My entire life I’ve tried to be fluent in another language and I’ve always failed. I never got passed introductory anything. Well, I learned there’s a customer who comes regulary that speaks Spanish so I thought I’d give this language I was forced to learn in high school a shot. I hadn’t touched it in 10 years so was shocked to learn Speakly thought I was beginner advanced!
Resources I’m using #
This is a non-exhaustive incomplete list
Language Courses #
- Speakly (for transparency I am using the paid version)
- Language Transfer (I use the android app and it is free)
- Espanol Con Vicente (his channel is targeted more towards intermediate/advanced and I must admit most of what he says goes over my head but I guess it’s a good way of measuring progress through comprehension over time).
Youtube Channels #
Blogs #
- Miguel Angel Duran (fullstack web dev)
- Marina Aisa (product design and front end)
- Lenguajejs (intro to JS in Spanish)
The goal right now is to try to absorb as much vocabulary as possible. Language is 1 part input and 1 part output. I have multiple input channels but so far no output. Although I can some what comfortablily understand very basic songs and articles (think 1st grade level or maybe lower) I don’t feel comfortable speaking or writing something as beginner friendly as an introduction (Hola! Mi llamo Rachel, tengo vientesies anos, vivo in Nueve York y soy de China. Trabaje como barista, ahora trabajo en el banco.).
I am currently on day 2 of learning Spanish. I try to do a minimum of 15 minutes a day. Surprisingly being consistent with language has also gotten me better at doing pushups todos los dias en la manana. Pero does dias es no bueno.
My biggest problem is that I think in English. I keep trying to use Spanish with English grammer. I’ll try to check in again en una semana. Ciao 👋.