Hi, enjoyed reading the posts. As well as the classes I’ve had, I try and speak with neighbours, shopkeepers, older spanish people sitting in the street and new spanish friends as much as possible. Just be brave and cheerful seems to work.
As long as I don’t bore them (people have lives) and make it plain that I like to be corrected and have a laugh, then they do correct me and have taught me to pronounce words better and a few sayings (which are not in the dictionary). We’ve also laughed at my mistakes and they also ask for the English words to items such as ‘spoons’ - they found this word hilarious! Just as they found my asking for a pierne de pollo hilarious (I know its pata de pollo now, now I know).
I’m still lost when spanish people talk quickly in Andalucian dialect though 😊 - will keep practicing as people aren’t yet jumping into doorways on my approach LOL