Job Discussion Forums

[atimeforeverything]

I am heading to Latin America (haven't decided exactly where yet) in January. My ultimate goal is becoming fluent in Spanish. Im debating if I should go to a Spanish school for a month or so first or if I should just go ahead and find a job and learn as I go.

I have experience teaching ESL, a degree and a TESOL Cert so finding a job shouldn't be a problem.

I'm just wondering what would be the best route for learning Spanish.

[naturegirl321]

If you want to be fluent in a language, you have to immerse yourself in it. teaching English isn't the best way as the people you work with will want to practise their English.

Fluency is hard, if not impossible, to achieve at an older age. I've been speaking Spanish for 14 years, but don't consider myself, and never will, fluent.

If you want to learn Spanish, go to a school where there aren't many people who speak English, then try to immerse yourself by getting a job in that country where you speak spanish, dating or marrying locals help as well. .

[mise_me_fein]

If you want free lessons download Michel Thomas Spanish, all his stuff and also learning Spanish like crazy.....just get torrent files.....

in the meantime, practice with natives and after a year you should have a good level if you speak Spanish for 4 or 5 hours a day.

[naturegirl321]

[john_n_carolina]

...there are hundreds of Spanish schools in the tourist sector of Quito (Mariscal). Do a month intensive course, and you'll be fine. you'll also be close to the bars. (if that matters). if i remember, Simon Bolivar is a good Spanish school.

[ghostdog]

For audio files, search one of the large torrent engines. My preference is www.isohunt.com. Personally, I found Michel Thomas kind of limiting, though it is good for confidence building at the beginning. If someone has a better suggestion for an audio learning system, please mention it.

[JZer]

[JZer]

[naturegirl321]

[JZer]

[naturegirl321]

[cwc]

I know you guys can't be serious, I know a lot of expats, including myself, that are more fluent in Spanish than your average Mexican, no slight intended. When I got to Mexico I knew 3 Spanish words. It took 3-4 years to become fluent. However, I did live with the locals and never had cause to speak English.
For anyone that cares, I got out of Galveston just before the bridge was closed. I went back a few weeks later and my office was literally flattened. Now I use my Spanish in the Texas oilfield training new hires.

[JZer]

If you want to learn Spanish join the Peace Corps. If you can do something other than teach English you can use Spanish all day.

[roadwalker]

I agree with the suggestions to start now. Try computer programs, language tapes (Pimsleur is great and often free at your library), or books. If you can afford it, yes by all means find a good school and study a month or so. Be mindful of hiring seasons though. You wouldn't want to exclude yourself from the best opportunities.

And yes, you won't be able to practice much Spanish if you are teaching English. So you have to be very diligent about studying and also about keeping yourself in Spanish speaking environments. Easier said than done.

I guess I have a different take on 'fluency'. I consider myself (or did until recently) 'fluent' in Spanish, even though my level is low. I can understand decent speakers and converse although with problems sometimes. My eyes don't when I hear someone speaking Spanish to me, and I can answer them if only to ask them to repeat it sometimes. On the other hand, I'm not fluent in French even though I studied it forever. I just have never used it much. For me fluency is more comfort level and the ability to carry on general conversations.

[naturegirl321]