What's the best way to learn Spanish?

Question

I want to be fluent in Spanish to connect with more people, and use it in the workplace. I've taken Spanish since I was in high school but don't feel comfortable speaking beyond basic phrases. What is the best or easiest way to learn Spanish to become fluent?

Answer 1

The best way to become fluent in Spanish is to immerse yourself completely in the language. Although living in a Spanish speaking country is the easiest way to do this, it's not the only way. Other than learning basic grammar from a book, you need to apply your skills by speaking Spanish as much as you can. If you don't use it, you lose it. Try ordering food in Spanish when you go to a Mexican restaurant. Find meetup groups in conversational Spanish. Ask the people you know who are bilingual to only speak and write to you in Spanish and don't let them switch back to English even if you don't understand at first. You need to be surrounded by the language in all forms, listening to it, reading it, writing it, and speaking it. Watch Spanish films, listen to Spanish music, and change your phone settings to Spanish. The fastest way to learn is by using the the language as much as you can. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and start by saying as many words and phrases that you already know. I hope this answer helps, as I have been through the language learning process myself to become bilingual. I am passionate about the Spanish language and am here to help anyone willing to learn!

Answer 2

I agree with the others comments that answered your question before. But I know sometimes it is difficult to travel to other countries in order to learn some language. My recommendation is if you can not travel you can look for some Hispanic friends and practice with them, you can talk about different topics. Also, listen to Hispanic music and go to place where Hispanic people meet, like a club.

Of course having a personal teacher is good but the teacher must be prepared to teach you according to modern rules about teaching second language, because you want to be able to communicate and not only learn about grammatical rules.

Answer 3

I wholeheartedly agree with Candace W. in that the best way to learn any language is to fully immerse yourself in the culture and language of which you desire to learn. What I will add is that because Spanish finds itself spoken in many countries, it has taken upon itself many different variations: different accents, customs, vocabulary, and word forms (vosotros vs. nosotros). Because of this fluidity of the Spanish language, it is imperative to find a culture which you find particularly interesting and become passionate about it, hopefully driving your interests to strive towards reaching a bilingual state. Personally, I speak Spanish with a Castilian accent from Spain, and it is my connections to this country which fuels my passion and love for the language. That does not mean I do not have a a great appreciation and reverence for other Spanish speaking countries, but it does mean that because I have this connection to a particular country, I have a special drive to keep my Spanish polished and ready for use. I love the Spanish language and I am always willing to share that love with any ready to listen and learn!