retired_mountainsong

Has anybody ever used those audio CD's etc?

I am interested in learning another language and was wondering just how good these CD things were, are they pointless audio phrase books, or can you genuinely learn?

retired_laticia3

I used a Spanish one, it wasn't very good.
Private tuition.

But I wasn't learning the whole language, just the basics. (More or less about what you'd learn at GCSE level, however this was not at school.)

retired_ks reddy

I started Spanish with a pocket English-Spanish dictionary, memorised 10 words that looked useful every morning then tested myself every evening. Usually got 6 or 7 of them. Kept it up for a few months, and tried to have Spanish radio or TV on in the background to get an ear for the lingo and try to pick out words I recognised.

After about 4 months of it I had enough to hold conversations in Spanish, and it went on from there. There were stretches of months at a time though where I didn't feel I was progressing, then suddenly you realise you are getting better.

Problem is my grammar is a bit crap, as I find it too boring to study and Spics are too polite/have crap grammar themselves and don't correct me. Should try to read more Spanish really.

retired_mountainsong

Yeah its actually spanish i would like to learn. I actually know quite a bit in terms of saying things, but im still getting to grips with how they construct words, etc so the words are spelt nothing like I would have guessed, "ojos" for example. The trouble is they speak so fast too, i have trouble distinguishing words, so its more learning the language itself rather than speaking it. There is obviously a huge difference in being able to ask "where is the nearest train station?" and actually being able to understand the answer you're getting

retired_ks reddy

Yeah, I forgot that bit. First thing to learn is pronunciation - can't learn anything from books without it. The language is phonetic though so as soon as you get your head round the 'j' and 'll' you're away.

retired_ks reddy

Was Barcelona rubbish so you decided to learn Spanish then?

retired_Rosangela carv

http://www.studyspanish.com/

Look here for some of the stuff, pronounciations/grammar/verb conjugations etc. Decent to start off with anyway. And what Bert said, get a dictionary and try listening to Spanish programs/radio and that.

They do tend to speak ultra quick though.

retired_Rosangela carv

Spics

retired_mogiski

do not try portuguese

retired_mountainsong

Im still in Barca atm, girlfriend is studying atm though, so im killing time today.

I know they speak Catalan and not castillian in Barcelona, but just being here reminded me how much people from the Uk generally take for granted everywhere else speaking english, and Ive been grateful for the small spanish I know and just realised Id like to improve on it. I dont really have/would be willing to take the time to physically attend classes, but I can listen to my mp3 player at work all day, so constantly taking spanish classes while at work would be wise