Share more about how I have worked in Spanish in recent years and what helped me the most. Spoiler: Duolingo made Nada for me.
Hello friends! How are you doing? I hope you have a nice morning. We made a water park and a theme park yesterday, so I have a little more reserved today.
Now that we go to our 4th week in Spain, I thought I would do a little update on my Spanish journey and some of the things that helped me the most. I think it is so important as an adult to be a * beginner * with things; To challenge your brain in a new way and try out the hobbies and activities that you always wanted to do, even if you are not good at first. I know that many of my friends out there are the goal of learning a new language, so I hope that this post is helpful! I would also like to hear all the strategies that worked for you.
My Spanish journey
A small background:
– When I grew up, my mother’s side often spoke Spanish. For this reason, I could always understand it, but never spoke. I would do where my family would ask me something in Spanish and I would answer in English. When people around me spoke Spanish, I knew what was going on, but didn’t contribute to the conversation.
– I attended Spanish courses in primary school and middle school (super basic stuff) and broken down in Spanish in college. I thought it was my chance to feel completely confident and fluent Spanish. I wrote essays, read novels that analyzed poems, but maybe 5% of the time spent in my college Spanish courses that actually spoke Spanish. Again, my understanding has only solidified to give me the ability to write and read in Spanish, but not really brought me to my goal to speak confidently.
– A few years ago I decided to practice again and really turn out the shoot. We love to travel, I love to be able to interact with people in different places, so it was really important to me. Some of our closest friends are Colombian and they have friends who speak Spanish, so I wanted to be able to make a contribution and feel more comfortable with speaking. I would also like to work with IHP customers in Spanish at the beginning of next year.
I tried a few different things to refresh my skills and feel more confident.
Here is what made an enormous difference and here is what absolutely nothing has done.
Learn Spanish as an adult
Apps:
I have not found an app that is helpful for situations in the real world. I tried both duolingo and Babbel and was unimpressed by both. I have the feeling that it is a lot more suitable and vocabulary, but little understanding of the grammatical rules and how to use the languages
Virtual and personal tutoring:
This was the biggest gamuchanger for me. I did a lot of research and came across Italki And it was my point of contact for Spanish tutoring. I have tutoring at least once a week, but also all week about homework in reading, writing, fluid, speaking and listening. It took a while, but I found a tutor who pushes me (he is sometimes, sometimes hahah), but brings me out of my comfort zone and to the next level. (If you want its information, please LMK and I would like to pass it on!)
Practic Spanish in Spain:
Last year when we came to Spain for about two weeks, I said, “We’re going here. This is my chance!” It was a nice little schools to have the feeling that I could make it. I was able to order food in restaurants, ask and answer questions, order taxis, it was really NBD. Last year I felt that locals talked a lot of English with us and was surprised how many people in Seville spoke English. This time it feels like opposite experience because I am determined to only speak Spanish while we were here. I was surprised at how simple and of course it feels and was only English for a few time. 😉
I also had the opportunity to work with a beautiful Spanish tutor twice a week while we were here!
Most of my conversations in the world were on the surface level: business and restaurant interactions. Buuut My deepest conversations were with taxi drivers! In Barcelona we talked a lot: the economy, quality of life in the United States, how many schools and food cost … I loved it. I look forward to practicing further while we are here and come home and maybe finally speak Spanish with my many Spanish -speaking friends. 😉
So tell me friends: what are you a beginner these days?
Are you working on learning a new instrument or a new language? I would like to hear about it!
Xoxo
Gina
