Top 5 Tips for Learning Spanish

Learning a new language is always a great idea and if you’re wondering which one to choose, then there’s not many better options than Spanish. Keep reading to find out why it’s a great choice and some extra tips and tricks that will help you along the way. 

Is Spanish easy to learn?

Spanish is actually one of the easiest languages to learn for native English speakers. This doesn’t mean that you’ll become fluent within a few months, but you’ll have an easier time compared to most other languages. Why? Well first of all, English and Spanish both use the Latin alphabet and share similar roots. This means that you’ll encounter many words that are spelled in a similar or identical way and have the same meaning. 

Furthermore, this Romance language is phonetic which means that, for the most part, the words are pronounced like they’re spelled. Last but not least, one of the biggest reasons for choosing Spanish is how common it is to encounter nowadays. Chances are you won’t have to search for long in order to find a friend or family member to practise with. 

Why learn Spanish?

There are over 450 million people around the world who speak Spanish as their mother tongue, making it the second most commonly spoken tongue, when measured by native speakers, only behind English. Furthermore, it is the official language in 20 different countries around the globe and the number of people who speak it with at least some degree of fluency is expected to keep growing steadily. 

But how much does it cost to learn Spanish? A huge advantage is the accessibility of learning Spanish - there are many ways to study and they’re not expensive due to the popularity of the language.

Learning it will not only unlock an entire new world in front of you, but it can also be incredibly useful when it comes to job hunting, travelling and meeting new people.

Whether you’re learning to make travelling easier and more enjoyable or you’re trying to make yourself more employable, we’ve compiled a list of tips that will help you become fluent. 

5 Tips for learning Spanish quickly

Take an online Spanish course

Maybe the most obvious, but certainly the best tip we can give you is to find a private Spanish tutor. Although you can definitely learn a language on your own, working with a qualified tutor will make the process much easier, especially for beginners. Not only will they create a tailor made study programme for you to follow, but you’ll also be able to get instant feedback and advice. Taking private Spanish lessons or attending classes with a Spanish teacher by your side will help you pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses and figure out if you have to focus more on your grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation. 

Travel to a a Spanish speaking country

One of the best ways to learn any language is to completely immerse yourself in the local culture. Next time you’re planning a trip abroad, consider going to a Spanish speaking country. 

Regardless if you can only go for a few days, being surrounded by the language is the best way to quickly improve. While you’re visiting make sure to interact with the locals as much as possible. This is the best way to practise what you’ve learned. Have a conversation with the barista making your coffee, ask someone on the street for directions or go to a local bar and strike up a chat with some locals. Don’t worry about making mistakes, the more you get out of your comfort zone, the better your conversational skills will get. 

Listen to Spanish podcasts or audiobooks

Regardless of how you’ve decided to learn, chances are that throughout the day, you’ll have some extra free time that you’re not fully maximising. Whether you’re commuting on the bus or train, walking home from work or simply relaxing on the couch, these periods can be utilised to learn something new. 

One of the best things to do is to find a podcast or audio book in Spanish and put it on every moment you have some spare time. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand absolutely everything, getting used to hearing natives speak will significantly improve your overall comprehension and vocabulary. 

Download a language learning app

Continuing the topic of integrating learning into your daily routine, there are plenty of apps that can come in handy. Most people nowadays spend over 2 hours a day on their phones, so why not put that time to good use? Learning apps are the perfect solution for people with busy schedules who still want to learn the basics of a new language. 

By far the biggest benefit is that you don’t have to worry about managing your time to follow a fixed timetable. You can study whenever you have time. 

Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube videos in Spanish

Instead of watching your favourite Netflix series and movies in English, why not try them out in Spanish? Watching content in any foreign language you’re trying to learn is a great way to not only expand your vocabulary, but to also get used to the pronunciation. Furthermore, if you’re struggling to understand everything, you can always put on English subtitles to help you along the way.