A(nother) Spanish Log - Transition from Intermediate to Advanced
Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2017 4:28 am
Very Brief History/ Motivation Behind Decision to Start Learning Spanish
A lot about a person can change in two years...
... Some of this is aided by life's more obvious and expected change agents; the people we encounter, situations we face, and life's unexpected detours. Others, often championed by the conscious decisions we make ... or don't.
Attempting to learn Spanish is one decision I am glad to have made in September of 2014. It's one that continues to change me in ways that are hard to articulate. For one, the new perspective on life has been immensely rewarding. The decision to finally go 'all-in' probably began with a gentle but persistent curiosity in the language fostered, in part, by the many Spanish speakers I worked with at the time. They were from all over Latin America but they shared an unmistakable pride in their culture, openness to others and a perspective on life that I could only describe as 'intriguing'. For them, every week there seemed to be a reason to celebrate; be it an official holiday or some party on the weekend. ... Literally, every week, it seemed!
After months of hanging around my Spanish speaking co-workers (in reality they hung around me ,,, because I'm so cool ) a couple of them began asking why I had not yet tried to learn Spanish. One even offered to tutor me for a while. Truth be told, I've always wanted to learn Spanish, even in my teens. I even secretly thought that it would be cool to be able to speak a foreign language. However, I never attempted to do so. At the time, I was certain that:
1. I was too old - If I had started as a kid I would have had a chance.
2. Learning a language would have been too hard.
3. I didn't have time - I was a full-time student and I worked full-time.
4. I had no clue how to approach learning a language
5. To top off my arsenal of excuses, there was no reputable language school in my area that was within my budget.
Generally, I am pretty confident in my ability to do anything I decide to do but, for a while, I truly believed everything above.
As time went on, I really found myself wanting to be able to communicate with the guys (and gals) fully ... Sure, they spoke English but much of their interaction was in Spanish too. At these moments, someone would have to translate for me if I wanted to know what was going on.
As fate would have it, I received a promotion and decided to travel for the first time to Chicago (a large US city) before starting. It was the middle of August and the only things more awe inspiring than Windy City's architecture and rich history were the people I had the chance to meet. Among those relevant to this entry is a Colombian who was in the city on business. She spoke English almost flawlessly, and I found her Spanish alluring. I went to Chicago alone but I left with a new reason to learn Spanish. My friends at home, the Colombian I met in Chicago and the fact that I would now be leading many people who spoke Spanish as a first (or only) language made need to learn Spanish a bit more real. Suddenly, "una más por favor" and being able to count to ten was not cutting it.
I only remember going home one evening, googling 'how to learn a language' (I don't think I discovered the blog until much later), reading all night on the subject, and awaking the next morning determined to make it happen. Despite the fact that I've since questioned I my preparedness for the task many times, I never stopped trying to improve my level. When I took my first break from actively 'studying' I was able to continue reading, manage basic conversations and watch carefully selected materials.
Now, two years later, I am happy to say that I speak Spanish at an intermediate level. Although some have rated my comprehension skills at B2 I wouldn't feel comfortable claiming to be higher than a B1 (maybe B1+ on a good day). Today, I suppose I'm not as interested in the language as much as I am in the people, experiences and new perspectives on life it affords me. I can see myself learning other languages once my Spanish is at a good level.
This log will detail how I endeavor to make the transition to an advanced learner. As a first time, and relatively inexperienced, foreign language learner being able to look back at my struggles and triumphs will be useful if I ever decide to act on the desire to learn a third language. More importantly, they might be of value to someone else.
Thanks for reading.
A lot about a person can change in two years...
... Some of this is aided by life's more obvious and expected change agents; the people we encounter, situations we face, and life's unexpected detours. Others, often championed by the conscious decisions we make ... or don't.
Attempting to learn Spanish is one decision I am glad to have made in September of 2014. It's one that continues to change me in ways that are hard to articulate. For one, the new perspective on life has been immensely rewarding. The decision to finally go 'all-in' probably began with a gentle but persistent curiosity in the language fostered, in part, by the many Spanish speakers I worked with at the time. They were from all over Latin America but they shared an unmistakable pride in their culture, openness to others and a perspective on life that I could only describe as 'intriguing'. For them, every week there seemed to be a reason to celebrate; be it an official holiday or some party on the weekend. ... Literally, every week, it seemed!
After months of hanging around my Spanish speaking co-workers (in reality they hung around me ,,, because I'm so cool ) a couple of them began asking why I had not yet tried to learn Spanish. One even offered to tutor me for a while. Truth be told, I've always wanted to learn Spanish, even in my teens. I even secretly thought that it would be cool to be able to speak a foreign language. However, I never attempted to do so. At the time, I was certain that:
1. I was too old - If I had started as a kid I would have had a chance.
2. Learning a language would have been too hard.
3. I didn't have time - I was a full-time student and I worked full-time.
4. I had no clue how to approach learning a language
5. To top off my arsenal of excuses, there was no reputable language school in my area that was within my budget.
Generally, I am pretty confident in my ability to do anything I decide to do but, for a while, I truly believed everything above.
As time went on, I really found myself wanting to be able to communicate with the guys (and gals) fully ... Sure, they spoke English but much of their interaction was in Spanish too. At these moments, someone would have to translate for me if I wanted to know what was going on.
As fate would have it, I received a promotion and decided to travel for the first time to Chicago (a large US city) before starting. It was the middle of August and the only things more awe inspiring than Windy City's architecture and rich history were the people I had the chance to meet. Among those relevant to this entry is a Colombian who was in the city on business. She spoke English almost flawlessly, and I found her Spanish alluring. I went to Chicago alone but I left with a new reason to learn Spanish. My friends at home, the Colombian I met in Chicago and the fact that I would now be leading many people who spoke Spanish as a first (or only) language made need to learn Spanish a bit more real. Suddenly, "una más por favor" and being able to count to ten was not cutting it.
I only remember going home one evening, googling 'how to learn a language' (I don't think I discovered the blog until much later), reading all night on the subject, and awaking the next morning determined to make it happen. Despite the fact that I've since questioned I my preparedness for the task many times, I never stopped trying to improve my level. When I took my first break from actively 'studying' I was able to continue reading, manage basic conversations and watch carefully selected materials.
Now, two years later, I am happy to say that I speak Spanish at an intermediate level. Although some have rated my comprehension skills at B2 I wouldn't feel comfortable claiming to be higher than a B1 (maybe B1+ on a good day). Today, I suppose I'm not as interested in the language as much as I am in the people, experiences and new perspectives on life it affords me. I can see myself learning other languages once my Spanish is at a good level.
This log will detail how I endeavor to make the transition to an advanced learner. As a first time, and relatively inexperienced, foreign language learner being able to look back at my struggles and triumphs will be useful if I ever decide to act on the desire to learn a third language. More importantly, they might be of value to someone else.
Thanks for reading.