Do you want to know how to learn Spanish at home? This is an important question for those who decide to learn a new language by themselves.
This implies a big task, but doing it at your own time and pace is possible. What you need are some tools that will help you to succeed.
Are you up for the challenge? Structure, guidance, discipline, consistency, and self-motivation will become your best friends from here on!
In this article, you’ll find practical tips, techniques, and resources that will show you how to learn Spanish on your own. In the internet era, it would be a crime not to use modern and traditional tools to improve your learning skills and even learn a new language.
The idea is to give you advice and information and show you that this is a realistic goal you can achieve in no time!
But why Spanish? Spanish is the third most spoken language in the world, just behind Mandarin and Hindi, and it is the official language in 21 countries.
This means you will be able to speak to almost 500 million people around the world, travel easier, and connect better with new cultures, perspectives, and ways of seeing life.
It can also improve your hiring chances since bilinguals will most likely get better-paid jobs as translators or bilingual writers. Also, many more jobs are on the rise now!
Are you ready? Here we go!
Join 559 million people on the planet who speak Spanish!
Sign up for your free trial Spanish class today.
How to Start Learning Spanish? Create a Study Plan
First, if you want to know how to learn Spanish by yourself, you need a plan with short, medium, and long-term goals, a calendar, incentives, and ways to reward yourself.
After making a plan, you need to commit to it and be realistic.
So here are some questions to ask yourself:
Are these goals attainable?
Can I commit to this many hours a day or a week to learn Spanish?
What skills and habits do I need to learn Spanish?
Do I start practicing with what I have? Or do I need a curriculum?
When will I be able to speak Spanish with a native speaker?
Don’t worry!
Read ahead to learn how to teach yourself Spanish with easy methods and fun, engaging ways!
How to Learn Spanish: What is your goal?
Have you heard of the SMART goals? You can apply them to anything you want to do in life. It can even help you to learn Spanish!
A SMART goal is a way of making sure that your learning journey is:
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Attainable
R: Relevant
T: Time-bounded.
You will have to choose a way of measuring your goal and ask yourself if it is attainable by the time you want it done.
Here is an example to illustrate better the importance of a SMART goal:
“I want to learn Spanish in 1 year by dedicating 2 hours a day, 5 days a week.”
It is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bounded. You can add specific objectives like learning a lesson weekly or practicing on weekends.
Let’s get to the next step!
Calendar and Little Chunks
It’s easy to learn Spanish but challenging to do all you do at once or without structure. Therefore, we highly recommend having a calendar with outlined lessons.
Here is a guide on How to Get Started on Google calendar. You can use the mobile or desktop version, use it offline, or even print it out for you to have it in a visible place.
Pro-tip: Write down all the contents you need to learn in Spanish from the beginning, not as you go. This will give you the incentive to avoid falling behind.
The next step is about how to fill it out.
What is Your Level? Go By Little Chunks
But what do we mean by learning Spanish in little chunks?
Most languages have a level map that goes from A1 to C2 and are divided into speaking abilities like this:
A1: Introduces oneself and others. Asks for personal information and possessions.
A2: Communicate about simple tasks and habits. Can describe actions in the past tense.
B1: Can write simple texts about familiar topics like experiences, wishes, opinions, and plans.
B2: Can communicate with native speakers and write more detailed texts.
C1: Is fluent and spontaneous. Can speak about academic and social topics easily.
C2: Comprehends almost everything by listening and reading. Contextualizes information.
You can make SMART goals out of each level. If you want to know your level, take the online test.
Here is an example of an A1 plan to learn Spanish.
We suggest you add exercises on each topic in a way that you develop listening, writing, reading, and speaking skills.
The Correct Resources for Learning at Home
Now that you have a plan, your SMART goals, and a curriculum divided into levels and topics, let’s go to the fun part: quick ways to learn Spanish.
In this section, we will give you some simple ideas, but if you commit to them, you will speak Spanish soon!
1. Textbooks
Sounds too traditional? Well, textbooks to learn Spanish are invaluable because they can provide the structure you need if you’re learning from home.
They’re normally divided into topics and can reinforce the lessons with a workbook and even listening materials.
You can use the textbooks as a base for your learning and complement it with the next ideas we will give you.
Here is a compilation of 10 Best Books to Learn Spanish on Your Own. We’re sure that at least one will draw your attention.
2. Online Resources
Online resources have made skills more attainable.
Thanks to the Internet, we consider learning languages or doing more complex endeavors on our own.
Here are some ideas that can complement your textbook and curriculum.
If you want to know how to learn a specific type of Spanish—Mexican, Colombian, Spain—you must try these assets out!
The Language Tutor YouTube Channel: This is a place to learn Spanish language theory. If you’re about to have your first Spanish lesson, we recommend you start with something like this.
Language Transfer SoundCloud Channel: Are you more of a listener? This SoundCloud channel can be a great place to start as well! Check out the intro to understand what you will be getting ahead.
Spanish Playground YouTube Channel: Here, you will find different levels of day-to-day conversations in Spanish at a slow speed and with subtitles, so you can read, listen, and comprehend easily.
Apps: Here is a list of apps to test out and choose the best for your Spanish learning goals. Some have videos, while others have podcasts or are game-based.
3. Listening to Music in Spanish
You can even learn Spanish while cleaning the house!
Check out this Spotify Playlist and listen to some Spanish to get the Full Immersion Experience.
Artists from Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico come together in this playlist to give you a taste of what Spanish can “feel like.”
If you’re into Spanish-Speaking Music, this playlist will encourage you to learn the language and maybe even some dance moves!
Not sure what kind of music you like in Spanish yet?
No problem! Here are 9 Sensational Latin American Music Genres to choose from.
But these songs are the ones you cannot miss: 13 Classic Hispanic Songs You Should Know To Feel Native.
4. Watch Spanish TV Shows and Movies
One of the best tools to learn Spanish is watching TV shows and movies.
Not only you’ll listen to dialogues in native Spanish, but you will also learn how to use idioms, grammar, and spelling if you are watching with the subtitles on.
Eventually, you’ll learn how to contextualize some of the words that are unknown to you and finally master Spanish!
If you want to learn a specific type of Spanish, like Mexican, choose Mexican subtitles. If not, still choose the one you prefer so you can train your ear instead of mixing accents and idioms.
Check out these Spanish-speaking TV shows and movies:
10 Must-See Spanish Shows on Hulu
5 Awesome Spanish Movies on Netflix to Watch Right Now
9 Native Spanish Shows on Amazon Prime to Watch in Latin America
5. Listen to the News
Another great way to learn Spanish is by listening to or watching the news.
But this one seems a bit difficult, right?
What if we tell you there is a thing called News in Slow Spanish?
Your listening skills will be on point after some beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of the news.
You can also adjust the speed if you need more time to process sentences or write down some information.
The Best of The Best: Speak Spanish with Native Speakers at HSA!
The best way to learn Spanish independently is to practice with native speakers.
This is great if you have a close friend who can speak Spanish. Consistency and perseverance in language learning make a difference. At HSA, we can help you with that!
Get native, authentic Spanish instruction from our Guatemalan teachers! Real human connection is the key to your language learning journey.
Benefit from our first-rate, expert curriculum and innovative, human-centered learning strategies to speak Spanish from the beginning!
Try our free online Spanish class today and see why students love our 5-star Spanish program.
We’ve been teaching Spanish for over 10 years and offer student-tailored Spanish programs and flexible scheduling, so you have no extra pressure.
We can’t wait for you to join us!
Join one of the 40,000 classes that we teach each month and you can experience results like these…
“This is the best way for your kid to learn Spanish. It’s one-on-one, taught by native Spanish speakers, and uses a curriculum.”
– Sharon K, Parent of 3
“It’s a great way to learn Spanish, from native Spanish speakers in a 1-on-1 environment. It’s been fairly easy to schedule classes around my daughter’s other classes. The best value for us has been ordering multiple classes at a time. All the instructors have been great!”
– Cindy D, Parent of 3
“HSA offers very affordable, quality, one on one classes with a native speaker. My son has greatly benefited from taking classes. We have seen his confidence increase as well as his pronunciation improve, because he learns from a native Spanish speaker. HSA has quick, personal customer service. Our family has been very pleased with our experience so far!”
– Erica P. Parent of 1
Want more free Spanish lessons, fun content, and easy learning strategies for kids? Check these out!
How To Learn Spanish at Home for Beginners
10 Ways Learning Spanish Can Improve Your Child’s Behavior
8 Places to Learn Spanish in Costa Rica
Equipping Your Child for Fluency: 8 Tips for Teaching Spanish
7 Spanish Reading Games for Kids: Boosting Literacy Skills
Are Online Spanish Classes the Future of Language Learning?
Which Spanish Dialect Should You Learn?
12 Easy Ways To Memorize Spanish Conjugations
The post How To Learn Spanish at Home for Beginners appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.
Read More Do you want to know how to learn Spanish at home? This is an important question for those who decide to learn a new language by themselves. This implies a big task, but doing it at your own time and pace is possible. What you need are some tools that will help you to succeed.
The post How To Learn Spanish at Home for Beginners appeared first on Homeschool Spanish Academy.
Learning Strategies, learning strategies Homeschool Spanish Academy
Have you ever thought about publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would appreciate your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.
Comment awaiting moderation.