Need to learn how to speak Spanish for a long trip to Spain. How should I start?

Question

Hello! I'm looking for some help in learning to speak Spanish. I will be traveling to Spain in the Spring and would like to start learning Spanish in order to speak with the locals and become more immersed in the culture. I have a bit of a base in the language due to high school Spanish classes, but I feel like a fresh approach to speaking and listening would help me best.

 

What parts of the language should I focus on and how do you think I should go about learning Spanish, specifically for traveling to native speaking countries?

Answer 1

Here are some phrases you might use to be converse with people your own age and perhaps make friends:

Hola. Estoy aprendiendo el español. Me llamo Logan y soy de California (for example). ¿Podemos conversar un poco? ¿Como te llamas? Yo quiero aprender más español. Y si quieres aprender el inglés, yo también te puedo ayudar.

¿Y estudias, o trabajas?

¿Cuál es el mejor restaurante por aquí?

Etc.

There are many friendly phrases you can use, and easily learn, and I can help you tailor make your list of phrases you'd like to learn, to start you on your journey.

Answer 2

Hi Logan! I am from Madrid, Spain. So, if you want I could help you with typical sentences, and vocabulary that belongs there, and some cultural tips. Do you know some Spanish already? What is you level? Are you travelling for business, tourism, as a student? Are you staying at a hotel, or with a Spanish family? We could talk about those topics in Spanish and improve it. You can contact me through Wyzant. I won't charge you for the two first classes. You can try and see if it works and you feel more comfortable. I work online.

Anyway, if you don't want a tutor right now, just look for some videos in Youtube that are from Spain. Mexican Spanish is different from Castellano (Spanish from Spain). But still understandable. Good luck. ¡Buena suerte!

Answer 3

Hi Logan,

 

I would suggest learning key vocabulary words with a focus on verbs. If you decide to take part in an intensive tutoring schedule, then this process will become much more natural and you will find that hearing Spanish will become much easier. However, from the very beginning, it is important to keep your conversations short and sweet with common phrases so that they are easy to remember when you approach someone new.

 

For example, questions like "Where is....", "Can you help....", "Do you know...", etc. would be great to know so that way you can easily plug in essential vocabulary. Key vocabulary might include "right", "left" "straight" (for directions), "police", "store", "food", "passport", "money", "bathroom", etc. 

 

If you are traveling with someone else, it might be a good idea to sit down with them and try out these sentences so that they feel more natural by the time you travel. More than anything, body language tends to help. I would love to know what parts of Central and South America you are traveling to because then I can give a little bit more advice as to what kind of information you should know.

 

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hi Logan,

 

      I suggest you to try to have a lot of vocabulary. The best way to do it is by comparison. There're hundreds of words that it writes the same in English and Spanish. With your high school-Spanish-background will be easy for you to form sentences. 

      Because you're planning travel through Central and South America, a neutral Spanish is the best for you!

Let's meet Online!!!