There are many English speakers in Latin America, however, those are mostly business people, expatriates like yourself, or the "well to do" who have had the opportunity to travel outside their country. To get by at the market without assistance, you will need to learn at least some basic Spanish, if you don't already know the language.
If you are like many Americans, you didn't learn to speak or learn a language at young age. Those of us who have parents and/or family from another country have a head start. Some of us may have studied language in High School or College but to keep this intact we need to keep practicing. But whatever your background, if you are looking to advance your knowledge of a Spanish, or any other foreign language, we have some advice for you below. Everyone learns a language in their own unique way depending on available time, schedule and preferred method of how you memorize best.
Step 1: Shop around and pick an online software program to assist you. There are many programs out there both good and bad, but one you will probably like is the Rosetta Stone program. This software is used by NASA, US State Department, Universities, schools, businesses & corporations around the world. The best thing about Rosetta Stone is that it teaches you with pictures and sounds throughout the whole program and you work your way up a few levels doing lesson after lesson.
Step 2: Buy a Dictionary for the language you are studying. This may be obvious, but if you are taking a language seriously you will always need one handy. Usually, you may even need two. One comprehensive one that you will find most any word. This would be keep at your house. And the second one, would be a pocket one, that you can keep handy while your mobile. Of course, you can use your computer to access a translation tool on the web, but having a dictionary handy is useful when you are not at your computer.
Step 3: Buy a solid, durable notebook.
Any time you come across a word or sentence or phrase you don't know, write it down! Do this consistently and often. If you are conversing with some one and they say something you didn't know, write it down. If you are using an online software program, write down everything you don't know. This helps you place things farther into your memory. Of course, you won't remember everything you write in this book immediately. That's why you use this book to read, recite & review. If you don't go through one, two or even 3 or more notebooks of notes, grammar tips, etc, then chances are you are not making your best effort.
Step 4: Use an online language translation service (dictionary)
There are many translation programs out there. If you prefer a tool on your computer itself, rather than having to be connected to the world-wide-web, a program called Babylon is recommended. You install this on your computer & even your mobile phone and every foreign word that you need to translate, you just click on the word while browsing on the internet or use it with email and documents. One click will save you lots of time copying & pasting. This is dream for people learning a language.
Step 5: Try and surround yourself with people who speak the language. One of the easiest ways to keep yourself motivated and to learn more at a time is to make contacts with those who speak and write the language you are learning. Join a local group in your city, Join an online chat room and practice, or keep yourself in that country and make sure you surround yourself with that language. You need a place where you can make mistakes and learn from them and a place to practice.
Step 6: Practice, Practice, Practice. Your purpose is to expand & grow. Don't give up. Be persistent and keep focused on your goals. And don't be afraid to make mistakes!
You should can also get started by taking advantage of resources on the web and then take classes to improve your skills once you relocate (at lower cost of course.) You can get a private instructor in most medium to large cities in Latin America for very little money, relatively speaking.
To take advantage of living in Latin American to the fullest extent, you will need to learn more than basic Spanish, but by doing so after you have arrived and are living in the environment, it will be both easier and much less expensive.
Of course, if you can (afford to) take classes before you come, that would be beneficial, however.
on-line resources for learning Spanish
Nicetranslator is a cool tool for real time translation. You select your language for translation and then start typing in text. As you type, you will see the translation into the selected language(s) appear before your eyes.
Spanishdict.com is an excellent resource providing learning exercises, vocabulary, a dictionary, translation and conjugation tools.
Language learning provided by BBC is a good source of free language courses.
Conjugation.org provides just conjugation, but you can select just the verb tenses you want as output from verb search
Spanish Flashcards from Studystack - great for learning vocabulary. Includes many ways to study such as:
- Flashcards - Study using flashcards to flip through data one card at a time
- StudyStack - Study using a StudyStack - similar to flashcards
- Study Table - Study all the data at once - click in the table to show or hide the item
- Matching - Study by matching data
- Hangman - Play the classic guessing game
- Crossword - Display a crossword puzzle
- Word Search - Display a word search puzzle
- Unscramble - Play a word scramble game
- Type in - Type-in-the-blank activity
- Bug Match - Chase down the correct answer to earn points
You can also:
- Export - Send data to your PC, PDA, cellular phone, or iPod
- Print - Display options for printing your data
- Edit - Edit any set of data
- Contribute - Build your own and share
Spanish Flashcards from tripod is another resource for this useful medium - learn vocabulary. pictures, words, and pronunciation.
SpanishPronto among other things, provides lists of most frequently used Spanish words.
Language Schools
Cochabamba, Bolivia has long been a destination for language learning due to the quality of instruction available there as well as the "purity" of the spoken language. Spanish speakers can often tell where someone is from by the accent they have. The Spanish spoken in Cochabamba has very little accent and is thus a preferred place to learn the language. Here is an example language school located in Cochabamba:
Escuela Runawasi Language School - After two weeks with the skilled and patient teachers at Escuela Runawasi (www.runawasi.org), you can get around the city of Cochabamba without much trepidation. After a semester at the school, you will be having animated conversations with Bolivians — exchanges that would have been impossible just months before.
Escuela Runawasi is directed by husband and wife team Janine and Joaquin Hinojosa; their school derives its name from the Quechua language word for “House of the People.” Located in the friendly, tightly-knit neighborhood of Villa Juan XXIII, the school’s small classrooms open onto a patio, all of which are tucked behind a bougainvillea-covered wall and framed by the majestic Cerro Tunari, a 17,060-foot peak (5200 meters) that towers over the city and surrounding valley.
Spanish language courses start every day of the week. Classes run four and a half hours with a half-hour break—the perfect time to replenish with a fresh papaya shake made on site in the school’s kitchen. Students have the option of arranging their own housing, or staying with one of several families in the community.
Language classes at Escuela Runawasi go well beyond grammar and spelling, with an emphasis on the history, culture and political texture of Bolivia. Teachers share their experiences and perspectives with students through conversation ranging from current events to the country’s vigorous legacy of literature, art, poetry and music. The school also arranges a variety of weekend and daylong excursions, including trips to historic mines, pre-Inca ruins, rainforest, nearby villages and an unforgettable hike to the summit of Cerro Tunari.
Enrollment forms, current class/home stay prices and other helpful information can be found on Escuela Runawasi's website, or by contacting the school at: gro.isawanur|ofni#gro.isawanur|ofni.
