Overview of My Learning Strategy

Hola amigos,

now that we are acquainted I would like to share my overall Spanish language learning strategy. Just like  a personal fitness strategy might include diet, weight training and cardio, my Spanish language strategy includes:

Formal grammar and vocabulary training
     I attend classes at the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute (tfli.org). I also took Spanish classes in junior high and high school.  I don't trust myself to learn correct grammar and pronunciation without having a real person to correct me when I am wrong. However, some people might be able to fulfill this part of the strategy independently with books or online courses.

Informal exposure to Spanish from listening to Spanish speakers
     This part is really fun for me. I love watching movies in Spanish. I also love to talk to children and adults in Spanish at my school when appropriate (I do not give therapy in Spanish). In Nashville there is a Spanish conversation group (www.meetup.com/spanish-570).

Exposure to written language
     So much of adult language is learned from reading. No one speaks with perfect grammar in real life and no one uses as many different words while speaking as are included in books. Whenever I am in an airport I check the magazine racks for Spanish language magazines and newspapers. I also have my iPhone set on Spanish so that it says things like "mensajes" for "messages." I even read children's books in Spanish.

I think it is important to note here that I don't know if this strategy will work for anyone. I don't even know if it will work for me yet. I just wanted to let you know what I was doing and why. All children need formal instruction, exposure to printed material and a chance to listen to spoken language in order to become literate, functional speakers. I try to give myself the same well-rounded language environment in Spanish.

Please share any comments or personal strategies that you have used to learn Spanish!