College Spanish classes are a great way to learn new vocabulary and sentence structure. If you are not in school, and have the time, you can take Spanish continuing education classes.
Online classes are great for some people, who do not have the time to sit in a classroom setting. The downside is that the students are not actually speaking to the instructor. You will have to practice speaking on your own, but you will learn plenty of vocabulary words. Binghamton University offers online Spanish continuing education classes.
Gain knowledge of new vocabulary words by speaking to native Spanish teachers using Skype. At Nulengua.com, the cost of the classes is relatively low. You will have homework, and you will be graded, so you will see your progression. You can schedule classes at your convenience. Just make sure you sign up for your appropriate time zone.
Other non-traditional approaches include joining an online Spanish group. Yahoo and Google have groups for those learning Spanish.
Check your local library for Spanish books. The books that I have had the most success with are bilingual. For example, Las Puertas Retorcidas, by Dr. Kathie Dior. This book also comes with a CD, so that as you read, you can listen to how Spanish is properly pronounced. As you notice new vocabulary words, make flash cards. Review the flash cards every day by using the words in a sentence. Also, look for bilingual newspapers. These are inexpensive and fantastic ways to learn new Spanish vocabulary.
Sometimes, the library will host informal meetings or offer classes for people who want to learn Spanish. At my local library, they have a Spanish group that meets once a week. The group consist of native English speakers, who want to learn how to speak Spanish, and native Spanish speakers, who want to learn how to speak English. We alternate speaking in each other’s language. Everyone improves their vocabulary, speaking and listening skills. This is a brilliant learning experience. If your library does not offer this type of meeting, you may want to add this idea to their suggestion box.
Modern technology has been a huge help for learning Spanish vocabulary. Wordsgalore is a free online program that provides you with over 1,000 Spanish words on flash cards. CDs are also a very useful tool. If you have a CD player in your car, you can practice Spanish while driving to work or picking up the kids from school. Pimsleur is a great product that I have used in the past. Pimsleur offers versions from basic to advanced. Depending on which version you need, Pimsleur products may be expensive. Ask at your local library. They may carry it. Pimsleur now has an application for the iPhone called 2GO. This would be very helpful for those of us who are technically savvy. If you have an iPod, you can download Spanish podcasts. One of my favorites is Notes in Spanish. Download the worksheet of each podcast to help you remember key phases and vocabulary.
Also, while driving, listen to Spanish radio stations. Some radio stations play the same songs over and over. Learn new vocabulary by translating the songs.
Lastly, go to Spanish restaurants, and attend plays or concerts where Spanish is spoken. The beauty of learning Spanish vocabulary is that it provides a wealth of opportunity.
Buena suerte. Good luck.