Learn to Speak Spanish! (Tips from a Master Teacher)

Hearing me rattle off in near-perfect Spanish comes as a surprise to many and allows for a gentle reminder that a book cannot be judged by its cover. Yes, even we blonde, Dutch-Irish gals can hold our own and then some in one of more beautiful and easy-to-learn romance languages of our world!

Having grown up in the border city of San Diego/Tijuana, earned my degree in Spanish with a Masters in Cross-Cultural Education & Curriculum Development, lived in Spain, and taught K-12 Spanish for twelve years for San Diego City Schools, I indeed have a certain advantage and insight into language acquisition tips that I am happy to share with y’all. 

While waving a magic wand might be the preferred route for garnering a working command of both written and spoken Spanish, I promise you that with some focused studies and uninhibited practice, great dividends will be reaped! 

Wherever you are on the learning continuum–beginner, intermediate, advanced or somewhere in between–I trust that the following 5 Tips will be helpful as you begin your Spanish-language learning adventure:

1. Examine Your Motivations

What are your reasons for wanting to learn Spanish?

Are you internally motivated  to learn Spanish, to connect with the people and to understand the culture?

Are your motivations born from a personal hunger for intellectual stimulation, global connection, and cultural awareness? 

If you are trying to learn Spanish because you “have to” or you “should”, then you likely are not feeling the necessary commitment nor desire to learn.

If your reasons, however, come from a true desire to communicate and connect with a world outside your own, then you are at a great advantage and you will not only learn the language but will also enjoy doing so! 

2. Learn Like a Child

 Language Learning through Dance!

Music (including nursery rhymes), cartoons, movies with and without subtitles, talk radio, translating billboards and other print media all are very effective ways to supplement your Spanish language learning. Go to the library and check out children’s books, rent movies in Spanish, tune your car radio to a Spanish-speaking channel, listen to Spanish CD’s on your commute to work…all of these different learning modalities add up to the larger picture of your desired fluency. Duolingo is a great option and also free! 

Learn like a child, take it all in, be curious and observant, and most of all, be patient with yourself. Seek out opportunities to practice Spanish and immerse yourself in real-life learning opportunities.

Learning in isolation only—behind a computer screen, nose in a book—-will likely not give you an adequate return on your investment. Balance and variety is the key to engaging all parts of your brain. Get out there and practice, speak, listen and interact with other Spanish speakers. Even if your pronunciation or syntax is not perfect, native speakers will likely feel honored that you are making the effort to communicate with them in their mother tongue. 

 3. Put In The Time, Do The Work

Yes, learning Spanish will require some work, study, practice, repetition, commitment, consistency, and stick-to-itiveness. Find what works for you.

Do you prefer one-on-one instruction, small or large group classes, interactive computer programs, listening CD’s, flashcards, textbooks…or a combination of some or all? 

Identify what your learning style is and capitalize on it. If you prefer to spend minimal time in the books, then get out there and start listening to and speaking with people. If you feel more confident with some technical/grammar knowledge first, then obtain that foundational knowledge and then put it to real-life conversational practice. 

Whatever way(s) you learn best, identify it, put in the time and do the work. I promise you, it will be worth it. 

4. Live, Work, Spend an Extended Amount of Time in a Spanish-Speaking Country

This is a given and why immersion programs work so well. Being in a country where Spanish is the native tongue is hands down the number one way to learn. Before I moved to Spain my junior year of college, I was very conversant in Spanish, but it was really only upon being forced to speak the language day in and day out—at the laundromat, at the post office, buying groceries, living a life in Spanish—-that all of the dots connected and before I knew it, I began to dream in Spanish!

Dreaming in the language is a tell-tale sign that your brain is making the connections and entering a stage of increased fluency. (Arguing is too!)

5. Fall in love

...with a person, the culture, the music, the sights, the sounds, the history, the beauty and unique aspects of the ever dynamic Spanish-speaking culture–whether it be in the Caribbean, Central or South America, Mexico, Spain or Morocco. If your fire and desire for language acquisition and cultural understanding come from within, the learning will occur.

Teacher of The Year, Mt. Everest Academy

Language is primal, essential and fundamental to the human experience. It provides a platform through which we can connect, understand, love, play, and adventure–where doors of opportunity are opened and connections are made.

Learning how to communicate and express yourself in another language is a skill you will never regret and one that can only add value to your life.

If you have any questions or comments about this article and your experience (frustrations, challenges, success) with learning Spanish, please feel free to share them in the comments section below and I will get back to you muy pronto!

I wish you the best of luck on your Spanish learning journey!

Cheers y Saludos,

~Katie

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