How to Learn Spanish on Your Own

You barely made it through high school Spanish. Even now, the only words you remember are adios and hola. Have you ever thought about trying to learn Spanish as an adult? More and more Spanish-speaking people are moving to the United States. Being able to communicate in their language can benefit you in so many ways. Many companies relentlessly hunt for employees who can speak both Spanish and English. Bilingual individuals are paid more than those who only speak English. More importantly, learning a foreign language is a rewarding way to gain a deep appreciation for another culture. The following are some proven techniques to learn Spanish and have fun at the same time.

BUY SPANISH SOFTWARE
There is an abundance of spanish software on the market that teaches you Spanish vocabulary and grammar. Many include games, speech-recognition technology that monitors your pronunciation, interactive dialogs, and videos.

INVEST IN A GOOD SPANISH/ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Go to your local bookstore and get your hands on a good Spanish/English dictionary. When you are reading something in Spanish, you can use your trusty dictionary to find out the meanings of unfamiliar words.

FIND AMIGOS THAT ARE NATIVE SPANISH SPEAKERS
This is one of the most important ways. It's easier to learn Spanish if you speak Spanish on a regular basis with native speakers. They can laugh at your mistakes and correct you at the same time. Better yet, find a significant other who speaks Spanish. That gives you an extra incentive to learn his/her language. There's nothing like falling in love to motivate you to do something!

GET A SPANISH PEN PAL
There are plenty of web sites that help you to find pen pals from other countries. Web sites like http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/penpals.asp let you browse for pen pals in foreign countries and practice writing their language. You may even be able to voice chat with your new pen friend. This is a fantastic way to learn when there aren't many Spanish-speaking people in your city. Do this and you will be able to hear Spanish spoken by a native speaker...even if they live a world away.

LISTEN TO SPANISH CDs OR CASSETTE TAPES IN YOUR CAR
If you drive to work, you can learn Spanish in your car. Pop a CD or cassette into your player and learn Spanish as you make your commute back and forth to work. Visit any bookstore or online store like Amazon, and you will find more audio Spanish language programs than you can shake a stick at. Learn vocabulary words, grammar, common phrases, and more. Consider purchasing the Pimsleur language program. Many consider it one of the best language learning programs on the market!

READ SPANISH BOOKS AND MAGAZINES
Run down to the library and check out some books written in Spanish. You might even be able to get your hands on some Spanish magazines. Be sure to have that s
Spanish/English dictionary handy so you can look up those unfamiliar words. It's a great way to build your vocabulary and beef up those Spanish skills.

WATCH SPANISH TELEVISION/SPANISH MOVIES
Have you ever heard of telenovelas? They're the Spanish equivalent of American soap operas. You can find them on Spanish channels such as the cable station Univision. Viewing Spanish language shows is an excellent way to work on your listening and comprehension skills. They can also be quite addictive!

MAKE FLASH CARDS
Use index cards to make homemade flash cards. Write vocabulary words on the cards and review them when you're waiting in line at the grocery store, when your taking a fifteen minute break at work, or right before you go to bed at night.

Try these tips and your bad memories of freshman Spanish class will be a thing of the past. You'll become more comfortable with the language, gain an appreciation for other cultures, and be on your way to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker!