Worried if I can learn Spanish

[TisI]

Hello,

I'm a virtual grad student for Instructional Design, which is just creating instruction for adults (such as training at work). I have an opportunity to study in Barcelona for a month this summer but I'd have to pass a college level Spanish 1 class between now and then. I'll need to still do all the work for my other 2 graduate classes too, so I think I can commit to a maximum of an hour per day.

I have always wanted to learn Spanish and feel it will help me in the future, but I'm really worried whether I can learn this in just 5 months. The only language I've taken was Latin, and that was decades ago in high school. I'm on this site to see what you all think. Can you teach and old dog a new language, enough to pass a course, in this length of time with just an hour or so a day to study?

I'm excited to have found this website and will be reading a bunch here!

Thanks
Christine

[Liquinn3]

Sure. I'd say go for it. I've been learning Spanish for almost two years now. All the best.

[Rusty]

Welcome to the forums, Christine.
With plenty of dedication, it's possible to learn Spanish. It takes years to learn it well, but you will be able to pass the course you need to if you give it the time it will require.

Make sure you augment your classroom studies with lots of reading and listening, especially to peninsular Spanish.

[Julvenzor]

Welcome!

I'm Spaniard and, ironically, don't recommend to learn Spanish in my country (even less in Barcelona, many people there speak a mixture between Spanish and Catalan). I feel disgust due to how "my" language is mistreated in Spain. There is a sort of mutual belief of "all is allowed", it doesn't matter knowing how to redact, to express or the grammar aspects. So-called professionals don't show respect to their own work.

Study well the "-ísmos" (queísmo, dequeísmo, leísmo, laísmo, loísmo...): Common mistakes made by natives and don't read newspapers, they're trash.

A pleasure.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by TisI

Hello,

I'm a virtual grad student for Instructional Design, which is just creating instruction for adults (such as training at work). I have an opportunity to study in Barcelona for a month this summer but I'd have to pass a college level Spanish 1 class between now and then. I'll need to still do all the work for my other 2 graduate classes too, so I think I can commit to a maximum of an hour per day.

I have always wanted to learn Spanish and feel it will help me in the future, but I'm really worried whether I can learn this in just 5 months. The only language I've taken was Latin, and that was decades ago in high school. I'm on this site to see what you all think. Can you teach and old dog a new language, enough to pass a course, in this length of time with just an hour or so a day to study?

I'm excited to have found this website and will be reading a bunch here!

Thanks
Christine

So what is your interest.

Do you want to learn Spanish with one hour per day?

I think is possible if you read a write all the day with a penpal, I don't know but at least here in Mexico there're website where you can get the online class and they are very effective without you forget your work sometimes

[Caracol]

Hi, why don't you have a look at RocketSpanish, I found that was really helpful when I was learning the basics. You can record yourself speaking as well which helps with pronunciation.

[poli]

There are collateral effects for English speakers learning Spanish. Paradoxically it improves your English by enhancing you knowledge of its latinate side. It may improve your grammar as well. That enough may motivate you to delve into Spanish.

[Premium]

It might be too late but welcome.

Originally Posted by Julvenzor

Study well the "-ísmos" (queísmo, dequeísmo, leísmo, laísmo, loísmo...): Common mistakes made by natives and don't read newspapers, they're trash.

Newspapers in general or are there any you'd recommend?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I'm sorry to disagree a little with Julvenzor here. Newspapers do reflect the way people use the language, so for a learner they are helpful to understand native speakers. But also be aware that they don't always contain the best models for what we consider grammar, syntax and vocabulary correctness. For better knowledge, recognized book authors and formal lessons will help more.

[Villa]

Originally Posted by Julvenzor

Welcome!

I'm Spaniard and, ironically, don'tHowevercommend to learn Spanish in my country (even less in Barcelona, many people there speak a mixture between Spanish and Catalan). I feel disgust due to how "my" language is mistreated in Spain. There is a sort of mutual belief of "all is allowed", it doesn't matter knowing how to redact, to express or the grammar aspects. So-called professionals don't show respect to their own work.

Study well the "-ísmos" (queísmo, dequeísmo, leísmo, laísmo, loísmo...): Common mistakes made by natives and don't read newspapers, they're trash.

A pleasure.

Hola Julvenzor. I find it ironic that you don't recommend peope study Spanish in Spain
since most people think the so called best Spanish comes from Spain. However that being
said I actually agree with you especially if somebody wants to live say for example in Mexico.
I watch Mexican novelas every night. There is a great mixture of how educated Spanish speakers
speak and how uneducated Spanish speakers speak.