Comments on: Spanish Conversation Groups May Damage Fluency Learning http://www.spanish-only.com/2009/07/spanish-conversation-groups-damage-fluency-learning/ Learn How to Learn Spanish Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:02:52 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: David http://www.spanish-only.com/2009/07/spanish-conversation-groups-damage-fluency-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-2008 David Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:28:40 +0000 http://www.spanish-only.com/?p=1306#comment-2008 @Spanish Tutor - Agree! Priorities and goals are necessary. I have found too that it is easier to break down the ultimate goal (in my case, to speak so close to that of a native Spanish speaker that only the very well attuned would know it is not my first language) into smaller, more manageable goals. Also agree with you, and of course Ramses, that speaking with native speakers is the best way to learn. I wonder if they, the native Spanish speakers, know just how much we language learners value them? Anyway, on a positive side of conversation groups it does help those of us who, in the beginning, had trouble just initiating a conversation in Spanish. Now, if I could just go out and use Spanish in the "real world" without hesitation I would be, as they say, on cloud nine. David @Spanish Tutor – Agree! Priorities and goals are necessary. I have found too that it is easier to break down the ultimate goal (in my case, to speak so close to that of a native Spanish speaker that only the very well attuned would know it is not my first language) into smaller, more manageable goals.

Also agree with you, and of course Ramses, that speaking with native speakers is the best way to learn. I wonder if they, the native Spanish speakers, know just how much we language learners value them? Anyway, on a positive side of conversation groups it does help those of us who, in the beginning, had trouble just initiating a conversation in Spanish. Now, if I could just go out and use Spanish in the “real world” without hesitation I would be, as they say, on cloud nine.

David

]]> By: Spanish Tutor http://www.spanish-only.com/2009/07/spanish-conversation-groups-damage-fluency-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-2007 Spanish Tutor Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:17:45 +0000 http://www.spanish-only.com/?p=1306#comment-2007 I agree with most of what you are saying. Students need to set priorities when learning. It may seem impolite to not speak with someone who is not a advanced level speaker but it is not. You can be polite and exchange pleasantries but if there is not someone there who is at an advanced level with a good accent, pronunciation and strong fluency then you shouldn't be learning from them. If you are practicing with a low level student you could be learning their mistakes. If there are natives there make it a priority to speak to them or to set a time when you can get together with them outside of the conversation group to hang out. I agree with most of what you are saying. Students need to set priorities when learning. It may seem impolite to not speak with someone who is not a advanced level speaker but it is not. You can be polite and exchange pleasantries but if there is not someone there who is at an advanced level with a good accent, pronunciation and strong fluency then you shouldn’t be learning from them.

If you are practicing with a low level student you could be learning their mistakes. If there are natives there make it a priority to speak to them or to set a time when you can get together with them outside of the conversation group to hang out.

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