Spanish, also known as Espanol or Castellano, is one of the most spoken languages in the world today. It has nearly about 500 million native speakers around the world. The main Spanish-speaking countries are Spain, Mexico, Colombia, the USA, Argentina, Cuba, etc. As the nations around the world are becoming closer and closer, many are intrigued to learn Spanish. Learning Spanish can help us while we are traveling to Spanish-speaking countries, working in a Spanish-speaking country, moreover, it is always an advantage to speak multiple languages. So, today we are going to discuss the different levels in which you can learn Spanish.

 

Generally, in every learning process, there are three levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. In the beginner stage, you will study the basics, which will be the foundation of the language. The learning will begin with the alphabets, which are almost similar to the English alphabets. When you have a thorough knowledge of the alphabet you can move on to learning new words. In the Intermediate stage, it is high time, you consult and take guidance from a tutor or language instructor. In this stage, you can start using the words you have learned at the beginner’s level. Start greeting anyone in Spanish : Hola, buenos dias, buenas noches, adios, nos vemos,etc. Once you are familiar with greeting in Spanish, you can move to small conversations like: What is your name? Where are you from? How are you? If you live in a region with few Spanish speakers, practicing and talking to a tutor will be very effective. Next comes the advanced stage, From the intermediate level, you already have good Spanish vocabulary, grammar knowledge. An advanced learner will start studying things like idioms, phrases, synonyms, antonyms, metaphors, similes, etc. You will have to become creative as an advanced learner. You will be taught how to use these elements subtly while you are speaking or writing in Spanish. As an advanced learner, you will be guided on how to use complex and compound sentences, you will be able to mentally interpret and grasp everything that is happening around you in Spanish. 

 

Now you have a fair amount of ideas about the levels or stages, so let’s go to the main topic” How to learn reading and writing?” 

1. Start it yourself

First of all, if you want to learn a different language we need to be familiar with it. We need to learn its alphabet to read and know its meaning. Unlike south-east Asian languages, Spanish letters are very similar to the English alphabets. For the beginning of the learning process, you can do it yourself with the help of google or youtube tutorials. There are many useful materials for starting and simple greetings.

 

2. Get familiar with its accents and dialects.

Like most of the countries in the world, Spain has different dialects and accents in different regions. The difference in the dialects is only for the colloquial expression but writing has a standard form. You can easily familiarise yourself by watching movies, listening to songs, listening to podcasts and radio. You can watch movies with English subtitles and practice yourself and after some time you can watch movies in Spanish subtitles. One can find Spanish football commentaries very energetic and wonderful. Slowly, step by step you will be able to identify words that you have heard from these and it will be helpful while reading books. 

 

3. Making friends with Spanish nationals.

In this era of social media and technology, you can easily make a friend from every corner of the world. You can easily find learner groups that want to learn English or your national language on Facebook or Instagram. Explain your purpose sincerely and you can exchange greetings for short conversations. You can also visit the Spanish embassy in your country for some guidelines.  Who knows they may have conversation clubs for speaking purposes only. Or simply try to spend time in a Spanish-speaking environment.

 

4. Online learning

After knowing some aspects of the language you can learn the language online for deeper learning in the field. There are many online classes provided by the reputed institution and platforms. You can either do a short-term course or can choose from the longer one for deeper learning. Some of the online classes are free according to the hours and level that you chose. Other institutes and platforms take fees for the classes. Some of the reputed institutes and platforms that provide Spanish classes online are, Edx, Babbel, Multibhashi, Udemy, FluentU, etc. For more details and information you can visit their website.

Slowly, step by step you will be able to identify words that you have learned from any written lines or a spoken verse. You can start practicing Spanish language exercises, both verbal and written. At this level, you will have good knowledge of how to use, speak and write Spanish. You will find room for improvement by identifying and amending your own errors.

 

To learn to speak Spanish, to write, and to understand Spanish effectively you cannot skip the major three steps. A tree with a large firm root can spread its branches and bear thousands of fruits. It is similar to learning too. Consistent practice will improve your command of the language very effectively.

Happy Learning!