Tips for Reluctant Spanish Learners

Everyone has a different way of learning languages; some people are exceptionally fast learners whereas other people, however enthusiastic and motivated they are, learn at a slower pace. In contrast, there are some people who we label “reluctant learners” who are neither enthused nor motivated about learning; and hence represent a challenge for their teachers to solve.

Teachers could utilize conventional teaching methods; most of the time these work well. But what if a student simply cannot engage with the Spanish language no matter how hard they try? Well that is why I have devised this list of tips for reluctant learners of Spanish. If you heed some of the advice below, I guarantee that you will find learning Spanish fruitful and fun…

1.    Break down classroom activities and homework assignments into smaller, more manageable chunks. For example, if your task is to write a paragraph in Spanish, first of all, you should write down a collection of words that you wish to use. Once you have assembled your list of words; construct some simple sentences. The most important thing is to use new and varied vocabulary.

2.    A great tip for remembering new words and phrases that you hear, is to jot them down in a journal. Then you can take out your journal every time you’re waiting for a bus or eating your lunch and have a 5-minute read. This will ensure that you don’t forget your vocabulary and your fluency will improve as a direct result. Another great way to improve your Spanish is to watch Spanish TV. Obviously, this is a listening exercise, so to practice your writing, write a short summary of the programme in your journal. If you’re feeling really enthusiastic, you could even give an oral summary of the show to a friend!

3.    Be kind to yourself… if you’re too tired to study, then don’t! Give yourself the night off to relax but promise yourself that you will get up early tomorrow and hit the books! Alternatively, if the problem isn’t tiredness, but a lack of motivation, or you’re simply fed up of reading blocks of text, then watch a video on YouTube or listen to a podcast. There are limitless great videos on the internet which explain, better than textbooks sometimes, grammar rules and verb tenses.

4.    By far the best way to learn Spanish is to study the language abroad. This way you will be totally immersed in the culture, surrounded by natives, forcing you to speak Spanish all of the time. Avoid making friends with people from your own country if you can, although it is tempting, it will provide you with an easy way out of practicing your Spanish! Make friends with natives and you will learn the language faster than you ever thought possible!

Just because you’re learning Spanish, doesn’t mean you have to study all of the time. Just use the sources readily available to you. For example, strike up a conversation with someone while you’re waiting for your coffee in the morning. Being a reluctant learner doesn’t mean you can’t learn Spanish. It simply means that you have to find different ways to keep yourself engaged and motivated! Keep Calm and Learn Spanish!