Answers
Dec 31, 2017 - 11:51 AM
You cannot pass B2 after finishing fluenz without additional material just because you don't know the subjunctive and you don't have enough talking practice to pass that level. I took A2 after finishing fluenz and studying online so that I could get a feel of the test. It was pretty easy. Then B1 after taking lessons with a teacher on Italki, then B2 after a few months travelling in spanish speaking countries and going to a conversation class. I tried using formal methods because I need to be guided, but they didn't really work for me. Fluenz is probably tired of me saying this but I found that Coffee Break Spanish, starting at level 3, was a very good method, and they go pretty deep in the subjunctive and other tenses that are not taught with Fluenz. Watching movies or listening to music is not my thing either, so when I studied for DELE I tried to take all the mock tests possible, but at one point you will have to use a teacher for the spoken part of the exam.
Feb 23, 2018 - 08:17 AM
Hi Fabrice - thanks for your comments! I'd like to take the A2 exam as a first step. When you say "studying online" at this level, which websites did you use? Is it the A2 level that you recommend "Coffee Break Spanish" for?
Apr 03, 2018 - 07:43 PM
Sorry was traveling :) I bought "El Chronometro" for A2 and started following the study in the manual. I do not recommend you do the same unless you actually want to take the A2 test. For coffee break spanish you can start level 2 or level 3, it's free so listen to some lessons at each level and see how you feel. Beware of the DELE tests online, they do not test the written & oral tests, and those are very very important when you get tested.
Apr 24, 2018 - 05:01 PM
I'm not sure I need A2 or any level since I am primarily interested in conversational ability. However, I am in the same boat as you (or nearly so). I will finish all five levels soon (about 4 weeks if I stay on schedule). I asked earlier about telenovelas and came up with several good ones to start when I finish Fluenz. I wanted a 'guy' telenovela and settled on El Señor de Los Cielos - which I think is on Netflix but I bought the series on DVD. Sonia recommended Club of Crows (Club de Cuervos) which is on Netflix. It is NOT a family series but it is quite funny (rudely funny). I started watching it and have become hooked. I have gone through about a half season and am picking up on the Mexican slang. However, I have a friend who is much more advanced than I and she has been taking Spanish Unlimited. It is Waaayy different than Fluenz but it gives you good practice and it goes to an advanced level. It isn't expensive. I also searched MeetUps - which is somewhat national - and found a Spanish MeetUp locally. Several of us meet and speak (or try to speak!) Spanish... and eat..
Apr 24, 2018 - 10:31 PM
Spanish meetup will be great. You need interaction. Passive listening is not enough, and I got amazing results when I went to south america alone and had to speak spanish. I then joined a spanish conversation class and that helped me a lot too. I had the same issue with Chinese, I've done Fluenz Chinese and then decided to go take an online teacher for a couple of months before going to China. i'm now able to have an easy conversation in chinese, and I don't think it would have been that easy without Fluenz. It was tough but I survived. Fluenz gives you a strong base, you have to add a lot of work using other methods, books, websites if you really want to be fluent.
