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Spanish lessons

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 7:46pm
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Posts: 11

Location: Altea

Joined: 2 Apr 2022

At aged 69 is it worthwhile attending Spanish lessons or should I “get by”?

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 9:18pm

Madcatwoman

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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 9:18pm

You're never too old :-)!

Why not at least give it a go to learn the basics as this is very much appreciated by the Spanish that you're at least trying to learn their language. You'll also get to meet new people.

Have fun.

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 10:17pm

Lefty

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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 10:17pm

I’m 60 and have been learning for 15 months now, I love it and have made much better progress than I ever thought I would at my age, find yourself a good teacher and give it a go 👍

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:59pm

Bill54

Original Poster

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Location: Altea

Joined: 2 Apr 2022

Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2022 11:59pm

Lefty wrote on Sun Jun 19, 2022 10:17pm:

I’m 60 and have been learning for 15 months now, I love it and have made much better progress than I ever thought I would at my age, find yourself a good teacher and give it a go 👍

Thanks. I will go to a class. I know I will enjoy the Spanish life far more if I do.

Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 7:55am

beckfordburger

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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 7:55am

I started learning almost 3 years ago (67). Like you, I just wanted to get by - then I got addicted! Despite a huge gap during Covid - had to return to UK - I recently passed my Cervantes DELE B1 exam. I don't need the certificate, just wanted to try. It's a great language and great fun to learn. It is absolutely appreciated if you can speak some Spanish, however basic. If you stick at it, you'll also be able to read Spanish books and newspapers and understand TV. If you are living in Spain, the language will come at you from all directions, so you'll be learning every minute of the day.

I recommend that you start in classes and see how it goes (you can book on a 20-hour introductory course in many language schools, which will give you a surprising amount of language). You also get to meet other people who are keen to learn. And all those cold beers after class!

Good luck.

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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 10:27am

Lefty

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Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2022 10:27am

I started to learn by myself during lockdown by watching videos on YouTube, reading articles on line etc but it was so disjointed and unstructured I was not absorbing it.

I then started with the duolingo app which is more like playing a game, it is ok to start with but you will never really learn much from it and it is also Latin American based so some words are different, as I say ok to start with but you will never reach conversational level with that alone.

while watching YouTube videos and seeing references to various cd courses which is an absolute minefield I stumbled across a bloke called Paul Noble who is a language teacher with a very laid back easy approach to learning, I was so impressed I purchased the first 2 cd course called “destination Spanish” and it was an eye opener, I was so impressed I purchased the 12 part cd course called “Spanish with Paul Noble”, after that I have moved on with the next course called “Next Steps” which is only available as an audio download and even now I have the lessons playing constantly in my car and I am always picking up new vocabulary, conjugation of verbs etc, people in my class have even purchased the course, I can say hand on heart these Paul Noble courses have helped to accelerate my learning and given me an advantage over my other class mates.

I also have lessons for 2.5 hours a week with a lady from Barcelona, the progress is slow but very thorough, I was also having a 1 hour lesson with another school but after 15 weeks I decided my other course was more structured and beneficial for me.

I have no affiliation to Paul Noble but recommend his learning methods 100%


Here is a sound clip on YouTube on how the cd course and how it works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBXS745DApg

 

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:23am

GCfromVC

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Joined: 18 Jan 2018

Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2022 10:23am

Hi

I would recommend Michel Thomas who has a different way of teaching.

As usual with these things it's all very individual for your circumstances as there are so many out there to choose from.

Always good to keep the brain cells going.

Regards Glen

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2022 2:53pm

Posts: 51

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Location: Altea

Joined: 1 Aug 2019

Posted: Wed Jun 22, 2022 2:53pm

My wife and I are 64 and 62. We have both done Duolingo and Spanish with Paul (the free stuff) we now supplement with a 1hour a week lesson at home. We have made a lot of progress but as others have said will likely not be conversation ready any time soon. However it is rewarding and when you have issues in Spain its great when you can find a way of explaining or asking that enables you to navigate some easy and some difficult tasks. You will feel proud of yourself. Go for it.

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 12:32am

RichardH

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Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 12:32am

Bsbrokers wrote on Wed Jun 22, 2022 2:53pm:

My wife and I are 64 and 62. We have both done Duolingo and Spanish with Paul (the free stuff) we now supplement with a 1hour a week lesson at home. We have made a lot of progress but as others have said will likely not be conversation ready any time soon. However it is rewarding and when you hav...

 

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...e issues in Spain its great when you can find a way of explaining or asking that enables you to navigate some easy and some difficult tasks. You will feel proud of yourself. Go for it.

Duolingo is not 100% Spanish

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 10:21am

Lefty

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Location: Benidorm

Joined: 11 May 2022

Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 10:21am

RichardH wrote on Fri Jun 24, 2022 12:32am:

Duolingo is not 100% Spanish

Do you mean because as it is Latin American based many words and phrases are different or something else ?

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