Teaching Yourself Spanish: 9 Tips and Tricks for Remembering it All
As we all grow throughout the years, we start to challenge ourselves in new and exciting ways. You know how important it is to continue to develop yourself and your habits. That’s why you’re interested in learning a brand new language – Spanish!
Spanish is a beautiful – and a popular – language. In fact, within the United States alone, there are around 40 million people who can speak the language at home. If you’re ready to join those who are so fluent, you have a long way to go.
Still, if you’re determined, it’s not impossible to learn the language just as well as fluent speakers – even as an adult. You just need the time and patience. Plus, you’ll need a healthy memory.
To get started, consider the following nine tips and tricks on teaching yourself Spanish – and remembering it. Soon enough, you’ll find the learning process gets more and more rewarding.
1. Create a Schedule, and Stick To It
Perhaps the most important thing to consider when learning Spanish is your schedule. It’s crucial that you spend at least thirty minutes every day practicing your Spanish. If that seems like a huge time commitment, don’t worry – it’s worth it.
Just start off with a period of trial and error. Do you study better in the mornings or afternoons? No matter what, find a routine that works for you, and stick with it!
2. Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew At Once
It would be easy to say that you could learn more quickly if you study Spanish for two full hours a day. This, though, is not a realistic expectation.
The fact of the matter is that your brain can only intake so much information in a day that it will retain. If you want to actually become fluent in Spanish, you need to trust your brain to process as much as it can handle at once. Many students of Spanish get overwhelmed initially, which is why you need to take it slowly.
3. Make Sure You Check Out All the Available Resources
You can always go to the library for books on learning Spanish, but don’t stop there. Thanks to the development of technology and the Internet, there are plenty of additional resources to help you learn Spanish online. Still, make sure you only work with the more credible apps and courses.
Because the Internet is so saturated with information (and not all of it accurate), be careful. It’s a good idea to check into reviews of previous students when you’re looking to purchase a Spanish course, for example. My Daily Spanish is a good place to start if you want to know more about resources you can trust.
4. Prioritize Grammar and Usage Over Vocabulary
Many people jump right into learning all the vocabulary they can. Remember, though, that you need to know how to use all those words! Balance out learning vocabulary with the grammar and syntax of the language in order to use it well.
5. Create Songs and Rhymes As You Go
Whether it’s vocabulary or grammar rules, this is a great tip for those expressive minds. Coming up with rhyming lyrics of any kind is a great way to organize and retain information long-term.
Don’t be afraid to get creative with this tactic. These songs can be some of the most fun you have when teaching yourself Spanish.
6. Teaching Yourself Spanish Can Be Taxing – Stay Healthy
As much fun as teaching yourself Spanish can be, don’t forget to take care of your health. That means, of course, you need to keep up both your mental and physical health.
Maintain a healthy diet, exercise routine, and sleeping schedule. You’ll thank yourself in the future, when you’re not only fluent in Spanish, but also well-adjusted. The more you take care of yourself, the better you will accomplish anything – including teaching yourself Spanish.
7. Travel To Spanish-Speaking Countries, If You Can
This is the best advice anyone gets when learning a foreign language. A full immersion into a Spanish-speaking country and culture is the best thing you can do for yourself when learning the language.
Don’t be embarrassed if you can’t afford a huge international trip right now. Start by connecting with local groups (perhaps at universities) who focus on cultural expansion and language learning. Then, you can save money and eventually go fully immerse yourself in that Spanish-speaking county someday.
8. Practice Mindfulness To Practice Spanish
As mentioned above, it’s important to keep your body and your mind healthy when learning Spanish. This is the best thing you can do to ensure you’re really retaining all of this new information. Another thing you can to do retain the language is to practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness, in other words, is a meditative practice such as yoga or prayer. Does that sound a little too “out there” to you? Don’t let it – it’s not as complex as you might think.
It encourages a specific focus and mindset during any activity. It can, therefore, be of particular use when studying a foreign language. To work on this highly beneficial habit, check out this ultimate guide on practicing mindfulness.
9. Immerse Yourself in Spanish-Speaking Art
Last, but not least, it’s a good idea to get acquainted with Spanish art. This is a fun tip to follow!
Have some fun with this tactic. Find all of the books, movies, paintings, and songs that have the Spanish language within them. The more you immerse yourself in the culture that truly lives in Spanish, the more you’ll appreciate and learn it.
Don’t Stop with Learning Spanish – Continue Improving Yourself
After you’ve succeeded in teaching yourself Spanish, you’ll find that it brings about many advantages. Speaking well in another language can benefit all aspects of life. You’ll become more confident, communicative, and culturally aware.
Continue along your path of self-discovery and self-improvement. We love guiding people just like you to fulfill their goals. If you want to continue investing in your future, we encourage you to check out this article on becoming the best version of yourself to get started.