The Best Tips on Learning Spanish Fast
Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could learn Spanish really fast? I want to share these 15 Spanish learning hacks I have tried and worked a miracle for me. I would say these are some of the best ways to learn Spanish fast and easy. And most of them are free and available online.
You don’t have to do all of these activities from the beginning, but it’s important that you choose what you enjoy doing, do it often, and make it part of your daily routine. Just start trying one or two of these Spanish learning tips, then add a couple of more hacks after 3 to 4 weeks. The idea is that you will surround yourself with a Spanish environment and create your immersion experience at home while having fun.
15 Best Ways to Learn Spanish Fast for Free (mostly)
Let’s dive in! Here are the top 15 Spanish Learning Tips on how to learn Spanish quickly. Most of them are free and you can do them at home. All you need is the Internet! So, give these learning tips a try and see which ones work best for you.
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1. Learn Spanish Vocabulary of the Field(s) You Are Interested in First
This is the most important Spanish Learning tip. One of the fastest ways to learn Spanish is by learning words that are related to the topics you like to talk about. This technique helps you expand your vocabulary quickly and quite enjoyably. Since you are already interested in the topic and know about it well, it will be much easier to learn new words in Spanish. Having a larger vocabulary of your interests or hobbies enables you to talk more, which helps you get used to thinking in Spanish.
It’s so much fun to be able to share your opinions on your favorite topics even in Spanish. Using flashcards is always an easy way to get exposed to new words. Also, you can use a journal to organize the words and phrases you may use frequently, your learning goals, etc. I used to carry a notebook like this and jotted down the words I wanted to look up later.
2. Watch Movies in Spanish (start with the ones you’ve already seen in English)
In the beginning, it helps to watch movies in English first then in Spanish. That way, even if you don’t understand some of the words, you can still guess what they are saying. Guessing the meaning of words from context is part of learning, and it’s an important skill in learning a new language. It might not be a bad idea to refresh your basic grammar using a handy vocabulary cheat sheet like this one, which is my next tip.
3. Learn the Basic Structure of Spanish Grammar
I know grammar isn’t everyone’s favorite, but understanding even the basic Spanish grammar goes a long way. Another important hack: Start out with the present tense, past tense, and “Voy a + infinitive verb” and then other tenses. Pick the verbs you think you would use most in your everyday life, then master their tenses before moving onto other verbs.
Doing this will help you learn the pattern of Spanish verb conjugation fairly easily. By the time you’ll need to know less frequently-used verbs, your brain will kind of know-how verbs are conjugated and make an intelligent guess. I think that’s how kids learn a language. I used this 501 Spanish Verbs book,” and I loved it! This is definitely one of my favorite Spanish learning tools.
4. “Read” a Spanish-English Dictionary
My all-time favorite dictionary is this Oxford Dictionary. It’s huge, but it’s packed full of great information. It lists lots of sample sentences, and each word is like a mini-chapter of a book. I used to leave it open on my kitchen counter and read a couple of mini-chapters while waiting for something to boil or finish cooking.
I highly recommend this dictionary along with the Spanish Verbs book I’ve mentioned above. I also like those picture dictionaries. They are perfect for learning words that are more easily explained visually than verbally. For me, like car parts and tools.
5. Always Try to Learn Synonyms and Antonyms in Spanish Whenever Possible
This learning hack is definitely a shortcut to expanding your vocabulary quickly. While I’m reading about a word in the dictionary, I try to look for its synonyms and antonyms as well. This method seems to relate those words in the brain and makes it easier to remember.
When you learn a new word or expression, try to come up with a couple of your own sentences using a particular word or expression. Make a shorter sentence first, then expand it by adding more descriptions, time relevancy, etc. as you learn more words.
6. Watch TV in Spanish
Watching TV in Spanish is one of the best ways to learn Spanish fast and also the culture of the country. Univision is one of the largest Spanish language television networks in the U.S. You can watch various shows, News, Sports, weather, etc. In my area, Comcast has a Spanish Language program you can add to your basic cable package, but Univision also has a website. On their website, the content might be a bit limited, but it’s still a good resource.
If you are looking for Spain Spanish TV, TVE is the one I like best. It has lots of free content like Cooking shows, News, Technologies, Music, Sports, Movies, etc. They also have a radio station you can access from their website. This channel is included in the Spanish Package I have with Comcast. I’m a big fan of this channel. You can learn good clean Spain Spanish from this TV station.
7. Put labels in Spanish on household items
I’m sure you’ve seen these labels before, but I wanted to list it here because it is fun to stick them everywhere! Just doing so made me feel like I was learning Spanish a lot…ha ha ha. If you are super busy and don’t have time to flip through flashcards, this may be a more productive way to learn new words.
8. Keep a Journal or Write Yourself an Email in Spanish
When I first started learning Spanish, I didn’t know anyone who spoke Spanish. So I wrote an email to myself in Spanish as though I was writing it to one of my friends. I know this sounds a bit strange, but it helped me A LOT to figure out how I wanted to express myself in Spanish.
Write what you did, what you will be doing this weekend, or what you want to do on your vacation, etc. That’s what we normally talk about, isn’t it? Basically, this allows you to prepare some conversational sentences in Spanish when you have time, not when you are put on the spot. Since you’ll have put some time and effort into crafting those sentences, you will most likely remember them when it comes time to use them.
You might think you are going to sound like a broken record, saying the same things over and over, but don’t worry. As you learn more words and phrases, you will be able to change your sentences to match each situation.
It’s all about building up your confidence level and getting you out there to practice speaking Spanish. It’s okay to make mistakes! Actually, mistakes are good because once you make a mistake, you’ll never forget it! You might feel embarrassed for 2 minutes, but you can laugh it off and it will be a funny story you can tell in Spanish later.
9. Read Magazines/Websites of Your Interest in Spanish
I love cooking, so I read a lot of cookbooks in Spanish, downloaded recipes from the Internet, bought cooking magazines, and watched cooking shows on Spanish TV. As cooking involves obviously food, it helped me learn the names of all kinds of vegetables, fruits, and household items, which is extremely useful in everyday conversations as well (a Vocabulary List of Fruits and Vegetables in this post.).
10. Listen to Spanish Online Radio Stations
As you can’t see what is going on, you have to rely 100% on your listening skills. This might be helpful for more advanced learners. Even if you don’t understand everything, listening to native speakers will help your ears get used to the native pronunciation. Also, it’s always very rewarding when you understand what they are talking about! A variety of Spanish radio stations are available online. You can just google “Spanish radio stations” and take your pick.
11. Listen to Spanish Songs and Compare with the Lyrics Online
If you enjoy listening to Latin music, you can pick a couple of Spanish songs you like from one of the Spanish Radio stations or Spotify. Then you can search the lyrics on the Internet and sing along! You can also find YouTube videos with Lyrics although the ones with lyrics are usually not the originals. You can listen to Spanish songs, Spanish radios, or podcasts while walking, cleaning the house, on your commute, etc.
I bought a pair of expensive brand-name wireless earbuds for my husband last year, but these Bluetooth wireless earbuds I bought for myself were way less expensive (less than 1/3 of what I paid for the brand ones) and they are just as high quality if not better! They are so easy to use and I’m a big fan of these now!
You can also check out this post on 20 Popular Spanish songs and watch some of the most popular Latin music videos!
12. Browse Mexican and Spanish Stores’ Websites
You will love this Spanish learning tip! Checking out store websites and ads is a great way to learn new vocabulary or phrases natives use. Immerse yourself in their culture without leaving the comfort of your home. You can see images of each item and product details, so it’s very easy to remember! It’s kind of like shopping online without actually buying. Who doesn’t love shopping online?
Mexican Supermarkets and Department Stores
Spanish Supermarket and Department Store
Here are two of my favorite stores in Spain.
13. Learn Proverbs in Spanish
I learned some proverbs while studying in Spain and found it really interesting. Not only it’s cool to be able to throw an old saying in a conversation, but also it gave me an insight into their culture and tradition. Understanding the culture and tradition is a big part of really mastering the language.
14. Make Native Spanish Speaking Friends
You can find Spanish Meetups or Spanish Clubs in your area. Some local libraries have foreign language/culture meetups as well. Some of them have a potluck lunch or go to a sports event or cultural event. Before you attend one of these events, I recommend checking out this post: 30 Essential Spanish Conversation Starts Every Spanish Learner Should Know.
Even your favorite Mexican restaurant would be a good place to practice your Spanish. Getting used to speaking with native Spanish speakers definitely gives you more confidence in your listening and speaking abilities. It is the best way to learn to speak Spanish for sure. It would be helpful to know the difference between Spain Spanish and Mexican Spanish as well.
15. Study Broad
Living in a Spanish-speaking country and studying Spanish there for an extended period of time is definitely the most fun and fast way to learn Spanish. The downside is that it’s probably the most expensive option, but even a short trip can give you a great opportunity to practice your Spanish. Visiting a foreign country always gives me so much inspiration and motivates me to learn more!
In Conclusion: what is the best way to learn Spanish fast?
Tips for Learning Spanish on Your Own
The best way to learn Spanish may be different for each person, but the key hack for learning Spanish quickly and easily is exposing yourself to Spanish as much as possible using multi-sensory activities. For example, for those who love cooking, you can watch a cooking video, read a recipe, then make a shopping list of the ingredients, and buy them while looking at the list. Once at home, you can cook while watching the cooking video or reading the recipe, then eat what you’ve made.
This way, you will learn using your multiple senses: sight, hearing, touch, movement, and taste. You can even write about your experience in Spanish to prepare for your next conversation with a native Spanish speaker!
So, Let’s Recap on How to Learn Spanish Fast!
- Learn a vocabulary of the field(s) you are interested in first
- Watch movies in Spanish (start with the ones you’ve already seen in English)
- Learn the basic structure of Spanish Grammar
- Read a Spanish-English Dictionary (a regular one and/or a picture one)
- Always try to learn synonyms and antonyms whenever possible. When you learn a new word/expression, come up with your own sentences using the particular word/expression. Make shorter sentences first then expand. Add more descriptions, time relevancy, etc.
- Watch News/TV in Spanish
- Put labels in Spanish on household items
- Keep a journal or write yourself an email in Spanish
- Read magazines/websites of your interest in Spanish
- Listen to a Spanish online radio station
- Listen to Spanish songs and compare them with the lyrics online
- Browse Mexican stores’ websites
- Learn Proverbs in Spanish
- Make Spanish Speaking Friends – Meetups, Spanish Clubs, Local Community College
- Study Abroad
Also, don’t forget to check out more time-saving tips below!
3 Important Tips to Learn Spanish You Must Know
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