Spanish

Need2read · 06-20-2006, 10:49 PM

Hey everyone!

I have struggled with trying to be fluent in Spanish since Jr. High-up until now. I feel very drawn to the language. I think it is important to be bilingual in the US...but I also have a Guatemalan boyfriend whom doesn't even speak fluently and when we visit his family I want to really get to know them. I also want to teach my children, and have my children be able to visit their guatemalan side. (Yes, I am pretty darn sure he and I will be havin some babies.)

As far as clients I am constantly hearing of spanish women needing doulas, I live in a primarily hispanic area, and when I am a midwife I would LOVE to be able to offer my services as a bilingual provider.

I am interested in hearing about your opinions, advice, etc. Do any of you speak spanish fluently, have you ever helped a spanish speaking client?

I will be taking spanish 1-3 college level, even though I have already passed Spanish 101 twice, and passed spanish 2 and 3 in highschool I still don't feel I know it. I am tired of taking class after class only to come away with very little conversational skills.

I also listen to and sing along to a lot of latin/spanish music.

jesscardona · 06-20-2006, 10:52 PM

Me...I speak spanish fluently...I can help you, if you'd like...

Luv2bemommy · 06-20-2006, 10:58 PM

I have thought about taking spanish.. Here in NC this hispanic population is HUGEEE! I know that would help me get clients!!!!!

Need2read · 06-20-2006, 11:01 PM

Hey Jess! Did you grow up in a spanish household or learn it on your own?

How could you help!? I am up for anything, I just don't know what I should do next. I was thinking of going to this school in which you have a tutor all to yourself and they give you a placement test to see what your strengths and weaknesses are then you go from there. (The school is in guatemala) you pay week to week...

I don't know... I just am not sure how to go about it, and I think I forget lots of stuff is because I don't have enough conversational practice/oral speaking stuff.

MindOverLaborDoulas · 06-20-2006, 11:08 PM

Cortney~
I'm pretty sure that I would be of no help in this department. I did take it in high school 2 years, but come on.. I'm in "WestByGodVirginia"! People here can't even learn to speak English without sounding like "a hick"!!

Good luck though!!

jesscardona · 06-20-2006, 11:17 PM

Yeah, I was actually born in Venezuela, and my parents came here to the US when I was 7months, so I was raised here... my sister was born here...

Do you know how to write or read anything?

Need2read · 06-20-2006, 11:20 PM

I can write some, and read some.. I listen to spanish music a lot, and I pick up on some of what the music is about, and I am better at understanding a person whom is speaking spanish.

If I write it is really simple stuff, like a child would write. As far as reading I use a dictionary a lot, but I can get most stuff (not novels, but paragraphs, lyrics, etc)

DL · 06-20-2006, 11:23 PM

Hola!!! Well...I don't speak a lick of Spanish other than maybe 5 words!

I could be wrong, but I've always heard that the best way to REALLY learn a language is by conversational immersion, not textbooks/grammar studies, etc. I'm sure you already know that, though.

jesscardona · 06-20-2006, 11:35 PM

What I recommend is start hanging around spanish people, go to a spanish church, (if you go to church) watch a spanish channel like Univision you could watch the soap opera's and practice speaking it when ever you can...

and start speaking spanish to your boyfriend and have him speak spanish to you... he has to know some spanish!

This is the same but written is spanish...

Lo que te recomiendo es que empiezes a relacionarte con gente hispana, asiste a una iglesia hispana, (si asistes a una iglesia) mira un canal de television hispano como univision, puedes mirar una tele-novela y practica en hablar cuando puedas...
y hablale español a tu novio y que el te hable español a ti, el tiene que saber algo!

MyDoulaStacia · 06-21-2006, 08:49 AM

Lori and Jessica are 100% about immersed in the language.
I am bilingual (English/Danish) and it is only because I learned both by immersion.
I took Spanish in school with books and learning how word pairs go together.............it just isn't the same. If you have folks that will only speak spanish to you while you are around and make you speak it they can correct you as you would a child. It is the only way really. Also, there are a lot of spanish movie channels and movies you can rent.
I hope it helps!