1. The best thing about Spanish is that it is a 100% phonetic language. What you see is what you speak.
2. The worst thing about learning Spanish is the verb conjugations; they are complex, so you need memory triggers and/or lots of practice to remember them. Yes, you can write out verb conjugations, but you need a way to remember the verb in the first place. Check out Comic Mnemonics, which is designed for kids but works well with adults, too.
3. At the beginning, go around your house or apartment and put yellow stickies on everything, with the Spanish word printed on it. You will soon remember all those items, because your brain will read the Spanish words unconsciously.
4. Do the same with the food in your refrigerator, and items in your bathroom cabinet.
5. Watch TV programs in Spanish, if they are available in your area. Although you won't understand everything, you will hear the flow of conversation, the rhythm and musical patterns of the language.
6. Make simple flash cards. Keep them in your purse, briefcase, or backpack, and review them while waiting for the bus, in a restaurant, wherever.
7. Look at yourself in the mirror, and carry on a conversation with yourself in Spanish. "How are you today? My, you're looking particularly good today."
8. Buy a couple of Spanish-language music CDs.
9. Buy a Spanish-language magazine or two, and leave them in places you relax.
10. You can read about swimming, but you will never actually know how to swim until you jump in the water. Visit Spanish or Latin-American stores and restaurants in your area, and use your Spanish whenever possible. Nobody will laugh at you, and everyone will be pleased that you are making the effort.
Your brain needs to develop the patterns of Spanish, and the only way to do this is to speak frequently. The more you speak Spanish words, the easier it gets.
About the Author:
Doug Anderson fell in love with Spain and the Spanish language when he was backpacking around Europe in 1965. Now he has a web site to help others learn Spanish at: eBooks International
Also see Photography Help! for tips and techniques to help you learn digital photography.
Sep 13, 2007 Sep 14, 2007 Sep 21, 2007 Sep 22, 2007 Sep 23, 2007 Sep 24, 2007 Sep 25, 2007 Sep 27, 2007 Sep 28, 2007 Sep 29, 2007 Oct 1, 2007 Oct 2, 2007 Oct 3, 2007 Oct 7, 2007 Oct 8, 2007 Oct 9, 2007 Oct 10, 2007 Oct 11, 2007 Oct 12, 2007 Oct 13, 2007 Oct 14, 2007 Oct 15, 2007 Oct 16, 2007 Oct 17, 2007 Oct 18, 2007 Oct 19, 2007 Oct 20, 2007 Oct 21, 2007 Oct 22, 2007 Oct 23, 2007 Oct 24, 2007 Oct 25, 2007 Oct 26, 2007 Oct 27, 2007 Oct 29, 2007 Oct 30, 2007 Oct 31, 2007 Nov 1, 2007 Nov 3, 2007 Nov 4, 2007 Nov 5, 2007 Nov 6, 2007 Nov 8, 2007 Nov 9, 2007 Nov 10, 2007 Nov 11, 2007 Nov 12, 2007 Nov 13, 2007 Nov 14, 2007 Nov 15, 2007 Nov 16, 2007 Nov 17, 2007 Nov 18, 2007 Nov 19, 2007 Nov 20, 2007 Nov 21, 2007 Nov 22, 2007 Nov 23, 2007 Nov 24, 2007 Nov 25, 2007 Nov 26, 2007 Nov 27, 2007 Nov 28, 2007 Nov 29, 2007 Nov 30, 2007 Dec 1, 2007 Dec 2, 2007 Dec 3, 2007 Dec 4, 2007 Dec 5, 2007 Dec 6, 2007 Dec 7, 2007 Dec 8, 2007 Dec 9, 2007 Dec 10, 2007 Dec 11, 2007 Dec 12, 2007 Dec 13, 2007 Dec 14, 2007 Dec 15, 2007 Dec 16, 2007 Dec 17, 2007 Dec 18, 2007 Dec 19, 2007 Dec 20, 2007 Dec 21, 2007 Dec 22, 2007 Dec 23, 2007 Dec 24, 2007 Dec 25, 2007 Dec 26, 2007 Dec 27, 2007 Dec 28, 2007 Dec 29, 2007 Dec 30, 2007 Dec 31, 2007 Jan 1, 2008 Jan 2, 2008 Jan 4, 2008 Jan 5, 2008 Jan 6, 2008 Jan 10, 2008 Jan 11, 2008 Jan 12, 2008 Jan 13, 2008 Jan 14, 2008 Jan 15, 2008 Jan 16, 2008 Jan 18, 2008 Jan 20, 2008 Jan 22, 2008 Jan 23, 2008 Jan 24, 2008 Jan 25, 2008 Jan 26, 2008 Jan 27, 2008 Jan 28, 2008 Jan 29, 2008 Jan 30, 2008 Jan 31, 2008 Feb 1, 2008