Spain sees many British people visiting every year, with a large number of British citizens also living there. If you want to join them, then you will need to do some preparation for life in Spain.
One of the most important things you should do is learn some Spanish, so you can converse with local people and find it easier to immerse yourself in Spanish culture
However, you may be unsure what tools are best to help you learn. There are many websites, many apps, and many books. With such an overwhelming amount of choice, you might not be sure what to try first. We shall take you through some of the six best ways to learn Spanish.
1. Use a mobile app as a best way to learn Spanish
There are many mobile apps that you can use to learn a variety of languages. Almost all of them will have Spanish on them, with it being such a widely spoken and popular language to learn.
Some apps will be free, some will be paid, and some of the free ones will have a paid version with extra features. You should browse around and see which ones appeal the most to you. Many of the apps are also available on web browsers.
A list of useful apps include:
It would be a good idea to use an app alongside other learning materials, which combine to act as one of the best ways to learn Spanish.
2. Take in some Spanish content
Perhaps after getting a basic understanding of some Spanish words, you could start taking in some content that is in the Spanish language. Preferably the Castilian dialect of Spanish, which is spoken in Spain.
You could watch TV shows and films, listen to podcasts, listen to some music, or maybe even read something that was written in Spanish. English media being so widespread has made it easier for people around the world to learn English, so it seems likely that media is also one of the best ways to learn Spanish.
TV shows and films may be particularly useful early on, as you can have subtitles on to help you understand what different words mean. One popular Spanish-language film is Pan’s Labyrinth.
For example, Dreaming Spanish is a useful website that brings together a range of videos from YouTube that are in Spanish. You can select which country they are from, which in this case would be Spain. The videos are categorised at different difficulty levels, ranging from ‘superbeginner’ to ‘advanced’.
3. Find someone to talk to
One of the best ways to learn anything is by doing it. This option may not be the best for a lot of people, but if you know someone who speaks Spanish, then getting their help would be very useful.
You can speak to them to get used to hearing and speaking Spanish in a conversational manner, learn to pronounce words properly, and get feedback on your use of the language.
This can be one of the best ways to learn Spanish when it is paired with other tools, as it allows you to practise what you have learned so far.
4. Get a Spanish dictionary and learn vocabulary
Whilst it may not be the most interesting or glamorous option, you could start studying Spanish vocabulary to expand your knowledge of Spanish words.
There are some free resources online, with some helping you with pronunciation. The free nature of many resources makes this one of the best ways to learn Spanish. Also, you have the option of buying a physical English to Spanish dictionary if you want something you can carry around with you.
Some of the online resources include:
There are many other options available to you online if you do not like the look of any of the linked resources.
5. Find a language tutor
This option is linked to the previously listed way of finding someone with whom you can converse with in Spanish.
A tutor, whilst it will cost money, may be better than just talking to a friend, and may in fact be one of the best ways to learn Spanish. They are usually experienced as teachers, so they will be more effective at providing you with feedback on how to improve, and they can create lessons to fit your particular needs and help fill in your knowledge gaps.
There are quite a few tutors that can be found online. It would be best to look around to see what different tutors offer, and how much they charge for their services.
6. Write words down
Once you have learned a word, phrase, or sentence from one of the other forms of learning, a good way to help you remember it is by writing it down.
The physical action of writing the sentence down may help you remember it more, as it makes you more involved in the learning process, and makes you think about what the right words are.
Writing your own flashcards is particularly useful and has always been recommended for people studying anything, from students with upcoming exams, to people just wanting to learn a language.
Writing flashcards could be seen as one of the best ways to learn Spanish, as it forces you to memorise words and recognise them as quickly as possible.
If you want to quickly learn some useful words and phrases before you go to Spain on a visa, then writing them down could be helpful.
How we can help
Sadly, whilst we have tried to provide you with some of the best ways to learn Spanish, we cannot help you in your efforts to learn Spanish ourselves.
However, we can help you with your Spanish visa application, so you can show off your language skills in the language’s homeland.
You can book a free 10-minute assessment with a member of our team, with whom you can discuss what you want. If they decide that we can help you, then you can arrange a longer consultation where you will be given advice.
Get in touch with us today if you want our help with your Spanish visa application.
