Best language learning program?

[Tuuvi]

I want to learn to speak spanish fluently, however my high school spanish II class isn't really working for me, because I'm not being taught fast enough. I don't have a lot of money so expensive programs like Rosetta Stone are out of the question for me. Does anyone know of a good program for learning foreign languages that doesn't cost too much? Since this is an international forum I figured it would be a great place to ask

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Do you know anyone who speaks Spanish?

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Yeah, I know a few people who try to learn from these things. It usually turns out they speak TOO good almost and don't find the little slang that comes with modern day languages. I learn German from friends so it's filled with a little more slang, but hey, I'm teaching myself (until I get to Uni).

Don't know any programs for Spanish though.

[Tuuvi]

Do you know anyone who speaks Spanish?

Yea some of my best friends are hispanic.

Yeah, I know a few people who try to learn from these things. It usually turns out they speak TOO good almost and don't find the little slang that comes with modern day languages. I learn German from friends so it's filled with a little more slang, but hey, I'm teaching myself (until I get to Uni).

Don't know any programs for Spanish though.

Once I start learning more spanish I plan on practicing with my latino friends so hopefully I will pick up on the slang that way.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Yea some of my best friends are hispanic.

Well, since they're your friends you can obviously converse with them in English, so throw in little things in Spanish and ask them to correct it. Gradually move on to more complicated sentence structures.

[PershsNhpios]

Ha ha ha! You're not being taught fast enough? You are not learning fast enough!
I have accomplished a fluent level of speech, excellent reading, and proper grammar in Deutsch in just under six months with the help of these agents;

A German-English dictionary, (Collins) with a 126 page Grammar.

Two books of German Poetry.

A fine, gentlemanly 86 year old Austrian, who wrote one of the above books, and gave me the other.

With the man I have had many long discussions - in the first, I would simply sit and say, "Ja", "Manchmal", "Vielleicht" or "Nein".
But I learned first to read flawlessly, secondly I learned to hear easily, then to write properly, and finally to verbally construct sentences and replies amicably in the beautiful language.

I can not simply tell you not to rush, because I too was in haste when I first began learning Deutsch.
But you MUST have a passion for the language itself, if you are to learn it quickly.
The poetry and old Deutsch songs I learned were marvellous and very warm - the literature of the language more philosophical in many authors than can be found in English.
I love the language, and so I adopt it very smoothly.

You must also do this with Spanish - and avoid those get-rich schemes that so many are trapped by.
One cannot learn a language by listening to it being muttered on a digital device and jogging about a city!

One may do so by being heatedly involved in a political discussion in this new language for example - being mentally exerted in order to use what vocabulary one has to express their views correctly, and without insult.

Lastly, if you can, when you find a native speaker, (and you must find one), it is best you choose the most intellectual individual - for he or she will have the greatest knowledge and use of their language, and will teach it to you more easily.

And your discussions will be diverse and interesting.


Oh.. And if you will accept this advice - let me ask that you do not learn the slang of Spanish - or any language, learn to speak it eloquently and politely. There is no need for learning how to curse another person in a new language. Nor a reason for learning old terrible habits in a new language.
(Like saying that you either "Hate" or "Love" something..)

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

NOBODY is impressed by a foreigner who speaks your language with a slang. EVERYBODY is impressed by a foreigner who speaks your language clearly, politely, flawlessly, and putting you to a gentle shame for your own more laid-back approach to your mother tongue.

Nevertheless you will acquire a little slang naturally due to your teacher's speaking. I speak Spanish with a really little Buenos Aires accent. But I try not to, and you really shouldn't care about any slang. Try to be perfect instead, in the process of trying to become perfect you will get the best out of you.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Well when I mean slang, I don't mean you want to say "I aint doin nothin about that" or something. I simply mean the perfect written German is excellent to learn, but is not always the fun type of language you will speak with friends. Just phrases etc. that you can't really learn from a book, but instead from only native speakers.

That was my point....

[Centurio Nixalsverdrus]

Well when I mean slang, I don't mean you want to say "I aint doin nothin about that" or something. I simply mean the perfect written German is excellent to learn, but is not always the fun type of language you will speak with friends. Just phrases etc. that you can't really learn from a book, but instead from only native speakers.

That was my point....

Ah yes, you are right about that. But that comes naturally anyway, there is no need to aim for that.