Perseverance 2.0

Hello All,

We are half way through the year. I don't know about you but for me this is a time of reflection. It's the time when I evaluate the progress I've made on my 2014 goals. If I'm honest with myself the results are no bueno. If I were on track by now I would have posted approximately 21 posts.

Not only have I allowed this blog to languish but I've allowed my spanish self-study to dwindle down to nothing. It actually hurts to write that I've essentially given up on one my lifes major goals. As child I wanted to be many things like: the first ballerina cop, acrobat, nudist, "insert off the beaten path job here", etc. However, the only thing I've consistently wanted to be was fluent in Spanish. I technically began my Spanish language journey when my parents bought me a spanish language learning book and accompanying cassette when I was around 6.

I've flirted with Spanish for my entire life. I grew hearing it blasted from from car radios and, apartment windows. I even heard it and it's cousin "Spanglish" falling off my mothers lips. Spanish is the love of my life albeit an elusive one. It's like I'm in an arranged marriage with the English language and Spanish is my mistress. Sometimes our affair is hot and heavy and I think I'm going to leave my native tongue for it but... Spanish is too demanding. It requires too much effort and time. In addition, Spanish represents the unknown. It requires me to leave my comfort zone. Things aren't easy with Spanish therefore I always return to my first marriage. But things aren't easy at home either not before long I'm once again longing for the unknown. I long for the dream unrealized.

I know that if I'm ever to realize my life long dream one day I will have to commit. And when I make this commit it has to be for life. I can't have a fling with Spanish. I have proven that it will not get me where I need go. 

I need to be consistent and diligent until I finally become one with the language and reach fluency. I also know that once I reach this level it won't be the end. I will need to maintain my connection and keep myself engaged for the rest of my life. Therefore today, right now, before the entire blogsphere I commitment to Spanish now and for the rest of my life. This means I will regularly speak, listen to, read and write in Spanish. Lucky for me English isn't a jealous lover. It will wait pateintly for it's turn to be used. :-)

Adiós 

Using Craiglist for Language Learning!!

Similar to other worth while endeavors learning a language is not easy it is fraught with dead ends, jungles and small victories. One of my main concerns with learning spanish was that I would not be able to find someone with whom to practice spanish. I've signed up for several online language exchange sites such as italki, The Mixxer, polyglot club and lingo zone. Thus far, I have not been able to schedule any language exchanges on the site. In general I found navigating all the sites at once a little overwhelming. I think I will have to focus on one site each week.

When I realized that making connections via, the online community would be more difficult than I originally thought I decided to find local language partners. Enter....Craiglist. I took 20mintues to write up an ad in spanish. I filed my ad under the platonic personal ad section. I've copied by exact ad below for your reference (Feel free to correct any grammatical errors).

From this ad I received maybe 10 responses. All of which, were men. Maybe 50% of these men were looking for dates. However, all of the men were repectful. None of them sent me any penis pictures which, in this sexting epoch is a miracle.  If I were to post another add I would stress that I'm only looking for platonic relationships.


"Hola!

Estoy un estudiante de español. Estoy buscando por alguien que puede hablar con migo in español. Mi nivel de español es muy básica. Si tu quieres aprender ingles puede ayudarte en intercambio.

Por favor mandame un sms o e-mail si tu estas interesada. 


Please send me text or e-mail if you're interested."

I posted the ad on Monday night and had my first language exchange on Wednesday. In addition, to that I was able to have multiple text conversations. I have an exchange with a new person scheduled for tomorrow. Craiglist is a viable options for those of you looking to connect with someone on a local level. Also, learn from my mistakes and stress in your add that you are only looking for platonic relationships...unless you're single and looking. I've heard that one of the quickest ways to learning a language is to get a boyfriend/girlfriend who speaks the language :-). Just be sure to meet the person in a highly public place. Use common sense and you should be fine. 


Saludos!

Hola Amigos,

I'm on my way to becoming fluent in Spanish!!!

As you maybe aware I have tried Rosetta Stone, Pimseluer and the telenovela method. This post is devoted to the telenovela method.

Telenovela Method
The whole idea behind the telenovela method is to use a form of media that you find interesting. I love watching movies and sometimes tv shows. It's hard to find movies with spanish subtitles for free so I choose to watch a telenovela. I selected "Por Siempre Mi Amor" . You can find an depth explanation of the method here .

In summary, the method requires the you watch a telenovela with spanish subtitles. You pause the show after each sentence and translate it word for word. If there is anything that you don't understand or haven't encountered in the past you use a spanish dictionary, google translate or youtube to research the meaning or grammatical nuance. I do not doubt that the method is effective however, it took me almost 3 hours to understand the first 10 minutes of episode one. A good portion of those 3 hours was spent watching youtube videos to get an understanding of the grammar used in my the characters. I had totally forgotten about the present and past perfect for example. It was then that I realized I needed training wheels therefore I decided to watch "Destinos", which is a telenovela created for the purpose of teaching spanish to beginners.

Destinos
"Destinos" was perfect for improving my listening and comprehension skills. "Destinos" The characters speak slowly therefore I can usually understand them and they use basic vocabulary. However, the action and the dialogue is not so slow that I want to poke my eyes out. The show is about a lawyer who is attempting to solve a mystery for her client. It has a little bit of drama, comedy and cultural education all mixed together.

I'm only on episode 8 out of 52 and I already feel my confidence improving. Do any of you watch "Destinos"? If so leave a comment below.

I will return to the telenovela method once my grammar and vocabulary skills improve.



Gracias,
Moni

Hello Readers,

Thank you for taking this journey with me.  After a combined total of 9 years spent formally studying the Spanish language I've decided to dedicate the next year to becoming fluent. It's embarrassing to admit how epically I've failed in my quest for fluency. Six years ago I had just returned from 4 months spent in Madrid, Spain living with a host family and studying at an American school. I was at my speaking and comprehension prime. I could watch a movie and converse with almost anyone at an elementary level but then…..I let it all die.

Fast forward 6 years and I have nothing to show for my 9 years of study. I can barely understand or speak Spanish. In the following year I will focus hard on learning Spanish in a goal to be fluent this time next year.

The Plan:

• In 2013 I purchased Rosetta Stone and dabbled with the Pimseluer language program. In 2014 I will complete the Rosetta Stone program levels 1-4. I will use Rosetta Stone as the foundation to my accelerated language learning program.
•  I will use the internet to participate in language exchanges. I've now realized when learning a new language the most important thing is to speak it. Knowledge of a language is useless if you cannot communicate with others in verbal form. 
• Lastly, I will utilize the Telenovela method popularized by Andrew @ www.howlearnspanish.com .  

In addition to fluency in Spanish in 2014 I would like to get my financial house in order therefore I will utilize free and previously purchased resources to learn spanish.

Thanks for stoping by.

Audios