10 enjoyable ways to learn Spanish quickly and effectively in 2023!
You may have heard that Spanish is easy to learn; if you compare it with more "complicated" languages, such as Polish, you might be right! Moreover, globalisation, low-cost airlines and widespread access to technology make learning more accessible and immersive than ever before.
There is no single "best" or fastest way to learn Spanish. It all depends on your goals, motivation, starting level, budget and time available. Best of all, it doesn't have to be difficult or cost much to get the best results.
I've prepared a list of tips to help you plan your language studies. Being methodical is absolutely key! Finding the right learning style will give you great results and won't feel like a chore. If you're introverted and the thought of working in groups or speaking aloud sounds like torture, change your methods!
The most important piece of advice is don't force yourself. Once you develop your own way of learning productively, you can use it to work on any language and apply it to improve many other useful skills!
1. Incorporate Spanish into your life.
As I mentioned, regularity is the sine qua non of learning a language quickly. This applies to any habit you want to develop. However, you don't have to spend hours with your head in a book.
A great way to learn is to follow Spanish social media accounts or listen to Spanish music. Familiarise yourself with Spanish-speaking singers in your preferred genre. Translate the lyrics and sing along in the shower! Each language has its unique melody, best captured in musical pieces. This will allow you to carve out time for learning without radically changing your daily habits.
From my experience, I can recommend the songs of Álvaro Soler or Bebe (María Nieves Rebolledo Vila). Although these are not the genres I usually choose, their music is easy to listen to and understand, and full of useful everyday phrases.
2. Watch series and listen to podcasts!
I don't just mean the stereotypical Latin telenovelas, but any Spanish films and series available on popular streaming platforms (like NETFLIX or HBO). Choose the genre that interests you and use this as a great excuse to watch something. If you can't find original Spanish series you might enjoy, use the Spanish voiceover option. Turn on the Spanish subtitles, not English or Polish – as you'll read them without paying attention to the Spanish language.
I wholeheartedly recommend Pedro Almodóvar's films. By watching his works, you will improve your Spanish level and better understand the culture, customs and way of life. For Netflix watchers, Cable Girls is an excellent option!
Second - take advantage of commuting. There are plenty of free podcasts for learning Spanish. Whether you walk, drive, or use public transport, download Spanish-language podcasts to play on your way to school or work. Half an hour a day is plenty if you use this "free time" productively.
Repeat what their hosts say to get the most out of learning from podcasts. This will help you remember words and improve pronunciation. Choose podcasts with a transcription available so you can learn new vocabulary.
When you’ve learned a few words and phrases, try following international news in Spanish instead of English. The news presenters speak very clearly. Since you'll likely know some of the information already, it will help you understand.
3. Read as much as possible in Spanish.
Initially, novels and dissertations will be out of your reach but comics, recipes, light articles, blogs or social media posts are fantastic for a linguistic warm-up! Many modern languages have intermingled over the centuries and share a common root – Latin. English words that originate from Latin often have an exact Spanish translation. Therefore, many words will already be familiar to you.
Make reading in Spanish a habit. You'll quickly expand your vocabulary and learn grammar naturally by seeing it used in context.
4. Make flashcards to help you build a sizable vocabulary of words and phrases.
Words are the foundation of language. The ideal way to expand your vocabulary is to learn on the fly. Focus on learning the words and phrases most useful to you, and use them in everyday situations. This way, they will be much easier to remember.
A study of word frequencies in Spanish shows that the 1,000 most common words account for 87.8% of all words spoken. That means you only need to learn about 1,000 words to understand most of what you hear in Spanish!
Don't just write down individual words - but also phrases. For example: "This sangria is delicious", "Where can I park?" or "This ticket costs 11 euros". You can easily pick up bonus words and grammar rules by including phrases in your learning.
Jot down new words in a notebook or write out flashcards by hand. Studies have shown that when you write by hand, your ability to recall information improves significantly. Researchers believe this is because writing is slower and requires deeper mental processing.
5. Find a Spanish-speaking language partner, tutor or take a language course!
Regular conversation is one of the fastest ways to learn Spanish without much effort. There are many ways to find an on- and offline language partner. You might even find native speakers in your city. The advantage of conversation partners is that they are often free.
If you live in a big city, take advantage of ex-pat groups on Facebook - you don't have to leave the country to arrange a coffee/walk or rollerblade with a native Spanish speaker! Also, dating apps (like Tinder or Bumble) are useful for making interesting friends worldwide (if you're not looking for romantic relationships, just indicate that in your bio).
If you want paid help learning Spanish, you have three main options: language exchanges, group classes and one-on-one classes.
Tutors are more punctual and tailor to your needs more than language partners, so they're a great option if you're pressed for time. If talking to a native is intimidating, online conversation will be a great option. When deciding on an online tutor, participate in 30-minute lessons, even 4-5 times a week. Shorter lessons with high frequency are the most effective. A good tutor will keep you on track, offer their support, hold you accountable and ensure consistency in your learning.
If you like group work, a good Spanish course for beginners (either classroom or exchange) is also an effective way to learn the basics. All the important things will be presented in an easily digestible form. Make sure the course you choose uses dialogues and is taught in both text and audio-visual form, which will help you improve your listening skills and understand real Spanish.
6. Move to Spain (or another Spanish-speaking country) for a while!
Go to a Spanish-speaking country, live there for a few months, and speak. Practice really does make perfect. Don't be ashamed! Making mistakes is inevitable. Talk to the taxi driver, waiter, shopkeeper and hairdresser to practice daily.
Interpret everything you see and hear around you in public spaces (even cool graffiti on the wall of a building or announcements on the subway). This will help you feel "included" in local life and develop the habit of actively paying attention to the foreign language around you.
7. Don't overdo the grammar.
One of the biggest traps beginners fall into is the desire to master Spanish grammar. You can communicate effectively with just the basics; you don't need to know all the ins and outs. In fact, if you get too hung up on the rules, your learning could grind to a complete halt.
Grammar is important, but vocabulary beats it every time. The key to building confidence is talking to people and practising. Don't be afraid to make mistakes! Even native speakers make mistakes. Get out of your comfort zone and remember that the most important thing is mutual understanding. The rest will come naturally! Spaniards will appreciate your efforts to learn and speak their language, and they may even help you improve.
8. Use a variety of (useful and fun) resources.
The Internet is your friend! Find the most intuitive Spanish dictionary online and download it as an app for your phone. Look for (already mentioned) Spanish podcasts that use simple language for beginners, games and interesting social media accounts that you can subscribe to and follow.
9. Organise your learning and be consistent.
It doesn't sound as fun as checking out Spanish Instagrammers, but it's worth it. Good organisation will speed up your learning and keep you motivated.
No matter how you decide to learn Spanish, set a schedule and stick to it. If you aim to study for at least one hour a day, do it! You can divide your learning into days. For example, on Monday and Thursday, learn Spanish vocabulary and phrases for 20 minutes in the morning. On Tuesday, watch a few episodes of a TV series. On Wednesday, make the long commute to class more enjoyable with a podcast, etc. This will help you remember your daily exercises and make it easier to track your progress.
Set long-term and short-term goals. This will motivate you, and writing them down will help you hold yourself accountable. It's just like exercising at the gym - you can't expect to put in six intense hours in one week and immediately see results. True progress is doing less over a longer period of time. So, how can you reliably learn like this? By developing habits. Habits are the key to changing behaviour. Once you develop them, you don't have to rely on willpower or motivation.
Habits are developed through signals and rewards. A signal causes a behaviour to take effect. For learning Spanish, it could be a reminder on the calendar to practice at the same time each day. The reward can be internal – learning should be fun and satisfying – or external, such as a weekend in Barcelona. You can also tell your friends that you will practice every day. We all want to be true to our word, so involving others can help you keep up the pace.
You already know some strategies for learning Spanish quickly and effectively. If you're feeling motivated, put them to use by taking action today! Start building daily study habits. List which methods I've mentioned that interest you and try them out. Create a preliminary plan, set a reminder on your phone, order flashcards, look for interesting series and podcasts, and sign up for an ex-pat group on Facebook. Take action!
Good luck,
Edyta
You can also find me:
https://www.facebook.com/DrEdytaTadeusiak
https://www.instagram.com/dr.edyta.tadeusiak/
