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Go to iTalki (https://italki.com https://italki.com) like already mentioned and do a couple sessions with different teachers. These are mostly not professional
by wallflower 8y ago
Go to iTalki (https://italki.com https://italki.com) like already mentioned and do a couple sessions with different teachers. These are mostly not professional language teachers so their rate is lower. They are native speakers all, usually college students, who are doing this for a side hustle. Some may even offer a free 30-min trial. The goal is to find someone who you like practicing with and has a teaching style that it is compatible with yours. For me, I just wanted to practice talking and some of these tutors had a whole formal lesson plan. If your goal is conversation, focusing on conversation is better than doing grammar lessons.
There is no substitute for practicing with a native speaker who will not become frustrated/impatient/annoyed with you (like a friend). At a minimum, do two one hour sessions a week. Three is better and five would be amazing (assuming two or three different tutors).
Change your listening habits. Start to listen to audio in your desired language. Music, even podcasts. You probably will not understand much to begin with and the goal is to start picking out sounds, syllables, and word and phrase boundaries. Eventually you will recognize connector words, short phrases. Keep with it. Ignore those who say you need 95% knowledge of the words being said to understand. Your goal is not to understand what is being said completely but to train your ear.
Eventually you will realize correct grammar is what makes you intermediate level. But no hurry, mistakes are how you learn.
Good luck! Be patient with yourself. Language learning is not an automatic process after childhood.
- ninetax 8y agoI'll put in a word for iTalki as well. I just tried a teacher out and started scheduling lessons. One year later my Spanish is miles ahead. I'm not motivated enough to do any homework or studying, but as long as I schedule those lessons and attend I'm on track to B2 proficiency by the end of next year or sooner.