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Do you want to learn Spanish or to improve your Spanish? This is one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world, and it is an oficial language in more than 20 countries. No matter what your reasons are, but if you like traveling, or if in your job or in your wished job is necessary to speak Spanish, or you like to cause a great impression to who speak Spanish, then you should begin to learn Spanish right now. But if you are the kind of person who loves learning and so who loves learning languages, probably you already know some Spanish and you want to improve your skills.

Before starting your journey to learn or improve your Spanish, discover the different ways you can get this. Currently learning a language does not necessarily mean sitting for hours in a classroom. Actually, it can be more funny.

Continue reading and explore these options to learn or improve your Spanish, you will surely find one that suits you!

Learn Spanish. Go for it!

Like anything else you want to learn, you have to start by having the will and organizing yourself to dedicate some time to this new challenge. But don’t worry, learning Spanish doesn’t have to be a path of suffering and sacrifice, on the contrary, it can be a fun and exciting experience.

You should know that it is relatively easy for English speakers to learn Spanish. English and Spanish languages ​​use the same alphabet; also, in both languages, ​​there are words of Latin origin that are shared, which makes it easy to learn. This also happens with other languages ​​such as Italian, Portuguese, French, and other Mediterranean languages. If you already speak a little of any of these languages, it’s a good advantage, don’t waste it!

Learn Spanish. LEARN to LISTEN

One of the challenges to learning a new language is that our brain gets confused because it does not recognize what it hears. In languages, not only do the words change, but the tenses, tones, and intonations change. And at first, it takes a bit to get used to it.

One way to start getting familiar with Spanish is by listening to music. There is, of course, more music in Spanish than we could possibly listen to, so there is definitely something out there that you will like. Choose your favorite rhythm, and find a song that grabs you. Looking up the lyrics and translating them helps a lot.

You can try listening to “Amaral”, “Ana Belén”, “Joaquín Sabina” … . Also, “Paco Ibañez” is a great singer who puts music to some of the best Spanish poets like Federico García Lorca, Gustavo Adolfo Becker or Rafael Alberti.

Another option is to watch series or movies in Spanish. Even better if it is a series from a Spanish-speaking country, so you can also identify gestures and other clues that body language gives. Although you must be careful in replicating stereotypes and clichés that can be shown in specific productions and be cautious about assuming them as reality.

I am Native Spanish speaker and I can say that watching movies in English with captions helped a lot to teach my brain to recognize the sound of the new language I was learning. So use the captions and remember that the important is to learn Spanish, not the movie or the series. Funny thing is when after some movies you can recognize the accents, so you realize that you know whether the actor or actress is from Spain of from another country, or even from what part of Spain they are (this one is from Galicia, this one from Andalucía, and the other one from Cataluña 🙂 ).

Do not let stress overcome you if it costs you effort at first. You simply keep watching movies in Spanish and little by little you will recognize the sounds of the new language almost without realizing it. There is no need to watch one movie everyday, but if you can watch at least 30 minutes everyday it will help a lot. Remember, you must have the will and don’t let the stress overcome you.

Also it will help a lot if you can speak with people who speak Spanish natively, because the impressions you will get will help you to understand your level of Spanish and if you can communicate in Spanish at least in a basic way. If you can, keep speaking with native Spanish people and your proficiency will improve fast.

Learn Spanish FOR FREE

Yes, it is possible to learn Spanish without having to pay. If you are one of those people who have an innate curiosity and like to be self-taught, this could be a possibility for you! There are several things you can put into practice to achieve this.

Perhaps the best way to learn Spanish without having to pay for it is to live with people who speak Spanish as their mother tongue. Hispanic communities or online friends are a good way to get closer to people who speak Spanish. You can try to meet people this way and of course, don’t be afraid to practice your Spanish with them.

Also, you can help yourself from the online resources that currently exist. Now you can find on the internet all kinds of free resources to learn Spanish. From books, classes, games, and more. There are well-known applications like Duolingo, with which you learn languages ​​through games and exercises.

Another simple strategy is to learn to name everything around us and make a vocabulary table in English and Spanish. For example. Make a list of body parts in English and Spanish; another about the objects in your house, office, etc. If you want to learn Spanish under the main objective, it is also useful to locate what would be the most common vocabulary within a certain field. For example, if you need it for the airport, a coffee shop, or academic matters.

It helps a lot to read in Spanish but go little by little. Start with small things, for example, the ingredients of the food you eat, news headlines, Twitter, comments on internet pages, etc., and then go up the levels until you get to read the complete news, an academic article, a cooking recipe, or an entire book.

Watching movies and series in Spanish, with subtitles in Spanish, will not only help to improve your skill hearing the new language, but it will also help you to read it.

Don’t worry, best part is that Spanish language has simple rules of pronunciation. But maybe you will have some fun trying to pronounce “r” correctly.

As well, on music platforms like Spotify, there are countless people who take Spanish classes and they do it in a very organized way. If you already have a subscription to any of these platforms, use it for this purpose!

Learn Spanish ABROAD

Venturing to visit a Spanish-speaking place is the most recommended (and funny and exciting) way to quickly learn the language. So, if you want to learn Spanish and you have the opportunity to do it this way, don’t hesitate.

There are more that 20 countries, as I tell you before, that have Spanish as their official language. So you can choose what kind of landscape and environment you would like to know. You can go to both South America and Europe. To the beach, to the city, to the forest, or even the jungle. There are thousands of destinations you can choose to learn Spanish.

Keep in mind that you will to spend considerable time in that other country, so think carefully before choosing your destination. I would recommend you to come to Spain, because here you will learn the most neutral Spanish, but if you are american maybe you are more interested in Mexican Spanish.

Why study abroad?

For obvious reasons, our brain works harder to listen carefully to the surroundings when we need to in order to communicate and be able to get what we need. This is because our senses will be more alert and ready to learn when we are into a new environment. This makes us get used to how another language sounds much faster. Also, spending all day listening to and practicing Spanish is much more fruitful than spending just a few hours in the week, and you will learn the language more naturally and in a more funny way.

If you have the opportunity to travel to another country to learn Spanish, you have to be prepared to face any shyness or fear of speaking Spanish. Mispronouncing a word or making mistakes in the use of conjunctions and verb tenses is something that everyone goes through when learning a language. The important thing is that you let go and practice it. With time you will perfect it. So, forget shyness and be ready to make mistakes with a smile in your mouth.

Even more, learning a language in another country not only gives you the advantage of listening. It is also easier to become familiar with the grammar by reading everything in that language: when shopping, signs and street signs, restaurant menus, etc.

Another advantage is that living in another country you will not only learn Spanish and improve your proficiency in the language of Cervantes, but you will also get immersed in the culture of the country you visit, meet new people, make new friends, live incredible experiences and expand your knowledge and your vision of the world in every way!

Learn Spanish IN SPAIN

Spain is the land where the Spanish language was born. It was in this region where this language emerged and later spread to a large part of the American continent after the arrival of the Spanish.

Spain is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe, and this is due to the beautiful landscapes, emblematic cities, and the good reputation of the tasty Spanish food.

But before you buy your flight to Spain you have to know some things.

Strictly speaking, the official language of Spain is the Spanish Language also known as Castilian. This is because the Spanish language emerged in Castilla, a medieval kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula. Now the land occupied by that kingdom in the middle ages is part of the current much bigger territory of Spain.

And you also have to know is that Spanish is not the only spoken language in all of Spain. Article 3 of the Spanish Constitution declares that Castilian is the official Spanish language of the State and establishes that the other Spanish languages will also be official in the respective Autonomous Communities in accordance with their Statutes.

When we think of Spain, we almost always think of its two most important and well-known cities: Madrid and Barcelona.

Learn Spanish in Barcelona

In the north of Spain is Barcelona, ​​located on the shores of the Mediterranean, it is one of the favorite destinations in Spain for its beautiful beaches, the beautiful city, the monuments made by famous architect Antonio Gaudí and the culture. If you like the heat and the sea, you will love Barcelona. Barcelona is the main city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia.

But you have to know that the official language of Catalonia is not only Spanish, but also Catalan, so the streets, names, and others are written in this language which, although it shares many features with Spanish, is very different.

However, Barcelona is also known for being a multicultural city. There are many migrants and foreign people who live in Barcelona, ​​and who speak Spanish. Also, people who are originally from Catalonia and Barcelona speak Spanish perfectly, so despite having two official languages, Barcelona is a good destination to learn Spanish.

Learn Spanish in Madrid

This is the capital of Spain. The experience in Madrid can be different, mainly because Spanish is indeed the only official language of this city.

On both sites, you will find ample options to learn to speak Spanish and the advantage that learning Spanish in this country can have is that its particular accent makes it easier to differentiate the grammar in certain words, which will make it easier for you to learn to write Spanish (I mean mainly to the use of “s”, “c” and “z”).

Another thing you have to consider, in order to choose a site, in addition to your preferences, is your economy. Living in Madrid is usually much cheaper if the plan is to stay for a season. And if you are looking for Universities or some Schools where to learn Spanish, Madrid also have a bigger offer.

If your time adapts to school calendars, I recommend you go directly to visit the universities where there are a wide variety of courses for foreigners and you can even certify yourself with a Diploma that confirms your learning of Spanish as a foreign language.

The interesting thing about the universities is that they teach not only the language but also the Hispanic culture, providing an excellent option to get to know a language culturally.

DELE and SIELE exams 🔥 and the Cervantes Institute <- IMPORTANT!

If you are interested in having a diploma that accredits your competence with the Spanish language, then you have to do some research about the Cervantes Institute and the DELE and SIELE exams.

The Cervantes Institute is the public institution in charge of promoting the study of Spanish throughout the world, and the Spanish Ministery of Education legitimizes the Cervantes Institute to issue diplomas that certify the competence with Spanish of people interested in learning the language.

The DELE Spanish diplomas are official titles that you can get when you pass the exams. They offer these diplomas in six levels that show your proficiency at the moment when you pass the exam. So, you must choose the exam for the level that best matches your competence with the language.

DELE leves are:

• A1: You can pass this DELE exam and have the diploma if you can understand basic expresiones in frequent everyday conversations, so you can develop your basic needs in your everyday life.
• A2: This diploma certifies that you can also understand and talk about basic things of your life and family, about your job, the geography of the local area where you live …
• B1: If you pass this exam then you can understand and talk about your desires and basic needs in day to day conversations.
• B2: If you pass this DELE exam then people can assume that you can have a conversation in your everyday life, but not using a specialized language.
• C1: This level means that you can understand and talk in Spanish in a way that doesn’t limit what you want to mean when you talk. You can have a natural conversation in a variety of situations and you can even discuss and give arguments.
• C2: This level means that you have a high competence of the Spanish language and also the Spanish culture.

If you want to know more you can visit the website of the Instituto Cervantes and the website of the Spanish Federation of Associations of Spanish Schools for Foreigners.

There is also a Cervantes Institute in some cities in the Unites States like in New York, in Chicago, in Alburquerque, in Boston, in Washington DC and in Seattle. For example this is the website of the Cervantes Institute in New York: Cervantes institute in New York.

Learning Spanish IN MEXICO

If you prefer Latin American Spanish, definitely one option is to go to Mexico. It is said that the beautiful Mexican accent has fewer variations in the diction, and therefore is easier to understand compared to that of other Spanish-speaking countries. Although you will also find some words that are difficult to pronounce, coming from the original language of central Mexico: Nahuatl. But today there are only a few exceptions of Nahuatl words that are still used, yet we can find some variations of those words in some Mexican expressions that are of common use.

Mexican Spanish is used as a neutral for Latin America and is considered the most influential Spanish in the world due to the number of people who speak that variant of Spanish. If you pay attention, you will discover that dubbing into Spanish in movies or series is almost always made in this country. Unless you are in Spain, because in Spain films and series are dubbed with Spanish accent.

Another advantage is that Mexican people have a reputation for being very warm when receiving foreigners. This helps you lose your fear of speaking Spanish badly. Also in Mexico, you will find an extensive cultural offer, the almost supernatural archaeological sites and various beautiful natural landscapes, ranging from beaches, forests, and deserts. As well as temperate valleys and one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City, which was once the great Tenochtitlan.

If you decide to visit Mexico City, one of the best options to learn Spanish is to go to the National Autonomous University of Mexico, which has the Teaching Center for Foreigners. Like Spanish universities, it has a program that brings you culturally and historically closer to the Mexican language and culture. His teaching is fun because you not only learn in the classrooms but also make different visits and tours of various parts of Mexico. The courses they offer also vary in their duration and are usually quite accessible to the economy.

Do not wait more! Choose the way that best suits your personality and lifestyle, and start the adventure of learning Spanish!