At this point, I feel that I can understand Spanish very well. I still have a ways to go, I don't understand everything, but I can definitely tell that I have improved in my listening and reading comprehension. Now I want to focus on output. How do I improve my writing and speaking?
Currently, I try to have 2 Spanish conversations weekly on LingQ. I try to prepare for the conversation beforehand. It doesn't always happen, but I do much better when I prepare. This includes choosing a lesson or other topic of discussion, and writing notes and vocabulary that I feel I will use in the course of the conversation. I also try to write Spanish twice weekly.
My issue with what I am doing is that it takes so much effort when I write or have a conversation. When I write, it takes a good 20 minutes or so for me to write 200 words. I constantly think things such as "how do I say this verb in this tense?". I continuously come across things I want to say that I don't know how to say. And speaking is even worse. When I speak, I am not at all fluent. I stumble over words and verb tenses all the time.
I 'practiced' listening by listening daily, and now I feel I can understand much better. Do I need to practice writing and speaking daily to see improvements in writing and speaking? I feel that I do. But how can I do this? I definitely can't afford to write or have conversations every day on LingQ. How else can I incorporate daily writing and conversations in Spanish? And how do I know that what I am saying is correct? I was thinking that I could start with writing a daily journal in Spanish, would this be a good idea? I could write every day, and then twice a week have some of my writings corrected so that I can still see areas that I still need to work on. Perhaps when I feel that my writing starts to flow, and it doesn't take quite as much effort to write, then I can start chatting (voice and written) more with native Spanish speakers. I think this is what I will do.
I intend to write continuously in a journal for a set amount of time (maybe 10 minutes), then simply make note of vocabulary words I couldn't produce and add them as LingQs, finding example sentences if I can. I will try not to edit myself, but just write. I think overly editing myself and thinking about how to say things in Spanish is inhibiting me from expressing ideas in Spanish.
Freewriting
Competence in Foreign Language Writing
(Or maybe I am just way too uptight about all of this.)
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I think you are doing great! Just keep up the good work and you will get there. There is one site that Berta told me about and it is good to practice your writing. It is www.meneame.net. Go ahead and leave comments on news that you like.
ResponderEliminarThanks Marcelo. That is a good idea, I will try it.
ResponderEliminarHi, Angela,
ResponderEliminarI think your plan is sound and will boost your language learning. I remember writing a French journal because my French was just awful when it came to writing essays during exam time. I could barely write two complete sentences, but by the end of the semester I had improved. So much so that I surpassed even my profs expectations. I still needed (and need) lots of work on grammar, but because I acquired the habit of writing in French, my essays got written. It's a new semester and the habit of writing in my French journal ended some months ago. I must begin again! As far as speaking goes, I'm still as tongue tied as ever! I think I will follow your example and try to speak with a tutor at least twice a week, which, by the way, is now going on my goal list along with journal writing. I agree with Marcelo that you are doing great. Sharing your thought processes and "goals list" demonstrates your commitment to language learning. And you are so organized! Your dedication and discipline is absolutely wonderful. Need I say inspiring? Yes, indeed!
Thanks so much, Yvette. Your story is conformation that a journal is a good idea.
ResponderEliminarTo answer your question, yes. Input does directly effect output. Not being able to output well is usually a sign of unfamiliarity with the language therefore more input is needed. You said you are quite good at understanding but how good? Can you watch a tv show or movie without sub-titles and understand it all? Maybe this could be a more fun way of getting to a good output level. Not saying the journal wont help, just my 2 cents. Good luck!
ResponderEliminarThank you for your comment, acute. I think you are correct. When i watch tv or a movie, or listen to the radio, sometimes i understand most things, but most of the time i dont. The only thing i really understand 90% or more of is one nonfiction audiobook. Everything else i need to listen to numerous times to get the jist of what was said. It's a definite improvement over 6 or so months ago, but i have a ways to go. You've confirmed for me that i still need lots more input.
ResponderEliminar