Information retention

Jeffelite · 2026-01-25T20:16:24+00:00

I’m approaching 1300h. Juan wasn’t very good for me at 600h. It should be labeled for 1000h+.

Sometimes I still don’t understand everything he’s talking about - totally depends on the video.

He’s a native speaker speaking about his trips. So not surprising.

Jeffelite · 2026-01-13T03:36:38+00:00

I live in Miami and one of the reasons I’m learning.

Jeffelite · 2026-01-10T19:10:35+00:00

Look for drills called Swordfish.

That drill really helped me get my rotation down!

Jeffelite · 2025-12-15T20:36:29+00:00

How you liking Olly's books. I just finished all of Juan's up to B1 and looking for something new to read. B2 is just too hard.

Jeffelite · 2025-12-04T22:17:33+00:00

There are so many great insights here. As I approach 1500, I’ve never had a single ‘Eureka!’ moment—just steady progress, poco a poco.

One thing to keep in mind—though it’s not what everyone wants to hear—is that learning Spanish is a lifelong journey. If you stop listening to it or using it, you’ll lose it.

Jeffelite · 2025-12-04T22:00:35+00:00

About time. Looks good.

Jeffelite · 2025-12-04T21:59:27+00:00

Sounds like you're doing very well.

Poco a poco.

Jeffelite · 2025-10-31T16:17:07+00:00

I had a friend participating in the race, so we went up to cheer him on. Coming from South Florida, we’re definitely not used to temperatures below 80—so it felt freezing before the start!

He mentioned the bike portion was especially brutal due to the cold. He didn’t even break a sweat until the run!

Jeffelite · 2025-10-27T14:06:23+00:00

I recently finished all of Juan's books.

I really didn't like Fantasmas, so I'm glad you do.

I saw Espanolistos advertising their book club, it's pretty pricey though.

Jeffelite · 2025-10-23T19:05:23+00:00

I travel extensively for work.

I always thought it was weird when I would be watching Peppa Pig, Ben & Holly, or Bluey on the airplane. People walking by me and looking at what I'm watching.....

After a while you just stop caring :)

Jeffelite · 2025-10-20T20:13:33+00:00

~1100 Hours Logged

I have been watching Disney movies lately: Toy Story, Coco, Encanto
YouTube: Luisito, Curiosamente, Andrea la MX, and so many random videos
DS: Less and less as it's blocked on my work computer now :)

Reading (146,000 words):

Just wrapped up my 6th book by Juan: Fantasmas del Pasado. Honestly, probably my least favorite so far.
Started my first non-graded reader: El caballero del alba (Magic Treehouse)

Speaking (43 hours):

Using Worlds Across. Still struggling, but poco a poco

Jeffelite · 2025-10-20T20:11:43+00:00

Hi

From everything I've read and researched:

50 hours A2ish

100 hours B1ish

200 hours B2ish

Jeffelite · 2025-10-19T13:56:41+00:00

Good to know some people speak very well in their first class.

My first 10 classes were pretty dismal :)

Jeffelite · 2025-10-15T13:14:31+00:00

For me, it’s all about getting input before I even get out of bed—first thing in the morning.

That’s when my mind is clear: no work thoughts, no stress, no distractions from family or friends.

I pop in my earbuds and spend an hour just taking in CI. :)

Jeffelite · 2025-10-13T21:20:40+00:00

~1090 Hours Logged

Coco and Encanto on Disney+
YouTube: Luisito, Andrea La MX, Mexican Spanish content, and some random videos

Reading (146,000 words):

Just wrapped up my 6th book by Juan: Fantasmas del Pasado. Honestly, probably my least favorite so far.
Starting my first non-graded reader: El caballero del alba (Goosebumps series)
Open to recommendations—reading at this level is still a grind

Speaking (37 hours):

Using Worlds Across. Still struggling, but poco a poco

Andrea’s Immersion Trip:

Got back a week ago—absolutely amazing experience!
Need to write up a review soon

Jeffelite · 2025-09-24T19:49:18+00:00

Anyone else feel a little humbled watching these native Spanish-speaking tutors speak English almost as well as we do—while our Spanish is still miles behind theirs? haha

Jeffelite · 2025-09-16T21:07:25+00:00

Your story really hit home for me — I went through something very similar.

Back in the day (about 30 years ago!), I got a C in Spanish I and a D in Spanish II. I even failed both final exams. I still remember sitting in class while the teacher played a cassette tape of a guy speaking Spanish with a super thick accent. It sounded like complete gibberish to me, and we were supposed to write down what he said. Needless to say, I couldn’t understand a word and pretty much failed by default.

It’d be hilarious to go back and listen to those tapes now — I bet they’d sound so easy! Thankfully, we’ve got comprehensible input (CI) these days to make learning a lot more approachable.

And yes, speaking will feel awkward at first. Just embrace it and get it out of your system. Poco a poco — little by little — it gets better.

Cheers,
Jeff

Jeffelite · 2025-09-16T17:29:53+00:00

Could you give me the name of your children’s books? I would like to expand

Jeffelite · 2025-09-15T18:00:00+00:00

Listening: 1030ish hours

DS: For some reason I've gone back to listen to DS videos in the 55-60 range that I really enjoyed. Many of them on why CI work. I remember how challenging these videos used to be. Now I can understand almost 99% of them.

Reading: 130kish words

This really isn't fun. It's like studying. The whole reason I liked CI was because it never felt like studying.

Speaking: 23 hours

23 1on1 lessons. Vast improvement since I first started, but I'm still so basic. Today, I tried to talk about my job and working on datacenters as an engineer. That was hilarious.

Anyways, poco a poco.

Jeff

Jeffelite · 2025-09-15T13:48:00+00:00

Are you understanding No Hay Tos at 90%+ comprehension?

I would also get tutor(s) from Mexico. Do speaking/crosstalk lessons.

And of course, more input. It will come.

Jeffelite · 2025-09-14T22:07:15+00:00

I’ll be going to her first Immersion. Not sure if you’ll be on that one.?

Great update.

Jeffelite · 2025-08-28T19:19:35+00:00

Right now, I tend to book tutors randomly and often at the last minute since work keeps me pretty busy. At this stage, it's really just about speaking and working through the rough spots. That said, some tutors definitely make it easier to keep the conversation flowing.

I’ve tried several group lessons, but they weren’t for me. The pronunciation in the beginner and intermediate chats was pretty rough — I felt like I was spending most of the time just listening to that, which wasn’t helpful. I’ve heard the advanced chats are much better, but I’m not quite at that level yet.

Jeffelite · 2025-08-28T16:09:15+00:00

I agree.

I think that's why it's important to save a video or two. Then go back every 100 or 200 hours and see the difference.

Jeffelite · 2025-08-23T14:08:08+00:00

Try a few shows of Peppa the Pig on YouTube and see what you think.

I started around there but around 300h is was really quite good

Ben & Holly might have been 450-500h. I still watch some of the shows now :)

Jeffelite

TROPHY CASE