One of the issues that raises the most concerns before embarking on the adventure of studying in Spain is the Spanish language.

Regardless of our level of knowledge, it is important that we intensify our study in the months leading up to the trip, so that the “language shock” is as atraumatic as possible. Below we share 7 techniques on how to learn Spanish or other languages that have helped many students in the past to embark on their adventure.

1. Learn Key Spanish Vocabulary:

Did you know that the 100 most common  Spanish words in any language cover 50% of all spoken communication? Focus your efforts on mastering the most common Spanish words and your ability to communicate will be greatly enhanced. One of the best resources for learning this type of vocabulary are flashcards. With them you will be able to review and memorize key vocabulary of different topics in a simple way, while measuring your progress.

2. Watch Spanish movies:

To learn a language it is essential to immerse yourself in the culture of Spain and give context to the vocabulary and expressions learned. Watching movies and series in Spanish language is often a very effective way to achieve this goal. But remember, if you need subtitles, try to get them in the same language as the movie and not in English.

3. Less grammar and more fluency:

Grammar often works against fluency, so if you are about to move to another country, it is best to focus on improving your speaking fluency. To do this, in addition to the two techniques above, we recommend that you study the most commonly used Spanish idioms and contractions and practice conversing with native speakers.

4. Do not use bilingual dictionaries:

Use English-English, French-French dictionaries instead of English-Spanish, French-Spanish dictionaries. This will help you eliminate your dependence on English when learning another language and improve your overall comprehension.

5. Social learning:

Social networking also provides a great opportunity for Spanish language learning. Following famous people who write in Spanish on Twitter or Facebook to get used to the language could be a good idea. Another possibility is to create or join groups that share our interest in learning Spanish. This way we can exchange study resources and share our doubts and concerns.

6. Study daily:

Learning Spanish is a long, progressive process. There is no point in studying for 6 hours at a time if we are not going to study again for another 2 months. As a minimum, we should aim to study for 10 minutes every day. Therefore, it is convenient to establish a study schedule and set goals to keep us motivated and to measure our progress.

7. Don’t be afraid to make Spanish mistakes:

To learn Spanish, you have to jump in and speak as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to speak or to make mistakes. After all, it is not our native language so it is normal to make grammatical mistakes. The key is that we identify the mistakes and learn from them.

Share your experience, do you have any other tips for learning languages before going to study in another country.

Text:  Hotcourseslationoamerica