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!