Learning Spanish for Beginners – A complete guide
Learning a language can feel a bit like rocket science, something that is out of reach or capability for most of us. This is because we are often convinced that learning a language is a daunting task. Also, a lot of people question the need of learning other languages apart from their native ones. Let me start by congratulating you first because if you are reading this blog, you already have overcome the first block of your mind towards learning a new language – ‘Why do I need to learn any new Language at all’!! You could have just about any reason to be here. It could be as simple as a curiosity or could be a serious reason such as leading yourself to get a job as a translator, teacher. Or could be that. you are planning to go to Mexico for vacation and want to learn the basics to be able to communicate with the large Spanish speaking population in Mexico. Learning a language Spanish or any other is not tough, it just needs you to invest some diligent time daily besides doing away with all sorts of fear, to get started.
Here are a few pointers that will empower beginners to learn Spanish easily, confidently. So, let's get started!
Start Simple – As a beginner, you don’t need to start by learning very complicated things because you don’t have to master the language in a single day. You need to start simple, and to do that, you need to first identify similarities in your native language and Spanish. You can start by translating sentences from your native language to Spanish. You can start with a simple Hello, which is Halo in Spanish or Buenos días (good morning), and other common phrases and words. This is the easiest way to learn Spanish for beginners. Learn it by using your native language.
Practice Grammar – Grammar is the backbone of any language and it forms the very base of all kinds of sentences. So, if you’re not well-versed with grammar, you can’t master any language. For learning Spanish, it is very essential to start learning the basic grammar in Spanish and memorizing the general rules of Spanish. This includes getting familiar with Nouns, Verbs, Pronouns, adjectives, and general words and phrases. You should know how a basic sentence is formed and what are the different annotations used in daily conversations.
You can study all this from a Spanish grammar book and several videos online. You can also join a Spanish class. Do remember to take notes for each thing you learn, so that you can revise later.
Grammar based
Vocabulary If grammar is like the backbone of any language, Vocabulary is the heart. So, if you want to learn Spanish, you have to gather a lot of vocabulary. Being good with vocabulary is important to start building sentences in Spanish. You can gather vocabulary words online or through books and memorize them, by understanding their meaning in your native language, using Flashcards that will serve as your best support. As a beginner in the Spanish language, focus on enriching your vocabulary before moving on to conversations or the intermediate level of Spanish.
Learn Tenses– For having a good command of any language, you need to be good with tenses. If you’re not strong with tenses, you will ruin your skills in that language. So, for learning Spanish, learn how to work with tenses, which include all kinds of present, past, and future tenses. Regular practice is very essential in mastering these tenses.
Activity Based
Reading – This is the most crucial part of learning any language. For learning Spanish as a beginner, you can start by reading short stories in Spanish, or dialogues, plays, articles, etc. You can read books or novels in Spanish along with a translated copy for your reference. By reading literature in Spanish, you will gain an insight into how the language is used, what is the flow, and the structure of the language. So, make sure that while you’re learning a lot of basic textbook stuff on grammar, you also make time for reading almost daily. It can also help add new words to your vocab which you find difficult while reading.
Watch videos – Another great way to become immersed in the language is to watch other people talk. There are a lot of resources available online where you can get access to a million videos in Spanish. Start by watching educational videos that teach the basics of Spanish and then move towards watching other kinds of Spanish videos. You can watch tv shows, movies, talk videos, interviews and everything in Spanish.
Helpful Online Applications
Apps that you can use – To make it convenient for you to learn a language anywhere anytime, there are a lot of apps that can be installed on your phone, for example, Duolingo, Multibhashi, Busuu, and many more. These apps have different levels of courses designed specifically for each stage of learners and most of these apps are completely free, so you can learn with them almost anytime on-the-go with the help of flashcards, quizzes, and they even show you a scorecard of your performance which can help you to track your progress. So, as a beginner, these apps can be your best bet.
All of these guidelines are crucial to start learning Spanish. Make sure you follow them and be regular with your learning schedule. Have a partner to accompany you in learning, try talking to that partner in Spanish, and get other people involved. Learning becomes easy when you learn together so make sure you keep these points in mind.
To sum up, here are 3 golden rules that will help you master the language-
- Live the language – Spanish is a language that you can learn only if you are consistent with it. Talk it, read it, dream it, speak it or even sing it. You can look up songs in Spanish and sing them. In a nutshell, just live the language as if you own it.
- Make mistakes and learn to laugh on them, because we only learn through our mistakes. Let mistakes or critical feedback not deter you.
- Make it fun- Play with it, let your creative juices flow, and experiment with different things with the language and immerse yourself into it. Because that’s the only great way to learn it and master it.
Lastly, be ambitious and enjoy learning thoroughly!