How to Take the Guesswork Out of Learning Spanish

How to Take the Guesswork Out of Learning Spanish : Learning a foreign language can be a great deal of fun and it is obviously important if you are planning to travel abroad in the near future. Spanish is one of the most popular languages and it is spoken by millions of individuals from across the world. Still, some individuals are better at picking up different dialects than others.

This is why the use of online conversational Spanish classes has become commonplace. While these virtual courses can provide amazing results within relatively short periods of time, their effectiveness can be increased when combined with other innovative techniques. Let us take a look at some practical suggestions.

Learn to Appreciate the Main “Sticking Points” Between Spanish and English

While Spanish is a romance language, the roots of English are far more diverse. So, it should not come as a great surprise that many grammar and syntax rules will be quite different. The notion of gender in relation to specific words is particularly challenging for non-native speakers. For instance, many words in Spanish are designated as either “masculine” or “feminine” based upon their endings. There are even times when using the wrong gender will change the meaning of the word itself. So, be sure to focus heavily upon gender during the learning process.

Another interesting feature of the Spanish language involves the fact that adjectives are placed after the noun. So, a phrase such as “blue eyes” in English would be translated to “ojos azules” (eyes blue) in Spanish). The best way to overcome this difference is to hold conversations with a regular Spanish speaker, as he or she will be able to correct any mistakes before they become habits.

Home-Based Learning Tips

Learning Spanish at home can represent an excellent way to wrap your head around the language and still, it may also be confusing at times. This is why it is important to remain consistent and to allocate a certain time of each day to your studies. The good news is that other tips and tricks will come in handy.

For example, create a series of English/Spanish flashcards when memorising different words and phrases. You can also choose to watch one of your favourite movies in Spanish with English subtitles placed across the bottom of the screen. It could likewise be interesting to place Spanish labels on common items around your home. This type of passive learning technique will help to build your vocabulary within a short period of time. Finally, never be afraid to practice your skills with friends or family members. Although reading comprehension and appreciating grammatical nuances is important, these are hardly sufficient if you wish to speak conversational Spanish.

Spanish is a beautiful language and due to its nearly universal presence, possessing the ability to speak it fluently will always come in handy. Also, learning a foreign language is an excellent exercise if you hope to improve your mental acuity. Feel free to bookmark this article for future inspiration when required.