Learning a new language is not an easy feat. If you have always wanted to improve your Spanish, you are not alone. Spanish is a language full of beauty, diversity, and a rich linguistic history. Spanish can take you to Equatorial Guinea to Peru to the islands of the pacific.
Learning any language takes an immense investment of time and effort. It requires regular commitment and a willingness to be vulnerable- and to stick with it even when it gets difficult. I have three key recommendations for those wanting to learn Spanish.
*Disclaimer: these recommendations are for those who already have a basic understanding of grammar and experience with the language already.
I would highly recommend listening to podcasts in Spanish. Picking a podcast on a topic you are familiar with will help you ease into this listening process. Another tip is to pick a region you are interested in and mimic their accent. Pay attention to the regional differences and stick to one region or accent to avoid confusion. For example, the word for juice is “zumo” in Spain, but it is “jugo” in most Latin American countries. You don’t want to speak every other word in a different accent/dialect, so acknowledging and understanding these differences will help you immerse yourself.
My second tip is to listen to music in Spanish. If you are a Spotify user, you can look up the Top 50 of any country to see what songs are trending. These songs are most likely to play in stores, restaurants, and clubs. If you are going to Spain, search up the playlist “Éxitos España” on Spotify and the most popular songs from Spain will pop up. Many of the same popular artists- Feid, Latin Mafia, Rauw Alejandro, Bad Bunny- will show up on the lists of different countries across the hispanic world.
My last tip is to speak with anyone you know who speaks Spanish. While this is common sense, this is the most crucial and often overlooked aspect of learning a language. The best way to achieve integration as a student is to study abroad in a Spanish speaking country. If this is not a possibility, a tutor or friend through a language app such as nativelang would be a solid beginning.
In conclusion, these are just three recommendations for your Spanish fluency journey. As you interact more with the Hispanic world and Spanish language, you will have a better understanding of what you have left to learn. Good luck to everyone!
Kristi Ross
Academic Year 2024-25
GW Madrid (GW Study Program)
Elliott School of International Affairs
International Affairs Major