4 posts tagged “spanish”

As I slowly progress with Spanish, I continue to use an "over learning" approach.  By this I mean, I am focused on learning the basic fundamentals of the language very deeply before I worry about moving on to more advanced material.   I want the basics of the language to sink deep down into my unconscious brain.  To be honest, I'm not concerned with reading advanced material, such as Don Quixote or something similar, at this time.

One advantage of overlearning is that it gradually builds confidence.  I'm feeling much more confident with basic material now.  Last week I started trying to speak and I was surprised to find that I didn't feel so nervous after all.  

I thought about trying to forge ahead to more difficult material, but in truth I have in no way mastered the basics yet.  So instead I will keep repeating basic material.  Unlike some students, I find that I like a lot of repetition and do not get bored by it.  One reason is that I find new ways to use the same material.  For example, at first I'll read for understanding and new vocabulary.  Then I'll listen to it many times to gradually improve comprehension.   Then I'll pause & repeat difficult phrases until I can hear and understand every word.   Then I'll read the material quietly as I listen.  Then I'll read it out loud.  Then I'll pause and repeat sentences and focus on pronunciation.  Then I'll pause and repeat sentences and focus on speed and fluency.   

In this way, I get a lot of use out of the content.   At my level, I don't need tons of books, tapes, and movies.   I'm much more satisfied using a smaller amount of materials and going deep.

I realize that this approach may not be for everybody, but I do suggest giving it a try.  Perhaps for one week, you could try focusing on just one article.   Practice with it in numerous ways.   Try to completely absorb it, not just at a conscious level-- but at an instinctual unconscious level. 

Give it a try. 

Today I had my first conversation exchange with Spanish (with my student Angelina).  I must admit, I was nervous before doing it.   I'd never tried to chat in Spanish before and figured it would be a disaster.

But, in fact, it was great.  We talked about 40 minutes.  At the end of the chat, I felt fantastic.  I felt a huge surge of confidence... and a feeling of real accomplishment.   Wow-- I communicated in Spanish for 40 minutes! 

Was my grammar perfect?  No... far from it.  Was my pronunciation great?  No... far from it.  

In fact, I'd say Angelina spoke about 80% of the time.  She was great about using very easy Spanish.  But that's fine.  I'm a low level Spanish learner.   What's important is that we communicated.

In fact, that was lesson number one about this experience-- once I relaxed and focused on communication-- everything went great.  When I didn't know a word I needed, I used a similar word.  I often found it difficult to speak full sentences, so I spoke in short phrases and single words.  I asked a lot of questions, and kept her talking... since my speaking was low (but my listening is better).   And it worked.  We had a nice chat about her home country of Paraguay.

As I think about it now, I see two big benefits I gained from this chat:

1. Confidence
There is nothing like actually communicating with a native speaker in the language-- even if you make a lot of mistakes.  This is the big goal for most of us, isn't it-- real communication.  After the chat, I was very enthusiastic and my motivation is now much higher.  As a result, I'll definitely be doing more Spanish study this month than I did last month.   Connecting with real people with the language is the biggest motivator of all.

2.  Input
Using my bad Spanish was not really the best benefit.  The best part of the conversation was hearing Angelina use Spanish phrases I needed... and then copying her.   For example, if I didn't know whether to use "sobre" or "para" or "por" in a certain sentence.. I just guessed.. then let her finish the sentence using the correct word.  Then I repeated what she said.  In this way, I got correct input from her and picked up some useful phrases (and grammar by the way). 

This suggests that when we chat, we should probably be a lot more focused on the phrases that the native speaker is using instead of worrying so much about ourselves.   They are a great source of correct and useful phrases, we should pay attention as they talk and try to remember how they communicate certain ideas.  This is very helpful. 

Aprendemos hablar español será posible un experiencía asustada.  Para un hablador quién no es de un paid hispanico, el idioma es muy difícil y rapído.  Hay tres metédos excelentes para aprender español- voy a usar todos para comprobar mí español. 

En primero lugar, voy a usar la pelicula Sol y Viento.  Esa película es para estudiantes de español.  Usa español simple.  Voy a aprender escena por escena (poco a poco).  Voy a escuchar muchas veces, voy a aprender el vocabulario, y voy a imitar la voz de los actores......

The above is a little bit of Spanish writing I did in my (English) class today.  Today I was teaching my students English writing, and while they were writing their essays, my student Angelina suggested that I write about the same topic in Spanish.  Yikes!  I was a bit nervous at first.  But, in fact, I enjoyed it.  I had to help my students, answer questions, got a late start, etc... so I didnt write much.  But it was a great way to practice using Spanish a little without stress.

Its funny, because my students seem much more nervous about writing English than about speaking it-- whereas Im much more nervous about speaking Spanish than writing.  Writing seems much more relaxed, because I can go slower.  Also, I can have it corrected AFTER I finish-- so I don't get interrupted while Im in the middle of trying to communicate.

My class and I have decided to make writing correction a regular part of our routine.  At the end of class, I give them a topic to write about for "homework".   They are to write only a paragraph or two.  In the morning, they bring it and I correct it.   Angelina and I talked, and we've decided that I will do the same assignment, but in Spanish-- and in the morning she will correct my Spanish writing.  Its a great opportunity for me... and its good for all of the students because I show them that I too am using the same methods I ask them to use.

When I have time, I'll post some of my Spanish writing here-- as many Linguist members do with their English writing.

I just found a cool new learning resource for Spanish-- its called "Lights, Camera, Spanish".  This is a book and DVD movie for Spanish learners. 

I was happily surprised by the movie.  The story is good, the photography is very nice, and the acting is good too.   So, its very easy to watch the story.   Of course, the movie uses fairly simple Spanish, so I could understand the basic ideas fairly easily.  However, there's plenty of new vocabulary and phrases in the movie too--  so I'll be watching it many times. 

Tonight I watched the whole movie (the movie's name is Sol & Viento) .  Next, Ill watch one or two scenes at a time and use the books vocabulary list to learn words & phrases I don't understand.   Then I'll practice copying the phrases and pronunciation of the actors.  I'll work my way slowly through the movie in this way. 

As for the accompanying book-- its not so useful.  The glossary is the most useful part.  But it also has "chapters" with fairly typical textbook type exercises that I will ignore.  It would have been more useful if they'd provided a script in the book, with a side by side word list...  and perhaps phrase and short grammar explanations as footnotes.  But I won't complain-- this is a nice, interesting, high quality, fun Spanish learning resource.