Learning Spanish online or a book?

I tried Babbel and found it awful. The voice recognition was terrible and very frustrating to use. I then used a combination of italki for conversation and “Kwiziq” for all the rest.

Another here learning Spanish on Duolingo, about 18 months in.
Confession: I have a degree in French and German, also Latin A level and did
O Level Italian in a year. I taught in 2ndary schools for many years and I do know something about language learning.
Truly, in my qualified opinion, Duolingo is a great introduction and the gamified system keeps one engaged.
But the truth is, in Spanish it is the verbs that a student really has to get a handle on. I have to use a grammar handbook as well, because Duolingo just presents new forms without explanation. And I'm someone who knows how Western European languages work.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to starting a local authority evening class this September.
A final thought: has anyone got experience of Babbel, a paid-for online language-learning system?

Maelil

I don’t understand the posters who say “I don’t want to know about verbs and things” - whatever “things” are.
Every “doing” word is a verb. You can’t have a conversation without using verbs do so need to know how to use them.!

Our U3A tutor said they don’t teach languages the way they used to so grammar is not so vital. I studied Spanish at grammar school many years ago and grammar was very high on the list so it seemed a bit weird to me (and a few others) but the tutor said conversational Spanish is the way forward and you will sort it out yourself.

I agree, and hope I can find a class. Can anyone recommend a good book of Spanish verbs, please?

Chocolatelovinggran

I think Duolingo and local classes works best.
Duolingo has helped me but my chances of finding conversational Norwegian groups isn't so likely!

Yes, a combination of both.

Just found this thread. I love your story Catterygirl. I’ve been ‘learning’ Spanish on Duolingo, but would really like to join a local Spanish conversation class. There isn’t a U3A class nearby, and quite honestly I’d prefer a mixed age group, so will continue doing my research. How are you enjoying it sunfield91?

Thank you for all the suggestions
I have decided to use Duolingo and have signed up, I think, because I’m paying for it, it’ll make me more enthusiastic about doing the course!!
To the couple of people who posted that they couldn’t understand why I didn’t want to learn about verbs what I meant was I have had quite a few Spanish tuition books and a lot of them actually have tables of verbs to learn and thank you for telling me that verbs are used every day , I really didn’t know that !!

Maelil

I don’t understand the posters who say “I don’t want to know about verbs and things” - whatever “things” are.
Every “doing” word is a verb. You can’t have a conversation without using verbs do so need to know how to use them.!

My feelings exactly.
Dh has been going to French conversation lessons for years, and it does irritate me when he can’t or won’t learn irregular verbs, and so misuses them - it’s like a small child saying ‘I bringed’ instead of ‘I brought’, or ‘I goed’ instead of ‘I went’.

It’s not as if he’s thick - far from it - it’d take him so little time to learn the most common ones.

I started listening to Coffee Break Spanish on my bus journey to work, and found it very good. I go to Spain as often as I can, and sometimes can get Spanish subtitles on Netflix.

Maelil

I don’t understand the posters who say “I don’t want to know about verbs and things” - whatever “things” are.
Every “doing” word is a verb. You can’t have a conversation without using verbs do so need to know how to use them.!

👏
I didn't want to say that ..... but it really is a case of understanding verbs and using them.
I guess there's ways of making verb learning more interesting and relevant, but in the end, they've just got to be mastered!

I don’t understand the posters who say “I don’t want to know about verbs and things” - whatever “things” are.
Every “doing” word is a verb. You can’t have a conversation without using verbs do so need to know how to use them.!

If you don’t want to do a class there are very good online apps where you can talk with a native speaker or a teacher - price depends on the level of the person. With a teacher you get a much more tailored approach. I did it for French and can really recommend it. I used “italki”

I’ve been learning Spanish for 4 years plus on DuoLingo. It was great at first but now it is going too fast for me and not revising enough what I initially learned. I don’t want to give up but feel I am falling behind.

I'm learning Italian from scratch on Duolingo. Ive done 123 days. The app asks you to repeat phrases and tells you if its right or wrong. Verbs are tricky but necessary. I'm enjoying it. I only did basic French and German at school.

Different language, butI taught DH French. He was keen to know how and why different structures are used, including verbs I might add! He's actually quite good at contributing to a conversation now if he knows what he wants to say. The problem is when they come back at top speed or ask him a question he is unprepared for! We spend 8 weeks a year in France.
You could look online for things like slow news in Spanish because they have topical podcasts you can easily follow. Listening to natives is a good skill to practise in order to further your own speaking and fluency.
Good luck!

I was about to suggest you went off the beaten track a bit for a month or six weeks if you could.

But there are lots of conversational Spanish classes in local colleges.

Good luck.

My first husband was Spanish but totally didn’t want me to speak Spanish. No idea why but I fell in love with Spain and when I met his sister in Vigo she told me I would have nothing to eat or any clothes washed unless I asked her in Spanish. Within two weeks with her and her lovely daughters I was almost fluent. I so remember her daughters asking me to pinta mis unas which means paint my nails. I lived in Spain with my second husband for many years and because of Brexit only visit. Am on Duolingo revising and find it very useful.

CountessFosco

How about joining the local U3A group if they have a learners' Spanish group. We have one here which is well thought of [as well as French, German, Russian and Italian]. This way, you would learn with others and listen to what they are saying.

I did about 6 months on a U3A Beginners Spanish course.
Then my Mum needed me so I stopped going. They were a snobby lot anyway.

I think Duolingo and local classes works best.
Duolingo has helped me but my chances of finding conversational Norwegian groups isn't so likely!

Google Spanish conversation classes near me.

I went to a local authority taster Spanish class and loved it so much I signed up for the full course. I really enjoyed it and looked forward to Friday mornings there. The class was a mix of ages and everyone got on really well. We learnt the sort of things you are looking for. This involved a lot of role play which was the ideal way to learn. The course lasted a year and sadly after that the follow up was a GCSE course. Like you I wasn’t interested in verbs etc just wanted to be able to have a conversation so I didn’t take it further. Surprisingly I can still get by and have picked up more bits as I go along.

Hope you find something.

How about joining the local U3A group if they have a learners' Spanish group. We have one here which is well thought of [as well as French, German, Russian and Italian]. This way, you would learn with others and listen to what they are saying.

I did Duolingo for 2000 days in a row. But to be honest I got to point where I could write and understand it, but when I tried to have a conversation with a Spanish person on holiday I hadn’t got a clue. That’s a complete different kettle of fish. So I gave up. I will be interested to hear other people’s suggestions. I’ve heard that Spanish Telenovelas on TV is a good place to start.