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Learning Spanish

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Guest2022
The threads on this subject in this forum are very old and because of the importance of understanding Spanish to fully appreciate life to its fullest in a country  where relatively few Dominicans speak English, I though a new thread should be started.

I learnt the basics completing a full version of Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish many years back and living with Dominicans helped with practice.

But years later I still struggle with some of the locals understanding at first pass what they are saying. Spoken Dominican Spanish has significant differences to pure Spanish and it will take patience if you plan to learn through conversation and then maybe pure Spanish speakers will struggle to understand you.

A suggestion to all expats is to find time daily and use digital newspapers to enhance your vocabulary by reading and translating. Doing this will be doubly beneficial because you will also learn more about the Dominican Republic. Added to which you will soon realize that journalists write their articles using Spanish in different ways and google translate will come up with some odd phrases in English and make you research the translation more.

I would suggest the following online newspapers:

Diario Libre                   
Listin Diario                 
El Dia                             
El Caribe                       
Hoy                                 
Noticias Sin                   
Al Momento                 
CDN                                 
Puerto Plata Digital     
Bavaro Digital               

Another suggestion to better your Spanish is to watch films and series in Spanish with English subtitles.

Good luck......
planner
The one thing I would have done differently when I first moved here - I would have done a formal program to learn the language.

Understanding the language is your gateway to the culture and to a more comfortable life. 

In addition to learning the language, reading online publications - go practice every chance you get.  Our comfort zone is other expats!  You won't improve your Spanish with other expats!  Practice with a variety of people!  Colmado delivery guy. Teller at the bank.  Technician from Altice. Business owner or manager.  Neighbors. 

My experience is that locals love it when we try!  Don't be timid!
Karin1
Again this is very helpful.  If I can read digital newspapers, then atleast its learning something relevant, at the same time, yes double duty. 

I also like the idea of a formal language program so I can understand the sentence structure.  So far I know alot of words, but cant speak in sentences.

For now I (and others) get by with Google translate accompanied with images.  I have to say that was the first thing I did, make sure I have an internet connection at all times (and power) where ever I go, so I can atleast communicate a little.  This helps me alot.   
Guest2022
I found the book '501 Spanish Verbs' very helpful in structuring ones sentences with correct use of tense.


Interestingly in Spanish a number of verbs can be used for the same meaning and people here differ in the verb they use so you need to know the main verbs.
claudineenvacances
Thank you so much for the information, very helpful. Good idea to read the Newspaper every day!
Mvilla50
@lennoxnev

As far as I know, I learned Spanish in DR from my parents and at the school. I went to a private school. The books used were written or approved in Spanish by the Real Academy of Spain. I have been in Spain may times and we do not have any problems communicating with people there.  When in Spain, the people there told me that I speak like the people in Valencia or somewhere.  My last name from my mother side is Echavarria basco.
Now  there are lot of slang/ dialect that people are talking specially the young  generation. For example quiyao o something means enojado.. not everybody is using this slang....
Do not generalize please. Read and listen the news.. it is a good Spanish. 
Mvilla50
@planner
I agreed 100%.
Guest2022
@Mvilla50

Clearly it is much easier to learn Spanish if you are young and have parents who speak the language and send you to a private school. I am sure you were taught how to speak good native Spanish with correct grammar and developed a good accent in your life here.

I live in rural DR and as an anglophile, for which this forum is dedicated, I am reflecting how I have found understanding the local dialect of people I meet all the time.  Most people here have not had access, if any for older folk, to the type of education that you enjoyed. For sure the Dominican professionals I have met and worked with, speak good Spanish when compared to that I hear in daily life. Perhaps I was in error not to mention that.

I am sorry you took offence to my suggestion that some Dominicans are difficult to understand even by people who speak Spanish as their mother tongue. You can google the question and see there are many such comments on line about Dominican Spanish being difficult to understand.

Anyhow the thread is not to argue but is aimed at helping anglophiles, many of whom do not have the opportunity to interact with locals whilst we agree with what planner has posted.
Karin1
I have said it before, change takes time and you cant fix all the problems at once.  Like my poor progress with Spanish.  Its not my priority but its moving up on my to do list.  And its great to have assistance from others who have done it here.

There are alot of uneducated and very poor people here, which is a sad truth, and even if you went to public school, you may not learn proper Spanish.  What percentage of the Dominican population go to private schools?  The public education system is not good and it is the lack of education that keeps opportunities low for the majority.  I figure that is done on purpose so that the hotels get alot of low paid employees to hire.  Better education leads to improved life in general (allows you to earn more) and improves the economy.   Its a good step that the government just announced all kids in public school will begin learning English. 

I dont want to go off topic.  Lets all learn Spanish, all tips welcome!
TienesUnMapa

I would suggest the following online newspapers:

Diario Libre                   
Listin Diario                 
El Dia                             
El Caribe                       
Hoy                                 [link under review]/
Noticias Sin                   
Al Momento                 
CDN                                 
Puerto Plata Digital     
Bavaro Digital               

Thank you for this list - very useful.

I took some language classes in Santo Domingo at one of the schools mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide. Apart from learning Spanish, one of the really interesting aspects that some people here might enjoy is meeting other students, and having the chance to discuss very practical (Food, Transportation, Housing, even Mosquitos!) issues from the outsider perspective.

Interestingly, the school assessed me as "Intermediate", but a similar private language school in Canada tells me I am a "Beginner".
Michita
For over 11 yrs. as a member of this group, I have enjoyed your company, knowledge, challenges, questions, etc. which helped me survive in a foreign country.
As one of my favorite topics is now under discussion, I would like to contribute my recent Spanish course, Simple Spanish Online, in exchange for some honest feedback before publishing it. It provides basic info, along with an interesting approach to learning vocabulary.
Anyone interested can message me here and I will send it free of charge.
You can get an idea of what it is by checking:
simple-spanish-online.company.site
planner
You have been a valued member here for a long time!!!
ftmenard
@lennoxnev
How are you doing? Can you send me the information regarding the  Spanish book
Guest2022
I've provided the link to purchase the book at Amazon above.

You can google 501 Spanish Verbs too and see there is an app now too - which I have not tried.
AlaPlaya
The threads on this subject in this forum are very old and because of the importance of understanding Spanish to fully appreciate life to its fullest in a country  where relatively few Dominicans speak English, I though a new thread should be started.

I learnt the basics completing a full version of Rosetta Stone Latin American Spanish many years back and living with Dominicans helped with practice.

But years later I still struggle with some of the locals understanding at first pass what they are saying. Spoken Dominican Spanish has significant differences to pure Spanish and it will take patience if you plan to learn through conversation and then maybe pure Spanish speakers will struggle to understand you.

A suggestion to all expats is to find time daily and use digital newspapers to enhance your vocabulary by reading and translating. Doing this will be doubly beneficial because you will also learn more about the Dominican Republic. Added to which you will soon realize that journalists write their articles using Spanish in different ways and google translate will come up with some odd phrases in English and make you research the translation more.

I would suggest the following online newspapers:

Diario Libre                   
Listin Diario                 
El Dia                             
El Caribe                       
Hoy                                 
Noticias Sin                   
Al Momento                 
CDN                                 
Puerto Plata Digital     
Bavaro Digital               

Another suggestion to better your Spanish is to watch films and series in Spanish with English subtitles.

Good luck......
- @lennoxnev
This is a very good suggestion. It's one that was suggested to me when I felt like I hit a plateau with my Spanish. I wish it was easier in my area to find print newspapers because I prefer physically writing the translations for words I don't know as I look them up, but I make do with the digital versions.

I've also created a list in my phone that I add new words and their translation to to aid my recall of these words.
You can google 501 Spanish Verbs too and see there is an app now too - which I have not tried.

- @lennoxnev
501 Verbs is also a great book to help you learn some of the most common verbs. I think my only complaint with it is the fact that it doesn't address the various different forms of verbs like gustar and encantar and the fact that they can be used in more than one way (e.g. when I learned you can say "me gustas," I realized I was underestimating what I can do with the verb).

I also recommend some formal study/tuition to at least develop the framework and understanding of the verb tenses and sentence structure. Although once you have that down, I think it becomes a matter of regularly practicing and immersing yourself in the language. In my experience, watching movies in Spanish with no subtitles, or English movies with Spanish subtitles is also helpful.

I'm always shocked and more than a little dismayed to run across people in Spanish speaking countries that have lived there a long time and never tried very hard to learn the language. Especially since Spanish is one of the languages that require the least amount of time to master. (Estimated by the American FSI to be approximately 600 hours of study).
Michita

@planner Gracias amiga, moving to Higuey soon, trying sthg. away from tourists😂😂😂

planner
Nice,  enjoy and we will meet soon for drinks!
emccarthy2828

@Michita Hi my name is Ed and I'm thinking of moving to the DR in retirement. Im currently trying to re-learn the 1 year of spanish I took in college. I saw your gracious (free) offer of your spanish course in exchange for an honest review. I am a high school teacher in NYC teaching biology and chemistry. Not a language course expert however I am serious about learning and somewhat of an expert of curriculum. Can you send me a copy? My email is ***


Thanks!

Moderated by Bhavna last year
Reason : For security reasons, please share contact details through the private messaging system. Thank you
We invite you to read the forum code of conduct
ddmcghee

@emccarthy2828 Ed - personal contact info is not allowed on the forum! You can message Michita directly, but I did that when she initially made the offer and I never heard from her.

emccarthy2828

OK thanks sorry new member dumb of me!

planner

New members have a learning curve, no worries honey.  Feel free to introduce yourself on the new members thread!

mocaman67

Some of have been "corrected"  several times so no worries as the great corrector has said.....hehehehe

emccarthy2828

@planner thanks for warm welcome! Will do when time allows

planner

Whenever it works for you!

Michita

@emccarthy2828


Buenas tardes, el link para sus clases de español:



There is more to it, but for now I hope  this helps😃

Michita

@ftmenard


Sorry I did not see your post until today.

This is missing a complete list of similar words and their pronunciation. Will send soon.

Michele


Michita

@ddmcghee


Really sorry, did not see your request.


Hope this helps, but the main list with pronunciation is missing.

Will post it soon.

Miche

wondering9

Just wanted to chime in with a few more learning resources. I don't /think/ these have been mentioned yet, apologies in advance for any repeats.


Memorization apps like Anki (apps.ankiweb.net) can be super helpful because they're able to show you the words you most need help with, rather than (as with a handwritten list) having to go through the whole list every time. (Basically, if you miss a word, it bumps it to the top of your list, and if you get it right enough times, it takes it out of the lineup for awhile.) It's just a few minutes out of your day and it really helps.


In addition to movies, there are a ton of watchable shorter YouTube videos -- soap operas, travel blogs, documentaries. You don't have to find the perfect show, just something that's reasonably fun to watch. "William Ramos TV" is done by a Dominican travel promoter, for example, and "Alan por el Mundo" has lots of videos on Mexico but also from travel spots worldwide. "Visual Politik" is a super-fast-paced world-news show out of Spain, and of all things the Deutsche Welle has lots of great Spanish language programming.


Music videos are even better, and you can do a google on "lyrics" or "letra" to find the words and sing along.


And if you google "Dominican Spanish" you'll find un montón de YouTube videos aiming to help with accents, idioms, etc.


For anything on YouTube you can also quickly expand your collection of bookmarks by trying out some of the links the YouTube algorithm suggests. Some will be boring or totally irrelevant, others will be great. Basically, everything I know about Latin music (admittedly, not that much) started from somebody suggesting Enrique Iglesias's Bailando video, and one click led to another. (I still think that is, like, the best music video ever shot.)


^^all of this is free stuff. and for free beginner-to-intermediate lessons, there's also Duolingo; it's not perfect but it will help a lot.


Nothing beats a personal instructor, of course. But if your budget is limited, or you want to supplement an in-person class, there are lots of options, including some pretty fun ones.

emccarthy2828

@Michita


Thanks so much!

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