Tips to learn Spanish

Question

I was born in Argentina and lived there for 30 years. I can say I am an native Spanish speaker. I moved to the States at the age of 31 with very little knowledge of English. After 10 years I can say I have experienced the process of learning a new language with very little, almost no formal education. Here are some of my tips that you can certainly use to learn Spanish as well.

Push yourself to watch TV in Spanish (use subtitles in Spanish instead of English)

Always use a Spanish dictionary to look up words you don't know, reading the meaning will increase your vocabulary and will provide more interpretations of the word.

Create a group of friends or go to places where you will be pushed to listen and speak in Spanish.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

To improve your vocabulary read articles of your interest in Spanish on line.

To improve your listening watch TV en Español.

Please share in this thread more experiences about learning Spanish or any other language. Feel free to ask questions and of course revise my own English.

I will add more tips as soon as I can think of them.

Note: I highlighted all the tips in this thread for easy reading since there are many comments and opinions that are specifically tips to learn Spanish. Also I have removed highlight from topics don't represent tips.

I think you mean *thread* and not *threat* - DarkTree, Feb 17, 2010

Muy buenos consejos Julu!!! Muy buenos!! - Benz, Feb 17, 2010

Gracias Benzy (te extrañe.. :-) - juluque, Feb 17, 2010

jajaja te merecés un voto julu!! :) - Benz, Feb 17, 2010

jajajaja pone algunas ideas tambien asi te voto. :) - juluque, Feb 17, 2010

Thanks for posting this. What you said and all the comments on this post are very helpful - MeEncantanCarasSonrisas, Feb 17, 2010

Answer 1

Juluque, I was referring to this comment:

quédese quieto (no estese quieto) - juluque 1 day ago flag

I believe your version would mean "stay still" vs. "lie still", which is the version I was using. Considering the fact that when someone arrives on the scene of any emergency, you do not know what position the victim/patient will be in (standing, sitting, lying) I think the easiest way to say this is "quédese quieto" which covers all of the possibilities.

Thank you for highlighting the information. It makes it much easier to read through. I also like your tips about making a shopping list in Spanish. I do this with my daily "to do list" and with other things in my daily life. I also agree with the idea of learning in a Spanish speaking church. A good deal of my "real life" learning has centered around Dominican churches and working with them. Excelente consejo.