John Wright Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I’m looking for someone to teach me conversational Spanish. Probably looking 2 hours a week during February/March. I get along ok. But my pidgin is a mix of Spanish and Catalan and gets strange looks, sometimes. Especially out of region. I’ve school boy latin, conversational French and some basic Italian. Vocabulary not the issue ( Catalan import words apart), it’s more stringing it into coherent sentences. I went to evening classes, years ago, but the pace was that of the slowest learner and, stupidly, I gave up. The teacher was a Mrs Synott(?). She was good. Anyone know her? Contact details by PM. Or any other recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 When I first went to Barcelona I was amazed how many conversations I could have using words I learned from CSE French and from Spaghetti Westerns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 22 minutes ago, Declan said: When I first went to Barcelona I was amazed how many conversations I could have using words I learned from CSE French and from Spaghetti Westerns. I get along fairly well. But I want to improve. I want to be able to do my tax return on line, register for disabled access to the Barcelona LEZ, stuff like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 I think I‘d do similar In your position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 Just shout slowly John. They'll soon understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Down Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 7 hours ago, John Wright said: I’m looking for someone to teach me conversational Spanish. Probably looking 2 hours a week during February/March. I get along ok. But my pidgin is a mix of Spanish and Catalan and gets strange looks, sometimes. Especially out of region. I’ve school boy latin, conversational French and some basic Italian. Vocabulary not the issue ( Catalan import words apart), it’s more stringing it into coherent sentences. I went to evening classes, years ago, but the pace was that of the slowest learner and, stupidly, I gave up. The teacher was a Mrs Synott(?). She was good. Anyone know her? Contact details by PM. Or any other recommendations. That would be Carol Synott. She’s a family friend who we see from time to time. I’ll ask her to contact you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 6, 2020 Author Share Posted January 6, 2020 37 minutes ago, Neil Down said: That would be Carol Synott. She’s a family friend who we see from time to time. I’ll ask her to contact you Thanks Neil. I’m in Spain until 24/1. Getting desperate. Wanted butter today. Forgot the word ( mantequilla/mantega) and tried to deduce from Italian and French. Got a donkey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uhtred Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 A friend of mine went into a Spanish grocery store to buy some rice, so of course asked for ’erizo’. He got some bloody funny looks. The Spanish for rice is ‘arroz’. Erizo is hedgehog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrighty Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 14 hours ago, John Wright said: Thanks Neil. I’m in Spain until 24/1. Getting desperate. Wanted butter today. Forgot the word ( mantequilla/mantega) and tried to deduce from Italian and French. Got a donkey. Straight out of Fawlty Towers that one John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc.fixit Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 I've been learning vocabulary through duolingo for years but still struggle to actually speak and understand the language! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quilp Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 Is that just English ? Plenty of 'teach yourself' Spanish vids on YouTube... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doc.fixit Posted January 7, 2020 Share Posted January 7, 2020 A merry quip!, (or should I say Quilp)? Yes I know about the vids I just have to get going on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 On 1/6/2020 at 10:17 PM, John Wright said: Thanks Neil. I’m in Spain until 24/1. Getting desperate. Wanted butter today. Forgot the word ( mantequilla/mantega) and tried to deduce from Italian and French. Got a donkey. ...easily done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mad_manx Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 John. If you have a smartphone you can download google translate app. You can download the data files for any language you want and it can translate on the fly. (You can use it without downloading the data files but then you will need a very good data signal) This can be as a audio conversation ( two way) You can type text in . And best of all in camera mode it can translate text. Very helpful with almost any language . I can just put my phone over food etc labelled in foreign text and the English translation appears superimposed on top of those I use it extensively while I travel .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 9, 2020 Author Share Posted January 9, 2020 Thanks for all the suggestions. I have translation software/apps. But it’s not very practical in many situations I can read menus and food labels in Italian, French, Catalan, Spanish, as well as English. Even a lot of Cyrillic, nowadays, - although I’d not be able to pronounce it, or recognise it when spoken to me. Im aware of CD’s, on line courses, etc. For me I know what works best, and that’s what I asked about, one on one personal tuition, face to face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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