The Travel Chica

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Learning the Language: Parte Dos

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My Spanish is good enough for traveling.  But it’s not enough.

I can get around.  I can buy things at the market.  I can read most signs and menus and even some simple books.  When people stop me on the street to ask for directions, I not only know the directions but I can tell them in Spanish.

But I am still not able to just strike up a conversation with the person standing next to me in line or sitting next to me on the bus.  I want to be able to talk to that person about politics, local customs, where to find the best food, or whatever they want to talk about.

So what is my problem?

I suck at learning languages.

I think that is the only explanation for my poor Spanish after taking one month of classes for four hours a day five days a week and then traveling for another 8 months in Spanish-speaking countries.  It also does not help that Argentina has to speak Spanish with a completely different dialect and using different words than every other Spanish-speaking country.

But I won’t blame Argentina.

I will blame my poor aptitude for learning new languages and my lack of effort.

Yep, that’s right.  This straight-A student, workaholic perfectionist hasn’t been putting in the effort.  But we will get to that in a minute.

One of the reasons I wanted to stop somewhere is to get out of the hostels where most people speak English and meet more locals.  Obviously, renting a room from a local didn’t work out so well for me (remember Cruella).

And when you move to a city as big as Buenos Aires, you are not going to instantly become friends with Argentines.  People are busy, and they have their own lives.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have met wonderful Argentines as well as expats from other Spanish-speaking countries that have been gracious enough to listen to my poor Spanish and have simple conversations with me.  Sometimes I get really excited when I realize I have had a full conversation with someone and actually understood 75% of it.

Then I realize that person is speaking slowly and articulating words very well for me, which the majority of people do not do.  Then I realize that I also let them do most of the talking.

And this is where my lack of effort comes into the story.

I recognize that I have improved a lot in terms of being able to understand Spanish speakers.  But I am terrible at speaking it myself.  I know how to pronounce the words.  I know how to conjugate verbs (not in all 100+ tenses that seem to exist in this language but at least in the most commonly used).  I know the sentence structures.

I just don’t have a big enough vocabulary, and the connection between my brain and my mouth is apparently quite slow.

I guess watching subtitled re-runs of Law & Order and Friends isn’t enough to become fluent.

So what should I do?

Obviously, I should practice speaking more often.  In Buenos Aires, there are lots of opportunities for this.  Language exchange groups such as Spanglish have formed in Buenos Aires to bring together English and Spanish speakers, so they can practice with each other.  Typically, you spend 5 minutes speaking English and then 5 minutes speaking Spanish and then switch partners.

But I always have an excuse not to go. Usually, it is at a bar at 9 or 10pm on the other side of the city.  Too late for me, especially now that it’s really cold outside.  The format makes it seem like speed dating, which I have no desire to do.  Plus, I feel like I am pretty good at introducing myself and telling people where I am from and what I am doing in Buenos Aires.  Will I really get any better by having that same conversation over and over?

And those are just a few of my excuses.

What else should I do?

I should study. I have all of my notes from my Spanish class in Ecuador.  I could study vocabulary.  I could practice verb conjugation.  I could read the newspaper and look up the words I don’t know.

When I first got to Buenos Aires, I was very into studying.  Then I started figuring out how to find all the great events going on in the city and started making friends.

It is just too easy to “get by” with my current level of Spanish in Buenos Aires. Most of my friends here speak English, even if it is their second language.  And there is always something that seems more important or more fun that studying.

I have given up on the idea of truly becoming fluent on this trip.

It is not going to happen unless I live in one place for many months, continue to take classes, and choose a place less populated with expats.

But I can still improve.  And I will improve.  Just probably not very fast.

And enrolling in Spanish classes again is the next step toward making that happen.  As much as it pains me to pay twice what I paid in Ecuador for Spanish lessons, I am doing it.  I am taking private lessons twice a week. I am making a promise to myself to study at least three more days a week.  I will finish the two small novels in Spanish that I bought when I first arrived.

And I am at least thinking about going to speed dating… I mean Spanish exchange… one time to see if it is worth it.

Do you have any tips to help me get over the hump?

Comments

  1. Hey, have you tried quizlet.com? I used it to learn Bahasa Indonesia last year. You can make your own sets of vocabulary or use ones that have been created by other people… and you can enter it using cut and paste from excel or word. Prettty nifty. and FREE!

  2. It sounds like your comprehension is fine, you just need to work on speaking. Honestly, the best you can do is to grab a couple of friends and speak only Spanish for a period of time. If they are native Spanish speakers, that’s fantastic, but even if they are not then it still can be incredibly beneficial. I lived in France for a year after studying French for eight years (I majored in French after studying it in Middle School and High School) and striking up small casual conversations is STILL something I struggle with. It also doesn’t help that the French have very specific ideas about who is appropriate to strike up casual conversations with as well, but I feel like I still should be able to do it.

    For me, another activity that worked well was going out with a large group of international friends where the only language we all had in common was French. That way, we were forced to speak French and couldn’t cheat, we knew that we all were learning and somewhat awkward with the language, and no one person could dominate the conversation because it was the easier option–we were all at the same French level, so the ‘ease’ of conversation was about the same for all of us. I still remember when I went with the group out to dinners, drinks, or to watch French movies, and at least for me it helped greatly.

    Good luck!

    • Of course comprehension is not fluent as well, but I do think my biggest problem is speaking. When I have been in other places or staying in hostels, I did know some international people where Spanish was our common language, but I don’t have that now. It is really hard in Buenos Aires because all of my friends speak English. I think it’s hard for the friends that speak both to stick to Spanish when they know it’s going to be a painful conversation.

      Tonight I’m going to a language exchange group (not the one that is like speed dating). I’m trying :-)

      Thank you for sharing your experience and advice.

  4. I’m kinda in the same boat, I’ve been wanting to get better at Spanish for years but haven’t bothered. It’s cool to see you are trying to improve. If I was already good enough to “get by,” I’d be satisfied. Really learning a language takes so much effort, it’s hard to get motivated to do it while traveling when there’s so much else to do!

    • I just know I haven’t been putting in the effort lately. I finally took a look at my priorities and realized learning the language was one of my top goals for this trip.

  5. I can relate Stephanie,
    Could it be you – your perfectionist mind set that is causing the problem?
    I find people very patient, even when talking to strangers, with the language barrier. The more I talk to Spanish speaking only people the better I get at speaking the language.
    I do not worry about “How am I doing”.
    I just do – and the results are what they are.
    I am not fluent by a long shot, and I’ve been in Central America for 11 months!
    Oh well. I’ve enjoyed the trip whether I speak Spanish or not!
    (Though speaking more Spanish would have made it more enjoyable)
    This journey is supposed to be fun, and I am not going to beat myself up because I am not a good student!
    Hope that helps – just my feelings any ways!
    Cheers,
    John D. Wilson

    • Thanks, I appreciate you sharing. I have definitely gotten over the shyness/ don’t-want-to-screw-up part of learning. That definitely kept me from speaking in the first two months of my trip. Now I am not afraid of screwing up when I talk.

      I am still enjoying myself though… maybe too much :-)

  6. I can relate, my Spanish should be much better b y now. A friend recommended Pimsleur to me and I have been meaning to try it out. It is somewhat like Rosett Stone only jjust audio so you can take it with you anywhere (lke a podcast). Anyway, good luck to us both in our efforts.
    http://dimensionalhearttraveler.com/

  7. Stephanie, I’m in the same situation with Turkish. Admittedly, languages come easy to me, I’m fluent in 4 and regular in another 2, but Turkish! Oh my. The only way forward, at least for me, is a) go out and speak (markets are good) and b) take private lessons. The money spent is well spent, you leanrn at your on pace and NO excuses.

    • Wow! 6 languages! I’m jealous :-)

      Private lessons are perfect for me. I learn so much more, and it forces the discipline. I am a very academic-style learner, so I want someone to give me homework and then tell me what I did wrong.

  8. Learning a new language is always hard. When I moved to the Netherlands 2,5 years ago I had the same problem. 6 months later I was nearly fluent. So how did I do it? I went to every single party in town and did bar hopping for half a year. Even if it’s a weird approach in learning a new language, the drinking made me less nervous about making mistakes and while having some drinks and talking to locals I learned the language pretty quick.

    • Remember when I wrote about going into the kitchen at the pizza place El Cuartito? The guys working there didn’t speak a word of English. The wine tasting earlier in the evening definitely made it easier for me to speak Spanish.

      Maybe I can use this as my excuse for drinking wine every day :-)

  9. Like you said, I think it’s hard to learn a new language if you’re not living in that place for more than a couple months. Once you start picking it up, you leave, and then it all goes down the toilet… or most of it… But, it’s always good to try it at least if you’re really interested in doing it.

    I think I would suck at learning a new language since I really don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to it, plus I would need to be really dedicated and excited to learn it to actually stick to it and not give up. Let’s see if I can do it eventually. :)

    • I do have worries that I’ll forget it all. But since I still have months to travel in Latin America, it is definitely worth it. And there is always a possibility I will come back to a Spanish-speaking country soon after my trip ends.

      But yes, you definitely have to really want to learn it because it requires a lot of work.

  10. Bilingualism and learning languages is my area of expertise. I used to be a Spanish tutor during my college years…. I still have two more weeks in Bs. As. We can meet as many times as you need to help you improve. :-) Let me know.

  11. Stephanie, I am incredibly impressed by a guy met at TBEX named Benny Lewis. Anyone who met him loves the guy and is incredibly impressed. He has a website called Fluent in 3 months. At age 21, he only knew one language. Now he is fluent in 8. He spoke at TBEX and people were wowed by him. If I were you, I would check him. He has an ebook that I am reading through right now about language learning. It might help you, even his tips can really help you. And with the way he learns languages, you are in the perfect position to be able to learn.

  12. Date an Argentinean man!

    Seriously, my Korean skills have gone through the roof since I started dating my Korean bf – he’ll occasionally refuse to speak English with me in order for me to practice my Korean haha!

    It helps too if you’re, you know, actually attracted to and have a connection with the guy as well.

    I feel you on the whole speaking thing – it’s my weakest skill, I sound like an absolute moron when I talk Korean, despite knowing the grammar and a fair amount of vocabulary. Sigh.

  13. I wish I could give you tips, hun. But I’m just as bad. :S I leave for Mexico in November and barely know a word of Spanish. I was planning to start lessons back in February but it just never happened. Fail. 😛

  14. This has been a helpful website
    http://conjugator.reverso.net/conjugation-english.html
    and it does it all. The best part is that you can put in to define a verb and it will give you multiple ways to use it plus the English usage and the alternative verb that you are replacing it with. It can really open your eyes to substituting one verb for another. It defines, conjugates, defines, interprets, etc.
    Another great verb conjugations on the fly is http://www.conjugation.org/
    which gives you a definition that the other website doesn’t do in conjugating. I say on the fly because if you think a verb you can try it here to see if it is a verb.

  15. Hey Stephanie,

    I see so much of myself reading this post as I’ve been going through the very same thing for quite some time. How long have you been studying and living in South America up to now?

    I’m at the point where I can easily get by, but I still have such a long way to go. When I was first learning, I thought most times (i wish I could just get to this point, then I will be happy) Now I realize that I will never be satisfied with my level of understanding, not in a few months, not in a few years. It’s something I will always need to improve and get better at.

    We really are our own worst enemy when it comes to learning anything, but spanish and languages seems to be a bit more difficult, at least for me. You really do need to put in the time and effort studying, but more importantly, you need the practice speaking it, and the confidence to just get out there, not worry about looking stupid and just do it. I think that is the most important part of it all.

    Good luck!

    • I’ve been in traveling through Latin America for 8 months or so. I did have a base of Spanish from high school, but really that just helps with knowing pronunciation and how to ask where the bathroom is.

      I took classes for one month in Quito when I started the trip. It was pretty intensive (20 hours a week). Then I started moving around and didn’t take anymore classes until just recently in Buenos Aires.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. Our experience points out the importance of exposing children to other languages at a very young age… so hard to pick up it as an adult.

  16. THANK YOU for this!!! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear you’ve given up becoming “fluent.” I can’t tell you how often I’m asked if I’m “fluent” or hear a new traveler talk about wanting to become “fluent” immediately. I do learn languages slowly, too, sigh… I like to talk fast and make jokes and have a hard time talking in my second language if I don’t have to. Someday!

  17. We might be sisters from another mister. I could have written this article. Although, I think I might be worse, because I had hubby along with me and we could have been practicing with each other. And we didn’t. So, after 18 months in Latin America, I still answer “mas o menos” to someone who asks me if I speak Spanish (and I’m kinda even lying with that).

    Languages are just hard. And I’m okay with the fact that I’m just not “built” to pick them up as fast as the next person. Or at all. :)

    Good on you for continuing the efforts. I just stopped.

    • I met another American named Richard in El Salvador who insisted on speaking Spanish with me. He was quite fluent, and the reason is because he always practiced, even when he was talking with native English-speakers. I wish I had that kind of discipline.

      Mas o menos is my favorite Spanish phrase. It’s a good answer for everything :-)

  19. I do agree with the suggestions on only speaking in Spanish. Just go out their and talk to the locals. Yes you will feel insecure because you are not fluent but it will take your learning to the next level.

    • Unfortunately, my problem is not insecurity at this point. It was when I first started learning. Now I am totally fine with speaking like a 3-year-old and using the wrong verb tense. The problem is it is difficult to surround yourself with Spanish-speakers all of the time in Buenos Aires. But I am trying harder now.

  20. i want to learn spanish too… ive been checking some online resources for this one… havent found one yet… i might settle for a book to start with… goodluck on your quest to learn spanish…

    • I have gotten several great recommendations on this post plus a few private messages. I’ll let you know if I find something that is particularly helpful.

    • A friend I met in Panama told me that Latin America is 25 (don’t remember the exact number) countries divided by one language :-)

      It is truly amazing the differences between each country. I am sure a lot of people will find your dictionary helpful.

      I’ll email you about language exchange. I appreciate the offer!

  22. I could really relate to this post. I studied German for 8 months, 25 hours a week, and can get around, but am still far from being fluent. I cook in German and that has really improved my food vocab, and I try and read tabloids in German (they have lots of pictures and I’m familiar with most of the celebs they’re talking about) to improve my pop culture vocab, but it’s a looooooooooooong process and I frequently lose my motivation as well. Best of luck with your Spanish!

  23. i lived in finland for 9 monhs and at the end i couldn’t even say a proper sentence. from this i learned that language lessons are a must. i’ve been in BA now for a few weeks and already my spanish is 1000% better than my finnish. i did a small course here http://www.expanish.com which did me a world of good!

    (i know you said you are already doing lessons here, but just in case you are looking for a different angle (i did a course that had futból incorporated for example), this place was great!)

    ¡buena suerte!

    • Rease from Travelated just wrote a review of Expanish. I’ll look into what they offer.

      I am definitely a “school-style” learner, so private lessons are a must for me, at least periodically during my travels.

  24. Loving the blog. What about a homestay? You stay with a family for a week or more, get to experience regular life, and are SURROUNDED by spanish.

    • I actually sort of tried that. Read my “Cruella de Vil of Palermo” post. I should have lived with a local family earlier on in my travels. So I tried living with a local in Buenos Aires because I figured it would help me with my Spanish and I would learn a lot about the culture. Didn’t work out for me. Maybe I will consider again in another country.

  25. Siiiigh. You have voiced my frustrations to the letter. Having just come back from Nicaragua, I watched my Spanish soar and dive throughout the month. It was great and times, and others, I barely could speak English, let alone Spanish. Having the same typical conversations doesn’t help much with vocabulary but does help with familiarity in phrasing and words. Back at home now, I am considering either finding or starting my own group to continue practicing. I notice that if I go even 2 days without speaking Spanish, it’s almost like starting over again.

    • I am afraid of the same thing happening when I do return to the US. Maybe check out craigslist and put an ad out for someone who wants to do a spanish/ english exchange.

  26. Hola! If you say you already studied and understand the basic grammar, then you should focus on speaking! Besides your classes, it’s super advisable to have a language exchange.
    Do you know this website? http://www.mylanguageexchange.com
    I think in the forum of couchsurfing.org you can also find people interested in practicing.
    At our schools we don’t usually see good results on students who use programs like Rosetta Stone, at least when it comes to oral skills. I believe nothing there’s no better way of improving than in a real language situation with a real person. And it’s much more fun!
    Mucha suerte!

    • Thanks for taking the time to respond. Someone sent me that language exchange site, and I am going to check it out.

      I did actually try to meet up with someone from couchsurfing, but we never got our schedules to align. But to be honest, it was more laziness on my part because I could have been more proactive using couchsurfing forums.

      So no more excuses :-)
      The Travel Chica recently posted..Campo in the City

  27. I have been reading the comments, i do not know if you already know spanish more, but in your post you write:
    “I guess watching subtitled re-runs of Law & Order and Friends isn’t enough to become fluent.”
    Please, NEVER, but, NEVER, believe the translation of the subs that are showed on the tv. I am a spanish native speaker, and every series (with the exeption of “Simuladores”, original version), and almost every movie i saw have english for native language.
    Most of the subtitles are wrong, missing parts or change the true meaning of the sentense. I ended learning english on my own, i do not have the money to travel, and do not have the time to learn on a academy, so i just started to “chat” at firs via msn, later to write on forums, and at last to have conversations via skype or msn voice. Just in english, zero spanish. Now i can see every movie on the original language and without subs XD. It is just practice. If you see a few tv series for the country you could learn how the people of the country speak. If you are on Mexico, just see a few “telenovelas”. On argentina, the “porteños” have one way to talk, go to Cordoba, and you will find the “Cordobes”, they speak fast, cut a lot of word and give their own acent to the language…

    • I am definitely better now, simply from living in a Spanish-speaking country longer.

      I have noticed what you are talking about with the subtitle translations. I have noticed a few errors myself, and I have also heard that it’s usually a Mexican-dialect translation.

      I think by the time I leave Buenos Aires, I won’t be able to understand anyone :-)
      The Travel Chica recently posted..Sugar Filled and Deep Fried Treats in Argentina

  28. welll I think it’s your lucky day.I have similar problem than you but in reverse. I m native spanish speaker and I ve studied some years not many days a week, and Im interested in meeting native engl speakers .don t worry about you cause its always the same the only solution is speaking for monthes.
    Im currently learning english and everybody has the same problem understan and speaking fluenty sometimes I fell like a child .whenever you want we can meet to speak our languages and show you this big an amazing city.

    if you agree just sen me a message and if you dont dare we can chat by internet or e mail

    saludos y espero no haber comeitod muchos errores

    most you make mistakes most you learn see ya
    george recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Buenos Aires

  29. HAHA Im supossed that somthing like this will happen.
    And if you were in surprised visiting B.A. you dont imagine what is waiting for you , good travel and enjoy a lot
    Ill be looking at your post

    PD recomend you you visit cordoba city and the rest of the province, mendoza iguazu falls and somone says the nothwest but its too hot in summer time .
    george recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Buenos Aires

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