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How Long Does It Take To Learn Spanish?
August 31, 2009
I am often asked, “how long does it take to learn Spanish?” I’m afraid that this is largely a million dollar question and one for which there’s no simple answer.
Sadly there are simply too many variables involved, in that so much relies on how much effort an individual is ready to put into learning the language, and also which technique or program they will be using. Add to that the incontrovertible fact that while some people may decide to use the services of a personal tutor, others will select a classroom environment instead. In fact, some students will rather select using one or other home study program which makes use of books, multimedia, software, and audio recordings. You also need to ask whether or not 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 quality of a program or the expertise of a teacher will also influence the outcome.
Since these variables will have such a direct result on how long does it take to learn Spanish, it is simply not feasible to provide a single response to this question. In reality, I have personally met individuals who after six months, managed to communicate confidently in conversational Spanish, but also , I’ve met individuals who have studied the Spanish language for a few years, albeit on an on and off basis, and yet after many years they can hardly get by.
Rather than attempting to offer a generic response to this question, I’d prefer to discuss what I feel to be the quickest way of learning Spanish. The most important 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 might be.
While you certainly do get people who are firm believers in the lecture room approach, I actually feel it takes too long unless it is done with another technique. To my mind, a self study system of high quality is easily superior in that it allows a student to move forward at their own speed rather than being tied down to the average lecture room pace. This is especially true with regards to individuals who are really intent on learning a language.
In this example, I would suggest a student to go for a reputable program which includes a variety of audio lessons, multimedia lessons, and naturally, written Spanish. In addition, they should select a program which allows for lessons to be downloaded onto a mobile device so that the student can listen on their iPod for instance. Remember, if you’re serious about learning a language, then you should shoot at being able to not only speak it and write it, but also to read it and understand it. Unless a program covers all four of these areas, it should be avoided or at least, you will require some additional material.
As you probably have already heard, Rocket Spanish is an intensely 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’re able to speak confidently in Spanish within a comparatively short space of time. Similarly, Rosetta Stone is considered to be nearly as good, in that it also addresses the four areas mentioned above. Furthermore, it is available in two versions so that people can choose between the “Spain” version and the South American Spanish version. Judging by testimonials, it would appear that the Rosetta Stone program takes a little longer to work thru, which of course means it will 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 concerned for me or anyone else to be ready to give a simple answer regarding “how long does it takes to learn Spanish. However, you have doubtless also gathered by this time that there are several things you can do in order to hurry up the process. In reality, many people go as far as using both the programs discussed with each other in order to develop conversational talents as fast as possible. However, unless you are continuously exposed to the Spanish language, no program will be capable of making you one hundred p.c fluent. On the other hand, providing you are at an intermediate-to-advanced level, you could consider subscribing to Puerta del Sol Audio magazine which is a Spanish language skills Magazine. Similarly, you’d be stunned at just how much you can benefit from joining a Meetup group in your area that concentrates on learning the Spanish language.
