EXCELLENT article. I really love everything you said here. Totally agree with the gamification thing; it irks me when people try to use these apps if they’re serious about becoming fluent in a foreign language because I know this to be true, what you said. They don’t work. I think what you wrote here is how I deepened my Spanish ability in the last few years. A big part is living in a Spanish speaking country, yes — but that’s not a guarantee since I have a lot of friends who haven’t learned more than a few words in 10 years. It’s the WAY you learn it at all angles that really makes it happen!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Totally agree, just being in the country doesn’t magically make you fluent. Especially if people speak English around you and you "can get by".
Exactly! So many people live here for YEARS without speaking a word of it. Which I find really sad!
I've created a few different pathways which I think has helped deepen my fluency... which I think is a sliding scale and there's always "more fluent" you can get. 😂 much to my dismay, fluency isn't an arrival point! I think the foundation from my years in high school helped (basic vocabulary and rules I learned years ago) but when I arrived, it was very hard to know what was happening/keep up. I think I could boil it down to:
- listening/watching things before I felt "ready" (like, it's ok to not understand everything 100%, but listen or watch anyway) I'm a show re-watcher, so I've watched this one series 3X, and each time I understand more of the nuance of the story! I use the Spanish subtitles, so reading at the same time as listening REALLY helps! But I did write down words I wanted to remember. Funny: the telenovela I watched has some words that are ALWAYS used in real life (because drama!) and because they're repeated so many times in the drama, it's a great way to remember.
- Doing as much of my 'normal' life in Spanish with whatsapp messages/making appointments, etc. Using google translate 'creatively' - like first, I was using it English to Spanish. Over time, I got more confident to write the Spanish first and check to make sure it was correct with the translator, and then eventually I stopped needing to use the translator app for the most part
- Talking as much as I can! I have friendships with people who don't like to speak English. They can speak it but prefer Spanish, and over time it's become easier to have real conversations (but that took a few years) There's been times where I was forced, as well, to speak/understand as best I could, like at school meetings. But not giving up or saying "ahh, it's in Spanish I can't go" - that was never an option. I just went and if I missed details, I'd ask someone.
- I follow Instagram accounts in Spanish, too. Just like these micro listening moments in my day really help.
- I take lessons off and on with a teacher, and this helps because teachers correct your mistakes. They also force you to go over stuff that you suck at until you get it right. I like in-person lessons for that reason. I ended up using a lot of my lesson time telling him about the show I watched and sharing what happened with the characters (good for past tense practice!)
and then I just push myself outside of my comfort zone... one way is saying, "yes, I speak Spanish" when people ask. Why is that so hard to actually SAY sometimes? haha it's like I have a fear to claim it. But I truly can speak/understand/hold a conversation very well, but obviously it's not at the level of my native English. So I still have a bit of embarrassment... but heck, I guess that's just part of the process!
Hope you don't mind my long reply! 😅 but I think that what you said about learning is so valuable in the case of learning a language and so many think they can learn by doing their app and that's it
wow, thanks a lot for sharing your way! A lot of it coincides with the way I learn German. And yeah it feels like you'll never be fluent enough, but it's a beautiful journey.
I think I'll put these and some more tips in a post and put you as a co-author if you don't mind. People should know how to REALLY learn a language!
I should add that I live in Mexico, I know not everyone can go move and immerse themselves but that’s a big part. But I think you can do it on vacations too. I went on a school trip with my daughter’s class to Mexico City and we went to museums, and had guides talking in Spanish. I realized one could create their own immersion vacation. There are lots of those types of things out there you can pay for but they’re pricey. There are good ways to do it on your own 😊
EXCELLENT article. I really love everything you said here. Totally agree with the gamification thing; it irks me when people try to use these apps if they’re serious about becoming fluent in a foreign language because I know this to be true, what you said. They don’t work. I think what you wrote here is how I deepened my Spanish ability in the last few years. A big part is living in a Spanish speaking country, yes — but that’s not a guarantee since I have a lot of friends who haven’t learned more than a few words in 10 years. It’s the WAY you learn it at all angles that really makes it happen!
Thanks for sharing your experience! Totally agree, just being in the country doesn’t magically make you fluent. Especially if people speak English around you and you "can get by".
What’s your routine for learning Spanish?
Exactly! So many people live here for YEARS without speaking a word of it. Which I find really sad!
I've created a few different pathways which I think has helped deepen my fluency... which I think is a sliding scale and there's always "more fluent" you can get. 😂 much to my dismay, fluency isn't an arrival point! I think the foundation from my years in high school helped (basic vocabulary and rules I learned years ago) but when I arrived, it was very hard to know what was happening/keep up. I think I could boil it down to:
- listening/watching things before I felt "ready" (like, it's ok to not understand everything 100%, but listen or watch anyway) I'm a show re-watcher, so I've watched this one series 3X, and each time I understand more of the nuance of the story! I use the Spanish subtitles, so reading at the same time as listening REALLY helps! But I did write down words I wanted to remember. Funny: the telenovela I watched has some words that are ALWAYS used in real life (because drama!) and because they're repeated so many times in the drama, it's a great way to remember.
- Doing as much of my 'normal' life in Spanish with whatsapp messages/making appointments, etc. Using google translate 'creatively' - like first, I was using it English to Spanish. Over time, I got more confident to write the Spanish first and check to make sure it was correct with the translator, and then eventually I stopped needing to use the translator app for the most part
- Talking as much as I can! I have friendships with people who don't like to speak English. They can speak it but prefer Spanish, and over time it's become easier to have real conversations (but that took a few years) There's been times where I was forced, as well, to speak/understand as best I could, like at school meetings. But not giving up or saying "ahh, it's in Spanish I can't go" - that was never an option. I just went and if I missed details, I'd ask someone.
- I follow Instagram accounts in Spanish, too. Just like these micro listening moments in my day really help.
- I take lessons off and on with a teacher, and this helps because teachers correct your mistakes. They also force you to go over stuff that you suck at until you get it right. I like in-person lessons for that reason. I ended up using a lot of my lesson time telling him about the show I watched and sharing what happened with the characters (good for past tense practice!)
and then I just push myself outside of my comfort zone... one way is saying, "yes, I speak Spanish" when people ask. Why is that so hard to actually SAY sometimes? haha it's like I have a fear to claim it. But I truly can speak/understand/hold a conversation very well, but obviously it's not at the level of my native English. So I still have a bit of embarrassment... but heck, I guess that's just part of the process!
Hope you don't mind my long reply! 😅 but I think that what you said about learning is so valuable in the case of learning a language and so many think they can learn by doing their app and that's it
wow, thanks a lot for sharing your way! A lot of it coincides with the way I learn German. And yeah it feels like you'll never be fluent enough, but it's a beautiful journey.
I think I'll put these and some more tips in a post and put you as a co-author if you don't mind. People should know how to REALLY learn a language!
Wow that would be fantastic! Thank you! So cool! ❤️❤️
I should add that I live in Mexico, I know not everyone can go move and immerse themselves but that’s a big part. But I think you can do it on vacations too. I went on a school trip with my daughter’s class to Mexico City and we went to museums, and had guides talking in Spanish. I realized one could create their own immersion vacation. There are lots of those types of things out there you can pay for but they’re pricey. There are good ways to do it on your own 😊