Let's Practice!

Beginners learning Spanish often have difficulties learning the proper way to pronounce the letters of the alphabet and especially the vowels. Before we get into pronouncing them, here's a bit of information you need to know.

The alphabet has 28 letters since the Spanish Royal Academy ratified this change back in 2010 by removing two letters. Spanish still has words that begin with these letters. They were removed because in the dictionary, it helped to merge them with their preceding letter. So, all words starting with Ll merged alphabetically with words starting with L and all words beginning with Ch blended with words in the C category. These removed letters; however, still have a distinct pronunciation when it comes to speaking words that begin with them. I include them in their regular spot within the alphabet because it is important to learn their pronunciations too.

Besides Ll and Ch, there are just two other letters you must know that are different from the English alphabet. They are the Ñ and the RR. They have specific sounds too.

Here are all 30 letters of the Spanish alphabet:

A	B	C	CH	D	E	F	G	H	I
J	K	L	LL	M	N	Ñ	O	P	Q
R	RR	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

I've included an MP3 file where you may practice pronouncing the Spanish alphabet.

There are just 5 vowels that you need to learn in Spanish. Unlike English, they are pure and not clouded with various ways to say them. For example in English, the A in apple sounds quite different than the A in father. Try saying both words very slowly and feel where your jaw is located and how your mouth is shaped when you are speaking the A sound. There is only one way to say each of the 5 vowels in Spanish. Because of that, it makes them pure sounds.

Here are the 5 vowels in Spanish:

A

E

I

O

U

I've included a separate MP3 file where you may practice pronouncing the Spanish vowels. Remember to keep them pure. Try exaggerating them.

If you would like to practice both MP3 files in the car, on your MP3 player or elsewhere, feel free to right-mouse click on the files and select Save Link As to download them to your computer.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

I Invite Your Input!

Typically, I highlight an aspect about Spanish in my blog posts. But right now, I would like to do a quick, little survey about Spanish and find out about your needs to learn it. What frustrates you about Spanish? What are some of the ways you have tried to learn Spanish in the past? What worked or did not work about them?

Please take a few minutes and complete my brief survey below. I will use the results to enhance future blog postings to address your needs.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

I value your time and opinion. Please comment below if you have more to say.

Thank you!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

El Día de los Muertos

El Día de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead is celebrated for the most part in Mexico; however, there are parts of the United States with strong Mexican-American influences that also celebrate this holiday. With this important holiday coming up, I thought it would a wonderful way to pay tribute with some informative videos about it.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Verb Shock!

I had a student recently tell me that she gets nervous when trying to speak Spanish to someone. She is a beginning Spanish language learner and constantly worries about saying things correctly. She does this so much that moments pass by where she could have practiced her Spanish with someone in a real situation, but ended up not saying anything at all.

When communicating with her during our lesson, I did notice that she dropped verbs altogether. I asked her why she was doing that and her response was that the verb type and conjugation confused her so much that to keep the communication flowing, she bypassed any and all verbs. She was in verb shock!

Verbs are very important parts of speech. Without them, no action takes place. All you have left in the sentence is nouns, modifiers, adjectives and conjunctions. Your sentences are action-less without them. That's why it is important to keep them in your sentences. They bring your phrases to life!

When starting out learning a language, it is less important on saying things perfectly than it is to make the mistake. People learn through making mistakes. Children make tons of linguistic errors on a daily basis. As they get older and use the language more, those mistakes become fewer. Success comes out of those moments of failure. You cannot reach it without making a lot of them. The important difference is what you do with the mistake. Do you learn from it?

I remember early in my own Spanish learning development when I would say "Tengo que irme" to mean "I have to go." For some reason, I was hyper sensitive to tack on the reflexive pronoun "me" in that sentence. It wasn't until a complete stranger in a park who I was conversing with one day told me that I did not need to say that word in that specific sentence. It took me by surprise and forced me to make a mental note. It stayed with me to this day. I learned from my own mistake in the park that day.

Everyone goes through the anxiety of not communicating the right verb in the correct tense or mood. That's natural and it is expected of beginning language learners. You will never improve unless you stick those verbs in your sentences and make those errors.

Take a couple steps back. Focus on learning and getting comfortable with using one verb. Trying to get a handle on all verbs at once can make you go crazy and have moments of panic when communicating. Go through the Present Tense Indicative conjugations of that one verb so that you can sound nature saying them. If you're not certain whether or not you're pronouncing them properly, ask someone. Better yet, go online to find audio files of people saying the verb. Focus on hearing the verb used in sentences through watching television, radio or video clips online.

Next, speak sentences using that verb. Say what you know. Don't try to get all fancy in order to impress anyone. Take a deep breath and state a simple sentence using the verb. Even if it is a small sentence, get it out there. Don't hold onto it. You may want to start saying other sentences using other verbs, but stay the course and focus on what you know at that moment for that one verb. You will be nervous, but get that verb out. When you have done that to a point where you feel semi-comfortable with that verb, move onto another verb. This won't be an overnight process, but in time, it's the only way to your own linguistic success.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Are You Ready to Join In?

I came across a neat, short You Tube video on the history of the Spanish language. I want to give credit to PimsleurApproach who I assume created this video. Take a quick look . . .

There is one major error in it at around 00:59 where they say the Moors invaded Spain in the 18th century. That is incorrect. The Moors actually invaded near the start of the 8th century. Also, at about 01:45, the banner above the castle spells the Spanish city of Granada as Grenada. Besides these errors and the implication that Spanish was imposed on the regions they explored and took over, the video was well put together.

Knowing that Spanish is growing and will become widely spoken here in the United States, are you more or less likely to learn Spanish? What are your reasons for learning Spanish? Or, what are you not interested in learning Spanish? What obstacles are in your way to learning this beautiful language? Click on the Comment link below and add to the conversation.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

The Mall and Language Learning

Last weekend, the university I work for had a special event at the Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe to help publicize and drive up traffic to their website. I was there to lend my able body and do my part in the promotion process by handing out brand-designed shopping bags and mini-magazines. This allowed me to have really good conversations with mall walkers through the day. You too can get some valuable practice in your language of study at your local mall.

Malls are wonderful opportunities to practice your language skills because it brings people from all walks of life to one place for various reasons. People are there not just to shop, but to hang out, have fun, play, exercise, go for dates, eat, see exhibits, people watch and so much more!

Arizona Mills Mall Food Court, Tempe, AZ

Now I am an introvert. So sticking my neck out and speaking to strangers is VERY challenging for me. I just don't feel comfortable doing it. Many people learning a language tend to feel the exact same way when speaking in their new language. However speaking that language is vital to improving and learning it.

It did make it easier for me to strike up a conversation with complete strangers due to the fact I was there on behalf of my work. The important thing to remember is that you don't have to have an excuse to speak to people in a public place. You just need to do it. Introverts, take your deep breaths slowly. Start going over in your head what you could say in that language to at least get you through the first sentence.

Then spend a few hours at your local mall and observe where people who speak that language tend to gather. Are they in the food court? How about on a bench near a particular store? Now, of course, this will depend greatly on your local population and whether or not you have a population who speak that language as their native language, but if you live in such an area, head to your mall regularly. Notice where people are when you hear them speaking that language. This is very important.

Once you have isolated one or two spots, find a moment when you can go up and speak to them. Greet them with your sincere, pleasant smile using their language. Maybe throw in what a great day it is so far. Then stop talking. Wait for their response. Most people hate silence and once you have engaged them, they feel obligated to say a few words back.

If they return the greeting, ask them right away if they would mind practicing their language with you just for a few moments. You might want to make sure you have this first part memorized enough so that you can deliver it with a bit of ease. Make sure your greeting and follow up expression is appropriate to the location in the mall. You might be surprised, depending on the moment, that people can spare some time to practice their language with you. Once you get past this initial approach and question, it is a little less scary because you have broken that ice.

Now it is up to you to find topics to talk about such as yourself, shopping, sports, family, etc. Keep it simple and try not to dwell on yourself. Also try to stay away from explosive topics such as religion and politics. Your goal is to increase the number of positive encounters as much as possible.

Once they have left, stay a while longer and see if anybody else shows up and try it again. Keep going back to the mall and keep trying. You may strike out, but it is very important to keep trying. I feel it's very important that introverts do exercises like this because they have the added obstacle of overcoming their shyness. It won't one day make them extroverts, but it will become easier for you to do this with the more practice you have.

You want to be genuine, honest, sincere and kind. Act how you would like others to treat you. Don't stalk or creep people out. Let these encounters be casual and inviting. Remember, they are doing you the favor of practicing your language skills. If people are not able to speak with you, be humble and gracious about it. Practice a good closing phrase. If you leave on good terms, they might spend some time with you another time.

You may find that you have better luck with people who are by themselves or with children rather than groups of people. Groups tend to be chatty with each other and less interested in strangers speaking to them. You can do this! Just plan that trip to the mall right now. Best of luck!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

New Adventures!

Planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking country is the ultimate reward for studying a foreign language. When

you can set foot in a location where your new language is living day in and day out, you get a sense of excitement, of anticipation, of adventure!

I talk about traveling in Chapter 6 of my book, "So You Want to Learn Spanish?". In it, you can really challenge yourself on the language skills you have obtained to that point. Part of traveling is the desire for adventure -- to experience new, different and interesting sites, people and history. I came across a web site that may help you in your planning stages for that upcoming trip. It's called Get Your Guide.

On the site, you enter in the location of where you are headed followed by the date you will arrive and the date you will leave. It will search for tours, special events, activities and attractions that some guide books may miss for that specific city. Some of the items it pulls up may be time and date specific which makes it all the more interesting.

For example, I am planning a much anticipated trip to Spain in 2014. When I arrive in Sevilla in March, I found out about a 3-hour Tapas Tour that I could enjoy while I'm there. It's a private tour that takes you to creatively selected tapas bars that you may or may not normally stumble upon if you just arrived. How fun and unique would that be?! Most of the activities do cost money to participate; however, there are some that are totally free too. For Sevilla, I found a free 2-hour walking tour of the city with a local guide. Would I chip in something for the guide afterward? Of course, but at least it would be on my terms and taste.

So if you are planning that much awaited trip to try out your new language skills, check out your destination on Get Your Guide and see what creative ways you can see the sights. You may be surprised at what different ways there are and how marrying some fun activity along with a tour can help pass jet lag and boredom.

Happy and fun travels!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Beginning Frustrations

Sometimes learning a foreign language can be a lonely endeavor. This is especially true if you are not taking a class with other beginning language students. Maybe you are shy, or sometimes family and friends are just not interested in learning a new language or have other obligations to spend their time. This can often create frustrations for beginners who desperately want to learn the language they are studying.

Let's look at some options that are certainly on the table:

1. You can search for others who are just beginning that language and try to establish routine meetings or chats. In large cities, there could be many people just starting out learning a language and, like you, need someone to interact with using that language. What a better way than to meet up? There are internet sites that let you do just that: Meetup.com, livemocha.com, and Google Hangouts just to name a few. If you find someone local, see if they are up for meeting in a well lit public location -- maybe for coffee (café). You don't have to date the person, just talk with them using what you already know in the language you are learning and see where the conversation takes you! Local community colleges, universities, community centers, and libraries are also very good places to post announcements seeking people to meet up with and share your love of a new language.


2. Read stories out loud. Recently, scientists discovered that seeing and listening have much more to do with each other in terms of learning a language than ever thought! You can read the article here. Find easy stories, short stories, or children's stories in your new language and start reading them in a normal speaking voice. If you are self-conscious, I recommend doing this activity behind a locked door. The combination of seeing and hearing yourself speak each word on the page can improve your diction and rhythm of the language. In time, you will see that speaking the language is easier than it was before. In fact, I always recommend to brand new students to read everything out loud in the new language. You can always go back over the text to concentrate on the meanings of the words, but give it a shot at least once.

3. Like option number 1 above, seek out conversation groups for beginners in your new language. Most major cities will have them if it is a common enough language. Again, check out community colleges, coffee shops, libraries, post offices, community centers and universities to see if there are groups in your area for beginners. Each group may be different in what they do with their time together. There are a couple of groups in Phoenix that get together once a week or twice a month and do mock interviews with each other, come prepared to discuss short stories, poems or new articles written in that language. Some groups may get together just for coffee, dinner, or an outing, an event or activity ("movie night" is a common theme). There is a lot you can do in a group. You can feel less intimidated than if you are one on one with another person whose speaking ability might be a bit better than your own. In groups, you may find more than one in your same situation. Check them out. They are a great option.

4. Larger cities may have parks or central locations where native people who speak your new language hang out with family and friends. Do a walk through and walk up to people greeting them with a pleasant "hello!" and a bright smile. You'd be bit surprised to know they may welcome a small chat with you in their language.

5. The internet these days has improved by leaps and bounds since the early 2000's and even the 90's. Skype is an excellent option for those with a webcam and/or microphone to find chat rooms for beginners and start speaking your new language. Other sites may have similar webcam chat rooms that allow you to visit and see people from all across the world. Try to find a native speaker of your new language. They may welcome the help with their English in exchange for help with their language.

6. Find music you love in your new language. Music is a magical means to connect you to a new level with a language. Hearing, seeing the words, singing along with the artist, and jamming to the beat can really increase your motivation with the language, but help with diction, rhythm, and self-confidence in producing the language in normal conversations. The key here is to sing along with the music. That is the only way to improve your speaking that language. The more you can imitate the singer and how they sing the words, the more your own speech will improve.

The bottom line is it comes down to getting yourself out there and speaking your new language. Find opportunities in life to use your language skills that you have. Native speakers will be tickled that you are trying to communicate to them in their language and will often go out of their way to help you succeed. Even if that doesn't happen, you will have given it a try and helped yourself to more practice.

Every language learner must begin at the beginning. They may have advanced skills with their own native language, but their new language skills are still at the infancy stage. Don't get frustrated by that at all. Everyone has to be there at some point. This just happens to be your moment to be at the skill level you are at. The important thing to remember is that you will not remain at that level forever. If you work hard at it each day, you will improve. If you choose to give up, you will not improve. I say, if you're going to try learning a language, why not take the path of working hard at it and improving a little bit than giving up and wasting all of that time and effort. Once you're at the bottom, you can only go up, my friend!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

The Double Verb-Subject Confusion

Very beginning Spanish learners who happen to be English speakers tend to confuse conjugated verbs as subjects. When this happens, you get two conjugated verbs right next to each other in the same sentence.

Recently, a student of mine said the following sentence:

"Son llamo Alicia."

I've also heard students say:

"Me llamo es Carlos."

Perhaps there is some confusion with the words used to clearly state what you are saying. After all, verbs and subjects can be a bit tricky in Spanish.

Both examples above have two conjugated verbs in the sentence: son and llamo in the first and llamo and es in the second. Son means 'they (you all) are.' Llamo is part of the reflexive verb, llamarse, or 'to call oneself.' Es is part of the same verb as son, but means 'he, she, you or it is.'

If we translate the first example, it would say:

"They are I call Alice."

And the second example would be:

"I call myself is Carl."

As you can see, with two conjugated verbs in the same sentence, it does not make much sense at all. Remember your subjects are the following:

Yo -- I

Tú -- You (familiar/informal)

El, Ella, Vd. -- He, She, You (formal)

Nosotros/Nosotras -- We

Vosotros/Vosotras -- You All, They (familiar/informal)

Ellos, Ellas, Vds. -- They, You All (formal)

Know the subject of your sentence first. In the above examples, you would most likely use "Yo" or I to state who you are. Then you will need a verb to express what you are doing:

Ser		Llamarse
To be		To call oneself
(Yo) Soy	I am	(Yo) Me llamo	I call myself
(Tú) Eres	You are	(Tú) Te llamas	You call yourself
(El, Ella, Vd.) Es	He, She or You are	(El, Ella, Vd.) Se llama	He, She or You call yourself
(Nosotros/Nosotras) Somos	We are	(Nosotros/Nosotras) Nos llamamos	We call ourselves
(Vosotros/Vosotras) Soís	You all, They  are	(Vosotros/Vosotras) Os llamáis	You all, They call yourselves
(Ellos, Ellas, Vds.) Son	They, You all are	(Ellos, Ellas, Vds.) Se llaman	They, You all call yourselves

You may combine the subject and the conjugated verb together in the sentence to emphasize who you are speaking about, but it is not recommended nor necessary as the verb in its conjugated form will already let the listener/reader know the subject of the sentence.

So going back to the two examples at the beginning, you could say the following:

"(Yo) Soy Alicia." or "(Yo) Me llamo Alicia."

And in the second example:

"(Yo) Me llamo Carlos." or "(Yo) Soy Carlos."

To wrap up, know who the subject of your sentence is (I, you, he, she, we, they, you all, etc.), then conjugate the verb to that subject and you're all set! Pretty simple, right? Let me know if you run into any questions on the above information.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Summer Series: Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency Winners!

This summer has gone by fast! Hopefully you have had some fun throughout this Summer Series. I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me and this blog throughout the summer and hope you found some, if not all, of the ten ways interesting or at least gleamed or got inspired by something that you did not know before. The summer book giveaway was a huge success! There were 1,301 people who registered to win a copy. ¡Mil gracias!

Here are the names of people who won one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?:

Lesslie Gonzalez Zoe Chang Rebecca Gilbert Ashley Van Buren Branden Vanscoy Sarah Goldberg Elisabeth Byers Erin Glim Frank Polgar Lisa To

Congratulations to all of the above winners! Your book was mailed out this past Monday to the address you provided. According to USPS Track and Confirm, all of the books have arrived at their destinations. Happy reading!

For those who still would like to read my book chock full of practical tips, ideas and ways to get on the fast track to learning Spanish, you can still get your copy online here.

Summer might be over, but I'm still posting on my blog. Check back here often to learn new things about Spanish! I enjoy mixing it up a bit by writing about cultural aspects, vocabulary, idioms, videos clips, audio clips and of course, grammar. There is a lot to learn and explore. Let's do it together! Have some fun and feel free to post a comment on this blog. I can answer questions you may have about the Spanish language or cultural curiosities. I'm here for you! Until next time . . .

¡Hasta luego!

~Keith

Summer Series: Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency Wrap-Up!

Thank you all for spending this summer learning 10 great ways to Spanish fluency! I truly hope you have found value in my ten ways. Let's recap what they all are:

1. Take a class or hire a tutor.
2. Practice what you have learned each day for at least 30 minutes.
3. Try to speak to people who know Spanish.
4. Watch television or video clips in Spanish.
5. Listen to Spanish on the radio.
6. Read magazines, newspapers or else written in Spanish.
7. Search for Internet sites to visit for activities, lessons, games and much more in Spanish.
8. Join a community Spanish club to practice your speaking and interaction skills.
9. Have dinner at a Spanish restaurant and order your meal in Spanish.
10. Plan a trip to a Spanish-speaking country.

Each and every way to Spanish fluency forces you to break down limitations, confront your own fears and insecurities, and establish your own skills and abilities. You will not remain a beginner forever. These methods will bring you to the next level quickly. The more exposure you have to the language you are learning, the better you will train your mind to use that language.

You have it in you to learn Spanish. You can do it! Millions of people learn this language every day. They incorporate it into their lives. These ten ways can turn your desire to learn Spanish into a reality! The only thing holding you back is inaction. Sit down and make a list on how you plan to accomplish each of the ten ways. Pin that list up on a bulletin board, bathroom mirror, or computer monitor. Place it someplace you will see each and every day. Ask yourself what you are going to do that day to fulfill one or more of the items on your list. See if you can make some phone calls, do some web searches or plan a visit to enact some of those steps. If you break them down into smaller tasks, it will be easier to handle.

I have full confidence that you can do it. I invite you to contact me either through posting a comment to this blog, posting a message on my So You Want to Learn Spanish? Facebook page or sending me a private communication through the True Blue Dolphin Publishing website. I would love to hear of your progress.

Since the summer giveaway for 10 free, autographed copies of my book just ended, next Friday, I will announce the winners. The books will be mailed out shortly. Winners: please give me a couple of weeks to process all of them. Trust me, you will receive it!

Even though summer has ended, "Like" my book's Facebook page and subscribe to this blog. As I come across more Spanish resources, I like to pass them onto you using those methods. Happy learning, happy speaking, happy living life to its fullest!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Summer Series: ¡Número Diez!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 10:  Watch below for my final way to Spanish fluency:

Part of learning a language such as Spanish is to experience the culture of another people. The best way to do that is by traveling. Traveling opens up a whole new world to you. You can physically be in the moment of a town closing up for a Spanish siesta (nap) in the afternoon, smell the rich tapas (small Spanish savory dishes) or your heart pounding inside a bull fight arena. Learn how other cultures have influenced a people first hand. Visit relics of their past and what makes them the way they are today.

As a tourist you can interact with anyone in Spanish you come in contact with along your travels. You will meet people on the street, a coffee shop, store, hotel, museum or any of the countless places during the day and restful or toe-tapping night spots.

If you have developed any Skype or Google Hang Out friends from a Spanish-speaking country, see if they can show you around their city or town. Just mention to them that you're planning a trip to their area and wonder if they would be available to meet in person and hang out. Not only would you have a personal tour guide, but someone who you've gotten to know on a different level; someone who isn't brand new or off the street.

Even if you can only spend a few days traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, it can provide you with many memories to last a lifetime. Fill up your picture books. Create video movie clips. Re-experience your trip for years to come. It can be a good source of conversation in Spanish. Ultimately it can inspire you to seek out more of the world. It has been said that besides English and Mandarin, Spanish is one of the top three most spoken languages in the world. Happy travels! (¡Buen viaje!)

Do you want your own personal copy of Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency? Buy my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, today and find ways to learn Spanish. On sale now. See below for details.

You have one last chance! The drawing for one of 10 autographed copies of my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, will end at midnight (Phoenix, Arizona time) on Thursday, August 22, 2013. If you haven't registered to win your copy, you don't have much time at all. Take just a few moments and click on the link located at the upper right side of my blog labeled "Goodreads Book Giveaway" to enter. You can't win if you don't register. Best of luck to you!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Nueve!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 9:  My ninth way to Spanish fluency can be viewed right here:

My previous tip had you seeking out or creating your own Spanish conversation group. This tip is a wonderful way to break the ice for your Spanish conversation group. You can meet up at a Spanish restaurant, converse with one another in Spanish and order your meal in Spanish if the wait staff speaks the language. Perhaps you can call ahead to find out if someone could wait on your table in Spanish.

This tip is another way for you to use your Spanish on a more frequency basis. Part of developing your fluency to the language is finding (and sometimes creating) opportunities to speak the language. If you take the action to go out and have dinner at a Spanish restaurant and conduct your business in Spanish, this will truly help your self-confidence. Groups are fine and good, but over time, you get "use to" each other and tend to be more lax in your Spanish. But in a more formal setting, this will bring you back to Earth. You will know whether or not your formal Spanish is up to snuff.

Familiarize how to order in Spanish. Look up different ways to order in Spanish. Transparent Language has a blog which may help you do just that here.

Try different foods than your typical Spanish restaurant order. This is a great way to really explore new flavors, words and textures to enhance your dining experience. If you can afford to do this regularly, it will help you establish yourself in public as someone who can hold their own in Spanish.

Can't wait to find out my tenth way to Spanish fluency? Get my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, for sale now. See below for details.

There is not too many more chances left to register to win one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book that I'm giving away for this Summer Series. You will see where to click on the top right for your chance to win. Best of luck to you!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Ocho!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 8:  I'm introducing my eighth way to Spanish fluency in this brief video:

Practicing your Spanish is key. Get out there and use what you know. Don't be afraid to use what you just learned too. Speaking Spanish to others is a great way to work out the kinks when you are unsure of how to say things. Conversation groups are the best way to explore and play around in a new language.

These groups can be a great way to meet new friends who also share an interest in Spanish. Some groups plan actual activities or outings to engage conversation and good times. Other groups are more laid back discussing poems, articles and books.

For those who live in rural areas, use the Internet to set up groups within your community. Craig's List and Meetup.com are great places to set up a group. Schedule a meeting in public places such as libraries, community centers, or coffee shops. Create a simple flyer to post at your grocery store, church or downtown. You can set up a generic email address to have people respond or RSVP directly to that address without having strangers use your own address. You can always get a free Google email account.

If you want to merge your Spanish conversation group with a subject you truly love, make that known. For example, you can have a group who loves movies and Spanish where you post a specific Spanish movie asking people to rent or borrow it from the library and come to the meeting to discuss it in Spanish. You can do that for books, articles, photography outings, bowling or whatever your heart desires. Be creative! Have fun!

Here in Phoenix, there are a couple of groups based in different parts of the valley and for different Spanish speaking abilities (such as beginners and intermediate/advanced speakers). Bottom line is to be safe by meeting in public areas. If you plan on setting up your own group, specify the parameters of the group (who you will allow into the group) and what rules your group will follow.

You can also seek out groups that already exist in your community too. The lazy way out is to search for online conversational groups. These usually will use a webcam and/or microphone. Google Hang Outs is a great way to search for groups online. Skype is another format to search for groups. There are many more out there so don't be afraid to hunt them down.

Hopefully I have given you some good ideas of where to find groups of people who want to learn or maintain their Spanish speaking abilities. Part of communicating in Spanish is speaking. Get out there and speak!

Love this tip to Spanish fluency? Check out more ways to improve your Spanish. Get my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish? It's on sale now. See below for details.

There is just a few weeks left of my summer giveaway. Register to win one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book. Click on the link to the right of this blog post for your chance to win. Best of luck to you!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Siete!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 7:  Here is a video clip to number seven on Keith's 10 ways to Spanish fluency:

The Internet has a vast amount open to language learners. It's incredible! I wish I had access to this valuable resource when I was learning Spanish. It would have really helped me in leaps and bounds.

Use the Internet to find sites that help reinforce what you are learning of the language. With your awareness of your own learning style, you can tailor exactly the sites you need to increase your Spanish fluency. Here are ten great sites to get you started:

• FreeLanguage.org has a fantastic site dedicated to learning languages on the cheap or for free. They provide links to many sites on the Net to make learning Spanish fun and interesting.
• SpanishPod101.com produces a free podcast each day. You may pay for more access and additional tools.
• LoMásTv.com has lots of videos to watch in Spanish. Find something interesting to view online.
• VienteMundos.com publishes monthly articles in Spanish on many interesting topics of Latino and Spanish culture. Plus they have a native speaker read the article in Spanish if you wish to hear it. This is an incredible benefit to you auditory learners!
• Spanish Language and Culture with Barbara Kuczun is a wonderful site to learn Spanish. There are activities, videos, audio clips and dedicating grammar topics to learn.
• Professor Jason Online contains countless videos on grammar points for Spanish from an actual university Spanish professor!
• Spanish Grammar Lessons is a neat site to help you with learning Spanish grammar. There are little activities to make it interactive and helpful to master various grammar topics.
• StudySpanish.com has a complete site for learning pronunciation, verbs and other grammar points in Spanish.
• Super Spanish Websites is a vast collection of sites on the web for all age levels, ability levels, and tastes. There are games, activities, videos, lessons, and so much more!
• British Broadcast Channel Spanish site has a whole interactive video series to learn Spanish as well as games, learning tips, and other interesting factoids about Spanish.

There are many more resources and websites in my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, for sale now. See below to get your copy today.

The finish line is in sight. Win your free copy of my book! Register for my book giveaway on the top right for your chance to win. Best of luck to you!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Seis!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 6:  I have a brief video clip showcasing my sixth way to Spanish fluency:

Pick up what you can in Spanish. There are tons of material out there to choose. For this way to improve your Spanish fluency, you need to find reading material in the language. But don't stop there! You need to read it.

If you're strapped for cash, go to your local library and find books, magazines and newspapers in Spanish. The library is an incredible resource. I just went there the other day. Everything is so automatic and digitized. It can really leave you dazed if you think about it. My library has computer terminals where you can search for material online to read. Often times, you will find magazines and newspapers that the library cannot have on hand in a more tangible format. I recommend checking out all of your options and there are certainly quite a few to seek out.

Once you have items to read. Go through and start reading in Spanish. You will come across unfamiliar words. Jot them down in a journal. When you have finished reading the passages, go look up in a Spanish-English dictionary those words you wrote down. Write out their meanings as they would make sense in the sentence where you found them. Now go back and read it again.

The words you have placed in your journal can now be used as new vocabulary words. Create some flashcards (either using index cards or find a free or low cost app on your smartphone or tablet). Review the words and their meanings. Take those words and create new sentences using each one. Try to incorporate them into your memory. This is a wonderful way to learn new words and expand your vocabulary!

As I have mentioned in my previous ways to Spanish fluency, it is important to tie together subjects you have a great deal of interest. This helps drive learning Spanish as a positive motivator. If something is unpleasant, you will spend less time doing it. We want to take away obstacles that impede you gaining the fluency you want in Spanish.

You don't know what you're interested in? Make a list of activities you enjoy, items you often read about, things you like to make or do both inside and outside the home. I'm sure before you know it, you'll have quite a list of topics you can cross reference with books, magazines and articles in Spanish. Happy reading!

I have many more ways to improve your Spanish. My book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, is for sale now. See below for details.

We are just about half way through summer. Don't forget to register to win one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book that I'm giving away for this Summer Series. You will see where to click on the top right for your chance to win. Best of luck to you!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Cinco!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 5:  Enjoy this little video clip introducing my fifth way to Spanish fluency:

According to a 2011 U.S. Census report, over 121 million people commute to work between 1-59 minutes. Close to 11 million have commutes of over 1 hour in the car (source URL: http://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/files/2012/ACS-20.pdf). That's a lot of time in the vehicle over the course of 1 year if you double it (going to and from work each day). There is not much you can do in the car. What can you do? Turn on the radio and talk to passengers. That's about it. And if you do more, I highly suggest you don't for your safety as well as other people's security! Why not turn that time into practice and study time by learning Spanish?

If you live in a large populous area, there very well may be a few stations dedicated to Spanish-speaking groups. Check them out to see if you can understand what they are saying. Better yet, check out a CD on learning Spanish from your local library and practice with that on your commute. I download MP3 content off the Internet onto a jump drive and plug that into my car's USB port and listen to podcasts in Spanish. Our vehicles have made great strides over the past 10 years in terms of technology and comfort. Put them to good use.

This is not isolated to the morning and evening commute. If you work out at a gym, go running, walk in the park, take the dog out for a walk and gardening, spend that time listening to Spanish on an MP3 player or portable headset. You can start and stop it at any time, but take advantage of your valuable time. When I'm at work in front of the computer, I have Spanish/Latino music playing. At any given moment, I can stop what I am doing and concentrate on what they are singing. My point is there are multitude of ways to listen to the spoken Spanish word and fit that into your busy schedule. Take a moment right now and jot down your daily activities during the word week and then again on weekends. Ask yourself if you can turn on a radio, bring along an MP3 player during any of those activities. I think you'll be surprised at the amount of time you can find to hearing Spanish on a daily basis.

Listening to Spanish will help your comprehension of the language. If you can listen to Internet radio through a portable device (like a smart phone or the like), try listening to different regions of the Spanish-speaking world. You will find different accents within Spanish. Spend several days or weeks to trying to figure out that dialect of Spanish. You can switch it up by going to another region.

Emulate what you hear. This is the best way to improve your speech. Repeat what you hear and understand. Talk radio stations are best for this type of exercise. Tailor this activity to when you are alone (like in a car drive to work or gardening). Train your brain to speak like a Spaniard or a Guatemalan or an Argentine person. It can be fun!

Learn more ways to improve your Spanish. Get a copy of my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, on sale now. See below for details.

Summer is flying by! If you haven't done so already, register to win one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book that I'm giving away for this Summer Series. Just click on the details panel to the right for your chance to win. Good luck!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Cuatro!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 4:  I have a video clip to introduce my fourth way to Spanish fluency:

Don't underestimate the power of video in the learning process. Even though it is a passive format, if you study it closely, you can learn a great deal about Spanish. Watching something will train your eye to situations and help you to read body language better. This will come in handy when you are out and about and you must read another person's body language in addition to what they are saying. Context will help you along the way.

Once you have grasped the situation, focus on listening to the words used. Key in on certain words first by identifying the ones you know. Notice how people form their sentences, expressions and questions. Try to study and emulate the phrases and intonations. DVR's are wonderful for these purposes because you can pause and play instantly over live or recorded TV. If you do not have a DVR, then try accessing videos through the Internet. You will have the same capability. You may also move to shows and movies on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Use the Internet to help you find what interests you the most. As I've said in the past, the more you can tailor your Spanish learning to activities you enjoy, the more enjoyable this process will be. Like shows and movies you watch in English, there are similar ones in Spanish.

I would highly recommend choosing original Spanish shows and movies over translated or dubbed ones. The reason being is that sometimes translations can be off a bit. It all depends on the ability of the translator which can vary greatly. One example I remember is when a character shouted "Fire!" to command someone to shoot a gun, the Spanish translation used was "¡Fuego!" which is literally a fire and has nothing to do with shooting a gun. Until you have studied Spanish enough and can spot these mis-translations, stay away from these types of shows and films.

Pick up your copy of my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, on sale now. I share many ways for you to practice Spanish. See below for more details.

You can still register to win one of 10 free, autographed copies of my book that I'm giving away for this Summer Series. Just click on the link in the panel to the right for your chance to win. Good luck!

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Tres!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

# 3:  Let me introduce the third way to Spanish fluency through this little video clip:

One very important reason for learning a language is to express yourself using that language. In fact, these days you see "conversational" language classes popping up all over. People feel that speaking the language is the ultimate goal for any language they learn. Even if it isn't your main goal, it should be high on your list to achieve.

Being in situations which rely on your wit and prowess to maintain a coherent conversation is a way to know you have mastered Spanish. Your adrenaline will coarse quicker through your body as you select the words and formation of each statement. I am sure at first you will think of responses in English and try translating them into Spanish before forming them on your lips. That is a completely normal thing to do. As you become more comfortable with speaking, you will soon not need to translate as much and the language will come naturally.

Building bridges (or relationships) with people who speak Spanish will help you in many ways. It will show them you are taking initiative to express meaning in a very personal way. One that touches them to the core of their being. They will be touched by the gesture. They want to see you succeed as well. Often they may provide assistance with new vocabulary words, idioms or correct grammar utterances. Hearing it from someone who speaks Spanish can be a great way to learn and master the linguistic nuances.

You will be surprised at who all knows Spanish in your community. Perhaps the local barista in the coffee shop at the corner, or the grocery clerk who bags your groceries, or a teller at a bank, or a church member, or co-worker, or the neighbors down the street would be great candidates to approach and try speaking to them in Spanish. Don't worry if you do not know them personally or even professionally. A quick "hello" in passing could be just enough on a regular basis to start a new relationship. If you've heard them speak Spanish before, try speaking to them in their language. Back that up with a bright and sincere smile -- maybe a hand shake if the situation is appropriate. Your body language will tell them that you are just being kind to them and should return in kind. Ask them how they are doing and be prepared with a response if they ask you the same.

Continue greeting the person as you see them. This is a wonderful way to try expanding beyond simple pleasantries and into longer conversations. Try talking about the weather or the game on Sunday. You can size up the person to know which way to go with the conversation. Maybe they will be the one to increase the exchange. If so, be prepared to inform them that you are just learning Spanish and that you will need their patience along the way. Simply say "Gracias, pero hablo español un poquito" (Thank you, but I speak Spanish a little bit) or "Todavía aprendo español" (I am still learning Spanish) should suffice. Focus on how you deliver your Spanish. Sound positive and pleasant and you will be just fine.

I have many other ways to practice Spanish in my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, on sale now. See below for more details.

Time is a ticking on my 10 free, autographed copies of my book that I'm giving away. Register by clicking on the details panel to the right for your chance to win.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!

Summer Series: ¡Número Dos!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

From my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?:

2. Practice what you have learned each day for at least 30 minutes. Experts say that if you expose yourself a hundred times or more to a new word, grammar point, idiom, song or whatever, that you will truly have learned it. It will be integrated into your long term memory. If you read aloud, do verb drills, talk to your dog or cat, use a software program, play some interactive language games or something that forces you to use your brain in the other language, you’re going to make great progress. I've had students post vocabulary cards throughout their home and physically move throughout their dwelling picking up things, sitting down, turning on and saying what they are doing – in Spanish – each step of the way. This commits names of objects to memory. As you try to remember words, you can recall your actions to help trigger the words you need. I even have soap (jabón), shampoo (champú) and conditioner (condicionador) dispensers labeled in Spanish in the shower! This forces you to remember to use the language day in and day out.

Practice, practice, practice. It seems like anything you do in life you must practice at it. Learning a language is no different. If you expect to get good at it, you must spend some time to practice it.

Think of practicing as your brain's way of building up its muscle. When you go to the gym and lift weights or swim some laps, you are developing muscles and organs. Lifting weights develop your muscles and coordinated muscle groups to work together in harmony. Swimming allows your lungs, heart and overall cardiovascular health to improve. Spending at least 30 minutes to speak, read, and/or write in another language will grow your mind too.

You will find that other things will develop along with learning a new language. Your mind will improve your critical thinking and reasoning skills, memory recall will quicken, speech and verbal articulation will enhance and above all else, self-confidence in going out in public and speaking in that foreign language. As humans, making public fools of ourselves is something to be avoided. Practicing your Spanish every day will help you avoid a "mi culpa" (my fault) moment.

It is important to discover ways to make practicing Spanish fun. It has been said that when children play, they are actually working. They are working to improve their cognitive and physical abilities in order to function as an adult in a much larger world. Children have fun playing and in doing so, it improves their learning. Find ways to do the same when you practice. Make learning fun and enjoyable!

One tip is to pair learning Spanish up with another fun activity that you enjoy doing. For example, if you like photography, research Spanish-speaking photographers and read articles in Spanish regarding their work. Look up and write your own step-by-step process of producing the best picture possible in Spanish. Familiarize yourself with the Spanish vocabulary of photography. Seek out ways to practice talking about photography to others who speak Spanish. There are countless ways to incorporate learning a language with another enjoyable activity or activities (why limit it to just one). Life is way too short to make learning Spanish a drudgery and disconnecting it from real living. The more you find ways to make Spanish come alive through practice, the better at it you will become. Practice hard, practice for at least 30 minutes (longer if you can), but do practice. You will see the results come in spades as time passes.

Find other ways to practice Spanish in my book, So You Want to Learn Spanish?, on sale now. See below for more details.

Also, if you haven't noticed I am giving away 10 free, autographed copies of my book for those who register to win. See the details at the side panel of this page.

¡Hasta luego!
~Keith

Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency can be found in So You Want to Learn Spanish? by Keith Walters

Own the book today and follow along as Keith provides valuable  insights, tips, resources and methods to master the beautiful language of Spanish!