Today, I wanted to share these three super valuable tips to learn Spanish faster and more efficiently. No one wants to spend a lot of time trying to learn Spanish, right? We all want to learn it as quickly as possible and the best way possible. So, check out these three tips. You will be surprised how much time you can shave off your Spanish learning journey.
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1. Identify why you want to learn Spanish
The first tip for learning Spanish faster is to know why you want to Spanish. Do you want to learn Spanish to travel to Spanish speaking countries? Do you need to learn it for your job or school? Do you want to be able to talk to Spanish speaking friends?
I think it’s safe to say most people want to learn Spanish for one of these purposes: Travel, Job or School, or Conversational.
Why is it important to know your purpose for learning Spanish?
Well, if you are traveling to a Spanish speaking country on vacation, you want to focus on travel-related vocabulary and phrases. So, you probably don’t need to spend a whole lot of time mastering grammar.
On the other hand, if you need to learn Spanish for your job or school, mastering Spanish grammar will definitely help you in the long run. You might also focus on the vocabulary that’s related to your job first. That way, you can become fluent in your field quicker.
If you are just interested in a conversational level Spanish, learning basic grammar and more general vocabulary would be a good idea. You might want to learn greetings, basic phrases, and general vocabulary first, then the words that are related to your interests like your hobby and family.
So, the approach to learning for each purpose has its own priority, and knowing the priority will help you to learn Spanish most efficiently.
2. Decide which type of Spanish you should learn.
Spain Spanish or Latin American Spanish, which one is right for you?
The second tip to learn Spanish quickly is to decide which version of Spanish to learn first. Are you planning to travel to Spain? Are you going to Latin American countries? Are you retiring in Mexico?
It’s essential to think about which Spanish speaking country you are most interested in because Spanish is one language, but it has many different versions depending on the country. While the difference might not be huge, it makes a big difference when you are first learning a new language.
Also, having an interest in a particular country, its culture, and its people helps you to be more passionate about learning Spanish. When you are passionate about something, your brain is much more eager to learn and absorb new information about your favorite subject. Naturally, you will be more curious about the language and culture, which fuels your learning power!
So, focusing on one variety will definitely speed up your learning process and make it much simpler in the beginning. Then, when you know enough to be able to understand a little more, it’s good (and fun) to know the differences, so you don’t accidentally use inappropriate words.
You can read about the differences in this post about the Spain Spanish vs. Mexican Spanish below.
What are the differences between Spanish in Spain vs. Mexico?
3. What is your learning style?
Here is the last of the three tips for learning Spanish faster. Now that you have identified the purpose of your learning Spanish and which type of Spanish to learn, it helps you to know how your brain likes to learn new things. Knowing this prevents you from wasting time or getting frustrated. So, you can be most effective in acquiring your new target language and helps you learn Spanish faster.
According to the VARK Modalities theory developed by Fleming and Mills in 1992, there are four learning styles. They are visual, auditory, read/write, or Kinesthetic (tactile).
If you are a Visual Learner…
You tend to prefer using pictures, diagrams, maps, patterns, shapes, images, written directions, and spatial.
Drawing a diagram or chart will help speed up your understanding. Also, using post-its and highlighters to organize your notes will increase the retention of new information.
If you are an Auditory Learner…
You tend to prefer listening to a lecture than reading written directions. Since you prefer using sound and music, you often read out to yourself to memorized something or reinforce new information.
If you are an auditory learner, you should find listening to podcasts or watching YouTube videos of Spanish lessons helpful. This YouTube channel called Spanish Playground is great for beginners, and this one covers various topics for adult Spanish learners.
If you are a Reading/Writing Learner…
You tend to prefer to learn through writing diaries, reading articles, looking up words in the dictionary. You enjoy searching the internet for information.
The things you might enjoy are reading this huge and super useful Spanish dictionary, which is my favorite or this Spanish verb book. This verb book has helped me a lot!
If you are a Kinesthetic/Tactile Learner…
You tend to prefer learning through experiencing or by actually doing things. You enjoy using your body, hands, and sense of touch to learn new things.
If you are this type, you will learn better by acting out events to understand new concepts.
How Combined Learning Style Can Help You Succeed
Most likely, you are a combination of these. You can visit this website by Education Planner to check which type of learner you are and what you can do to help learn more effectively.
Tips to Learn Spanish: Conclusion
We hope you find this advice helpful. It’s essential to know your purpose, goal, and learning style, especially in the beginning, in order to learn Spanish successfully as quickly as possible. We tend to get frustrated or bored when we don’t see significant progress, and we might stop learning, right? If you can spend a little bit of time to think about these things before choosing a learning method or materials, it will undoubtedly help you save time and money. Who wouldn’t want that?
Have fun, and Happy Spanish-ing!
If you are interested in some of our most popular posts, please check these out.
15 Fun and Easy Spanish hack I used to become fluent fast
30 Basic Spanish conversation starters you need to know
102 Differences between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish
101 Survival Travel Phrases in Spanish
Sources:
VARK; https://vark-learn.com/introduction-to-vark/the-vark-modalities/
EducationPlanner.org: https://vark-learn.com/introduction-to-vark/the-vark-modalities/
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