Thanks, BFS. I started today and plan on following through with it. My gf is Asian (half Japanese half white) She speaks both Japanese and Spanish so I have her to help me out. She also pulled out the Rosetta Stone for Japanese this evening. I laughed and tossed it to the side. I will start with Spanish and see how that goes. The ching chong language seems like it would be much more difficult.
disclaimer, I know absolutely nothing about the best techniques to learn a language but once you build your vocabulary a bit and have a few sentences......see if you can get movies in Spanish with subtitles in English
you will increase your vocabulary and train your ear which (imo) its the hardest thing to do
its one thing to read/write and a very different one to be able to hear/understand/speak to a real person
you will increase your vocabulary and train your ear which (imo) its the hardest thing to do
its one thing to read/write and a very different one to be able to hear/understand/speak to a real person
Wolfie - absolutly correct about listening to a movie in one language and reading the subtitle in another.
I learned Dutch Vocabulary in a similar way (though mine was listening to English but reading the Dutch words) when I lived in Belgium. It's a passive way for your brain to work and it's remarkable what you can learn that way.
I learned Dutch Vocabulary in a similar way (though mine was listening to English but reading the Dutch words) when I lived in Belgium. It's a passive way for your brain to work and it's remarkable what you can learn that way.
Good tips for sure regarding the foreign language video w/subtitles
Bourn, I've been told that for English speakers, a Latin-based language calls for 200-300 hours, while most of the East Asian languages ("oriental") take about twice that long. Both can obviously be mastered with sufficient motivation and persistence
Bourn, I've been told that for English speakers, a Latin-based language calls for 200-300 hours, while most of the East Asian languages ("oriental") take about twice that long. Both can obviously be mastered with sufficient motivation and persistence
Without knowing why you want to learn Spanish (whether it's just something you want to do for the hell of it or if you really want to become fluent)...I've heard good things about Rosetta Stone. But there is just no substitute for actually going and spending time in a Spanish speaking country...even if it's a couple weeks. I spent about nine months of my undergrad doing an internship in Germany and I probably learned more in that time than I could have studying German at home every day for a decade. It's confusing as hell at first, but you'll be amazed at how much you pick up by being totally immersed. Now may not be the best time in the world to go to Mexico, but maybe see if your old lady wants to take a vacation with you to Spain for a couple weeks?
JD reminds me of another cogent factor and it relates to the "why" of your desire to learn
Spanish speaking in Spain and most of South America has several distinctions between that most commonly spoken in Mexico, Cuba and among most "latino" homes within the USA.
We suggest Costa Rica as a very good middle ground for your immersion program
Spanish speaking in Spain and most of South America has several distinctions between that most commonly spoken in Mexico, Cuba and among most "latino" homes within the USA.
We suggest Costa Rica as a very good middle ground for your immersion program
Costa Rica is on my list of places to visit. I've read many threads in the Costa Rica Chit Chat and appears to be an "interesting" place. I want to learn it because i feel it would expand my clientele in sales and in addition i would be able to get around when i do visit Mexico in the future. Plus, my gf and i could talk about the kids without them knowing what the hell we are saying. I have a few other close friends that speak Spanish and it's just something i want to knock off my list.
the problem here is when you can essentially stay in a comfort zone where you dont really need to speak Spanish
this is quite doable in CR if you stay in certain areas
if you do the immersion thing you have to absolutely refrain from talking in English even if the people you are right can communicate in English
the goal here is to force yourself to speak in a different language
you have to read, hear music in/watch tv in Spanish etc etc
this is quite doable in CR if you stay in certain areas
if you do the immersion thing you have to absolutely refrain from talking in English even if the people you are right can communicate in English
the goal here is to force yourself to speak in a different language
you have to read, hear music in/watch tv in Spanish etc etc
I read it better than I speak and hear it....at best kind of like 1/4 of the way to fluency. Becoming truly fluent is certainly on my SoonToDo List. I'd like to position myself for at least a two to three month stay in Costa Rica for immersion after at least 18 months of in-state instruction and practice.
Having my gf being fluent in Spanish is a great advantage i feel. She grew up in South Texas (Kingstown) where she picked it up by just being around a lot of Spanish Speakers. Her mom was Japanese and her dad was White. Her mom spoke to her in Japanese so she picked that up. I have the Rosetta Stone Level 1 and 2. I'm gonna give it my best shot.
