I've been using free Duolingo, my streak is approaching 400 days. I'm slow, but I think I'm getting it. Unfortunately, I haven't found anyone live to practice with.

Yes, I do have a suggestion! Baselang. For a monthly fee, you get unlimited one-on-one lessons via Zoom with people in South America. I have been doing this for about a year and a half now, and definitely take full advantage of the "unlimited" aspect of the program. I have gone from literally no Spanish (I took French in High School), to extremely conversant. In my opinion, there is no substitute for actually getting to practice frequently with native speakers. I have too many things to say about the program to write here, but if you want to know more, message me.

That’s wonderful. Thanks!

I've been using Baselang for about 6 months. I have had lots of formal Spanish classes, but there's nothing like being able to have regular conversations with a native speaker! My Spanish has really improved a lot.

In addition to my daily Baselang lessons I listen to Spanish learning podcasts while I'm out walking.

I highly recommend Language Transfer. It's a free course perfect for beginners or even advanced students. It teachers you how the language works, and I find the teacher to be very calming and reassuring.

https://www.languagetransfer.org/free-courses-1

Terriks, do you tend to use the same teachers over and over or do you switch frequently? Since I started the program I have tried MANY, but I seem to use the same 5 or so consistently now.

I use the same two teachers. I should branch out more, but I feel comfortable with these two.

I took French classes at night school at a local middle school. I stopped when I realized my accent was just irretrievably abysmal, though my recall of vocabulary from 7th grade was, I have to say, exemplary.

Mtn—-I majored in Spanish and spent hours in the language lab in high school and college working on the accent. Fast forward 35 years to when I was working for the school system and worked closely with the curriculum supervisors. I knew from my kids’ high school Spanish classes that language labs were a thing of the past. I had a conversation with the Foreign Language supervisor asking her why no more labs and she said communication is the goal, not a perfect accent. Of course she was right. When someone from another country speaks English we don’t think ”ugh—-they don’t have an American accent.” We’re impressed they learned the language. A non-native speaker is unlikely to ever attain a native accent. So, everyone, have fun taking classes and don’t worry about your accent.

I suggest classes such as those offered in a community college or extension. Once you've learned the grammar, it's just a matter of practice and building your vocabulary. When studying Italian, I had total immersion classes -- even the instruction was in Italian. Crazy as it sounds, it works.

I suggest classes such as those offered in a community college or extension. Once you've learned the grammar, it's just a matter of practice and building your vocabulary.

That's basically how I'm using Baselang. I have learned lots of grammar and vocabulary, and my reading and writing skills are decent, but speaking and comprehending? Not so much. That's where speaking with a native Spanish speaker is so helpful.

Terriks, for that reason I would highly recommend that you branch out to more than two teachers. Because I have found it so helpful to have classes with people from different countries (or even different parts of the same country), with different accents, some of whom enunciate much better than others or express their thoughts very differently. Sometimes I think that I am doing "great" with my listening comprehension, and then I take a class with someone who sounds at first like they are speaking a different language. It's a good exercise to be able to attune your ear to new people, and Baselang really gives you that opportunity.

This is very intererting. I have told my kids one of my major regrets from school is NOT learning a foreign language. I hope they stick with it! Intro to Spanish over 20 years ago; it is completly new to me again. I will look into Baselang. Thanks!

Don't underestimate the value of learning songs to help re-enforce grammar, syntax and vocabulary. Spotify and Apple Music have lots of non-English language channels.

I know this is a thread about Spanish, but does anyone know if there something similar to Baselang for Italian? My sister would like to improve her very basic Italian. She taught herself using Duolingo for vocabulary and You Tube videos for pronunciation.

bbstx - have her look into italki.

https://www.italki.com/?utm_source=google_search&utm_medium=keyword&utm_campaign=sep_campaign_2021_09&utm_content=brand&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7MGJBhD-ARIsAMZ0eet09BeXrqa7e5eKuJqBI5NWKqsIn6Zf3ecIHvJ3kug5wVd17AEF-v8aAneJEALw_wcB

sas95 Can you recommend any BaseLang teachers for me? If so, can you send me a private message? My very favorite teacher has found another job. I'm happy for her and her family but sad to lose her as a teacher.

Zalco, seriously, I do pick up some Spanish in Zumba songs!

Our Y has offered Spanish classes so maybe look into some type of community organization like that.

I bought Rosetta Stone but I don’t think there’s a way that both DH and I can practice together? Does anyone know?

I took adult educations classes at City College in San Francisco for Spanish and French conversation, and the classes were completely oral - nothing written - which is what I wanted. I went there to learn Spanish (I had already had French at university), but I signed up for French conversation to improve my pronunciation. I felt that as long as I was going to take the streetcar that far that I might as well take two classes while I was at it.

There is no shortage of people to practice Spanish with in California, and that helped. Also, I rode the streetcar back from my Spanish class with a young woman from Paris who lived only a few blocks from me, and we practiced Spanish on the streetcar ride, which took at least 20 minutes. She refused to speak French with me, however, because she said I had a horrible American accent, and she wanted to practice Spanish.

It helps if the other students in your class are have good pronunciation skills. I dropped my second Spanish class because I got tired of listening to students who spoke with extreme Brooklyn accents. The students in my first class were much better.

My French conversation class had wine and cheese parties from time to time, and I found that drinking wine made speaking French a bit easier for me. For Spanish, you might need Tequila.

Terriks, I sent you a message.