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How to self teach yourself a language?

EMNofSeattle

EMNofSeattle

No Russian ever called me deplorable
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So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
 
EMNofSeattle said:
So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
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Consume as much Spanish media as you can and get a friend who can speak Spanish to practice it with you. I don't see much value in learning a whole lot of Spanish though, it's so limited as a language it will be hard to express a lot of points and you can learn enough Spanish to get by in a couple of weeks.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
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Illegally immigrate to Mexico.
 
Go to places where Spanish is spoken and ask (your Spanish speaking peers) to help you. I work in the construction/landscaping field and encounter many Spanish speaking folks and find them eager to help me "comprende y habla espanol".
 
EMNofSeattle said:
So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
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Yes. There is software out there you can load onto a phone which will teach you a language in record time. What it does is remind you of the words and phrases you learned at just about the time you would normally have forgotten them. I've read that it yields amazing results.
 
calamity said:
Yes. There is software out there you can load onto a phone which will teach you a language in record time. What it does is remind you of the words and phrases you learned at just about the time you would normally have forgotten them. I've read that it yields amazing results.
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It works well to read and write a language but not so much to speak it.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
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Don't guess at pronounciations and practice saying things wrong. Get a Rosetta or Babel or some other program that gives oral prompts. And spend more time on verbs and verb forms. Vocabulary comes relatively easy.
I'm just talking from having improved on my high school French when working with a bunch of French guys.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
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Don't know if it will really be of help ...but I noticed when I was dating a young lady from Colombia who had a cute 4 year old son. I ended up watching a lot of Spanish language cartoons and I noticed I was understanding better. They seem to enunciate more clearly for the kids to learn, not racing with the words or slurring, lots of different concepts besides there is a table, this is a spoon, knife, fork, where is the bathroom.

Oh, and the indirect way, get a Spanish speaking girlfriend, never hurts. Well, maybe unless her name is Loreana Bobbitt.
 
Meet new people and learn their language. Assimilate their culture as if your life and the lives of your children's children depend on it. What's even more important is to remember what you've already learned.

You know the saying,
"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." - Frederick Douglass

My guess is that the same applies to speech pathology, and this is generally true when we look at how readily feral children acquire language, like that girl who was found in India recently.
 
Carjosse said:
Illegally immigrate to Mexico.
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Nah, Mexico won't give me food stamps and free healthcare, and their local cops will turn me over to La Migra in a heartbeat. Come to think of it, so will Canada, and the U.K., and everywhere not America.
 
EMNofSeattle said:
So the question is basic, In a couple of years I would like to visit some spanish speaking countries, also there's a fairly sizable hispanic community in my area and so spanish would be useful to know at a functional level anyway.

I took some spanish language classes in Jr. High School but really don't remember anything. I know only a handful of spanish words and phrases.

So basic question is, any tips for self teaching yourself a language? My schedule really doesn't allow for formal classes. I have ordered some spanish language textbooks off of amazon and a spanish printing of some novels I've read in the past and remember a good deal of. But has anyone had to learn a foreign language informally who has some tips for me?
Click to expand...

Start hanging out in Spanish speaking places and use only the words you know and can learn.
 
IME you can't really get good at a language without immersion or being with friends/loved ones who speak that language.
 
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