Language learning for Andes trip

Hey gang,

I'm planning an Andes trip next summer and I've read that knowing Spanish is useful. Is there an app that folks recommend? Has anyone had success with DuoLingo?

Gracias!

During my long training runs I'd listen to Spanish lesson podcasts.  I recall Coffee Break Spanish being good.

You get out what you put in. I’ve been learning Spanish for a few years. I have been pretty aggressive in how fast I want to learn dedicating space to it every day.

I started by seeing a tutor who told me I didn’t know enough Spanish to meet with him yet. I went back and did the app Babel. Once I finished Babel I still didn’t know Spanish but I could pronounce words and knew the basics. I started up on Duolingo, and met back up with my tutor. I’ve now been working with the tutor for a year and a half. I went through most of a Spanish textbook and I do 30-40 minutes of Duolingo every day.

When I was earlier in my Spanish I would listen to Chill Spanish podcast, now I am using the Duolingo Spanish podcast in addition to my lessons which is more intermediate Spanish. Depending on the topic, I can have a conversation and tell stories in the past tense. I’m not perfect but I can definitely get around to speak with native speakers if they slow down for me.

My Spanish tutor is in Argentina and is 30 bucks an hr if you want to meet with someone on your journey. I’d happily connect you with him if you send me a DM.

TLDR; apps, books, podcasts, conversation

I've been using online tutors at Italki to learn french and have been very satisfied.

You can choose a conversational partner at a lower rate or a trained professor for more formal instruction at a higher price.

I'm planning on using the platform to pick up just enough spanish for an upcoming trip to Alabarracin.

Unless you are especially gifted, it takes a long time to be able to master more than survival language skills.

Try this tool:

https://www.languagetransfer.org/

It'll give you a solid base. 

Uso Duolingo y nada más para aprender español. En 6 meses aprobé mi examen de carnet de conducir en español, todos mis trámites (hay un montón!) para mi visado y compré un coche. Pues, mi Español no es fluidez como un nativo pero puedo decir todo lo que quiero. La mejor manera es lo que usas y te da ganas. 

Too Spanish; didn't read: I used only Duolingo and nothing else except sheer desperation and got to what I consider a high intermediate level. People make fun of Duolingo but it's really about what motivates you and  what method you will actually stick with. I found flash cards and grammar stultifyingly boring and enjoyed the dumb games and hilariously ridiculous sentences in Duolingo. Other people like the structure of lessons. I finished the Duolingo Spanish course and have enough Spanish to read (and enjoy) Spanish novels, watch TV and jump in to conversations in big groups. Yes I still make a lot of mistakes but I'm able to communicate without difficulty in any situation. 

Second ITALKI.COM

Massively beneficial, but you need to have a basic level unless you want to pay $20/hour for an actual experienced teacher to drag you through the basics. 

If you have the basics under control, you can meet with any old native speakers for practice, correction, pronunciation etc and it can be found for as little as $6/hour.