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Don't expect to be perfect!
Can you remember when learned to ride a bicycle? Did you ride perfectly
from the first time you sat on the seat? When learning a new language,
expect that you will make mistakes, and don't be embarrassed by them!
Work on developing an "ear" for Spanish.
Remember that language is first and foremost oral communication. A
written alphabet is merely a collection of symbols used to represent the
sounds of the language, and cannot be expected to capture every nuance
of sound and intonation. Try to develop a "good ear" for Spanish. An
easy and fun way to do this is by listening to Spanish music, watching
Spanish movies, or watching Spanish cable TV.
Practice SPEAKING!
The only way to learn to speak a language, is by actually SPEAKING. You
can study for years, and master all of the grammar rules, but unless you
actually practice speaking, you will never speak well. When you are
practicing speaking, remember to do it out loud, at normal
conversational volume.
Be consistent.
To really learn a language takes time and committment. Consistency is by
far the most important factor. If you can devote a solid twenty minutes
a day, nearly every day, you will be far more successful than if you
"cram" for an hour or two, but only sporadically.
Talk to yourself.
When learning a foreign language, it is common for listening skills to
develop more rapidly than speaking skills, leaving the learner in the
unfortunate situation of being able to understand, but unable to
respond. A good way to surmount this problem is to talk to yourself as
much as possible. Because there is no one else around, you won't be
weighed down by the inhibition that so frequently burdens the beginning
language student.
Use flashcards.
One of the best tips we can give you is to make and use flashcards. Make
cards that are small enough to easily carry with you, and write the
English on one side and Spanish on the other. Be sure to ALWAYS have
some cards with you. This way, you can capture "wasted" time (standing
in line, riding the bus, waiting for class to start, etc.) and turn it
into productive study time. Even if you only have a couple of minutes,
you can use it to study a few flashcards.
Label your surroundings.
Make labels for things all over your house. For example: la pared
(wall), la puerta (door), el escritorio (desk) etc. Remove the labels
only after you have mastered the vocabulary.
Be patient.
Progress in language learning does not follow a straight-line graph. You
cannot expect to make the same amount of progress, day after day, week
after week. You may find yourself struggling at times, seeming to make
no progress. Don't let this discourage you. It is normal to reach
plateaus in your learning progress. If you find yourself "stuck" try
spending time going back and reviewing things that you already know
well. Often this will help prepare you to break through to the next
level.
Find a partner.
Try to find a native speaker who can be your conversation partner. This
can be your greatest asset and perhaps you can also provide assistance
to your partner in your native language.
Read out loud.
Try reading out loud. You will get all of the benefits of reading, plus
you'll get really good pronunciation practice. In fact, as a beginner,
you should read aloud as much as possible.
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