How long does it take to learn Spanish?

Question

Guess im going to start by reading it befoire i try to speak it.....looks very hard.

Answer 1

I am bilingual in Spanish and English. It was my first language - Spanish. I am still studying it today. I find the most important aspect is finding someone to speak it with... the Berlitz language programs are good for that because they teach you to speak and you are basically locked into a room with a one on one teacher for at least an hour per day - or a few days a week.

Second most important thing is to learn the grammatical basics FROM THE BEGINNING! One GIANT disadvantage of people like myself who learn Spanish through family and travel with no grammatical basis is that we tend to be weak and have to revisit those aspects as adults and re-learn the basics.

Lastly, read, read and read in SPANISH. Look at Spanish newspapers on-line. Also, start by reading magazines you like - in Spanish... and look online or to a local Latin Bookstore for those books that have one page in Spanish and the facing page in English - that way you can read in Spanish and when you don't understand something you look at the facing page to clarify. Those are great books.

Good luck!

Some Spanish Websites:

Argentine Newspaper:
http://www.clarin.com/

Spanish Search Engine:
http://www.terra.com/

Newspaper from Mexico:
http://www.nuevoexcelsior.com.mx/Excelsior/index.jsp

Answer 2

It depends on your learning style and how quickly you catch onto things...

I wouldn't try to start reading it before speaking it. Chances are that most of the Spanish you'll come into contact with is going to be converstational anyway. There are really good books out there at most chain bookstores that offer conversational languages including CD rom or DVD at very low costs.

Take it step by step, little by little and it will come to you!

Bueno Suerte! (Good luck!)

Answer 3

My advice to you would be simutaneously learning how to read, speak and listen for comprehension. You will remember it a lot better, and the whole process will go much quicker. Fluency usually takes several years...some people pick it up quicker, but usually no less than 2 years of study....(not just 2 semesters of a college course either)

Answer 4

10 years....Or around there, to truly be bilingual. I suggest that you start with school classes in spanish grammar, then start talking to NATIVE speakers, really listen to how they pronounce the words, and dont be embarrassed to repeat the words to really get it right...Nothing bugs me more than hearing a fellow American really butcher the spanish language...many Mexican people have told me that they think the American accent is cute, but I find it repulsive. Remember to practice and practice and practice! Go to Mexican restaurants and order in spanish, go to international fesitivals, join a spanish language club etc. Good Luck, dont get discouraged by the thought of 10 years, it speeds by...really!

Answer 5

It's not that difficult. A lot of the words resemble the English language. The most trouble you'll likely have is with verb tense changes, but even that has a pretty distinctive pattern most of the time.

Answer 6

I learned in less than 1 yr. Yes, I know it might sound crazy but I didn't know spanish until I turned 18. Now I am asked if I am actually from Mexico because I speak it so well. (No, I am not from Mexico!)

Answer 7

Depends on the person. I'd like to say you need to find someone to practice with while you're learning to read it or else it won't sink in OR you'll be only good at reading and writing it.

Answer 8

It's the easiest language in the world. I took it in high school. After 4 years of slacking off in it, I was 87% fluent. I'm sure the 5 years of french helped that along though.

Answer 9

It depends on the person. I think you should try speaking it since you will probably be doing that more than you will be reading it.

Answer 10

Judging by all the illegal Mexican aliens in America that can speak neither English or Spanish...the world may never know!