how can i become fluent in a 2nd language?

Question

my husband is from mexico and speaks english fairly well. he's nearly fluent in english. i know a lot of spanish but i am not fluent in it. i have trouble understanding the jokes, and it's hard for me to understand when 2 or more people are speaking at the same time. I also have trouble understanding if they speak fast. i usually understand if they speak directly to me but it's harder to understand when they are conversing with each other. Sometimes it gets exhausting just concentrating on what is being said. How can I pick up the language faster?

i do listen to spanish music and watch spanish tv and i am around mexicans who speak spanish. todavia no hablo espanol con fluidez. ay ay ay chingao. lol.

Answer 1

Lol, I know exactly what you mean. It's very hard to focus when too many people are talking, or even just when it's noisy. I always feel like my hearing ability goes down when I'm listening to Japanese. For instance, I can understand English in a noisy room easily, but in the same crowded room it seeems like I have to keep saying, "Huh? Can you say that again?" if it's Japanese.

You're already doing everything right, though. It's harder to understand people talking to one another because they'll talk faster, not necessarily use complete sentences, use more slang, etc., than when talking to you. You're already doing everything that I'd normally suggest, but if this is your problem, then maybe you could ask your husband to try to speak to you like he would if you were from Mexico, too. It might be hard for him, but maybe having him speak more naturally to you would help you pick up the slang and help you listen faster, too.

Otherwise, you'll probably just have to be patient. Try to note your progress so that you don't feel like you're not getting anywhere. It takes a long time to learn a language. They say it takes over 9 years to become truly fluent, and 2-3 to become conversationally fluent. Try to focus on the progress that you have been making, it will help you out when you're frustrated that it's not as fast as you want.

Answer 2

You can ask your husband to teach you Spanish..
For you to be able to learn a language you need to be exposed to it very often, and you have an advantage since there are many people you know who speaks the language..

I am also learning Spanish right now, and i understand what you mean that they do speak fast..

Here are some things you can do:

-have a Spanish English dictionary and and Engish Spanish dictionary

-read books on learning Spanish especially those with CDs

-communicate with someone who speaks the language or maybe you can ask someone to teach you Spanish, someone who is willing to go down to your level of Spanish language..like he asks simple questions which you can understand and you answer it..something like that..

-It really helps when you continually hear and read the language, it takes time but you'll be thrilled when you see that you're Spanish learning is progressing

-just remember to practice that is: constant correct practice

I suggest that you combine all these techniques to make your language learning more effective.. I hope this works for you too..<;

Answer 3

The only way to really become fluent in a language is to spend a decent amount of time in a country where it is widely spoken. If that is not an option, all you can do is immerse yourself in it as much as possible (media, conversation, etc). Ask your husband to practice speaking Spanish with you, have him talk to you as if you were fluent and stop him when you have questions.

Answer 4

Try watching ONE soap opera so that you may follow the story and the more immersed you are in it, it probably will be easier to understand and follow through with time.

Answer 5

Try using Rosetta Stone in Spanish
http://www.rosettastone.com/en/?a=b

Answer 6

expose yourself to the language as much as possible..like watch spanish movies, listen to spanish music and stuff, i think it will help.