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How Long Does It Take To Learn Spanish?
January 28, 2010
I am often asked, “how long does it take to learn Spanish?” I am afraid that this is basically a million-dollar question and one for which there is no simple answer.
Sadly there are simply way too many variables concerned, in that so much depends on how much effort someone is willing to put into learning the language, and also which method or program they are going to be using. Add to that the fact that while some people may opt to use the services of a private mentor, others will select a classroom environment instead. In fact, some individuals will rather choose using one or other home study program which gets use from books, multimedia, software, and audio recordings. You also need to ask yourself whether the student will be learning the language in a land where it’s spoken as the local language, or whether they’ll be learning it in their home country. Additionally, the standard of a program or the experience of a teacher will also influence the outcome.
Because these variables will have such a direct impact on how long does it take to learn Spanish, it is simply not feasible to provide a single answer to this query. In fact, I have personally been involved with people who after half a year, were able to communicate confidently in conversational Spanish, but I have also known folks who have attempted to study the Spanish language for a period of years, albeit on an on and off basis, and yet after many years they can hardly get by.
Rather than attempt to provide a simple answer to this question, I’d prefer to offer what I feel to be the quickest way of learning Spanish. The most significant step of all, is for a person to seize every available opportunity with regards to interacting in the language they would like to learn, regardless of what language that may be.
While you actually do get those that are firm believers in the classroom approach, I actually feel it takes too long unless it is done with another technique. In my viewpoint, a self study strategy of good quality is easily superior in that it allows a student to proceed at their own speed instead of being tied down to the average lecture room pace. This is especially true with regards to individuals who are genuinely intent on learning a language.
In this example, I’d suggest a student to go for a credible program which includes a range of audio lessons, multimedia lessons, and naturally, written Spanish. In addition, they should choose a program which allows for lessons to be downloaded onto a mobile device so that they can listen on their iPod for example. Remember, if you’re serious about learning a language, then you should shoot at being able to not only speak it and read it, but also to write it and understand it. Unless a program covers all 4 of these areas, it should be avoided or at least, you will require some further material.
As you could have already heard, Rocket Spanish is an extremely favored program, and not without reason. Considering that it addresses all 4 of the area’s mentioned, it has gained a name for providing students with a first[ class foundation for basic Spanish which in turn will make sure that you are able to communicate confidently in Spanish within a comparatively short space of time. Likewise, Rosetta Stone is known to be quite as good, in that it also addresses the 4 areas discussed above. Furthermore, it is available in two versions so that students can select between the “Spain” version and the Latin American Spanish version. Judging by testimonials, it would appear that the Rosetta Stone program takes a little longer to work through, which of course means it’ll take you a little longer before you develop conversational Spanish but generally, it ranks right up there with Rocket Spanish. Also, Rosetta Stone is significantly costlier.
As you can see, there are too many variables involved for me or anyone else to be ready to give a single response regarding “how long does it takes to learn Spanish. However, you have probably also gathered by this time that there are several things you can do in order to hurry up the method. In reality, many students go as far as using both the programs discussed with each other to develop conversational abilities as quickly as possible. However, unless you are continuously exposed to the Spanish language, no program will be capable of making you a hundred % smooth. On the other hand, providing you are at an intermediate-to-advanced level, you might consider subscribing to Puerta del Sol Audio magazine which is a Spanish language abilities Magazine. Similarly, you’d be shocked at quite how much you can benefit from joining a Meetup group in your neighborhood that is focused on learning the Spanish language.
