We are looking to learn “spanish” any suggestions for language programs or apps that have worked well for you?
Thanks
Steve, i know this isn’t an app, but I’ve been very into language learning and to me, this is the Bible of learning languages:
I’ve lent this book out so many times till i eventually just didn’t get it back. One of the author’s speaks something like 50 or so languages and the other has been teaching for years. Their writing style is very logical, yet fun.
I learned Spanish completely from scratch, but didn’t get this book until a few years in and can only wish i had had it from the beginning.
1 Like
MIT offers their classes online for free. Check it out, MIT OpenCourseWare | Free Online Course Materials
1 Like
Working in most restaurant kitchens you can get paid while learning Spanish.
6 Likes
Thanks @WVWindowWashing and @wws…
And @Samuel im good brother, I’ll pass on the whole kitchen deal…but thanks for the suggestion!
1 Like
Hey man, that’s how I learned. 
But other than that, it works really well to try learning the same way children do. Give yourself a “language age” and define your curriculum based on your verbal maturity in the language. Off the bat, you’re an infant. So start with easy stuff like numbers and colors and common objects. Then learn how to say simple phrases you use the most in your everyday life like toddlers do. Then move on to the simple grammar and punctuation rules like kids learn in kindergarten. This will keep things from getting overwhelming and your progress will be very organic.
Learn to “hear” the language, too. Listen to Spanish music in the car, and watch Spanish cartoons or your favorite movies dubbed in Spanish. Then make a game with your wife and try to identify words you recognize in the speech and subtitles. Listen for other words you don’t recognize but keep hearing often. Look up those frequent words and phrases. It won’t take long to see progress from that method. Realistically, you can probably understand 90% of the colloquial Spanish language just by knowing 1000 words or so.
Trying to learn a whole language like an adult with conjugations and names of countries and whatnot is boring and frustrating unless you’re a weirdo.
2 Likes
Thanks for the advice Samuel!
You’re welcome
1 Like
You could also hire a Mexican to help you clean windows and practice with him/her.
4 Likes
This is a great, highly-underrated point. If you do this (ALOT), you’ll find that all you hear is gibberish for several months. Then, suddenly, your ear will “unlock.” You still won’t understand what you’re hearing, but now it will be clear that there are words, even if you don’t know what they mean.
2 Likes
OK, hope I’m not hitting you with way more than you wanted Steve (you kinda hit an old passion of mine here), but I’m a huge believer in flashcards. Have them on you at all times and practice a few seconds here and there during times that would normally go to waste (never actually set aside time for flashcards).
This is an amazing app you can use to learn almost anything:
http://ankisrs.net
It actually times the flashcards for maximum retention. Really cool.
1 Like
Thanks Daniel, no its not an overload, we appreciate all the advice and suggestions.
Thanks
I started using Pimsleur and I had a good feel for the program. They are short lessons that seemed to work. My problem was consistency. Now that I started this business and will have more time in my vehicle and alone on jobs I plan to start the program again. Take a look. It might be what you are looking for.
1 Like
Thanks, I’ll look into it.
I used Pimsleur CDs when I started learning Portuguese, and I thought it was a good method. What I’ve seen of Rosetta Stone, I think it’s good. I just never wanted to spend the money on it. For books, I used Portuguese in Ten Minutes a Day and Portuguese for Dummies at the beginning, and I found them very helpful. I would imagine the Spanish versions would use a similar method so I’d recommend checking them out.
I totally agree with what @Samuel said about figuring out your language age and progressing from there. Although I did mention using CDs and a couple of language learning books, what’s really helped me progress is just exposing myself to the language. Meaning reading a variety of material, listening to music, watching TV and movies and conversing with native speakers. And don’t be afraid to use what you learn for fear of not saying something correctly. I started learning Spanish 20 years ago and didn’t really progress because I was afraid of saying things wrong.
What is your goal or motivation for learning Spanish?
Thanks for the advice @Erica.
This is the simplest way to explain our reasoning for learning this new language.
And ten years from now it’ll be closer to 50%
I believe the number are off by a bit now, I believe it isiscloser closer to the 30% mark now.
1 Like
Have you had problems with the language barrier?
We come across it often, not just in business but in social interactions also.
1 Like
