Gather the learning materials. Get a basic textbook or workbook to introduce you to Spanish grammar and to help you understand how sentences are formed. Additionally, a two-way dictionary and traveler's phrase book are helpful in your language-learning quest. The language company Berlitz offers "Basic Spanish" for beginners. Gilda Nissenberg's book "Practice Makes Perfect: Complete Spanish Grammar" provides beginners with the fundamentals of Spanish. Use a workbook in combination with your phrase book and dictionary to advance your understanding.
Prepare your study area. Stock up on pencils, pens, note cards and notebooks. Also include a hole punch and a large O-ring to keep your flashcards together. Find a study area that is quiet and free from distraction.
Set aside a specific amount of time each day to study the language. Start your education by completing a lesson in your workbook or textbook. Write down 10 to 20 Spanish vocabulary words on flash cards. Write the corresponding English word on the other side. Punch a hole in each card and place them on the O-ring.
Find a Spanish newspaper or magazine to help you strengthen your reading skills. Buy or rent several movies in Spanish to listen to how natives speak the language. Be sure to choose a movie in the dialect you wish to learn. Natives in Latin America speak the language differently than people from Spain. Start using media as soon as possible to immerse yourself in the spoken language.
Continue your study sessions by reading a portion of your newspaper each day. Look up each unknown word or phrase in your dictionary and phrase book. Highlight the words you have previously learned and strengthen your memory by recalling their specific meanings.
Ask a Spanish-speaking friend to give you an oral quiz to help your master pronunciation of specific words. Write a letter or note using the words you have learned to help you integrate Spanish grammar properly with the words you have learned. If you don't know anyone who speaks Spanish, ask a friend to quiz you on Spanish vocabulary.
Use your Spanish as often as possible. Place Post-It notes around the house defining items in Spanish.
Listen to as much Spanish as possible. Record Spanish radio programs, download Spanish Podcasts, or ask permission to record a conversation of Spanish-speaking friends. Spanishpod.com or Audiria.com offer beginners tools and resources for listening to Spanish.