You can learn Spanish by yourself in just 18 steps

Are you planning a trip to Spain or going there for work? You may need more than a rudimentary knowledge of the language. But, you want to learn it by yourself because:

• It’s much cheaper than joining a course.
• You lead a busy life, and your family commitments make it difficult to attend classes.
• You love being able to learn at your own pace.

If you are truly interested in mastering the Spanish language, you will find the below 18 steps helpful. 

1. Start with the basics of Spanish grammar

Grammar is the foundation of any language. It is also the more technical aspect of a language. Basic grammar and tenses will be a good place to start. 

2. Get your Spanish vocabulary right

Increasing your Spanish vocabulary should be a priority. You could start with the Spanish core words. Choose certain topics and find vocabulary lists on them—for instance, colors, animals, etc.

3. Place labels in your house

Labeling furniture, groceries, rooms, etc. in Spanish is a fun and efficient way to increase your vocabulary. Make simple sentences using these labels.

4. Keep a notebook for Spanish and translate words 

Eight to ten new Spanish words per day is a realistic target. You can translate new Spanish words and jot them down in your notebook or use an app on your smartphone. 

5. Create visual associations

Visual associations are great for committing new vocabulary to memory. They trigger your memory and add new vocabulary to your Spanish language learning.

6. Create Spanish flashcards

Flashcards are useful to learn Spanish. You can write a word in your native language and the Spanish translation on the other side. And, you could add a short sentence using that word, to learn the conjugation of Spanish verbs. 

7. Apps to learn Spanish

One of the more popular ways to learn Spanish is through apps. They fit into your self-study plan and have the added advantage of going wherever you go. What’s more, they are interactive and allow micro-learning. 

8. Use Spanish social media

Most of us have at least one social media profile, and using them to learn Spanish is a no-brainer. We spend hours on our devices, making it easy to use social media platforms. 

9. Listening to Spanish podcasts

You will find several Spanish podcasts that target beginners. They use simple words, and they speak slowly. Listening to podcasts will take you one step closer to listening comprehension. 

10. Find Spanish songs and sing along with printed lyrics

Music is a great tool to learn the language. Since they are easier to listen to while doing chores, you can play them at any time of the day. You can look up the meaning of the lyrics, and listen to the songs again.

11. Subscribe to a Spanish YouTube channel

Self-study of Spanish is fun when you watch a few videos on youtube. You can write down the words you hear and look them up in the dictionary. Then, watch the video again and hear the words in that context.

12. Do dictations

Sometimes, the old practices still work. Dictations help you with Spanish spelling and can improve listening comprehension skills. 

13. Find a Spanish speaker for conversation 

Nothing teaches you a new language like a conversation. You can find someone online as sites help you find someone to converse with. You may also find language exchange groups and join them to practice your Spanish. 

14. Read the news in Spanish

Spanish News websites offer an opportunity to practice your reading skills. You can start your day reading the news in Spanish and make it a part of the daily self-learning plan. 

15. Think in the Spanish language

A conscious effort into thinking in Spanish will go a long way to improve your language fluency. You can have internal conversations about anything as long as you do it in Spanish. 

16. Watch Spanish movies

You can start watching Spanish films with subtitles at first. Then, move on to watching them without subtitles. It is a great way to become familiar with regional accents. 

17. Change the language settings on your devices 

Most of us use a range of devices and they support different languages. You can change the default settings to Spanish and access a range of commonly used words every day. 

18. Start journaling

Journaling is a way of putting your thoughts into words. Beginners may find it challenging, but it is a good practice even if you write just a couple of sentences each day. Or, you can write down a to-do list in Spanish. 

Now, armed with a few steps to master the Spanish language, you are ready to go to a Spanish-speaking country! Hearing nothing but Spanish is sure to enhance your Spanish skills. Start today and commit to the learning process and practice in earnest.