My Baselang Binge ended recently after seven and a half weeks. How did it go?
The Binge
I started taking conversation classes on December 28, 2021. From that point until February 19 I took approximately 318 half an hour classes. That’s 159 hours of classes!
How did it go?
I’m extremely pleased with my experience in Baselang. I’ll get to my language progress in a minute…but my experience was much more than that.
Connections
When I started taking classes the Omicron wave was ramping up. That meant restrictions to combat it. Also, we were headed into the heart of winter here in the northern hemisphere. The conversation classes gave me a way to connect with people which is much better than watching endless amounts of TV.
Teachers
There are a lot of excellent conversation teachers. It does take time to discover them but that’s part of the process. Now seven weeks in, I’ve learned so much from and about them. A class is like talking to a friend and catching up with them. My most frequent teachers know that I have dogs, that I’ve had to shovel {palear} a lot of snow this winter and that I slipped on the ice last week while taking a walk. They also know that I appreciate being corrected when I speak, I focus a lot on the subjunctive, and I take notes.
South America
Before Baselang, I didn’t know very much about South America. My experiences in Latin America were limited to Mexico and a little bit of Costa Rica. I’ve learned a lot about about Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and even Argentina. I can’t even begin to explain it. Not just the differences between each country but the diversity within each country.
Here are some things I’ve learned…
- I didn’t know that the Andes reached into Venezuela. I had always thought of Venezuelans living with constant hot weather. Many do but there are also people who live in the mountains and in the selva.
- Some Venezuelans think that those who live in San Cristobal sound more like Colombians.
- In Venezuela people often tutear sooner than in Colombia where Usted is much more common.
- I knew that regional indigenous languages (eg Quechuan and Aymaran) have influenced the Spanish language but my teachers shared many examples with me.
- In several South American countries they often refer to regions as: costa, sierra, selva. I had never thought of it that way and it makes a lot of sense when studying the geography. Three very different regions.
Progress
My fluency level has increased so much in just seven weeks. Despite living in Mexico back in the 90s, I think I speak better now than I ever did then.
Comprehension
Prior to Baselang, my comprehension had improved greatly listening to tons of podcasts over the past year. However, listening during a conversation is different. In order to maintain a two way conversation I can’t zone out. I have to follow along carefully and divide my energy between listening and speaking.
Different Accents
I used to struggle a lot with the large variety of accents in Latin America. I can now switch between teachers from Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru without much effort. True, they are speaking carefully during classes and not using a lot of jerga, but I ask them to speak at the same pace as they do with family and friends.
Vocabulary
Sometimes I just go with the flow of the conversation without taking notes but not always. I have many pages of notes. Vocabulary, sample sentences (especially the subjunctive), slang, etc. When I review my notes I realize how much I have learned.
Fluency?
I’ll never be satisfied with my level of Spanish even though I have improved a lot. The only way to move closer to fluency is by practicing and studying. I enjoy the challenge and it’s fun meeting people and learning about them and their culture.
What’s Next?
Due to the demands of work, I had to take a break from Baselang. I was really tired. After a six day break I started taking classes yesterday and a few today as well. It will be challenging to take classes during the week but hopefully I’ll be able to squeeze in a few.