How to be fluent in Spanish in less time

Currently, we live in a totally globalized world where we all try to connect with everyone else. This is why learning languages ​​is a great tool when it comes to progressing as a student and professional. And as much as it is advisable to learn a second language from childhood, it is never to late develop this ability. Learning a second language does not only give you the chance to get a better job but it also enriches your social and cultural life. But there are thousands of languages around the world, so which one is best to learn when you are an English native speaker? 

Spanish is the official language of 21 countries and it is spoken by over 420,000,000 native speakers. While mastering the grammar of Spanish can be a challenge, basic grammar is straightforward enough and many vocabulary words are similar to English. Written Spanish is almost completely phonetic – if look at any Spanish word and you can tell how it is pronounced, so it is easier to learn than other widely spoken languages such as Arabic or Chinese.

Take a multifaceted approach online course

A multi-faceted approach is important to become fluent in another language. You could be the fastest verb-conjugator on paper, and totally useless at understanding somebody when they speak, or you might pick up the language quickly via immersion, but hit a plateau with grammar and reading. This is why the Easiest way to speak Spanish in less time is from a multifaceted approach including audio lessons, readings, practising dialogues and writting. There are several online courses to learn Spanish based on working on communicational skills that you could use, such as the ones offered by http://www.hablarespanol.com/. The aim isn’t to learn all Spanish grammar to perfection! Instead, aim to complete the entire course so you get a good overview of how the language works, and use the grammar exercises as extra practice to complement your core study time.

Learn the most important Vocabulary In Spanish

Several studies tell us that the 1,000 most frequent words in Spanish account for 87.8% of all spoken Spanish. This means you’ve only got to learn around 1,000 words to understand the vast majority of everything you will hear in Spanish. The ideal way to grow a sizeable vocabulary in Spanish over time is by learning as you go. Try to use Spanish in your daily life and concentrate on learning the specific words and phrases that you find most useful. A good way to start memorizing words is to place stickers around your house’s stuff with the Spanish name written on them. You can also use lists and cards.

Practice conversation

Find a language Exchange tandem or a tutor online to practice conversation. Then study new topics, grammar and vocabulary from your course or textbook and use your conversation time to practice talking about those things The ideal is that you get to speak at least 2 – 3 hours of Spanish per week. In each session, focus on keeping the conversation flowing each other rather than on not making mistakes. 

Read in Spanish everyday

If you read in Spanish daily, you’ll grow your vocabulary quickly and learn grammar in a natural way, as you see it being used in context. At the beginning, it can be hard to find reading material that’s not too hard and overwhelming. It might sound silly, but kids’ books are perfect for this stage, since they are easy. When reading, don’t search the meaning of every word you don’t understand: instead, try to get the meaning out of the context. If you enjoy the story and practice daily, the learning will happen naturally.

Also, if you can find the audio version of the text, then you can listen along as you read. This helps you form connections between the written and spoken word, and most importantly, will help you understand native speakers.

Don’t Obsess Over Spanish Grammar

One of the biggest traps beginner Spanish learners fall into is the desire to learn Spanish grammar perfectly. Now, while it is important to learn the basics, you certainly don’t need to know all the ins and outs of Spanish grammar in order to communicate well.  You can actually get quite far with an elementary knowledge of grammar, because Spanish sentence construction is often similar to English.

Grammar is important to learn a language, of course, but it may become a liability if you end up worrying so much about grammar that the rest of your study grinds to a halt. Learning to use grammar properly can take years, but it is not critical to speak Spanish. It doesn’t matter if you use “ser” instead of “estar”, “por” instead of “para”, or if you make mistakes with the subjunctive: people will still understand you just fine and you will be able to communicate with them –which is what truly matters.