Comments on: 6 Reasons you Should Talk to Strangers in Spanish http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/ All about learning Spanish and English and the Tomísimo bilingual dictionary Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:17:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ananda http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-27401 Ananda Mon, 07 Jul 2008 03:42:15 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-27401 One more reason: you may get better deals :-). I have lived in Los Angles for a few years, so I had plenty of opportunities to try and speak Spanish to strangers. when shopping, I need to speak to strangers anyways, so when I see that the attendants are speaking Spanish to each other (to make sure I don't assume too much), I go ahead and try to practice my Spanish. A couple of times this resulted in small discounts or "it's on me" (I didn't even ask for it... I guess they thought they would compensate me for my efforts :-)). One more reason: you may get better deals :-). I have lived in Los Angles for a few years, so I had plenty of opportunities to try and speak Spanish to strangers. when shopping, I need to speak to strangers anyways, so when I see that the attendants are speaking Spanish to each other (to make sure I don’t assume too much), I go ahead and try to practice my Spanish. A couple of times this resulted in small discounts or “it’s on me” (I didn’t even ask for it… I guess they thought they would compensate me for my efforts :-)).

]]> By: gorka arce http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-26988 gorka arce Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:17:05 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-26988 hi there! nice blog, congratualtions. I wanted to mention the project i am working on. It´s a language learning community where you can meet people learnin virtually almost any language. Of course, many of our users, are spanish native speaker. So if you are afraid to talk to strangers in spanish on the streets, maybe our site could help you to take the first step from the confort of your home. chek it out http://www.palabea.net it´s for free, of course saludos desde berlin! hi there!

nice blog, congratualtions. I wanted to mention the project i am working on. It´s a language learning community where you can meet people learnin virtually almost any language. Of course, many of our users, are spanish native speaker. So if you are afraid to talk to strangers in spanish on the streets, maybe our site could help you to take the first step from the confort of your home.
chek it out http://www.palabea.net
it´s for free, of course

saludos desde berlin!

]]> By: eduFire » Blogs http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-26830 eduFire » Blogs Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:35:07 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-26830 [...] for the most part there’s a high signal-to-noise ratio here and some fresh ideas (e.g., 6 Reasons You Should Talk to Strangers in Spanish). Two thumbs up from this [...] [...] for the most part there’s a high signal-to-noise ratio here and some fresh ideas (e.g., 6 Reasons You Should Talk to Strangers in Spanish). Two thumbs up from this [...]

]]> By: Phoenix Spanish Lessons http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24393 Phoenix Spanish Lessons Thu, 03 Apr 2008 22:13:44 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24393 David, It has been a long time. How are things going? I was just catching up on some of your blog posts and this one struck me. Mosts students problems revert to not enough practice and their are 2 reasons. 1. Not enough access to Spanish speakers. 2. Fear of speaking to Spanish speakers. Both can be overcome. 1. Search really hard. In the US it is easy to find a group of Spanish speakers somewhere or to take classes. 2. Everyone makes mistakes. I'm sure you don't make fun of someone or think less of them when they are learning to speak English. Spanish speakers will think it is great that you are trying. David,

It has been a long time. How are things going? I was just catching up on some of your blog posts and this one struck me.

Mosts students problems revert to not enough practice and their are 2 reasons.

1. Not enough access to Spanish speakers.
2. Fear of speaking to Spanish speakers.

Both can be overcome.

1. Search really hard. In the US it is easy to find a group of Spanish speakers somewhere or to take classes.
2. Everyone makes mistakes. I’m sure you don’t make fun of someone or think less of them when they are learning to speak English. Spanish speakers will think it is great that you are trying.

]]> By: David http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24389 David Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:59:08 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24389 Hi there Aaron, Long time no see. I hope everything's going well for you over at LeTutor. :) Hi there Aaron, Long time no see.

I hope everything’s going well for you over at LeTutor. :)

]]> By: Phoenix Spanish Lessons http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24388 Phoenix Spanish Lessons Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:45:59 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24388 David, Speaking to strangers in any foreign language is a great way to learn a new language. Students need to get over their fears and start speaking. You'll improve your speaking and listening fluency and learn more vocabulary. Great advice David. http://www.letutor.com - Spanish class in Phoenix, AZ David,

Speaking to strangers in any foreign language is a great way to learn a new language. Students need to get over their fears and start speaking.

You’ll improve your speaking and listening fluency and learn more vocabulary. Great advice David.

http://www.letutor.com - Spanish class in Phoenix, AZ

]]> By: David http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24159 David Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:50:55 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-24159 Thanks for the comment Jane, and sorry it took so long to approve it. And I'm glad to see you have lots of (the right kinds of) motivation to help you learn Spanish, and judging by your forum posts, your learning is going quite well. Hopefully some day I'll be able to visit Spain and Madrid. Thanks for the comment Jane, and sorry it took so long to approve it.

And I’m glad to see you have lots of (the right kinds of) motivation to help you learn Spanish, and judging by your forum posts, your learning is going quite well.

Hopefully some day I’ll be able to visit Spain and Madrid.

]]> By: Jane http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-23715 Jane Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:19:50 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-23715 David, I completely agree with you that most times the fastest way to learn a language is by being in situations where the target language is needed for meaningful real life communication. I moved to Spain two years ago with absolutely no knowledge of the spanish language. The first couple of months were really dificult, I couldn´t go grocery shopping, to the doctor´s or even watch TV without looking for someone to translate. Talk about need and motivation. But I knew I had to learn to move around on my own and do things by myself without disrupting the schedule of friends and families. It was a necessity. A real life need to communicate meaningfuly in real life situations. Besides I had already fallen in love with the city of Madrid. I´ve got my fair share of embarassing mistakes or as Bilingual Blogger so nicely puts it making a fool out of myself, I´m very determined though to achieve a certain level of fluency and I think I´m doing pretty well (if I say so myself). I´m still learning, but I tell you I´ve got all the motivation I need. David, I completely agree with you that most times the fastest way to learn a language is by being in situations where the target language is needed for meaningful real life communication.

I moved to Spain two years ago with absolutely no knowledge of the spanish language. The first couple of months were really dificult, I couldn´t go grocery shopping, to the doctor´s or even watch TV without looking for someone to translate.

Talk about need and motivation. But I knew I had to learn to move around on my own and do things by myself without disrupting the schedule of friends and families. It was a necessity. A real life need to communicate meaningfuly in real life situations. Besides I had already fallen in love with the city of Madrid.

I´ve got my fair share of embarassing mistakes or as Bilingual Blogger so nicely puts it making a fool out of myself, I´m very determined though to achieve a certain level of fluency and I think I´m doing pretty well (if I say so myself).

I´m still learning, but I tell you I´ve got all the motivation I need.

]]> By: Liss http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-22537 Liss Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:07:58 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-22537 Do you know how many words has spanish language?Please ,if anyone knows the answer send me a e-mail.Thanks Do you know how many words has spanish language?Please ,if anyone knows the answer send me a e-mail.Thanks

]]> By: David http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-20580 David Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:03:57 +0000 http://www.tomisimo.org/blog/2008/language-learning/talk-to-strangers/#comment-20580 Bilingual Blogger, yes it takes hard work, lots of time, a few embarrassing mistakes, and a little pinch of talent to become fluent in a foreign language. Miss Profe, language is definitely about communication... one thing I've found really useful is putting people in situations where they have to use their target language for <em>meaningful</em> communication in real life-- in other words using Spanish to accomplish or obtain something needed and urgent-- not saying "¿Dónde está el lápiz? El lápiz está en la mesa". :) Bilingual Blogger, yes it takes hard work, lots of time, a few embarrassing mistakes, and a little pinch of talent to become fluent in a foreign language.

Miss Profe, language is definitely about communication… one thing I’ve found really useful is putting people in situations where they have to use their target language for meaningful communication in real life– in other words using Spanish to accomplish or obtain something needed and urgent– not saying “¿Dónde está el lápiz? El lápiz está en la mesa”. :)

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