The Advising & Learning Centers
Ciletti Memorial Library, Lower Level
570-385-6140
Tips for Studying Spanish
2
I.
Tips for Studying Spanish
A. Don't expect to be perfect!
1.
Can you remember when learned to ride a bicycle? Did you ride perfectly from the first
time you sat on the seat? When learning a new language, expect that you will make
mistakes, and don't be embarrassed by them!
2.
Work on developing an "ear" for Spanish.
a.
3.
Practice SPEAKING!
a.
4.
To really learn a language takes time and commitment. Consistency is by far the most
important factor. If you can devote a solid twenty minutes a day, nearly every day,
you will be far more successful than if you "cram" for an hour or two, but only
sporadically.
Talk to yourself.
a.
6.
The only way to learn to speak a language is by actually SPEAKING. You can study for
years, and master all of the grammar rules, but unless you actually practice speaking,
you will never speak well. When you are practicing speaking, remember to do it out
loud, at normal conversational volume.
Be consistent.
a.
5.
Remember that language is first and foremost oral communication. A written
alphabet is merely a collection of symbols used to represent the sounds of the
language, and cannot be expected to capture every nuance of sound and intonation.
Try to develop a "good ear" for Spanish. An easy and fun way to do this is by listening
to Spanish music, watching Spanish movies, or watching Spanish cable TV.
When learning a foreign language, it is common for listening skills to develop more
rapidly than speaking skills, leaving the learner in the unfortunate situation of being
able to understand, but unable to respond. A good way to surmount this problem is
to talk to yourself as much as possible. Because there is no one else around, you
won't be weighed down by the inhibition that so frequently burdens the beginning
language student.
Use flashcards.
a.
D:\533565028.doc
One of the best tips we can give you is to make and use flashcards. Make cards that
are small enough to easily carry with you, and write the English on one side and
Spanish on the other. Be sure to ALWAYS have some cards with you. This way, you
can capture "wasted" time (standing in line, riding the bus, waiting for class to start,
rev. 09/25/13 ray
3
etc.) and turn it into productive study time. Even if you only have a couple of
minutes, you can use it to study a few flashcards.
7.
Label your surroundings.
a.
8.
Be patient.
a.
9.
Make labels for things all over your house. For example: la pared (wall), la puerta
(door), el escritorio (desk) etc. Remove the labels only after you have mastered the
vocabulary.
Progress in language learning does not follow a straight-line graph. You cannot
expect to make the same amount of progress, day after day, week after week. You
may find yourself struggling at times, seeming to make no progress. Don't let this
discourage you. It is normal to reach plateaus in your learning progress. If you find
yourself "stuck" try spending time going back and reviewing things that you already
know well. Often this will help prepare you to break through to the next level.
Find a partner.
a.
Try to find a native speaker who can be your conversation partner. This can be your
greatest asset and perhaps you can also provide assistance to your partner in your
native language.
10. Read out loud.
a.
Try reading out loud. You will get all of the benefits of reading, plus you'll get really
good pronunciation practice. In fact, as a beginner, you should read aloud as much as
possible.
Information from: www. Study Spanish.com
11. Making Conjugation Charts
a.
Create a chart that has four columns and four rows. Write "Verb" in the top-left cell
and "English Meaning" in the third cell of the first row.
b.
Write "Yo" ("I") in the first cell of the second row, "Tú" ("You" -- familiar use) in the
first cell of the third row, and "Él/Ella/Usted" ("He"/"She/"You" -- formal use) in the
fist cell of the fourth row.
c.
Put "Nosotros" ("We") in the third cell of the second row, "Vosotros" ("You" -familiar use, plural) in the third cell of the third row, and "Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes"
("They" -- males/"They" -- females/"You" -- formal use, plural) in the third cell of the
fourth row.
D:\533565028.doc
rev. 09/25/13 ray
4
d.
Practice verb conjugations by filling in the empty cells of your conjugation chart. For
example, put the verb "Hablar" in the "Verb" cell, and "To speak" in the "English
Meaning" cell.
e.
Conjugate the verb for each form using the blank cells next to each pronoun. For
example: "yo hablo," "tú hablas," "él/ella/usted habla," "nosotros hablamos,"
"vosotros habláis," "ellos/ellas/ustedes hablan."
f.
Repeat this process by making more tables to practice your conjugation, paying
special attention to irregular but commonly occurring verbs such as "ser," "estar,"
"hacer," "decir," "saber," "tener," "venir" and "salir."
Information from: www.ehow.com/how_5058237_pass-spanish-class-easy-way.html
D:\533565028.doc
rev. 09/25/13 ray