How best to learn Spanish

Listen

It is important to listen carefully in class. Take notes and ask questions if you do not understand, even if you think your question seems a little silly. Other people are probably wondering the same thing you are. You won’t be able to understand everything you hear at first, but do not feel frustrated.

You are actually absorbing a lot even when you do not realize it.

This website helps you learn the correct pronunciation of words in Spanish.

www.languageguide.org/espanol/

Speak

It is important to practice speaking Spanish aloud everyday. Talking with your teachers and classmates is an easy and fun way to learn.  Do not be afraid to experiment. Your mistakes will help identify problems, and they will show you important differences in the way English and Spanish “work” as languages.

Practice    

Learning a foreign language is like learning to ride a bicycle or play an instrument. You can not spend one night cramming and then expect instantly to be able to ride or play the next morning. You did not learn English that way either. Short, daily practice sessions are more effective than long, once-a-week sessions. Also, try to practice with a friend or a classmate. After all, language is about communication, and it takes two to communicate.

This website helps you play games in Spanish and more....check it out!

http://www.quia.com/shared/spanish/

Connect            

Some English and Spanish words have commons roots in Latin, and the two languages have influenced each other, so your knowledge of English can give you clues about the meaning of many Spanish words. Look for an English connection when you need to guess at unfamiliar words. You may also find that learning Spanish will help you in English class!

Expand

Increase your contact with Spanish outside of class in every way you can. You may be able to find someone living near you who speak Spanish. It is easy to find Spanish-language programs on TV, on the radio, or at the video store. Many magazines and newspapers in Spanish are published or sold in the United States. Do not be afraid to read, watch, or listen. You won’t understand every word, but that’s okay. You can get a lot out of a story or an article by concentrating on the words you do recognize and doing a little intelligent guesswork.

 Read about current events in Spanish, listen to music in Spanish, etc.

Telemundo

http://telemundo.yahoo.com/

Spain

Yahoo.http://es.yahoo.com 

 México

Yahoo. http://mx.yahoo.com 

Organize                             

Your memory is going to get a workout, so it’s important to get organized. Throughout the textbook you will see learning tips (sugerencias) that can improve your study skills. For starters, here is a hint: see things with your mind. Associate each word, sentence, or phrase with an exaggerated or unusual mental picture. For example, if you are learning the word regla (ruler), visualize an enormous ruler on an enormous desk as you practice saying a sentence with the word.

 Picture Dictionary

http://www.pdictionary.com/spanish/

Have fun!

Above all, remember to have fun! The more you try, the more you will learn. Besides, having fun will help you relax, and relaxed people learn better and faster. Buena Suerte! (Good Luck)