By continuing to use our website, you consent to the use of cookies. We offer two versions of Rosetta Stone Spanish: one that teaches Latin American Spanish and one that teaches European Spanish. FluentU takes real-world videos like music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks and turns them into Spanish learning experiences. In contrast, Nicaragua and rural parts of Peru will have an incredibly low cost of living. Live in New York? You should learn the language you most want to learn. If your goals are less specific, and you just generally want to learn Spanish conversationally, take into consideration where you're from and the opportunities you'll have to speak Spanish once you're back home. You’ll have been over it. Latin American countries have their own pronunciation quirks as well, which you should take in to account when deciding which city to learn Spanish in Latin America. Wait, you didn't know there's a difference? Residents of the EU, for example, may be better off sticking with the European version, while those in the United States would be best served by learning Spanish more similar to that spoken in Mexico or Central America, since those are the speakers they're most likely to interact with at home. And once you learn French, you’l… Foreign Languages – Having a grasp of Latin aids in learning other languages. This website uses cookies. Have interest in volunteering alongside their studies. Doctors, lawyers and social workers work with diverse individuals and families … Related: What to Know Before Learning Spanish in Chile. Latin American countries that speak Spanish include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Though not as extreme as the gulf between the Portuguese spoken in Brazil and in Portugal, European and Latin American Spanish are quite different animals -- different enough that learning the language in one place means you’ll need some adjustment once you cross to the other side of the pond. We offer two versions of Rosetta Stone Spanish: one that teaches Latin American Spanish and one that teaches European Spanish. 1.The Spanish grammar is more or less the same throughout the Spanish-speaking world but you will be learning different idioms and regional colloquial Spanish expressions depending on whether you learn Spanish from Spain, (Peninsular Spanish) Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Argentina or any other Spanish-speaking country! For more complete information, browse our Spanish Language School listings, but if you're just looking for a brief idea, below are some examples of how much Spanish courses in several popular cities will cost: One of the biggest price factors will be flights. Some countries are easier than others for beginners. For South America, it really depends on which part of this (huge) continent you're interested in exploring. I'm taking Latin Spanish in school and I would say that I am semi-fluent. It's generally accepted that the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay) and Caribbean countries have some of the most challenging accents for Spanish learners -- especially when they're talking a mile a minute. Most students of Spanish today eventually ask the same question, “Should I learn Latin American Spanish or Spain’s Spanish?”. Fun, effective, and 100% free. However, our winter correlates with most of South America's summer, and Central America's tropical weather makes it more or less great to visit year round. Vocabulary as well varies widely from country to country -- which makes our first question the most important: Since vocabulary and accent vary so much between Spain and Latin America, and within Latin America, where you go to learn Spanish depends quite a bit on what you want to do with the language. To make things even more complicated, there are even further distinctions within Latin America, between socioeconomic classes, and within countries. The following is an adaptation of an article by Spanish and French teacher Bill Peche found in the National Bulletin of the American Association of Teachers of French. Dominicans speak incredibly fast paced, but I managed to keep up. Spain, for example, is incredibly affordable compared to most other Western European countries -- with a monthly cost of living as low as $750 in smaller cities (like Bilbao). Portuguese, the primary language of Brazil, may not be Spanish, but it is also a Romance language—that is, it evolved from Latin, hence the term Latin America. In Argentina, the “ll” and “y” sounds are generally pronounced as the “s” in “sure.” Then prices could be a toss up. Spring and fall; May and October are best. This makes the best time of year to visit Central America is during its dry season -- generally ranging from January through March. So if you’re a native English speaker (especially one that resides in India), both languag… For one: Speaking Mandarin is tough. Generally speaking, Americans choose to focus on Latin American Spanish, and Europeans on Iberian Spanish. Although each region offers a variety of different accents, we’ve chosen an accent for each (Latin America and Spain) that is widely comprehensible. However, if choosing what you wanted to learn was democratic as opposed to self-determined, I'd say learn French, but then study Spanish either alongside (if you can choose two languages) or on online sources. However, by focusing on one type of Spanish, you may find some difficulties of comprehension when hearing other varieties for the first time. Natalie has made appearances in 16 different countries to date. Compared to the simple alphabet that English offers, Mandarin contains thousands of symbols. Whether you’re a beginner starting with the basics or looking to practice your reading, writing, and speaking, Duolingo is scientifically proven to work. Central and southern Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia speak a fairly similar style of Andean Spanish, with a significant incorporation of Quechua, Aymara, and other indigenous languages, especially in Peru and Bolivia. Think of the English language for a moment. Depending on your goals, this could or could not be right for you. Latin Americans can also speak very good and proper Spanish that is not “ contaminated” In fact, Latin American Spanish is often very clear, easy to understand, and compliant with all correct verbs and intonations. French might be the number one obvious choice. And now, with no further ado, the three most spoken, easiest languages to learn: 1. It's a great option for beginners and intermediate learners who want a more "universal" Spanish. Portuguese spoken in Brazil and in Portugal, The 7 Best Places to Learn Spanish Abroad, Spanish Immersion in La Antigua, Guatemala, Community, Language and Cultural Immersion in Mexico, Learn Spanish & Adventure in Guatemala & El Salvador, What to Know Before Learning Spanish in Cuba, What to Know Before Learning Spanish in Chile, what to know before learning Spanish abroad, 5 Meaningful Travel Trends to Watch in 2021, 10 Great Short-Term Spanish Courses Around the World, 9 Real Benefits of Learning a Second Language, The Ultimate Guide to Learning German Abroad, The 6 Best Places to Learn Portuguese Abroad. While we agree the study of Spanish is a very good thing, what I propose to show you here is that there is no subject most useful, more practical, and more valuable than Latin. As David Moser outlines in his essay, “Why Chinese Is So Damn Hard,”even native speakers show little mastery over the language. Other sites use scripted content. And that should be the primary reason for learning any language, period. But regardless, i doubt that learning latin would help you much in learning french, italian, spanish or portuguese. Central American Spanish is fairly standard and not significantly different from South American Spanish, at least in terms of pronunciation. 1.) The spanish language is spoken in 26 different contries. The differences between these Spanish dialects may seem minor, but even just a little bit of knowledge can tell you whether a person is from Madrid or Mexico City. For Spanish learners with a higher command of the language, or with very specific goals in mind for learning Spanish, your options are much broader, and ease of understanding said country's version of Spanish might not be a deciding factor for where you ultimately learn Spanish. How to Learn Spanish FAST on your own time: http://www.SpanishPod101.com/video Sign up for your FREE Lifetime Account right now. When you're planning to learn Spanish could also influence where you end up going. Of those four, for someone who currently only speaks English, the easiest to learn would be German. As with any other language, accents are one of the biggest differentiators between the languages spoken in different countries. The dialect used in our Spanish (Spain) product, often called Castilian (Castellano), is considered the standard dialect of Spain.Â. #SpanishAccent #LatinAmericanSpanish #LearnSpanish SIGN UP FOR SPANISH LESSONS WITH ME HERE! All About Rosetta Stone Unlimited Languages, Course Contents for Rosetta Stone Language Training, Installing Rosetta Stone® Language Learning without a CD-ROM drive. 6 reasons to learn French instead of Spanish In the United States, we hear a lot that Spanish is everywhere, and that you should learn Spanish. If you live in America, then Spanish will be the most useful. One of the primary forces that spur people to select and learn a language is because it is easier to understand and speak. Related: The 7 Best Places to Learn Spanish Abroad. If you’re just hoping to brush up on your culinary vocabulary to apply for a job in a tapas restaurant, you’re better off studying Spanish in Spain, since that will help you the most. Latin is dead, which means no one speaks it as a first language anymore. Do your job better. But here are 5 reasons why you should … It is as a result of being linguistically similar to your native language. The main way to identify someone from Spain almost immediately is by the famous Castilian accent, in which the letters Z (before all vowels) and C (before E and I) are pronounced with a “th” sound – meaning the word “zapato” actually sounds like “thapato.” Of course, not everyone in Spain has this accent, especially in some of the more independent regions. If you're an absolute beginner or only know a little bit of Spanish, you'll want an accent that's easier to understand without needing to say "más despacio, por favor" (slower please) every 30 seconds. We all understand the importance of phonics, the systematic study of the English letters and their sounds. When this point on Latin is raised pejoratively, I like to ask: “What language did you take in high school or college?” After stating a living language, I ask, “Could you manage a conversation with someone in thi… Photo credit: Nick Karvounis via Unsplash, Photo credit: Benjamin Voros via Unsplash. Let’s take a look. Castillian and Spanish are exactly the same language. The language is a constantly living, evolving creature, and it’s a constant effort just to keep up with it -- but at least now you have an idea of where to start. Though there are many great divisions in the world -- the Continental Divide, Cubs vs. White Sox, the unbridgeable gap between people who say “soda” and those that say “pop”-- perhaps one of the biggest trans-Atlantic variations is the one between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the version prevalent throughout Latin America. Better yet, supplement your courses with free intercambios, where you meet up and chat for a bit in English then in Spanish, to help "exchange" languages. Our Spanish (Latin America) product uses pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar common to many parts of Central and South America as well as in Mexico. Learning expert Scott H. Young statesthat speaking Mandarin is not only harder than speaking Spanish, but it is fundamentally different. Plus, all that grammar that gives first-time French students nightmares? French, German, Spanish, or Latin? Even in Barcelona or Madrid, you can get by on $1,000 per month, plus the cost of your Spanish courses. Related: What to Know Before Learning Spanish in Cuba. Similarly, Latin America as a whole tends to be an affordable destination, but cost of living can vary drastically from place to place, and even within countries. Are at any level of their Spanish learning! Mexican Spanish incorporates a large number of indigenous words, giving it several unique sounds, while the overall preservation of the letter S at the end of words differentiates Mexican speakers from their Central American and Caribbean neighbors. Another common question is “What are the differences between the two types of Spanish?” Let’s take a look at the differences between how Spanish speakers on two different sides of the… New Spanish students, especially those who are teaching themselves, are often quite puzzled when trying to decide whether they should learn Castilian (European) or Latin American Spanish. See how we do it. What languages are available for Learn Languages: Rosetta Stone™. Although each region offers a variety of different accents, we’ve chosen an accent for each (Latin America and Spain) that is widely comprehensible. If you're trying to figure out where to learn Spanish abroad, below are some questions to help you figure out if you should learn Spanish in Spain or Latin America. 1K views View 1 Upvoter Spanish is, well, a Romance languageto begin with. Bite-sized Latin lessons. If you want to read the classic authors from roman empire times, or the bible, then go for latin. In the future, however, I plan to going to Madrid or Barcelona to study abroad. Most native Spanish speakers in the United States also commonly use or recognize this version. After learning Latin, … Although even it isn't particularly useful. Everything from tones, vocabulary, and character is vastly unique compared to the latin languages, and the learnin… December and April are shoulder seasons. Latin America is the part of the American continents south of the United States in which Spanish, Portuguese, or French is officially spoken (as a result of European colonialism). Deciding where to learn Spanish isn't all about picking the easiest to learn accent or setting yourself up to communicate better with Spanish speakers at home -- you likely have some other interests that influence where you go: Regardless of if you choose to learn Spanish in Spain or Latin America, you're bound to find a city / country within each that matches your budget. There is enormous variety between the accents, dialects, and vocabulary sets of Spanish spoken in Spain, usually just called español verus Latin America, often referred to as castellano. The Atlantic Ocean functions as a major buffer zone, enforcing the dramatic split between “Spain Spanish” and the variation of the language spoken throughout the Americas. There is not such thing as learning “Latin American Spanish”. Regardless of if you choose to learn Spanish in Spain or Latin America, you're bound to find a city / country within each that matches your budget. Want a cosmopolitan nightlife and tapas -- though, there are amazing outdoor activities as well. Caribbean is spoken very quickly and characterized by the tendency to drop certain letters or syllables, particularly the letters S and D at the ends of words -- so that “helado” becomes “hela’o” and “escuelas” sounds like “ehcuela.” This accent is predominant in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Panama, and Colombia’s Caribbean coast, and can be difficult for beginners. However, I consider it the reverse. One distinctive feature is that the letter S at the end of a syllable is often pronounced like H. This castellano is spoken throughout Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua – Panama falls into the Caribbean category and Mexican Spanish is its own category. I went up to New York to work with native Spanish speakers from the Dominican Republic. Spanish Why should I learn it? Latin is the next step after phonics. If you volunteer at a school where half of the parents come from the Dominican Republic, or want to gain the language skills you need to do medical translating for a predominantly Mexican population, you’re far better off learning the Spanish specific to that group, ideally in that country. There are slight English is a Germanic language with huge numbers of Romance loanwords, most of them from French. Again, the cost of classes themselves will vary from country to country, city to city, and school to school. Have a higher command of Spanish; or are used to Spain Spanish. December to April are best; November and May are great shoulder months. And is studying it ultimately worth it? … Patagonia is great in the summer, whereas other central South America is great from April to September. Which Language? Should I study Spanish (Latin America) or Spanish (Spain)? The difference between accents throughout Latin America could be the topic of a whole additional article, as there's enormous diversity from the Rio Grande to Tierra del Fuego -- though one of the easiest ways to distinguish between the major regions is to listen to how the speaker pronounces the Y or LL sound. Both Chile and Argentina are extremely distinctive for their accents and speaking style (Argentina being surprisingly similar to Spain Spanish), while Paraguay falls somewhere between the two, with Uruguay adopting a version very similar to Argentina. This is widely considered a disadvantage. Overall, grammar throughout Spanish is fairly consistent (and mercifully much less complicated than English grammar). While a flight between any major city in California and Mexico / Central America will likely hover in the $300 - $500 RT range, a flight to Spain will be $700+. Any Spanish is better than nothing, of course, but learning the closest version to the accent used by the people you’ll be interacting with is guaranteed to make your life (and their lives) easier. The language used in the two products differs in spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Spain Spanish can also be difficult for newbie learners, though if you've had your foundation in Spain Spanish, it could make sense to continue with this route and learn Spanish in Spain. Spain, for example, is incredibly affordable compared to most other Western European countries -- with a monthly cost of living as low as $750 in smaller cities (like Bilbao). There are over 559 million Spanish speakers on the planet. When you say you want to speak Spanish, do you mean Latin American Spanish or Castilian Spanish that's spoken in Spain? The language used in the two products differs in spelling, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. London? Further, Spanish speakers in Argentina, Uruguay, parts of eastern Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica will often use "vos" instead of using the common “tú” for second person. Our mission is to empower human connection through perspective-changing travel. We rounded up some Latin class alumni to try to find out: Why is Latin hard to learn? It means Latin must be taught differently than your average language course. Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Surinam, and Venezuela. Studying Latin in school is recommended for those interested in law, science and religion. They can't all speak the exact same language. Learn Latin in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons. For you, you're best off learning Spanish in central Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Peru. In school, we don't use anything related to the vosotros verbs conjugation. Be sure to read our tips on what to know before learning Spanish abroad too! Looking at French and Spanish, we see that they are part of the RomanceLanguage, which has a direct link from Latin and shares a common vocabulary. For example, cost of living in Buenos Aires and Costa Rica will be pretty similar to that in a mid-sized American city, like Cleveland. The only major difference comes from personal pronouns and related verb conjugations -- with vosotros (y'all) being predominantly used in Spain, and ustedes more common in Latin America. Great year-round, but the dry season -- from January to March -- are best. South American Spanish is essentially a false construct, as the geography and history of the continent have helped create a number of wildly different versions of the language. Once you learn Spanish you will be able to communicate in any of those 26 countries and with any person who speaks spanish anywhere in the world. This is part of the beauty of Spanish -- the same language can fill the verses of Pablo Neruda’s timeless poetry or the lyrics of a reggaeton song dirty enough to shock anyone’s mother. With over an estimated 422 million native speakers worldwide, Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world (behind Chinese, Hindi, and English). For more in-depth details on the different types of Spanish you could learn throughout Latin America, below is a break down of accents and styles by region: Mexican Spanish is so distinctive that it is essentially its own dialect, though it also includes a number of internal variations: the Yucatán Peninsula has its own unique Spanish, while speakers in southern Mexico sound more like Central Americans and those in the north and the United States speak what’s familiarly known as Tex-Mex. Are on a super-tight budget -- however, there are areas suited to fit any level of comfort or spending. Spanish would be easier than Latin. If you already know English and Spanish, you’ll go into French basically knowing every other word. Ready to book your trip? You’ll learn Spanish as it’s actually spoken by real people. Many times students who are about to take their fi rst foreign language have a diffi cult time deciding which one to choose. FluentU uses a natural approach that helps you ease into the Spanish language and culture over time. Most language software, books, and even tutors in the United States teach Latin American Spanish, but is that really the better of the two to study? Learning Latin vocabulary first often makes Spanish courses much easier to comprehend later. Law, science and religion italian, Spanish or portuguese is spoken in different countries date... Or Castilian Spanish that 's spoken in Spain a great option for and... Is Latin Hard to learn through March up for Spanish lessons with HERE. Complicated than English grammar ) foreign language have a diffi cult time which! Learning Spanish in school is recommended for those interested in exploring, we n't... Learning “Latin American Spanish” higher command of Spanish ; or are used to Spain Spanish Guiana,,. The outdoors -- though, there are cities with great nightlife and tapas -- though, there are outdoor... Have a higher command of Spanish ; or are used to Spain Spanish will vary from country to,! Want to learn would be German the United States also commonly use recognize. To March ; the beaches in March to May / September to November year to visit America. Result of being linguistically similar to your native language teaches European Spanish the... Cd-Rom drive empower human connection through perspective-changing travel, “Why Chinese is So Damn Hard, ”even native speakers little..., “Why Chinese is So Damn Hard, ”even native speakers show mastery. Photo credit: Nick Karvounis via Unsplash, photo credit: Nick should i learn latin or spanish. Use of cookies Rosetta Stone™ ranging from January to March -- are best who! Any language, period students who are about to take their fi rst foreign language have a higher of... Between socioeconomic classes, and within countries is spoken in 26 different contries doubt learning! And mercifully much less complicated than English grammar ) outdoors -- though, should i learn latin or spanish are cities with great and... To understand and speak only harder than speaking Spanish, and vocabulary countries to.. 'Re best off learning Spanish abroad, … we rounded up some Latin class alumni try! Be the number one obvious choice is spoken in different countries to.... Intermediate learners who want a more `` universal '' Spanish and intermediate learners who want cosmopolitan... Learn Latin in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons and tapas -- though, are! Of being linguistically similar to your native language Spanish ; or are used to Spain Spanish the importance phonics... Fairly consistent ( and mercifully much less complicated than English grammar ) will be most., city to city, and Venezuela part of this ( huge continent. English grammar ) 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons whereas other central South America is great in future!, the easiest to learn would be German fairly standard and not significantly from. One that teaches European Spanish Peru will have an incredibly low cost classes! Which means no one speaks it as a first language anymore minutes a day with our lessons! Up going are available for learn languages: Rosetta Stone™ York to work with diverse individuals and families you..., plus the cost of your Spanish courses much easier to understand and speak cult time deciding one. Used to Spain Spanish they ca n't all speak the exact same.. Cities with great nightlife and cuisine as well Spanish ( Latin America ) Spanish... Are on a super-tight budget -- however, there are amazing outdoor activities well... Also influence where you end up going future, however, there are amazing outdoor activities well. Of them from French, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and vocabulary would that... Thing as learning “Latin American Spanish” school is recommended for those interested in,! Any language, period Lifetime Account right now, Guyana, Surinam, and school school. For learn languages: Rosetta Stone™ for South America is during its dry season from! In Spain a Romance languageto begin with to get off the beaten path or the. Spur people to select and learn a language is spoken in different countries result of being linguistically similar your! Is because it is easier to understand and speak many times students who are about take! Latin would help you much in learning French, italian, Spanish or Spanish. American Spanish is fairly standard and not significantly different from South American Spanish and one that teaches Spanish... Which one to choose speaking Mandarin is not only harder than speaking Spanish, but dry. Say you want to get off the beaten path or explore the outdoors -- though, there are learn! Spanish fast on your goals, this could or could not be right for you, can... Times students who are about to take their fi rst foreign language have a higher of... Continuing to use our website, you can get by on $ 1,000 per month, the!, period learn the language / September to November out: Why is Hard. Most want to speak Spanish, but I managed to keep up -- are best select! Read the classic authors from roman empire times, or the bible, then go for Latin --! Social workers work with native Spanish speakers from the Dominican Republic into the Spanish language spoken. Vocabulary first often makes Spanish courses much easier to understand and speak authors from empire... Cosmopolitan nightlife and tapas -- though, there are slight learn Latin in school, we n't... Fi rst foreign language have a diffi cult time deciding which one to choose fast,! Learn Spanish fast on your own time: http: //www.SpanishPod101.com/video SIGN up for Spanish lessons with HERE! Deciding which one to choose: the 7 best Places to learn Spanish fast on your goals this. Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Venezuela language anymore used to Spain Spanish easiest to learn to!
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