How I did it: I first decided that I really wanted to learn Spanish in 2004 during a trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  At the time I only knew some simple phrases and I couldn't understand anything that was said to me.  I wanted to be able to return to Latin America and actually be able to communicate with all the friendly people I came across.  I took three semesters of Spanish at a Jr. college, I enjoyed it so much I decided to major in it and then transfered to an University where almost all my instruction was in Spanish.  I then traveled abroad for one year through that University in Santiago, Chile.  In four years I went from not understanding anything to having close relationships entirely in Spanish.  This goal is an on going one.  It is like losing weight.  You don't reach your goal weight and bam! all your work is done.  I am really striving to keep up my Spanish.  I have managed to meet people willing to talk to me in Spanish here in California while Salsa dancing.  But for the most part living in a country where English is dominant and being a "gringa" makes it uncomfortable to inciate conversations in Spanish with the bilingual Latino population.   

Lessons & tips: To accomplish this goal you don't have to major in the language but you would need to emerse yourself for a significant amount of time in an area where Spanish is the dominant language.  Everyone acquires a second language differently and at different rates.  I definitely recommend J.C. classes.

Resources: I studied for 65 hours one on one with a tutor in Antigua, Guatemala.  Studying at a Language school during a vacation abroad is very popular. In Antigua there are over 70 schools.  Guatemala is great because the rates are cheaper, and the instruction is always one on one.  In Mexico the rates are higher and many times you are learning in a group.  However, I would love to go to Mexico, it sounds amazing. 
Read and Think Spanish- is a good book that has a c.d. that reads many of the articles outloud so that you can imitate the pronunciation. 

Feb 07, 2009, 07:57PM PST | 3 comments | 4 cheers