1 - Revise the basic grammar
It is not necessary to know by heart every rule and every irregular verb conjugation, but you should not be doubtful about the use of the verbs "ser" and "estar" and at least their conjugation in the present of indicative.
2 - Learn the most used vocabulary (and its gender!)
To build sentences you need to know the names of the everyday things. Even more, just knowing a little bit of vocabulary you can already communicate in a basic way. Remenber that every name can be either masculine or femenine (or both) and this is very importante when you make sentences. To learn the gender of every thing we recommend you to memorize every word with its article, for example: "el perro" instead of only "perro" or "la casa" instead of "casa".
3 - Read a lot
Reading is the key to learning Spanish. That way you will be able to acquire more vocabulary, internalize the conjugations and the structures used in the sentences. If your level of Spanish is low or you are just starting you can use books for kids (don't be ashamed, kids learn the language that way!). If your level is intermediate, try to read short articles from magazines or newspapers like the ones published in our free online magazine aprendespañol.com. If your level is high you can read books on any subject that may interest you.
4 - Listen to music and songs
A very good way to learn how to pronounce words in Spanish is to listen to some music from either Spanish artists or Southamericans. Also, take into account that usually in our culture the lyrics of the songs carry out a deep message. Listening to them and making the effort to understand them you will be able to know better the way people thinks, lives and feels in the Spanish-speaking countries. If your level is high enough try listening to the radio or watching TV through internet. In our website you can also find the audios corresponding to the articles in our magazine. You can listen to them several times reading or not the text at the same time.
5 - Above all, talk, talk and talk
This is the most important. If you want to learn Spanish you must speak it. We have all had that feeling of embarrassment invading us when we speak a language that is not our own. Well, the only way to overcome it is speak, speak, speak and speak. As time goes by, and taking into consideration the advices that those you are talking with will give you, you will do it better and better and you will start to feel more and more confortable. We will not get tired to repeat it, speak Spanish every time you get the chance.
6 - Get involved in Spanish and Latin American culture
Speak a language correctly is not just about vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. We must also know the culture he comes from. If you speak with a Spanish is important to know the Spanish geography, customs, politics, the artists we all know, the movies we all know, and so on. You do this in many ways: talking with Spanish and Latin American, watching movies, listening to music, reading articles or press. To speak the language well you should aim to introduce this new culture in your life.
7 - Know Spain and Spanish speaking countries
Clearly, the best way to learn a language is to visit the country where it is spoken. To achieve your goal more effectively we recommend you come alone, it will make more effort you put into practice your Spanish. It is also advisable to spend most of their time in small towns where it is not so easy to find people who speak languages such as Madrid or Barcelona.
8 - Try to make friends and Latin American Spanish
With these you can practice your Spanish, you will know better corrected and culture. Also give you new reasons to continue learning. Remember, one of your goals should be to introduce Spanish culture in your life.
9 - Taking Spanish courses
Spanish courses in universities and language schools will provide a degree of formality and rigor that will be beneficial at all stages of your learning. If you are starting will help lay the foundation for your knowledge in a clear and correct. If you've reached a higher level to help you review things you've forgotten deeply into those you thought you knew well.
10 - Make dictates
The dictates are very important at all levels. Help you improve your listening skills, your spelling, your vocabulary and grammar. Also allow you to greatly improve your pronunciation for every word is repeated several times very slowly.
Our final advice: be strong and be patient
Sometimes commercial offers you can make believe that you can pay to learn Spanish effortlessly. This is not true in any language and ours is not a special case. Learning any language requires intense and sustained effort over a long period of time. That said, it is true that some schools, methods, teachers, etc can help a lot. But never replace your personal effort, I just channeled in the most appropriate. Be strong, be patient and you'll soon make significant progress!
