16 replies to this topic

[senorwatkins]

Hi - I just moved to San Diego for a job and now I need to learn Spanish ASAP. I phoned a few colleges here but have missed the Spring enrollment and am too early for the Summer courses.
I was wondering - would it be worth living in TJ for two or three weeks and commuting to SD, with the hope that I could converse in Espanol at night?
Or are there any language schools out there where I could learn Spanish or organize an intercambio?
If there are any Spanish-speaking families out there who would be interested in having a gringo lodger for a few weeks, I'd pay rent and for Spanish conversation.
Many thanks!!

[Alicia]

One of the main reasons we live in TJ is to learn to speak Spanish more proficiently than would be easily possible in a class. It's convenient to San Diego, save for the border hassles -- that's the only thing you have to get around (get a Sentri, motorcycle, have patience, etc.)

[Nocaute]

I, too, am interested in spanish classes as well as immersion learning. My very first order of business as a resident of Tijuana- within a few days- is find and start attending a language school in TJ.

I studied at a language school only 2 weeks (20 hours/week) in Rio de Janeiro, and then lived there an additional 3 weeks, and came away with a conversational/intermediate level of Portuguese. Which means I can communicate my ideas and thoughts, even if I don't sound elequent.

So, I expect a similar experience with Spanish. I will let you know what I find out, if you do the same.

[bluejeans]

I saw this ad in the Baja Times...

Spanish Classes At the old City Hall Rosarito, 2nd floor new city hall Tuesdays & Thursdays from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.$10.00 per week, role playing, recipes & games included to make this a fun course! For reservations contact Olivia del Corral at: (661) 614-9600 ext. 2830, or send an e-mail to: internationalresidents@yahoo.com

[Chiquito]

http://www.bajacal.com/

Immersion is the quickest way, 24/7 spanish, with someone to help you out. The above link is to a school in Ensenada that can set up about any program you want.

[BajaGringo]

I taught myself Spanish and today I am totally fluent. I can share with you how I did it:

I bought a nice notebook with lined pages and every night I would look up 50 new words in my Spanish-English dictionary and record them into my notebook along with the translation. I would study them before going to sleep as well as review the words from previous days. I would go over it again with my breakfast in the morning and carry it with me all day long. Every time I had a few spare moments I would review them again. I would buy magazines/newspapers in Spanish and use my word list and dictionary to translate at least one article a day. Record any new words to your notebook. Keep a separate section in the back of your notebook to record common phrases as you learn them.

After a few weeks I began listening/watching only Spanish language radio and TV. In 10 days you will have learned a minimum of 500 words and in 3 months you will have a volcabulary of over 5000 words. Use every oportunity you can to begin to practice the Spanish you are learning. Don't worry about the grammer and conjugating the verbs - you will pick that up quickly once you actually begin to converse with the words you have learned.

I used this method while living in northern Argentina several years ago and within 3 months of starting I was able to go out on my own, take public transportation, shop, begin taking classes at the local college and the most important thing - date girls! Hahahaha! Seriously though it does work. I contiunued the process and today I am 100% fluent...

[Chiquito]

Do you speak like someone from Argentina then? I have noticed a very pronounced accent from there, almost an Italian flavor to it.

I learned pretty much the same way you did with two days of private instruction at the school I mention above to give me a basic foundation.

The concept of fluency escapes me though. I do not know exactly when a person would be considered fluent.

[richsinc]

Fluent?=

When you can ask for los banos and get pointed in the right direction???
Seems prety fluid, eh fluent, to me...

[BajaGringo]

Yes, there is an accent from Argentina, where they consider it Castellano, not Spanish. There are a few differences, such as in the pronunciation of the "ll's" and "y's" as well as the way they roll the "rr's". They use "vos" instead of "tu" and will say things like "queres" or "tenes" instead of quieres or tienes.

When did I consider myself fluent? I guess there were a few indications but mainly when people stopped thinking I was a gringo speaking Spanish that sounded like someone from Argentina. Now most people ask me what part of Argentina I am from...

[Chiquito]

Went to a hotel in Costa Rica several years ago and asked "Donde estan los baños?". The reception clerk was totally bewildered and said I would need to rent a room to take a bath. Another person there told her I meant "servicios sanitarios" and then she understood. Spanish is not universal.

Now if I feel like messing with people here in Tijuana I tell them I don't speak English or Spanish (ni Castillan), I speak Catalan. Thoy de Barthelona.

j'ncomprenpas l'español, j'comprenas l'ingle (yes my french spelling sucks).

[Nocaute]

That is excellent advice, BajaGringo. I am going to do as you suggest. I cannot go to the classes mentioned above because I work those hours.

I have found a private teacher who comes to my house for $20/hour. He has a doctorate degree and teaches at the university here in TJ. I have had one lesson and I am thrilled so far. Extensive homework, which makes me happy. He speaks almost exclusively Spanish to me, which tells me that he's a good teacher. I went to a language school in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and had many professors there, so I can tell you from experience that this guy is a good teacher. Also, at the language school, they wouldn't speak ANY English, or allow us to. The first day of class they told us that they wouldn't, to force us to learn to "think in portuguese".

Also, I have dozens of spanish lessons on CD and ITunes. I listen when I can. I'm happy to burn some for anyone who wants. I also have bought a big workbook from Barnes and Nobel.

I have been learning Spanish for about a week and a half and I can already get many, if not most of my basic thoughts and needs across. It helps that no one speaks English in my neighborhood, and that I am an intermediate Brazilian Portuguese speaker. Also, everyone at my work speaks spansh, english, and portuguese (tri-lingual), so I can always ask them any questions I have.

[Nocaute]

Below is the information my professor sent me before I started with him. I told him I was Elementary level, according to his classification, and when we met, he told me I spoke more spanish than he expected. You know, I wish I was learning with a south or central american accent. When I speak portuguese, I speak with a Rio accent. I don't want a TJ accent!

I am very interested in giving spanish courses to you. My phone number is (664) 6 23 19 69. but if you phone from Tijuana you should phone to 6 23 19 69 and ask for Doctor Jorge Montiel.

Please tell me your Spanish level in accordance with this classification:
A. Elementary.
You are not able to communicate in everyday situations. You are not able to express yourself, or do so with difficulty and need time to find the right words. You find it difficult to understand spoken language.

B. Intermediate.
You have an acceptable level of comprehension when you are spoken to slowly and clearly. You can manage normal everyday communicative situations and can participate in conversations about familiar topics. You can produce simple written texts.

C. Advanced.
You have a good level of comprehension and you can express yourself fluently in many situations. You are capable of supplying arguments and defending a point of view. You can read the newspaper and understand written texts without difficulty.

SPANISH LESSONS PLANS:

The method I use is the communicative teaching method.
The activities and exercises undertaken in class are practical and focus on the development of oral and written _expression based on real language communications.
My program consists of creative classroom activities based on real-life situations combined with grammatical reinforcement. The practical and creative activities help you use the structures learned and gives you confidence to speak in Spanish
.
Grammar and Vocabulary (1 lesson per week):
You will learn vocabulary, idiomatic phrases, grammar concepts, words, sentence structures, useful phrases and language usage.
Lessons are structured so that you will first acquire the new vocabulary and grammatical structures through examples and practice in structured exercises. Then you practice the new concepts in group or pair activates which are patterned after real communicative situations you encounter in everyday life.


Reading/Writing (1 lessons per week):
You specifically work on developing and improving reading comprehension and written communication.
You will learn strategies for understanding a written text. You will produce written texts with teacher guidance and models.
Conversation (1 lessons per week):


You specifically work on developing and improving listening comprehension and speaking abilities.
There is an emphasis on increasing the students command of communication skills through discussion and exchange of information about social, economical, political and cultural aspects of life in Spain. Increase your awareness of cultural elements which guide the values, behaviors and language use of the Spanish people. Discover cultural elements such as customs, behaviors, typical dress, foods and leisure time activates and make comparison and contrast with the mix of cultures of the students in your class. Topics vary according to course level.

Culture (1 lesson per month, instead of the Grammar and Vocabulary lesson):
You will learn about Hispanic culture through the study of Spain’s art, history, literature, music. You will discover cultural elements such as customs, behaviors, typical dress, foods and leisure time activities.
Please tell me if you agree or you want a change in this plan. I can make an ad-hoc Spanish lesson.
I work for one of the best universities in Mexico: The Instituto Politecnico Nacional. My quotation is $25.00 per hour, buy if you take more than 3 hours per week, it could be $20.00 per hour.
Anyway, I will wait for your phone call.
Thank you very much!
Dr. Jorge Montiel

[TheOne]

I Am offering my services as a teacher of spanish
please contact me if interested for more information.

[Nocaute]

Not a very well spoken guy, is he? Doesn't bode well for his teaching suitability.

Can you tell us something more? Like credentials, ability, prices, why you think you can teach if you are not a certified teacher? I would be willing to hire some working class dude off the street if it was real cheap. Credentials, experience, and ability determine price.

Dr. Montiel is charging $20 and he's got a doctorate degree AND he comes to me. If you could buy that in the states, it would be outragious. At the language schools in San Diego, private instruction costs $55-60/hour and the instructor has a bachelors, if that. And that's not in the convienience of my home.

[BajaGringo]

Obviously the route you take is a personal choice but I would suggest that if you choose to work with a private instructor you make it clear that you are looking to expand your vocabulary and achieve a higher level of conversational Spanish.

Many of the instructors I have met seemed stuck on the idea of spending endless hours in grammer lessons. I firmly believe that grammer is much easier to learn when you have achieved a higher level of conversational ability. In fact you can almost learn it by yourself if you pay attention.

There are a few good books out there on Spanish verbs. Buy one of those and concentrate on expanding your vocabulary and you will do just fine...

[Tj 4 Rent]

Nocaute,

I would be interested in hiring this doctor to help me....

Can you ask him if it is okay for others to call on your referral?

He may give you a discount for referring people as well

[Nocaute]

Good advice again, Baja guy. I don't plan on getting all that many lessons. I'm going to take your advice and really focus on vocabulary. That is by far the biggest problem now.

TJ4Rent, he said it's ok for anyone and everyone to call for lessons. He said to call his cell (644)198 4617. He might give me a discount for referring people, so please everyone tell him Tabitha sent you. I could afford more lessons if I could get a discount! Thanks.