Bienvenidos y bienvenidas

I have been learning a language for more than 28 years... I wish somebody had told me this before..

Consejos (tips)

- Never fear about your grammar.

- Spanish language is something more than “Una cerveza por favor”

- Focus on key words at the beginning and do not panic.

- Let your subconscious find the right words.

- Listen to native speakers using audio and video clips.

- Do not feel any pressure when you learn a language, pressure makes you fail.

- Love the new language and culture.

- Talk to native speakers

- Record radio news.

- See or watch movies in Spanish with subtitles.

- Read newspapers (El Pais newspaper online is in English and Spanish), books, children fairy tales in Spanish (online is an option)

- Read the menu in Spanish.

- Look at things as if you were a child.

- Record your voice

- Pronounce the “ñ” in años.

- Be brave, do not be scared of sounding silly.

- Get the pronunciation right. (Remember we all have the same vocal cords) copy the person..

- Memorize the alphabet.

- Google translator traitor.

- Do not be afraid of asking.

- Sing karaoke (or sing in the shower)

- Use sentence structures from the language you're learning.

- Practice pronunciation through music.

- Watch out for key words and false friends so that you do not say “estoy caliente to a taxi driver”

- Read poetry and nursery rhymes.

- Talk to yourself, listen to yourself.

- Don't get stuck on forgotten words

- Keep fit and learn.

- Don't let grammar worry you.

- Understand the grammar of your own language

- Learn a noun together with the article

- Learn a new word every day.

- Have a small jotter for vocabulary.

- Choose a topic you're interested in

- Learn genders.

- Change your phone/ computer in Spanish.

- Read the food or drinks ingredients if they are in Spanish.

- keep in mind that speaking and writing are the most difficult skills.

- Reading a listening are the first two skills to fill your brain and have feedback.

- Laugh at your mistakes.

- Beware that as adults we learn different.  

- Taboo words are just words.. they are sometimes are part of the culture.(learn insults and four letter words)

- Overcome fears.. (like speaking on the phone)

- Try out your new language at every opportunity.

- Listen to tapes while doing household chores, use post notes in house objects.

- Dream in a foreign language.

- Travel to Spain or South America at least once in you life.

- Get lost in Spain and ask for directions.

- Learn a joke in Spanish.

Do not let anyone ever tell you.. You cannot speak..

Nothing is impossible, always be positive, it is never too late, you are not too old..buena suerte (good Luck) amigos.

Café con leche project