Best place for me to learn Spanish... (train, speaking, population)
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I might suggest Mexico as sort of a standby. I'm sure there are regions there to wander off and do a little sight-seeing without hearing a lick of English. Then again, I wouldn't completely know. I wouldn't mind taking trips there myself.
On a side note, you should check out this website called memrise.com. It's a flashcard based way to learn a language or review it. they also use things called mems which are supposed to be mnemonic devices. I personally use the site to review the Spanish I've already learned. It's a pretty good tool if you have time to spare.
Since you live in NYC you can take advantage of two things. One is to get to know the Spanish speakers who live in your city. There are plenty of cultural organization etc formed by Dominicas, Cubans, People from Puerto Rico and even a fairly large Spanish community. You can also afford yourself of some very excellent Spanish language classes at the Spanish Government's Instituto Cervantes at 211 East 49th Street, (212) 308-7720 Spanish courses. Instituto Cervantes New York.
I notice you are living in Brooklyn. The institute even gives classes in your area. If Castillian Spanish is not for you then I am sure other countries have culture centers offering Spanish language classes in NYC. Classroom study IMO is far superior to individual study at home. It puts the student in close contact with live speakers.
Jesse44, I went to Granada (and did a tour of the cocoa plantation), Masaya (including the volcano), Isla de Ometepe, San Juan del Sur, and Managua (for an evening). It was an amazing and inexpensive trip. It convinced me to learn Spanish. Ometepe was the best. Where did you go?
Anyway, whichever country I choose, there is a huge selection of where to go within it, but I'm looking for something in particular (somewhere that has a feel of Ometepe, but more developed) so I need help with suggestions of specific towns or cities. I live in NYC, I don't really want to go to a huge city that is the equivalent of where I live because there will be so many tourists and English speakers. I'd prefer a place with fewer tourists, but that's still safe and has good places to eat (and I'm vegan). So does anyone have any specific suggestions?
Cool. Managua, Matagalpa, Granada, San Juan Del Sur with many side trips of course. I meant to visit Ometepe but never made it there and I've been really kicking myself for it. Will have to return one day.
You can probably look for language exchange pretty easily seeing as you live in NYC. In the meantime anyways. Check Couchsurfing groups?
I will suggest Mexico, learning the Mexican neutral accent is the best in Latin America, very easy to understand and easy on the ear, the Mexican neutral would be the equivalent of the American neutral accent which is the one that is spoken in the Midwest, same accent used to broadcast live events.
Here are a few examples of the Caribbean accents. I include Venezuela here because that country truly has more things in common with the rest of the Spanish Caribbean than it does with many other Latin American countries (their racial mixture is much more white/black, their speech pattern is much closer to those of the Spanish Caribbean, even their body language says Spanish Caribbean.)
Check out Fluenz. It's the best program that I have found to learn Spanish. The company was started by Cornell graduate Sonia Gil(a native Spanish speaker- and a gorgeous one at that). She really helps you understand the material. I find Fluez to be far superior than Rosetta Stone's software.
Sonia also has a neat little webtv show called, "Sonia's Travels", where she travels around different parts of the world, immerses herself in the culture. She speaks 5 languages as well.
For me, as an American, visiting Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean almost seem too easy. As well, Costa Rica and Guatemala are quite popular these days. I've never been to S.A. before, so it's more appealing. I do want to go somewhere where the Spanish is clear and where I will pick up a good accent, and where it's safe.
In South America, I think Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia seem like the best fits. Here are a few problems: 1. Climate -- Ideally, I'd be somewhere where the temperature is in the 70s and 80s during the day, and 2. Population -- Most of the Spanish schools are in large cities, which I'd prefer not to be in because they are too touristy. Can anyone recommend towns in any of these countries that might resemble Granada, Nicaragua, that are also very safe for a gringo?
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