Is it normal to be able to read spanish more easily that speak it when first learning the language?

Question

I have been in spanish for 2 years in college and although I can read fairly well in spanish (at least get the general idea), I am having a much harder time speaking it. I'm worried that I'll never be able to speak well in the language.
Heres how I rate myspef on of the 4 skills required for communication:
1. reading
2. listening
3. writing
4.speaking

I hate it because I get choked up when trying to speak and have a hard time remembering sentence structure etc well enough to speak it properly.

I ran into my spanish professor in a store the other day and she started talking to me in spanish and I felt so stupid because I couldn't respond that quickly. I don't want to sound stupid.

Reading (and even listening) are easier I guess because the sentences are in perfect form already.

Is this normal for 2nd year spanish students? How long will it take for me to be comfortable speaking in spanish and actually able to speak as well as I can read?

Sorry its long. Thanks

Answer 1

Yes, this is quite normal. In general, all learners of second language, regardless of whether they are beginners or very fluent, are better at reading/listening than they are at writing/speaking. In your case, my guess is that you do more reading in Spanish than listening, so your listening skills just aren't as developed as your reading skills.

How long it will take you to be comfortable speaking in Spanish depends on a lot of things. Without knowing more about the teaching methods your teacher is using and your personal abilities, I can't say for sure.

In the meantime, don't give up on reading and listening. Those are very important to make sure that you have enough information about Spanish in your brain when you decide to speak. If you want additional speaking practice, you can always find a conversation partner, such as another student in your class, or perhaps a Spanish speaker who wants to practice speaking in English with you.

Answer 2

I actually learned Spanish as a second language when I was real young. Then I stopped using and only began re practicing when I started taking it for school.

I thus perfected my grammar (reading and writing) skills, but did not get enough verbal practice.

So, believe me, coming from a person that used to speak fluently... it is the hardest thing to quickly respond without having to dwell on the conjugation and gender of words.

Also, the fact that you are not fluent means you think in English. So you then think of your response first in English and then try to translate it to perfect Spanish before you spit it out your mouth so it takes more time. AND reading is deciphering while speaking is creating the code... some people's minds work better one way more than the other.

Answer 3

It's normal to be able to read faster than you speak. Reading is done at your own pace and is passive. Listening is harder because you are going at the rate of the speaker, but it is still passive. You don't have to do anything but pay attention to the sounds. Speaking is the most difficult, because you have to think more about it, and try to keep up with the flow of the conversation as much as you can.

The more you speak, the better it will get. I studied Spanish for 7 years before I went to Mexico to live, and you know what? It was still harder to speak... and the listening part got harder. Talking with people in the US, even native speakers, is still easier. Most people, especially Spanish professors, enunciate clearly, and are used to picking up signs that they aren't being understood. Go live in Mexico, and they won't know to look as much. Don't worry though... It gets better all the time. Suerte con sus estudios!

Answer 4

Yes It is normal. The reason for this is that after you have some knowledge of the meaning of the words, your mind completes some words or best said, your mind helps you make sense of the phrases.
You feel uncomfortable speaking it because in Spanish the organization of the words in a sentence is sometimes totally opposite than in English. And perhaps you don't feel good about your pronunciation.
Spanish is my first language, and I'm trying to learn Portuguese. Although both languages are very similar, I can read anything in Portuguese and understand it, but its hard for me to have a conversation. Almost impossible to be quite honest.
The best way to practice is to use it,and don't feel bad if you are not sure about something, ask people to correct you.

you'll get it quick!

Answer 5

Speaking and comprehending (listening) are the hardest parts to learn of a language. I've learned 3 languages (French, Danish, and Finnish) through Berlitz program. They helped me speak and comprehend them. But I never got it down very well, except in French. So I visited Denmark and Finland. With my prior knowledge and lessons in the language, I was able to catch on quickly. Not too long after being there, I could understand and speak almost exactly the language. I've concluded that after learning a language, you should visit the country, immersion is the best way to learn or finish off a language.

I can now speak those 3 languges fluently.

Answer 6

Reading is the easiest skill to learn when learning a new language. After that is writing, followed by speaking and then understanding spoken language. Most people make the mistake of thinking of something in their native language, then translating it in their minds, then saying it in the foreign language. That is a mistake. You should convince yourself that the foreign language is the only language you know and force yourself to say what comes into your mind. Your mind will cooperate.

When NASA first attempted a link up with a Russian spacecraft back in the 1970s, each team, Russian and American, spoke the language of the other team. It was felt that was the most acceptable way to solve the language problem.

Answer 7

For all the languages i took in school I could read and understand others better than I could write or speak. I think it's normal. i think when you're reading and listening your brain isn't going through as much. It's just reacting to other things. In order to write and speak your brain has to think of what you want to say and then sort of translate it (at least at this stage. Eventually, if you stay with it for long enough, say a couple more years or possibly less, you just begin to think in that language and you don't get that thinking in one language and then translating to the other disconnect) Good luck with spanish!

Answer 8

its normal to understand more reading than speaking etc

i lived a year on the USA and i learned more fast reading subtitles from a movie cause u pay lot of attention to it so u want to know whats all about and also speak with people that speaks the same language too.

try to say the same thing or try to say what u heard from the movies even though their voice is so stupid if u got any questions email-me
[e-mail]

Answer 9

I am from Argentina and the same thing is happening to me with the english language.I can understand almost everything when i'm reading but it turns very hard for me when i have to express myself in english both speaking and writing so i think it is normal.

Answer 10

Perfectly normal. Took me 4 years of Spanish, and talking to Spaniards to get somewhat fluent.

But, if you don't lose it, you lose it. Keep it up after your formal schooling.