Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Teaching & Learning > Teaching and Learning Techniques


Understanding spoken Spanish

 

Teaching methodology, learning techniques, linguistics-- any of the various aspect of learning or teaching a foreign language.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old November 04, 2011, 05:29 PM
timtim1 timtim1 is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: london
Posts: 4
Native Language: english
timtim1 is on a distinguished road
Understanding spoken Spanish

I find that i virtually understand nothing in spanish when i watch spanish on television or on music (ive been studying for three months now) simply because it is too fast and i am still translating anything i do understand into english in my head.

With written spanish i have made great progress, i have a good understanding of spanish grammer and can hold a decent written conversation in spanish on the internet.unfortunatly i dont know anyone with whom i can speak (in person anyway) to practise my spanish. when i attempt to speak in spanish i do a decent job but i constantly have to stop every few words/phrases to construct what i want to say in my head. Is it just a case of keep practising and as i become more familiar with the language i wont have to translate or think about what it says so i will understand faster, spoken spanish or am i doing somthing wrong in my learning technique?
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old November 04, 2011, 08:14 PM
wrholt's Avatar
wrholt wrholt is offline
Sapphire
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Posts: 1,401
Native Language: US English
wrholt is on a distinguished road
You aren't doing anything wrong; you're doing as well as you can possibly expect given the length of time you've been studying Spanish and the amount and type of practicing speaking & listening you've been able to do.

And you've got it: mastering speaking and listening requires practice and more practice, supported by continuing to study grammar and vocabulary and continuing to develop your reading and writing skills.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old November 04, 2011, 10:54 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Nothing wrong really, but you could do better. How? By transcribing a novel from Spanish to Spanish and then translate to English. Read out loud paragraphs while you record yourself, and then listening to the recording.

One exercise particularly useful, is to repeat a section from someone speaking (a novel in a cassette for example) and then repeat the whole paragraph while recording yourself, then listen to what you recorded and compare it to the other recording. Watch for inflection and rhythm etc.

This will allow you to be more fluent in all aspects of the language.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old November 05, 2011, 04:26 PM
Glen Glen is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 718
Native Language: English
Glen is on a distinguished road
Something that helped me, is to listen for the syllables rather than for the entire word as we do in English.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Differences in Spanish as spoken in other countries bahamas Culture 36 March 03, 2012 03:57 PM
Help understanding a few sentences laepelba Practice & Homework 16 June 26, 2011 04:40 AM
Help understanding this maybnxtseasn Translations 4 August 05, 2010 12:39 AM
[Chinese] Spoken Chinese Catyjane Other Languages 7 March 30, 2009 07:31 PM
Having a hard time understanding... WMX Vocabulary 5 March 16, 2007 02:01 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:23 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X