Posted: Mon Jul 9, 2018 10:55am
Hello
I moved to just outside of Catral 2 or 3 weeks ago. (Been in Spain since last November).
Best way to learn spanish is ... download Duolingo or any of the spanish learning apps and spend 10 minutes every day building up a vocabulary of 'words' .... the verbs are more complicated but if you can say 'mi perro ... agua!" they'll know that your dog needs water. etc ....
Best place to increase your spanish is by avoiding English speakers ha haha ....I'm serious so ... we only feel embarrassed trying to communicate when we feel they "habla Ingles" .
Best phrase I ever learned (which is a little rude but HELL people laugh .... "lo siento mi espaniol es mierda!"
Telling someone in their own language that your "spanish is shit" breaks down the barriers and they usually tell you back (in Spanish) that their Ingles es mierda or poco poco (or something similar which means ... bit at a time.
Look ... just go about your business .... market on a saturday in Catral, vets, dentist (fantastic one in Catral if you need me to tell you which and where) ... get your hair cut in a spanish salon etc. Immerse yourself.
Anyway ....I'm still writing this in English so I ain't that good myself as yet but ... it's kool to sit in a cafe where everyone is speaking a language that you can't understand ... FREEDOM .... but one or two good spanish friends and a couple of 'foreigners' who speak English to maintain your sanity ... is vital I would say (if you're single as I am).
Sorry .... what was your question?
Oh and google translate .... is my BEST FRIEND!!
Buena suerte y hasta luego