Learn spanish

[Shreyabhat]

hola amigos!

I am learning spanish and need help.

I am trying to create sentences/phrases but facing problems.

anyone can told me that how can I practice for this?

thanks
Shreya

[Liquinn3]

Originally Posted by Shreyabhat

hola amigos!

I am learning spanish and need help.

I am trying to create sentences/phrases but facing problems.

anyone can told me that how can I practice for this?

thanks
Shreya

I remember when I first came to the forum. My writing was pretty bad but now it has improved. Though it could still be improved. Your only way is so practice, practise.

[Rusty]

My suggestion is to read professionally-produced books in Spanish. That's the best way to learn how sentences should be written.

Sentence structure can be very basic or quite complex.
It's best to start with the basic sentences, so learn how to form simple subject/verb sentences first. Then add an object (verb complement) to the mix. Next you'll want to look into adding some adjectives (noun modifiers) and adverbs (verb modifiers) to your structure.

[Liquinn3]

Originally Posted by Rusty

My suggestion is to read professionally-produced books in Spanish. That's the best way to learn how sentences should be written.

Sentence structure can be very basic or quite complex.
It's best to start with the basic sentences, so learn how to form simple subject/verb sentences first. Then add an object (verb complement) to the mix. Next you'll want to look into adding some adjectives (noun modifiers) and adverbs (verb modifiers) to your structure.

I read novels. Are those good to read?

[Rusty]

Novels fall into the professionally-produced-books category. I've read that a good-sized novel (80,000 - 100,000 words) would contain somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 unique words. If the editor was any good, those words would be correctly used and would appear in phrases and clauses that you could, with perhaps a change or two, use in real life situations.

[Shreyabhat]

ok thanks

[Liquinn3]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Novels fall into the professionally-produced-books category. I've read that a good-sized novel (80,000 - 100,000 words) would contain somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000 unique words. If the editor was any good, those words would be correctly used and would appear in phrases and clauses that you could, with perhaps a change or two, use in real life situations.

What a good idea. Which if I use a few sentences from the novels with tweaks that would improve my writing and hopefully speaking.

Should I try to write a basic novel in Spanish myself? This would get away from the question/answer format.

Or perhaps a love letter to someone? (So I can use it when I get a Spanish speaking girlfriend someday).

Tengo diez novelas en mi casa.

[Rusty]

Writing your own novel in Spanish is a tall order, but anything is possible.
Start with stories and then you can entertain how you might use them in your first novel.

I wouldn't suggest writing a love letter in advance of falling in love.

[Liquinn3]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Writing your own novel in Spanish is a tall order, but anything is possible.
Start with stories and then you can entertain how you might use them in your first novel.

I wouldn't suggest writing a love letter in advance of falling in love.

Good idea. I don't think I'm quite that advanced for writing a story/novel but should I give it a go?

Not to mention I need to learn how to include speech in writing.

Saludos.

[Glen]

Originally Posted by Rusty

My suggestion is to read professionally-produced books in Spanish. That's the best way to learn how sentences should be written.

Agree completely, and would only add that I recommend reading original works rather than translations of other works, no matter how good the translator may be. (Or maybe that's what you meant, Rusty - if so, I apologize for amplifying the point here.) What helps me the most is reading original plays, thus picking up on authentic dialog between the characters. Look for works by a playwright who is from whichever country you're most interested in and you'll learn a tremendous amount, not only of local language but also of local culture. Good Luck with the effort!

[Michael Visser]

It is best to go to Spanish classes instead of trying to teach yourself. Not only should you be looking to immerse yourself within the language itself, but you should make sure that you understand the history of the country and its culture. In classes you will have a teacher who will be able to correct your pronunciation and any errors you may make.

[tetsuo]

And many times you may have to change the teacher because he/she isn't flexible enough and uses many different methods to teach. That's why lesser people than possible will come out of any class with the same knowledge as before.

(S)He should be flexible enough to change words, so every person with different attributes coming out of the class with the same knowledge. Meaning:
Communication can be divided into 4 categories.
Some may be sensitive for words using Olfaction-related descriptions. E.G. Imagine the colour red smells like a strawberry.
Others need words related to Taste. e.g. The colour red may taste like blood, a strawberry etc.
It's simplified but I guess you got the idea.

You can prove the theory right to find out the sense of a person and ask for something that he/she denied before. Or teach her/him something every day with different senses-related words and may found out the sense (s)he prefers when you ask for what you taught her/him after a week or a months or 3 days. The faster (s)he answer the better was your method. Also, that's how you can help people finding a solution for the problem they may have. Find the right sense, and speak with sense-related words to the person you want to help. (S)He will be more sensitive for those words and therefore more open-minded.

[Shreyabhat]

hi it's good suggestion but due to some responsibilities I am unable to attend classes regularly. previously I was learning Spanish language so i know the basic things so tried to upgrade myself & taking help online.
thanks
shreya

[Mozzo]

I think we put too many obstacles in front of ourselves. With all the books and tapes, video clips, Skype tutors, Google translate etc ... any one that wants to learn a language should be able to.

I remind myself that Ludovico Barthema travelled the world on his own in the 1500s, and had to learn multiple languages on the fly. Fredrick Douglas was a slave who taught himself how to read and write without any instruction. We have it much easier!