First you say this. (btw, my suggestion was an immersion class. You didn't mention you took any classes in the 6 months in guatemala). Then you say this. So you seem to agree. I said "nearly fluent." Meaning, you'll be able to hold generic conversations and have decent comprehension. At the very least, after 2 weeks you'll have learned 10x more than you would from a computer program. Disagree?
I did take classes while in Antigua at a language school - 2 hours a day. The rest of my time there was immersion (just living with a family and playing sports or whatever). Where as you were talking 2 weeks...I was talking 6 months. It is quite a difference... ...two weeks, quite simply, is inadequate -- as i said before, my first two weeks were the most frustrating because you can't even begin to comprehend what they are saying...you hardly have a grasp on minimal vocabulary and don't even begin to know anything about verb tenses.......and then there's slang. maybe after two weeks you will learn more than by a computer program...but with the stree you'll go through it probably isn't worth it. either learn the grammatical spanish the slow way or dedicate a larger amount of time to immersion...and then afterwards keep it up (unlike me) - even though it can be quite difficult to do.
I lived in Spain with a family who spoke no English for 4 months. I was alos taking classes, but it was more than 2 hours a day. I can't remember the length of the classes, but I believe it was more like 4-6 hours. This was at the university of Salamanca. They also had an intercambio program where you would spend an hour a day with a native speaker who wanted to learn English. Half the time you would speak English half the time you would speak Spanish. It was pretty funny. Any situation where interact more frequently and with practical application such as dating or socializing with native non-English speakers will greatly increase the level at which you grasp the language. The tips are try not to just translate things, but accept them as they are and understand them in Spanish only. That way your mind will start to 'work' in Spanish. After a while you will start dreaming in Spanish. The sad thing is that if you don't use it regularly when you get back, it is easy to forget. I have forgotten much, but I am taking classes again now, to try kick start my dorment Spanish. Immersion is the best possible way. But two weeks won't get you fluent. It may get you to where you are able to get by.
Just don't go to puerto rico or dominican republic to get "immersified" lol you will come back here and no one will know what you are talking about. En el zafacón, pana.. el zafacón.... ay olvidalo...
well, living expenses there while boarding with a spanish family came out to $50 a week for food and stay...but for the actual language school, the rates vary, some up to $80 a day. I payed $5 an hour. (all prices are in canadian). not sure if the prices have gone up or down since then (2002).
