yeah, some BLU spells will take quite a few times to get, some will only take a couple of times.
You do have to have the mobs do their special ability. what I have seen a few people do is to beat the monster down to low health, then turn with your back facing the monster until they do their special move (providing they have not done it already). you can learn the spells before you can use them too.
Lv. 1: Footkick (Rabbit), Pollen (Bee), Sandspin (Worm)
Lv. 4: Power Attack (Beetle), Sprout Smack (Sapling), Wild Oats (Mandragora)
Lv. 8: Cocoon (Crawler), Metallic Body (Crab), Queasyshroom (Funguar)
Lv.12: Battle Dance (Orc), Feather Storm (Yagudo), Head Butt (Quadav)
Lv.16: Healing Breeze (Dhalmel), Helldive (Bird), Sheepsong (Sheep)
Lv.18: Blastbomb (Warmachine), Bludgeon (Cardian), Cursed Sphere (Fly)
Lv.20: Blood Drain (Bat), Claw Cyclone (Tiger)
Lv.22: Poison Breath (Hound)
Lv.24: Sopoforic (Flytrap)
Lv.26: Screwdriver (Pugil)
Lv.28: Bomb Toss (Goblin)
Lv.30: Grand Slam (Gigas)
Lv.32: Chaotic Eye (Coeurl), Soundblast (Cockatrice)
Lv.34: Death Ray (Hecteyes), Smite of Rage (Evil Weapon)
Lv.36: Digest (Slime), Pinecone Bomb (Treant)
Lv.38: Jet Stream (Trio-Bats), Uppercut (Goobbue)
Lv.40: Mysterious Light (Magic Pot), Terror Touch (Ghost)
theirs the first 40 levels of spells and whom you learn them from.
http://ffxi.allakhazam.com/db/jobs.html?fjob=16;mid=114537098075401363;num=133;page=1
Edited, Tue May 30 09:26:52 2006 by maximous