Where to practice your Spanish before you practice in Spanish?

ArizonaMark · Dec 24, 2009

Ok, this is really quaint. I do see a parallel between your inquiry and perhaps someone who has gone through nursing school and never actually saw a real patient. For the sake of argument, I will answer your question as asked.

I too speak Spanish very well, though I am self taught.

There is nothing like simple experience with Spanish speaking people to improve and refine your skills. If you seek out those who speak Spanish only, you will succeed beyond your wildest expectations. You might take a trip down to Mexico for a few weeks. Or, hang out in primarily Hispanic commercial areas. If you are in the medical field and serious about your skills, choose a location where you will incorporate your Spanish language skills each day.

Good luck, and really, an interesting post.

al dente · Dec 24, 2009

I agree. There is no substitute for actually having the opportunity to speak another language in conversation. Rosetta Stone is worth considering and is decent, better than typical university classes, but getting a person or persons with whom you can meet regularly to converse is your best bet if you can't go abroad. Craigslist is not a bad place to find tutors. I found a private tutor this way and paid $35/hour to meet for 1 - 1.5 hours 4-5 times week at a local cafe to practice speaking. I learned more this way than from any formal class I ever took.

CHDad · Dec 31, 2009

I feel your pain. I served a mission for my church when I was 19 Spanish speaking for 2 years. I got to the point that I could dream in it and when I finally went home, at times didn't know I would mix Spanish and English in the same sentence. I didn't like Spanish in high school so I dropped the class after my first semester. Then I get called to a Spanish speaking mission. It was a trial by fire and I felt drained at the end of the day, and took a lot of smiling and nodding to finally get to where I could say I was fluent. I was taught the basics for a couple of months before I went out, (about 300 words in conversation and how to conjugate them properly) but when I got there I couldn't understand a word, they were so fast and not like my teachers at all. Months went by and I got so much better. Based on my experience you can study all day in a book but until you are immersed in the language and people you will find it hard to understand and be understood. Like for instance in American English we have sayings and phrases that we use that might take a while to learn in a book. For example "Go fly a Kite". You may understand every word in the phrase and not know what in means or why they said it. So find a place where there are only Spanish speakers there. Explain to them if it would be ok if they only spoke Spanish to you so that you can learn better. You need to explane to them because, some won't want to its difficult to talk to someone with limited vocab and they might think that you are just dumb, because they only here you say things in Spanish that aren't correct. they also might not want to take the effort to communicate with you in Spanish because they want to practice their English. Its hard but it really is the best way I found to get good at the language and perfect your "accento". My next language I would love to learn is, Brazilian Portuguese. I think it sounds more beautiful than Spanish. Hope that helped. Best of luck.

45whenimdone · Jan 16, 2010

Look into local groups in your area like meetup.com. They have several groups within a certain mile radius that have get togethers that practice their spanish speaking skills. Good luck!

And the best way to feel more comfortable is to practice practice practice. Even if it's to your pet, a recorder, yourself... also if you go to mexican restaurants quite a bit and their staff is of spanish decent, let them know you would like to order in spanish, but your spanish isn't that good... they usually don't mind. I do this all the time and they enjoy (????) correcting me.

hope this helps! good luck.

Womankind · Jan 19, 2010

Can you take some time off work? If so, consider volunteering for Casa de Los Angeles in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It's a lovely daycare/clinic and so much more and a very non-threatening place to practice your Spanish. also, see www.onenurseatatime.org for a possible scholorship! Good luck! the life you change WILL be your own.