my Spanish journey – The Fitnessista

Sharing extra about how I’ve been engaged on Spanish over the previous couple of years and what has helped me essentially the most. Spoiler: Duolingo did nada for me.

Hello mates! How are you? I hope that you just’re having a beautiful morning. We did a waterpark and theme park yesterday, so I’ve a sense at the moment will probably be somewhat extra low-key.

Now that we’re heading into our 4th week in Spain, I figured I’d do some replace on my Spanish journey and among the issues which have helped me essentially the most. I feel that as an grownup, it’s so necessary to be a *newbie* at issues; to problem your mind in a brand new approach and check out the hobbies and actions you’ve all the time wished to do, even should you’re not good at first. I do know a lot of my mates on the market have a purpose of studying a brand new language, so I hope this put up is useful! I’d additionally love to listen to any methods which have labored for you.

My Spanish journey

A bit of background:

– Rising up, my mother’s aspect of the household usually spoke Spanish. Due to this, I’ve all the time been capable of perceive it, however by no means spoke it. I’d do the factor the place my household would ask me one thing in Spanish, and I’d reply in English. When folks would communicate Spanish round me, I knew what was occurring, however didn’t contribute to the dialog.

– I took Spanish lessons in elementary and center faculty (tremendous primary stuff) and minored in Spanish in faculty. I believed that it will be my likelihood to really feel totally assured and fluent in Spanish. I wrote essays, learn novels, analyzed poetry, however possibly spent 5% of the time in my faculty Spanish lessons really SPEAKING Spanish. So as soon as once more, it simply solidified my understanding, gave me the power to write down and skim in Spanish, however didn’t actually get me to my purpose of feeling assured talking.

– A few years in the past, I made a decision that I used to be going to begin practising once more and actually get the grasp of issues. We like to journey, I really like to have the ability to work together with folks in several areas, so it grew to become actually necessary to me. A few of our closest mates are Colombian, they usually have mates who communicate Spanish, so I wished to have the ability to contribute and really feel extra snug with talking. Additionally, I want to begin working with IHP purchasers in Spanish beginning early subsequent yr.

I attempted a couple of various things to refresh my abilities and really feel extra assured talking.

Right here’s what has made an infinite distinction and right here’s what did completely nothing.

Studying Spanish as an grownup

APPS:

I’ve not discovered an app that’s useful for real-world conditions. I’ve tried each Duolingo and Babbel and was unimpressed with each. I really feel prefer it’s lots of matching and vocabulary, however little understanding behind the grammatical guidelines and the right way to use the languages in actual life. Additionally, more often than not, you don’t even bear in mind what you had been doing. Even with utilizing apps on an on for a bit, I didn’t be taught something new.

VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TUTORING:

This has been the most important gamechanger for me. I did a ton of research and came across Italki and it’s been my go-to for Spanish tutoring. I’ve tutoring no less than as soon as per week, but in addition have homework all through the week in studying, writing, fluency, talking, and listening. It took me a short time, however I discovered a tutor that pushes me (he’s really type of imply typically hahah) however is taking me OUT of my consolation zone and to the subsequent stage. (In case you’d like his data, please lmk and I’d be glad to cross it alongside!)

PRACTICING SPANISH IN SPAIN:

Last year when we came to Spain for about two weeks, I used to be like, “Right here we go. That is my likelihood!” It was a pleasant little confidence booster to really feel like I might do it. I might order meals at eating places, ask and reply questions, order cabs, it was actually NBD. Final yr, I felt like locals spoke English loads to us and was stunned by how many individuals in Sevilla spoke English. It looks like the other expertise this time due to my willpower to solely communicate Spanish whereas we’ve been right here. I’ve been stunned by how simple and pure it feels, and have solely been English-ed a few time. 😉

I’ve additionally had the chance to work with a beautiful Spanish tutor twice per week whereas we’ve been right here!

Most of my conversations out on the earth have been surface-level: retailer and restaurant interactions. Buuut my deepest conversations have been with taxi drivers! In Barcelona, we chatted about loads: the economic system, high quality of life within the US, how a lot faculties and groceries price… I liked it. I’m excited to proceed practising whereas we’re right here and to return dwelling and possibly lastly communicate Spanish with my many Spanish-speaking mates. 😉

So inform me, mates: what are you a newbie at nowadays?

Are you engaged on studying a brand new instrument or language? I’d love to listen to about it!

xoxo

Gina