I'm thinking of learning spanish

[Droopy]

With the continued growth of the Latino population here in America I'm thinking of learning spanish. I drive a truck for a living and there have been several occasions where it would have been handy if I would have known spanish. Also, if I ever decide to go into management it would be to my advantage to know the language. There was a recruiter who worked for one of the trucking companies where I've worked whose job was to recruit Latino truck drivers. He was a very valuable employee.

I don't have the right schedule to be able to take classes at the local college. I also tried to learn spanish from a computer tutorial one time and I was unsuccessful. I was thinking that learning the language from a native speaker in a private setting would be the way to go. Have you ever learned a new language that way? What do you think would be fair compensation for a tutor?

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

1. I am thinking of learning Spanish too - if so it would be my 3rd language.

English and German being my first two. I learn German in the most native of ways - by living there and I think I learned it better living there than I think I would have had I taken it as a college course or etc. German was all around me , I had no choice but to pick up the different aspects of it - by the time I left Germany I could tell if someone was from Bavaria, Cologne or from the East. It was'nt until I took a class after learning on my own that I realized that I am better at independent study. I took one class and I did'nt need another one, I was on a better pace on my own. I did'nt want to waste money.

As far as compensation , I have no idea. It would depend on the tutor itself and the time they give you in helping you. Good luck along the way.

[matcom]

4. Rosetta Stone

it is immersion learning. i'm doing it now. $300+ but i think it's worth it.

Hola Amigo! :hi:

[Droopy]

5. Is that where you just listen to tapes and watch video

and learn the language like a child learns how to speak? If so, I've tried that and it just didn't hold my interest.

[spinbaby]

9. I didn't care for Rosetta Stone

I thought Rosetta got repetitive and boring very quickly and thought it was very expensive for what was basically dril-and-repeat exercises. I thought I got the best bang for my language buck with something called "Learn in Your Car Japanese."

I've been learning Japanese for the last four years through a combination of tutoring by a native speaker, books, and CDs I play in the car. After four years, I can carry on a simple conversation and read at about a kindergarten level. It's very slow going, you'll probably get faster results with Spanish than with Japanese because it's more closely related to English.

[twilight_sailing]

2. Just my 2 cents

Do you have a local community college, something like that?

It might be easier to learn in a class setting. Heck, see if you could just audit the course, unless you want to be able to show employers that you have passed the classes.

Some people, it seems, can listen to tapes and learn that way. My brain doesn't happen to work that way.

[Droopy]

3. My schedule varies too much for college

[twilight_sailing]

6. Well,

you could always get a Spanish speaking girlfriend. ;)

[Droopy]

7. That's the best idea yet

Handsome, liberal minded swm 5'10" 28-, oops 220 lbs, muscular build seeks hot, open minded Latina for good times and learning experiences.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

8. I second this motion lol.

[twilight_sailing]

10. I want one baby named after me -

Twilight Sailing.

;)

[Flaxbee]

11. Maybe go to a Mexican/Spanish foods store or

restaurant and put up a "help wanted" ad -- all the stores and restaurants around here have a bulletin board for notices, etc. Or at the local community college, asking for a tutor.

Rates, I have no idea. Maybe check on the Internet for rate ranges, and/or ask the tutor(s) you talk to.

I've thought of doing this, too -- self-teaching bores the crap outta me and I'm much happier if I'm learning with another person in an interactive setting. Another thing, as you're driving around, check out the Spanish language radio stations -- even if just for a few minutes at a time. The DJs inevitably speak extreeeeemely fast, but you can start to develop an ear for the language in your driving time.

[alarimer]

12. I found a website that has foreign language podcasts on it

http://www.oculture.com

I haven't tried any of them but it might not hurt to try. And it's free.

[Kali]

13. best way is to immerse for 10 days to two weeks (or longer if you can afford it).

especially if you already have a start on some vocabulary. Get somewhere that has NO english speakers, because you will invariably blow off trying to use the Spanish if there is a translator available. There are courses you can take in Mexican cities, but really if you can just get there for the time and are inclined to talk to people you can do it on your own just fine.

For slower going a one on one conversational route might work - ask the person what they want for their time - pay an hourly rate as you go. Maybe you can barter some other service or product instead of money - maybe someone wants to learn English and you could each do 30 minutes or an hour in each language???