From the article: What's Your Learning Style?
It's one thing to learn Spanish for the purpose of taking a test, but it's something else to learn to actually use the language in conversation and even to begin thinking in the language. Of course, time helps, but so do the methods you use to learn. What has worked for you? Have you been able to get to the point where you start thinking in Spanish? If so, or even if you see signs of progress but haven't "made it" yet, please share the techniques that are helping you. Share What You've Done
Do everything you can in Spanish!
- Why do something in English when you can do it in Spanish instead? Listen to music in Spanish, watch TV in Spanish, read in Spanish. Just use it as much as possible and you'll absorb it like a sponge. Most importantly, try to find opportunities to speak with native speakers!
- —Guest Katie
Make friends, create scenarios
- I started to learn Spanish when I was 37. Since then I have been to Spain twice, clearly not enough. 1st option: I would like to live there and immerse myself in their culture and language. 2nd best: Get some Spanish friends, advertise at the Instituto Cervantes and swap languages. Very often you will find native Spanish speakers arriving to England (in my case) and wanting to improve their English. I now have a few friends all of whom help me. To really aid the 'thinking in Spanish' process I talk to myself in Spanish all the time. I also create scenarios where I would need to use certain words and phrases. Only after using words for a while, do I find I "think" those words and don't have to translate. A Spanish friend gave me some advice: He said that I am trying to translate every word and not understanding what is being said. Instead, he said to try to comprehend the meaning of what people are saying, and once you learn more vocabulary the blanks will eventually be filled.
- —Guest Veitch
Get familiar with grammar
- Every day, make it a point to learn a new verb. and form sentences with that verb in present, past, future, conditional and conjugative grammar. When we get familiar with basic grammar, then speaking the language will be comparatively easy.
- —Guest K.S.Sundaram
Don't be afraid of risks
- I teach Spanish, and I've never visited a Spanish-speaking country. But, never quitting, finding friends, TV, radio (all the aforementioned), even talking to myself helped. Don't be afraid to risk talking to native speakers; most will be happy to help you. You may surprise yourself. I did.
- —Rhonda.Tabb
Submerge!
- The absolute best way is to submerge yourself in the community. For me, it had not happened after years of study, but after several months of living, eating, neighboring, praying and socializing in Spanish, the "thinking" would come in your dreams and your "talking to yourself." It became almost natural. Yes, it is a challenge for those folk who don't have the advantage of family or community. So, get those favorite movies with the dual tracts and submerge, submerge, submerge. I tell my students: Don't act like Antonio Banderas, be Antonio Banderas!
- —Guest Guest John E
Dual-language Readers
- Books with dual languages have helped me tremendously in learning to think in other languages.
- —StudyPubs
Never stop
- At first when I was learning Spanish, I would just do what we did in class. But that never really worked, so I started doing everything in Spanish. I would read instructions in Spanish, watch TV in Spanish, listen to music in Spanish, and do online games with Spanish. Then I started to say what I was doing in Spanish, order in Spanish at Mexican restaurants, and even talk to my hamster in Spanish! It is about as close as you can get to instant immersion without having to pay any money and now I always get A's in Spanish and really enjoy it.
- —Guest Pastelito
Maybe the kitchen is the best place
- Everyone who's written is correct. It all helps. Just below someone has written he acquired a girlfriend who speaks Spanish and what a good idea that is. I've said for years, shy of being born and growing up with the language, I think the best is to learn in a kitchen or a bedroom, and maybe the kitchen is the better of the two. Community college did not adopt my idea however.
- —Guest donrjr
Learning from radio
- I travel frequently, so I try to make use of downloaded podcasts, etc., while I'm on airplanes and in airports. To test my comprehension, I program some Spanish radio stations (news, if possible) into my rental car radio. It's amazing how much English radio content the mind absorbs, even when I'm fully focused on driving. I like to test my Spanish comprehension in the same way. When I get to my hotel, I'll sit down for a bit to mentally review how much of the broadcasts I was able to retain, and what gave me trouble. It's a very effective barometer of how capable my Spanish skills really are.
- —Penguin87
Find out how you learn best
- I have learned the value of teaching students their learning styles before teaching them Spanish. Once they realize how best they'll learn the lessons, it's amazing how quickly they take charge of their own education. True story: One child was teased one day for trying to write every word of the lesson down, to which he replied, "Leave me alone. I'm a kinesthetic learner." I had only started this testing and was stunned. The kids feel empowered! Very nice.
- —Guest AMcMurray
Keep on trying
- I am trying the things I have found on this blog and elsewhere, but find it extremely difficult. I had two years of Spanish in high school and two years in college. Although I passed it I found it difficult then. I have been out of college for 18 years and twice have tried to go back and learn Spanish. Right now I am in a learn-Spanish phase. I just find it difficult, the words just wont stay in memory. But I am still hanging in there and trying ...
- —Guest hardtime
Speak Spanish whenever you can
- I have only had a nine-month intensive course of Spanish, but one of the things that helped me was the fact that I was not afraid to use what I knew. I have used it many times when I really did not need to. I always told people that I was not afraid to speak Spanish and I would probably make mistakes. I feel that was a big key to my thinking Spanish and I still think of Spanish when talking to someone in English. Many times a Spanish answer to their conversations comes to my mind and sometimes I even answer with short words like "sí" when "yes" is needed. I love speaking in Spanish. Another way is to gain Spanish-speaking friends on the Net and I have many from various countries. We chat back and forth every day or two.
- —wleroyc
Try Live Mocha
- All of the above but also you might check out LiveMocha.com where you can practice with native speakers from all over the Spanish-speaking world. Yes, it's free.
- —MAQuinonez
Going Beyond Translations.
- I try to look up the meaning of the word in a monoligual dictionary instead of relying upon translations This has opened whole new meaning of words that I wouldn't have gotten if just rely on the translation.
- —Guest Margaret Nahmias
Find ways to talks with native speakers
- Once you develop a comfortable level you may want to surround yourself in places where the target language is spoken by natives. Language exchange programs or join a "Spanish language club," volunteer for part-time work at a grocery store or the coin laundry or if possible a public library in a Spanish-speaking neighborhood. If may surprise you to find out that finding a Spanish-speaking friend who likes playing chess, checkers, dominoes, etc., might have plenty of rewards, and you will come out a winner! Many years ago I had a friend who was working on her English. We used to meet once a week for approximately two hours each session. We would walk around, visit museums, parks, etc., and talk in English. We did as many speech related things and tasks as possible. In short time her self-confidence, vocabulary, speech patterns and overall language competence improved. She worked hard to learn and acquire English as second language. That was about 25 years ago and even today she works at it.
- —GPingo
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