I am Polish, temporarily living in Florida. Apart from my native Polish, I speak fluently English, German and Spanish. Having seen how many Poles struggle to learn a foreign language, I have written a book “How to quickly learn foreign languages” that has hit a bestseller list and stays there for almost 2 years now.
I truly believe that anyone can successfully learn foreign languages. There are no unskilled individuals. Thorough my education, I have been told that I will have difficulties learning languages. I heard several myths, like: “a gift for languages goes with a gift for music” (I can’t sing a simple song without a false note ;)) or “you are an introvert, you won’t speak a foreign language” and others. I scored lowest in Russian comparing to other subjects in elementary school. Finally, I chose Finance and Banking for my Master’s Degree. Could I even more diminish my chances to learn a language? You don’t think so? So, I add to it, that I effectively started learning a language at the age of 17. Again, contrary to the popular belief that only a child can learn a language.
Spending the last year in the US, I had the opportunity to speak to a lot of people (you guys in America are so open-minded and easy going that it is easy to practice my English). Lots of them complemented my English and sometimes told me about their ordeal with Spanish.
What surprised me is that most people here just take regular stationary classes in a foreign language with a teacher and a group of fellow learners. Moreover, in many cases people learn Spanish, I would say, backwards. They focus on totally irrelevant aspects of this language.
In Poland, my country, it is a necessity to learn foreign languages. Our native language – Polish is not spoken by too many people around the world. When I first arrived in the US and went to a Barnes & Noble store in San Francisco, I was surprised at how small was a section with language learning textbooks, software and other aids. In any major Polish bookstore it is twice that big.
Altogether, I arrived at a conclusion that if the Poles needed my book, the Americans would at least need my blog :) And here I am to help you learn Spanish!
I do not know if you are committing the same mistake as Callum – one of my American friends. He once told me how much time he spends learning Spanish grammar and how he does not enjoy it, to say it cautiously.
Then he showed me his grammar book. I do not remember the exact title of this book, but it was something like “The complete Spanish grammar” or “Concise Spanish grammar”. Anyway, the table of contents told it all. There were chapters named like “Futuro perfecto” “Pluscuamperfecto” “Pretérito anterior”. If you are not familiar with grammatical terms or if you did not study Latin you would have trouble finding out what this book is all about. And definitely you wouldn’t get the feeling what all this grammar is for.
And the drills and exercises: sooo many gap fillings and correcting mistakes. No wonder Callum did not enjoy it, to put it delicately.
Generally, I am convinced that if you are using good software for your Spanish or a good texbook with audio materials, you do not need any other grammar textbook. Your course materials will introduce the grammar gently and gradually, while providing the relevant context.
However, if you still need a more structured approach or if you like to have a reference when you would like to go if you want to solve a particular grammar problem, I recommend you grammar textbooks that adopt a functional approach. That is, the chapters are organized around the aspects of a language, for example: expressing the past, expressing the future, etc. This is not only more comfortable and useful, but also gives you the sense of feeling of purpose: what all this grammar is for.
I remember when I learnt English as a second language, an invaluable help for me was “English in Use” by Raymond Murphy. The book met all the criteria I told you about.
But when I learnt Spanish, there were not many grammar textbooks available on Polish market, so I have always thought there must be some good Spanish grammar textbook somewhere else. Can you recommend one?
…and recently I am obsessed with this one:
Larry Hernandez – Carita De Angel
Carita de angel dueña de mi ser
tu carita es dulce como la miel.
Eres sencilla y tan natural
tu mirada es clara como un manantial.
Carita de angel mi linda mujer
despierto y no te veo al amanecer.
Te veo que duermes con tranquilidad
pero eres diferente en la intimidad.
Quien hiba pensar que anoche eras tu
la misma persona que me hacía el amor.
Llenabas mi cuerpo entero de placer,
tu cuerpo era fuego quemando mi piel.
Besabas mi cuerpo en cada rincón,
me decias cosas cositas de amor.
Me hacías el dueño de tu corazón
carita de angel carita de amoor
mi cariitaa de aaangeeeel.
Carita de angel dueña de mi ser
tu carita es dulce como la miel.
Eres sencilla y tan natural
tu mirada es clara como un manantial.
Carita de angel mi linda mujer
despierto y no te veo al amanecer.
Te veo que duermes con tranquilidad
pero eres diferente en la intimidad.
Quien hiba pensar que anoche eras tu
la misma persona que me hacía el amor.
Llenabas mi cuerpo entero de placer,
tu cuerpo era fuego quemando mi piel.
Besabas mi cuerpo en cada rincón,
me decias cosas cositas de amor.
Me hacias el dueño de tu corazón
carita de angel mi angel de amoor,
cariitaa de aaangeeeel.
———————————-
And I have added a new word to my vocabulary: manantial = source.
But learning from songs has another very important advantage: you learn a lot of popular expressions and idioms without any toil: it just flows to your brain through music. You do not analyse it and therefore you also learn the melody of the language.
I will try to dig out some old songs that I was “obsessed with” in the past and that helped me improve my Spanish a lot. There were quite of them :)
Let me tell you a story of my good friend Krysia. She is an accountant (or CPA, as you would call her in USA), working for a major company in Poland. After reading my book about language learning she once told me her way to fluent English.
At the beginning she learnt mostly grammar, built her vocabulary, practiced basic sentences and dialogues and was very methodical with it and very inquisitive. Doesn’t it sound like a typical school drill? She generally liked it, but, like most learners, felt she is not making a lot of progress. This was mostly due to the fact that she had no occasions to practice her new skills.
Then Krysia moved to Canada for personal reasons and she was astonished at how quickly she became communicative in English. Again, things clicked very quickly and she became fluent in English in a short time.
Now, a lot of people would argue that the way she chose to learn was boring and ineffective and that should focus on speaking instead. But this learning style matched very well her analytical mind. And she felt comfortable with it.
If she was more like a party animal probably she would be bored to death with such learning style. Yes, learning style. There is no one best way to learn a language. Although there are some obvious prerequisites, like that at some point you have to learn to speak because language is all about communication, it is up to you how you achieve this goal.
This concept I am talking about can be better understood by referring to seven basic types of intelligence defined by Howard Gardner in 1983.
Here are these seven types:
Visual-spatial
This area deals with the ability to visualize with the mind’s eye, so to speak and spatial judgment.
Verbal-linguistic
This area has to do with words, spoken or written. People with high verbal-linguistic intelligence display a facility with words and languages. They are typically good at reading, writing, telling stories and memorizing words along with dates. They tend to learn best by reading, taking notes, listening to lectures, and discussion and debate. They are also frequently skilled at explaining, teaching and oration or persuasive speaking. Those with verbal-linguistic intelligence learn foreign languages very easily as they have high verbal memory and recall, and an ability to understand and manipulate syntax and structure.
Logical-mathematical
This area has to do with logic, abstractions, reasoning, and numbers. While it is often assumed that those with this intelligence naturally excel in mathematics, chess, computer programming and other logical or numerical activities, a more accurate definition places less emphasis on traditional mathematical ability and more reasoning capabilities, abstract patterns of recognition, scientific thinking and investigation, and the ability to perform complex calculations. It correlates strongly with traditional concepts of “intelligence” or IQ.
Bodily-kinesthetic
In theory, people who have bodily-kinesthetic intelligence should learn better by involving muscular movement (e.g. getting up and moving around into the learning experience), and are generally good at physical activities such as sports or dance. They may enjoy acting or performing, and in general they are good at building and making things. They often learn best by doing something physically, rather than [by] reading or hearing about it. Those with strong bodily-kinesthetic intelligence seem to use what might be termed muscle memory – they remember things through their body such as verbal memory or images.
Musical-rhythmic
This area has to do with rhythm, music, and hearing. Those who have a high level of musical-rhythmic intelligence display greater sensitivity to sounds, rhythms, tones, and music. They normally have good pitch and may even have absolute pitch, and are able to sing, play musical instruments, and compose music. Since there is a strong auditory component to this intelligence, those who are strongest in it may learn best via lecture. Language skills are typically highly developed in those whose base intelligence is musical. In addition, they will sometimes use songs or rhythms to learn and memorize information.
Interpersonal
This area has to do with interaction with others. In theory, people who have a high interpersonal intelligence tend to be extroverts, characterized by their sensitivity to others’ moods, feelings, temperaments and motivations, and their ability to cooperate in order to work as part of a group. They communicate effectively and empathize easily with others, and may be either leaders or followers. They typically learn best by working with others and often enjoy discussion and debate.
Intrapersonal
This area has to do with introspective and self-reflective capacities. People with intrapersonal intelligence are intuitive and typically introverted. They are skillful at deciphering their own feelings and motivations. This refers to having a deep understanding of the self; what are your strengths/ weaknesses, what makes you unique, can you predict your own reactions/ emotions.
You probably already feel what type of intelligence is dominant for you and what learning style goes best with it. So, let me just briefly recap:
Are you an interpersonal type? Great, in that case you will be inclined to communication; you will like group learning with lots of interpersonal interactions, like drama play, etc.
If you are intrapersonal, you will find internal motivation for self learning, you will like computer aided learning and will be good at setting learning targets and achieving them.
.
Persons with Visual-spatial intelligence may like to graphically represent words, use various colors, draw diagrams and grammar schemes. They will find the mind mapping techniques especially useful. In the case of language learning this would mean building subsequent associations around on word.
For persons with musical intelligence it is advisable to learn poems, songs, mimicking the speech of famous people on tv, playing with accents.
Bodily-kinesthetic types will lie playing drama in foreign language, writing foreign word and sentences, because their hand will remember the movement.
Those gifted with Logical-mathematical intelligence like to deal with grammar in detail, analyse sentence structure, build them by themselves according to learned rules. They would group the vocabulary by subjects.
Finally verbal-linguistic intelligence. Such person would like to discuss things in a foreign language, build their vocabulary, analyse usage and meanings of words. They would enjoy reading and finding new words.
I am sure you already know what learnig style is best for you. Stick to it!
Lots of succes in your Spanish!
Martina.
