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 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 a bit of 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 among the issues which have helped me essentially the most. I feel that as an grownup, it’s so vital 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 lots of my associates on the market have a purpose of studying a brand new language, so I hope this publish 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 typically spoke Spanish. Due to this, I’ve at all times been capable of perceive it, however by no means spoke it. I’d 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 happening, however didn’t contribute to the dialog.

– I took Spanish courses in elementary and center faculty (tremendous primary stuff) and minored in Spanish in faculty. I assumed that it might be my probability to really feel absolutely assured and fluent in Spanish. I wrote essays, learn novels, analyzed poetry, however perhaps 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 browse in Spanish, however didn’t actually get me to my purpose of feeling assured talking.

– A few years in the past, I made a decision that I used to be going to start out practising 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 areas, so it grew to become actually vital 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 comfy with talking. Additionally, I want to begin working with IHP purchasers in Spanish beginning early subsequent 12 months.

I attempted just a few 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 tips on how to use the languages in actual life. Additionally, more often than not, you don’t even keep in mind what you have been doing. Even with utilizing apps on an on for a bit, I didn’t study 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 a minimum of as soon as every week, but in addition have homework all through the week in studying, writing, fluency, talking, and listening. It took me a short time, 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 information, please lmk and I’d be joyful to move 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 may do it. I may order meals at eating places, ask and reply questions, order cabs, it was actually NBD. Final 12 months, I felt like locals spoke English rather a lot to us and was shocked by how many individuals in Sevilla spoke English. It appears 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 economic system, high quality of life within the US, how a lot faculties and groceries value… I cherished it. I’m excited to proceed practising whereas we’re right here and to come back house and perhaps 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