Do You Have Trouble Understanding People When They Speak Spanish Quickly?

 

You’ve learned the basics of Spanish, you’ve been through the classes, you can read Spanish but how many times have you been overwhelmed, frustrated and discouraged when people start speaking Spanish faster than you can keep up.

Perhaps, you’ve even felt like giving up, or that you’re just too old to learn Spanish.

I’ve been exactly where you are, and I know how horrible it feels.

The information in this letter will show you ways you can develop your ear for Spanish and overcome the challenges of rapid speech.

 

Dear friend

I know exactly what it’s like when Spanish seems to just go by too fast. One day you feel like you’re on top of Spanish, then someone speaks to you quickly and all of a sudden you’re completely lost.

I remember one particularly brutal day that made me feel like a complete idiot… all because of a simple misunderstanding.

After 18 months of living in Mexico, I was stumped by the most basic phrase.

I remember it like yesterday. I was in a government office renewing my FM3 Mexican work and residency permit. I handed my papers to the official behind the window. After very deliberately checking the required mountain of paperwork, he looked up and said, “tome asiento”.

“perdón”, I replied

“Tome asiento por favor”.

I just stared back, like a deer caught in the headlights.

Then, after he said it a third time, someone else said in English, “take a seat”.

I felt so stupid.

After 18 months of living in Mexico, how was it possible that and I couldn’t even understand a simple everyday phrase like take a seat?

I felt completely dejected.

I remember thinking…

“May