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How to Learn Spanish and Become Fluent as an Adult

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How to Learn Spanish

So you want to learn Spanish. Or maybe you’ve been studying it for a while but still can’t shake that feeling of inadequacy. Well, look no more—we’ve got the perfect solution for your not-so-little dilemma.

A lot of people come to me, asking for a tip on conquering the art of learning a foreign language. And honestly, I feel bad for them because the answer isn’t so simple. Yes, it is possible to go from day one with zero understanding of Spanish and be fluent in just a few months. But it isn’t that easy either.

The fact of the matter is that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. And in a layman’s opinion, I believe that my book is the best short-term solution for those who wish to learn Spanish for adults quickly.

How can I be so sure? Well, let me explain…

When you learn any language (whether it’s French, German or even Dutch), you have to unlearn an incredible amount of things. Your lessons might be structured the same way, but words and the way you speak them will differ from one language to another.

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If you’re serious about becoming fluent in Spanish and you’re planning to settle down in a Spanish-speaking country, you’ll have to start learning as soon as possible. And why not get a head start? That’s why I wrote this book. My main goal was to compose a resource that would guide Spanish learners on how they can become better and more efficient in their studies.

Change Your Devices to Spanish

One of the best ways to improve your pronunciation and listening skills is to install software that translates everything in your native language into Spanish. You just have to change the settings on your PC, Laptop, or any other device that you commonly use for work purposes.
It seems like a small thing, but it does wonders.

I’ve been using it for a while now and I must say that I’m impressed by how quickly my skills improved. I have a laptop, which I used for work. But now I’ve switched it to Spanish without having to touch the settings on it.

I also have a smartphone, but I don’t use it as much as I should. This is another good way of adding some new vocabulary and gaining better listening skills.

These days, many websites offer free apps that can be easily downloaded onto your device. And with almost all smartphones now having a translation feature, using these apps in everyday life isn’t a problem.

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Join a Language Exchange

A language exchange is an online community of people who are willing to practice speaking their foreign language with each other. In order to meet people and practice your language skills, you’ll usually have to sign up for one of these sites and create a profile. Then you can start setting up conversation groups by yourself or with other users.

There are many language exchanges out there. For example, the one I use is called Fluent Forever. It requires you to pay a small monthly fee, but it has a pretty active community of users and is definitely worth it.

If you’re not in a rush to learn Spanish and you have no problem practicing your language skills at home or in the office environment, then this might not be the best option for you.

Immerse Yourself in Spanish

The best way to gain new vocabulary is actually getting out and talking to people. But you can’t do that if you have no one to talk to.

To overcome this problem, use the following trick – spend some time on Spanish speaking websites and social media. It might be a good idea to start with a site like SchooLingo – it’s free so you won’t have to spend too much money on it.

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After that, you can go to Facebook groups or even use any of the apps that you can find out there.

If this method doesn’t make it possible for you to talk with people about your language, then there’s still a way for you to do it. The real challenge is making sure that your Spanish level is high enough so you can join a conversation without feeling pressured or embarrassed.

Listen to Spanish Podcasts

Podcasts are really helpful for those of you who have a long commute to and from work. When you’re driving, you might get bored with listening to the same songs over and over again. Why not change that habit with a podcast?

Another good thing about podcasts is that they can introduce you to topics (like politics or economics) that interest you. These days, there are many Spanish-language versions of popular English podcast shows. Just find the ones that you like and check if they have a Spanish version.

If you’re worried about the fact that what you hear might be too hard for you to understand, then don’t panic. Podcasts are great because they help you practice your listening skills, even before understanding what people are saying. Being able to listen to a podcast will also allow you to learn new words and expressions by just listening.

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Consume Spanish Newspapers, TV, and Movies

Apart from learning through instruction, the best way to absorb new vocabulary is by watching the news and TV shows in Spanish. Even better, there are many Spanish-language news channels and shows that you can watch online or even on your mobile device.

The best way to find out if a show is available with subtitles in Spanish is by searching on Google. But you don’t have to rely solely on internet search results – I always do my research before I jump into something new, rather than just following what other people tell me to do.

After you’ve watched some of your favorite shows, use a free app on your smartphone to check how difficult it was for you to understand.

If this is your first-time reading and trying out Spanish subtitles, then I can assure you that the learning curve for this method is very steep.

The best way to tackle it would be by stopping the movie at one point and writing down everything you understood from what was being said on screen. The more you do this, the better results you will get in the end.

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Find a Spanish Language Partner

If you’re living in an area where Spanish is widely spoken, then finding a Spanish language partner shouldn’t be too hard. You just have to ask around and see if there are many people who would be willing to help you out. If they can’t do it, they might be able to point you in the right direction.

Remember that your partner should be someone who speaks Spanish fluently enough so they don’t bore you with their longer sentences or complicated grammar lessons. Also, make sure that they are genuinely interested in helping you improve your Spanish skills.

If this is your first time trying to find help from others, then it might be difficult for you to know if the person you’re talking to is telling you the truth.

Ask them questions about their current situation so they can show off their Spanish speaking skills and you’ll immediately be able to tell where they are on the language learning curve or how patient they are with new learners.

Befriend Technology: Apps and Online Courses

When you’re trying to learn a new language, technology can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Searching for apps and other Free resources online is highly encouraged because there are many programs out there that will help you improve your Spanish skills. But if you don’t use these tools correctly, then you might end up wasting time rather than saving it.

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Remember that any program or app can only give you a small boost in learning Spanish – the rest is up to yourself.

The most important thing about an app is that it should give you a good reason to use it every day. If you have no reason to use it, then it will do you no good.

I’ve talked about this many times, but I cannot stress enough how important online courses are for those of you who want to get into the habit of learning some Spanish on their own.
The good thing about online courses is that you can start at any time, and there are no excuses for not doing anything.

There are tons of websites out there that offer online Spanish classes for free, so you won’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on your language learning journey.
There is no secret code or hidden key to learning other languages.

Final Thought

One thing that I keep learning every day is that you’re never done learning– you might be fluent in one language and think you know it all, but the moment you start traveling to a new country or meet someone who speaks another language, your journey to learn Spanish will become an even more interesting experience.
So now it’s your turn – don’t just take my word for it. Try these methods out and see for yourself what works best for you.

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