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 probably the most. Spoiler: Duolingo did nada for me.

Hello associates! 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 as we speak 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 a number of the issues which have helped me probably the most. I believe that as an grownup, it’s so essential to be a *newbie* at issues; to problem your mind in a brand new approach and check out the hobbies and actions you’ve at all times needed to do, even if you happen to’re not good at first. I do know a lot of my associates on the market have a aim 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

Just a little background:

– Rising up, my mother’s facet of the household usually spoke Spanish. Due to this, I’ve at all times been in a position to perceive it, however by no means spoke it. I might 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 fundamental stuff) and minored in Spanish in faculty. I believed that it will be my probability to really feel absolutely assured and fluent in Spanish. I wrote essays, learn novels, analyzed poetry, however possibly spent 5% of the time in my faculty Spanish courses truly 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 aim of feeling assured talking.

– A few years in the past, I made a decision that I used to be going to begin training once more and actually get the hold of issues. We like to journey, I really like to have the ability to work together with folks in numerous places, so it grew to become actually essential to me. A few of our closest associates are Colombian, they usually have associates who converse Spanish, so I needed to have the ability to contribute and really feel extra snug with talking. Additionally, I wish to begin working with IHP shoppers in Spanish beginning early subsequent yr.

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

Right here’s what has made an unlimited 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 numerous 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 keep 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 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 while, however I discovered a tutor that pushes me (he’s truly type of imply typically hahah) however is taking me OUT of my consolation zone and to the subsequent degree. (If you happen to’d like his data, please lmk and I’d be glad to go 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 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 rather a lot to us and was shocked by how many individuals in Sevilla spoke English. It looks like the other expertise this time due to my willpower to solely converse Spanish whereas we’ve been right here. I’ve been shocked 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 the planet have been surface-level: retailer and restaurant interactions. Buuut my deepest conversations have been with taxi drivers! In Barcelona, we chatted about rather a lot: the financial system, high quality of life within the US, how a lot faculties and groceries value… I liked it. I’m excited to proceed training whereas we’re right here and to return house and possibly lastly converse Spanish with my many Spanish-speaking associates. 😉

So inform me, associates: what are you a newbie at today?

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

xoxo

Gina