One sure way is to use flashcards! This might seem "old school" to some, but this method really does work. You can modify it to help you learn faster and incorporate new ways of learning Spanish.
I always advocate creating your own flashcards. More kinetic learners do better if they can put their whole body into the process of learning. By making your own flashcards, you are immersed in the activity of creating them just the way you want to help reinforce your learning. This will also expose you to the vocabulary for a longer period of time as you create each card. The more exposure you get to the vocabulary, the better your mind will absorb the new words.
You can purchase through office supply stores or online individual index cards or index cards that have spiral binding. They come in all sorts of colors and sizes. Be creative! Have some fun! Get a certain color for different types of words -- for example all nouns will be in green and all verbs will be in blue. Spiral binding can help keep all one type of vocabulary together. If you want to mix and match, purchase index cards without any binding at all. You can punch a hole in the corner and use a ring clip to combine specific words together.
If you use the ring clip method, one tip is to have all of your vocabulary words on one ring. Then as you learn each word, remove the card to another ring. That way, you have one ring containing all words you need to still learn and the other ring for you to review words you have already learned. It's good to periodically go back and review all of these words.
I have some suggestions before you set out creating each vocabulary card. First, plan out each side of your card and what information you need to see on it to help you remember the word. Second, gather all of your materials together i.e. word lists, picture clippings, permanent markers, etc. Finally, take your time and do them well. You'll be grateful that you spent the time and effort later!
On the Spanish side of the index card, be sure to include the word clearly spelled out. If you have a noun, it is best to also include the definite article (the appropriate Spanish word for "the") along with the noun. For example, write "el agua" for "the water" instead of just "agua." This will help you visually see the correct definite article and help you with the word's gender (if it has one).
For verbs, I suggest you use individual index cards, a cluster of index cards, for each verb. Each card will have one subject pronoun i.e. I, you (familiar), you (formal), he - she - you - it (this can all be on one card if you wish or create separate ones too), we, you all, and they along with the verb. By doing it this way, your brain can focus on a smaller chunk of what it needs to do to remember the meaning of the verb. Instead of only learning the infinitive (the base) of the verb, you can learn the specific conjugations of each verb. For example, write "(Yo) comprender" instead of just "comprender." The (Yo) will give you an activity of conjugating the verb into that subject which is what you will be doing with the verb anyway. Your next card, you would write "(Tú) comprender" and so on and so forth through all the different subjects you wish to learn for that verb.
An added benefit for you visual learners is to add a picture to the Spanish side of the index card. Some experts say that our minds actually tie images to the words we learn. For example, when someone says the word "tree," the theory is that your mind visualizes an actual tree before visualizing the word "tree." By combining a picture along with the Spanish word, you can program your brain to associate the word with that image. This is just a theory, but it is one you might want to try out. Make sure your image does not have any English or other words around or inside of it. Make sure that it is only an image. For verbs, you could find an image of the action of that verb. For example. you could find a picture of a jogger for the verb correr (to run). Again, you can be as creative as you want.
On the English side of the index card, write clearly and keep it simple. Write the English word or meaning in as few of words as possible. The one caveat is if you have a phrase or expression, of course you would provide the English translation of that phrase or expression in as many words as it is necessary. You need to keep this side free from unnecessary gibberish as it can cloud and break down your master of the word. For verbs, you should include the correct conjugation of the verb in Spanish to make sure you did it correctly.
Don't worry, for you audio learners out there, you can modify the flashcard method to fit your needs. I recommend creating brief MP3 recordings of yourself pronouncing the word, then giving the meaning of the word. Make sure you include 5 second spaces in between to allow you to pause and think (or better yet, verbalize) the word in English. Maybe include 10 to 20 words on a single MP3 file. Then you can listen to them on your MP3 players, laptops, computers or tablets wherever you are and practice all you want!
The important part of all of this is to practice your flashcards. Without this crucial step, all of this will be a big waste of your time and energy. You can easily fit flashcards in a bag, backpack, back pocket (if they are small enough) or find a way to bring them with you to waiting rooms, office break rooms, or your bedside nightstand. Use your down time to pull out your flashcards and run through them. It's a great way to stay productive and incorporate learning Spanish throughout the day.
Hopefully you found my tips for flashcards helpful. Write down in the Comment section below your helpful hints or tips as well as how you use the flashcard method in your own language learning.
¡Hasta luego!
~Keith
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