How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
#61
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
So, allowing for variations according to gender, individual, number of braincells pickled by this that and the other substance, etc., what does everyone think is the age after which language becomes distinctly more difficult to learn?
#62
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
that's about the age you stop 'absorbing' & have to start 'studying'
#63
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
Then more difficult still after 11
Still, anyone can become fluent at any language at any age. The limits you put on yourself.
Remember you are living in Spain, you can easily spend a year here and never hear or speak a word of English. If you did that, then within a year you would be fluent. So it just depends on the situations you create for yourself. If you speak English all day and absorb English media then it makes it very difficult to improve in Spanish
#64
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
Well at the carboot today I saw a CD from the Mail for sale saying "Learn Spanish in one week" must be simple.
#65
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
Actually, I meant as an adult (which clearly somewhat exceeds the 10 year old barrier)
...I wondered if anyone had any observations like 'under 50 you stand a chance', over 25 no chance, whatever.......
#66
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
I was in my early 40s when I started learning Spanish - a (then) 21 year old who was in the group still barely speaks Spanish 8 years later
I had a 22 year old guy joined one of my groups - I expected him to learn quickly & easily...........& so did he - he thought he wouldn't need to study, so didn't.........and had forgotten all we did from one lesson to the next
& yet one of my 'best' students is in his mid 60s - he practices a little every day, & he makes the effort to expose himself to the language as much as possible
I have noticed that people who have always kept their minds active beforehand find it easier no matter what their age - & almost without exception, if a couple start lessons together, the woman progresses more quickly & will often continue after her OH has either given up completely or decided that they know 'enough'
#67
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2008
Location: Catalonia, Spain
Posts: 530
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
My other half gave up after 6 months because he couldn't be bothered to do the homework and I don't think he liked me progressing faster than him. I kept up lessons for almost another 3 years.
He has a good vocabulary though which he seems to have picked up from TV. So when I am struggling for the perfect grammatical sentence he just comes up with a couple of words and gets understood anyway!
Much as I hate sweeping generalisations. I think women like to chat more whereas most men just want to communicate the bare minimum and get what they need.
#68
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
That is so true.
My other half gave up after 6 months because he couldn't be bothered to do the homework and I don't think he liked me progressing faster than him. I kept up lessons for almost another 3 years.
He has a good vocabulary though which he seems to have picked up from TV. So when I am struggling for the perfect grammatical sentence he just comes up with a couple of words and gets understood anyway!
Much as I hate sweeping generalisations. I think women like to chat more whereas most men just want to communicate the bare minimum and get what they need.
My other half gave up after 6 months because he couldn't be bothered to do the homework and I don't think he liked me progressing faster than him. I kept up lessons for almost another 3 years.
He has a good vocabulary though which he seems to have picked up from TV. So when I am struggling for the perfect grammatical sentence he just comes up with a couple of words and gets understood anyway!
Much as I hate sweeping generalisations. I think women like to chat more whereas most men just want to communicate the bare minimum and get what they need.
#69
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
That is so true.
My other half gave up after 6 months because he couldn't be bothered to do the homework and I don't think he liked me progressing faster than him. I kept up lessons for almost another 3 years.
He has a good vocabulary though which he seems to have picked up from TV. So when I am struggling for the perfect grammatical sentence he just comes up with a couple of words and gets understood anyway!
Much as I hate sweeping generalisations. I think women like to chat more whereas most men just want to communicate the bare minimum and get what they need.
My other half gave up after 6 months because he couldn't be bothered to do the homework and I don't think he liked me progressing faster than him. I kept up lessons for almost another 3 years.
He has a good vocabulary though which he seems to have picked up from TV. So when I am struggling for the perfect grammatical sentence he just comes up with a couple of words and gets understood anyway!
Much as I hate sweeping generalisations. I think women like to chat more whereas most men just want to communicate the bare minimum and get what they need.
#70
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
I do have a couple of couples where the guy is doing better - but generally it is teh other way around
#72
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
Much as I hate sweeping generalisations. I think women like to chat more whereas most men just want to communicate the bare minimum and get what they need.
#73
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
I have a friend married to a Chilean for 20 years and he still only speaks a few odd words of spanish. They vist her family in Chile every year so I don't know what they think Nearest he got was playing a CD in his car. He is a lecturer in Politics!
#74
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,749
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
Even if my girlfriend or wife were Chinese I would make sure I became fluent in the language. Otherwise you are not exactly comitted or interested in them
#75
Re: How long did it take you to learn Spanish?
a guy in one of my groups has been married to a Spanish woman for 10 years - she won't help him or correct him at all - and I'm not too sure she's pleased he has decided to take lessons