Job Discussion Forums

[Elise9]

Hello,
I was just wondering if anyone had any recommendations of good/useful books to help start learning spanish. I know a few words already but would like to find something helpful for the grammar, as well as vocabulary- even recommending a particularly good dictionary would help, as the one I have seems not all that great.
Thanks

[naturegirl321]

Find a conversation partner. One who wants to learn English. Spend half the time speaking in English and the other half in Spanish.
Listen to the radio
Tv
practise all the time.
Don't be afraid to use it.

All else fails, do what I did and marry someone who doesn't speak English!

[lozwich]

[Justin Trullinger]

Larouse makes a good dictionary as well, and shouldn't be hard to find. While you're at it, get a good verb table/conjugation guide.

And of course, a conversation partner...

Justin

[hlamb]

The Miriam Webster translation dctionary is quite good. I also use the Larrouse verb/conjugation book. There are numerous internet sites for learning Spanish. Do a search for Spanish classes online and you'll find some good ones for an introduction. But as others have said, try to find someone to talk to, preferably a native speaker. It's the best way to learn.

[Elise9]

thanks for the suggestions. I do have a couple of native speaking conversation partners, and I find my comprehension is doing fine, but I lack the confidence to say anything back to them. We tend to communicate in what we can manage of french - which is our common language right now since I actually met these people in french classes here in Montreal. Also my knowledge of french is really helping my spanish as it is more similar to it than english is (from what I can tell so far), so I just feel like I need to get some vocabulary in my memory and start using it!

I'll have a look for those books - thanks again.

[snorklequeen]

hi, Elise9,

i felt the same way you do about speaking in Spanish to others

i was fortunate enough to make friends with a woman who was not judgmental about it and very encouraging -- she was also a teacher -- and that brought me out of it

perhaps you can also keep looking, while talking with your other friends, and you will find someone like that to bring the best out in you!

cheers,

Queenie Landers

[ls650]

Set up an intercambio with someone: arrange to chat first in English for say half an hour, then switch over to Spanish for the other half hour.

[MO39]

Hi Elise9,

To help you lose your self-consciousness about speaking in Spanish, try holding your conversation "classes" in a bar or anywhere you can get a glass of wine or a beer. The alcohol will free your tongue to speak, without your lack of confidence interfering.

�Buena suerte!

[ilovebdt1]

[MELEE]

[lozwich]

[Justin Trullinger]

Good for some things, not for others. In my somewhat globetrotting life, I've had a number of different lingua francas for bedroom use. There are certain phrases that I can say in a number of languages I don't speak at all well.

But, ahem, they aren't necessarily the phrases that I need in the classroom, for the most part.

Justin

[Elise9]

Thanks again for all the suggestions - your's included Melee
I'm actually having a small party for my Spanish speaking friends this weekend, so hopefully if I get enough beer I can take all the advise to heart and practice!

[MELEE]

oooooooooo!
Sounds fun.
We will be expecting a full report on Monday!