In this episode we will be discussing the following:

Part 1 - My move to Puerto Rico

Part 2 - Learning naturally – Short true story

Part 3 - Questions and answers

Hi everyone, my name is David, and it is my goal to help you learn English faster. Learning to speak English is easier than you think, you just need to use the correct learning methods. Remember that you can always access the complete written transcripts for each podcast at learningenglishfaster.com. 

You may also join the “Learning English Faster .com” Facebook group and meet other people who are also learning English. Just go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3396962433722654

Part 1 - My move to Puerto Rico

I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. About 11 years ago, I moved to Puerto Rico to get away from things and try to find some peace. I plan on explaining more about the circumstances in a future episode. Anyway, when I arrived in Puerto Rico, it was everything that I dreamed it would be. The people were amazingly friendly, the weather was ideal, and the beaches were breathtaking.  I even found an affordable apartment that was literally on the beach. Very soon after I arrived, I ended up meeting the most wonderful woman, and we were married about a year and a half later. The problem was that I only knew about two words of Spanish when I moved to Puerto Rico. I knew that I would have to learn to speak Spanish if I was going to stay in Puerto Rico. 

Part 2 - Learning naturally – Short true story

After moving to Puerto Rico, I was very motivated to learn the Spanish language, and I started by learning a basic vocabulary of the most used words by using flash cards. I was able to learn a basic vocabulary of around 300 words in about one month. Once I had a basic vocabulary, I used computer courses that focused on grammar. After completing several computer courses, I still could not speak Spanish, so I paid a lot of money to attend a language learning school. The language learning school also focused on learning grammar. After all of this, I did have a better understanding of grammar and a solid basic vocabulary. The problem was that I still could not hear, think, or speak well in the Spanish language. When tried to understand native speakers, the words all blended together. I could not speak without translating everything I wanted to say in my head first, and this caused me to get stuck a lot. I always had a big question mark in my head because I was not sure that I was speaking correctly. Does this sound familiar? After wasting years trying to learn to speak the Spanish language, I was so frustrated that I took an entire year off. But then, I found another learning method that allows you to learn naturally by listening and that changed everything. I listened to stories and answered the simple questions that followed out loud. I was able to listen a lot because I could listen while I was doing other things like driving or cooking. Before long, I was able to start thinking in the Spanish language, and I was even able to start having conversations with some native speakers. I sincerely wish that I had known about this method before I wasted so much time and money on traditional courses. 

Part 3 – Questions and Answers:  Now I will tell a small part of the true story followed by a pause, this pause is time for you to answer out loud. Short and quick answers are best. My answers may by slightly longer to provide context. This technique simulates a conversation and helps you to start thinking in English. Answer the questions as if you were telling the story.

After moving to Puerto Rico, I was very motivated to learn the Spanish language, and I started by learning a basic vocabulary of the most used words by using flash cards. I was able to learn a basic vocabulary of around 300 words in about one month. 

-Were you able to learn the Spanish language in one month?

Nooo, I was able to learn a basic vocabulary of common words in one month. I was not able to learn the Spanish language in one month. Please never believe anyone who tells you that you can learn an entire language on one month. 

Once I had a basic vocabulary, I used computer courses that focused on grammar. After completing several computer courses, I still could not speak Spanish, so I paid a lot of money to attend a language learning school. The language learning school also focused on learning grammar. 

-Did the computer courses and language learning school both use traditional teaching methods that focused on learning grammar?

Yes, both the language learning school and the computer courses focused on learning grammar. 

After all of this, I did have a better understanding of grammar and a solid basic vocabulary. The problem was that I still could not hear, think, or speak well in the Spanish language. 

-Did learning grammar help you to speak in the Spanish language?

No, unfortunately it not. Although I learned a lot of grammar, I still could not hear, think, or speak well in the Spanish language.   

When I tried to understand native speakers, the words all blended together. I could not speak without translating everything I wanted to say in my head first, and this caused me to get stuck a lot. 

-Were you able to understand native speakers or did their words seem to blend together?

When I tried to understand native speakers, their words all seemed to blend together. 

I always had a big question mark in my head because I was not sure that I was speaking correctly. Does this sound familiar? After wasting years trying to learn to speak the Spanish language, I was so frustrated that I took an entire year off.

-Did you take an entire year off to celebrate learning the Spanish language?

No, I took an entire year off from learning Spanish because I was so frustrated with my lack of progress. 

But then, I found another learning method that allows you to learn naturally by listening and that changed everything. I listened to stories and answered the simple questions that followed out loud. 

Did you decide to go back to the language learning school to learn more grammar?

No, I found a new method that helped me to learn naturally by listening to stories. 

I was able to listen a lot because I could listen while I was doing other things, like driving or cooking. Before long, I was able to start thinking in the Spanish language, and I was even able to start having conversations with some native speakers. 

-Were you able to start thinking in the Spanish language?

Yes, before long I was finally able to start thinking in the Spanish language and even have some conversations with some of my neighbors. 

I sincerely wish that I had known about this method before I wasted so much time and money on traditional courses.

-Do you wish that you knew about the learning by listening method sooner?

Yes, I wish that I knew how to learn naturally before I wasted so much time, money, and effort using traditional methods.   

Conclusion

If you like this free podcast, please help me to continue developing content by sharing an episode on your favorite social media. This free podcast uses the same learning methods that are used in the complete courses, but the stories in the complete courses are better because they provide much more context, and each new lesson is a continuation of the same story. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section, and I will try to address them in a future episode. 

Until next week.