Learn Spanish

“You look like someone that knows Spanish” – that’s what I’ve been getting a lot at work. I guess its a compliment, although even though I look it, I still don’t know Spanish. I haven’t worked on this goal for a while, but I’m trying to get myself motivated again.

Well I finally found some people I can practice my Spanish around without feeling like an ass – my students! For some reason its less embarassing speaking spanish with my horrible accent to a group of first graders than to other adults. For one, most of them speak fluent spanish so they’re eager to help me and two, they don’t judge me when I get tongue tied trying to roll my r’s.

Its really kinda fun :)

I’ve been practicing with my mom who is a native speaker, and although I see myself progressing, it is going slower than what I hoped. I think this is just one of those things that will take a long time and a lot of work. My biggest hang up is my accent. I’m able to memorize terms and vocab easily enough, but when it comes to actually speaking – that’s the toughy!

I’m lucky my mom is so patient. And laughing at myself helps as well.

I think one of the major hurdles I jumped over this last week was finally being able to roll my r’s! I was so determined to do this I was even practicing in the shower.

I’ve come to learn that the way to get better at anything is practice – so that’s what I’ve been doing lately. The program I have right now is more of a tourist guide and is not really comprehensive, but I think its a good place to start. I will be getting the Rosetta Stone program soon, so that should help me to continue on where this other program leaves off.

I’m still having trouble with my accent, especially with my r’s – but I’m getting better :)

I’m almost to the third lesson in my Spanish program. The program is not comprehensive so I know that I will probably be moving onto another one after I’m done with this. I’ve been going over the same lessons over and over – figuring that the only way the vocab will stick in my head is through repitition. My mom, who is fluent, corrects me on my accent – but I haven’t been able to master rolling my r’s. I think I probably mentioned this before, but I actually researched it online and they have some tips on how to get the hang of it.

I actually love practicing and I’m very excited that I’m finally learning. It can be frustrating at times, but its encouraging when I realize how much I’m already learning. I went to get my hair cut the other day by this lady who speaks fluent spanish – I actually understood most of her conversation which was surprising.

I really would be nowhere without my mom who is fluent in Spanish. I practice in the same room with her and she’ll correct me on my accent or my pronounciation. By tomorrow I should be on lesson 3 :)

Alright, so I know this is going to take a LONG time. I’m almost to lesson three on the program, but I’m still having trouble with my accent. Mostly with rolling my r’s. I feel like every time I try my tongue gets all tied up and I can’t tell what I’m saying. But I am making progress. I even find myself practicing at odd times during the day, like in the shower where no one can hear me and I’m free to make a fool of myself.

Que tienen para beber? (What do you have to drink?)

Yo quiero una cerveza y jamon. (I want a beer and ham)

Well I finally practiced my Spanish the other day. I used the Spanish program I had checked out from the library and have had for so long I finally had to pay for it. Its not a very good program. Well, anyway, I practiced and although my accent is very bad I remembered the words pretty well.

I know that it will be hard at first, but like with anything, it takes effort and time. Just little bits a day and sooner or later I’ll be able to speak it withought being self-conscious.

I took three years of high school Spanish, but I still can’t speak it. To be honest its a little embarassing being Hispanic and not knowing Spanish. Anyway, my plan is to start the online tutorials again. I just have to set aside the time.