How to learn Spanish faster – Spanish learning tips – Episode 017

How to learn Spanish faster – Spanish learning tips

Podcast episode 17 – SEE ALL EPISODES

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

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Today, we’ve got a question you’re going to love. Today’s question comes from Anne, one of my private students. Anne wants to know how she can learn Spanish faster.

She’s been learning Spanish for about a year, but she doesn’t feel she’s making enough progress.

How to learn Spanish faster:

This is something that most of us, language learners, experience at some point or another. Usually just within weeks of starting to learn the new language.

See also: Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses.

Then you suddenly feel that you’re not making any progress. That you’re forgetting quite a few things, wasting your time. That you could be doing things a lot better.

And then you start to get demotivated. You lose your self-esteem, and eventually you give up.

That’s a very common scenario. So, to help you learn Spanish fast, and to help you continue learning, and to get your motivation up, and do not lose your self-esteem, I’m going to give you six very practical, very doable ideas.

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 1

The first one is something that I’ve talked about before in this podcast. And that’s to get a good Spanish course that you like.

It is absolutely essential that study Spanish with a course that you like. And that you stick to it.

Once you find a course that you like, stick to. Go through it beginning to end. Don’t skip any lessons, any exercises, any drills. Nothing. Just goes through it. Even if you know some bits here and there. Just never skip anything. That’s the way to learn faster, to build a solid base, and to keep your motivation up.

Because you’ll never have any gaps, if you do your course that way.

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 2

The second idea is to always study at the right level.

I remember when I first started learning German. I got a book that my father had. It was for an intermediate level. It was far too difficult for me. So I got completely motivated. I was wasting a tremendous amount of time looking things up in the dictionary.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

And then, one day, I just decided to get a course for complete beginners. And things changed overnight. 

I started learning much faster. And soon I was doing the intermediate level course that a few months before meant absolutely nothing to me.

Always study at the right level.

If you don’t know exactly which level you’ve got, the easiest thing to do is to go for a level that is slightly lower than you think. For example, if you’ve done a bit of Spanish in the past, but not very much, I would recommend that you go for an absolute beginners’ level.

That way you will have no gaps. And it will be so motivating every time that you come across something you already know. Always study Spanish at the right level.  

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 3

The third idea that I’d like to give you is to establish a routine.

This, again, has helped me tremendously when learning foreign languages. 

With today’s technology this is really easy. Because you can take your course with you wherever you are. You can study for five minutes on the bus. For ten minutes while you’re waiting for somebody. Or ten, fifteen minutes during your lunch hour. For twenty minutes when you’re commuting.

You can even study in the bath. Or just before you go to bed. And you can establish that great routine of either a few minutes here and there or, if you prefer, you can study for example for one hour in the morning, or one hour in the evening. 

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

And that way you will progress a lot faster. Establishing a routine is also very good for the people that live with you. For those around you to realise that learning Spanish really matters to you.

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 3 – Example

For example, when they see you sitting down with your course for half an hour or an hour, they won’t disturb you. The first few days they might not understand what’s going on, but then soon they’ll realise how important it is for you to learn Spanish. And I’ll leave you alone.

You will not get disturbed, and they will respect what you’re doing.

Establishing a routine is also very good for avoiding procrastination. You know, we all tend to procrastinate when we’re not too sure of what it is that we want to do. Or when we find it difficult. Or when we just don’t know exactly how to go about something.

But if you establish a routine, and you’ve got a good course. And you know exactly what to do the next day. You don’t have to plan anything, because the course is there. 
All you need to do is open your book, or your app, or your video course. And then, because you study in the evening, or because you study in your lunch hour, that’s it. You just simply do it. You don’t procrastinate, because that’s what you do every day. 

Just like brushing your teeth. Or having your breakfast.

Establish a routine. It’s a great idea.

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 4

The fourth idea that I want to give you is: to learn something new every day.

When I was learning English, I always tried to learn at least a couple of words every day.

It’s so motivating. Even if you’re not going through a whole new lesson. At least try to learn something new.

Have a look at
Maria’s step-by-step Spanish courses

Even if it is just reading out a few dialogues, or doing one new drill. Just something. Something new. It will motivate you. It will increase your self-esteem. And it will encourage you to continue learning the language.

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 5

The fifth idea is to review your lessons as often as you can.

Again, I’ve talked about this before in other episodes. How reviewing your lessons is absolutely essential. 

Reviewing is as important as learning new things. One of the reasons why reviewing is so important, is because it’s the way that you build a solid base.

That solid base that you need in Spanish in order to progress. In order to learn faster, and more difficult things.

Always review your lessons as often as you can. 

How to learn Spanish faster: tip 6

The six idea is to get rid of negative thoughts.

Negative thoughts can ruin the best of our projects.

If you have negative thoughts about your Spanish learning. If you have doubts. If you want to give up. Just think of the other five ideas I have given you today. 

Have a good course that you like.

Study at the right level.

Establish a routine.

Learn something every day.

And review your lessons.

Just push your negative thoughts to a side, and just study Spanish. Just the way you do other things throughout your day without even thinking about them.

Negative thoughts often come from other people. And those you really have to ignore.

Sometimes those closest to you will not understand why you’re learning Spanish. Well, the truth is, it’s not their problem. It’s not their life. You just have to learn to ignore them.

There’s one thing I want you to remember whenever negative thoughts start to nag you. And that’s: positivity will take you to the most wonderful places.

Language learning tips are great for speeding up the learning process.

Find out more about my Spanish courses.