subject: How to Learn Spanish Easily [print this page] If you've never learned a second language, learning Spanish may seem hard to do. Maybe someone told you to begin with Spanish as it's easiest to learn. Actually, most languages are easy to learn. You just need to determine what learning tricks you'll be using. You'll find there are many helpful suggestions that will make it easier to learn Spanish. Try using the following tricks:
There is probably no better way to become fluent in a new language than to go somewhere that forces you to speak it constantly. That's why visiting a place where the first language is Spanish would be an efficient way to learn that language. There are, of course, certain places in the U.S. where you could use this immersion method right at home. Traveling to another land will be a more effective immersion strategy, however, as it takes away the possibility of being able to lapse back into speaking your familiar language. There are many people who claim that immersing themselves in the new language made them learn it faster than they could have any other way. Other people find it intimidating. You will have to decide for yourself. Teach yourself to think in Spanish. You have to use an internal translation process, where you take your thoughts from one language and put them into the new one. You will need to start slow with this. Anytime you find yourself thinking something, simply try to construct the same words using Spanish. This is something you have to practice regularly to get comfortable with it. The more you do it, the more quickly your mind will be able to convert words into the new language. Before long you might find that you are thinking in Spanish without even making an effort to do so. If you know how to think in Spanish you can work on saying those thoughts out loud--the key to truly interacting in Spanish.
However you decide to learn, do it consistently. Learning a language doesn't have to be hard, but you have to use one system or another. That is because it is easier to learn a language in easy steps that make sense. It's best to start with more basic things, like the days of the week, hours on the clock and simple phrases. The fastest methods always teach vocabulary first and then grammar. It's best to stick to the rules of the system you are using and not jump from one chapter or section to another at random. If you want your study of Spanish to go smoothly, you will discipline yourself and use the material as it was meant to be used. If you don't adhere to the way the program is meant to be followed, you make the whole process more complicated. It doesn't make sense to try to change a proven method.
Learning Spanish, or any new language, does not have to be a terrible experience. Getting started seems the hardest part sometimes, but it'll become a lot less difficult in a little time. Just keep working at it and trying new tips and tricks to help yourself and before long you'll be fluent!
