How do I stay on track?

I like Rocket Spanish. But I have had this for a while now, and the problem I am finding is, that I do not stay on track and keep doing the coursework. I am not a very well organized person. What I mean is this... When I was in college and studied Spanish, the teacher gave homework, I did that, and then the next time I got new homework or new stuff to study for an upcoming test or what have you. Here it's like bam here's all the stuff now start learning. Which is probably fine to most everyone here but for me, I don't keep doing it. I will come on here and do some lesson here and there and all over the place. And then in a few weeks do it again. I need something or someone that will keep doing this each and every day. To stay on a steady course if you will. I know one could say, well if you are truly wanting to learn this language you would just keep coming back and picking up where you left off. But that just isn't working for me. Am I making sense?

I log on to Rocket Spanish and I spend at least one hour each session. I don't go to facebook, check emails or surf the internet. I start with the lesson, usually with Mauricio and Ann talking with each other. Go on with the vocabulary. Then I go to the testing part and start with the Hear it section. Usually I don't stop until I exhaust the test. I would follow up the next day with the Write it section and if I have more time go to the Know it section and end with the Quiz. Sometimes I need an extra day to finish all the tests. There are days where I would spend 2, 3, 4 hours doing the lessons. I also use flash cards for the words and phrases that are difficult to retain. Other people have a lot of different ways of learning. Some would have a big red book, others would write the lesson down and others would listen to other study Spanish links. There are so many of those type of resources. I motivate myself by thinking that I would go to Madrid Spain sometime to take those immersion classes. I just want to learn as much as I can so I don't start from the very beginning when I go. I pretty much follow the Rocket Spanish format. I know that it starts slowly and lots of repetition. It's the nature of learning a new language. I started in January 2014 and I am still very excited about the idea of being able to speak and to understand the Spanish speaking people around me. I recommend using the forum. There are a lot of people that are so much more advanced than me and they are very glad to help.

We are all motivated and learn differently, and recognizing how you are made up is a good step forward. Perhaps you could find someone else to do RS with you where you would hold each other accountable on a regular basis? Another idea (and probably the best approach) would be to get a tutor and/or get into a "live" class, decide upfront on a realistic plan of attack together which your tutor/teacher, and then have him or her regularly follow-up on your progress in RS.

Steven is really right on. Going to the senior center for an hour twice a week is very good. I know a lot more than the seniors there but I just keep quiet. I just want to be around people who wants to learn Spanish. I have a tutor but I decided to discontinue it until, I am able to speak more freely. Maybe increase my vocabulary more. My tutor needs to know where I am at the moment and she is weak with that. I am tutoring someone who is a real beginner in Spanish and it works well. We spend a lot of time just repeating the first few lessons of Rocket Spanish. He also tend to do what you are doing but not as advanced as you are. You have Spanish classes in college. A tutor or even just a friend who understands where you are is priceless. When it is so basic, I tend to get bored but just look for reasons why I am in that senior center. When it is more advanced, it also is difficult because of not able to hear and understand what they are saying. It is almost like Goldilocks and the three bears. You are lucky if you find the right person. I wish more people would use the forum and critique the examples that RS gives while studying the lessons. I noticed that people stopped doing RS for periods of time. I appreciate Steven and I dread the time when he decides to cash in his chips (scores). I hope Dan would come back. He has been gone too long. I look forward to Richard and Christian also but most of all I would like to see the others just making comments or questions about the lessons they are studying currently. And of course Robert who gives me wonderful answers. Thanks everyone. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I think you should do something, even a little bit, every day. Enrolling in a class or having regular tutor sessions is even better, but a least make working on this a daily habit. Also, I think you may need to go back and review earlier lessons to improve your long term retention. Feel free to post any questions. It give us practice answering them which helps us learn the material better.

Roy, you have received excellent advice from fellow learners. Now your challenge is to sort through it, try some of the suggestions, and if they don't work for you, try something else. Keep trying things until you find what works for you. And try, as Robert just suggested, to do something every day. At some point it becomes a ritual that you try very hard not to break. Maybe try to carve out a specific time each day to study. For me, it is the first thing in the morning before other things get in the way. Buena Suerte, Dan

Thank you all so much for your advice. What great people are on here! Just having people chime in has motivated me. I sincerely appreciate it. I will find out which works best for me.