Monday, November 29, 2010

14. Find the cojones to converse, however crappily, in Spanish.

In case you're wondering how I'm doing with this number on my list, let me give you an update:

  • Not much progress on finding the cojones to converse. 
  • But doing spectacularly well at keeping my Spanish at a crappy level.
I have spent a considerable amount of my life studying the Spanish language. Not actually learning it, mind you—just taking classes for it. Much of my youth was spent studying conjugation at the required Spanish classes at Poveda Learning Centre, but all I have to show for it are the Catholic prayers we recited ad nauseum. I did the requisite foreign language units in college but didn't really learn anything I didn't already know. Now I've gone through five semesters ... and while I've definitely learned more this time compared to all those wasted years in elementary and high school, I am still quite pathetic at it. I somehow squeaked by all the way to Level 5 but I have a feeling my sad effort at today's written exam will have me repeating a semester.

All this time spent studying and I still can't carry on a conversation. I need to to figure out a more effective way to learn Spanish. Suggestions?

 

4 comments:

  1. working where you do, you should be able to find someone who speaks spanish. and tell him/her to speak to you ONLY in spanish. i managed to have a 2-hour conversation in portuguese in brasil because, well, no one spoke english.

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  2. I think I need to fall in love with a guy who "no speak Americano"!

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  3. I'm with cybil. After futile attempts to increase my language count, all it took was a visit to the country and especially languages like spanish, french or easier asian languages like japanese, you pick up easily. I found haggling with shop keepers the best way to attempt. because broken attempts at languages instill pity and subsequent discounts :D
    btw, love your site

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  4. Thanks for the comment brod! Yeah I guess I just really have to immerse myself among Spanish speakers. I'm thinking take a month off and hang out in South America maybe? Thank you again, and hope you'll keep stopping by!

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