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!

Summer Series: ¡Número Uno!

Keith's Ten Ways to Spanish Fluency

Hopefully you all have had a chance to discover the type of learner you are. It will be very important to have that information as you move through each of my ten ways to Spanish fluency. If not, please go back and do the self-assessment check here.

# 1:  I will be introducing my first "way" through a brief video clip. Have a listen to number 1:

Classes and tutoring sessions can be an important facet to learning another language. Like I said in my book So You Want to Learn Spanish?, it will force ". . . accountability onto you, the student." You will need to demonstrate what you have learned to the instructor or tutor. I don't want you to think you can just avoid doing any work at all! Be forewarned that if you do, you'll be wasting a lot of time and money. I'm sure those are two things that you do not want to waste.

Another advantage is having quick access to someone who knows the language, its people and culture. They can open up a whole new world of engaging learning. Provide you with important trinkets of experience that you may not learn by reading a book or watching a video.

Utilize their educational training. Educators all learn how to adapt to the learning styles of their students. Share your particular learning style. They can often factor that into how they deliver the lessons. They can provide automatic feedback on your language usage and abilities. Finally, they can let you know where you need to focus your attention more during private or group study sessions.

There is a lot that can be said for structured learning. People say it can tie you down and limit your own learning. To a certain extent that is a true statement. But if you use your time in class or in front of a tutor wisely, it can be one of many tools in your arsenal to learn Spanish. This will not put you at any disadvantage. I like to view it as a stepping stone to language independence! You keep progressing more and more until one day, you are free and able to go about using it responsibly and with knowledge and wisdom behind you.

I speak more in-depth on both classroom learning and tutoring in my book. To make sure you are getting your money's worth, consider purchasing a copy today. Stay tuned for my second way to Spanish fluency.

¡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: Keith's 10 Ways to Spanish Fluency!

¡Bienvenidos! (Welcome!)

You would be surprised that I receive a lot of questions surrounding the best way to learn Spanish. The major reason for writing my book So You Want to Learn Spanish? was to depart that knowledge to brand new Spanish language learners -- people who are new to learning the language, but are unsure as to how to go about learning it. I want to devote the next several weeks to exploring my top ten ways to help improve your knowledge of Spanish.

It may be quite a challenge for you. I understand how you feel. I went through the same thing when I learned Spanish. Everyone who goes out to learn a foreign language understands this challenge. If you truly think about it, there are millions of people who learn another language all over this planet. Most have the benefit of learning it while they are young. That does not mean you cannot learn a language. Adults do it every day. You can be one of those millions who learn Spanish. As a mantra, I want you to promise that you will say to yourself that you can learn Spanish. Internalize this saying. Repeat it each and every day. The more you do, the more you will believe it can be done.

Know that you will make mistakes learning another language. The key is to learn from those mistakes. Like a child who learns to walk, there are many stages to the process. At first, they use their muscles to lift off the ground and balance. Then they try synchronized movements of their arms and legs to crawl. Next, they improve their leg muscles by lifting again and balancing on their feet. With their arms helping, they can walk from location to another until finally they take those few precious steps to a new goal. The child fails throughout this entire process by falling down, slipping, banging their head and getting hurt. They cry and become frustrated, but they continue to try and walk. Metaphorically, you will go through a similar process. You will make mistakes, become frustrated (maybe cry?) and pick yourself up and keep on trying. The point is to never give up trying. Don't be a child who will never learn to walk -- who never learns the joy of independence and self-worth. You have the tools inside you to do great things. Learning Spanish can be another thing you do great!

The next thing to do is understand yourself. How do you feel comfortable learning something? Do you prefer watching a video? How about reading instructions? Or do you need to just do it yourself and compare the results afterwards? The more you acquaint yourself to how you learn best, the easier it will be to learn Spanish. You can take advantage of this information to tailor your learning of the language and make faster strides.

Before we begin this journey together, take a few moments to complete this self-assessment here.

The self-assessment will tell you your learning style. It is an important piece of the puzzle to unlock your own potential. Learn about yourself so you can better leverage that information when learning Spanish. Feel free to comment here about your learning style and learning experiences. Until next week . . .

¡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!