I'm trying to learn Spanish. It seems to be very difficult for me to pick it up. Does anyone know the best way

Question

For years I've been listening to CD's and talking as much as I can to my Spanish friends. Watching the Spanish channels on TV, etc. I want to move to Costa Rica and with my vocabulary of about 150 words it's not possible. I'm pretty much a slow learner by nature (not to put myself down, that's just the way I am). What is the best method? I'd like to hear from others who are a little slow w/ picking things up. Thanks.

Answer 1

Moving to a Spanish speaking country will help you. Being immersed will make you learn it. Carry a small dictionary at first. I lived in Mexico for a year and did not know much when I got there. When I left I was fluent.

As for learning vocabulary; you need to make associations with other things that you know. For example; yesterday I taught the kids the word "aburrido." I told them to picture a boring burrito. That will help them to remember how to say boring because it is similar. The word "chaqueta" is very similar to the English word jacket. Look at the similairities to help you to recall it.

Tape the words for things all over your house. That way you see it and can say it out loud all the time. Cut out pictures from magazines and make flashcards. If you do it on 8 1/2 x 11 paper then you can also stick those up in different places in your house. Say it to yourself, picture the word and the picture in your head and practice.

Create visual pictures in your head. It really works.

Answer 2

to learn vocabulary, some of the best ways i found to learn spanish was thru music and tv. artists such as 'la oreja de van gogh' 'Paulina Rubio' 'Alex Ubago' 'chayanne' 'estopa' they are all quite easy to pick up when you find words you don't know you look in a dictionary. I found that cause music is quite catchy and stays in your head, and you remember things more easily. TV and Film are more difficult to understand, but still worth a try. A good series to watch is 'aqui no hay quien viva' you can get it on dvd, if you buy it online from el corte ingles you can get it delivered to your door (and they are quite cheap).
your other alternative is contact a local english school (tesol) and find out if any spanish speaking students want to do an intercambio (exchange) basically you talk to them in spanish they to you in english. you learn from each other, correct each other. basically you get one to one tutoring for free!

finally you will find if you move to a spanish speaking country, you will pick it up in no time. try not to stay in tourist town, get out to the local areas, immerse yourself, don't be afraid to make mistakes or you will never learn anything, and above all have fun.

Answer 3

If it's for long run profession functions I could say Chinese after which Spanish; nevertheless, Chinese is EXTREMELY elaborate to grasp. Spanish is a fine language and spoken for the period of the arena and is priceless in trade as good. French and German also are fine, however I believe you could get extra out of Chinese or Spanish.