Learning Spanish...... but how?

Thinking about studying Spanish? Walt has completed both the Pimsleur (4 levels at 30 lessons per level = 120 lessons) and Rosetta Stone (5 Levels, with 4 Units within Level and 20 Lessons within each Unit) in Spanish. Avis is working on Pimsleur. Walt studied a minimum of 4 hours per day for six months to complete Rosetta Stone in time for the mission trip.

Both courses have strong points. Pimsleur will get you talking in sentences much quicker, plus it is in CD form and therefore portable. You can use it in your car on the way to and from work or other places. One can repeat lessons until the CD wears out. I purchased mine 'used' through Amazon. If purchased new, they cost about $250 for each level, and there are four levels.

Rosetta Stone is computer-based, although you can load parts of it on to your I-phone too. It is interactive on the computer and has a 'test' for each lesson and level. For a bit extra money you can purchase a one year on-line application that allows games to be played and stories to be listened to and followed visually as well. Your pronunciation will automatically be checked with the voice recognition feature. RS can be purchased for as little as $250 if you find a sale. Otherwise $400+.

For two months, Walt also hired a tutor from Nicaragua to Skype with. For $10/hour he could talk with a live person and go over lessons It was of some help, but required a good internet connection. The teacher didn't have a strong level of spoken English.

We have hired a university student here from Quito. She, Kathy, also happens to be the daughter of Veronica Ayala. We are paying her $10/hr. Avis takes an hour per week, and Walt takes two hours.

Avis practices the Spanish alphabet with Kathy.

 

All of the above strategies help but unfortunately there is no magic pill to take for Spanish or Finnish. Rosetta Stone does not offer a Finnish Course. Pimsleur does have a basic level of Finnish.

Walt has had both uplifting as well as discouraging moments in trying to learn the language. Some voices resonate better than others. At times it seems as though progress is being made and at other times a setback has happened. The ladies of Ecuador talk at a high pitch and fast. Couple that with hearing loss at the high pitch end. It seems like the voice of most males and females is placed more to the front of the mouth and more nasal than in the States. Also Ecuadorians use different words than those taught for South American Spanish. At least one word drilled into Walt's head during course study turned out to be a very bad one.

Walt has been trying to think of ways to keep what he has gained once the mission trip is over and life goes on. Spanish radio and the local university classes would help for sure. There are probably not too many Hispanic tutors available in the UP. It is probably best to look at it as a continuing endeavor or hobby and not get too stressed if progress is slow. A good philosophy is to try to be a life long learner. It is cheap and healthy entertainment too. If I divide the cost of the programs by the hours spent learning it is less than $0.50/hour so far.

For those of you who have a lot of life ahead, consider tackling Spanish or Finnish.

Walt and Avis