Learning Spanish in South America?

Question

I am thinking of going to South America to learn spanish on an intensive course. I would be taking 20 hours a week of spanish for 4 months plus living with a native speaking family. Will this be enough to become fluent to close to it?

Thanks

Answer 1

That is definitly enough time to become conversational in Spanish. You may, if you put enough effort into it, be able to become fluent in that time period. It is simply a matter of constantly practicing and making an effort. One thing I can tell you: don't be afraid of looking silly. You are the gringo who can't speak spanish, so you will look silly whether you are practicing your spanish a lot or a little. So just practice constantly, make mistakes, and learn from them. :-)

Have a great time!

Answer 2

Hello, I have been living in Spain for 11 months. I initially went to Madrid for 10 months and now live in Valencia. I moved to Valencia because I loved it when I travelled here a couple of years ago and I wanted to live by the beach. It's a great place with a real feeling of community. I enjoyed my time in Madrid. However, it is a large and sprawling city and you can feel anonymous. The cost of living is high and rent is expensive. It is harder to meet new people there. It is by far the easiest place to find work as a teacher as so many people want to learn english. I found a job on the first day I started looking in early September. There are also many museums that you will want to visit if you like that sort of thing. You have not said how long you intend to live in Spain. Do not limit yourself to one city if you have the time. Madrid will be very cold when you arrive in 4 months and will only get colder. The climate on the coast around Valencia will be much milder. This would influence my decision. Or maybe spend the winter in Madrid and move to the coast for the summer. Don't worry about accidentally learning Valenciana as everyone speaks spanish. It is easy to differentiate between the two languages.

Answer 3

It would be very hard work and if you could work towards acquiring a basis before you go then this would improve your chances. It would be very important also to make sure that the family you were placed with spoke Spanish all the time no matter what and that you spoke Spanish with your classmates (it's a big temptation to opt for an easier life there and if you mix with fellow English speakers then this will hold you back). But if you are determined enough, then you should do very well.

Answer 4

You will get some understanding of the language especially living with a native speaking family. You have to continue to use the language though whenever you can. If you can use your language skills back home too with Spanish friends etc. it would be good too. You could consider spending holiday times in places where you can speak the language.

Answer 5

Yes. Immersion is the best way to learn Spanish. You will be spending more than the equivalent of a university semester in a Spanish-speaking country, and you should learn quickly.

Answer 6

Depending on what you know now...i think that it possible that that would be enough time for you to become very familiar with the language and possibly fluent. Being surrounded by people who speak the language and having to use it on a daily basis is the best thing that you could do.

Good luck!!!

Answer 7

In which part of South America,because not all the countries there are speaking Spanish,some of them speaks Portuguese,comprende patricio?

Answer 8

I think that's more than enough, the best way to learn any language it's to coexist with people that are native speakers... that's how I learned English....

Answer 9

Yes, I think you can make it.
But, stick to Spanish all the time and try to talk and talk as much as possible.

Answer 10

This site has cool spanish-english tools (dictionaries and stuff)

http://www.english-spanish-translation.info/