How To Speak Spanish

Learning to speak another language can really be an adventure of a lifetime. It can lead to wonderful new situations and cultures, and most importantly, help us better see the world around us. Today we will focus on a few keys on how to learn Spanish, obviously, this can apply to other foreign languages as well.

Study Frequently

Research shows that language students learn more effectively and retain more when they study frequently and for shorter periods of time. It is important to try and study each day, and several times a day, if at all possible. Do you remember how when you were in high school or college and your teacher always said that the best way to study on a project or homework was doing a little bit each day and not putting it off until the end? Yeah, they were right.

Focus on Key Vocabulary and Know it Well

During my years of taking piano lessons, my teacher once shared a story about a student who had already played a little piano before signing up for piano lessons. The student arrived with a few piano song books and the teacher asked for him to play what he knew, so the student opened up a song, played a handful of verses perfectly,and then abruptly stopped, saying, that is as far as I have got. The student then played a few more pieces all the same way, he did not know the song in its entirety, but what he did know, he knew perfectly. This can do wonders for anyone trying to learn Spanish! How many people know a few dozen or so phrases sort of or might be able to mumble a handful of sentences but they lack even decent pronunciation or accent of the words. If your learning just how to say hi and respond with how your feeling, study it until you know it well, and just as importantly, can pronounce it effectively. Then feel free to continue.


Speak Out Loud

This key might seem obvious, but I encounter people every day that ask me how they can improve their Spanish, but yet they never actually speak it. Well all know that speaking to a native Spanish speaker or someone who is fluent in Spanish is the best way to go, but what if that option is not readily available to you? Take full advantage of repeating the phrases and grammar that you listen to while practicing, be it a CD or software program on your computer. Practice repeating phrases and vocabulary out loud in the shower, in your car, whenever you get the chance. Have you ever met someone and they say they understand a lot of Spanish but they can not speak it, and you think to yourself, oh yeah, you must be like those really smart people who just happen to be bad test takers. Well, listening to a language, and actually speaking it, saying the words out loud, are two different skills that engage two entirely different parts of the brain. Speak out loud as much as you possibly can.

Hopefully these tips will be helpful as you learn how to speak Spanish. Remember consistency and practice are the two most powerful tools you can use to achieve Spanish fluency.