I have given myself a goal of learning Spanish recently. I was actually inspired by Fluent in 3 Months. Go check it out as Benny has some good stuff there.
Now, lets be real. I’m not the most disciplined guy. I have a guitar I bought last December and still only know how to play the G chord. And not well at that. And I know there is no way I am going to become fluent in 3 months. The main reason for this is because I cannot move to a Spanish speaking country, learn a few phrases, and go with the either sink or swim approach. Although, I think there are some good things about that approach I can apply.
First, learn a few phrases and just start using them. This is a no brainer. Memorization is not going to get me anywhere. The truth is, I can’t truly memorize something without using it. I’ll have to take a passionate interest, and actively pursue opportunities to use the language.
Second, I live in Nashville, TN. I can’t bury myself in some Hispanic bubble easily. But, I need native speakers to speak with in order to practice and get them to help correct my mistakes. Luckily, I have a good friend who i originally from Honduras. I also have Google Plus, and I am meeting people through Fluent in 3 Months forums in order to use the hangout feature and have video calls. I’ll also look for people to Skype with.
And finally, I need to hold myself accountable. First, i’m doing this by telling my friends I am doing it. This kind of motivates me because I don’t want to say I’m going to do something, and not do it. Pride can be a great motivator. I’m also going to update this blog with my progress. It will help me process my thoughts and have a journal to refer back to.
So, my quest is before me. This should be interesting as I try to turn this southern accented fool into a Spanish speaaking polyglot. Feel free to offer suggestions in the comments. You can even make fun of me a little, but be gentle.
Tags: Language, Learning Language, Learning Spanish, Spanish