Best Ways To Learn Spanish

1. Spanish pocket dictionary. Stick it in your purse, your desk at work, or even leave it in your car. Someplace that you can retrieve it easily. While waiting in long lines, or out on lunch, pick it up and learn a little. *What I do: I have made flash cards with basic words, and sayings on them. While at work, if I have a moment, I'll pull one out, read it, and keep repeating it. I'll learn one flash card at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed. Too much information at once could confuse you, making it harder to learn.

2. Listen to audio while driving or cleaning. Anytime, just pop in the disc, cassette, or turn up the speakers on the computer, while you're doing anything at all. Even taking a bath, have some Spanish going in the background. Remember to repeat. Say the Spanish, and then the English, and then the Spanish again.

3. While watching movies or television, turn the Spanish subtitles on. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to learn and remember the translation. *What I do, I'll watch the news with the subtitles. Sometimes I'll find myself repeating what they said, but in Spanish, as I'm reading the subs.

4. Each morning recite the date to yourself in Spanish. This will help you learn the days of the week, months, number of the day, as well as the year. Try adding the season once in a while, just to keep it fresh in your mind.

5. When reading the time, recite it either to yourself or aloud, this will make it easy to learn time. Remember to repeat!

6. Refer to particular items like colors, books, utensils, clothes, or basically any everyday thing. *What I do, when I remember to do it, almost everything I see while I'm getting ready in the morning, I'll say it in Spanish. Even as I'm working, I'll catch myself doing the same thing, but this time it's usually to myself.

7. There are plenty of free Spanish websties. Most will teach you the basics. Including colors, animals, times, dates, common phrases, and various others. Try different sites, not just one, each one will give you a different list and categories. A few will even give you activities and reviews. Fun learning games to make it easier to learn. *For my flash cards, I went to one of these websites and just copied a few things down to help me learn that day.

8. If you like to write, try substituting as many English words as possible. This will help you learn some specific words. *What I do, I write poetry, but try to use as many Spanish words as possible. Then as I progress, I can come back and translate a little more, checking my grammar as I go.

9. Rename household items. Be creative, by placing name cards on certain things around you, it'll help keep you motivated to learn these specific items. Constant learning will keep you going and remind you to not give up.

10. Join classes, this will probably be the most effective way, and easiest. Not everyone has the time or money, which is why there are plenty of self learning tools out there. *I prefer learning in my own time, at my own pace, in my own way.

11. At your local Library or bookstore, there is a wise selection of self teaching books. From childrens to young adults, college to reviews, and several dictionaries. Plenty of choices. *My personal favorites are the audio books. Where you can read the book, as well as listen and repeat from a CD or cassette. It's very effective, and the best way to practice pronunciation.

12. A Spanish speaking partner, someone that you can speak to on a regular basis. Usually helpful if they are fluent, that way you have a teacher that can correct you. Or even having a friend learning with you, is helpful. This will keep you motivated and talking on a regular basis.

13. Tutors, about the same as going to classes, you'll need time and money. Some advantages are being able to have the one on one contact, which some people prefer.

14. Penpals are not only great company, but you get to learn alot about their culture. As they're teaching you, you're also teaching them. *I learned alot from my penpal, as he was verbally showing me Mexico and teaching me Spanish, I was doing the same for him in English and the U.S.

15. Use Spanish whenever possible!