What should I learn to go to Spain?
I might go to Spain in the Summer & I was wondering what are some basic things I need to know in order to communicate.
9 Answers
imagine what you would need as a basic in english.
Greetings.
Directions
Basic foods
numbers
things like that are definitely important
I hope you don't find this insulting, Ashliex - I'm just saying it out of lots of travel experience, and watching the things that natives dislike about tourists - specially tourists from the US- nearly everywhere.
Do try to learn a few basic polite phrases as indicated in the other answers. At the very least try to learn to say clearly: "por favor necesito ayuda, ¿habla inglés?"
Go with an open mind: people do things differently in other countries. Be willing to learn, not judge.
Be ready to try new foods, new tastes, new textures and smells. If you're willing to experiment, you're likely to find that you enjoy a lot of things you didn't know before. If you go with a mindset that anything that you haven't seen at home or at the local supermarket is "weird" or "yucky", you may end up missing some really good stuff, and risk offending your hosts.
Please: Spanish food is not Mexican food or "Latino" food. Spain has a lot of very particular dishes that are, with good reason, the source of great pride for the Spanish. Try everything, and enjoy!
People in other countries usually have a different sense of what's funny than in the US. The same goes for what's considered appropriate. If you're not sure about the right way to do or say something, ask. If you're not sure how to take something you have just been told, ask. People don't mind when tourists ask. However, they do when they act rashly.
Remember that Spain had been around for hundreds of years before the Mayfair arrived to America. Open yourself to appreciate the traditions and history from a much older nation, and remember that Americans are still and always the new kids in the block, so to speak. If you do, you will learn a lot of nifty stuff, and you will go back home filled with wonderful memories.
Keep your passport in a safe place, and carry as few valuables with you as possible.Take a camera with lots of memory, and take lots and lots of pictures. Ask lots of questions. Talk to as many people as you can. Explore everything you can. Walk as much as possible. ¡Have lots of fun!
Create a scenario in which you're shopping or trying to find out if the hotel you're interested in has an empty room. This worked for me.
If you watch the learn videos in Learn Spanish, and do the learning activities, it would help you a lot. 
Hola -- Hello
Mucho Gusto -- Nice to meet you
Buenos Diaz - Good morning
Buenas Tardes - Good afternoon
Buenas Noches - Good night
Perdón - Excuse me / Pardon
¿Dondé esta _____? -- Where is the _____?
¿Dondé esta el baño? -- Where is the bathroom?
¿Comó esta? -- How are you?
Bien / Regular / Mal -- Good / Alright / Bad
¡Necesito la policía! -- I need the police!
Like the others said, little travel books are always a good way to start. Be aware that Spaniards speak a little different than most Spanish speakers in the U.S., so pronunciation might be a little different.
Hola:
Sangría, cochinillo, baño...
Have fun.
I would buy a basic tourist phrasebook and start there. You're probably not going to become fluent in Spanish by next summer, but you can learn a lot of useful survival phrases. Be sure to learn the common answers, too. The video lessons here will help with some of that.
preferably the Spanish language.
Humanity
Frivolity
Good vibes
generate joy
The rest comes easy... sorry I've been drinking some wonderful wine
Check out the Paralee stuff the lessons. Start from beginners and proceed. There is no better way to do what you want to achieve, hic!
