Best Way To Learn Spanish Fast

By Harold Peterson

For foreign language students deciding upon Spanish as their second language the question "Is there a best way to learn Spanish?" will inevitably come to mind sooner or later. The answer, of course, isn't a black or white choice, and what works well for one person may not work as well for another. Also, it generally depends upon how much time can be invested in the learning of the language.

Complete immersive language training has always been the preferred method for gaining a high level of ability in the chosen language. It can involve speaking as much as possible in the new language -- according to gradually increasing ability -- and even taking in much of the Spanish culture (depending upon the Spanish-speaking region of the world a person would be most interested in, which many experts say helps to increase learning).

The way most people have learned to speak Spanish as a second (or third, and so on) language -- at least in the United States -- has been the same method used for several generations, which is in the classroom. The upside to such a method is that solid structure and benchmarks for learning exists within the framework of the instructor-student relationship.

The downside to such an arrangement, though, is that little allowance can be made for those students who are having a slightly more difficult time than the class in general. This means the class has to move forward - in order to meet hard deadlines - with generally little regard for individual Spanish language education needs. Eventually, people end up frustrated and unable to learn Spanish as well as they should.

A combination of some amount of immersion in conjunction with classroom learning has shown to be effective in almost every circumstance, which is heartening. The issue exists, though, of just how much language training can be done in a self-paced manner, as the matter of a beginning and end date for the course and the lesson topics within each course still exists.

Today, though, the increasing power of the Internet has set us free from the bounds of brick and mortar institutions of learning and the need to travel to some Spanish-speaking country for a real immersive experience. And many times, online programs which can be made use of when and where appropriate are the norm. Programs come in many different varieties and usually in CD-ROM, with updates regularly available.

The one thing that needs to be realized is that programs such as the above require discipline, which means making the effort to sit down in front of the computer on a regular basis and do the work necessary. But the convenience of more than a few of these software-based language training programs can outweigh any possible pitfalls, given they can be accessed when and generally where (especially if computers are a ubiquitous part of a person's life) needed.

As always, the best way to learn Spanish will be the way that works best for the individual. Generally, there isn't a single-best method for gaining Spanish-speaking ability and what may work well for one person might not work as well for another, though there are general learning abilities inherent in all people. So do a bit of research on Spanish language training programs before deciding on any particular one and go with the method that works for you. - 31529

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Learn Spanish Easily Online At Your Own Pace

By Dylan Stewart

Spanish can be a simple language to learn. There are so many groups of words that can easily be converted to and said in spanish. Words ending in 'tion' in english can be changed to 'cion'. However, there are parts of the language that can be difficult such as the masculine and feminine words. Pronunciation is different and will take time and practice. By learning the rules it can be an easier language to learn.

Start with the basics

Start with the basics first such as pronunciation of alphabet and numbers. Try to learn day to day vocabulary. Basic greetings and phrases are a good start. Accept you will make mistakes as this will help your confidence .A spanish holiday course with a real spanish speaker can help you learn quickly. You will need time to learn the language. You must dedicate at least 30 minutes every day to learn new verbs and phrases. Flashcards are useful to help you remember. The more you see and hear the language, the more you will remember it.

Motivation is never a problem at the start, but it can be one of the main reasons of failure as you progress though you spanish learning journey. Ask yourself why you started learning the language in the first place - does it still apply?

Other Ways to Learn

Books and newspapers will help you at the start, but the quickest way to learn is to immerse yourself in the language. Watch spanish TV and listen to radio stations. You'll struggle, but over time you will be able to 'tune' into the langauge a lot easier and will start to identify phrases. This can be a great confidence booster and help encourage you to learn more. There are courses where you can pay to study abroad. These can be costly, so it will depend on the reason and how quiickly you want to learn. - 31529

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Focus On Grammar Helps With Teaching English

By Eli Terry

Focus on Grammar is a very well known textbook series created to teach students English. Irene E. Schoenberg is the author of these books and Pearson Longman is the publisher. This is the 3rd edition of this series and there are 5 levels varying from beginner to experienced.

As the title implies, the books focus on the grammar aspect of understanding English. The lesson are separated into areas about different grammar subjects. In each area of the book students will be taught to read, write, speak, and listen, using exercises that support the major grammar subject. This, certainly, is added to the various grammar activities.

All grammar exercises set out in the books have the same format. This makes it easier to go from one level to the next in the series. To start with, the questions are kept simple and use the fill in the blank style. As the student makes progress, the level of difficulty of the questions increase and take on a more abstract style. Time lines are used to compare structure. Correcting grammatical errors in written work is frequently used to help the student learn.

Each chapter carries a heading which spells out the grammar topic in that reading section. The reading sections depict real life situations as given in newspapers, internet, memos and reviews of movies. Teachers find this approach very helpful.

A good example for this kind of reading exercise is a review of the movie, "It's wonderful Life", to show how the 3rd conditional is used. The 3rd conditional is always given in bold letters to help the learners see it easily. An audio CD is included with the book for use in listening exercises. An interactive CD-Rom is also available as an extra and priced separately. Such extras add value to the course on English grammar.

This series of books are excellent in that they help the student learn English grammar on their own. It is also a valuable resource for those who teach English Language. It would be good idea of English language schools to include this in their library.

They have superior explanations, examples, and activities for all of the main verb tenses, conditional sentences, prepositions, nouns, and a lot more necessary grammar subjects. If I had to pick out an ESL text curriculum, this would be first on my list.

This is a pretty thorough treatment, which may be daunting to some students. It's definitely not what you'd want to use with children, but serious adult students who want their English to be better so they can find and keep jobs, for instance, will really appreciate the work involved. ESL teachers will be delighted to know that such a resource exists. - 31529

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