I thought I spoke English well, that is until I came to USA and had to use it. I cannot tell you how many times I ordered food to find myself eating something altogether different to what I thought I had ordered. Sure, I could read and write it just fine, but presented with the variety of speech differences I was fairly lost. I was also astounded when I was not understood lol!! Since I was using perfect grammar right?

I just smiled a lot and laughed at myself quite a bit too. Everyone understood that

 

[pudgypilgrim]

rosetta stone is okay, but is really expensive! i find that i get bored of it too. i've been trying this for a while and really love it! you should give it a try! Click here!

Hmm, just joined today and the link goes to something called clickbank.net. I wouldn't click on that.