<p>I'm not exactly a superstar in Spanish, and I'm currently a sophomore in Spanish 2, I have heard many horror stories from Juniors at my school in Spanish 3 about the teacher who REFUSES to ever speak any English in the class EVER, the listening and speaking aspect of Spanish is my weakest point, I'm decent at memorizing vocabulary and conjugations but simply I am terrible at listening and speaking in Spanish. A lot of people in Spanish 3 at my school have really bad grades besides the native Spanish speakers.</p>
<p>I know that most good colleges like to see or even require 3-4 years of a foreign language, Spanish is the only language at my school and I have heard of so many horror stories about the horrific teacher who doesn't care that her students are failing and just starts talking in Spanish on the first day of school and expects students to just pick it up. It's even worse because in the first two years of Spanish we don't even do any listening and speaking, we just learn conjugations and vocabulary and maybe listening to an audio tape on occasion, but I'm not at all ready to just be thrown into a class with a teacher talking in Spanish who cares less if her students do well or not, Spanish is already my weakest subject.</p>
<p>When I listen to my teacher speak Spanish, I just aim to get the general gist of what she says instead of focusing on every little word. Just study hard and go to tutoring when it’s offered. I’m in Spanish 3 now and the last time I had it was in 9th grade, and I’m doing okay with the teacher mostly speaking in Spanish.</p>
<p>Yes Repede, but I would prefer to get through it without it screwing over my GPA. She doesn’t offer any tutoring from what I heard, people complain that she is the least helpful teacher ever. That’s why I’m afraid of the class, she doesn’t even tell you what the homework is in English, she just says it in Spanish and if you misunderstand her then that’s just too bad. Obviously if it’s a workbook page you can just see the numbers but sometimes you might mess something up and misunderstand.</p>
<p>I really feel like you might be hearing exaggerated stories. There is no way she would speak ENTIRELY in Spanish and even if she did, I don’t think she would speak outside of the competency level that you are expected to have for that particular class. She obviously cares if her students are failing, and I’m positive she would help you in some capacity whether it was tutoring or not. Most horror stories about teachers end up being almost entirely false, anyway. </p>
<p>Teaching a class in the target language is pretty standard practice. You won’t learn much from a teacher who is speaking English. And she’s not expecting you to “just pick it up”. You’ve already had two full years of instruction. Haven’t you learned your numbers and days by now? Then you should be able to record your homework assignments.</p>
<p>Yes I’ve had two full years of practice, I was terrible at both, the only reason I have an A in Spanish 2 this year is because you can get 20% added to your test if you do the extra credit assignment for the given chapter. I barely got a B in Spanish 1. I’m terrible at all the listening things we do as well, I’m bad enough at making sure I understand directions in English, let alone Spanish.</p>
<p>Maybe it would help to do some extra practice on your own, or if your family can afford it, hire a native speaker to work with you a bit–perhaps there’s even such a student at your high school who’d be willing to do this for a reasonable cost. Alternatively, if you have any friends in the class, maybe just get together informally and practice speaking. Also check with each other to make sure you got the homework.</p>
<p>In addition to all the great advice already given, I would just add, listening and speaking are the hardest parts of learning a new language for almost everyone, and every foreign language teacher knows that. That said, the teacher should only be speaking Spanish, but if she speaks too fast, ask her (in Spanish of course) to slow down. If you don’t understand a concept she’s teaching, ask her to use other words. I really doubt that she is just being mean.</p>
<p>The internet is also your friend. Every Spanish TV channel in the world has news programs that you can stream to practice listening.</p>
<p>I recommend you practice speaking and listening comprehension by listening and responding to audio tapes and programmes. I would also consider becoming best friends with the native speakers. Just being around Spanish-speakers can improve your ability to recognise words.</p>
<p>By the way, learning English is way more challenging!</p>
<p>I’ve heard that English is more challenging and I don’t doubt it, I just already have a learning disability when it comes to hearing and understanding directions in English even, I even have a 504 where I can get priority seating in a class so I can listen better. That’s why I will often struggle in math even though I’m really good at it because when the teacher just talks about it instead of doing it on the board I get completely lost, I have to see it. Anyhow, I like the advice and I’m thinking of just watching TV shows on DVD (Family Guy, Friends, Two and a Half Men) and changing the language to Spanish and just blowing out a season or two in the Summer.</p>
<p>Yeah, definitely watch some Spanish-speaking television - look up what channel Univision is on for your cable provider if you feel that you’re up for a challenge. Memorize a few phrases like “¿Cómo?” or “Más despacio, por favor” to help out with your teacher. You could also talk to her after or before class, explaining your disability and that you might need things repeated often. </p>