I really want to learn a language!

[ranblungs]

Probably Spanish first.

How do I do it?

I have Duolingo but I'd like to be as close to fluent as possible.

Spending a significant time abroad isn't an option.

Do you have any background in any language at all?

memrise is good for total beginners

Take a class. Spanish is probably one of the most widely available adult language learning classes available. Engage proactively and make sure you do the homework. It isn't much different to what you would have done to learn Spanish at school to be honest.

Do you have any background in any language at all?

Presumably English.

There really is no magic trick to it - anyone can learn to speak a foreign language if they put their mind to it and persevere.

Coffee break for you! 😂

Have you ever studied a foreign language before? Because, realistically, achieving fluency or even conversation-level ability is bloody difficult and takes years.

Group classes to start with, exposure to native speakers (even if just TV or online), one-to-one conversations with a native speaker (easier if it's a family member or you live in a country where the language is spoken), ideally one-to-one lessons with a teacher (can be online). It's a great help if you're (i) a naturally chatty person and (ii) lack inhibition so aren't held back by discomfort of making mistakes. If you're a quiet introvert, you're buggered.

You can learn a fair bit (over the years) but are likely to be able to read more than you can speak.

Duolingo+evening class to start with. Rome wasn't built in a day!
Foreign language radio/TV.
Time abroad if it becomes an option.

And find some materials in written Spanish with an accompanying audio recording (in Spanish) so that you can 'hear' as you read. Try Googling 'easy readers' for materials appropriate for your level.

I still remember the shock of hearing the audio version of a question printed in my coursebook ("Donde esta el hotel"). In my head I thought each syllable was sounded individually but in the audio recording it was run together in a single flow: "dondestalotel". Very important lesson: spoken language can sound very different to how it appears in print. And more so with 'normal' people speaking, with regional accents or not enunciating as well as actors in educational recordings, TV presenters etc. If most of your learning is with printed materials, you'll have a shock when confronted with real spoken language.

Oh I love Spanish! Great choice. You're in luck because there are loads of great Spanish language films and music you can listen to to get your ear in.

Duolingo is obviously a great start, but I'd agree that getting to evening classes would be a huge bonus, also watching people on YouTube can be great.

See if you can find any language meetups in your area. Where I am there was a language boardgame club where native speakers of English and native speakers of your target language would be paired up to play and then help each other with conversation. It was good because you'd be helping them with English as well so didn't feel as confrontational somehow.

Oh, and a really daft one, but I found trying to sing along with the Spanish songs really helped with my pronunciation and getting my ear in. I started with Shakira and then someone recommended the translated Disney songs as they're really clear (because they're for kids). You might feel a bit foolish but it works.

I have used both Duolingo and Memrise but far prefer Memrise ( especially for Portuguese as Duolingo is Brazilian Portuguese .) This combined with opportunities to use and using you tube videos has got me to a fairly proficient level.

Watch Spanish TV /you tube with English subtitles