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 stunning morning. We did a waterpark and theme park yesterday, so I’ve a sense at the moment will probably be a little bit extra low-key.

Now that we’re heading into our 4th week in Spain, I figured I’d perform a little replace on my Spanish journey and a number of 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 at all times needed to do, even in the event you’re not good at first. I do know lots of my mates on the market have a objective 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 little bit background:

– Rising up, my mother’s facet of the household typically spoke Spanish. Due to this, I’ve at all times been capable of 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 individuals would communicate Spanish round me, I knew what was occurring, however didn’t contribute to the dialog.

– I took Spanish courses in elementary and center college (tremendous fundamental stuff) and minored in Spanish in school. I assumed 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 school Spanish courses truly 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 hold of issues. We like to journey, I really like to have the ability to work together with individuals in numerous areas, so it grew to become actually necessary to me. A few of our closest mates are Colombian, and so they have mates who communicate Spanish, so I needed to have the ability to contribute and really feel extra comfy 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 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 loads of matching and vocabulary, however little understanding behind the grammatical guidelines and use the languages in actual life. Additionally, more often than not, you don’t even bear in mind what you have 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 at the very least as soon as per 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 sort of imply typically hahah) however is taking me OUT of my consolation zone and to the following stage. (In the event you’d like his information, please lmk and I’d be blissful 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 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 quite a bit to us and was stunned by how many individuals in Sevilla spoke English. It appears 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 straightforward and pure it feels, and have solely been English-ed a few time. 😉

I’ve additionally had the chance to work with a stunning Spanish tutor twice per 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 quite a bit: the financial system, high quality of life within the US, how a lot colleges and groceries price… I cherished it. I’m excited to proceed working towards whereas we’re right here and to return house 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