Learning Spanish

So, I wanted to take French I this fall but the class was full and only offered during the Fall, so I signed up for Spanish I. I like my teacher, am dissapointed with the textbook but already I've learned a few basics about grammar and pronunciation that I wasn't able to pull on my own from my earliest attempts at Spanish.

I already knew that I wouldn't learn much from a language class in school. Not with the typical approach of "Hi My name is...Good morning" now learn verb conjugation... I've looked through my text book and studied the sylabus and I know that I wont be learning the practical, yet dynamic speech used in everyday conversations and what not, since the course focuses more on the tedious, rote and boring neccesity stuff. But I dont mind.

I have a pretty big SPN vocabulary and there is a great tutoring facility on campus. I figure that if I play my cards right I will get out of this class what I want most anyway, the ability to speak competently in a second language.

But then again I never expected a class to do those things. I am pleased to say that I feel competent that when I finished Elementary Spanish I, I will be able to competently go on to learn any other aspect of the Spanish langugage. I plan to take Elementary Spanish II in the Spring, with the same teacher and time table because I have found the current set up to be quite pleasing.

In the Fall, I hope to start anew with my attempts at learning to speak French by taking French I in Fall '10 and French II in Spring '11.

Wish my luck!