Forums > Specific Focus > Learning Spanish

Keven

Aug 20, 2002, 7:17 PM

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Trouble hearing.........

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buenas tardes everyoneim trying to learn Spanish. More of the Mexican-Spanish. Im out west.i can read, pronounce fairly well, speak a little. The problem i have is understanding conversations. Whether its a television program, or my co-workers. No insult intended, but the language is spoken so fast, i can only pick up words. I can only guess what was said.Ironically Mi amigo de Puerto Rico, says he has the same problems with us English speakers.Im going to take classes, yet im afraid, i'll fail, because of my hearing.Any tips would be well appreciated. Thank you.

Jon

Aug 20, 2002, 9:53 PM

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Trouble hearing.........

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Keven,I don't know how much trouble you have with your hearing, but I'll point out that I really believe that picking up on other peoples' conversations is difficult for everyone that is learning a language. I assume that's what you mean, by your co-workers talking amongst themselves and not directly to you. Tips I ususally give to people on learning a second language in general are:
1) Study hard and have a strong desire and will to learn.
2) You can not be afraid of failing and making a fool of yourself. You have to go about this "blindy" so to say. Babies are not afraid of making mistakes when they learn their first language.
3) Finally, Practice, Practice, Practice. Practice with your co-workers and don't worry if you can't understand their conversations. If they are speaking to you fast, ask them to slow down. If they don't have the patience, try to find someone to speak with that does. Regards,
Jon

Dave C.

Aug 21, 2002, 12:39 AM

Post #3 of 8 (975 views)

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Trouble hearing.........

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: buenas tardes everyone: im trying to learn Spanish. More of the Mexican-Spanish. Im out west.: i can read, pronounce fairly well, speak a little. The problem i have is : understanding conversations. Whether its a television program, or my : co-workers. No insult intended, but the language is spoken so fast, i can : only pick up words. I can only guess what was said.Ironically Mi amigo de : Puerto Rico, says he has the same problems with us English speakers.: Im going to take classes, yet im afraid, i'll fail, because of my hearing.: Any tips would be well appreciated. Thank you.If you have Spanish-language TV channels, watch children's programs at first to hear the language spoken clearly with simple vocabulary and not very fast. Once you're used to these, move up to the international news programs. They may speak faster, but they're still fairly clear most of the time. Watch the news in English first so you know what the main stories are about, to help you fill in the gaps. When you're used to these, move up to other programs, where they speak fast and loose. And of course practice speaking with native speakers when possible, to get a feel for the way average people talk. Also, books written for children tend to use the language more like average people talk, as opposed to the college-educated writing style used by many authors of books for adults.

Georgia

Aug 21, 2002, 5:26 AM

Post #4 of 8 (977 views)

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Great list, Dave ...

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I would just add to your list to listen to Mexican music -- not necessarily the music teens listen to (do that later) but mariachi, merengue, and "oldies but goodies" type Mexican music -- once you listen over and over to the same song the words begin to come clear to you. Much of language is formulaic and you will find the same expressions in everyday language as you hear in the songs. The "ear" needs to learn how to sort out the sounds. Music helps.: : buenas tardes everyone: : im trying to learn Spanish. More of the Mexican-Spanish. Im out west.: : i can read, pronounce fairly well, speak a little. The problem i have is : : understanding conversations. Whether its a television program, or my : : co-workers. No insult intended, but the language is spoken so fast, i can : : only pick up words. I can only guess what was said.Ironically Mi amigo de : : Puerto Rico, says he has the same problems with us English speakers.: : Im going to take classes, yet im afraid, i'll fail, because of my hearing.: : Any tips would be well appreciated. Thank you.: If you have Spanish-language TV channels, watch children's programs at first to hear the language spoken clearly with simple vocabulary and not very fast. Once you're used to these, move up to the international news programs. They may speak faster, but they're still fairly clear most of the time. Watch the news in English first so you know what the main stories are about, to help you fill in the gaps. When you're used to these, move up to other programs, where they speak fast and loose. And of course practice speaking with native speakers when possible, to get a feel for the way average people talk. Also, books written for children tend to use the language more like average people talk, as opposed to the college-educated writing style used by many authors of books for adults.

Keven

Aug 21, 2002, 4:46 PM

Post #5 of 8 (973 views)

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Thanks all you guys.

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Thanks for the advice.What happens is , when i greet , or attempt to speak to someone fairly acquainted, they assume i know speak Spanish, and the just go to town. LOL. I can only tell them "Habla despasio"

canuck

Aug 21, 2002, 10:37 PM

Post #6 of 8 (975 views)

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Great list, Dave ...

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I've more on less given up on actually trying to use music to learn. Shakira, Thalia, I don't think it helps very much. Its only good if you just feel like hearing spanish subconciously in the background.When I gave up on pop music, I switched to AM radio. I can't believe I didn't think of it earlier, but its great. Right now, as Im typing away I'm listening to a discussion program. Its great, because you can listen on and off and it doesn't really distract you a whole lot. But subconciously you are hearing it, reinforcing the words you already know, and its not what I would consider particularly distractive.Ironically, the language seems to slow down proportionally to the more you learn. I don't think its really fast, it just seems that way when you don't understand what they're saying.
: I would just add to your list to listen to Mexican music -- not necessarily the music teens listen to (do that later) but mariachi, merengue, and "oldies but goodies" type Mexican music -- once you listen over and over to the same song the words begin to come clear to you. Much of language is formulaic and you will find the same expressions in everyday language as you hear in the songs. The "ear" needs to learn how to sort out the sounds. Music helps.: : : buenas tardes everyone: : : im trying to learn Spanish. More of the Mexican-Spanish. Im out west.: : : i can read, pronounce fairly well, speak a little. The problem i have is : : : understanding conversations. Whether its a television program, or my : : : co-workers. No insult intended, but the language is spoken so fast, i can : : : only pick up words. I can only guess what was said.Ironically Mi amigo de : : : Puerto Rico, says he has the same problems with us English speakers.: : : Im going to take classes, yet im afraid, i'll fail, because of my hearing.: : : Any tips would be well appreciated. Thank you.: : If you have Spanish-language TV channels, watch children's programs at first to hear the language spoken clearly with simple vocabulary and not very fast. Once you're used to these, move up to the international news programs. They may speak faster, but they're still fairly clear most of the time. Watch the news in English first so you know what the main stories are about, to help you fill in the gaps. When you're used to these, move up to other programs, where they speak fast and loose. And of course practice speaking with native speakers when possible, to get a feel for the way average people talk. Also, books written for children tend to use the language more like average people talk, as opposed to the college-educated writing style used by many authors of books for adults.

Mereja

Aug 22, 2002, 11:46 AM

Post #7 of 8 (973 views)

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Great list, Dave ...

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This is a good suggestion. I did this a lot. I had a couple tapes of Juan Gabriel. After I had almost memorized all the words I started asking more detailed questions of others about certain words or expressions I didn't understand. I learned a lot that way. : I would just add to your list to listen to Mexican music -- not necessarily the music teens listen to (do that later) but mariachi, merengue, and "oldies but goodies" type Mexican music -- once you listen over and over to the same song the words begin to come clear to you. Much of language is formulaic and you will find the same expressions in everyday language as you hear in the songs. The "ear" needs to learn how to sort out the sounds. Music helps.: : : buenas tardes everyone: : : im trying to learn Spanish. More of the Mexican-Spanish. Im out west.: : : i can read, pronounce fairly well, speak a little. The problem i have is : : : understanding conversations. Whether its a television program, or my : : : co-workers. No insult intended, but the language is spoken so fast, i can : : : only pick up words. I can only guess what was said.Ironically Mi amigo de : : : Puerto Rico, says he has the same problems with us English speakers.: : : Im going to take classes, yet im afraid, i'll fail, because of my hearing.: : : Any tips would be well appreciated. Thank you.: : If you have Spanish-language TV channels, watch children's programs at first to hear the language spoken clearly with simple vocabulary and not very fast. Once you're used to these, move up to the international news programs. They may speak faster, but they're still fairly clear most of the time. Watch the news in English first so you know what the main stories are about, to help you fill in the gaps. When you're used to these, move up to other programs, where they speak fast and loose. And of course practice speaking with native speakers when possible, to get a feel for the way average people talk. Also, books written for children tend to use the language more like average people talk, as opposed to the college-educated writing style used by many authors of books for adults.

john wilhelm

Aug 26, 2002, 10:17 AM

Post #8 of 8 (992 views)

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Trouble hearing.........

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I have the same trouble. I'm trying to get up to speed by reading more text that includes casual dialog. Books written for young adults would be good I think. I found Spanish translations of Harry Potter books. These contain dialog that (hopefully) is helping to develop my conversational skills. And they're entertaining enough to keep me coming back. By reading dialog as opposed to listening to it you have the opportunity to figure out an unknown expression.This forum is great too.: Keven,: I don't know how much trouble you have with your hearing, but I'll point out that I really believe that picking up on other peoples' conversations is difficult for everyone that is learning a language. I assume that's what you mean, by your co-workers talking amongst themselves and not directly to you. : Tips I ususally give to people on learning a second language in general are:
: 1) Study hard and have a strong desire and will to learn.
: 2) You can not be afraid of failing and making a fool of yourself. You have to go about this "blindy" so to say. Babies are not afraid of making mistakes when they learn their first language.
: 3) Finally, Practice, Practice, Practice. : Practice with your co-workers and don't worry if you can't understand their conversations. If they are speaking to you fast, ask them to slow down. If they don't have the patience, try to find someone to speak with that does. : Regards,
: Jon