How to get really good at a second language (Spanish)

fightforlove · Post by **fightforlove** » March 19th, 2015, 8:53 am

For those of you who've acquired strong proficiency in a second language, what is the best way to go about this?

I studied Spanish at university, took 6 courses plus two 2-3 week trips to Spain. I just got back from another trip to Spain for 9 days, my Spanish was noticeably stronger this time as I could go further into conversations with my friends. I would say that I'm soft conversational at this point.

How can I get stronger to the point of being able to speak more confidently and go into deeper conversation topics. Right now, I have a strong vocabulary and verb conjugating skillset to have everyday conversations, but I struggle with forming grammatically proper sentences, speaking in the past/future subjective tenses, and I lack the deeper vocabulary for more specific topics, such as what I do in my job, politics, history, etc.

Would a program like Rosetta Stone help me at this point? I hear that it totally immerses you to help create more fluid speaking/listening skills. I would already know a lot of the vocab/verbs taught in the early levels, but the higher levels may help me. Any thoughts?

Wolfeye · Post by **Wolfeye** » March 19th, 2015, 11:23 am

Would like to know that myself. I tried to use that Rosetta Stone thing, but it seems more useful as a suppliment than to outright learn it from. What would always happen was I would remember things when I saw the PICTURE, but not the real thing. That said, it is pretty useful to be able to practice the pronunciation & have some idea of if you're saying it right, to be able to practice reading the written language, and to be able to practice typing it.

xiongmao · Post by **xiongmao** » March 19th, 2015, 2:08 pm

I'm in Barcelona now. I think it would be a terrible place to learn Spanish given how so many locals speak Catalan, and many bars only have Catalan menus.

But the total immersion you get from living in a foreign country is the best way to learn a language, like I did when I lived in China and (to a lesser extent) Thailand.

I'm gradually learning Spatalan (or whatever it is I'm picking up!) but I'm not making an active effort to learn it, as I don't think I'll be staying here. I expand my vocabulary by Googling any new words I come across. So many words are similar to English/Latin/French but you do have to be wary of false friends.

There are lots of people learning Spanish in my language school (including quite a few Chinese) and they get good by using every possible chance to practice speaking to locals.

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » March 19th, 2015, 6:59 pm

Jester · Post by **Jester** » March 19th, 2015, 7:26 pm

Ghost wrote:
I recently went to Nicaragua for a month

Yes and may I say I really enjoyed the trip report that you so thoughtfully provided.

oh - waitaminnit

tamdrin12 · Post by **tamdrin12** » March 19th, 2015, 7:28 pm

The number one way to learn a language is to get a girlfriend who doesn't really speak English. This is a fun and enjoyable/educational way to learn a language.. I am doing it with a Thai girl right now.

Johnny1975 · Post by **Johnny1975** » March 20th, 2015, 1:44 am

tamdrin12 wrote:I am doing it with a Thai girl right now.

Quick, take pictures!!!

zacb · Post by **zacb** » March 20th, 2015, 6:54 am

I am not all the best at Spanish, but Pimsleurs has helped me a lot. Rossetta Stone is soso.

fightforlove · Post by **fightforlove** » March 20th, 2015, 7:26 am

zacb wrote:I am not all the best at Spanish, but Pimsleurs has helped me a lot. Rossetta Stone is soso.

I've heard good things about Pimsleurs, how does it differ from RS? I actually have some Online Lingo disks in Spanish that someone pawned off to me, but haven't checked them out yet.

Jester · Post by **Jester** » March 20th, 2015, 9:56 am

Johnny1975 wrote:
tamdrin12 wrote:I am doing it with a Thai girl right now.
Quick, take pictures!!!

you HOUND!

Johnny1975 · Post by **Johnny1975** » March 20th, 2015, 10:56 am

fightforlove wrote:
zacb wrote:someone pawned off to me,

What you do in the bedroom is none of our business. This is a family forum! We'll have none of that, you hear!

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » March 20th, 2015, 6:12 pm

Jester · Post by **Jester** » March 21st, 2015, 10:36 am

Ghost wrote:
Well, I thought about it. Actually, not planning to go back and it is already getting spoiled by gringos, so...that might actually be one good reason to write a trip report.

Well, okay then, Captain Selfish, fire away!

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » March 21st, 2015, 11:05 pm

Renata · Post by **Renata** » March 22nd, 2015, 7:28 am

Belize in the Carribean, it's a real affordable place to live, plus it's national language is English but 50% of the natives Mestizo, Latino, or Hispanic so alot of them speak Spanish as a native language or are bi-lingual. I think it's one of the best places to learn spanish on a dime.

How to get really good at a second language (Spanish)

How to get really good at a second language (Spanish)

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