Learning a language properly like you would in school?

[CoolStuff]

How do I learn a language properly and quickly as possible?

I got better at Spanish very fast by being immersed in it and practicing it. I can hold a conversation and I can understand a lot more better than before. I can also seperate the words more clearly now, so even if I dont know a word I can ask what a certain word means.

My pronounciation is fine, except I dont always know the right emphasized syllable (forget what thats called). Also I can roll the r for "perro" but not "pura". Vocabulary I just need to keep learning new words, I learned so many words quickly when I was immersed, I am a fast learner though. I'll keep watching movies in Spanish with subtitles, that will hopefully help with both of those. and of course I listen to music in spanish.

Conjugation I just need to look up and learn.

So what else do I need to do? I want to learn as fast as possible but I want to keep learning so I can fully and properly learn the language.

[Ilikedeadpeople]

If its possible for you to put yourself around Spanish speakers on a regular basis, this will help, but you already mentioned you were in an immersion environment- this is what got you as far as you are now.

Dont beat yourself up about pronunciation- you are being too critical about the rolling "R"s in certain words. Any Spanish speaker you talk to will know instantly that it isnt your first language and if theyre decent people, theyll forgive pronunciation. If theyre a**holes, they'll hold it against you and act superior. Good way to gauge people!

Anyway, immersion is the fastest method. Sounds like you were immersed but now are not.

[cacheborn]

Hola coolstuff

IMO, you are being too harsh on yourself. The fact that you can hold a conversation means you have already crossed the barrier. Now it's just a question of practice. One of the drawbacks of learning a new language as a grownup is you tend to worry too much about grammar, pronunciation etc. something which children do not worry about.

You are doing great. Full immersion is the way to go. One of the signposts of your progress would be when you start thinking in spanish without special efforts. That means that you have arrived.

[Brutha]

Learning a language properly like you would in school?

Those two are two different things.
You can either learn a language properly or you can learn a language like you would in school.

[CoolStuff]

Well what I mean by that, is that I want to learn all the rules, and writing eventually too, but mostly speaking. Strangely enough spelling isn't too hard for me.

Yeah I was immersed for 2/3 weeks, though for half the time, I was around people who spoke a lot of English, just as good as us. I do know a lot of people who speak Spanish back home. I'll start talking to them in Spanish.

I'm not beating myself up exactly, I'm glad I was able to hold a conversation for an hour by the end of the trip. I just want to learn it as fast as possible for when I go back.

Thanks everyone.

[VIPFaktor]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Those two are two different things.
You can either learn a language properly or you can learn a language like you would in school.

That's the exact reply I wanted to post when I saw this thread's title.

[Brutha]

Well what I mean by that, is that I want to learn all the rules

Why?
Most natives can't articulate the rules but are still much better at speaking their language than foreigners.

[CoolStuff]

Yeah you're right it's not really the rules I need to learn, but I need to learn what to say when I'm talking about more than one, and when I'm talking about only one, etc , that's what I meant by the rules.

[newmark]

Reading a lot helps.

[Brutha]

Yeah you're right it's not really the rules I need to learn, but I need to learn what to say when I'm talking about more than one, and when I'm talking about only one, etc , that's what I meant by the rules.

The goal is to have a feeling for what's right and what's wrong in a language.

It's not about minizing mistakes but about going out and practicing. Preferably with native speakers.

[Lenevia]

Immersion and using the language everyday will help you learn and maintain it.

Change your computer language settings to Spanish, do internet searches using Spanish google (Google), or journal in Spanish. Read the Spanish outloud when you do this to practice speaking.

You sound like you have a good proficiency already and just improve to a native level. What better way to do that then to read/write/think in Spanish. The spoken part will come a lot easier after you're more comfortable with your grammar and word choices.

Hope you have a good dictionary with you if you decide to do this

[Brutha]

Change your computer language settings to Spanish, do internet searches using Spanish google (Google), or journal in Spanish. Read the Spanish outloud when you do this to practice speaking.

Unfortunatly setting google to another language changes the search results that you get.

If the websites you are searching for are in English I wouldn't recommand it and for a lot of topics English websites are simply better.

[YourHumbleNarrator]

Originally Posted by Brutha

Those two are two different things.
You can either learn a language properly or you can learn a language like you would in school.

This is hilarious because it's so true.

[Chap]

Originally Posted by CoolStuff

How do I learn a language properly and quickly as possible?

I got better at Spanish very fast by being immersed in it and practicing it. I can hold a conversation and I can understand a lot more better than before. I can also seperate the words more clearly now, so even if I dont know a word I can ask what a certain word means.

My pronounciation is fine, except I dont always know the right emphasized syllable (forget what thats called). Also I can roll the r for "perro" but not "pura". Vocabulary I just need to keep learning new words, I learned so many words quickly when I was immersed, I am a fast learner though. I'll keep watching movies in Spanish with subtitles, that will hopefully help with both of those. and of course I listen to music in spanish.

Conjugation I just need to look up and learn.

So what else do I need to do? I want to learn as fast as possible but I want to keep learning so I can fully and properly learn the language.

You just answered your own question, immersion. Listen to Spanish radio, rent Spanish film, read Spanish papers. Practise makes perfect