How To Really Teach Yourself Spanish

When I first delved into learning Spanish, the year was 1986 and the only options for me were taking a class, using a textbook and creating flashcards. Looking back, it seems like that old-school method is rather clunky and obsolete. Because of advances in technology and the internet, learning Spanish has never been easier. Using interactive features that allow for more advanced teaching methodology, language students can now enjoy learning a language more quickly.

But with a popular language like Spanish, there are so many language learning programs available. Sifting through them all is quite a task. These programs are in competition for your money and they will say whatever needs to be said to make a sale. You can find tons of articles on the internet poorly written by people who make a commission by selling certain language products.

Of course these articles are sales pitches disguised as legitimate testimonies. They are easy to spot. Usually they link directly to the product they recommend, they don't mention all the FREE resources on the internet that are available and they are shoddily written. Whether these individuals have ever used these products is something I wonder about.

I also wonder if there is anyone out there who has really learned to speak fluently from using any of these programs exclusively. The general sales pitch includes making the claim that their product will make you a fluent Spanish speaker OR you will be able to speak a new language in x amount of time.

Buyer beware. These are marketing ploys. The things they won't tell you are:

1) it takes quite amount of time and effort to learn a language. Think about how long it took you to learn your native language. Growing up, you were surrounded by it 24/7/365. Most people will spend up to an hour a day practicing a new language. How can you expect to be fluent in less than 10 years?

2) their method is the best one out there for EVERYBODY. Their websites have testimonies that sound convincing. But the bottom line is they are a business and they need to make money. They know that most people will invest in just one language learning program, then when they realize how much effort is required to learn a language, they will give up. These companies are fighting for that one sale.

For those who are serious about becoming fluent in a new language, who have the patience and determination, you will benefit by using ALL the programs out there (not at the same time of course.) Each one has something to offer that will help you along. But don't rely on just one, or expect to master a language with any one of them exclusively.

But before you invest in an expensive program, check out the numerous websites that offer to teach Spanish for free. You can get a solid foundation and test out your determination to learn. If a few months down the road you are still excited about learning the language, then it may be time to upgrade by purchasing a more comprehensive program.

So how do you go about choosing a program to work with? Well, for starters, you can read my book Teaching Yourself Spanish which addresses this question. The book includes sample lesson plans and how to design a study method that is right for you. In it I also review the products that I think are most helpful for Spanish learners at any level.

Another option is to check out some Spanish language forums and see what people who are studying Spanish have to say. The most active forum that I have found so far is called http://www.Tomísimo.org. The free Spanish learning websites are great for dabbling, but most will only take you so far. To go further, eventually you will want to invest in one or more of the Spanish learning programs.

Ultimately, if you are serious about learning Spanish, you will work with more than one program simultaneously. You can cover a wider range of abilities needed to master a language, such as speaking, reading, listening, grammar, etc., when you work with a variety of programs that are somewhat different. Doing this you will cover the same topics, but the different presentation will help reinforce what you have learned previously. Repetition is key when learning a language! Remember when we learned to write, how many times we copied the same letter over and over?

I know most people don't want to hear that it takes effort to learn a language. But I prefer to be honest and realistic. Sure, I am interested in having an income stream for myself. But unlike many of the articles you will find out there, I have actual experience in teaching myself Spanish. And I am truly passionate about learning Spanish and sharing what I've learned.