Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step1
Use cassette tapes or other audio recordings to learn the accent and pronunciation of each letter of the Spanish alphabet. Once you understand the sound of the letter you can practice it anywhere. Recite the alphabet over and over until it becomes second nature. Spanish is a phonetic language; if you let go of English pronunciation and grammar rules while practicing and studying, it will come easier.
Step2
List the primary colors in Spanish with the colors next to the word. Be sure to use the correct spelling and punctuation of the words. You can test yourself with flashcards with the colors and their Spanish names.
Step3
Practice counting to one hundred in Spanish. Counting to twenty and then to one hundred in increments of ten is the best way to learn to count in Spanish. The higher numbers can come later. Just like in English, counting is repetitive after twenty.
Step4
Immerse yourself in the language. Label your home with flashcards in Spanish to learn the names of common items. You can also do this in your car or at the office. The more you see the name and repeat it, the more likely you are to think in Spanish. Thinking in Spanish rather than your primary language is a key to becoming truly bilingual.
Step5
Watch television in Spanish. You will be surprised how much you are able to grasp in a very short time while watching television.
Step6
Take a class with a friend to learn conversational Spanish. This is a fun way to learn the correct pronunciation of the language. Teachers can help with the rules for accent marks and how to pronounce them.
Comments
paulpreble said
on 3/24/2008 Cassettes are outdated, but you can get audio language learning CDs or audiobook chips for the Pimsleur series. A lot of courses are phasing out tapes as an available media.
See http://www.pimsleurdirect.com for more info.