learning Spanish

babysteps24

http://www.spanishdict.com/

this websites good

red_devil

Locsl libraries sometimes.

*max*

The fastest/easiest way to learn a new language is to practice it, ie speak it and hear it as much as possible. When total immersion is not possible, the alternatives are to listen to CD's/radio/TV as much as possible while learning (even if you don't understand what you are hearing, you will get used to the sounds and rythm of the language!), and/or to meet with a native speaker regularly. Could you maybe find a native speaker (or even several!) who would be happy to do a "language exchange", as in have a chat with you in Spanish one time, then in English the next time, and so on? It's mutually beneficial, free, and you might make a new friend.

clearingout

duolingo is trying to teach you patterns in language, rather than actual phrases that you might (or might not) one day use. If what you want is conversational Spanish, you either need to be searching online for someone to chat with (the joys of skype) who is willing to help you or find an actual class. You can't talk to yourself! Try youtube - plenty of teachers posting lessons there, many of them native speakers. Also spanishlistening.org (although you might struggle with the beginner stuff if you are truly a beginner) is a fab resource bank I make a lot of use of. Other than that, the BBC has an interesting free course called 'Mi Vida Loca' which might suit.

coolcait

74jax wrote: »

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Plus I'm learning 'my friend comes from India' which I can't see me ever needing to say....

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I like the sound of the duolingo site, going by clearingout and galeygoo's descriptions of it.

Look at the following phrases in English:

I come from India
You (singular) come from India
My friend comes from India
We come from India
You (plural) come from India
They come from India.

In English, apart from sounding like the introductions for a tour group (!) there's not much variety there.

In Spanish, there's a lot of variety in those sentences. Something random like "I come from Mars, she comes from Venus" is a good way to help you remember the differences in the verbs.

I'd agree that the best way - by far - to learn another language is to speak it with other people, and listen to as much as you can on radio, TV, t'internet.

However, if you're limited to studying via an app, or a website, or CDs, then I think there's far more value in something like duolingo which gives you the building blocks to create your own dialogue - rather than something which gives you a selection of phrases to parrot at more or less the right time. Assuming that the person you're talking to gives you the cue you're expecting.