<p>It would be helpful for my job, not necessary, for me to be able to speak some conversational Spanish. All I really remember from my high school Spanish is how to ask for directions to the library. </p>
<p>Has anyone here, as a mature adult, learned a new language? If so, did you take classes, use tapes, books? Any recommendations or suggestions as to how I can accomplish this without going back to school? Thanks!</p>
<p>I’ve learned some Spanish in the last few years–while in my fifties–and the language is totally new to me, although I have studied French in the past. I started with 5 days of Spanish lessons in a Spanish-speaking country, then another couple of weeks there attempting to communicate a little. </p>
<p>When I got home, I got one of the Pimsleur sets from our local library and worked through them while driving. It was great, easy, and consolidated what I had learned. I want to go on to the next set, but can’t justify spending the $$ at the moment. I definitely recommend Pimsleur, although for me actually having seen the words written down is an essential part of distnguishing what I’m saying. For that reason, if I were starting a new language from scratch, supplementing with a beginning textbook would probably help. Since you already have some knowledge of Spanish, you might not find that necessary.</p>
<p>Another such product is Rosetta Stone, which I believe combines listening, speaking, and writing, which might be better, depending how you learn best.</p>
<p>Some libraries have an arrangement by which you can download these programs and use them for several months for free. I’m not sure whether you can write the files to CDs, or whether you would be tethered to the computer when using them.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at some other language programs, and they seem inferior to Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone.</p>
<p>My experience is probably colored by the fact that Spanish is a comparatively easy language to learn.</p>
<p>It’s never too late! I heard that the Rosetta Stone program is great…I don’t know any details about it. I would look it up in Google. The key is to practice, practice, practice! Another idea is to watch T.V. in Spanish.</p>
<p>I learned some Italian before a trip I took with my family several years ago. I used tapes I checked out from the library. That was really helpful.</p>
<p>Buena suerte!</p>
<p>Cross-posted with Consolation.</p>
<p>When choosing a method of study, you should first think about which skills you are interested in learning. Most language courses include four sections: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. If you are only interested in the latter two modes of the language, look for programs that focus primarily on those.</p>
<p>Never.
Especially if you actually need to use the language.</p>
<p>I took conversational Italian for a year at the local community college from a native Italian speaker. It was fun, but if I were going to do it again, I would hire a tutor rather than go to classes.</p>
<p>I started Mandarin lessons eight months ago. It’s been quite an adventure, difficult as heck but so much fun. I found my class on Craig’s List. We average four students and so have alot of time to practice speaking and gives me the discipline I need to keep going. I supplement with listening to free podcasts when I’m at the gym, cleaning, etc. Also I look at character flashcards when I’m waiting for the train, etc. There are terrific language learning tools out there now. Good luck!</p>
<p>Ditto dmd77. I took German from a tutor and was able to get good enough to carry out simple conversations. As curiousmother said it is not difficult but requires a lot of practice. Learning a language is a lot more like learning tennis than an academic discipline.</p>
<p>Though I’ve never had a class in Spanish or any romance language, I am on what I jokingly call the 20 year plan. A bit slow, but better than nothing. As I work in a Spanish immersion environment a week or two a year, some of the patterns get forced into my brain, and pronounciation comes easily. You could do the same with Spanish speaking co workers or clients. I read everything I can in Spanish, understand it or not, as it gets the patterns into my head, and there are many cognates. Subscribe to a Spanish word of the day email and make lists that I go over on occasion. Listen to Spanish speaking radio. Occasionally I have a Spanish speaking patient, and I practice what I know (though is imperative to know when to get a translator to avoid overstepping ethical bounds) When I visited my son on exchange in Ecuador, I surprised myself with primitive but functional conversations. I need a class to get a grammatical foundation for the language, as collections of words do not make fluency! And when I’m done with paying tuition bills, maybe I’ll get to Guatamala or S. America to study at one of the myriad schools, and really learn to speak Spanish!</p>
<p>Years ago I tutored an 83 year old Greek woman in English. She had never learned to read English or to speak very well. So…I’ll concur that it is never too late. If you are wanting conversational learning, you really need a class or a tutor.</p>
<p>Depends on the person. Some pick it up quickly and speak with relatively little accent. Some have great trouble and will never speak it fluently or without an accent. Even when living in a country that speaks that language for 50 years or more.</p>
<p>It’s an aptitude. Like math.</p>
<p>I agree with those who say you’ll need to choose your method based on speaking/listening versus reading/writing.</p>
<p>My H has been learning spoken Mandarin via Pimsleur CDs in his car while driving. He would never be able to sit at a computer (which I think Rosetta requires but am not certain). He’s on his 3rd set of CDs. You can get the first set of several of Pimsleur’s languages on Amazon for less than $20.</p>
<p>[Translator</a> Beta](<a href=“http://translator.live.com/]Translator”>http://translator.live.com/) is a fun website.</p>
<p>But as to your original question… It’s never too late to be passionate about learning something new. :)</p>
<p>I was reading about alzheimers, not languages, and there I read that if you want to work actively against dementia, the very best thing to do in middle age is take up a brand new language (not even revive one from your younger years). It taps into brain neurons in a unique way. Just another motivator – and you don’t have to tell your boss :)</p>
<p>Yes, you can learn some conversational Spanish. Here are some things you can do:</p>
<p>Look for beginning Spanish classes at your local continuing ed.
Watch movies in Spanish mode. Most DVDs have this option.
Watch Spanish TV. The news is especially good.
Look for weekend immersion classes.
Frequent your local Hispanic restaurant & try ordering off the menu in Spanish.
Buy tapes & workbooks.
See if you can get Spanish versions of children’s books.<br>
Travel to a Spanish-speaking country and try not to speak English.
Read the news in Spanish. I think some Spanish newspapers are available on the Internet.</p>
<p>It will take some time to develop real conversational fluency, so be patient with yourself. Good luck!</p>
<p>I have been studying Norwegian for two years. I worked my way slowly through two introductory books, doing all of the exercises. I then read a few books aimed at teaching Norwegian to adult immigrants to Norway. I also listened to the CD sets offered by “Teach Yourself.” I translated some Norwegian poetry and read some literature. </p>
<p>I am now fairly decent at reading Norwegian (with a dictionary). I don’t get to converse much, so I am slow at that.</p>
<p>I am glad that I tried Norwegian; the experience has been broadening and satisfying.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your great suggestions, but most of all, thank you for the encouragement. Some days I feel like an old dog that can’t learn new tricks. ;)</p>
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<p>According to a linguistics article I read, to learn to speak a new language with truly no foreign accent, you need to start by about age 15. With enough work most people can become quite fluent long after age 15 - well into middle age or older, but to they almost always end up stuck with at least some degree of accent.</p>
<p>Oh, who cares if you have an accent? You still made the effort to learn the language!</p>
<p>I would agree. Sure, it would be nice to speak a language with no foreign accent, but you can probably think of people you know who speak excellent English, albeit with an accent, and no one thinks anything of it. The main thing is to be able to make yourself understood.</p>
<p>You may also be amazed at how much of that high school Spanish comes back to you once you get into it again.</p>