Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency
# 8: I'm introducing my eighth way to Spanish fluency in this brief video:
These groups can be a great way to meet new friends who also share an interest in Spanish. Some groups plan actual activities or outings to engage conversation and good times. Other groups are more laid back discussing poems, articles and books.
For those who live in rural areas, use the Internet to set up groups within your community. Craig's List and Meetup.com are great places to set up a group. Schedule a meeting in public places such as libraries, community centers, or coffee shops. Create a simple flyer to post at your grocery store, church or downtown. You can set up a generic email address to have people respond or RSVP directly to that address without having strangers use your own address. You can always get a free Google email account.
If you want to merge your Spanish conversation group with a subject you truly love, make that known. For example, you can have a group who loves movies and Spanish where you post a specific Spanish movie asking people to rent or borrow it from the library and come to the meeting to discuss it in Spanish. You can do that for books, articles, photography outings, bowling or whatever your heart desires. Be creative! Have fun!
Here in Phoenix, there are a couple of groups based in different parts of the valley and for different Spanish speaking abilities (such as beginners and intermediate/advanced speakers). Bottom line is to be safe by meeting in public areas. If you plan on setting up your own group, specify the parameters of the group (who you will allow into the group) and what rules your group will follow.
You can also seek out groups that already exist in your community too. The lazy way out is to search for online conversational groups. These usually will use a webcam and/or microphone. Google Hang Outs is a great way to search for groups online. Skype is another format to search for groups. There are many more out there so don't be afraid to hunt them down.
Hopefully I have given you some good ideas of where to find groups of people who want to learn or maintain their Spanish speaking abilities. Part of communicating in Spanish is speaking. Get out there and speak!
Love this tip to Spanish fluency? Check out more ways to improve your Spanish. Get my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish? It's on sale now. See below for details.
There is just a few weeks left of my summer giveaway. Register to win one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book. Click on the link to the right of this blog post for your chance to win. Best of luck to you!
~Keith
Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters
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