Sandía Struggles with Spanish

[Sandía]

Courses:
-Assimil: lessons 23-29
-Kwiziq: about an hour, A2 level

Reading:
-Pídeme los que quieres ahora y siempre, finished (432 pages)
-Several articles from El País
-Anki: about 60% of the days

Listening:
-Podcasts: about 3.5 hours, mostly Buenos días América and Lo que tu digas, which was recommended in the Spanish podcast thread. I really like it even though it is a struggle for me to keep up sometimes.
-That 70s show: Season one, episodes 20-24, and season 2, episode 1
-Las chicas de cable: First episode of the third season
-Movies: Finished Peal Harbor

Output:
-Translation: 3 hours of My Father's Dragan

Started translating a children's chapter book, checking my work using DeepL. This was really difficult in the beginning, but I think my hours upon hours of reading in Spanish have helped because when I tried again today it seemed a bit easier.

I am still reading awful Spanish romances. It is easy to read rather extensively though, and these were originally written in Spanish so they are good practice. The book I am currently reading was recommended to me by a friend, and, well, it's a bit silly. I gave it a shot though because there are 8 books in the series, but I'm not sure if I am going to continue after the second one.

[Sandía]

It's been about 20 days since I last posted and honestly I haven't gotten as much done as I would have liked, but I also had a busy month at work. I seem to be much better at reading and watching TV than I am at actually studying

Courses:
-Assimil: lesson 30
-Kwiziq: 25 min, A2 level

I am only 30% into the A2 level on Kwiziq and my 3 month subscription is up in a few days. I haven't been good about using this resource recently but I think I am still going to renew and step my efforts up a bit because I like the format.


Reading:
-Harry Potter y la cámera secreta: finished (288 pages)
-Several articles from El País
-Anki: almost none

I have fallen off the anki boat but I am trying to get back on. I have turned off new cards and and am just trying to catch up with reviews (I have over 1000 to go). And once I catch up I an going to lower my new cards from the 25 new cards/day that I had it at before, because I think I was just getting burned out.


Listening:
-Podcasts: mainly Buenos Días América, En Serio, No Hay Tos, and Lo Que Tu Digas
-That 70s show: Season 2, episodes 2-8
-Élite: episodes 1-3, watched intensively
-Movies: Coco
-Harry Potter audiobook: Ch. 5-18

Really enjoying Élite, a Netflix series about scholarship kids mixing with the rich kids in a Spanish private school. The language is really colloquial and I am struggling with it a lot. I have to watch almost every scene with Spanish subtitles, then English, then Spanish subtitles again. But between that and That 70s Show, which I watch pretty extensively and understand most of without subtitles, I feel like I am slowly making progress on listening. The podcasts are all hit or miss (except Buenos Dias America, which I can understand most of the time if my attention doesn't wander), depending on the subject of the podcast.


Output:
-Translation: about 30 min spent on My Father's Dragon
-Lang8: 2 entries
-Shadowing: Pídeme lo que quieres, about 30 min

Started shading the audiobook version of Pídeme lo que quieres, which I recently finished reading. I am hoping if I keep it up it will help with pronunciation and speech fluidity, but I haven't done even close to enough to know if it will really help me. Honestly, it is really really hard and kind of boring. A 10 min session leaves me a bit worn out and tongue tied.

[vyxr]

I finished Elite and I was shocked at how good it was. One of the best Spanish-language series I’ve ever seen. I had a lot of trouble understanding as well. I thought I was somewhat prepared to handle the accent / colloqualisms, but... definitely wasn’t. lol

[patrickwilken]

Nice to see another beginner student in Spanish; though I am much more a beginner than you.

[M23]

Nice work. It looks like you re getting all sorts of good input with the series and such. Translation is a good way to get some output in the beginner stages, so keep it up. I can't wait to get back in language study mode, myself... but first I need to finish out the semester.

[Sandía]

I finished Elite and I was shocked at how good it was. One of the best Spanish-language series I’ve ever seen. I had a lot of trouble understanding as well. I thought I was somewhat prepared to handle the accent / colloqualisms, but... definitely wasn’t. lol

Yes I am about halfway through and I am very impressed with the show. Seems to have high production value and the plot is much less “teenager drama” based than I would have though, although some of that does still exist. I am really enjoying it, even though my comprehension is lower than on most other shows I have watched. They speak very colloquialy is many scenes.

Nice to see another beginner student in Spanish; though I am much more a beginner than you.

I have been following you log too @patrickwilken. I appreciate you stopping by over here. I love reading other Spanish logs of all levels. The give me so many great ideas.

Nice work. It looks like you re getting all sorts of good input with the series and such. Translation is a good way to get some output in the beginner stages, so keep it up. I can't wait to get back in language study mode, myself... but first I need to finish out the semester.

I am definitely out of study mode right now and trying to force myself back in because I know the more study based and intensive activities were really helping me with output.

[Sandía]

It has been just shy of two weeks since I last posted, and I am happy to announce that I have finally settled on a routine that has been working for me. Well, at least since I started it a few days ago. I was doing a lot of extensive activities because they are much easier and take less focus, but I know I am still at a stage where intensive activities will be of great benefit to me. My plan therefor is as follows:

Day of Work- 1 hour
30 min listening
15 min reading
15-20 min daily Anki

Day off Work- 4 hours
1 hour listening
1 hour reading

30-45 min Assimil
15-30 min KwizIQ

15 min writing
15 min shadowing
15 min translating
15 min Anki


So far having a plan written down like this has helped me to actually star doing some of the more work intensive activities. Of course, it has only been a few days since I started this, so we will see if I can continue this long term.
Since my last post, I have accomplished:

Courses:
-Assimil: lessons 31-35
-Kwiziq: 20 min, A2 level


Reading:
-Harry Potter y el prisionero de Azkanban: 73% read (about 262 pages)
-Anki: reviewing cards only, almost every day
-El País: one or two articles

I am catching up on my reviews on Anki and then I am going to set the number of new cards lower than it was before. I am aiming for about 15 min a day of Anki time, so I will start with 15 new cards/day and adjust up or down as needed to keep my review time down.


Listening:
-Podcasts: 1.5 hours
-That 70s show: Season 2, episodes 9-14
-Élite: episodes 4-6, watched intensively
-Movies: El Calendario de Navidad

Still going strong with élite, which continues to be difficult for me, and That 70s Show, which is a breeze comparatively.
I am trying to decide if podcasts such as Lo Que Tu Digas are the right level for me right now. I only understand maybe 60%, enough to follow a verrryyy general outline of what is going on. I think podcasts that are more suited for my level might help me learn more.


Output:
-Translation: 1 hour spent translating My Father's Dragon
-Lang8: 3 entries
-Shadowing: Pídeme lo que quieres, about 45 min

Shadowing Pídeme is getting easier (although still challenging), but I have actually started enjoying it. I look forward to this section of my little routine.


Well that's all for now. Goals for the next few weeks are sticking with my routine as best I can. I don't expect to get it all done every day, as I have a family that needs attention too at times, but I am going to do my best.

[Bex]

I am trying to decide if podcasts such as Lo Que Tu Digas are the right level for me right now. I only understand maybe 60%, enough to follow a verrryyy general outline of what is going on. I think podcasts that are more suited for my level might help me learn more.

Absolutely and definitely.

By far the biggest mistake I've made and I did it for a loooooong time, was to listen to (and read) material that was too difficult for me.

I now choose really, really easy listening material, that way I can pick up new vocabulary and really get the grammar to soak in. It also allows me to listen more and drift off less, because it's easier.

I have found that the best listening material is where I can understand pretty much everything that is said except for a few new words of vocabulary every few (say every 5 for example) sentences; so I would say at least 90% comprehension. Oh and it has to be interesting or I stop listening in any language

Just my two cents...good luck your plan is looking good.

[Sandía]

I am trying to decide if podcasts such as Lo Que Tu Digas are the right level for me right now. I only understand maybe 60%, enough to follow a verrryyy general outline of what is going on. I think podcasts that are more suited for my level might help me learn more.

Absolutely and definitely.

By far the biggest mistake I've made and I did it for a loooooong time, was to listen to (and read) material that was too difficult for me.

I now choose really, really easy listening material, that way I can pick up new vocabulary and really get the grammar to soak in. It also allows me to listen more and drift off less, because it's easier.

I have found that the best listening material is where I can understand pretty much everything that is said except for a few new words of vocabulary every few (say every 5 for example) sentences; so I would say at least 90% comprehension. Oh and it has to be interesting or I stop listening in any language

Just my two cents...good luck your plan is looking good.

Thanks Bex. I know it would be better for me, but true native material is so much more interesting that I loose sight of that fact. I just want to be able to understand it all perfectly so badly!!