Originally, Spanish was derived from a dialect of spoken Latin introduced by the Romans during the second Punic war. Today, over 21 countries speak Spanish, including Latin America where people speak Spanish as a native language. After English, Spanish is the second most studied language in the US. In this article, you will find the best ways to learn Spanish.
The 6 Best Ways to Learn Spanish
1. Listen to Spanish Podcast (and Spanish Music)
Podcasts are digital audios placed online, available for download. Why this method seems very useful is because it can be applied anywhere. You do not have to be seated in a classroom or poised with a pen and paper. All you need to do is listen properly. You can listen to a podcast on your way to work while doing chores or while resting. What podcasts do is they work on your listening and speaking abilities.
The benefits of listening to podcasts are numerous. First, they allow you to learn at your own pace; you can easily repeat until you get it right. Also, you have the opportunity to listen to native speakers, making the process even more comfortable.
Native speakers provide you with a real-life application to practice Spanish. Communicating with voice-overs can seem easy, but when you face a real Spaniard, you have to know what you are saying. This is what the Podcast gives you. There are different topics and levels you can choose from to help you prioritize.
Some popular Podcasts that are helpful include; SpanishPod101, Audiria, and A Zero to A Hero.
2. Locate an Online Spanish Tutor
This is one of the best and most convenient ways to learn Spanish from anywhere at any time. You can learn Spanish online from home, have a lesson from your office during your lunch break, or from a cafe with your headphones. Online lessons for kids and adults are just as useful as a private lesson in person, with the only difference being that you and your tutor save travel time and money.
With one-on-one online lessons, you get the opportunity to go at your own pace, and the total focus is on you, so the chances are high that you would get a better understanding. All you need to do is to find an excellent Spanish tutor that is patient and easygoing.
There are many websites where you can find excellent Spanish tutors at affordable rates. You get to choose your tutor after targeting the exact country you want to concentrate on. You also get to choose a schedule so that you can work at the best time for you. Some of the sites that offer these services are; Italki, Wyzant’s, Preply, and AmazingTalker.
These services are pretty affordable, and payments are mostly made hourly.
3. Take a Vacation to a Spanish Speaking Country
Remember that vacation you always talked about? Why not move it to Spain, it has excellent views, is pretty adventurous and what better place to learn Spanish? Just ensure that you do not get lost in all the fun and forget your goals.
While learning Spanish in Spain, you should know that the accent will be very much present. Also, note that accents vary regionally in Spanish, just like everywhere else. It will be a challenging experience when you try an online course, so be prepared for it.
Even if it might be more challenging, it will be much faster. While in Spain, do not just sit in your hotel room expecting to learn from your windows and attendants.
Go out to the streets, visit the market, observe conversations, engage people in conversations; all you need to know is how to say ‘I am not very good with Spanish’ in Spanish.
You might find a patient person willing to take the time with you. Face your fears and speak until you start talking. Do not be harsh on yourself. Expect to make mistakes, and have fun while you are at it.
4. Language Learning Apps and Websites
Recent innovations have been added to a lot of Spanish language apps to improve language learning efficiency. Language apps are also an excellent means of learning Spanish. Also, their flexibility allows you to reach out and learn from anywhere.
You can learn at your own pace and always repeat the course to gain more clarity. The good ones have voice recordings of native speakers repeating all Spanish words, so you do not just have to read the Spanish word and wonder how to pronounce it. They also have exercises after each course to help ensure that you truly understand what you are learning.
There are free Spanish language apps like the Duolingo app, MemRise, Rosetta Stone, Busuu, and Babbel. They also have free trial classes where you get to learn the basics free, and then you can decide to go further by paying the required fee. We recommend this method for people with a tight schedule because you do not have to stick to any particular time before using it.
5. Use Flashcard Apps
Flashcard Apps are active study materials with Spanish vocabulary. Before the advent of technology, flashcards were analog and were still an excellent means of studying. When technology made them into Apps, it increased their effectiveness by adding ease and flexibility. Today, a lot of languages can be learned by using Flashcard Apps.
Flashcard apps are very affordable and allow for free trials for a period. They have an excellent way of organization, making your Spanish language learning quest even more straightforward. It is faster to learn when things are done in a progressive and orderly manner, and this is what flashcards can do for you.
All you need to do is find the right flashcard apps for yourself. When choosing a flashcard, choose one that allows space repetitions. Some examples of great flashcard Apps that can help achieve your Spanish goals include; FluentU and Anki app.
6. Book a Spanish Language Class
This is good for people who have time. Maybe you are on holiday and need to pick up a new hobby, try general classroom learning. Although this method is not as focused on only you as you may want it to be, it is also pretty efficient. The benefit of this option is that the competition encourages you. You can see other people who share a common language learning goal with you, which is encouraging.
What’s more, you get to network. Language learning while networking is better because then the chances that you will lose interest are pretty slim. Even though the difference in the level of assimilation can be annoying, as your teacher needs to make sure everyone understands, you can still find your ground. If you feel that the class is too fast for you or too slow for you, you can always include a Language app and do your homework to meet up at your own pace.
Classroom learning can be fun, especially when you meet people that are around your age grade. It is better to find a class with fewer persons or find a language exchange, as the focus level will be excellent and understanding better.
Tips From Our Spanish Teacher Before Taking a Spanish Class
Whether you register for a physical class, go to Spain or spend a week watching Spanish movies without Spanish subtitles, if you want to be successful in studying Spanish, find out what the best way to learn a foreign language is for you.
Here are a few things you should know about learning Spanish at a complete beginner or advanced level.
Do Not Try to Course-crash
If you have a business meeting in Spain next week where more than half of the people in attendance will be Spanish? So they will probably be mixing up English and Spanish while communicating, then taking a Spanish class this week is probably not a good idea. Even if you put in 27 hours in a day, you would not get the desired result.
The same way you do not start lifting 120kg weights on your first day is the same way you do not learn Spanish in a week. Baby steps are better. 30-45 minutes a day does a better job. So, if you need Spanish urgently, consider hiring a Spanish translator, or you could learn the basic terms that will be more useful.
Consistency Is Key
If you plan on learning Spanish back to back for the first week and then rest the next week, your learning rate will be significantly affected. With inconsistency, there is a high chance of information loss. When you make up your mind to learn Spanish, know that it is a continuous step; there will never be break week or break months. Slowly and consistently, it will become a part of you.
Speak It
All those notes you are writing down will not do the amount of good that Speaking Spanish will do to you. Babies do not learn to talk by taking a mental note of everything they are saying and suddenly getting up at age 3 to speak fluently.
They make Spanish grammar mistakes, they blab, they pronounce Spanish words wrongly, but eventually, they learn. Get into a Spanish gathering filled with fluent Spanish speakers and start saying something, they would laugh and misunderstand, but you would learn even faster. There is no such thing as the perfect time to start speaking.
Invest Some Money
One of the untrue things you would hear is learning Spanish fluently with absolutely free classes. Yes, it is possible to learn a part of Spanish by taking free courses, but only when you commit your money would you receive deeper, easier learning. This does not mean you should spend your last money on a course. If you genuinely are low on cash, you can use free sites, and with steady and consistent learning, you would learn enough Spanish.
Study Spanish With a Plan
No matter your learning style, nsever overlook the power of a good plan. Giving yourself limited time, even though there is no pressure, will help you learn faster. If you do not attach time to it, it becomes difficult to push harder since your mind already knows that you have until forever to learn it.
Get a routine, and make it work. Choose a routine that does not interfere with your schedule. Otherwise, it won’t be easy to stick with the routine. Create checklists, give yourself difficult tasks like writing your first Spanish short story a month after your first class; do whatever you can to create that limit. You will notice that when you stick to your plan, you will even exceed your expectations.
Why Is Spanish Important?
Presently, Spanish is the third most widely spoken language in the world, following Mandarin directly. Over a 400million people worldwide speak Spanish, and with Spain being among the top desirable countries to live in based on good health and economy, it is no wonder a lot of people are looking for the best way to learn Spanish.
Without a doubt, the importance of the Spanish language is clear. There are predictions about Spanish having over 530 million speakers by the year 2050. Spanish being the official second language used for international communication and the official third for politics and culture, learning Spanish is not a waste of time. You never know where passion, business, and communication will take you in the future.
People choose to learn Spanish for a lot of reasons. Today, Spanish is among the top 3 best foreign languages to learn. Why do people learn Spanish?
Spanish Is Linked With the Core Values in the World
Whether you find yourself passionate about arts, technology, culture, or fashion, Spanish is a leading force in those sectors. To increase your accessibility and expand your horizon, you should consider being a fluent speaker of the language.
Learning Spanish for Travelling
If you are a traveler by passion or profession, or you hope to travel around the world someday, Spanish is one language you should learn. You will likely meet Spanish speakers in every city, town, or village of a Spanish speaking country. It is better to travel equipped and with more advantages on your side.
Spanish Can Increase Your Employability
A lot of employers prefer their employees to have the added advantage of a foreign language. If your job’s nature will put you on the road a lot, then your employer is likely to prefer Spanish as your extra language. Even in cases where your job is mostly online via video chat, about 10% of everything done online is Spanish, so you have no excuse.
Learn Spanish to Keep the Mind Sharp
Being bilingual is not a walk in the park. Anyone with the intellect and patience required to learn a second language, especially a language as broad as Spanish, has a sharp mind. One of the best mind exercises you can do is to learn a new language.
Learn Spanish for Fun
Learning a new language can be fun. You meet like-minded people and besides learning Spanish, you will also learn a lot about yourself.
Our Conclusion
Spanish is one of the most widely accepted foreign languages you can learn. It is very engaging and interesting. If you are doing it, make sure you are doing it right. With all the killer tips listed in this article, if you do not have the determination to learn Spanish, you would still be unable to learn.
In general, the best way to learn Spanish is to be very determined about it. No matter how long it takes, decide never to quit because you can be very sure that the feeling to quit will arise. It would help if you gave yourself a reason to continue and go through with it. You would be very proud of yourself when you become a fluent Spanish speaker. Happy Spanish learning!
