BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Spanish Culture Anyone out there learning Spanish?

I was wondering if anyone reading this forum is learning Spanish, maybe we could help encourage you.

What about telling us your newest Spanish word or even your favourite Spanish word?

I am taking night classes. I'm not really sure that I have a favorite word. Maybe marido.

Hi Wednesday,

Fantastic, I really believe you should be able to at least get by in the language of the country you move to.

BUT I know it's difficult - I remember it well. So frustrating and the feelings of complete helplessness at times.

My favourtie Spanish word is alcachofa which means artichoke.
Although alcachofa de ducha means shower head!

Take it a word at a time, and dont get disheartened when you look a word up in the dictionary for the eighth time I did that too.

I'm learning - but slowly. I find the verbs very difficult!

Kate

Hi Kate,
It is diffcult, but don't worry about the verb tenses too much at first.

Word by word you'll get there.

My teacher is from Brazil, so there are some differences. One thing that she suggested and I am finding helpful was to use post its and write the Spanish word on the post it and then stick it to the item that it is. I pretty much have my office covered now, but it's been harder at home. Just a thought.

That's a good idea.

I suggest to friends that they learn 2 or 3 new words everyday.

Write them on a sticky note and put them somewhere you look at often like the fridge or TV!

When happy with those words, write a list without the meaning, and check it over a least once a day.

i dont know if anyone would be interested in this, but i just found out that dictionary.com has a spanish word of the day. they will send it to you in an email. i signed up for it and so far, i like it. just an fyi

Hi Wednesday,

Thanks for that it's a great way to add new vocabulary.

BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Try sticking a post-it note with 'alcachofa de ducha' on your showerhead !

That's a very pictorial image...if anyone has ever seen a fully opened artichoke they'll see the similarity!

Hello, hello

I am teaching myself spanish through cd's and watching "univision"...I have a very important goals with various meanings. The first is to learn spanish based on my Hispanic heritage. I was not raised around my family growing up, therefore not learning the language. And professionally, I want to become bilingual in the real estate business world. Soooo, I have work to do and hope to stay strong with a forum such as this one.

Hi Rockta,

That's great, it is so important to have goals.

Being able to speak two languages is really good, but I still get frustrated with it!

When I moved to Spain I'd learntthe alphabet and could count to ten, so I know I've progressed!

If you want some contacts for your real estate business here in Spain let me know. My husband and I dabble a little, as many of our U.K friends want properties here.

Rachel.

Thanks Rachel, I appreciate your input. It's very frustrating to get in touch with my mouth for proper pronunciation. I have joined a spanish speaking group. We'll see how that goes.

That has to be the best possible thing you can do. It's just so vital to hear it and speak it.

I'm sure you'll get there, just think it's the same if you had to re-learn English, one word at a time, it's NOT a fast process.

I suppose that spells - patience. I'm still learning that one!

For sure!

My sister-in-law who's Spanish gives lesson via sykpe or msn.

She lives in England and usually does the lessons from there, but when she comes to Spain she can carry them on, even on her holiday!

I guess she could do lessons worldwide, if the time difference worked out.

She sends the lesson plan by email, so the whole hour is speaking and listening. She plans the lessons according to your ability and goes at your pace.

Maybe I should do some of that! There's always room for improvement - and I live in Spain.

In fact that's given me an idea, I will ask her for a lesson and then tell you about the experience. I have a horrible feeling I might regret this......At least I won't have to see her pulling faces at my pronunciation.

Please tell me about living in Spain. It is a place on my "to go" map. Have you watched any flamenco dancing? I love it! What do you do for fun over there? how are the people?

Hi Rockta.

The sun shines nearly every day, the people are friendly, helpful and out for a good time. It's hard to be miserable when it's bright and sunny.

I have to be honest and say I haven't seen any flamenco since I've lived here, before on holidays yes, but now well it's one of the many things I can do anytime, so I don't...

Plenty of time... and no time.

I also have 3 boys - who are NOT interested in flamenco!

My time will come.

I love Cordoba in May, there's a anuual or is it bi-annual have to check, flamenco competition, fiesta and patio/flower comp. all in the same month - talk about a party!!!!!

Same goes - boys/husbands and flowers don't mix.
I'm waiting for the moment when its more equal - me & hubby then I'll get my own way more often.

Sometimes fun is work, today it's the last day of school term and the school put on a performance, every class does a song or dance, it takes hours. They are brought up being little performers - loud and confident.

What I really love to see is family groups, grandparents,parents, teenagers, babies all out together.

That just didn't happen in the UK, teenagers didn't want to be seen with parents or looking after young brothers/sisters nephews/nieces.

Spain has so much to offer, so much unspolit and stunning scenery and such a long history leaving an amazing amount of incredible cities and arhcitecture, and of course a lot of coastline and clean beaches.

For me it's a huge country, coming from the UK, so much to see and discover, how can a lifetime do it? So for a visit it really is fantastic, you'll be smitten and want more.