Never Learned Spanish

[sobaco]

I grew up in a majority mexican neighborhood to mexican parents who speak spanish, albeit not to each other, and I never learned spanish. A lot of my friends and most of my family speaks spanish. 23 years later I can understand enough spanish to pick up on a conversation, but am not close to being comfortable enough to actually speak it. Now I really want to learn to speak spanish! I dont want to learn formal spanish, I want to be able to speak it like a person who grew up with it so that I can fit in with the average spanish speaking person in LA!! I try but its not natural enough for me. Anyone else know where im coming from?

[Rusty]

Welcome to the forums!

Your desire to learn Spanish and the availability of family and friends that already speak Spanish are going to be the best help. They're going to be able to tell you how to say things, but they may not be able to teach you why they're said that way. You can ask those kind of questions here. One thing is certain, native speakers will always appreciate that you're trying to learn their language and will be glad to help you.

Start learning vocabulary by asking a lot of questions, in Spanish. Use questions like:
¿Qué es esto/eso? (What is this/that?)
¿Cómo se dice ...? (How do you say ...?)

Write down the new vocabulary (writing it down, especially with some context or an example usage phrase, can be a very good memory aid).


On another note, I can't help but ask why you chose to use the member ID you did. (I suppose you know what it means. If not, type in into the dictionary search box found just below the Tomísimo logo in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.)

[Jessica]

good luck with your Spanish and welcome I know Spanish but I hardly speak it

[CrOtALiTo]

Hello. How are you, my name is George, I'm from Mexico, then I know that learn Spanish is hard for much people at the main world, but you must to try do it, I'm learner of English, I have around of one year learning English here at this website, and you what believe, I have learnt so much, because here there are people who help to else, and well, still I'm not able to speak with some at English, but I try to do it, I endeavored much each day of my life although, I grew on Mexico, my idea is learn sufficient English for that I can to speak with someone who does speak English, I love this language, if you ask me Why do I love it?, My answer will be, I don't know, but I do , then I invite to participate with us in this forums to does questions or answer, and I know that in short time, you will see, your get better with the language, well, I bid you welcome while.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by sobaco

I grew up in a majority mexican neighborhood to mexican parents who speak spanish, albeit not to each other, and I never learned spanish. A lot of my friends and most of my family speaks spanish. 23 years later I can understand enough spanish to pick up on a conversation, but am not close to being comfortable enough to actually speak it. Now I really want to learn to speak spanish! I dont want to learn formal spanish, I want to be able to speak it like a person who grew up with it so that I can fit in with the average spanish speaking person in LA!! I try but its not natural enough for me. Anyone else know where im coming from?

Welcome. I think there are a lot of people in your situation. One thing you could do right now to start brushing up on your Spanish is to watch Spanish cable TV or read Spanish-language newspapers. But what I would recommend is every time you hear or read a word, conjugation, expression etc that you don't quite understand, write it down, investigate its meaning and remember it. If you do that faithfully for a year, you'll be fluent.

[CrOtALiTo]

Yes, David is right, you must try to learn the Spanish with people or if you can read books, or newspaper where you can learn new words at Spanish, I counsel you, if you can learn as quickly as you can doing it, then you can find at the website sites where you can chat with people at Spanish.

[Sancho Panther]

Get a proper, structured course be it CD, CD-rom, cassette - whatever (and a dictionary) - then learn it - all of it. You're lucky - you've got an endless source of help and advice; but that's all it is - help and advice. All the real hard work has to be done by you.

Believe me, there are no short cuts, no-one can learn a language for you - but it can be learnt by you. You don't have to possess a mighty intellect, but you must work hard, and then you can do it.

[Elaina]

Welcome Sobaco!

¿Porqué quieres que te digamos sobaco?

No creo que.......estes sudado y huelas mal....

Creo que sé lo que estas diciendo.

Visit your spanish-speaking friends/relatives often. Involve yourself in their conversation, and be prepared to be made fun of. This only because you said you don't really want to learn grammar, you just want to speak it as if though you were speaking it all your life. There's certain nuances to Spanish that is spoken on the streets, especially LA.

Good luck!

[CrOtALiTo]

Jajajaja, Elaina your commentary was very fun, and you have right with the you have said before in your previous post.

[poli]

Originally Posted by sobaco

I grew up in a majority mexican neighborhood to mexican parents who speak spanish, albeit not to each other, and I never learned spanish. A lot of my friends and most of my family speaks spanish. 23 years later I can understand enough spanish to pick up on a conversation, but am not close to being comfortable enough to actually speak it. Now I really want to learn to speak spanish! I dont want to learn formal spanish, I want to be able to speak it like a person who grew up with it so that I can fit in with the average spanish speaking person in LA!! I try but its not natural enough for me. Anyone else know where im coming from?

The Spanish spoken by children of immigrants in the US is pretty compromised. The kids learn English in school, television, popculture and
their socios and their Spanish becomes anglisized and regional. This is not formal or school-taught Spanish that you may hear south of the border. I don't think there is a formal way of learning street talk. One way may be to find a girlfriend/boyfriend well versed in the lingo who is willing to share it with you. Knowledge of more formal Spanish may have good practical use for you too, and may help you understand the words people in the barrio speak.