In the era of technology, there is no excuse to not being able to practice an important key in the Spanish learning process: listening and comprehension. By training your ear to the sound of the language, and exercising your brain in order to learn how to match those sounds with meanings -- as well as how to pronounce them -- you can quickly improve your command of the language.
Listening to Spanish language radio or watching Spanish-language TV are both good listening exercises available for free on the Internet. Watching movies in Spanish, with subtitles in your native language, is another good option to assimilate the language and its sounds.
The second key to learning Spanish is to progressively improve your vocabulary. Focus on building up your vocabulary day by day through setting yourself small and easily attainable goals, such as learning just one new word every day. Use flash cards as a learning aid, or keep a notebook with the new words you learn, using them in a sentence to develop context.
Ensure to match your vocabulary development with activities you do often. For example, if you enjoy shopping, write down the most commonly used words during this activity in your native language, and find out their meaning in Spanish with the help of a dictionary.
Grammar is, for some, the toughest part of learning any language, and this is when the importance of having a teacher comes in. Sign up for classes at your local university, community college, or language institute. Or, find a private tutor with whom to meet on a weekly basis, and who will guide you in the learning process.
If you are a dedicated student, take the self-taught route and use the plethora of free language acquisition websites available -- which include grammar explanations and even exercises -- or by buying Spanish grammar books at your local bookstore.
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An integral part of developing your understanding and usage of a language is to read it often. Do you read the newspaper in your native language every day? Then why not try reading it in Spanish! You will probably read about the same news, so it will give you a competitive advantage in comprehension. And the best part: you can easily access free newspapers online, anytime.
If you prefer, buy your favorite books in Spanish. Reading a story that you already know well in another language is quite helpful to the learning process. If reading is not your thing, you can watch movies in your native language, with subtitles in Spanish. It still entails a bit of reading, but it's not as demanding.
Don't forget that Spanish is a language that is read and pronounced the same way it is written. This means that by practicing your reading, you are not only training your brain in comprehension, but also passively developing your speaking skills.
Writing is an often overlooked, yet integral part of learning a new language. It is also a good way to practice your newly acquired vocabulary and sentence composition skills. A pen pal might sound old-fashioned, but it's a proven way to learn how to write correctly in another language. With the Internet, you can easily match up with other Spanish speakers that are interested in learning your language, and set up an email exchange.
Verbal expression -- also known as oral or speaking skills -- is possibly the most important aspect to practice. It involves using listening, vocabulary, and comprehension skills, as well as the sentence composition skills you acquire in writing practice.
In many cities throughout the world, you can find regular meetings of both Spanish language learners and Spanish-speaking expatriates that get together regularly to practice the language. It's free, and you may even come out of the experience not just with added practice of the Spanish language, but with new friends, too. It will also allow you to gain insight into the culture.
If you are on the shy side, there is another option: individual language exchanges in which you meet with a Spanish speaker who wants to learn your native language. That way, both of you get to practice with each other. This is the best way to put all your acquired skills in vocabulary, listening, pronunciation and grammar to good use. Step by step you will see how your Spanish improves.
And don't forget to do what feels natural: if you love cooking, plan a Spanish culinary night. If you like wines, organize a Spanish wine decantation. The key is do to what you love best in life, and adapt your Spanish language learning to fit your lifestyle. The more you enjoy your learning environment, the better you will get at Spanish.