How I Learned Spanish as an Adult: How to Learn Spanish Fast

[@SpanishandGo]

Thanks for watching, amigos! Get $10 off of italki here: spanishandgo.com/get/italki Get the book I mentioned here: amzn.to/2xmLI6K

[@putaschimi2185]

hi everyone ,if anyone else wants to discover how to speak spanish language fast try Nadazma Fast Spanish Helper (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my neighbor got amazing success with it.

[@georgebender7519]

So what listening option would you recommend??

[@alejandrojoselizano]

I would love to listen to your spanish and see how good it is.

[@bunkman64]

I am 56. I have always wanted to learn to speak Spanish and have been learning for about 3 months now. I drive a delivery truck and many of my customers are Hispanic. My first stops are about 2.5 hours away so I get about 5-6 hours a day practicing with Google Translator and writing phrases down on a note pad. I am learning quickly and my customers tell me I am doing very well and they help me also so the language barrier that once separated us is beginning to fall. Your videos are VERY helpful! Thank you so much!

[@impulsesystems]

If you are on long drives, can you listen to podcasts? I had a 1 hour commute, when I lived in the US. I learned Spanish with an audio course called Rocket Spanish. I now use my drives for listening to podcasts like Spanish and Go and How to Spanish. Good luck!

[@TheColdrush22]

@@impulsesystems Thank you for the tip! But it’s like $189 for the course. I think you can learn cheaper than that. It feels like Rosetta Stone equivalent.

[@impulsesystems]

@@TheColdrush22 I liked Rocket Spanish much more than Rosetta Stone and Rocket Spanish is discounted occasionally. I paid much less than that! Further, Rosetta Stone relies on visuals which is not practical while driving. Rocket Spanish has real conversations; not just sound bites. If you are understanding Spanish and Go, you are past Rocket Spanish in any case!

[@theworldaccordingtoallie1176]

You give me hope to know that maybe I can learn Spanish at my age too. Thank you.

[@impulsesystems]

@@theworldaccordingtoallie1176 Ha, age is not an issue. It is a convenient excuse that many use!

[@wogsxbl4866]

Who’s learning Spanish during quarintene?

[@SpanishandGo]

I am! 😆 never stop learning. Keep up the good work. -Jim

[@salimaessaddik8427]

Me

[@asiangirl1253]

Me!! and watching la casa de papel!

[@Meggutz]

Pw Ali elite, todas las pecas del mundo, jugar con fuego (R21), toc toc, el ocupante, a pesar de todo all on netflix 😊

[@ahmedsamy-xc1ci]

Me

[@ashiaku9864]

Do Not Use Google Translate!!!!!!! It’s going to make your brain always translate. When you’re learning in Spanish think in Spanish. Use the vocab you know and expand on it. It’s frustrating but worth while.

[@patax144]

Agreed, I had that experience learning french

[@jarretpalmer3953]

I learned excelent spanish by Typing all by thoughts into spanish and inglish translate on Google and now after 4 months of doing this everyday I know Alot of spanish

[@patax144]

@@jarretpalmer3953 Hope it worked because in my experience Google always messes up conjugations and words with multiple meanings that is why I use other translators

[@benajminpadilla6360]

You're right

[@LalaSmiles]

Yea I agree. Because it’s some words I really know and some I would translate in Spanish. When people would talk to me I would be getting lost because I would start translating.

[@SapienSafari]

How to learn Spanish: Find an insanely gorgeous woman who speaks Spanish and date her. I’m down with that.

[@SpanishandGo]

😂 That played an important part for me! Thanks for watching! Saludos desde México. -Jim

[@aviewer390]

That’s how I did it! Only it was an insanely hot guy in Colombia who saved my life in a shoot out during the cartel days in Cali:)

[@MethodOverRide]

@@aviewer390 I'm going to need more on this story!!

[@jarredcox9667]

@@aviewer390 dang I also want to hear this

[@andresdym6677]

@@aviewer390 me too! waiting for a bit more about that story

[@saiphenay]

love this advice. Thanks a lot! "No matter how well you can read Spanish. If you're not practising saying the words. They're not going to come out correctly when you try to speak them because you literally need to train your tongue to move in the way that it needs to. To pronounce the two words correctly. It really is a bit of muscle memory to be able to speak Spanish fluently. It's not just knowing what the words mean." from Hong Kong

[@erturtemirbaev5207]

你会说普通话吗？

[@KayGee4319]

I learned most Spanish I know from High School and college. Going to El Salvador on a mission trip was so rewarding, to be able to use what I learned was amazing. I was able to use what I knew to have simple conversations and the native speakers helped me fill in what I didn’t know. I love Duolingo because it keeps my mind on Spanish and enables me to practice with immediate feedback of proper pronunciation because I’m not currently around any Spanish speakers.

[@EngachoSV]

Felicidades por tu logro en aprender Español. Tienes muchísima razón, nunca se termina de aprender un idioma. En mi caso empecé de niño a aprender Inglés por mi mismo oyendo música de los 80s cuando era un adolescente y viendo algunas películas en Inglés. Ahora tengo 51 años y ya llegué al punto en que puedo escuchar programas o videos completamente en Inglés, pero sigo aprendiendo expresiones, "idioms" y palabras nuevas. Te felicito de nuevo por tu amor por los idiomas.

[@HuntGatherCook]

I totally agree on the Duolingo thing. Great secondary learning too, not a primary one.

[@SpanishandGo]

They do a great job getting people started with language learning. Just wish it was a little more advanced. You get what you pay for though. 😆 Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@elizabethvaughn5694]

Duolingo definitely helped me start to understand the words and I could build off of that

[@lahmarlabrew2563]

Elizabeth Vaughn hey are you still learning I’m seriously searching for a text buddy to help my learning

[@william6587]

It’s an okay app. It’s pretty much useless if you’re using it alone

[@sadiemaxfield7566]

They are starting to get much better and advanced I would say. Though of course you need other things too. You aren’t going to become fluent through Duolingo that is true.

[@beeonthyme5760]

I thought it was cute that you actually can see you blush when you talk about meeting May. Very sweet to see your emotion, without control over it.

[@SpanishandGo]

Aw, thanks! I’m a lucky guy. Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@paulalexander5992]

I did precisely the same, currently in Colombia as we speak alone, and it has helped a lot as I'm forced to speak Spanish and my listening skills has increased dramatically. Thanks for the video

[@SpanishandGo]

paul alexander that’s great! I can’t wait to visit Colombia. How do you like it there? Thanks for watching. -Jim

[@johnc1014]

I know only a bit of Spanish simply due to my own laziness. Seriously. My father's first language was Spanish, I took 4 years of high school Spanish, I took a college Medical Spanish I class, and I've been around the language much of my life. I grew up in southern California and nearly always had friends who spoke Spanish. Now, I live in Texas and am even more surrounded by the language. I wish I had put in the time and effort when I was younger. I should have been fluent by at least 18. Now, I'm 23 and actually wanting to put in the effort. Honestly, it's probably one of the easiest languages for a native English speaker to master. There are so many cognates and similarities between English and Spanish. Some of the grammar rules and tenses can be a bit tricky, but even those aren't so bad. I have no excuse. I've just been lazy. I can read Spanish fairly well and can generally get the general idea of a conversation if I listen carefully and the speakers talk relatively slowly. But, I am not fluent. It drives me crazy.

[@cakesinthecity]

John C same here john and im 32!! But im finally taking the plunge and going out of the country for spanish Immersion.

[@claireoconor7986]

John, I am inthe same situation as you are and whst has helped me a lot is listening to these 3 different people on KZbin JAIME BAYLY, MARTHA DEBAYLE and SUPER HOLLY ALL 3 SPEAK VERY VERY CLEARLY AND WITH GREAT VOCABULARY!!! BUENA SUERTE!!

[@mattcirino7104]

Same situation my dad is fluent in spanish but never taught me, i am 30 now i can read it almost and can understand it when its slowed down but i want to be fluent so i am gonna take it seriously for the next 3 years

[@albertoestrada4579]

I’m a native speaker of Spanish (I’m a tutor) and I must say I really enjoy listening to your American accent!

[@joaoedson9797]

Yo al revés estoy aprendiendo inglés y veo tus videos para mejorar mi listening, y puedo entender todo 😀

[@fadge3]

y yo (me too) xD

[@ivannava7011]

X3 😂 hago lo mismo

[@09matrixretro]

Creo que somos varios

[@DaniArt]

jajaja me too

[@cristhianbejaranoabrego7108]

Me too , and I love this channel

[@carmengeorgeweddings3906]

I agree. Speak as soon as possible and create your own immersion. It's refreshing to hear someone who doesn't say they learned a language in 3 months. It takes time.

[@grinchulina]

Hola yo hablo español y las personas que hablan inglés les recomiendo que vean este tipo de videos en este canal porque se aprende muy bien

[@paul-akers]

Aprendiendo español dos meses. Tú eres fantástico, tu consejo es muy útil, lo seguiré con mucho cuidado, ¡muchas gracias!

[@trekkermueth3074]

This is the most thorough description of language learning tips that I have ever heard. I have used some of these, but to share your entire experience as well as noting specific tools and programs is truly generous. Thank you for this detailed story of learning Spanish. Best regards.

[@podrozowanieprzezp]

I totally agree with you, I watched casa de papel with no subs just Spanish and it really helps with getting use to Spanish and you kind of figure out what some words in Spanish means do to the situation with the character is in. My advice, books by side and just start to listen.

[@SpanishandGo]

Awesome! I still haven't seen that, but I want to. But yes, listening and watching a story unfold with context is very helpful. May always pushes me to think about the word I want to use before pulling out my dictionary because it helps recall it better for next time. Thanks for watching! ¡Saludos! -Jim

[@ArteGamingHQ]

There is a method for learning japanese developed by a guy who called it "AJATT", also known as All Japanese All The Time, and I personally think it can be used for any language. As you said, if you are using your own method of learning, and by the way you play games in Spanish, listen to Spanish music (even most songs are not recommended because of rhyme and stuff make them unable to be understanded even for native speakers), watch spanish tv, series or dramas on spanish etc. Trying to get as immersed as possible onto the culture and the language. Obviously the first day, the first week, the first month you won't understand a thing, but with some time, you'll be able to understand some words, then some sentences... and finally you can say you can understand almost all of what you're hearing. I'm actually learning japanese, and understanding its pretty easy because it's pronounced almost like spanish, but with other languages can be even more useful.

[@juananastaciocorrigan1305]

ArteGamingHQ tell me more please , im interested, i speak spanish first lenguage, i want to learn japanese

[@oussamaengll6465]

@@juananastaciocorrigan1305 me too

[@1Martemil]

I get what you mean with japanese pronunciation is easier when you already know spanish! Just the way that the vowels are usually short and bright matches well with both languages ^^

[@Martine1976]

I'm watching one of your older videos every now and then. It's really cool that May speaks French as it's my first language. Francés es ma idioma natal y yo estudio español ahora.

[@double5bbq]

I am older than you but I had a very similar experience at that point in my life too. I was in the navy and also noted that most Americans don’t know other languages. I met a kid in Turkey who had never been out of that local town yet spoke 5 languages and was very fluent in English (Australian though🙂). I had many Hispanic friends who were so very supportive about me learning their language. I listened to music and read in Spanish. I had purchased a Readers Digest in Puerto Rico. It took me two years to read it but helped so much. I have never had the chance to live or visit long term in another country but I put myself to speaking in the US at every opportunity. That even meant every trip to Home Depot where I read all the bilingual labels! I don’t consider myself fluent but I am conversational and am confident enough to put it on a resume. 🤓. Cheers! Jeff

[@puesbien]

Ví este video hace 11 meses. Este hombre dice la verdad. Gracias a ustedes por su trabajo para ayudarnos aprender! Yeah took me a minute but we’re almost fluent over here. Gotta get the wife more comfortable with speaking English!

[@kevinlevine5543]

Thank you for sharing your journey. I’m working hard to learn and progressing, but would like to be further along.

[@Zzzoundsleep]

If you learnt so much while your grown that means I can learn it too as a child 😊thanks for the inspiration❤

[@sadiemaxfield7566]

Same. Except I can’t go to another country as a teen :(

[@Zzzoundsleep]

@@sadiemaxfield7566 hush😕

[@Zzzoundsleep]

@@sadiemaxfield7566 I'm a teen too, but I love spanish so I'll wait until I'm old enough to go

[@abubacz06]

Yes! I listen to Spanish music everyday. It helps me create a memory with the words and I get used to hearing the pronunciation. Also, my husband is Mexican so I can bug him with my questions haha!

[@SpanishandGo]

That's great! You can learn so much by simply listening to music and looking up the lyrics. I do it all the time with English! Thanks for watching and commenting. :) ¡Un saludo! -May

[@Nico-pq2ky]

Mine...i always practice speaking spanish just like the basics y'know...amigo

[@izabela132]

All is true. I started with Duolingo and Spanish radio during my work. Once a week regular classes in Spanish school... Then Duolingo podcasts and It was huge step. After i finished duo-podcasts twice.. i was looking for another one, and that way i've found you guys, Spanish and go! Than i bought the yellow book. After 10 months, during my weekly class, i had a crisis... i couldn't speak Spanish, while I still understood everything, but without speaking... It was the best time for italki. Now i meet my tutors twice a week. I can speak Spanish, after 11 months of learning. Thanks for your help!!!

[@SilverSeaOT7]

Madrigal’s is great! Thanks for the tip. Once I started venturing outside of Duolingo, and was starting to listen to shows, etc, I realized that I really needed the past and present to just speak to someone. Madrigals starts with it. So I am doing both. Very helpful advice!

[@النعملجميعللقراءة]

I speak Spanish, I’m learning English

[@rosaangelicaarias4396]

Me too, but im here praticing my listening

[@leenobody3249]

Pardon? I cannot understand a word you are saying !

[@النعملجميعللقراءة]

Lee Nobody what ??😏

[@leenobody3249]

Efrain 28l eh?

[@MegF142857]

I am the reverse. I am listening to him at 2X speed because my English is great. I'm trying to understand how to learn Spanish faster.

[@cmarquezmejia]

Es raro que esté viendo un video de cómo aprender español, pero en sus videos hablan en español e inglés así que me ayuda a comprender mejor el inglés en situaciones cotidianas. Muchas gracias :D

[@musicjunkie4800]

I love your passion for the Spanish language. That’s amazing. Bravo 👏

[@SpanishandGo]

Thank you! 🙏🏻 Un saludo. -Jim

[@richardlamb71]

Inmerssion is truly the best way to learn a language Watch movies in the Spanish Track it helps

[@mspococurante]

When you say immersion, do you mean at home or in the country?.. Because going to the country is definitely not necessary and in many ways can be a huge waste of time.

[@richardlamb71]

@@mspococurante going to the country would in fact be the most effective, alternatively one can become involved with that community here in the U. S. Also helps, as a further alternative, watch movies and even KZbin material in that language. Train your ear to hear the language and begin to imitate

[@mspococurante]

Have you ever personally tried that? Going to the country?

[@richardlamb71]

@@mspococurante I was born in Puerto Rico to a Puerto Rican Mom and an American Dad, so yes I know first hand about being immersed in two cultures and as such being fluent in both languages. I have also seen the benefit immersion with people who come here from other countries, and immerse the se selves in English, they learn quickly, on the other hand those that come here and do not immerse themselves in the language, by only seeking situations where they only speak and hear their native language, can live here for decades and not learn English

[@mspococurante]

@Ricard You pointed out the key there. It isn't the immersion of being physically in the country that makes you learn, but surrounding yourself in the language and the people. This can very easily be done at home now with the internet. I've seen students go on "immersion trips" who come back not much better thousands of dollars spent, because they ended up only with people from their own country, because seeking that comfort when you're alone in a new place is completely natural. And it's not easy to approach strangers and hope they'll have patience to have a conversation with you if you're not at a high level. Not many people can go live in the country of their target language for an extended amount of time, and I basically think the idea is more or less overrated, since most people won't integrate into the culture as much as they planned. It's a good theory, but mostly unaccessible and unnecessary.

[@EastbayGolfer]

The key is being in a Spanish speaking country with a full time/teacher/guide. Someone who travels with you and corrects you in real time. Otherwise you fallback on English or caveman Spanish. You really need someone who experiences day to day things with you helps you both speak correctly and translates if your not understanding.

[@SpanishandGo]

EastbayGolfer that certainly helps a lot! I can’t imagine where I’d be if I hadn’t met May. But a good trusty dictionary and a plethora of podcasts can take you far. Do you have someone like that in your life? Thanks for watching and commenting. ¡Saludos! -Jim

[@EastbayGolfer]

Hola Jim, I started learning Spanish when I retired at age 62 and I have completed 4 semesters at my local JC. I've used a ton of apps, the best that I found was Fluencia, but they are better for practice and not the best for learning. I use online tutors and like you I use iTalki for both tutors and language exchange with other learners. I have been to Spain twice, each time for 3 weeks, and to Mexico a couple times. Every time I am in a Spanish speaking country I try to use as much Spanish as possible but I always find myself wondering how something is said or why did they say that or how would you say something. I want someone with me that I could ask "how would I say this?". Google translate helps a lot but, like a dictionary, only gets you partway there. Por ejemplo, en España se pide comida utilizando la frase "me pones" pero en México se pide con "te encargo". And that is just one small example of how valuable a guide can be as you navigate through your day. I do agree with you that once you learn something in a real life setting with emotion attached it is like unlocking a piece of the puzzle and it sticks.

[@henhaooahneh]

@@EastbayGolfer "how would I say this?". There is an incredible book made by an American learner www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Spanish-Phrase-Finder/dp/0071433031 (I speak as a native Spanish speaker) that covers along 500 pages for English speakers (500 for Spanish speakers) all those things that you want to say but you don't know how.

[@FF-ub7bn]

I agree and would like to but not during a pandemic

[@JJ-uj9bh]

exactly

[@laurengalvez2562]

I've watched like a thousand videos on language learning and Spanish in particular and in this video (that's mostly focused on your learning journey) you give really great, to-the-point advice for learning the language. I really appreciate it! I also totally love your story and find it so sweet and special that you had such a lucky experience while taking some serious risks and also all the while focusing on bettering yourself by learning a new language! I was born and raised in the U.S., I also took 1 year of Spanish in middle school and 3 in high school... forgot everything.. then began learning it for real when I was 21! I'm now 23. Thanks for your video and channel!

[@moisesjuarez8923]

Congrats. My first language is Spanish and I have been learning English for the last 6 years to the point of being fluent and getting job where English is required. I encourage you to continue learning Spanish, it is very easy, just practice. Saludos.

[@bottleofwater1675]

Moises Juarez, it’s not easy :’(

[@moisesjuarez8923]

@@bottleofwater1675 Try to find a motivation, that could be getting a new job, traveling to countries where Spanish is the main language, watching movies without subtitles, whatever your motivation can be and work on that goal, I learned English and I'm still learning, this is donde step by step, it will take time but eventually you will see the results if you are committed to achieve your goal.

[@DrRose-wm8xl]

This is AWESOME information! Everything you said makes sense. And you basically described my very own learning and comprehension style to me. I have been studying for almost a year and a half at a language school. I am pushing really hard for fluency in 2019!

[@marcellocnt7020]

Hi, I'm an italian student and I study spanish too. I started from the scratch and decided to study for 2 weeks at Elcano school, in Alicante. It was an amazing experience as they offer not only dinamic classes but also outdoor activities to discover the city. I'm consider to go there again as my spanish improved a lot.

[@karantravelleroflife]

¡Hola! ¿Cómo está usted? Me llamo Karan. Soy Indio y estudio Español en la universidad desde 1.5 año.Me gusta la lengua Español mucho. ¿Puede decirme el nombre del libro que le ayudó a aprender Español? También me gusta el video de Día de los Muertos. Muchas gracias.

[@SpanishandGo]

¡Hola, Karan! El libro es Margarita Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish. Aquí lo puedes comprar: amzn.to/2xmLI6K Gracias por vernos. ¡Saludos, y sigue practicando! -Jim

[@hdnd6229]

Hola amigo!! Aquí alguien de España!! Me alegra que aprendas mi idioma. Ven a España a visitarlo que es muy bonito y con mucha cultura

[@karantravelleroflife]

@@hdnd6229 muchas gracias amigo tu también ven a India.. ¿Usa what's app o Instagram?

[@hdnd6229]

@@karantravelleroflife me encantaría ir a la india! Es una de mis opciones para este verano. Uso telegram, allí mi nick es @Yo_Mato_A_Apple

[@karantravelleroflife]

@@hdnd6229 no uso telegram amigo. Mi numero de telefono es [phone] En Instagram allí mi es, karan_bokambo Puede Ayudarme en aprender Español por favor.😊🍫

Hola, amigos! This type of video is great and just as important (if not more so) than a video that teaches how to conjugate verbs or when to use the subjunctive. Why do I say that? It's because this video helps motivate people and show that it IS possible to learn another language. Many people don't learn another language not because it's too hard, but rather because they're overwhelmed, don't know where to start, or think they're too old. But those of us that have taken the journey to become bilingual aren't necessarily born with some super-human bilingual-gene or raised bilingual. More often than not, it's because we simply did the research, found some resources that suited us, and then rolled up our sleeves and put in the time! This video highlights just that. Saludos desde Chile, amigo! -Philly

[@SpanishandGo]

¡Hola, Philly! Thank you! Before I took learning Spanish seriously it was hard to imagine becoming fluent. It's a common misconception that learning a language as an adult is difficult if not impossible. We never felt bad as kids trying to learn English, so why beat ourselves up when it comes to learning a new language? It all just takes time and practice. By the way - did you guys already pass through Mexico? We're in Guanajuato now just a couple of hours away from Mexico City. Let us know if you're going to be in the area! ¡Saludos a los dos desde México, amigo! -Jim

Not yet! We're going to arrive in CDMX August 31st and have about a week there. Nothing planned at the moment so we'll have to coordinate if you guys are around! That would be bacán! (as we say here in Chile). haha

[@SpanishandGo]

Idioma PRO: Español We just might be here still! 😆 ¡Estaría chido! 😎 Keep us posted. -Jim

[@kingleslie9936]

I have been very pleased with the progress I’ve made using this *LearnSpanish.4yourhelp. Com* (remove space and open the site) Spanish learning course. We are English ex-pats who moved to Spain, and have been trying to learn the language, seriously, for 4 years. However, in our 60’s learning a new language has been daunting. But we are making real progress now, thanks to your course.

[@samuel1121]

Love your story,I’ve been studying Spanish for 50 years and wish I could move to a Spanish speaking country but sadly never will be able to

[@henrycruz45cal]

Great story. Congratulations guys!

[@rolus3300]

Me agradan estos tipos de canales que quieren enseñar a las personas acerca de varios idiomas, tenéis un nuevo suscriptor(también veo vuestros videos para mejorar mi listening)

[@jguillermooliver]

For me the first thing to do for learning a language is learning the IPA sounds of the language and practicing listening them by transribing sentences with that alphabet so you can sharp your ears. Also be able to produce the 39 sounds of the Spanish and the blocks you can form with them. It´s a training to get the skill to mimic people easily. With that you can listening, mimic and speaking a lot better.

[@nicedog1]

I have alway wanted to hear in detail about somebody’s journey in learning another language. Unfortunately, all I ever seem to have got from people at work for example who have learnt English as a second language, is a brief and bored explanation ending with, ‘....and then I became fluent.’ Sadly they weren’t interested in sharing their experiences which wasn’t encouraging so thank you for sharing yours 😀

[@SpanishandGo]

So glad you found it useful! Thanks for watching. Much more to come. -Jim

[@jovicrazed]

Such good advice, thank you. I like to watch Mexican TV series on Netflix with English subtitles. Rarely do recognize anything that they are saying and rarely can I tell where one word ends and the next begins, but I like it.

[@JosefAGreen]

Awesome story and thanks so much for sharing..

[@maestrocampos9123]

Grate inspiration and focus points thanks

[@Xeyph]

I don't use Duolingo for Spanish as it's my mother tongue but I do currently use it for German. The way I use Duolingo is to learn about a subject, say, Dative Case on KZbin or another platform and then do exercises on Duolingo to practice said subject. I find that it's pretty useful for drilling after you learned about the subject since Duolingo doesn't explain much.

[@carlosmorales08]

Thank you teacher, with your videos you've helped me improve my English a lot

[@d.e.t4147]

This is very helpful. Thanks so much!!

[@jimmie200]

I ordered the book through the link, but on another of your videos. I am really looking forward to getting started.

[@SpanishandGo]

Awesome! Thanks! Glad you found the review useful. -Jim

[@Mary-ze1ub]

I grew up with Spanish speaking parents (and family) but I never could speak it properly because of discouragement and over-analyzing and it just became worse as I aged . Now I am 25 and have friends who only can communicate in Spanish. So its time to buckle up and learn learn learn and PRACTICE!

[@clairbear1234]

Seriously, italki is incredible. I have met a lot of neat people and I have found great professors. Incredible resource!!

[@sadelinaa]

Loved hearing your story! 🥰

[@svigil777]

Cute as heck to hear your story where you met May. I'm going to the Dominican Republic to see a lady I've been corresponding with. Friends and family are up in arms. I know almost no Spanish. So, I'm now studying your materials. My plane takes off in two weeks. Yes, it's going to be hard. But I hear immersion is the best way to learn. Thank-you for your resources!

[@SpanishandGo]

That's great, Scott! Thanks for sharing that. You'll have a great time. Yes, immersion is the best. We occasionally host immersion retreats. If you're interested, feel free to sign up for notifications when we announce a new one here: spanishandgo.com/immersion-retreats Enjoy the Dominican Republic! We're not too far away from there right now. We currently live on the west coast of Puerto Rico. ¡Saludos! -Jim

[@jarredcox9667]

Have a great trip

[@jase37]

How did it go?

[@svigil777]

'so nice to hear your support! Thank-you, and I will consider your offer, "Spanish and Go". thank-you! Thank-you also to Jarred. Jason, to answer your question, I have been stopped in my tracks by the IRS and life. I have to get squared away with the IRS in order to get my passport. I'm still working on it. I'm still talking to Daniella. Those conversations are going very well. We are both super excited. I'm still planning the trip. I've been studying the culture of the Dominican Republic and vlogs by expats who live there and others who travel there. It's a work in progress. I'll tell you more when I know more.

[@renetho82]

That’s awesome! My husband is from the Dominican Republic and I met him while learning Spanish. How did you enjoy the DR?

[@FERNANDAKT]

I have downloaded the Notes in Spanish app that you have suggested and it is fantastic. I speak Portuguese, so Spanish is easier to understand than to speak because of the similarities. the pod cast is great as I can listen to it at work while doing things. My husband is English and also speaks Portuguese but for him it is more difficult to learn Spanish as he is 70 and learnt Portuguese without ever having gone to school. I think you both are so sweet and the two in the Notes in Spanish are also lovely. Thanks for all you are doing.

[@homegrownspanish]

Notes in Spanish is a great tool. I used them a lot when I first stated learning Spanish again. It is so interesting to watch people in Portuguese trying to learn Spanish. In my Spanish meet ups, the Portuguese Speakers understand the Spanish, but they often struggle with trying to speak it. They often revert back to Portuguese and since people who speak Spanish understand (to a lesser extent), it doesn't help the Portuguese speaker to stay grounded in Spanish.

[@jdshirin]

Best advice I ever heard when it comes to learning another language..I can’t agree more..enjoy watching your KZbin channel very much!!!👍👍👍👍

[@pep590]

Hey Jim. This video popped up again in my feed, so I watched it again. This appears like you did the whole talk in one setting. If so, that is pretty amazing and also shows your passion for all that you have done with Spanish and your travels. So cool!

[@jacknottingham6954]

Muchas gracias por tu video!! Muy servicial!

[@danielrivera4976]

Estoy aprendiendo inglés pero veo tus videos para mejorar el listening además q pareces agradable y te entiendo todo sigan adelante learners

[@adoborepublic]

Gracias por tu consejo, Jim.

[@FERNANDAKT]

I love your site. Thank you so much for all the information about all the sites and app. really really useful.

[@SpanishandGo]

We’re so glad to hear you find it useful! Thanks for watching. Much more to come. Un saludo. -Jim

[@smartspanish3127]

I just found your channel today and I think it's great!

[@SpanishandGo]

Thank you! Glad you enjoy it! Thanks for watching. -Jim

[@lauradegen1664]

Trying to keep learning spanish by myself, after a view years in school. Is it really helpful to watch a Tv serie in spanish with spanish subtitles although i max understand 10% ? Want to try it with Casa de papel. Anyone expirences with that. I also listen to a few podcast episodes, notes in spanish is really good, thanks for the recommandation. And special Thanks to Jim for motivating me to keep going with english and spanish. Greetings from Germany 😊

[@lila4778]

Hey :) ich hab etwa ein Jahr lang eine spanisch-ag gemacht, die mir die Basics beigebracht hat, und jetzt in Quarantäne hab ich angefangen richtig zu lernen. Ich übe ein bisschen mit duolingo aber vor allem gucke ich spanische Filme und Serien. Ich habe mit deutschen Untertiteln angefangen und bin jetzt auf spanische umgestiegen. Mit den deutschen Untertiteln bekommt man erstmal ein Gefühl für den Klang der Sprache. Ich finde, dass es für das Vokabular auch gut ist, deutsch zu hören und sich die spanischen Untertitel aufmerksam durchzulesen. Dabei merkt man auch welche Wörter wichtig sind und oft genutzt werden. Beim Originalton mit spanischen Untertiteln ist es manchmal echt frustrierend, dass man so wenig versteht und ich muss oft anhalten um die Sätze genau zu lesen und auch viele Wörter googlen. Aber ich möchte die Story ja auch verstehen. und es macht total Spaß wenn man mal ein paar Sätze komplett versteht oder Wörter wiedererkennt :) Ich weiß nicht wie alt du bist, aber mir hat die spanische netflix serie "elite" sehr gut gefallen! Die Schauspieler sind jung und man lernt viel von dem Slang von Leuten in meinem Alter. Ich habe auch ein paar Songs übersetzt, das hat mir auch einige Vokabeln beigebracht. Wenn man sich den text genau anguckt und wort für Wort übersetzt, ist man überrascht wieviel man doch schon versteht. Noch ein Tipp ist die Serie "extra en español" auf youtube. Ist vielleicht ein bisschen kindisch, aber die Schauspieler sprechen langsam und deutlich und es gibt Untertitel. Man versteht als Anfänger sehr viel. Viel Glück weiterhin :)

[@lauradegen1664]

@@lila4778 Danke für den Tip werde ich mir mal ansehen und dann erst mal mit deutschem Untertitel versuchen. Von Elite habe ich auch schon gehört. Wünsche dir auch weiterhin viel Erfolg :)

[@kierah16]

Same timeline with my Spanish journey - middle and high school. However I did retain some of the language and could read some by the time I turned 22 and started learning as an adult.

[@jiros00]

I learned Spanish by diving into the deep end. I arrived in Madrid knowing about three words and then lived with a Spanish speaking family who didn't speak any English. Total immersion with no possibility for a comforting escape to English. That was in early 90s when there wasn't any internet then so I couldn't use google translate and had limited access to English speaking media. I guess it's much harder today to get total immersion. You have to be quite disciplined to simulate that.

[@chrissycane1209]

What kids books do you reccomend? I agree duolingo is mainly for practice than learning! Thank you for the videos!!💕

[@Engineerboy100]

Good advice, I think I'll try again. I had spanish in high school too so some of this should work for me. We'll see, thanks.

[@SacTowN2Tuskegee]

I really enjoyed this video and all of the tips you provided. I'm sort of the same: took two years of Spanish in high school and two years in college; but, while some things stuck, a lot of things I had forgot. My high school Spanish teacher often encouraged us to watch Spanish speaking shows or even the news, which I really enjoyed! They really helped. (To this day, I ONLY watch The World Cup in Spanish! 😁⚽️😁⚽️) I did grow up California with lots of Spanish speaking friends and classmates, which also helped. Your video has encouraged me to get back to practicing my Spanish, especially since I'll be headed to Puerto Rico in June for my birthday/summer vacation. (I also saw your and May's video on Puerto Rican Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish, which was helpful! You two are great, by the way! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾) Thank you for this video and for the tips. 👍🏾 Jonathan Sacramento, CA

[@arqavan4401]

Awesome! Gracias 🌱

[@theeuprise]

good advice! great story!😎👍

[@madhavkhatri4235]

hey man! muchos gracias. i was struggling a lot . now i have found about i talkie and listen notes.

[@Jose-mh7oj]

Holaa amigo podemos ayudarnos, tu me enseñas Ingles y te enseño español

[@noheliacoaquira9703]

Oíste escribió muchos gracias envés de muchas gracias

[@disarmsox]

Good advice there, listening and speaking is the most important and useful thing. I can identify with a lot of this advice. I went to Peru with just basic spanish and encountered similar problems with communicating at the airport, bus stations etc. It took me three months in Peru to begin to understand conversations. Like you said, even if you don't understand 90% of what's being said, you're absorbing it and tuning your ears to it's sound. It's easy to beat yourself up or become frustrated with your progress but really I think learning a language takes years not months. After maybe three months of lessons, with breaks in between and not always having the right opportunities to practice, I can understand some people, some of the time, and I'm happy with that all things considered.

[@SpanishandGo]

How nerve-wracking to have issues right away at the airport, right?! And I agree. Learning a new language takes a while. Fluency comes to those who are determined to just get a little bit better every day. You're on the right track! Keep at it. Thanks for watching and commenting. 😊-Jim

[@allansantileces1188]

I've been watching Spanish and Go videos for couple of days. I found this channel to be a good additional material for learning Spanish Language. And I just notice that your English is awesome! I like it a lot, the accent and pronunciations. May I ask if you have vlogs or a podcast in English learning? Thank you!

[@lkshw]

Boy am I glad I came across your channel! Gracias!

[@yolandaortega7537]

Hola, hablo español y estoy estudiando el inglés y me gusta como explicas, estoy aprendiendo la pronunciacion 😁 🤗 saludos

[@charliep1]

Your story of meeting May sounds like me with meeting my now wife. Difference is, my language was Japanese. Working on Spanish now so I am loving your channel. Keep up the great work.

[@dinosaurcj]

Out of curiosity, do you mean your language is Japanese, or your wife's language is?

[@biscutsngravi]

This was really helpful. Thank you

[@Avneetshahsingh]

Awesome video brother .. !mucha graćias!

[@eyesalooking]

Thank you. A lot of great advice that I will use.

[@SpanishandGo]

Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@Panacea8]

Nice to see a member of the Amish community learn Spanish. Felicidades!

[@SpanishandGo]

We been spending most our lives Living in an Amish paradise We're just plain and simple guys Living in an Amish paradise… 😆

[@randombob3837]

I will try out this podcast you mentioned. Maybe this is something funny that matches my interests :-)

[@SpanishandGo]

We love Notes in Spanish! We also have our own podcast now too if you're interested! You can find it here: spanishandgo.com/podcast Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@Kelly-ps3ew]

This video was very helpful. Thanks! 😊

[@SpanishandGo]

Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@TA-tv3og]

Thank you for sharing your experience in learning. I like your advice about learning a language from the country that you want to visit or live in.

[@SpanishandGo]

Thank you for watching and commenting, Terri! We appreciate the feedback. -Jim

[@ladybocknite5120]

Stuff like this makes me glad I’m in Texas where there are a lot of people who speak Spanish and my job has me around a bunch of boys that speak Spanish as their first language and English as their second language. I’m a jco/jso and the boys in the facility I work in speak mostly Spanish. It can be challenging at times,but I have been doing Duolingo and speaking with them. Some of them are from places like Mexico or very close to the Texas Mexico border.

[@gabrieleisen4236]

Beautiful story. I love it

[@jericoinfante784]

I love your story man

[@calebbach7542]

Ahora sé que nunca debo traer una banana a México 😂 Gracias! Empecé a escuchar a tu podcast hace unas semanas, y lo me ayuda mucho! Aunque no entiendo todo lo que dices, puedo comprender mucho de lo. También, oír esto me da motivación aprender español más rápido. Muchas gracias por tu ayuda!

[@gabrielligardoorozco184]

Hello i am speak spanish 🇨🇴 you Wanna talk wich me y practicar yo hablo español soy nativo pero estoy estudiando inglés podemos ayudarnos

[@TonyMontana-fi8fo]

Hi there 👋,I learned English in the early 90s, watching TV shows and The News, it was very difficult, it took me 4 years to learn it.

[@spoiledwife2578]

Great content...I'm ready to start learning!

[@SpanishandGo]

You got this! Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@joelvale3887]

I went through the same thing when I was learning English.

[@tinalemay3418]

Thanks for all the great tips, Jim! I'm going to listen to Spanish as much as I can! Can you suggest a podcast to follow?

[@SpanishandGo]

That's great, Tina! I really enjoy the "Notes in Spanish" podcast with Ben and Marina. They're an English/Spanish couple, so some of the phrases they use don't work in Mexico, but it's great for improving your listening comprehension skills. Thanks for watching! -Jim

[@93deiondavis]

Thank you for sharing that story, I been learning Spanish for close to two years now myself and will be visiting Mexico soon also. And your story definitely inspired/ motivated me to sharpen my spanish skills even more.

[@SpanishandGo]

That’s great! So happy to hear that. Thanks for watching. Where are you going in Mexico? ¡Saludos! -Jim

[@kimberlyb33]

I want to learn Spanish, I will keep all these tips in mind

[@SimplyNaturalCai]

New subscriber here thank you for all your tips. Just started learning Spanish again a couple of weeks ago. 😊

[@remedialvibes9957]

NotesInSpanish is my favourite honestly.

[@SpanishandGo]

I’m a huge fan. We were so honored to interview Ben and Marina on our podcast! Check it out here: spanishandgo.com/podcast/mexican-spanish-vs-spain-spanish -Jim

[@lyndalightburn6988]

Luv your videos!

[@rodneyspanish]

Great video! We had very similar learning paths. My language learning approach was also very heavily centered around podcasts, audio courses and traveling on a regular basis. You're absolutely right about speaking and listening being the most critical aspects of language learning. All of the studying one does should be considered preparation for actual conversations. Having real conversations is how we all learned our native language and ultimately is the only way to learn a second language. I would like to add to what you said about virtual immersion by saying learners should take it one step further and try to create as much real world immersion as possible. Look for opportunities in your area to speak Spanish, put your cell phone in Spanish, your GPS, go to Spanish speaking restaurants, use the ATM in Spanish, watch the news in Spanish, etc., you get the idea. And perhaps the best thing of all, make Spanish speaking friends. ¡Bien hecho!

[@SpanishandGo]

That's great! Which Spanish-speaking countries have you visited? You made some excellent points about preparing for real conversations and switching all your devices to Spanish. It's easy to forget sometimes when we're studying that the whole point is to be able to go out and talk to people, and every bit of real-world practice helps. Thanks for watching and commenting! ¡Saludos desde México! -Jim

[@rodneyspanish]

I've got a few countries under my belt now, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Mexico, with a trip to Ecuador coming up later this year. I started off traveling primarily to Mexico (mainly Tijuana) and that's where I really built up a lot my proficiency with the language. You guys are doing some really great work, love your channel. Looking forward to more material. Also, we've briefly chatted before. I usually post under my name, Rodney.

[@SpanishandGo]

That’s great! You’ve gotten around quite a bit. And of course We remember you Rodney! Is this a new channel you just launched? We’ll be on the lookout for your videos. Thanks for the kind words. ¡Saludos desde Guanajuato! -Jim

[@williamedwardhackman4695]

I'm live in the USA in California and there's a lot Spanish speakers in California so there's some people that speak Spanish and other languages in the USA as well.

[@USAMEXICO1982]

Good video!, we go every year for a month to Mexico city, 15 years and no problems