Embarassed re language!

[Suenneil]

Well ... Im taking the plunge and preparing for an onslaught of replies highlighting my poor excuses for this one!

We have lived here for more than 4 years now - and my command of the Spanish language is pathetic! and Im more and more embarassed about it these days and need to do something quickly!

I started working the first week we arrived, and feel lucky that I worked every day since - but with that comes the long hours and the inability to commit time (or indeed find classes) in the evenings to take lessons.

Has anyone found a good way to learn the language at home ? I know we all learn differently - and I do think a class situation would suit me better - but in the absense of having much free time during weekdays Im limited with that.

Your own experiences or suggestions would be gratefully received!

Gracias! (and thats not the best I can do honestly!)

[owdoggy]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

Well ... Im taking the plunge and preparing for an onslaught of replies highlighting my poor excuses for this one!

We have lived here for more than 4 years now - and my command of the Spanish language is pathetic! and Im more and more embarassed about it these days and need to do something quickly!

I started working the first week we arrived, and feel lucky that I worked every day since - but with that comes the long hours and the inability to commit time (or indeed find classes) in the evenings to take lessons.

Has anyone found a good way to learn the language at home ? I know we all learn differently - and I do think a class situation would suit me better - but in the absense of having much free time during weekdays Im limited with that.

Your own experiences or suggestions would be gratefully received!

Gracias! (and thats not the best I can do honestly!)

Watch as much Spanish telly as you can. Not perfect but I found it helps.


Best of luck ....... just gan canny & you'll get there kidda .............. like I haven't ...........yet


Doggy

[Suenneil]

Many thanks for your input ... I try to include watching the news as much as I can ... just wish they would speak more slowly though .. by the time Ive worked out what was said they are on to the weather!!!

[scharlack]

I suggest you listen to the news on the radio. That´s how I learned English. TV is also very helpful.

You will have to allow yourself to make mistakes over and over... it´s like being a kid again. Sometimes it is not fun (specially when you are at the bank dealing with money), but you will certainly feel proud after you have done it.

Cheers

[chris(madrid)]

Get out as often as possible and AVOID other English speakers when you do.

Buy Spanish magazines (on a subject you know and enjoy) I devoured Car, Bike and Gun mag's when I first arrived. - listen to Spanish Radio/TV.

But the only REAL way you'll learn is by USING it on Spaniards!

[Suenneil]

Thanks for that ... mmmmmmm will have to consider what magazines to buy! the husband may very well enjoy bike/car/footie etc - as would I to a degree, but need something a little more girlie me thinks.

I agree that being around the Spanish population is much better, and we actively avoid too much "expatshire" stuff where we can - I just need to get over my embarassment gene in terms of practising in front of the locals!

Since we moved from Elviria down to Estepona it has highlighted the language issue even more - and Estepona is still very much Spanish which is one of the reasons we chose it. We still need to be along the coast to access work etc ...

Appreciate the time you took to reply.

[jojo]

I've been here a year, I am not too shy to try to speak spanish wherever possible, I listen to spanish radio in the car and I have lessons twice a week and I honestly thought I was hopeless - in fact I'm not good!! However, I've jst had a phone call from my favourite company in the whole world - TELEFONICA, trying to sell me their broadband internet (I have their internet already, but they're too stupid to know that!!!!), anyway, not only did I understand the silly cow gabbling on to me in spanish, but I was able to answer her too - I told her I already had internet from them and she should know that. But thank you, goodbye! IN SPANISH, ALL BY MYSELF, WITHOUT MY BOOK OR CHILD TO HELP ME !!! Sorry to shout but I'm everso impressed with myself!! LOL So sometimes, when you have to, you realise you know more than you think you do???!

Jo

[Suenneil]

Jojo thats fantastic! and for more than one reason - the fact that you are obviously much better at spanish than you imaged ... and that it was with the infamous TF! I had only just posted a glowing report on how good they had been when we contacted them for a new phone line last week ... just goes to show that their customer service / communication varies between "suprisingly good" to "completely stupid" !!

Well done with the Spanish ... Im going to try everything I can and see how it goes .. although I would love to get some lessons sorted out.

Thanks again

[jojo]

Originally Posted by Suenneil

Jojo thats fantastic! and for more than one reason - the fact that you are obviously much better at spanish than you imaged ... and that it was with the infamous TF! I had only just posted a glowing report on how good they had been when we contacted them for a new phone line last week ... just goes to show that their customer service / communication varies between "suprisingly good" to "completely stupid" !!

Well done with the Spanish ... Im going to try everything I can and see how it goes .. although I would love to get some lessons sorted out.

Thanks again

The lessons are good for the rules and grammar etc, but you have to study what you learn afterwards til you know it... thats the hard bit for me, keeping what I've learnt in my brain!!! Verb endings are important here cos they dont usually start a sentence with the "person" (I, you, he, she, they, we, they..) the key to that is in the verb ending - which I can never remember - and I've only done the regular verbs so far!!!!!! ?????????????????????????????? LOL?

Anyway, definately the best way of learning is to speak with the spanish. Whenever I do, I start by saying "I'm learning spanish so please speak slowly" and smile a lot so they know I'm trying to be friendly???

Jo

[SteveHall]

I'd try Jane Cronin's courses - they have worked for thousands AND at a sensible price.

Jane Cronin - Welcome to my Website!