If you are thinking about learning a foreign language, why not consider one that is easy for native English speakers? Transitioning from English to Spanish is one of the easiest language transitions that can be made. Read on to find out more!
Many people have misconceptions about learning foreign languages. People of all ages decide against learning another language simply because they think it is impossible, too difficult, or would take up too much time and money. Yes, some languages are difficult to learn and everyone learns in a different way, but that does not mean that you cannot learn a second language! Anyone can learn another language with just a little patience and a lot of practice. You would be surprised at how quickly you can hold conversations in a second language, and there are actually plenty of free resources available to help you learn. Learning a new language does not have to break the bank or consume all of your free time.
Native English speakers can save a lot of time simply by choosing a language that is easier for them to learn. As previously stated, going from English to Spanish is a very easy transition. Easy transitions can also be made to other languages such as German and French. You can learn any language you want, but if you have never studied a language before, going with a language similar to your native tongue will be the easiest for you. If you have no particular preference on which language you want to learn, consider finding a second language that is similar to your native language in syntax, grammar, and pronunciation. Having the same type of writing system also helps. This is why Spanish is such a good choice for English speakers.
To start your transition from English to Spanish, you should first decide what kind of student you are going to be. You also need to determine if you are willing to spend any money on learning Spanish. If so, you should determine how much ahead of time (if not, you may end up spending more than you meant to)!
Determine if you want to have a career that involves being bilingual in Spanish and English. Maybe you want to be a translator or work for a company with clients in Spanish speaking countries. If so, you should probably consider yourself to be a serious student. You can also consider yourself a serious student if you wish to relocate to a Spanish speaking country, or even if you simply want to learn as much as you can so you can become fluent. If this does not sound like you, then you are probably a casual student. Casual students learn for fun, school, and sometimes for jobs that require less Spanish than business or translation. Learning a second language can be a great hobby, but you do not need to spend a lot of money on it if you are just learning for that reason. Even if you are a serious student, you can still avoid spending hundreds of dollars.
After you figure out what kind of student you are going to be, decide how you want to get the main part of your language study. In other words, how will you go about learning Spanish? Will you take classes? Pay for online lessons? Buy a computer program? My advice is to take Spanish classes online or at a college if you are truly seeking to study Spanish. Although you can learn a second language on your own, it is always more convenient to have a teacher (and preferably a native speaker as a teacher). Many colleges, both online and at physical campuses, offer several levels of Spanish classes. Community colleges often offer classes as well. If there are no colleges near you, you can take lessons online whether it is through a college or not. You can also invest in a good computer program that will teach you in lesson format accompanied by audio files. Some of the more expensive ones have voice recognition so you can test your skills.
If you do not want to spend money on classes or computer programs, you can spend a smaller amount on some quality textbooks, workbooks, and audio CDs. I recommend using textbooks that are used in Spanish classrooms. You can find this out by checking on a college’s website and seeing what materials are required for their Spanish classes. These will usually be good materials to use. The only problem with this is that you may not have the answers to exercises in the textbook or workbook (unless you buy a teacher’s edition).
Whether you are a serious student or a casual student, you will need supplementary material to help you study Spanish. You can get a lot of this for free, but you can also buy some of it at a low cost. Dictionaries are a necessity. You can find free ones online or purchase them from your local bookstore. There are many kinds to choose from, so you just need to assess your needs.
Websites offer great free resources for learning Spanish. You can find extra vocabulary words, grammar explanations, and helpful articles online. Sometimes you can purchase premium content, but I personally have always stuck with the freebies. You would be surprised at how much free material you can come across online. Take advantage of that!
Finally, try to connect with native speakers. They can make your transition from English to Spanish so much easier! You can connect with native speakers online if you do not know one personally. You can use a computer with a webcam or microphone to practice speaking. If you can find a native speaker to practice with in real life, try to hold entire everyday conversations with them in Spanish. You will greatly improve!
Learning any language takes a lot of preparation, dedication, and effort. Even though some languages are easier for native English speakers to learn than others, you can learn any language you want if you stay focused and practice. Spanish is a great option for English speakers, and it will benefit you in many ways. Just remember to have fun while learning!