Posts Tagged ‘Grammar’
Learning Spanish: What I Would Do Differently
November 11th, 2011 | 
Author: 
asked:
Learning a language, or any new skill, is as much about self reflection as it is any other process. Only through self-reflection can one know what works, what doesn’t work, and what motivates and doesn’t motivate. I thought I’d write, based on my own self-reflection, about how I would learn Spanish, knowing what I know now, if I could do it all again.
When I say ‘learn’ I’m referring to becoming conversational in the language (being able to comfortably express yourself on just about every non-technical topic).I’m going on the assumption that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to visit a Spanish speaking country so this would all be home-based, independent learning. Of course the steps herein may not be to your style but if you’re fairly lazy and detest verb tables and formal learning in general then you may find them useful.
Warning: Note that I don’t include writing exercises. I don’t have too much desire to practise my writing and with Spanish I don’t believe too much practise is necessary. The written language isn’t a million miles away from the spoken language.
It’s no easy task learning a language so it’s wise to know what you’re getting yourself into before hand. Unrealistic expectations are a major cause of loss of motivation. Therefore if we go with the Foreign Service Institute’s estimate of 1000 hours to become conversant in Spanish we can begin to map out some realistic expectations. Before we continue I’d like to say that I don’t think learning any language is simply a 1000+ hour venture. I believe it’s a life long journey that after X amount of hours becomes an enjoyable road that you continue to walk down and reconstruct time and time again. I say X because we are all different when it comes to gleaning pleasure from language learning. Some love the beginning stages of wading through new and shiny grammar and others prefer the pleasure that comes later on like reading or speaking. I’m the latter. And because of this you’ll notice as you read this article that the first 12 months are quite rigid whereas the next 12 months are much more relaxed and I concentrate on doing only what I enjoy. I seem to need this rigid planning to keep myself on track while I’m trooping through what I consider to be the less enjoyable beginning stages of language learning.
So, let’s pretend that I have accepted my fate and I’m ready and willing to commit to 1000 hours. Do I simply expose myself to 1000 hours of Spanish, regardless of the method, and wait for the magic to happen? Some say yes but I’m not so sure. I agree that time is the number one factor in language learning but I also believe the method you use does have an influence on your progress. How can you possibly be as effective with a course that bores you to death compared to one that you find stimulating? And how can you guarantee to stick at the task if the course you use is like watching teeth grow?
Now, we have two distinct camps (I’m sure there are many more than two actually) in language learning. That of speaking early on in the learning process or delaying speech until the latter stages. On the one side Stephen Krashen’s input hypothesis states that all a person really needs to do to learn a language is to expose themselves to constant comprehensible input without speaking. Krashen argues that comprehensible input means stimuli such as audio dialogue or reading that is only marginally above the ability of the learner so that they can understand most of what is being said but are still stretching themselves. Krashen claims that only after massive comprehensible input can one begin to produce comprehensible output. Krashen also states, rather appealingly, that language acquisition is not about learning grammar rules through books but about internalising grammar rules by observing and understanding the language in its natural context (T.V., books, conversation). I tend to agree with him to a degree on this but I see no harm in referring to grammar books if you’re curious about particular aspects of the language.
On the other end of the spectrum we have the likes of Alexander Arguelles who claims that speaking from the outset, through a method known as ‘shadowing’ amongst others, begins the process of automated speech which will help you get to a conversational level quicker. Shadowing is when you simply listen to a dialogue and repeat what the speaker has said as soon as they say it while trying to understand what is being said. Ideally you should be reading the transcript in English or Spanish at the same time to aid understanding. Which camp to go with?
Learn Spanish Practice
Learning a language, or any new skill, is as much about self reflection as it is any other process. Only through self-reflection can one know what works, what doesn’t work, and what motivates and doesn’t motivate. I thought I’d write, based on my own self-reflection, about how I would learn Spanish, knowing what I know now, if I could do it all again.
When I say ‘learn’ I’m referring to becoming conversational in the language (being able to comfortably express yourself on just about every non-technical topic).I’m going on the assumption that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to visit a Spanish speaking country so this would all be home-based, independent learning. Of course the steps herein may not be to your style but if you’re fairly lazy and detest verb tables and formal learning in general then you may find them useful.
Warning: Note that I don’t include writing exercises. I don’t have too much desire to practise my writing and with Spanish I don’t believe too much practise is necessary. The written language isn’t a million miles away from the spoken language.
It’s no easy task learning a language so it’s wise to know what you’re getting yourself into before hand. Unrealistic expectations are a major cause of loss of motivation. Therefore if we go with the Foreign Service Institute’s estimate of 1000 hours to become conversant in Spanish we can begin to map out some realistic expectations. Before we continue I’d like to say that I don’t think learning any language is simply a 1000+ hour venture. I believe it’s a life long journey that after X amount of hours becomes an enjoyable road that you continue to walk down and reconstruct time and time again. I say X because we are all different when it comes to gleaning pleasure from language learning. Some love the beginning stages of wading through new and shiny grammar and others prefer the pleasure that comes later on like reading or speaking. I’m the latter. And because of this you’ll notice as you read this article that the first 12 months are quite rigid whereas the next 12 months are much more relaxed and I concentrate on doing only what I enjoy. I seem to need this rigid planning to keep myself on track while I’m trooping through what I consider to be the less enjoyable beginning stages of language learning.
So, let’s pretend that I have accepted my fate and I’m ready and willing to commit to 1000 hours. Do I simply expose myself to 1000 hours of Spanish, regardless of the method, and wait for the magic to happen? Some say yes but I’m not so sure. I agree that time is the number one factor in language learning but I also believe the method you use does have an influence on your progress. How can you possibly be as effective with a course that bores you to death compared to one that you find stimulating? And how can you guarantee to stick at the task if the course you use is like watching teeth grow?
Now, we have two distinct camps (I’m sure there are many more than two actually) in language learning. That of speaking early on in the learning process or delaying speech until the latter stages. On the one side Stephen Krashen’s input hypothesis states that all a person really needs to do to learn a language is to expose themselves to constant comprehensible input without speaking. Krashen argues that comprehensible input means stimuli such as audio dialogue or reading that is only marginally above the ability of the learner so that they can understand most of what is being said but are still stretching themselves. Krashen claims that only after massive comprehensible input can one begin to produce comprehensible output. Krashen also states, rather appealingly, that language acquisition is not about learning grammar rules through books but about internalising grammar rules by observing and understanding the language in its natural context (T.V., books, conversation). I tend to agree with him to a degree on this but I see no harm in referring to grammar books if you’re curious about particular aspects of the language.
On the other end of the spectrum we have the likes of Alexander Arguelles who claims that speaking from the outset, through a method known as ‘shadowing’ amongst others, begins the process of automated speech which will help you get to a conversational level quicker. Shadowing is when you simply listen to a dialogue and repeat what the speaker has said as soon as they say it while trying to understand what is being said. Ideally you should be reading the transcript in English or Spanish at the same time to aid understanding. Which camp to go with?
Learn Spanish Practice
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what is a real good site that helps you learn Spanish from scratch?
Rula M asked:
one that contains grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and pronunciation, and of course free.
I also want to ask how to get an online friend that might help me improve my spanish as I learn?
learning spanish
one that contains grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and pronunciation, and of course free.
I also want to ask how to get an online friend that might help me improve my spanish as I learn?
learning spanish
