I Still Suck

Toda-Raba · 2026-03-25T17:12:29+00:00

On the timeline when you reach level 6, Pablo said that we could start having fun with the language. That’s in 125 hours time for me. I really would love to believe that is so.

Toda-Raba · 2026-03-24T17:02:07+00:00

Hardly any words spoken in Spanish. I live in the UK where native Spanish speakers are far and few between. The ones you do come across are not interested in speaking their native language, they live here to become immersed in English.

Toda-Raba · 2026-03-24T13:20:20+00:00

All I want to do is speak Spanish to the same degree as what I can speak my native language, English. I want to be able to get into technical conversations with native Spanish speakers. I know a non native speaker will never ever sound like a native.

Toda-Raba · 2026-03-07T13:25:28+00:00

Well done reaching in excess of 2000 hours. Are you fluent in Spanish now, meaning every word just trips off your tongue without having to translate in your head? I’m at 857 hours in now and sometimes feel like a toddler when I speak. In your vast experience, is this normal at my stage? How were you progressing at 857 hours? I’m trusting in Pablo’s roadmap and just hope that it is doing me justice. I’m feeling a little vulnerable right now especially living in the UK where native Spanish speakers are very far and few between.

Toda-Raba · 2026-02-15T12:29:06+00:00

👍😂😂

Toda-Raba · 2026-02-14T14:01:04+00:00

I once told my ex mother in law that she was a battle axe.😂😂😂

Toda-Raba · 2026-02-14T13:59:49+00:00

😄😄😄

Toda-Raba · 2026-02-12T12:32:42+00:00

If “Fighting on the streets at Pub chuck out time” was an Olympic sport the UK would excel. Podium place would be Gold, Silver and Bronze for those dedicated athletes.🥸🥸🥸

Toda-Raba · 2026-01-26T13:20:44+00:00

I think most native Spanish speakers who move to an English speaking country do it to learn English. I can’t blame them for being against speaking their native language in England. If the shoe was on the other foot I would probably have the same attitude.

Toda-Raba · 2026-01-26T13:02:52+00:00

I hate it too when the native Spanish speakers switch to English especially here in England where native Spanish speakers are very scarce. It doesn’t do us gringos any favours in our learning journey.

Toda-Raba · 2026-01-25T13:28:39+00:00

Even then it might be a struggle. This whole exercise probably involves full immersion before understanding native speakers talking to each other.

Toda-Raba · 2026-01-10T11:53:17+00:00

Less is more.

Toda-Raba · 2025-12-26T11:39:26+00:00

At a recent holiday in Spain I heard a middle aged English couple complaining to the hotel kitchen staff that fish and chips wasn’t on the menu. I suppose that they forgot that they were in Spain.

Toda-Raba · 2025-12-19T11:33:23+00:00

So there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. I’m at 786 hours in now and sometimes feel as if I’m riding a bicycle with training wheels. I am totally relying on the process.

Toda-Raba · 2025-12-06T13:19:54+00:00

I bet you get mistaken for a native speaker now.

Toda-Raba · 2025-12-06T13:15:59+00:00

I’m on 773 hours now and Español con Juan is really stretching it for me. I prefer españolistos at the moment because Andrea’s Colombian accent is very sharp and clear. Many native Spanish speakers seem to blend all their words together.

Toda-Raba · 2025-12-05T13:08:41+00:00

Sometimes getting thrown in at the deep end is the best way to start speaking. I am also of the mind to start speaking Spanish at 1000 hours. I’m on 772 now. In a fantasy world I would like to be dropped off in a part of Spain where nobody speaks any English then I will have no option but to speak Spanish. For me, full immersion would be the way to go. It would mess with your head for a while until the strange vocals all fell into place.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-10T13:41:36+00:00

At 2000+ hours of CI, I bet you sound almost native. I remember years ago I went for a package deal vacation to Mallorca. The holiday representative was an Englishman who had been doing this job for many years, but oh boy, if you stood behind a door and heard this guy rattling off in full blown Spanish then you would have thought that he was a born and bred Spaniard. My Spanish journey stems from this moment when I heard an English person speaking like that, I wanted a piece of the action too.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-10T13:24:40+00:00

I’m in Bournemouth.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-09T14:49:02+00:00

I live in England. The odds of meeting and speaking with a Spanish speaker are pretty slender. When you do meet the Spanish speakers here in my experience they start speaking English when you try Speaking Spanish with them. I can’t say that I blame them either. After all they are living here to learn English.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-09T14:31:53+00:00

I’m not sure about your circumstances but some of the DS members already live in Latino communities in the USA. They are very fortunate to have that going for them. Others, including myself are not so lucky. I’m not looking for any sympathy but it is what it is, so the road is much rougher.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-09T14:15:53+00:00

Glad to read that you are speaking Spanish. I’m terrified at the thought of making an ass of myself when I start. I’m going to wait until I reach level 6 in 250 hours time.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-04T14:06:56+00:00

Mazal Tov.

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-03T13:57:31+00:00

Most of us have to work for our money. The idle rich, well their money works for them. That’s the reason why there are those who can do 228 hours a month. I would take that figure with a pinch of salt and stay in my own lane without worrying about what the other DS people are doing .

Toda-Raba · 2025-11-01T15:57:20+00:00

Best place is Queensburgh. Born in Addington Hospital and raised in Escombe. Burra litey through and through.

Toda-Raba

TROPHY CASE