Basic Tips for a new person learning Spanish.
I'm trying to learn spanish and was wondering what tips anyone had for me.
3 Answers
If possible talk with Spanish speakers, however if you don't know anyone who speaks Spanish, you could get involved in an online conversation of some kind to get experience talking with native spanish speakers. Another tip I have used before is having a conversation with yourself. it sound kind of weird, I know, but if you are walking somewhere alone, or are doing something were you have nothing to do but think, make up a conversation in your head. The key to being fluent in a language is to be experienced with it, so you're not thinking about every word as you say it, it's just natural. So learn vocab and grammar, but also familiarize your self with the language.
In addition to whatever other methods you have chosen, from the very outset it is a good idea to get in the habit of listening to spoken Spanish (e.g. live interaction with Spanish speakers, tv, radio, etc). As you begin to develop an ear for the language, try to emulate the sounds and patterns that you hear. As you progress, various words and phrases will begin to become more familiar to you.
Along with with these auditory exercises, it is also a good idea to read often in your target language. Early on, your abilities will probably not lend themselves to reading material that is all that interesting, but as you progress, you can begin to read subject matter that you have a personal interest in.
By the way, the internet is a veritable cornucopia when it comes to resources for these endeavors.
Happy learning!
Hello Gabe,
There are a number of tips I would give you from my experience of learning Spanish, French and other languages over the years:
1.Start applying whatever you learn straightaway! The old saying 'use it or lose it' is so true when applied to learning languages, therefore, when you learn a new word or phrase try to find some opportunity to use it in conversation, if applicable, eg
¿Cómo estás? = How are you? ¿Qué te gusta hacer en su tiempo libre? = What do you like (enjoy) doing in your spare time? (lit::what is pleasing to you)
At least make a note of it or simply practise writing it out several times as soon as possible so you don't forget it! This is just a suggestion, so you don't have to do it just find a way of remembering words or phrases that works for you!
2 Practise a little each day! Easier said than done and this applies to learning lots of skills in life such as: learning to play a musical instrument, learring to ride a bike etc....
3.Don't worry about making mistakes! This is a common mistake in itself, made by so many people and in this respect, I also include myself!
We all make mistakes when learning new skills and this particularly applies to learning to speak a new language.....making mistakes is all of this process and making mistakes does not mean that we have failed to learn!!! We only fail to learn if we do not learn from our mistakes and keep on repeating the same mistake over and over again, and even then, we can still get up again after falling flat on our face and start again! We may need encouragement and support from friends when this happens but that's fine, as a learning community we are all in this together! Plaese don't ever feel alone or give up ...it's well worth persevering!
4 Practise, practise, practise! Yes, I cannot over-emphasise how important this is!
One of the best ways to achieve this is to find yourself a language partner /buddy whose native language is the one you desire to learn eg Spanish.and offering to help them learn your language. This is free for both of you; you are not offering formal classes like a qualified teacher!
You can post a request here in this forum asking for a native speaker who will help you to learn Spanish, and in return you can offer to help them learn your native language! (Which is probably Engish)
Another very helpful way is to take lessons from a native speaker who is also a qualified teacher of their language! The cost of doing this is relatively inexpensive through onliine schools and can vary from £10 - £30 per session, on average, depending on the school and the individual teacher. I can recommend 3 schools of which I have used 2, and have had correspondence with all 3! (They are all friendly and approachable!)
1 Verbal Planet.com enter link description here
2 .SpanishSkpe.org ...enter link description here
and 3 La Aventura Española. enter link description here
I have not used the services of the last school) I am currently receiving lessons from a Spanish teacher through SpanishSkype.org.
5 Last but not least, Enjoy the journey (experience) and don't be in a hurry to arrve at your destination (ie:acheive your desired goal: perhaps fluency in the language)
It takes cosniderable practise and time to develop skills in any language and hone (fine- tune) them to a level where you can confidently use them in any given, formal or informal social situation, as you freely converse with native speakers in their native language (mother tongue) and can understand what they are saying and also make yourself completely understood!
I hope this helps 
