Hola

[Esperar]

Hi,

I first wanted to learn Spanish when I first went to Spain 2 and a half years ago, and started learning it by myself around 8 months ago.

I first started with Rosetta Stone, which I thought to be really bad, as it didn't explain itself very good, and now I've been learning from Collins Spanish books, which is a lot better, but still slow.

My Spanish, is unfortnately still very broken, but I can still get the jist of what something is about when I read Spanish most of the time.

Any advice, apart from moving to Spain, is welcome.

[irmamar]

Welcome, Esperar.

[Esperar]

Gracias. Cómo estás?

I don't know how to use the upside down "!" and "?" on my pc.

[LibraryLady]

Originally Posted by Esperar

Gracias. Cómo estás?

I don't know how to use the upside down "!" and "?" on my pc.

Welcome to the forum In the box where you type your posts there is a drop down list titled "accents" that has all the accented letters and punctuations you need.

[Perikles]

Welcome from me too.

[Esperar]

Thanks for the welcome.

How did you all learn Spanish? I was thinking of taking a class in a college. I know the best way would be to live there, but for some one like me who is stuck here for now, I'd really like to know.

[JPablo]

Hola Esperar,
We have already "talked" or have had a "chat" on my other thread, but I welcome you here!
I gave some 3 points to Wanderlustwhispers the other day... (you can click on her name as she is also looking for the best way to approach learning...)
Briefly I would tell you 3 points,
1. Do not go past any word you don't understand. Learn the basics very well, and USE what you learn, so it really sinks in.
2. Do not try to learn a lot very fast. I.e., take it easy, if you find what you are trying to learn is "above your head", go back and take the easy approach, practice what you know, until you know it COLD, then... you can warm up!
3. Get the MASS of whatever you study. If you learn the word, "mesa" (table), look at one, touch it, feel it, see its color, its texture, check how heavy it is, while you say the word... even if you start saying "This mesa is brown", USE the word in sentences, so you get the concept. At one point you will be able to say "Esta mesa es de color marrón". (This table is brown) or whatever. But, if you learn like this, it will be easier. "Teclado" (for keyboard)... etc. etc...
Above all, HAVE FUN!
(By the by, do you know what majority of "keyboards" tend to think, although they cannot say it? Get your hands off of me! )

[Esperar]

I've read through some Spanish books, but you made a good point of not going past a word I don't know. I'll try not to do that in the future. The problem is that I can find words like "lo" and I'll look in my dictionary and it isn't there. I know "lo" has something to do with myself, as in like "lo que soy" (what I am) but I'm not sure when and when not to use it.

I struggle with the grammar a lot. It's very different than English I find. I'm getting there though, "albeit" slowly.

[JPablo]

Hey, you are funny!
Yes, interestingly enough the "small common words" are sometimes the hardest ones to learn, as they are used everywhere, and sometimes have different meanings. (Same happens in English...)
The more you learn how Spanish grammar works, you will see that it is not that different (I know Chinese people and Japanese people who reeeeally struggle with English grammar because there, the differences are BIIIIG!)

[Esperar]

Originally Posted by LibraryLady

Welcome to the forum In the box where you type your posts there is a drop down list titled "accents" that has all the accented letters and punctuations you need.

On every website I go on to, I try to have it translated in to Spanish, so it's under "acentos" for me. (I do this with facebook, kind of helpful.)

Thanks for the welcome anyway.

[Jessica]

welcome to the forums

[Esperar]

Gracias a todo.

[CrOtALiTo]

Hello Esperar.

I bid you welcome to this place.
And if you need to help with the language, please you don't hesitate to ask us then.

Sincerely yours.

[spacemaker]

Welcome. I´m newbie too. Have you to try with Assimil books. They are from a publishing that publishes books for learn a lot of languages for a easy way.

And Why you choose the nick "Esperar"?

Bienvenida. Soy nuevo también. Has probado con los libros Assimil. Es una editorial que ha sacado libros para aprender varios idiomas de forma sencilla.

¿Y porqué te pusiste el nick "Esperar"?

[JPablo]

Originally Posted by Esperar

Gracias a todo.

Hola Esperar,
Gracias a todos.
(Plural, as you are addressing all the people welcoming you.)
(And if you want to be emphatic,
¡Gracias a todos!

[Esperar]

That's my English grammar sneaking back in!!! Thanks for the correction.

[JPablo]

You are welcome! = ¡De nada!