Spanish progress

In January I started learning Spanish. UNAM in Gatineau has been a great place to learn. My way tends to be grammar and vocabulary, instead of speaking and correction, and the university setting works well for that.

After completing the first two levels in a class, Jan and I have been doing Level 3 together in a private course, as no Spanish classes are on offer in the summer. We'll get through 3 of the 6 units by the end of July; the learning is progressive so there's a good mix of repetition, reinforcement and new pieces. 

UNAM closes for August vacation. I am planning on finishing Level 3 via self-study (it includes 2 new tenses, so I'll be looking for some additional resources online to figure this out) and  listening to Spanish-speaking radio - and maybe even watching some TV - online, and just using it more with Jan. 

Learning a new language, one I understood OK due to the other languages I know but never actually learned, has been a cool aspect of this trip preparation. 9 months of study and 3 months of 'immersion' hopefully will yield a workable Spanish.

Spanish lessons

I am nearing the end of Básico Uno; final exam takes place on April 19. I did well on my mid-terms and hope that'll go for the finals, too. Studying a new language is interesting and fun, plus the October deadline is making me highly motivated to study regularly. Even though I understand Spanish OK due to my knowledge of Latin and French (and knowing the complex grammar of German doesn't hurt either), it's something else to become able to speak.

Active expression is entirely different from passive understanding.

The next step is Básico Dos.

UNAM offers this course during the Spring session as a 6 week intensive, from May 3 onwards. Intensive means 10 hours in class per week, i.e. 4x per week, from 7 to 9:30 pm, plus homework. I am planning to take it; hopefully there will be sufficient enrollment.

During the summer UNAM doesn't offer any Spanish classes. Hence, Jan and I are planning to take Spanish privately.

At UNAM there are 4 levels for Basic, 3 levels for Intermediate and 1 level for Advanced for a total of 8 levels each at 60 hours for a total of 480 hours. My goal is to complete - and be proficient in using - all 4 of the Basic levels by October. Ambitious, I know, but it's an essential part of preparation in my view that will make our journey more enjoyable and probably safer, too.

Learning Spanish

We're back from a beautiful skate along the Rideau Canal, Ottawa's amazing outdoor skateway. Ice conditions were  good, for long stretches, very good. Lots of skaters out enjoying a perfect Sunday afternoon, yet it didn't feel crowded. Now if only the forecast freezing  rain and balmy +6 C on Monday held off ...


After dinner, I'll finish my Spanish homework. Learning to speak Spanish is part of my essential trip preparation: I am taking a course at UNAM (UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTONOMA DE MÉXICO). 2x a week for 5 hours, plus homework and practicing with Jan. I'm also starting to listen a bit to South American radio and TV to develop my ear for various versions of Latin American Spanish, via this Online Radio and TV link.