# If I Want to Learn Spanish... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 21, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192 "2012-01-21T03:22:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/22 "2015-11-29T18:07:46Z")
Good point. The zombie sucked me in. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/23 "2015-11-29T18:58:59Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The OP has probably learned 3 other languages since this thread was first opened (almost 4 years ago). 🙂 Yes, but obviously just about all of this applies to most people who want to learn Spanish, whenever. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/25 "2015-11-30T17:08:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > The OP has probably learned 3 other languages since this thread was first opened (almost 4 years ago). 🙂 No, having to get a new job twice in that time period sort of derailed my efforts. And the whole bit about dad’s last few months of existence. Really, been very busy. Still interested in Spanish, but earning a living takes precedence. Did pick up a few words and phrases, maybe I’ll get back to it soon. Thanks to everyone who contributed useful suggestions, and I hope other folks can make use of them as well. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/26 "2015-11-30T17:29:45Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > You can watch _Destinos_ [right here](http://learner.org/series/destinos/)! I’d suggest a community college class–but this _telenovela_ is a great supplement… I took four semesters of Spanish at the local community college, and they used Destinos as the basis for the 201 and 202 classes. We’d watch an episode in class every week and have vocabulary quizzes on the content. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/27 "2015-11-30T17:37:41Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > No, having to get a new job twice in that time period sort of derailed my efforts. And the whole bit about dad’s last few months of existence. Really, been very busy. > > Still interested in Spanish, but earning a living takes precedence. Did pick up a few words and phrases, maybe I’ll get back to it soon. > > Thanks to everyone who contributed useful suggestions, and I hope other folks can make use of them as well. I learned a lot working part time at a restaurant with mostly native-born Spanish speakers. This was before studying any Spanish, and I was better able to communicate in Spanish than I ever could in German after studying it for four years in high school or Italian after taking four semesters in college. Having a Spanish-speaking girlfriend helped a lot too. ---
**Author:** ![Abner\_Ravenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@Abner\_Ravenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abner_Ravenwood)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/28 "2015-11-30T17:49:44Z")
Here are a few books that I used while learning Spanish: [Madrigal’s Magic Key to Spanish](http://www.amazon.com/Madrigals-Magic-Key-Spanish-Creative/dp/0385410956) [See It and Say It in Spanish](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0451168372/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687522&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0385410956&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=02MX4VYHX157V3JND8SD) [Berlitz Self-Teacher: Spanish](http://www.amazon.com/Berlitz-Self-Teacher-Spanish-Editors/dp/0399513248/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448905950&sr=8-1&keywords=berlitz+spanish) Another thing you can do is search Meetup for any conversational Spanish groups in your area. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Burro\_Buenmozo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@El\_Burro\_Buenmozo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Burro_Buenmozo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/29 "2015-11-30T23:18:47Z")
Check out [Duolingo](https://www.duolingo.com/) - desktop and mobile app. I use it to keep up my Spanish skills and also to learn Italian. Lessons start off really simple, and get progressively more complex. You can choose how much time you want to devote daily. It has some drawbacks, but for a beginner, it is a great resource. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/30 "2015-12-01T01:06:22Z")
I second Duolingo. I use it to practice my French, while I’m also taking French lessons. It’s a good complement to the class, sort of like homework and drills. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192/31 "2015-12-01T01:29:52Z")
Watch Spanish TV with the closed captioning on, that is helpful in my experience. However start with children’s shows, then move up to game shows and soap operas. I’m unsure what is happening with translational software. I have heard it isn’t far off, but they say that about various techs, just around the corner. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-want-to-learn-spanish/610192.md?page=1)