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 simply’re having a beautiful morning. We did a waterpark and theme park yesterday, so I’ve a sense at the moment might 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 manner and check out the hobbies and actions you’ve all the time wished to do, even in the event you’re not good at first. I do know a lot of my mates on the market have a objective of studying a brand new language, so I hope this submit 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 in a position to 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 converse Spanish round me, I knew what was occurring, however didn’t contribute to the dialog.

– I took Spanish courses in elementary and center faculty (tremendous primary stuff) and minored in Spanish in faculty. I assumed that it could be my probability to really feel absolutely assured and fluent in Spanish. I wrote essays, learn novels, analyzed poetry, however perhaps spent 5% of the time in my faculty Spanish courses really SPEAKING Spanish. So as soon as once more, it simply solidified my understanding, gave me the flexibility to write down and browse in Spanish, however didn’t actually get me to my objective of feeling assured talking.

– A few years in the past, I made a decision that I used to be going to begin working towards once more and actually get the cling of issues. We like to journey, I 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, and so they have mates who converse Spanish, so I wished to have the ability to contribute and really feel extra snug with talking. Additionally, I wish to begin working with IHP purchasers in Spanish beginning early subsequent yr.

I attempted just a few various things to refresh my expertise 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 find out how to use the languages in actual life. Additionally, more often than not, you don’t even keep in mind what you had been doing. Even with utilizing apps on an on for a bit, I didn’t study something new.

VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TUTORING:

This has been the largest 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 not less than as soon as every week, but additionally 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 form of imply typically hahah) however is taking me OUT of my consolation zone and to the subsequent degree. (In case you’d like his data, please lmk and I’d be joyful 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 probability!” It was a pleasant little confidence booster to really feel like I may do it. I may order meals at eating places, ask and reply questions, order cabs, it was actually NBD. Final yr, I felt like locals spoke English lots to us and was stunned by how many individuals in Sevilla spoke English. It seems like the other expertise this time due to my dedication to solely converse 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 every week whereas we’ve been right here!

Most of my conversations out on this planet have been surface-level: retailer and restaurant interactions. Buuut my deepest conversations have been with taxi drivers! In Barcelona, we chatted about lots: the financial system, high quality of life within the US, how a lot faculties and groceries value… I cherished it. I’m excited to proceed working towards whereas we’re right here and to come back residence and perhaps lastly converse 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