Spanish in Ten

Johan Mouchet via Unsplash.   Learning a new language is tough. Learning a new language with a time constraint can feel near impossible. Whatever your reason for needing to learn Spanish quickly, don’t worry. It can be done. You’ll just need to cut a few corners. There are many reasons why you may want to learn Spanish quickly, perhaps you have an impending trip to a Spanish speaking country, a Spanish wedding , or maybe you have a job opportunity that requires a degree of competence in the Spanish Language.    Whatever the reason these tips may well help you learn Spanish a little bit quicker.   1. Learn the basics  It goes without saying that every language has a basic level and Spanish is no different, if you concentrate of the simple things and get them off to perfection everything else you learn will build on top of it. You'll need to get a strong understanding of: Pronunciation Gendered nouns Basic verb conjugation  2. Concentrate on conversation...

  ​“How do I become fluent in Spanish?” It’s a good question, but if you’ve never learned a new language you may not understand the different skills that you’ll need to practice. Memorizing hundreds of vocabulary words is a start, but if you can’t recognize those words in a spoken conversation or in a book or article, they don’t help much.  When it comes to learning a new language, there are four main skills to keep in mind: Listening skills Oral (speaking) skills Writing skills Reading skills These skills are the difference between knowing a word for a vocabulary test, and flirting with a stranger on the streets of Madrid. By practicing all of these skills, you train your brain to understand the new language in a usable way. Instead of simply knowing the translation to vocabulary words. This is one of the reasons that I suggest learning phrases for new languages, instead of words. It really doesn't matter what a word means, usually, but instead what's meant by the phrase. For...

Cerrado is the Spanish (masculine) word for 'closed'. For example: 'La puerta está cerrada'  means 'The door is closed.' If 'cerrado' is on a sign with no other words, or in a very large print, it is most likely a sign stating that a business is closed. Cerrado can also refer to a Brazilian savannah that spans across five states (Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins and Minas Gerais). The Cerrado makes up 21% of the country's land area.

You aren't likely to find these in Don Quixote, but they will be more useful.

Do you have the vocabulary to find your way around in a Spanish speaking country? When learning a new language, some of the most practical vocabulary and phrases to learn are what are called "survival phrases."  These are vocabulary terms and phrases that would be used in an emergency or while traveling.  In my opinion they should be learned before the vocabulary for pencil, pens, desks, etc.  Because much like the calculus you learned as a senior in high school, how often will you really use that. Here are a few phrases to know concerning directions: I'm Lost                                                     Estoy perdido Can I Help You?                                      ¿Podría Ayudarse? Can You Help Me?       ...