Need help to learn spanish - Page 3

duhtree · #21 03-12-2005, 11:24 AM

Go into any bookstore and go to the language section. Pick any book that says verbs ( usually 500 verbs ) and POOF!
If you are on computer there is usually a spanish (if an english, North American computer ) language course with the first 100 verbs plus reading, listening, speaking worksheets, etc.
My point was/is to not make it a " chore ". Each a.m. learn 1 verb and several words. it will take 10-15 minutes per. You will build on that, feel more comfortable and be learning a "clean' spanish. Have fun. And yes, I agree with CC and total immersion however you need is impatience or else you would have started this process several months ago when you first posted.
More good luck! See you in the D. R. John

jrzyguy · #22 03-12-2005, 11:29 AM

Morning all' Very interesting thread.

I get by with my spanish while in the DR. I really pick things ups when i have no English speaking friends around me....and every time i go there i come back with a stronger vocaulary I also practice listening around in NYC....if i go to a latino restaurant i always communicate in spanish with the staff. sure i make tons of mistakes. But seldom do i encounter the attitude of "please dont ruin my language".

Anyway...i am really interested in taking some classes here in nyc soon. I am just not sure if i need to start with a 101 class....or if i can bump up one level. (i think the 101 might be good just to get the conjugation thing down). I am also looking into a conversational learning group here in the city. I find that i can communicate effectively....but it is the act of LISTENING that really helps a lot. Heh..it doesnt really work if you can ask how much something costs.....but then cant understand the response :-)

And yes! spanish IS a good language to learn.....i am suprised that no one meantioned that spanish is widely spoken in the phillapines. Also....the language is similar to Italian and kinda to Portugese. Ok..there are tons of differences....but i have been able to communicate effectively with someone who speaks italian...and i reply in spanish.

CanadianCutie22 · #23 03-12-2005, 05:52 PM

I just finished writing a term paper in spanish on the bilingualism of the U.S. Although, I guess the U.S. could be considered multi-lingual in regards to the make up of the population. There is still a high-concentration of spanish speaking people in various parts of the country resulting in that language being included in various communications.

The Community Service Alliance programs look really interesting. My plan was to spend a month in the DR this summer in hopes of building on what I've learned thus far, but due to time constraints it is being shortened to 2 weeks.

Still looking forward to practicing what I've learned as I haven't been back since I started the classes last summer.

Lesley D · #24 03-12-2005, 06:13 PM

CanadianCutie22,

You are most correct. In my post #14 in the heading I stated twenty and more. The US is included in that (and more) reference. For professional reasons I have to stay on top of language stats and currently the US is considered the 5th largest Spanish speaking country in the world even though the official language of the country is not Spanish. It ranks fifth after largely populated Spanish speaking countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Spain.

Many consider it the unofficial second language of the US. Evidence of this is airport signs in Spanish in many major airports; bilingual signs are always the combination of Eng/Span in public places in large cities etc. Examples are infinite. As well, Spanish is the second most spoken language (population wise) in the world and English is third now. That statistic may be surprising to some but it's true. However, English remains a universal language of communication and business.

-Lesley D-

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianCutie22

I just finished writing a term paper in spanish on the bilingualism of the U.S. Although, I guess the U.S. could be considered multi-lingual in regards to the make up of the population. There is still a high-concentration of spanish speaking people in various parts of the country resulting in that language being included in various communications.

The Community Service Alliance programs look really interesting. My plan was to spend a month in the DR this summer in hopes of building on what I've learned thus far, but due to time constraints it is being shortened to 2 weeks.

Still looking forward to practicing what I've learned as I haven't been back since I started the classes last summer.

Snuffy · #25 03-12-2005, 07:28 PM

Some sources list Spanish as a wider spoken language...while some list English. But as a second language...which is preferred in the Asian world...the middle east....E. Europe...Russia? What is important is that here in the DR you need to learn Spanish.

Chirimoya · #26 03-12-2005, 09:34 PM

Guys! you forgot Equatorial Guinea!

Voyager · #27 03-12-2005, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lesley D

However, English remains a universal language of communication and business. -Lesley D-

Lesley: you asked me what my "intent" was in my comments to you. Well, in above quote, you just answered it.

jrzyguy: Spanish is spoken in some regions in Visayas and Mindanao but not much in Luzon. The second language of almost all Pinoy is English. Higher education in the Philippines is given in English.

Snuffy: for whatever it is worth, I agree totally with your comment! (To avoid misunderstanding, "it" refers to my agreement with you, not your comment.)

Chirimoya: and Andorra as well!

Generally: for me (=my opinion), the important thing is not if 9+6+3 countries in South and Central America +Caribbean has Spanish as official language or if a billion Chinese speak Mandarin or that we can certainly name many countries where people speak Russian! The important thing for me, is to know a langugage of global use, one that I can use in as many regions as possible. The other point is of course that living in DR require knowledge of Spanish and living in Sweden require knowledge of Swedish etc. Sort of obvious...

Lesley D · #28 03-12-2005, 11:41 PM

Voyager,

You are certainly entitled to your opinion however, I do think Spanish is of global use.

This is my final comment to you because we can go back and forth to no avail.

-Lesley D-

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voyager

Lesley: you asked me what my "intent" was in my comments to you. Well, in above quote, you just answered it.

Generally: for me (=my opinion), the important thing is not if 9+6+3 countries in South and Central America +Caribbean has Spanish as official language or if a billion Chinese speak Mandarin or that we can certainly name many countries where people speak Russian! The important thing for me, is to know a langugage of global use, one that I can use in as many regions as possible. The other point is of course that living in DR require knowledge of Spanish and living in Sweden require knowledge of Swedish etc. Sort of obvious...

jrzyguy · #29 03-13-2005, 12:46 AM

one last reply to voyager...with certainly no disrespect.

In my humble opinion...if one has a firm grasp of both english and spanish...then one is pretty well set to get around in the world...unless one is traveling to the outskirts of monglolia etc. Exlcuding most of Asia and the Middle east (ok thats a pretty large part of the world :-) if one knows those two languages....you are in pretty good shape. ]

Now..wasnt this thread started with the intention of finding the best way to learn spanish fast??? This argument is silly....sure we should all be multilingual...lets not bicker about all the details and stats! if i wanted to travel to the ukraine......i would study up on my russian.....i have no interest in china...and even tho i know some mandarin.....i dont really study up on it.

Bottom line..spanish is a very useful language to learn for us living on this part of the hemsisphere. We have no need to learn sweedish....or..finish...or whatever....spanish is usefull in our everyday lifes.

well..that is just a humble opilion from the city of NYC. NOw if only i could figure out what those newyoricans are talking about i would be much happier.

riravaga · #30 03-13-2005, 10:09 AM

Hello, you forgot that only in 3 island we are about 20 millions of spanish speakers, Cuba, Dominican Rep. and Puerto Rico, but I think that english is the universal language.

If you come to Santo Domingo e mail me, I'd like to make my english better and I can help you with your spanish.

One thing that makes me to learn english easy was listen music.

my mail is riravaga@hotmail.com