How to Learn Spanish
Spanish is a very important language to learn, and it’s not just because you want to place the right orders at a Mexican restaurant or because Dora the Explorer’s friends speak Spanish. In the United States, Spanish is considered one of the major languages spoken by non-English speaking groups. Around 400 million people all over the world speak Spanish, which puts it just behind Mandarin and English as the most spoken language in the world. If you want to communicate clearly to people who do not speak English as a first language, Spanish is a great language for you to add to your communication and language skills.
Learning Spanish
Spanish is also known as Castillan. Most Spanish speakers live in Latin America, and Mexico has the world’s biggest number of native Spanish speakers. Spanish is recognized as the national language in most countries in South America, with the notable exception of Brazil.
While Spanish is a very common language, there are many variations in how it’s used in speech and writing. In Spain alone, there are many derivations and forms of Spanish depending on where the speaker comes from. A standardized form of Spanish is instituted by the Real Academia Española in Madrid, which is granted powers by the Spanish Crown to preserve, protect, and spread the use of the Spanish language.
Here are some ways that you can learn Spanish:
Spanish classes and elective courses. Schools and universities all over the world teach Spanish either as a requirement or as an elective. Basic Spanish may be taught in these classes, and some classes may even teach advanced Spanish lessons.
Phrasebooks. If you’re on vacation in a Spanish-speaking country, you may want to buy a phrasebook from a bookstore or the souvenir/tourist lounge at the airport or pier. Phrasebooks contain the basic phrases, sentences, and expressions you need to communicate with native Spanish speakers.
Videos and tapes. If you want to learn Spanish on your own, you may need to buy educational tapes and videos that teach you basic to advanced skills to speak Spanish. Videos and tapes are available from bookstores and specialty shops.
Speaking Spanish
Spoken Spanish is easy to learn, provided you have a good grasp of the rules of Spanish grammar and some Spanish words to help you out. You can study a Spanish grammar book to get an idea of some of the key rules and terms in spoken Spanish.
There are two kinds of Spanish that you can teach yourself:
Conversational Spanish is useful if you intend to learn the essential Spanish you need to get around town, or if you want to keep a simple conversation in Spanish going. Conversational Spanish can be learned from tapes or phrasebooks.
Advanced Spanish is useful if you really want to have a good grasp of Spanish, or if you deal with customers who prefer to speak Spanish instead of English. Advanced Spanish lessons are usually taught in colleges and universities.
When speaking in Spanish, try to avoid code-switching (alternating between Spanish and English) as much as possible. While you may need to refer to your phrasebook every once in a while, it’s better to speak in straight Spanish so that non-English speakers can understand you better.
Writing in Spanish
Writing in Spanish may not be important to people, but it pays to have that bit of extra knowledge to help you learn and appreciate Spanish better. Spanish has unique rules in grammar and spelling, including the following:
Spanish has seven tenses, and employs two genders in speech and writing (male and female).
Adjectives in the Spanish language follow the noun.
Possessive terms in Spanish are either masculine or feminine.
Pronouns and prepositions in Spanish should be used correctly to convey the intended message.
Spanish is a fairly complicated language to learn, but it can be very useful for many applications like business or entertainment. With these tips to help you learn Spanish, you can expand your horizons in language, find travel easy, and enjoy yourself learning and using a new language.