Spanish is a language full of advantages. It is the native language of over 405 million people in 30 countries, and is still spoken more as a second language, which means you will never run out of people to talk to.
As an added bonus, Spanish is a Romance language and is relatively identifiable to those who learn it, especially those who have knowledge of French, Italian or Portuguese. But how do you start living life in Spanish? These are 5 of the best ways to learn Spanish.
Study Or Live In A Spanish-speaking Country Like Bolivia
This is the most important one. Spending some time abroad, in a country where the language you want to learn is spoken, is undoubtedly the most effective way to learn. Why? Because living, studying or working abroad puts you in an immersive learning environment, which is not unlike the way a child learns his or her native language.
If you take a Spanish course you will be able to make rapid progress and meet other people with similar interests. Another option is to work in a Spanish-speaking country. After a short time, you will find that your vocabulary list is as full as your social life, and both will improve your level.
Watch Movies And Soap Operas
Grab a bucket of popcorn and a notebook to write down the words you don’t know. Watching foreign movies and series is another way to learn a new language effectively. The Spanish-speaking film and television industry is prolific, with Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Chile at the forefront.
Include in your list of movies to watch the works of great directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Alejandro Iñárritu, Alejandro Amenábar and Pablo Larraín. If auteur films are not your thing, don’t worry, you have a varied buffet of TV series and soap operas to learn Spanish while having fun. Mexico is a particularly prominent soap opera producer, and its always exaggerated and intricate stories guarantee fun.
One more tip: put the subtitles in Spanish (not in your native language) so you can catch all the dialogue. If you see it on the internet or your DVD doesn’t have subtitles, watch the movie again in a few days. Watching and hearing the same scenes, plots and actors’ voices again will help you understand everything better.
Listen To Music
Just like watching movies and TV, listening to music is a nice way to invite the Spanish into your head. As there are so many native Spanish speakers, there is a lot of music available. You can search for artists on Spotify or YouTube and listen to them while you do things around the house, in the car, at the gym or on your way to work.
To speed up your learning, download song lyrics and listen to them while you read them, marking the words and expressions you see. (Then search the internet for the vocabulary and listen to them again. You’ll be amazed at how much you’ll understand.) ) For those who are more musically inclined, it will be good to learn the guitar chords or sing while listening to them.
Join The Spanish Or Hispanic Community In Your Country
Although you can learn a lot on your own, there comes a point when it is much more effective to socialize. Because people have migrated since the beginning of history, there are varied communities of immigrants and exchange students in almost every major city in the world, most likely in the city where you live. You can find communities by searching the internet for cultural, gastronomic or film events.
You can also search for expatriate communities or online forums for publications by people looking for English-Spanish language exchange partners. If you don’t find anything, ask your social network contacts. You never know, maybe someone will have a Spanish-speaking friend to introduce you!
Welcome A Spanish Speaking Student
Speaking of Spanish-speaking immigrants and exchange students, you are in a unique position to help them and have them help you. How? Think about it: just like you, when these expatriates arrive in your country, they are new and bewildered.
By offering your time to teach the site to a newcomer, or by registering your home in a local university or language school accommodation program, you can help orient new expatriates, show them around the city and practice your Spanish at the same time.
