So you have decided that you are going to take the plunge and learn Spanish? Great idea, with more than 400 million Spanish speakers in more than 20 countries around the world, it is a very handy language to have up your sleeve.
You may be wondering what the best way for you to learn Spanish is. If you want to become fluent in the language in a very short time, then the best way to go is full immersion. Taking a trip to Spain or Latin America, doing a home stay with a local family and taking classes while you are there is really the perfect formula.
If this does not seem like an entirely practical option for you, then never fear as there are many other things you can do to learn Spanish and become fluent.
First and foremost enroll yourself in some classes at your local university, college or community center. You may also be able to find private tutors in your area for one on one classes. Spanish grammar is, unfortunately, quite complicated and developing a good foundation in the basics will stand you in very good stead.
Strapped for cash or time and can’t make it to a class? That is okay too as there are literally mountains of Spanish language resources floating around in cyber land these days. A simple Google search will point you in the right direction and give you a good grammar and vocabulary base.
Reading much and often from different Spanish language websites is a fantastic way to develop your Spanish vocabulary and unfamiliar words can be searched in an online Spanish to English dictionary.
To develop your listening skills make Youtube your new best friend and download Spanish language programs or songs. Some Spanish websites also have pod casts that you can download to your I-pod or MP3 player and listen to as you drive to work or train at the gym.
Any good video store will have a range of Spanish language movies for hire and these days you can often change the audio option on your DVD to Spanish. Listening to Spanish frequently will improve your listening skills and your pronunciation. Adding Spanish subtitles to your movie is a wonderful way to learn new Spanish vocabulary and grammar as well as slang.
There are Spanish speakers literally everywhere. Most cities have a large Spanish or Latino community. Many of them have social groups that organize social gatherings. Check your Yellow Pages for Spanish clubs or cruise by the local salsa night at a local bar and you are sure to find Latinos or at least people who know where you can find them. By hooking up with Latino and Spanish people in your area you can create an immersion program in your hometown. Some of them may even be interested in doing a language exchange with you.
Even if you do not have the freedom to pack your bags and go live in a Spanish speaking country, you can still immerse yourself in all things Spanish and reap the benefits. By surrounding yourself with as much of the language as possible such as reading Spanish news online, watching movies in Spanish, listening to Spanish pod casts or radio stations or joining Spanish related cultural groups and activities.
The secret to becoming fluent in Spanish without stepping foot in a Spanish speaking country is to use a variety of the resources available to you. Meanwhile, keep saving up the Pesos to make it to one of the exotic and stunning countries that boast Spanish as their official language.