Free Language Lessons
It's never too late to start learning a new language -- and Spanish is a very popular choice. People are talking about Spanish as a big growth area in the 21st century: here are just some of the reasons why so many speakers of English are interested in how to learn Spanish fast:
There are something like 400 million Spanish speakers in the world today, making it one the four most widely spoken languages -- so the opportunities for people who can communicate in Spanish are growing all the time.
It's a fun language to learn -- and because its spelling is mostly phonetic, beginners find it easy to pronounce words and learn to spell them.
Spanish opens doors to opportunities of all kinds. A working knowledge of the language is a huge advantage for travelers in Spain and Latin America. Spanish speaking countries are increasingly important trading customers -- and in the US, the Hispanic population is growing by leaps and bounds and represents an significant sector of the consumer population.
If you want to learn Spanish fast, one of the best ways to do it is to arrange a stay in a country that speaks the language. Unfortunately, that's not practical for everybody -- but the good news is that there are excellent courses available that allow you to learn Spanish at home.
So if you're learning at home or online, here are seven top tips to get you learning Spanish faster than you may ever have thought possible:
Try to learn a little, often. Many people find that they make much better progress from ten minutes each day than an hour once a week. Try to get into the routine of learning in short, regular bursts.
Forget about mistakes. People often don't talk in correct or complete sentences in their native language! You don't have to speak perfectly to make yourself understood.
When you're learning new vocabulary, make yourself some little flash cards. Write the Spanish word on one side and the English translation on the other. It's a quick and easy way of testing yourself -- and you can organize the words in groups or families according to topic.
Like most languages, Spanish has distinct intonation patterns or 'tunes'. When you hear the language, listen to its music as well as the words that are being said. Try to copy some of these tunes into your own speech.
Talk to yourself! Whenever you're doing something that doesn't require all your attention (walking to the shops, doing the dishes, waiting for the bus), practice some Spanish phrases -- maybe have a little conversation with yourself. Who cares if you get some strange looks!
Got some post-it notes? Write down the names of everyday household objects and stick the notes to the items as a way of memorizing the words.
Is there a Spanish TV channel in the area where you live? Look for game shows -- especially the part where the contestants talk about themselves, where they come from and what they do. It's a great way of listening to simple language used in a real situation.
Would you like to understand and speak Spanish easily and confidently?
