Hello

I've just signed up to this forum today and I'll probably be posting quite a few questions on here from time to time. I'm would like to move Spain or the Canaries as soon as possible but want to have a fairly decent level of Spanish before hand to increase my chances of getting a "proper" job!

My questions are

a) What is the best way to learn Spanish?
b) What time period am I looking at to get fairly fluent ... so that I could get by in a Spanish working environment?

So far I've been using the BBC site (Steps and "Mi Vida Loca"), a beginners Spanish book and I've been emailing some Spanish people. Emailing Spanish people seems to be most effective and I'm looking for some more contacts as it were. Anything else anyone can recommend?

Has anyone else taught themselves Spanish to a good level of fluency?

I have been trying for years.

Personally for me, the only self taught system that worked was Michel Thomas. After that try the Open University. Absolutely best of all is to go to a Spanish speaking country on your own, live with a family and sign up to a course.

Even at an advanced level the rules are relatively straightforward. I find the problem, being spontaneous enough to hold a meaningful conversation.

Ah the Open University isn't a bad idea actually! I didn't think of that, will have a look and see what they offer.

I've looked into those language courses that you can do in Spain and they do look very beneficial being taught in 100% etc but they are quite pricey. It's probably well worth it though.

If you go to a big city like Madrid, or even Valencia, and look around, you can find language places offering very cheap rates (eg 80-100 Euros or less for 4 weeks classes, 2-4 hours daily). So, the biggest expense will not be the classes but the accommodation. If you don't have contacts you can stay with, perhaps you could try couchsurfing, or something similar? I think, at the end of the day, it will be your attitude that will determine how far you progress in the language, not how much you spend on classes. Don't expect to master the language in a few weeks (or months). Expect to be constantly studying in order to progress (or even at times to stand still). And use your free time in Spain, not to go down the Irish pub (at least ways not most days) but to go to the cinema (there are loads of VO cinemas in Madrid - I'm fairly sure this will be the case in other cities), to take on intercambios or even to try and socialise in a Spanish bar.
Above all, don't give up if it seems too difficult - we've all had bad days in learning the language. No se gano Zamora un una hora - (roughly) Rome wasn't built in a day. Good Luck!

few way get my very litte spanish up again befor moving back i tune in to Rne on 639 MW and used to listen to the talk show and music
bbc have few ipodcasts are can down load from the website

all you need here is to understand what there say about you and you got the upper hand lol

Hi

At 60+ years old, I have lived here in Spain for over five years and don't consider myself fluent - pidgeon spanish is OK and I get by in a spanish speaking area. I have had one on one lessons for grammar twice a week, two convesation classes a week, and other odd things!

I found that a book with a tape was best for me in England, so I could redo several (thousand) times. BUT I enjoy the laughs my lousy spanish gets - some people like me will never be fluent - it depends on you and what you are

Dave

Dxf you sould in the bar in the morring listening to the spanish guys have there coffee and shot are two off whiskey , that keep them going all day

com ove to where i work and you have English Spanish and swedens head all trying to talk at the same time

Thanks god i got very good headphones lol

Hi Chris, I have mentioned this before in a previous thread. Try notesinspanish.com there is tons of stuff to download free, all levels, best site on the web.
Baz
http://notesinspanish.com

I think theres no substitute for working with Spanish,I`d suggest getting your head around the basics then get a job in a Spanish run hotel or restaurant before you go for your "Proper Job" ,the pay is atrocious so treat it like being paid the learn Spanish, I know someone whos done this and its been a great success

I do free lessons at the town hall, you can go and put your name down for when a space opens.

I am actually a member over there Which reminds me, I was asking for some more people to email in Spanish so must check back and see if I've had any interest!

I've yet to check out the podcasts but I hear they are good.

I'm actually considering this as well. In April I'm going to contact the last hotel I stayed at in Ibiza and see if they have any jobs. I emailed them about it as soon as I got back and they said it's best to contact them in April.

Do hotel jobs normally come with accommodation or not? I'm just thinking, if the pay is that bad I might struggle to live there for the whole season!

Chris

OU is about to start (November) a begginers course "Portales" which is geared towards basic Spanish. If your OK with a PC it allows you to learn and interact through online assessments both in writing and orally.
Worth a look to see if would suit you....
Good Luck

It depends where you move to, if you move to a mainly spannish area you will be amazed by how quickly you adapt when you have to.

However in the mainly English areas there is always a number of English kids who go to Spannish school and quite frankly put us adults to shame but alot of them will give one on one Spannish lessons for a fraction of the cost.

The upshot is no matter how much you learn to read and write the language it is a very different matter to have a conversation with someone (having a few beers first helps)

Watch two Spaniards talking 100 yards away on a street corner, and you'll soon realise that 90% of communication is through body language anyway. Us Brits tend to be relatively motionless and expressionless (facially and vocally) when we speak - which is often why Spaniards struggle to understand us whether we're talking in Spanish or English - the lack of 'mimic'.

I have a theory that after a couple of beers, we tend to 'loosen up' and become more animated - which is why conversations are genuinely easier after a few drinks!

That sounds about right to me. ;-)