How I learned Spanish in 7 months —En Español

Foreword:

I wrote this in Spanish and tried to write as much as possible without looking up words. If I needed a word, I looked it up on wordreference.com. I did not translate any phrases or sentences in full to write this. After I finished, one of my teachers helped me edit the post to remove some of my mistakes (mostly misusing por/para and verb tenses). I have a lot of missing accent marks, but I’ll get better at that one day jajaja.

There is a translation at the end.

Aprendiendo Español:

Hace un año por este tiempo, yo no sabia mucho español. Realmente, incluso hace siete meses no sabia una mierda. Quizas podia decir los colores o algunas palabras, pero no podia hacer frases y definitivamente no podia hablar despues de decir, “muy bien, y tu?”.

Quise cambiar eso.

Encontre el razon perfecto para empezar en Julio. Mi amiga estaba tomado clases en linea en una escuela que se llama “Lingoda”. La escuela estaba ofreciendo un especial. Sesenta dias, sesenta clases, y si no faltabas a clase, ellos te devolvian el dinero.

Entonces en Agosto, me registre en clases de español.

Ir a todas las clases era duro. Un dia, tuve clase a las 9 de la mañana. El siguiente dia, tuve a las 3 de la tarde. Cada dia, las clases eran a tiempos diferentes. No sabia que yo podia programar mis clases para la hora y el dia que yo quisiera, hasta que etuve en la ultima semana del programa. Bobo.

Pero, aparte de los horarios de clase, las lecciones me gustaban mucho. Tuve clase por una hora cada dia. Los profesores eran de muchos paises diferentes. Mis profesores favoritos eran de Colombia y Venezuela por sus acentos y claridad.

Durante mis clases, yo complete A1.1 y parte de A1.2. Las clases siguieron un camino y agregaron informacion poco a poco. Las clases eran una mezcla de vocabulario, gramatica, y practica de conversacion. Aprendi vocabulario y me senti más cómodo con el tiempo presente.

Y fui a todas mis clases, asi que me devolvieron el dinero. Soy el. Obvio.

Sin embargo, mientras disfrutaba las clases, sabia que necesitaba mas. Una hora cada dia no era suficiente. Y no era jucioso. Ademas, nunca estudie para mis clases. Escuchaba musica en espanol por aqui, por alla, pero yo nunca hice el esfuerzo necesario para mejorar.

Despues de los sesenta dias con Lingoda, a principos de octubre, quise continuar con mis estudios, pero era muy dificil para mi ser constante.

Entonces tuve suerte. Consegui la motivacion que yo necesitaba.

Yo andaba acampando y haciendo senderismo con mis amigos y todos ellos hablaban espanol. Quiero escribir una entrada solo sobre ese viaje entonces no escribire demasiado ahora, pero hablar con ellos fue una chimba.

A pesar de la nueva motivacion, yo fui aun mas inconstante. Yo casi nunca estudie durante Noviembre y Diciembre.

Era tiempo de ponerme serio, si yo queria aprender.

Entonces, el cinco de Enero, llegue a Medellin.

Nada ha sido mejor para aprender que vivir en Medellin.

En mi segunda semana aca, me matricule por clases en una escuela que se llama “My Teacher”. Gracias a ellos, mi nivel es mucho mejor y me he sentido mas comodo hablando con locales.

Empece en nivel A1.2 en clases de grupo. Las clases de grupo eran de 4 horas cada dia desde las 9 de la manana hasta la una de la tadre y tenian mas de 3 personas. El ritmo de las clases fue mucho mas rapido que el de las clases en linea. Mis profesores se centraron en verbos y gramatica. Aprendimos mucho vocabulario tambien, pero la estructura era mas importante porque aprenderiamos vocabulario con practica y tiempo.

En mi segunda semana fui A1.3/A1.4. La clase tuvo una mezcla de estudiantes en niveles diferentes. Eso me empujo para mejorar mas rapido. Mis profesores hicieron un esfuerzo para enseñarnos temas de nuestro nivel.

Tuve clases de grupo por 2 semanas mas. En mi tercera semana fui A2.1/A2.2 y en mi cuarta semana fui A2.3/A2.4. Al final de las clases de nivel A, aprendi muchos temas incluso todos los tiempos pasados, verbos irregulares, imperativo, futuro simple, oraciones condicionales, por vs para y mucho mas.

Mas tarde, tuve clases semi-privadas y privadas por 2 semanas mas. Las clases semi-privadas eran 2 horas cada dia, desde las 9 de la manana hasta las 11 de la manana. Mis clases privadas eran una hora cada dia en la tarde tipo 4. Las clases semi-privadas eran muy similares a las clases de grupo, pero el ritmo era aun mas rapido y tenian 2 estudiantes. En mi primera semana en clases semi-privadas fui B1.1 y en mi segunda B1.2. Aprendi muchos temas incluso oraciones causales, subjuntivo (muy confuso), condicional simple y compuesto, perifrasis verbales de gerundio y mas.

Mis clases privadas reafirmaron los temas que yo aprendi. Esas se basaban en conversaciones y me senti mas comodo hablando.

Yo tambien conoci otros estudiantes en la escuela que me ayudaron a practicar mucho y con ellos explore la cuidad.

Afuera de la escuela, mis profesores y el staff de la escuela me ayudaron a aprender mas sobre la cultura de Medellin tambien. Especialmente Ricardo, Duvan, y Lucia que nos llevaron a lugares locales y lugares que los turistas usualmente no ven.

Fuimos a buenos aires por comida callejera, guaro (arguadiente), unas polas (cervezas), y para bailar. Imagina que 5 mesas se llenaron con gringos, los unicos gringos en el barrio. Todos borrachos. Que chimba.

Fuimos a un partido de Nacional (el equipo de futbol de Medellin). Estabamos en el sur, la seccion del estadio mas loca. Energia. Canciones. Vibras. Rechimba.

Fuimos a Sabaneta, un pueblo cerca de Medellin por mas comida callejera, guaro, y polas. Escuchamos musica tradicional. Parchamos en la plaza. Era una chimba.

La otra manera en la que he estado aprendiendo es yendo a los intercambios de idiomas. Y mas importante que ir, he conocido muchos amigos que me han ayudado a experimentar la cultura de aca y me han dado la mejor razon para aprender, la amistad.

Mi intercambio favorito es el de Dulce Posion. Es un restaurante en Laureles con un intercambio los martes, jueves y viernes. Es mi favorito por la gente. Todas las personas alla son muy acogedoras y amables. He conocido muchos amigos por alla. Por ejemplo, la entrada de mi blog sobre un buen viaje al parque arvi fue con amigos que conoci en Dulce Posion.

Otro intercambio que me gusta mucho es en Masaya, un hostal en Poblado cerca de mi escuela. Como todas las personas en Medellin, la gente que conoci alla son humanos increibles. Una amiga que conoci alla me invito a noches de juegos con sus amigos y nada te ayuda a aprender español como los juegos para beber y conversaciones buenas. Sus amigos me invitaron a un asado tambien y alla nunca hablaron ingles, entonces yo practique mucho y estuve mas motivado porque quise entender.

Conociendo a la gente de aca he estado super motivado. La amabilidad que muestran me recuerda por que es tan importante aprender. Los idiomas son para conectar y me alegra que haya hecho tantas conexiones.

Estoy mejorando, poco a poco.

Algunos agradecimientos:

Muchas gracias a Lingoda por darme una base.

Muchas gracias a Nayeli, Laura, y Mitch por motivarme.

Muchas gracias a “My Teacher”. La escuela es una chimba. Gracias Ricardo, Duvan, Brahim, Sara, Carlos, Elizabeth, Lucia, y Victoria. Ustedes son profesores increible y gente aun mejor.

Muchas gracias a Darrick por ayudarme a practicar y por las buenas vibras. Olvida EEUU bro 😂.

Muchas gracias a Paulina (por favor, da mis gracias a tus amigos también). Practicar contigo y tus amigos ha sido super divertido y me ha ayudado mucho.

Muchas gracias a Migue y Diego por tu amistad y por ayudarme a practicar.

Muchas gracias a todos los que me han ayudado. Es demasiado escribir cada nombre jajaja.

Y muchas gracias Medellin. Amo aca.

English Translation (Courtesy of ChatGPT. I was lazy so I didn’t re-write in English how I wanted the translation to come out. Instead I translated it using ChatGPT and then edited a few words in italics)

Learning Spanish:

A year ago around this time, I didn't know much Spanish. In fact, even seven months ago, I didn't know shit. Maybe I could say some colors or some words, but I couldn't make sentences and definitely couldn't speak after saying, "very well, and you?"

I wanted to change that.

I found the perfect reason to start in July. My friend was taking online classes at a school called "Lingoda". The school was offering a special deal: sixty days, sixty classes, and if you didn't miss a class, they would give you your money back.

So in August, I signed up for Spanish classes.

Going to all the classes was tough. One day, I had class at 9 in the morning. The next day, I had class at 3 in the afternoon. Every day, the classes were at different times. I didn't know that I could schedule my classes for the time and day I wanted until the last week of the program. Silly me.

But apart from the class schedules, I really liked the lessons. I had one-hour classes every day. The teachers were from many different countries. My favorite teachers were from Colombia and Venezuela for their accents and clarity.

During my classes, I completed A1.1 and part of A1.2. The classes followed a path and added information little by little. The classes were a mixture of vocabulary, grammar, and conversation practice. I learned vocabulary and felt more comfortable with the present tense.

And I went to all my classes, so they gave me my money back. I'm him. Obviously.

However, while enjoying the classes, I knew I needed more. One hour every day wasn't enough. And I wasn’t consistent. Also, I never studied outside my classes. I listened to Spanish music here and there, but I never made the necessary effort to improve.

After the sixty days with Lingoda, in early October, I wanted to continue my studies, but it was very difficult for me to be consistent.

Then I got lucky. I got the motivation I needed.

I was camping and hiking with my friends and they all spoke Spanish. I want to write a post just about that trip so I won't write too much now, but talking to them was great.

Despite the new motivation, I was even more inconsistent. I almost never studied during November and December.

It was time to get serious, if I wanted to learn.

Then, on January 5th, I arrived in Medellin.

Nothing has been better for learning than living in Medellin.

In my second week here, I enrolled in classes at a school called "My Teacher". Thanks to them, my level is much better and I have felt more comfortable speaking with locals.

I started at level A1.2 in group classes. The group classes were four hours each day from 9 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon and had more than three people. The pace of the classes was much faster than the online classes. My teachers focused on verbs and grammar. We learned a lot of vocabulary too, but the structure was more important because we would learn vocabulary with practice and time.

In my second week, I was in A1.3/A1.4. The class had a mix of students at different levels. That pushed me to improve faster. My teachers made an effort to teach us topics above our level.

I had group classes for two more weeks. In my third week, I was in A2.1/A2.2 and in my fourth week, I was in A2.3/A2.4. At the end of the A level classes, I learned many topics, including all the past tenses, irregular verbs, imperative, simple future, conditional sentences, por vs para, and much more.

Later, I had semi-private and private classes for two more weeks. The semi-private classes were two hours each day, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. My private classes were one hour each day in the afternoon around 4 p.m. The semi-private classes were very similar to the group classes, but the pace was even faster, and there were two students. In my first week of semi-private classes, I was in B1.1 and in my second week, I was in B1.2. I learned many topics, including causal sentences, subjunctive (very confusing), simple and compound conditionals, verbal periphrases with gerunds, and more.

My private classes reinforced the topics I had learned. They were based on conversations, and I felt more comfortable speaking.

I also met other students at the school who helped me practice a lot, and with them, I explored the city.

Outside of school, my teachers and the school staff helped me learn more about the culture of Medellin as well. Especially Ricardo, Duvan, and Lucia who took us to local places and places that tourists usually don't see.

We went to Buenos Aires for street food, guaro (aguardiente), some polas (beers), and to dance. Imagine five tables filled with gringos, the only gringos in the neighborhood. All drunk. How cool.

We went to a Nacional soccer game (the soccer team of Medellin). We were in the south, the craziest section of the stadium. Energy. Songs. Vibes. Amazing.

We went to Sabaneta, a town near Medellin for more street food, guaro, and polas. We listened to traditional music. We hung out in the square. It was amazing.

The other way I have been learning is by going to language exchanges. And more important than going, I have met many friends who have helped me experience the culture here and have given me the best reason to learn, friendship.

My favorite exchange is at Dulce Posion. It's a restaurant in Laureles with an exchange on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. It's my favorite because of the people. Everyone there is very welcoming and friendly. I have met many friends there. For example, the entry of my blog about a good trip to Parque Arvi was with friends I met at Dulce Posion.

Another exchange I really like is at Masaya, a hostel in Poblado near my school. Like all the people in Medellin, the people I met there are amazing humans. A friend I met there invited me to game nights with her friends, and nothing helps you learn Spanish like drinking games and good conversations. Her friends also invited me to an asado, and they didn’t speak English there, so I practiced a lot and was more motivated because I wanted to understand.

Meeting the people here has been super motivating. The kindness they show reminds me why learning is so important. Languages are for connecting, and I'm glad I've made so many connections.

I'm improving, little by little.

Some thanks:

Thank you very much to Lingoda for giving me a foundation.

Thank you very much to Nayeli, Laura, and Mitch for motivating me.

Thank you very much to "My Teacher". School is awesome. Thank you Ricardo, Duvan, Brahim, Sara, Carlos, Elizabeth, Lucia, and Victoria. You are incredible teachers and even better people.

Thank you very much to Darrick for helping me practice and for the good vibes. Forget about the US bro 😂.

Thank you very much to Paulina (please, give my thanks to your friends too). Practicing with you and your friends has been super fun and has helped me a lot.

Thank you very much to Migue and Diego for your friendship and for helping me practice.

Thank you very much to everyone who has helped me. It's too much to write every name haha.

And thank you very much, Medellin. I love it here.