Learning and Speaking Spanish

Learning and Speaking Spanish

As you likely understand, speaking some español is most helpful when visiting or traveling in Mexico, even if your vocabulary is only a few hundred words.  Speaking some español will allow you to eliminate much of the “friction”-frustration and misunderstandings that often accompany travel.  I emphasize the word “some”, as “some” is infinitely better than none.  Besides basic greetings (‘Buenos dias or Buenas tardes” (with a smile)-and basic vocabulary-you will enjoy your travels much more.   An important thing to learn is counting. 

The author (center) with artist, Pino Siciliano (right) and his sculptor friend, Tivoli, Italy, circa 2103.

If just beginning to learn a language, keep in mind that vocabulary is more important than grammar.  The most important thing is to be able to communicate with simple nouns and verbs without worrying about complex grammar linking them together.  People will understand you; that’s the most important thing. Rather than judge your speaking ability, they will appreciate your effort to speak their language; in doing so you are showing them respect.

I speak from experience; Spanish is my fifth functioning language after French, Farsi, Italian and, of course, my native English. I had the required 2-years of French in college, and then taught Landscape Architecture (in French) at the University of Montréal in Québec.  Most importantly, I leaned how to learn a language (Farsi) in the Peace Corps in Iran, attending an in-country program that was intense and immersive, with native instructors. They corrected our accents and made us repeat words, phrases and sentence patterns until perfected.   I then worked for 2-years totally in Farsi-and some Kurdish. I learned that only by speaking, intense repetition and making lots of mistakes along the way, can one learn to speak another language.  This is how a child learns!  In learning how tolearn a language (like the respected Peace Corps method), was I able to refresh my French and then go on to learn Italian and now, Spanish.  

I work at it constantly by always initiating any interaction by speaking Spanish.  If I need to know a word, I look it up beforehand, as having a needhelps to remember a word.  

I also study Spanish constantly with flash cards and Spanish apps on my smart phone.  I make my own flashcards to develop the psycho-motor connection between hand and brain, sounding the words as I write them to strengthen the neural pathways of memory.  I often review the flashcards while walking or enjoying savory juevos rancherosin a café.  I perfect, as best I can, my language skills by using them. 

Spanish Learning Programs   Here are several language programs that I’ve used over the years, the best of dozens of programs and leaning techniques that I have explored.  

Rosetta Stone.  (Spanish Levels 1-5)  Though a relatively expensive program, Rosetta Stone is worth every penny.  The program uses only images to teach you the words (no English or other language are used). Rosetta Stone has five levels, and cycles through graduated learning exercises based on images, constantly changing the format-from recognition, listening to the pronunciation, repeating, reading and writing.  It uses all the senses (seeing, hearing, and writing-typing (psycho-motor learning connections by using the hand, arm and sight). You are constantly drilled with exercises and quizzes. Though relatively expenses, you can repeat lessons as often as you wish.  

“Great Courses” tm: Learning Spanish(2-levels): How to Understand and Speak a New Language by Professor Bill Worden. These courses are on videos, with guidebooks. Each course consists of 30 half-hour lessons presented by a very talented and effective teacher. The courses are excellent for grammar, reading and vocabulary building; they are viewed on-line and come with apps for smartphone use.  www.theGreatCourses.com.  

Yabla Spanish.   This is a fabulous course that consists of about 1600 short videos that cover a huge variety of topics-from the arts through science, travel and tourism, health, culture, grammar, music, drama, etc.  The videos are produced in most Spanish-speaking countries, so you’ll be exposed to a variety of accents in diverse regions. This course is loaded with exercises, quizzes and flashcards to help you to learn quickly and with much fun.    www.Yabla.com 

Transparent Language   In addition, I subscribe to Spanish Word of the Day, a free e-mail service by Transparent Language.com.  This service presents a word, a sentence showing how it’s used, and a button to hear the word spoken. 

The above courses, programs and methods are among the dozens that I have tried over the years.  Naturally, we each have individual preferences for learning, so I urge you to explore and vary the methods to keep learning Spanish fresh, interesting and relevant to your needs at the time.  Adios!

5-13-2019