What’s the fastest way to learn Spanish

Spanish can be a very complicated language, and anyone who believes otherwise is simply underestimating its complexity. The language of Cervantes is made up of many variations and exceptions, so that the same sentence can be constructed in different ways, without changing its meaning.

Spanish native speakers can understand all these variations and usually use them without much effort, but the task is not easy for Spanish students. So, although Spanish pronunciation and phonetics may be easy to learn, some grammar agreements and verbal forms can be very complicated to understand for people who have not learned Spanish from a young age.

It is also true that language students who already speak Romance languages, such as French, Italian or Portuguese, will find Spanish learning easier since their mother tongues’ grammar has certain similarities with Spanish. Therefore, learning Spanish will be easier for a French student than for an English student, because they will face grammar rules and structures that exist in their native languages.

However, this does not mean that learning Spanish is mission impossible for English speakers. This just means that learning Spanish should not be underestimated and that it requires effort and time. But to make it easier for you, here are some advice on the fastest way to learn Spanish.

1. Be patient

Many students expect to learn Spanish quickly and begin to lose motivation when they realize that this is not the case. To learn a language well, you need to invest time. You cannot expect to be speaking Spanish like a native in a few months. Therefore, it is important to go step by step and set challenges that we can meet without too much difficulty. Reward yourself for your achievements and avoid setting unattainable goals.

2. The fastest way to learn Spanish: Study abroad

It has been proven that anyone can learn Spanish faster when they are immersed 24 hours a day in a native-speaking country. Therefore, taking a Spanish course in Spain or any other Spanish-speaking country is one of the fastest ways to learn Spanish. Plus, you’ll get to live new adventures and get exposed to a new exciting culture!

3. Read in Spanish

Your Spanish level can be improved considerably by reading small articles or short stories regularly. It is also an excellent way to learn common words and expressions quickly. In this way, you will not only learn phrases that you can use in your daily life, but you will also become more confident in your reading and writing skills.

4. Label everything around you

Students and teachers agree that labels are a very effective way to memorize important Spanish words and phrases. For example, you can place them on furniture with post-it notes with what they mean and memorize them as you move around the house.

This way, you can concentrate your efforts on perfecting your Spanish in the most essential areas – just make your choice of vocabulary you want to learn. Remember, one of the most important parts of learning a language is getting the necessary vocabulary.

5. Organize yourself and your work

These days, we have a lot of resources available to learn Spanish, so it is easy to get overwhelmed by mobile apps, notes, books, and websites. Therefore, it is critical to make sure that you review everything you have learned from the previous lesson and understand it.

Then you can organize the material in a way that makes it easier to follow. Because there is nothing more frustrating than constantly searching for key information among the hundreds of sheets of paper on your desk or among all the files on your computer.

6. Watch movies with Spanish subtitles

This is one of the easiest and most fun activities to learn Spanish faster. Try to spend time watching TV and movies in Spanish, or watch them in your native language but with Spanish subtitles. This is very useful when you want to improve your spoken and listening Spanish.

We recommend that you try to watch movies that you have seen before, as this way you will not have to focus so much on the plot, and you can put more effort on listening and trying to understand the language itself.

7. Use vocabulary cards

A vocabulary card is a small card that you can carry around during the day and look at quickly if you need to. If you hear a word very often as you go about your daily routine, write it down on a flash card.

Also, if there is a word or phrase that you are struggling with, write it down on a card. Nowadays, there are many mobile apps that allow you to create vocabulary cards faster, and they will also help you to learn Spanish faster.

8. Learning a language is always better with a friend

Learning Spanish can be very frustrating when the results don’t come as quickly as expected, and it can seem like a never-ending process. The best way to avoid demotivation and to learn Spanish faster is to find friends who can support you. Learning Spanish with a friend means that you can practice outside of class, since the activities at home are usually only related to reading and writing.

If you decide to take a Spanish course in Spain, you will have the opportunity to meet other people to practice with in your daily life and also organize fun activities with them. Learning with a language partner or with a private Spanish teacher is one of the fastest ways to learn Spanish.

9. Listen to music in Spanish

In the same way as watching movies with Spanish subtitles can be helpful, listening to Spanish songs can also make wonders for your language. Also, considering how catchy Spanish songs can be and how easy to dance as they are, you might also learn how to dance salsa, merengue, and reggaeton at the same time. Pretty great, right?

10. Join a Spanish-speaking community

Many people from all over the world want to learn Spanish, just like you. This makes it easy to find communities of people and language students who want to practice with other Spanish learners. Nowadays, thanks to new technologies and communication facilities, this is very easy. You can find forums and language exchange websites where you connect with other Spanish students and native speakers. Alternatively, you can even find a Spanish tutor who can teach you and practice Spanish with you.

Remember that learning a foreign language can be challenging and frustrating at times. Progress will depend on the effort you put into it and the resources you have at your disposal. It is possible to learn Spanish online, and it is also fun and rewarding.

Learning online is one of the fastest ways to learn Spanish. On italki you can find a Spanish tutor who will help you with your lessons and who is interested in your success in the language. Book a free trial class and see how you can improve your language skills today!