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BenBradleesLaptop t1_je0lcm8 wrote

Reply to comment by t3hdebater in Looking for Spanish speakers who want to practice over dinner or a beer by webren

I'm curious about this. Have you been? I've been learning spanish on duolingo for 5 months. 15 mins every day, but I can't yet really speak to Spanish speakers I regularly encounter. I know I need to practice in person, but should I wait until I'm more proficient?

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webren OP t1_je0ubpa wrote

I've been studying consistently for about 5 years and I found that Stephen Krashen's theory on Comprehensible Input is spot on. In a nutshell, his theory suggests that language acquisition through regular input (watching videos and reading) is more important than trying to speak early on. I would recommend watching 15 minutes a day of Dreaming Spanish YouTube videos over Duolingo. They have videos sorted by level and you'll want to start with the level where you understand at least 80% of what's being said. If you can't understand 80%, you go down a level until you comprehend mostly everything (hence comprehensible input). Over time, you'll naturally be able to advance in level and your brain will be able to put together and understand more complex phrases from language acquisition.

You may find trying to converse this early in your Spanish journey may leave you frustrated and may frustrate the listener depending on how patient they are. If I could go back in time, I would've done nothing but consume input for 2 years and then start speaking. Because I decided to force myself to speak early on, I created some bad habits because I was directly translating in my mind from English. I had to unlearn these habits when I was more advanced which was frustrating, and I wouldn't have had that issue if I focused on acquiring the language vs learning it.

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walkallover1991 t1_je0vebt wrote

100% agree with everything you said regarding Stephen Krashen's theory.

I'm at a similar level to you in Spanish (I've twice tested into C2/Advanced for Reading + Writing and C1/Advanced for Speaking) but still found myself gasping for words when trying to have a conversation with someone. I could easily read a novel or write a college-level essay but would struggle to speak to my Spanish-speaking neighbor about the weather.

I started retraining myself using the Comprehensible Input method a couple of weeks ago and it has really changed my thinking...

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webren OP t1_je0wrlq wrote

It's amazing how well it works! It's difficult sometimes to note the progress but eventually you'll see it and then it clicks.

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LongLiveDaResistance t1_je1gjpf wrote

Hmm, reaching proficiency (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) in a language typically takes about 5 years, so it may not have been the theory itself that worked but rather the time and consistency you put into learning.

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