If you’re choosing a language to learn, then learning Spanish is the right choice. Spanish is spoken more than any other language except English in the U.S., and is among the top 5 spoken languages in the world. If you live in certain states, such as Texas, New Mexico or California, you’ll find a lot of Mexicans and Spanish speakers that can help you with your Spanish. By learning Spanish as a second language, you may open up new career or job opportunities. So, now that you’ve chosen to learn Spanish, here are 7 techniques or secrets that can speed up your learning.

  • Immerse Yourself. Think of how you learned your native language. You heard it daily, and were among people who spoke the same language. Listen to Spanish instructional tapes instead of music CD’s in your car. Watch Spanish TV stations if possible. When exercising, walking, or just waiting for appointments, press play on your ipod or CD player, and listen to a Spanish vocabulary tape or a learning Spanish lesson. Expose yourself, and immerse yourself as much as possible in the Spanish language and culture.


  • Develop the Right Learning Habits. Get in the habit of listening to Spanish TV or radio. Get in the habit of listening to Spanish on headphones when you exercise. Go to Spanish clubs and restaurants when you go for entertainment. Speak Spanish whenever possible. Make use of on-line resources such as language exchanges, where you can partner online and practice speaking with a native speaker who is learning your language.


  • Learn to Speak Before Reading or Writing. When you learned English, you spoke it first. Listen to lessons with true Spanish speakers, so you know correct pronunciation. Practice your Spanish by copying the correct pronunciation.


  • Relate to What You Already Know. Many Spanish words are close to the English, making them easier to remember. For example, English words ending in -tion have the same root as the Spanish, which change the ending to -cion. Examples are ambition = ambicion, description = descripcion, and so on. Here are some other similarities: crema (cream), mucho (much), tomate (tomato) and banco (bank). You’ll find thousands of these similarities. (Look for another post on this coming soon)


  • Practice Makes Perfect. Take a childlike attitude toward speaking Spanish. Never be embarassed by mispronunciation. Instead, imitate and practice. If you’re not speaking it, you’re not learning.


  • Believe it’s Possible. You must believe you can learn. Visualize the successful outcome of learning to speak Spanish. Map out the steps you need to follow, put them in writing, and take daily consistent action.


  • Get a Latin Friend Find a signifigant other – well, not necessarily an amor, perhaps a friend – that’s a native of a Spanish speaking country. Preferable someone who speaks little English, so you’re forced to listen to and to speak Spanish daily.


    • Stay focused and consistently practice and learn, and you’ll soon be able to speak Spanish fluently and proficiently. Oh, yes, and check out my two favorite Learning Spanish courses (Learning Spanish Like Crazy and Rocket Spanish) that you can download and learn from interactively – both under $100, both with free lessons to try out, and both using native Latin American speakers. Hasta Luego!


    Click Here! for Learning Spanish Like Crazy.


    Click Here! for Rocket Spanish.

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