Blog

May 26, 2010 | Spanish

Conversation: Foiled!

Finding opportunities to speak Spanish can be a challenge, even in New York City.

It is not the easiest thing in the world to get people to talk to me in Spanish. I find a huge range in willingness of Spanish speakers to speak Spanish to me without reverting promptly to English.  There…

May 28, 2010 | Spanish

Definite Articles, Flashcards, and Soccer

From grammar books to parks, some Spanish encounters.

I went to another 5K race last night, this time in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. Normally I wouldn’t race two nights in a row, but I love this particular summer series, so I went anyway.  On…

May 30, 2010 | Spanish

A Walk Through Washington Heights

I enjoy a stroll up Broadway.

Today was my second-to-last day studying Spanish, so I decided it was time for another visit to Washington Heights, which has a large Hispanic population, particularly Dominican.  The intended route: Broadway from 155th Street to Dyckman Street, roughly two…

May 31, 2010 | Spanish

My Theory of Language Acquisition

The stages language learners pass through in their quest for fluency.

Here is my (highly personal) theory of language acquisition. Many people seem to go through the following three phases as they learn a foreign language: Phase 1. Insecurity Phase 2. Complacency Phase 3. Insecurity The first phase is characterized by uncertainty and discomfort…