5 tips to get the most out of your Spanish classes

Dear student:

Learning Spanish is a fascinating experience which you're sure to enjoy to the fullest because you will soon discover that everything Spanish is tremendously interesting, beautiful and fun: the geography and landscapes of Spanish-speaking countries, their friendly and hospitable people, great culture and art: literature, architecture, painting...

In addition, learning Spanish will strengthen your resume and open many doors for you, in your professional life as well as your personal life. In learning Spanish, you'll be able to make friendships that will last a lifetime, and you'll also learn to see and experience the world in a new way.

So don't put it off any longer! Get started studying Spanish! And when you do begin to study Spanish – or if you are already taking a course – and want to make the most of your learning, here's some advice to keep in mind:

• Don't bring a dictionary to class. It won't help you at all, because in class you have to speak: to try to express yourself and understand others. So don't waste time looking for words in your dictionary; you have to use the words in a real context in order to really remember them!
• Review new content every day. It is a great idea to take a few minutes every day to review what you've learned in class. It won't take much time, but it will help you reinforce your knowledge and skills, which means advancing more quickly in your language learning.
• Whether you're out or at home, constantly review the vocabulary and grammar you've learned. This is a very good trick to help you start thinking in Spanish: look around and start naming everything you see in Spanish...objects, actions or even mentally describe people or landscapes you see.
• Read aloud to improve your pronunciation (or sing songs in Spanish). If you see that you have difficulty speaking in class and want to gain fluency and confidence, do reading exercises. Even if you don't understand everything you read, it doesn't matter! Or trying a sing a song in Spanish; there are an infinite number of singers or groups to choose from, and you're sure to find some you like.
• Dare to create your own productions or oral and written texts in class. Don't just wait for your teacher to call on you: jump in and get speaking and participating! It doesn't matter if you make a mistake or not; the important thing is to simply start speaking in Spanish. We learn by speaking, especially with foreign language learning. 

What did you think of these tips? Are you thinking of giving any of them a try for yourself?

And what about you, teacher of Spanish as a foreign or second language? Do you give these same tips to your students? Can you think of any more?

Share your experiences with us, let us know!