Hi, I'm learning Spanish since it is one of the languages I favor the most. I am also taking a class in highschool that is Spanish 1. I am in need of help, if you don't mind. I want to practice and strengthen my progress to the point where I can be able to somewhat translate, read, write, and speak Spanish. Is there any tips that you can give me?
Hola! That's awesome that you're learning Spanish and taking a class in school—you're off to a great start! I'd be happy to help you strengthen your skills.
Here you can find an article with really helpful tips by Steve Kaufmann that also help me a lot, I'll leave you a quick summary:
1. Spend the time with the language
Listen to the language (for example, my podcast—by the way, I'm working on new episodes), read things written in Spanish, listen to songs, or watch movies. If you know people who speak Spanish, spend time with them, even if you're just listening.
2. Do what you like to do
It's important to do the things you enjoy. For example, if you like to read, read more; if you like to watch movies, watch more of them. You'll enjoy the learning process more if you focus on activities you love. This also applies to the topics you choose. For example, if you enjoy reading and have an interest in art, look for art books in Spanish
Noticing will be the most important skill you develop if you want to become fluent in Spanish. First, you need to absorb a lot of the language, and while doing so, pay close attention to details consciously. When you notice something, write it down, underline it, or make a small note so you can review it later and remember it. If you have a language partner, share your findings with them—discussing what you’ve noticed will help you internalize it and eventually use it automatically. For pronunciation, try to listen carefully and imitate how the language is pronounced and the intonation used. This will help you notice and improve your understanding of the language.
If you learn words naturally through plenty of listening and reading, the grammar will eventually fall into place. You can review grammar rules if you’d like, but it’s better to focus more on learning words. Just remember to learn these words from meaningful content, not from isolated vocabulary lists—our brains retain words more effectively when they’re in context.
I hope these tips are helpful! Feel free to reach out anytime if you need more help or want to practice together. Good luck with your Spanish journey—you've got this! ⭐
