The Best Kept Secrets to Learning Spanish

Luckily, Spanish is a language worth the effort as it’s on the road to becoming the most spoken language in the world. It’s already the official language in more than 20 countries and spoken by close to 41 million people in the United States.

Knowing Spanish transforms you into a global citizen. It increases your ability for storytelling and reaching one of the largest audiences worldwide.

From personal experience, I can tell you that being bilingual has opened a world of opportunities for me. That’s why I’m happy to share some of the best-kept secrets to learning Spanish and mastering it quickly!

¡Empecemos! (Let's begin!)

Incorporate Spanish Into your Daily Life

Find a place for learning Spanish in your lifestyle. Speaking Spanish requires you to be consistent and dedicate time on a weekly, if not daily basis. Combine your Spanish lessons with things that actually interest you. If you’re into visual arts, take a Spanish photography class. If your thing is dancing, take a salsa class with Spanish-speaking teachers.

Make labels in Spanish and put them on your belongings or furniture at home. As you surround yourself with Spanish content and include it in your daily habits, your abilities will definitely improve.

Including vocabulary in your hobbies helps you train your ear to follow directions in Spanish and understand the native pronunciation.

Use Flashcards and Vocabulary Guides

They may sound like a lot of work, but flashcards are ideal for learning long vocabulary lists. It’s not even required for you to use actual index cards, you can create digital flashcards and carry them on your phone. Using an app like Quizlet is completely free and saves you the hassle of using paper.

Flashcards enable you to organize your vocabulary and content according to themes. Words that are related to each other are easier to pick up, instead of going for random words.

Set Specific and Achievable Goals

Planning is an essential strategy to guarantee commitment and the necessary motivation you need to achieve a goal. Drawing your own Spanish plan can also come with rewards. Acknowledge the time and effort each time you reach your goal, and go treat yourself to a nice dinner or spa day.

Create a plan and stick to it. Like any other mission in life, planning ahead always goes a long way. You can set a specific word goal for each week according to your capacities.

Talk to Native Spanish Speakers

Nobody knows better how a language should sound than the people who speak it naturally!

Seek out a native speaker within your community, if possible. Or even better, sign up for a free trial class with Homeschool Spanish Academy. The teachers are certified instructors who are native Spanish speakers from Guatemala.

By engaging daily in conversations with people who speak Spanish, you’ll move in the right direction toward fluency much faster than with any other method.

Take Advantage of Technology

Technology is in your pocket, thanks to smartphones and tablets. Take advantage of free apps like Duolingo, Spanish podcasts for beginners, audiobooks with text delight, videos for Spanish learners, and many more online resources available for you to learn Spanish.

Technology gives you the freedom to learn Spanish whenever and wherever you want. The majority of these resources are free or easily affordable. They also allow you to spend more time learning and measuring your progress. The possibilities are endless!

Learning Spanish doesn’t have to be boring! What you do for fun can also be done in Spanish. Surround yourself with the Spanish language by engaging in unique activities where you’re able to develop an ear for Spanish.

I strongly recommend you include Spanish learning through amusing activities like board games, scavenger hunts, Spanish language movies, Latin music, or watching classic Spanish telenovelas!

If you decide to take on these activities, empower yourself to repeat aloud what you hear. Speaking is truly the best way to prepare for meaningful Spanish conversations!

Involve Your Friends and Family

Get someone else involved in your Spanish learning! You’re in luck if you have Spanish-speaking friends who you could ask to support you by quizzing you, conversing, and sharing insight about the language.

Another great strategy is to find a study buddy or language partner. Spanish is such a popular language with high demand around the world that encountering people who are on the same page as you is easier than you think!

Find a Facebook group for Spanish learners or connect with people using the Meetup platform. Sharing the load is a fantastic way to stay motivated as you move forward with your Spanish studies.

Make Lots of Mistakes - Without Fear!

Mistakes are part of learning any new task or skill. If you’re afraid of making any mistakes, stop now! Be more compassionate with yourself and realize that this is an essential aspect of the learning process.

Your maternal language has trained your brain to think in a certain way, which is what produces so many new challenges when faced with a new language.

But don’t let that get in your way! Practicing Spanish conversation and learning its unique grammar rules is an adventure of its own. The process of mastering the language requires you to make a whole lot of mistakes as you continue to improve.

Luckily, most native Spanish speakers appreciate your effort and they’ll go out of their way to support you to speak naturally.

Put Your Spanish Lessons Into Action

The best way to use and make sure on the right path to learning is by taking your lessons for a spin. Put into action new vocabulary and phrases you pick up. Read and form your own sentences out loud. Speak to yourself and to others. Connect your lessons to personal anecdotes, craft short stories, create dialogues you can repeat consistently, and go out there and mingle with other Spanish learners!

Take a Spanish-immersion Holiday

Learning a language is a perfect excuse for exploring the world. Plan a trip to Mexico, Argentina, or Guatemala when possible.

The best way to pick up a language is to immerse yourself in situations where you can’t use any other language to get your point across. With the added bonus of trying exotic food, experiencing new places, and exploring the novelty of a Spanish-speaking country, you’ll want to reward yourself for learning Spanish by going on vacation!

Spanish-speaking countries are home to fascinating cultures and traditions. There’s so much for you to discover about a language by embracing the essence of the places where they speak it. Locals know best and by putting yourself in their scenario, you’ll be able to pick up slang, familiarize yourself with native pronunciation, accents, and life in Spanish overall.

Start Learning Spanish Today!

I hope this list of the best-kept secrets to learning Spanish motivates you to take on the adventure of becoming a Spanish speaker.

According to studies by Northwestern University, learning Spanish is an excellent way to keep the mind sharp and improve cognitive and decision-making abilities. It reduces decision-making biases and opens up your horizons of pursuing a professional career where your bilingualism will be greatly appreciated.

If you’re ready to start speaking Spanish with a native speaker today, connect with our professional, certified teachers at Spanish Academy who are able to support you on your journey! Sign up for a free trial and see results after taking just one class.