Easy tricks to learn Spanish
I just started a new job today and because I'm new and my boss had a lunchtime meeting, I headed out to lunch alone with my laptop. :(
I ordered a slice of pizza and set up my laptop to connect with the wifi. I was not alone long, because I logged onto SpanishDict.com. Once there, I decided to crank through a flashcard set while I ate (thanks Maryanne!)
Anyway, if there are any more lunches in my future in which I have to eat alone, connecting with SpanishDict.com and reviewing flashcards will be a great idea.
What are your small, easy-to-accomplish tricks to build vocabulary and grammar skills?
Now, back to work...
15 Answers
Do a "mind map" drawing.
Write a word in the centre of a blank piece of paper. or a quick picture of a house for example.
For example the word "Talk" then connect it to all the other words in English that can be related to "talk" - speak - chat - listen - hear - tell - say - etc etc.
You decide which word - or whatever - to start with.
Take the Mind Map with you and then look up the words on SpanishDict - write them down on the Mind Map along with some sentences in Spanish and English.
Just an idea.
I've downloaded SD learning videos on my ipod and I carry it with me all the time 
I carry a practice makes perfect workbook around with me. If I have to wait in the doctor's office or I have a small break, I can do a few exercises in it. I finished the whole Basic Spanish book this way. It is a good way to keep up your translating skills and to review any kind of lesson that you feel like. I will look for the link. Here is a link to amazon. You can scroll down to see more of the practice workbooks.link text
This is an exercise I have frequently done to see where the gaps are in my Spanish vocabulary and understanding:You do need to use your imagination too!
You choose a scene like an airport, hotel, restaurant, library. train station etc...and imagine a scene in which you would like to use your Spanish. This can be done as a role-play with two or more people so it is quite versatile. I used to do this with one of my other Spanish teachers and we role played situations where I helped a lady who had lost her plane tickets, I hired a car, complained about service in a hotel. etc......
e.g. You go to the doctors This will seem even more real if you do this at the doctors surgery lol You imagine that you have to speak Spanish all the time. You enter the surgery and explain why you have come. You then have to describe your symptoms to the doctor and imagine his/her reply. This could be really interesting if you do this as a paired role play and your friend is a real medical doctor hahaha
This is only an idea and not everyone will like it but when you are faced with having to think quickly what you would like to say you soon discover what you can remember easily and where teh gaps are lol Take a pocket dictionary with you i that helps
I went to the Gutenburg site and downloaded some (free) Spanish texts which I have on my eReader. I am now translating "Chicken Little" (much easier than Gente Como Nostros!!). Fortunately, my eReader lets me look up words in the dictionary of my choice. {In this case, the Spanish dictionary! 8-) }
I carry around flashcards with phrases, verbs, vocab, etc.
I go out every afternoon to places where no one speaks English. Since I live here, many people know me and I am forced to speak Spanish, often with music playing, which helps deal with understanding things when you miss words in a sentence.
I keep lists of Spanish words and phrases from everything I read in little notebooks that fit into a pocket or small purse. Like my American Express card, I don't leave home without them! I review vocabulary whenever I have to wait a few minutes. It's quite a painless way to learn.
My droidx is my computer, jeje, for the time being. I always have Span¡shD!ct. in my pocket. I read a few threads during my breaks at work 
. Shhhh. The practice makes ferfect books that Sandy mentioned are great too. Even practicing with the games in this forum seems to be helping. I like that it raises questions to investigate . Lot of fun. Hasta pronto mis amigos, en el foro. Amor y paz
To me the best way is learning lyrics of favourite songs!
For example: One of my favourite songs is "Somos novios".
I remembered so much words and after analyzing the grammar, I understood it much easier ! I even know it by heart. Here I can sing:
Somos novios, pues los dos sentimos mutuo amor profundo...... 
When I'm bored and traveling, I do the Spanish vocabulary games on my iPhone.
I spend time watching Youtube spanish videos. Some can be really funny. 
I buy lots of puzzle books in Spanish such as "Sopas de Letras" and "Cruzadas", when I'm on holiday in the Canary Isles or the Balearics. When I get back home again I put one in the car,another in my jacket pocket etc,along with a pen.I do the puzzles whenever I get a spare moment (when waiting at the doctor's surgery,for example) and I look up any unknown words, later.
I find this a great way to build vocabulary. 
Some great ideas here, I have been a bit lazy lately, catching up on some reading in English before my course starts again in February.
I do have some books on my kindle though, both text books and stories. I also have coffee break Spanish on my phone which I can play when I am bored.
Or if I am on break at work I can come on here and do some of the games, sometimes I am not sure that is such a good idea, I make silly mistakes at 4am .
During the day constantly think about how to say things in spanish. If you don't know how. Write it down immediately and llok it up when you get home. If you don't write it down you will not remember it later. You can add 5 to ten words a day like this.
Also pick a verb every day and conjugate it in every tense. Say it aloud in both spanish and english.
