[ Post a Response | THE TEPIC AND NAYARIT, MEXICO JOURNAL ]
Posted by Cuyler Salyer
on 1/31/2008, 9:52 am, in reply to "Re: learning Spanish"
200.56.175.22
Hola Glen y Debra;
Hi, I just wanted to put my two bits worth in here for you. All of the advice you have been given so far is very good.
I might be able to add a little bit different perspective to it.
I have been an Adult Technical Trainer for 8 years and my wife was a Berlitz Spanish Instructor in Los Angeles years back. She is also a trained English Instructor, teaching Doctors in a Children’s Hospital in Mexico City.
1.) Adults learn differently than young people. Seniors even differently. For them it is best to learn in a layered approach as our brains work differently in learning. Poco a Poco, so get started before you even come south.
So, the previous suggestions by Bill to pick up some books and start doing some memor-izing of the most common words and verbs along with tapes where you regurgitate back what you have heard is excellent advice. You can go browse a Barnes and Nobles Book Store and pick up their Spanish Learning Book/Tape Packages and read the covers and forewords to see if they would be appropriate to you. You may think it's for naught, without being able to practice with a native speaker, but you won't be able to loose any of it.
You see, there is an interesting aspect to the human brain. It works like a computer hard drive. Anything seen, witnessed or spoken is indelibly on the hard drive. The only problem we have is accessing the files when we need them! So, my point is as you proceed along your training path in Spanish those things you have learned along the way will just pop out to help you when you need it.
2. Immersion is the best teacher like Sr. Cliffardo says.
3. Don't be afraid of making mistakes when you speak here. The people are very special here and friendly, and they appreciate when you at least try to speak their language. They will try and help you out and not be rude to you.
4. There are plenty of people to try and help you out in your daily routine around town. When frustrated turn to almost any adult male and ask them in English. Roughly 1/3 of all adult males here in Tepic have worked in the USA. Many more have relatives living there and speak a little English. Be here during December and first half of January and you will see lots of SUV's and Vans with USA license Tags returning to visit their relatives - they speak some English by necessity. Just yesterday while coming back from the Bait and Tackle Ferreterria I bumped into on the street a guy in his 20’s that had lived here in Tepic for 15 years but is now living and working in Iowa of all places. He had bought some fishing line as was going to go fishing at the beach while on his vacation. We conversed entirely in English.
5. If you need some quick start Immersion training, maybe I can talk my wife into bringing out her old books and working for you off an on? She is a retired Occupational Therapist. I think some off and on intense training can take you to the next levels - if you wish.
But, all in all like they say in these latitudes. "Don't work - be Happy!" Oh, yea a little alcohol like some cervesas, margaritas helps to loosen up the ole hard drive and get those Spanish words flowing again!
Enjoy your move down here.
Cuyler Salyer
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