Top 10 Tips for Learning Spanish
Check out what our Spanish teachers recommend to learn Spanish!
Thinking about learning Spanish in South America? Want some useful advice on the best way to improve your Spanish language skills? We've asked our experienced teachers for the top 10 tips for learning Spanish. Here are their answers.
1. Be Patient
Students expect to learn Spanish quickly and get discouraged when it doesn't happen. Take your time and don't expect to be speaking perfect Spanish right away. Learning a new language should be attempted in small, manageable steps. Congratulate yourself on the progress made and try to steer clear of making unrealistic targets.
2. Study Spanish Abroad
It's common knowledge that students learn Spanish more quickly when exposed to the language on a regular basis. Our
students have told us that their Spanish improved significantly due to their Spanish lessons in Buenos Aires that were
combined with practicing what they learn in practical, everyday situations. For students that want to study more than just
Spanish, study abroad programs in Buenos Aires
are a great way to take university classes abroad, while studying Spanish, and
earning credits at your home institution.
3. Read in Spanish
Spanish can be improved significantly by reading small articles or short stories on a regular basis, plus it is a great way to pick up common Spanish words and phrases quickly. Our teachers say that Spanish newspapers and magazines can help students pick up key phrases and gain more confidence in their writing and reading ability. Reading a foreign newspaper will also keep you updated on current local events!
4. Organize Your Work and Yourself
We have all heard this before but it's probably the most important aspect of learning a language. There are so many resources available to learn Spanish and there is a real danger of getting overloaded with paper, notes, and books, leaving students going around in circles. After every lesson, make sure you review everything you've learned and understand it. Then do it again. Afterwards, organize everything in a way that you understand. There is nothing more frustrating than consistently searching for a vital piece of information amongst hundreds of sheets of paper.
5. Use Flashcards
Students and teachers alike say that this is a great way of memorizing important Spanish words that they come across each day. A flash card is a small card or piece of paper that you keep with you during the day and can refer to quickly and easily. If you keep hearing a word while you are out and about, write it on your card. Also, if there is a word or phrase you constantly forget, write on your flashcard. You can then focus your efforts on perfecting your Spanish in the key areas you need.
6. Watch Movies with Spanish Subtitles
This is a nice and easy one. Try and get as much exposure to Spanish television and film as possible. Also, watch English language films with Spanish subtitles. Try and match the words spoken to the words written on the screen. This is particularly helpful in trying to comprehend the Spanish language at a faster pace while enjoying a film.
7. Label Your Surrounding
This is a really helpful tip. Buy a pad of sticky notes and go around your house labeling everything you see. Every time you go near a labeled item say it out loud. You will never forget "el baño" again.
8. Learn With a Friend
Learning Spanish can sometimes be a frustrating and seemingly endless process. The best way to conquer this is by finding friends who will support you when progress seems stagnant. Learning Spanish with a friend also ensures that you have a really good source for practical and oral learning outside of your classroom, as homework usually only involves reading and writing. Find these friends in your Spanish classes, accommodations, and by participating in activities, workshops, and excursions.
9. Don't Cram - Spread Your Studies
One of the all time classic things to do when learning Spanish is to put off studying all week and then, the night before a lesson, cram for 2 or 3 hours. Then, after vowing never to do things last minute ever again, go through exactly the same process the week after. Try and spend short periods every day revising and learning your weekly tasks - discover the areas you are weak on, then focus and improve on them before your next Spanish lesson. Expanish offers various Spanish Worksheets to help students practice specific areas of the language!
10. Join a Spanish Learning Community
Online or in your local community you will find a surprisingly large amount of people trying to do the same thing as you. Sign up for online support and guidance, meet for language exchanges or participate in local Spanish group meetings. We live in an age where information and support is very easy to obtain, take advantage of it.
Overall, try to remember that at times learning a foreign language can be challenging and frustrating. Progress will depend on the effort you put in and the resources you have available. But it can also be fun, rewarding and worthwhile! Our teachers and Spanish students in Buenos Aires share a common thought - if you really want to learn Spanish then you have to put your heart and soul into it. One hour here and there will never work. You need to set out a learning plan and stick to it. Buena Suerte!
