¡Los españoles hablan tan rápidamente! ¡Qué difícil comprender las palabras!

[Coffee Kitten]

I'm listening to a Spanish language mini-course from the Independent UK, and, oh, it's so difficult to understand the Spanish sentences when spoken at a normal pace!

When I'm familiar with the words, I can understand on my own what is being said, but only (a) after pausing to "decode" the syllables and translate it in my head, wherein I miss the next sentences being said, or (b) when spoken more slowly.

So to those who understand rapidly-spoken Spanish sentences (esp. to those who learned it as a foreign language... but native speakers' responses are very welcome too!), how did you learn to understand rapidly-spoken Spanish? Any advice for newcomers?

Thank you!

[JPablo]

Creoqueescuestióndepráctica.

I.e.,

Creo / que / es / cuestión / de / práctica.

If you are starting, you should get someone who can talk to you slowly, or even with a recorded program, stop and listen again, until you can recognize each sound segment...

I don't think there is a special secret, besides getting more and more acquainted with the sounds of the language... and don't try to follow an actor like Cantinflas delivering his speech at 150 miles an hour, but rather get some kid stuff like "Barrio Sésamo" where they go, "vamos a cantar la canción del 1" "Uno, uno, uno ¿cuánto es uno?"
Start building from the simplest and practice, practice and practice some more.

Like a violinist... David Garret breaking the violin playing record did it by practicing again and again... Same with any language...

[caliber1]

Originally Posted by JPablo

Creoqueescuestióndepráctica.

I.e.,

Creo / que / es / cuestión / de / práctica.

If you are starting, you should get someone who can talk to you slowly, or even with a recorded program, stop and listen again, until you can recognize each sound segment...

I don't think there is a special secret, besides getting more and more acquainted with the sounds of the language... and don't try to follow an actor like Cantinflas delivering his speech at 150 miles an hour, but rather get some kid stuff like "Barrio Sésamo" where they go, "vamos a cantar la canción del 1" "Uno, uno, uno ¿cuánto es uno?"
Start building from the simplest and practice, practice and practice some more.

Like a violinist... David Garret breaking the violin playing record did it by practicing again and again... Same with any language...

JPablo- I agree. I have been increasing my comprehension by listening to different people. The same thing can be said by two different people and one will sound very clear while the other sounds like he's talking in a different language than English or Spanish. I have a couple people who I talk to regularly in Spanish and they have helped me a lot. Just keep practicing! Good luck

[JPablo]

That's right, it happens in the other direction as well... when I first heard someone talking American at their normal pace, after having heard a lot of Frenchglish, Germanglish, Spanglish... or even some British... I thought I had to begin all over again... But one gets used to it, and one can ask politely to clarify or repeat, and people will generally help you...

Yeah, good luck, and may the force be with you!

[wrholt]

For me it was a lot of practice and a lot of asking people to say it again or to say it a little more slowly. Sometimes I just couldn't get it at all. Especially the time that the 5-year-old son of one of the maids of my host family asked me the same question several times before my host mother took pity on me and interpreted for him: "I said to you why are you like the old grandfather in the field who doesn't understand when people talk to him?"

My ability to understand normal-speed speech got better, eventually.

[Coffee Kitten]

No magic formulas, then? Just kidding. Thanks! I'll just keep listening and practicing.

[JPablo]

Well, you have,

¡Abracadabrapatadecabra!

And

¡Agárrameesamoscaporelrabo!

(How is that for magic formulas and practice?)

[Profesoradeespañol]

This happens to me in English sometimes. I just keep on listening, but I don't know how much movies I have to watch to understand natives when they speak with each other. I am a little frustrated. I can't go to USA or Great Britain and spend there a lot of time trying to improve English and I don't know if I can speak like a bilingual just watching movies and listening and reading. I want to pass a Proficiency test, but I don't know if I can do it on my own. Have you got some suggestions?

[wrholt]

Profe, I think that even a few days visiting the UK or the US can help at least a little, especially if you have some local friends who have some time to play tourist guide, or if you can find a short language course that fits your level of English skill. You might also think about what other opportunities you can create to spend time with native speakers. For example, is there an expatriate US or UK community in your area where you might find acquaintances who are happy to get to know local people? Can you arrange your work to have 2 or 3 weeks free for a visit to the UK or US, and can you find a short course for advanced students that fits your free time? Do you have room in your home to have a tenant who is visiting from another country for a time while learning Spanish and who might appreciate being able to relax occasionally and speak English for a while? Can you take a leave from your teaching work for somewhere between 2 and 6 months to take a temporary job in the US or UK that provides a work visa or work permit?

[Sue]

Could you find a native english speaker to phone or Skype and spend some time speaking English and some Spanish to help both of you?

[Awaken]

You may consider a language pen pal. They have modern day versions as Sue suggested where you can actually chat with them across the globe. That way you can get used to hearing the spoken word. Also, if there is something that is hard to understand, the other person can write/type the word. Maybe something like Lang-8 or maybe a member of this forum who has adequate skills.

[kc9qii]

Originally Posted by Profesoradeespañol

This happens to me in English sometimes. I just keep on listening, but I don't know how much movies I have to watch to understand natives when they speak with each other. I am a little frustrated. I can't go to USA or Great Britain and spend there a lot of time trying to improve English and I don't know if I can speak like a bilingual just watching movies and listening and reading. I want to pass a Proficiency test, but I don't know if I can do it on my own. Have you got some suggestions?

I reccomend trying http://sharedtalk.com I was in a similar situation with Spanish and I think alot of people trying to learn new languages are too but this site is free and ran by Rosetta Stone Iv met a few people on here including someone from Colombia with who I now talk to regulary via Skype its very useful for expanding your speaking abilities.

[caliber1]

Originally Posted by Coffee Kitten

No magic formulas, then? Just kidding. Thanks! I'll just keep listening and practicing.

Another thing is to sit with native speakers whenever possible. I did this and when I heard a word that I wanted to know, I would ask. Little by little things started making more sense.

[Profesoradeespañol]

Thanks everyone, you have very good ideas! I think I will try to get time between my studies and work and try to find English speaking expats in where I live and maybe work as a guide for free to practise language.

[poli]

Being English proficient does not mean speaking like a native. Many English speakers do not understand other English speakers,
y el mismo problema existe entre hispanos. A lo mejor, nunca vas a poder hablar como un nativo--especialmente si trata duro de hacerlo. Fluidez en un idioma viene poco a poco y llega (si acaso llega) de modo zen.

[pinosilano]

Originally Posted by Profesoradeespañol

This happens to me in English sometimes.

A mi pasa siempre, en cambio. Deseo escuchar las noticias de la CNN USA y escucho hablar personas como si tuviesen una patata caliente en la boca, y cuando entiendo una palabra o una frase corta quedo tan contento que me distraigo y no sigo el resto.

[Glen]

Originally Posted by Coffee Kitten

No magic formulas, then? Just kidding. Thanks! I'll just keep listening and practicing.

One of the best hints I ever got was to pay attention to the syllables rather than try to comprehend the entire word as a whole. It seems to work because the vowel sounds - and the consonants - of Spanish are more consistent than are those of English. Listening to singers used to be frustrating until I latched onto that bit of advice. Good Luck to you!

[Kunstliebhaber]

I am a native Latin American Spanish speaker and I am used to speak like people do here, but when I listen to Spaniards it's difficult to me to understand them, I can't say that I don't understand, of course I do it perfectly, but I feel it rough and unnatural to me.

I guess that a Spaniard would feel the same when hearing a Latino speaking.

[Amara]

Originally Posted by Glen

One of the best hints I ever got was to pay attention to the syllables rather than try to comprehend the entire word as a whole. It seems to work because the vowel sounds - and the consonants - of Spanish are more consistent than are those of English. Listening to singers used to be frustrating until I latched onto that bit of advice. Good Luck to you!

Glen, could you explain this a little more?

[Kunstliebhaber]

Originally Posted by Amara

Glen, could you explain this a little more?

I think the way he means to understand Spanish is do it as Spanish speakers do.

Spanish speakers learn to read syllable by syllable, unlike English where you have to learn the whole sound of a word:

I remember that when I was a kid I learned: MA ME MI MO MU
MI MAMÁ ME MIMA.... etc..

So, if you learn to read Spanish as people do and you can recognize each syllable, the rest is going to be such a piece of cake