So I finally had the guts to go ahead and make public my YouTube channel. My hopes are to better my Spanish speaking abilities, inspire others to improve their own spoken abilities in foreign languages, and to go forward in learning other languages, as deep down I have always wanted to speak more than just Spanish and English.
I'm hoping to find more people interested in reading my blog here and hopefully interested in offering their own stories and advice here, or on Facebook, or wherever we can find a forum to express ourselves.
I've been nervous abut posting videos of myself for some time. It's quite a bit scarier than posting a blog. Suddenly my face is out there for everyone to see and all my mistakes are a lot more obvious. I still have to record and post my first official video, as what I posted today was only an introduction. I would like to post weekly and focus on topics that pertain to how language learning benefits us. I'm not so interested in learning grammar or focusing on vocabulary, there are plenty of sites for that. Here, I want to just talk about how languages effect us all and hopefully I can build a following based on that premise. My videos, at least right now, are very basic as I really don't know much about editing, but hopefully that too ill improve over time.
I'd love to hear your thoughts here on how I can best offer an entertaining channel while at the same time improving my own speaking ability. (Of course I will be speaking in both English and Spanish. I want everyone to be able to follow along.)
OK, that's it here for now, but hopefully the comments will start rolling in soon. Hasta luego!
Monday, April 17, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Going Forward
It's been sometime since I've posted on this blog, but I wanted to take an opportunity today to discuss a project I have in mind and hopefully will bring to fruition over the next few weeks. As always, my goal here has been to share my own personal stories about language learning in the hopes I can inspire others in their quest to expand their language capabilities.
I have been studying the Spanish language for several years and I am lucky enough to now be living in Spain where I can speak the language everyday. Unfortunately, sometimes simply living in the country isn't enough. In order to really develop fluency in the language it takes more than a simple stroll through the neighborhood to gain that fluency. One has to interact and really immerse themselves in all aspects of the language; reading writing, speaking, and listening. That being said I have decided I really need to do more if I want to truly speak with the confidence it takes to be fluent.
For many months I have been trying to develop a plan that would not only help me to increase my level of fluency in Spanish, but a plan that would also allow me to assist others and potentially gain new friends and acquaintances. I'm not a professor nor do I plan on giving lessons on Spanish or any other language for that matter. There are literally hundreds of websites available out there for those who are interested in learning a second or third or fourth language and I'm sure those sites would do a better job teaching them than me. What I want to do is simply start a dialogue. It can be in English, it can be in Spanish, and once I start working on other languages, (Italian, French, Portuguese, German, and Mandarin are just a few I have in mind) it can be in those languages in well. I would like to start a multi-faceted community if you will where I can go to share my thoughts and hopefully receive feedback from those of you out there in situations similar to my own.
The first part of my plan is obviously this blog. I plan on continuing writing here when I have the opportunity on topics involving languages and how they have impacted my life. The second part of my plan, and this is the more difficult aspect, is that I would like to develop a YouTube channel where I can periodically upload videos of myself speaking in well, whatever language I feel like babbling on in. The idea is not to offer lessons, because as I said, I am no teacher, however I would like to use the videos as a way to practice my own speaking abilities as well as receive feedback from viewers. What they like, what they don't like, how they go about learning, and maybe even challenges to me on how I can further improve and expand my language abilities.
In addition to the blog and YouTube, I am hoping to use social media like Facebook and Google + to get the word out and grow my audience. I'd love to have groups set up where we can discuss our thoughts and ideas in whatever language we feel comfortable with.
I would like to turn Learning To Live Through Language into more than just a simple blog. I would like to expand to a wider audience and hopefully help myself to become a better language learner as well as help others to achieve their language goals. My hopes are to get my first videos uploaded by the end of the month and hopefully start to grow a following. I should point out that I know very little when it comes to creating YouTube videos and my little experience will certainly show through initially, but my hope is to improve as I go and make better videos just as I improve on my language skills.
All right that's all for now, but hopefully this will inspire some readers to come forward with their own language learning stories. As always, talk to you soon!
I have been studying the Spanish language for several years and I am lucky enough to now be living in Spain where I can speak the language everyday. Unfortunately, sometimes simply living in the country isn't enough. In order to really develop fluency in the language it takes more than a simple stroll through the neighborhood to gain that fluency. One has to interact and really immerse themselves in all aspects of the language; reading writing, speaking, and listening. That being said I have decided I really need to do more if I want to truly speak with the confidence it takes to be fluent.
For many months I have been trying to develop a plan that would not only help me to increase my level of fluency in Spanish, but a plan that would also allow me to assist others and potentially gain new friends and acquaintances. I'm not a professor nor do I plan on giving lessons on Spanish or any other language for that matter. There are literally hundreds of websites available out there for those who are interested in learning a second or third or fourth language and I'm sure those sites would do a better job teaching them than me. What I want to do is simply start a dialogue. It can be in English, it can be in Spanish, and once I start working on other languages, (Italian, French, Portuguese, German, and Mandarin are just a few I have in mind) it can be in those languages in well. I would like to start a multi-faceted community if you will where I can go to share my thoughts and hopefully receive feedback from those of you out there in situations similar to my own.
The first part of my plan is obviously this blog. I plan on continuing writing here when I have the opportunity on topics involving languages and how they have impacted my life. The second part of my plan, and this is the more difficult aspect, is that I would like to develop a YouTube channel where I can periodically upload videos of myself speaking in well, whatever language I feel like babbling on in. The idea is not to offer lessons, because as I said, I am no teacher, however I would like to use the videos as a way to practice my own speaking abilities as well as receive feedback from viewers. What they like, what they don't like, how they go about learning, and maybe even challenges to me on how I can further improve and expand my language abilities.
In addition to the blog and YouTube, I am hoping to use social media like Facebook and Google + to get the word out and grow my audience. I'd love to have groups set up where we can discuss our thoughts and ideas in whatever language we feel comfortable with.
I would like to turn Learning To Live Through Language into more than just a simple blog. I would like to expand to a wider audience and hopefully help myself to become a better language learner as well as help others to achieve their language goals. My hopes are to get my first videos uploaded by the end of the month and hopefully start to grow a following. I should point out that I know very little when it comes to creating YouTube videos and my little experience will certainly show through initially, but my hope is to improve as I go and make better videos just as I improve on my language skills.
All right that's all for now, but hopefully this will inspire some readers to come forward with their own language learning stories. As always, talk to you soon!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
It's Up To You
When feeling down about my progress in speaking Spanish, I often turn to forums and Facebook groups for encouragement. Recently, I have found myself being the one offering advice and encouragement to those who are struggling to learn Spanish (or any other language for that matter). Many times I come across posts from those who have been studying for what seems to be an eternity yet feel like they have made no progress. Despite all their best efforts, when it comes to striking up a conversation with a native Spanish speaker, their brain freezes, their mouths lock, and nothing comes out. Sometimes, something comes out, but it's nothing like what they had in mind as to what they wanted to say. So often after moments like this, we just want to bury our heads in the sand and give up. What's the point anyway? Why are we trying so hard to do something that appears will never come along?
I moved to Spain one year ago and while I didn't have the hopes of speaking perfectly, I would have hoped that by now I would be speaking a little better. In my frustrations, I started making excuses. I spent too much time alone. My wife spoke to me in Spanish, but I replied in English. I worked with native Spanish speakers, but my job was to teach them English so I didn't have the opportunity to practice Spanish. The radio in Spain only played English language music! Yes, I told myself that all of these things were holding me back, but what was really holding me back? I was. It was nobody's fault but my own that I wasn't making the progress I wanted to make. I was living in a country where I should have had no choice but to speak Spanish, but I found myself shying away from striking up conversations with strangers. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy to walk up to a total stranger and just start yapping away, especially in a foreign tongue, but if I really had all the desire I said I had to speak the language, this would have to happen. And sure, speaking English made our conversations easier, but I really should have been speaking entirely in Spanish to my wife right from the start. Sometimes she may be a little hesitant to correct my mistakes, but she can't correct me if I don't at least try. As far as my job, sure I was supposed to be teaching English, but what's wrong with a little small talk before and after the lessons? I'm sure it would have relieved the students to relax and speak a little in their native tongue for a few minutes. Oh, and the radio. OK, that's just a poor excuse. The only thing holding me back was me, and in recent days, I have been doing my best to force myself to use the language as much as I can. (I know, as I write this in English.)
It's too easy to get down on ourselves. It's too easy to throw our hands in the air and say, "This is just too hard for me I can't do it." We've heard all of the excuses and we know all the easy ways out. So what's the solution? I say, make it easy for yourself! Instead of saying it's too hard, it's too hard, find a way to make it easy. If studying grammar rules is making your head hurt, try something else. Find a book or magazine that you like and try reading that. Memorizing lists of vocabulary won't help you unless it's vocabulary you actually plan to use. Instead of memorizing lists of items in your closet, start looking up words you want to know. Talk to yourself. Often. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, it will help you get over your fear of talking to strangers. I started setting up a video camera in my house and I would set a timer for 5 minutes and force myself to talk to the camera for 5 minutes without stopping. If you have the guts, watch the videos and pick out your mistakes. You'll be surprised at how quickly you improve.
Attitude is absolutely the most important part of learning a new language. If you tell yourself it's too hard, you've already given up. I know, because I was telling myself it was too hard for a long time. Embrace your mistakes, don't be afraid of native speakers, and make all that you do fun. It's your best bet. Don't worry how long you have been studying. It will all come to you sooner than you think. I'd love to hear others thoughts on this! Keep me posted!
I moved to Spain one year ago and while I didn't have the hopes of speaking perfectly, I would have hoped that by now I would be speaking a little better. In my frustrations, I started making excuses. I spent too much time alone. My wife spoke to me in Spanish, but I replied in English. I worked with native Spanish speakers, but my job was to teach them English so I didn't have the opportunity to practice Spanish. The radio in Spain only played English language music! Yes, I told myself that all of these things were holding me back, but what was really holding me back? I was. It was nobody's fault but my own that I wasn't making the progress I wanted to make. I was living in a country where I should have had no choice but to speak Spanish, but I found myself shying away from striking up conversations with strangers. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy to walk up to a total stranger and just start yapping away, especially in a foreign tongue, but if I really had all the desire I said I had to speak the language, this would have to happen. And sure, speaking English made our conversations easier, but I really should have been speaking entirely in Spanish to my wife right from the start. Sometimes she may be a little hesitant to correct my mistakes, but she can't correct me if I don't at least try. As far as my job, sure I was supposed to be teaching English, but what's wrong with a little small talk before and after the lessons? I'm sure it would have relieved the students to relax and speak a little in their native tongue for a few minutes. Oh, and the radio. OK, that's just a poor excuse. The only thing holding me back was me, and in recent days, I have been doing my best to force myself to use the language as much as I can. (I know, as I write this in English.)
It's too easy to get down on ourselves. It's too easy to throw our hands in the air and say, "This is just too hard for me I can't do it." We've heard all of the excuses and we know all the easy ways out. So what's the solution? I say, make it easy for yourself! Instead of saying it's too hard, it's too hard, find a way to make it easy. If studying grammar rules is making your head hurt, try something else. Find a book or magazine that you like and try reading that. Memorizing lists of vocabulary won't help you unless it's vocabulary you actually plan to use. Instead of memorizing lists of items in your closet, start looking up words you want to know. Talk to yourself. Often. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, it will help you get over your fear of talking to strangers. I started setting up a video camera in my house and I would set a timer for 5 minutes and force myself to talk to the camera for 5 minutes without stopping. If you have the guts, watch the videos and pick out your mistakes. You'll be surprised at how quickly you improve.
Attitude is absolutely the most important part of learning a new language. If you tell yourself it's too hard, you've already given up. I know, because I was telling myself it was too hard for a long time. Embrace your mistakes, don't be afraid of native speakers, and make all that you do fun. It's your best bet. Don't worry how long you have been studying. It will all come to you sooner than you think. I'd love to hear others thoughts on this! Keep me posted!
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