What are your thoughts on studying grammar vs. speaking practice? I know there are many diverse opinions on this topic. Please share your thoughts below!
Both important but conversation makes for faster learning. Nobody seems to explain exactly how the spanish speak; at times their spoken spanish does not sound as if it is pronounced as our teachers tell us.
Fantastic video Andrew. You broke down the challenge beautifully. In my case, this is why I have recognized that anyone advocating that adults, especially older adults, "learn like children" is off the mark, IMO. You have to use a multi-pronged approach. I cannot imagine just learning a set of vocabulary words, or verbs, tenses and conjugations, or struggling through "trying to speak" - without a structured learning approach combining multiple things. Combining all of this has led me to being able to speak, understand, read and begin to "think" en espanol in about a year, at a pretty advanced age. And I am the opposite of a language expert. I was unilingual until this point and never expected to speak another language and now I do. I'm a bit blown away by it all, but it works. Very challenging, keeps you sharp that's for sure.
Yes, absolutely, it is common advice in language learning to "learn like a child" but how this happens can be interpreted in many ways and adults learn much faster than children. It's great to hear that you are using a multi-pronged approach, I agree this is the key to learning as an adult! 😊
Speaking comes before grammar. Grammar comes with correcting speaking bad or just incorrect. For example: me acuerdo en ti..not me acuerdo de ti...yes estoy frio...not tengo frio...yes quero vienes a mi casa...not quiero que vengas a mi casa...yes. So learning grammar comes as you progress. Good stuff!
I would say not to slack on any of the factors involved; Speaking Listening(always at normal speed) Reading both intensive/extensive Grammar Phrases All of these are needed if you really want to learn the language. Plus, improving any one of these automatically improves the other factors. The last one, and one that has accelerated my own language.... Live in Spain. 😊
Yes, I agree, these are all important factors. I also think that it's not necessary to live in a Spanish-speaking country but it can definitely be helpful in a language-learning journey! 😊
@@realfastspanish Agreed too, it's definitely not essential, but I think it's the difference between 'classroom Spanish' and 'la lengua de la calle'. Living among natives you pick up so much more in of the nuances and natural rhythms in even the most basic interactions and overheard conversations on the streets. This is a vital key to learning the language in a more natural way and definitely helps to avoid that 'classroom Spanish'. Your accent, your ear for the speed and fluidity of the natives, your pronunciation, the little phrases, etc. Plus, you notice things like the passive reflective and the subjunction being used a lot, or the colloquial tendency to use the imperfect in place of the conditional. You also get used to using extremely popular verbs like llevar, echar, quedar, etc, and in all sorts of situations and meanings.
I live in Mexico for many years.I was advised to get boyfirneds who dont speak English. Ha ha. and yes I did do that. I communicate quite well with a combination of mime and present tense and lots and lots of non English speaing friends. I also took dance and other classes in spanish. its a kind of forced way to learn but not boring at all. I can hold my own in very advanced group situations and love it. I listed to your videos Andrew and really get LOTs of hints. but I dont struggle with Spansh because I consider the biggest factor is our shared humanity. I have no fear of that.
The most important practice is listening. Unless you understand what is said to you it's impossible to repond other than to say, "Lo siento. No entiendo. Puedes hablar más despacio?" Improve the listening skills with dictation.
Yes, if we want to say we are cold in Spanish we need to use the verb 'tener', "I'm cold = tengo frío" or if you are feeling hot "I'm hot = tengo calor".
What are your thoughts on studying grammar vs. speaking practice? I know there are many diverse opinions on this topic. Please share your thoughts below!
Both important but conversation makes for faster learning. Nobody seems to explain exactly how the spanish speak; at times their spoken spanish does not sound as if it is pronounced as our teachers tell us.
I enjoy listening to songs and lyrics.
Fantastic video Andrew. You broke down the challenge beautifully. In my case, this is why I have recognized that anyone advocating that adults, especially older adults, "learn like children" is off the mark, IMO. You have to use a multi-pronged approach. I cannot imagine just learning a set of vocabulary words, or verbs, tenses and conjugations, or struggling through "trying to speak" - without a structured learning approach combining multiple things.
Combining all of this has led me to being able to speak, understand, read and begin to "think" en espanol in about a year, at a pretty advanced age. And I am the opposite of a language expert. I was unilingual until this point and never expected to speak another language and now I do.
I'm a bit blown away by it all, but it works. Very challenging, keeps you sharp that's for sure.
Yes, absolutely, it is common advice in language learning to "learn like a child" but how this happens can be interpreted in many ways and adults learn much faster than children. It's great to hear that you are using a multi-pronged approach, I agree this is the key to learning as an adult! 😊
Speaking comes before grammar. Grammar comes with correcting speaking bad or just incorrect.
For example:
me acuerdo en ti..not
me acuerdo de ti...yes
estoy frio...not
tengo frio...yes
quero vienes a mi casa...not
quiero que vengas a mi casa...yes.
So learning grammar comes as you progress.
Good stuff!
I would say not to slack on any of the factors involved;
Speaking
Listening(always at normal speed)
Reading both intensive/extensive
Grammar
Phrases
All of these are needed if you really want to learn the language. Plus, improving any one of these automatically improves the other factors.
The last one, and one that has accelerated my own language.... Live in Spain. 😊
Yes, I agree, these are all important factors. I also think that it's not necessary to live in a Spanish-speaking country but it can definitely be helpful in a language-learning journey! 😊
I forgot I'll squeeze the last one in.
@@realfastspanish Agreed too, it's definitely not essential, but I think it's the difference between 'classroom Spanish' and 'la lengua de la calle'. Living among natives you pick up so much more in of the nuances and natural rhythms in even the most basic interactions and overheard conversations on the streets. This is a vital key to learning the language in a more natural way and definitely helps to avoid that 'classroom Spanish'.
Your accent, your ear for the speed and fluidity of the natives, your pronunciation, the little phrases, etc. Plus, you notice things like the passive reflective and the subjunction being used a lot, or the colloquial tendency to use the imperfect in place of the conditional.
You also get used to using extremely popular verbs like llevar, echar, quedar, etc, and in all sorts of situations and meanings.
I live in Mexico for many years.I was advised to get boyfirneds who dont speak English. Ha ha. and yes I did do that. I communicate quite well with a combination of mime and present tense and lots and lots of non English speaing friends. I also took dance and other classes in spanish. its a kind of forced way to learn but not boring at all. I can hold my own in very advanced group situations and love it. I listed to your videos Andrew and really get LOTs of hints. but I dont struggle with Spansh because I consider the biggest factor is our shared humanity. I have no fear of that.
The most important practice is listening. Unless you understand what is said to you it's impossible to repond other than to say, "Lo siento. No entiendo. Puedes hablar más despacio?" Improve the listening skills with dictation.
In total agreement with you
Full court press.
I thought it was estoy frio, estoy fria
Definitely not …that would have an entirely different meaning!
Yes, if we want to say we are cold in Spanish we need to use the verb 'tener', "I'm cold = tengo frío" or if you are feeling hot "I'm hot = tengo calor".
@@realfastspanish estoy calor = I have a certain feeling in my loins !
And make sure not to say "estoy caliente" ... 😊
Ugh. Overthinking blather