How long have you studied Spanish.

[Tomisimo]

How long have you studied Spanish? I took my first Spanish class in 1995, so that makes about 11 years. But I only have studied spanish formally (in classes) for about 4 school years.

[Zach]

I've never taken Spanish in school...been self-educating myself casually for about 5 months now. I would like to take conversational Spanish at college this semester, though.

[Tomisimo]

A conversational class can be very useful. I took a summer Spanish course when I was first starting (at the local community college). It was a night class with a fun proffessor and I learned a lot. I think you need a balance of grammar and conversation to really learn a language. If you don't get some grammar, you'll be hearing stuff and you'll learn how to say something, but you won't know why they say it that way. If you know why, you can then take that structure and re-use it a lot.

I also took a night adult-education class in French at a local senior center- that was a lot of fun.

Feel free to post any and all questions you might have in these forums. It doesn't matter how simple or complicated. My opinion is there's always someone else with just the same question, but they're afraid to ask. If you ask, they you're helping them too. As one prof. used to put it- the only dumb question is the one you didn't ask. As you can see, these forums are just starting, but hopefully they'll grow quickly, and be a good resource for many Spanish learners.

[Nix]

I've studied for 1 year. LOL

[shruti]

Um, started freshman year, I'm a junior now. So, about three years.

I wish schools started foreign languages earlier.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by shruti

Um, started freshman year, I'm a junior now. So, about three years.

I wish schools started foreign languages earlier.

In high school? Yes, it's definitely a proven linguistic fact that the sooner you start language learning/acquisition the faster & better you'll learn it, and it'll be easier to learn

[shruti]

Yeah, high school. I think it's proven that by the time you're 12ish it's harder to learn a new language.

[Tomisimo]

Yes, that's correct. Harder but not impossible. Even starting as an adult, near-native speech is attainable. So keep at it.

[Nix]

I wish I would have started learning earlier hey.

[pogo]

i've been learning for about 6 months, mainly through websites so i can read fairly well but my speaking and writing aren't that great. I'm thinking of finding an adult education place that will teach it but finding one is a pain in the ass, on the BBC website they have a search and according to them there isn't a single place within 30 miles !!