So, I’ve been studying Spanish for five months now. I’ve been doing at least a little every day, even when Kaitlin, Torben and the pups were here.
About a week ago when I watched some of Blue Bloods in Spanish with subtitles, I said I needed to work on my listening skills. I’ve decided that watching TV in Spanish isn’t the best way to do that. It’s good for learning to try to understand what’s happening even if I don’t know all the words, an important part of learning a new language, but for speaking and listening Duolingo is more effective.
For example, in the reading exercises it gives you the audio as well as the text:
And in the listening exercises you hear a sentence without the text,
then you have to choose the appropriate words and order to match what they have said.
The answer:
A neat feature, which I used a lot in the beginning, is if you’re stuck you have a choice of listening to a much slower version:
I’m tickled that I mostly don’t have to use that option now. So I’m sticking with Duolingo and learning some more Spanish.
October 6, 2023
I’m amazed you’re still learning.
Until now, I force myself to write posts in English just to learn English. I don’t know whether the grammar is correct or not, American or British English, I don’t know.
For the new words that I find, sometimes I use “DeepL Translate” by pressing the speaker button to hear how it is pronounced.
Spanish is much easier for an English speaker to learn than English is to learn as a second language. And you’re still working. I’m retired.
Learning another language is hard. But I can’t imagine doing it at our age! You are very sharp for sure.
It’s mainly a matter of keeping motivated, and suddenly wanting to learn Spanish hit a “motivational nerve”. I’m having a blast.
I love that you are learning Spanish. I’m kind of swamped right now with projects but plan to do Dueling over the winter. I live in the city where they are headquartered, and they have a taco window where everyone must order in Spanish! Love it. I read your blog but seldom comment.
Nina
I looked Duolingo and the taco stand up on the internet. What fun! Thanks. 🙂
i could barely understand and follow on the slow one. I am hopeless with this. so happy to hear you are still doing it and getting better enough to listen to the normal speed of speech..
It takes a lot of time so not worth trying unless it’s fun. 🙂
Isn’t modern technology grand?!
Yes!!!!
Agee with Myra
🙂
You’re doing great with this. I listened to those and I thought there is no way I would be able to figure out what they’re saying.
I wouldn’t have either five months ago. 🙂