lorax

I learned by immersion, aka necessity. When I came to Ecuador about a year and a half ago, all I knew for sure how to say was "Por favor" "Gracias" "Mango" (and a few other fruits with Spanish names, like Papaya and Banana) and "Permisio de fumar?" Colombian airport security sure was a hoot that first time, let me tell you!

After about a year of contiguous habitation in the country, I'm fluent. It was by necessity, because one can only pull out one's phrasebook so often.