how to learn another language?

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been hired as a Hospice Case Manager and I live in South Florida. Majority of people here speak Spanish and Creole.

I really want to be able to communicate with my patients. Obviously, I can only speak English.

So.... I really want to learn Spanish. So I went to the library but the materials are so overused and I wonder how else I can get help.

I am looking for suggestions! A tutor perhaps? I don't have a lot of money, considering I'm a new grad too and paying off loans.

I would love to try Rosetta Stone but OMG it's soo expensive.

Thanks, Lisa

I would LOVE to learn Spanish, but I wish it was something I got to do in/on my own time..not because all these people come to the USA and don't even make an effort to speak English. People can tell me that's not our declared language...ALL THEY WAY..but at the end of the day, the declaration is in English, the traffic signs are in English, schools teach in English...give me a break. I'm irritated that I have to scurry around and learn Spanish because everyone coming to this country expects us to bend over backward and learn their language. I know people who have been here for damn near 20 years and they can BARELY speak English! I'm sorry, but that's totally pathetic and unacceptable. I will tell you that I have Rosetta Stone..it's extremely expensive and helps you get the basics down..but even then, you need to be immersed in it. Good Luck.

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Can you take a live course at the community college or night school through the local school district? Make sure the teacher has a good accent and that the course includes time in the language lab so you are actually hearing the language properly spoken.

Your local library might have some audio instruction, too, that you could check out and listen to while driving or just at home. Maybe some songs you can learn to sing in Spanish. To be truly helpful, the audio needs to be bilingual.

You need a friend who is bilingual to take you under his or her wing and practice with you, day in and day out. Also, get a bilingual dictionary and read it and read it and read it some more.

Try writing some sentences.

Learn to read little children's books, see if your utility bills are printed in Spanish and English, listen to Spanish radio and TV, let Spanish speakers know that you want to learn Espanol and they will help you.

Learn things like the days of the week, the months, the numbers, & colors for starters. Simple and useful.

Pick a topic, like maybe cooking. Learn the names of foods, utensils, spices. Then take another topic, like diabetes or HTN and learn words you need for that.

In time, you will learn this beautiful language and then you can tackle Creole. Once you get good, apply for a bilingual pay bonus at work.

You must hear it, speak it, hear it, speak it, over and over. Good luck, you can do it.

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Thanks for all your great advice. I am trying to sink it all in. The library had the Cd's by Pimsleur so I did get those. I would like to take a class at a community college however finances are tight right now. I am not required to do this, it is something I would like like to learn and I know it would benefit me.

Crux 1024: trust me, have you lived here? All I hear is Spanish or Creole.

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Oh! So the poster meant Nahualt. Sure, I get it now....:rolleyes:

That poster already clarified that he meant to say Chicano. Why the sarcastic tone?

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No sarcasm. Just find it a bit on the amusing side.;)

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So I found out a friend actually had the Rosetta Stone. So I tried it out and I love it. So nice to borrow! Can't afford it.... so expensive. I really enjoy it because it puts pictures with the words.

The Pimsleur is all audio and I am a visual learner so it was helping.

Hopefully within a couple of weeks I will be able to speak some sentances. Exciting!

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.
"Unlike what I was hearing everyone else speak. Make a long story short, learn formal Spanish. Learn it very well. Then learn Mexican."

Ummmmm..... Seriously? "Mexican". OK.:uhoh21:

Yes, Mexican Spanish. Which is different from Spanish Spanish. Probably different from South American Spanish, as well.

Just like British English, American English and Australian English are often quite different.

Although I agree with another poster that learning the dialects of Cuba and PR would probably be more useful in Florida.

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