Older Beginner

**Role Modlin** · 07-28-2011, 01:33 PM

I took two years of high school Spanish over twenty years ago. That being said...I have forgotten more than I ever learned.

Without going the high dollar route (Rosetta Stone, community college) what are some good resources for someone (old) who would like to learn?

**Josey Wales** · 07-28-2011, 01:42 PM

move to mexico?

ICallHimTurtle · 07-28-2011, 01:49 PM

Immersion and repitition! Go to a spanish-speaking church if you have one in your area. A lot of the worship songs you already know are just translated, and it'll start awakening what you might have locked away in the noggin already, as well as storing new stuff. =)

**Role Modlin** · 07-28-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josey Wales

move to mexico?

I knew I could count on you.

**Role Modlin** · 07-28-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ICallHimTurtle

Immersion and repitition! Go to a spanish-speaking church if you have one in your area. A lot of the worship songs you already know are just translated, and it'll start awakening what you might have locked away in the noggin already, as well as storing new stuff. =)

This sounds like an interesting proposition...especially since there are a multitude of churches in this area that have Spanish language services.

bobthecockroach · 07-28-2011, 01:54 PM

First, let me take this opportunity to get something off my chest:

ROSETTA STONE IS A RIP-OFF!!!

Ahem.

1. Get an intro book. I recommend Spanish Made Simple. You can grab an old 70s edition for like a penny before shipping. The Made Simple books explain all the grammar (like every other self-teaching book), but they also have a lot more Spanish than most, especially Spanish in large chunks. A regular self-teaching book you'd pick up at B&N may have like 10 total paragraphs of Spanish, mostly in one or two sentence pieces. If you want to learn Spanish, you need to actually read Spanish. Get the Made Simple book. Go through the whole book. Then go through it again.

1.5. If you want an audio course, get the one from Teach Yourself. I've owned like 3 or 4 different language audio courses. Teach Yourself is the best. Conveniently, the Teach Yourself courses are cheap.

2. Find every source of native Spanish audio on the internet. Make Spanish Wikipedia your home page. Buy all of Julieta Venegas' CDs (this is a good idea whether you want to learn Spanish or not

), or just listen to her on YouTube. Listen to Jesse & Joy. Find other Spanish bands you like. Listen to them regularly. Buy Harry Potter in Spanish. Buy The Little Prince in Spanish. Basically, find a *bunch* of real Spanish.

3. Profit.

A good link for Spanish:
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/spe/

**Role Modlin** · 07-28-2011, 02:00 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been listening to some Spanish language praise and worship stuff...because the songs are already familiar.

bobthecockroach · 07-28-2011, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Role Modlin

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been listening to some Spanish language praise and worship stuff...because the songs are already familiar.

Listening to (or reading) stuff you already know is a great strategy. It allows you to understand way more than you would otherwise be able to. Buy the Spanish versions of books you've already read too (or check the library).

**Role Modlin** · 07-28-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

Listening to (or reading) stuff you already know is a great strategy. It allows you to understand way more than you would otherwise be able to. Buy the Spanish versions of books you've already read too (or check the library).

Believe it or not...Petra have released two of their albums in Spanish. I've been listening to those and trying to pick out the words that I know.

ICallHimTurtle · 07-28-2011, 02:49 PM

That makes me laugh with excitement. I can't believe that.

**Role Modlin** · 07-28-2011, 03:00 PM

I just found two of Hillsongs album en Espanol...so that's more.

SI!!!!

**DaGeek** · 07-28-2011, 04:27 PM

Another great resource I recommend is learnspanish.com. There is a ton of useful info on that site!

And I see you've already found the Hillsong Spanish

.

**mtlmouth** · 07-28-2011, 11:27 PM

Also, see if you can find news in Spanish, particularly world news. The stories are roughly the same as what's in the English news, but... in Spanish. Names remain the same, which gives you some context. Television is particularly good, because you get visual aids to clue you in as well. I'm sure there's some online, but I don't have any links off-hand. I watch France24.com to work on my French sometimes, but that doesn't help much with Spanish.

**Role Modlin** · 07-29-2011, 05:47 AM

I can present everything I remember from high school Spanish right now. Keep in mind...it has been 24 years.

Me llamo Luis. Como te llamas?

Que tal?

I don't know how to make the little upside-down question mark...sorry.

bobthecockroach · 07-29-2011, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtlmouth

Also, see if you can find news in Spanish, particularly world news. The stories are roughly the same as what's in the English news, but... in Spanish. Names remain the same, which gives you some context. Television is particularly good, because you get visual aids to clue you in as well. I'm sure there's some online, but I don't have any links off-hand. I watch France24.com to work on my French sometimes, but that doesn't help much with Spanish.

That reminds me...

Bilingual news: A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 900 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the United States.

Also, CGRer darfaz is a Spanish teacher. He might be able to give you some ideas as well.