Spanish for professionals

CascadeBob says on Sep 16, 2008, 07:40:

Depends on your level of Spanish. If you are a beginner, don't bother inflicting your practice on your Colombian friends, they'll soon get tired of struggling to talk to you. Go to class, learn the basics, memorize the most commonlu used verbs in simple present, future and past tense, THEN you're ready to start practicing.

Intermediate? Push yourself to the next level (verb exceptions, imperfect verb tenses, expressions, accent, and slang)

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omargue says on Sep 16, 2008, 13:41:

the BEST way to learn is by practicing first hand, if you feel that you'll learn more by taking a class then do so, if not you can learn by practicing with friends and the public....you will be immensed in the spanish language so take advantage.....

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omargue says on Sep 16, 2008, 13:43:

also you dont want to come out speaking todo parce y gamin, tampoco todo gomelo osea....its good to know the difference and you'll definitely be able to tell once you're at that level....

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critter says on Sep 21, 2008, 06:03:

Cali_Brahh, if you are serious about becoming functionally fluent in three months, you will need intensive Spanish courses from a language specialist who is fluent in both English and Spanish, so that key grammar points and rules for pronunciation/stress are effectively conveyed. Buying books and practicing with Calenos will only confuse you; books will teach you the very basics of proper Spanish while most Calenos (yes, even the professional white-collar workers) do not speak proper Spanish. Instead of addressing you in the "tu" (familiar singular) or Ud. (polite singular), they often improperly use the "vosotros" (used to address more than one person in a familiar way) and hack the pronunciation (either by not stressing the appropiate syllable...[especially with commands] or by not pronouncing the vosotros verb suffix correctly. A prime example of this is revealed with the most commonly used verb tener- to have: yo tEngo, tu tiEnes, el/ella/Ud. tiEne, nosotros tenEmos, vosotros tenEIs, ellos/ellas/uds. tiEnen. As I mentioned, instead of using tu tiEnes or Usted tiEne, they improperly say "Vos tenES", using the verb stem of "vosotros" and the verb suffix of "tu". The other option you mentioned, taking classes with ISSO for three months, will give you just enough vocabulary (with very few explanations) to hold your own with the average 3 year old. SERIOUSLY!

MY RECOMMENDATION?

PM me ASAP! I am a certified teacher from the Detroit area currently living in Cali. I know the know the language, culture, and city very well. In fact, I can set you up with a package deal which would include 1-on-1 intensive Spanish classes with room and board in a strata-5 neighborhood for 3 months at a reasonable price.

"Spending eternity in a bad place is a long time!"

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manINred says on Sep 21, 2008, 06:09:

there ain't notin improper wit vos

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