Advice to beginners
I implore all beginners to not ignore gender when learning vocabulary. Do not consider that you have learned a word until you know automatically that it goes with la or el. It is so much more important than you can imagine.
In the beginning I didn't take the time to do this. I wanted to learn the words, but not have to worry about whether or not it was masculine or feminine. I figured I would either learn it later if it was so important (it is!) or people would understand what I was saying anyway. I did finally figure out how important it is, but I am struggling with it now. I am at a level where this shouldn't be a problem, but I make mistakes with this all the time and it's embarrassing. (Making more advanced mistakes don't embarrass me yet - it should have been in the subjunctive?, ah I see)
And for all the women beginning to learn Spanish. Make sure that when you learn adjectives referring to yourself, you apply the a ending to all the ones that end in o, even though many resources list them with the o ending or with the a in parenthesis such as: enfermo(a).
That is another problem I feel that I shouldn't have at this point. But when reading and learning enfermo(a) I tended to learn the word like a vocab word, and just learn the given form and figure I'll easily adjust it to the gender. So now I have to pay attention better because I am constantly using adjectives for myself as if I were masculine.
Take the time to build the foundation of your new language. Build it strong and solid.
5 Answers
Do not consider that you have learned a word until you know automatically that it goes with la or el. It is so much more important than you can imagine.
Great point, Elainepnj!
Still, to me, it does not go far enough. The problem I see is that the Spanish gender system does not begin and end with the definite articles. Instead, it is based on the agreement that is exhibited between a noun and all of its modifiers (i.e. determinants and adjectives). Simply learning a word with the appropriate definite article is still likely to fall short when the goal is to fully comprehend and integrate the intricacies of the Spanish gender system.
I think that one of the biggest problems in this regard is the emphasis that is often placed on learning vocabulary in abstracto. In my opinion, rote memorization of list upon list of words in isolation is probably one of the poorest methods one can use to go about gaining a working vocabulary in any given language. Unfortunately, for many teachers, students, and textbooks, this is the primary method employed.
As children, most, if not all of us, never built our own native vocabulary by such artificial means, yet each of us is still able to weave, more or less proficiently, an intricate web of verbal discourse, masterfully and seamlessly combining thousands upon thousands of words—the bulk of which never once found themselves plastered across the face of a flashcard.
If one pays much attention to the current trends in teaching, it is not difficult to spot the emphasis that is placed upon the simple act of reading (i.e. learning vocabulary in context) in acquiring not only knowledge but also facility with ones own language. In my opinion, there is probably no better way to build an understanding of individual words—in terms of lexical meaning, usage and syntactic relationship (including gender agreement) within a given discourse—than by reading, re-reading and reading again.
Probably on par with, or possibly even more important than reading, is the need for repetitive auditory stimulus which progresses over time in terms of complexity. Repeatedly hearing words spoken in context and accompanied by an abundance of visual cues is the key which can help unlock not only the mystery of the Spanish gender system but many other mysteries of the language as well. If fluency is the ultimate goal then its important to try to make the language one's own, to follow a path more similar to that followed in childhood.
Repetition is the key here, but focus on context rather than abstraction.
Sorry. I didn't mean to turn this into a rant 
Just my two cents.
... and in the process of conversation I often "trip" over my vowels and use the wrong ending even when I know it.
I've read that some students take on a bad habit of ending words in a "schwa" -- not quite an "a" and not quite an "o", not knowing for sure which it is, and hoping and expecting the other person to hear it the way they know is correct.
This is simply lazy and (to me) unacceptable. Spanish should be crisp and clear. Otherwise, why bother learning it?? 
Izanoni1 said:
I think that one of the biggest problems in this regard is the emphasis that is often placed on learning vocabulary in abstracto. In my opinion, rote memorization of list upon list of words in isolation is probably one of the poorest methods one can use to go about gaining a working vocabulary in any given language. Unfortunately, for many teachers, students, and textbooks, this is the primary method employed.
I agree wholeheartedly! I've had two great experiences with learning vocabulary. One was in a conversation based class. Vocabulary came from our conversations. When we needed a word, it was learned because it was context based. It was also based on our experiences and interests. The second was in México during my immersion program. As part of homework, I had to find 20 words (defined in Spanish not English) and put them in my little notebook. The words were gathered during the 2 hours with the guide as we went around town, and also from conversations in the home stay. Too bad I didn't develop my own advice yet and cement the gender to the words. From now on each word I learn is going have an m or f firmly attached.
I don't do well at all with learning a list of words for the sake of learning them.
Elaine, this is an important warning for all beginners and also a reminder for those of us who have been studying for awhile. I know the gender of most of the words I'm saying and in the process of conversation I often "trip" over my vowels and use the wrong ending even when I know it. When natives correct me, nine times out of ten, it is an issue with a vowel or the gender of a word. 
In an average day of speaking with natives, this may occur three or four times. However, it is so frustrating to actually know how the word is spelled and yet still pronounce it wrong after a sequence of other words. To put it another way, when speaking and using many words in a row, I wind up tripping over my vowels and unfortunately changing the gender of the words.
So I guess the lesson is to learn the gender of the word from the very beginning. Also, continually practice in full sentences so that what is actually in your head comes out of your mouth when you speak. 
I understood the importance of learning gender, from day one. My high school Spanish teacher made it very clear.
It's still hard to keep gender correct, even today. I, too, can't overemphasize how important this is, as Elaine explained. It gets even more complicated for many words that occur in both genders and occasionally mean quite different things.
