Are you looking for ways to improve your Spanish?
Even if you're not planning on traveling, the ability to speak this language is a great skill to have. More than 37 million people in the US speak Spanish at home.
The best way to learn Spanish is to fully immerse yourself in the language, and the only way to do that is to go to a Spanish-speaking country.
When you're surrounded by native Spanish speakers, there's no limit to people to practice your conversation skills with. Even when you're not chatting, you'll constantly be listening picking up new vocabulary and absorbing knowledge.
That way, you'll learn colloquialisms and slang words that you can't get from a book. That's what will make you truly fluent.
There's more to it than just going abroad. You have a range of different learning methods and environments to choose from. Read on to find out the best way to learn Spanish for you.
What's the Best Way to Learn Spanish? Here are 3 Choices
1. Take Part in an Exchange Program
If you do a high school exchange program abroad, you'll be earning credit to help towards your graduation while improving your language skills and exploring another part of the world. What's not to like?
You'll study in a high school in a country of your choosing, learning and using Spanish in every single subject. This means you don't have to miss out on your other studies while you're focusing on your Spanish.
During a high school exchange program in Argentina, you'll learn in either a public or private school (depending on which you prefer), living with a warm Argentinian host family who'll share their culture and everyday life experiences with you. This is just one of the options available to you.
With so many countries speaking Spanish as a first language around the world, there's a long list of beautiful places to choose from. Each one has different things to offer in terms of culture, food, and experience. No matter which one you choose, you'll have the time of your life while practicing the best way to learn Spanish.
In a place where you have to speak Spanish every day, your language skills will be forced to improve. If you don't speak the language, you won't be able to order food or get around town, so unless you stay indoors and get your meals delivered every day, you'll have no choice but to speak and learn.
You'll also be reading Spanish words all day every day, even when you're not studying. Road signs, menus, and even bus schedules will contribute to your daily learning.
Both in and out of school, your skills will be honed every day. By the end of the program, your Spanish skills will have improved immensely.
2. Take Private Lessons at Home
If sitting in a classroom with lots of other people doesn't appeal to you, you could try one-on-one lessons with a tutor.
Taking private lessons with your own teacher means you'll get as much attention and feedback as possible, with classes tailored to your individual needs and skill level.
If you're particularly shy or just prefer to study alone, this could be the way to go.
For an even more intensive way of learning, you can stay in your teacher's home on a private Spanish course. You'll learn with them there, and even when class is over, you'll continue speaking Spanish with them.
This style of study promotes rapid learning of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Outside of class, you can enjoy extracurricular activities to discover the city you're hosted in.
If you'd rather not do it alone, you can opt to share the course with a friend. They just have to have the same level of proficiency as you do. This way, you can both save money and share the experience.
3. Enroll in a Language School
Simply being surrounded by Spanish speakers isn't enough to fully learn a language.
In order to improve your skills, you need to consciously practice them in a structured way. Enrolling in a language school is a great way to do this.
In the classroom, you'll pick up the basics of the language and practice it in a controlled environment with feedback from a teacher. Then, you'll be ready to go out and use it in a real-life situation.
Speaking a second language requires you to take a risk, and many students find themselves too shy to practice with native speakers, worrying about making mistakes and not being understood. That fear can hold you back from your true potential.
Studying in a Spanish schoolhelps you to build the skills and confidence you need to be able to speak Spanish well.
If you're worried about not being able to use your first language and being completely overwhelmed, don't be. If you join a Spanish school in Barcelona, you'll be studying in a bilingual environment.
You'll also be in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, within easy reach of beaches, shops, and restaurants serving delicious local food. You don't have to do all the exploring on your own, though. Excursions are provided every weekend, so you have some help along the way.
As well as learning a language, you'll also make lots of new friends.
Full Immersion is the Most Effective Way
The best way to learn Spanish is to imitate the same method of learning we used for your first language.
Think about it. When we're babies, we simply imitate the sounds we hear around us and repeat them over and over again. We don't worry about grammar rules or meaning. That all comes later on. That's how we build fluency.
When you spend time in a Spanish-speaking country, that's part of what you'll be doing.
If you use any of the methods mentioned above, you'll learn to speak Spanish and travel the world at the same time.
Take a look and Contact us to see which program would be best for you.