Learning Spanish

No hablo español, pero estoy aprendiendo.

I have Rosetta Stone, and it's fairly good as a replacement for immersion, training through visuals. If my sole aim was to get ready to visit a Spanish speaking country, it would be very useful. However, the main problem *I* have with Rosetta Stone is the lack of motivation. I forget about trying to do a lesson until late at night when I'm too tired to do it. So I don't do it, and I don't learn.

I also have a number of Spanish/English dictionaries, including an awesome picture dictionary. I also have an awesome little book published in 1943 called Spanish At Sight that's just fun. However, just plain reading isn't going to do it. I need feedback.

Recently I found Duolingo and started the Spanish course. It comes with reminders, which have helped me to remember to do my Rosetta Stone lessons along with the Duolingo lessons! In addition, I can "compete" against people, including my husband, and try to get a higher daily score than them. It's pretty good motivation. (If you wish to join and compete against me, my username is LauraGjova... no, I didn't pick it).

Two of the ladies in the front office at the newspaper speak Spanish. I have been testing my Duolingo phrases with them, improving my pronunciation and often clearing up my understanding. And often amusing them with the goofy phrases that Duolingo comes up with.

So, for 2014, I hope to learn enough Spanish to be able to conduct an interview for the paper. I want to be able to assist people at the front office when the Spanish-speakers are in the back. I want to know what folks around me in this town are saying. My ultimate goal is to get through the entire "tree" on Duolingo and be able to read and speak the most basic Spanish. Let's see how far I get...

Spanish At Sight Zen

I love this book Eric's Mom got for us. Here's a sample of the 1943 humor:

And I'm happy to report that, yes, I could read the whole thing pretty much at a glance. I did have three years of Spanish in High School, so the basics are good. Later in the book I've gotten into some bits I didn't fully understand, but this is only on pages 9 and 10.

Spanish

So, hubby-Eric and I need to brush up on our Spanish, as we're headed to an area that has a significant population of Spanish-speakers (over 70% Hispanic in the town that Stepford House is located in). Our Eastern Washington realtor is fluent, and made it clear (in Spanish no less) that we'd have plenty of time to learn more Spanish.

I took Spanish in High School, and was fairly miserable at it. Oh, it taught me a lot about English which I used later, but I just couldn't get the hang of another language. I took Greek (Ancient Greek) in college just to learn some root words, but again, I was never very good with it.

Eric also took Spanish in High School, and a year in college and he retained more of it than I did. He's not fluent, but he can follow a conversation much better than I can.

Eric's Mom, when she came over to help clean the other day, brought a great book she'd picked up for us called Spanish At Sight, published in 1943. I've been working my way through it, very slowly. It starts out easy, introducing us to the Smith family and some multicolored toros y vacas. Since I already have a grasp of the grammar, it's mostly useful to me for the vocabulary I'm learning. And there are a lot of toros y vacas where I'm moving to.

I should probably go find a good on-line Spanish course and work through it. I know there are some free ones that are somewhat decent out there. The more I Spanish I have, the better off I'm going to feel in our new home, I think.