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Spanish
Are you tongue-tied when you want to express yourself in English? Your mind goes blank trying to find the right word? Speaking English is less complicated than you think and removing your fear is the first step you should take to study the language of Shakespeare. We suggest these seven tips for learning English faster while having fun.
1. Make it easy: There is no doubt that it is the most important step. We should make our learning process easy and fun. Don’t memorize the endless irregular and phrasal verbs lists! Use them in your everyday life: it will help you to consolidate your knowledge.
2. The whole is equal to the sum of the parts: Please don’t try to learn English by parts. Grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation or listening are (all together) the result we are seeking: To be able to interact with other people using this language. In my personal opinion, most of the English methods make the same mistake in making people to start speaking the language: Open your mind and begin to understand English from the first day. It’s said that the best communicators are the good listeners!
3. Deactivate Spanish (or your mother tongue): This is one of the keys to success in learning English. English and Spanish (and the rest of the languages) have very few things in common. That’s why it’s important that you never try to translate from your mother tongue. For example: if you are thinking of a tree, please don’t think in the same word in your language: try to visualize the image: it will allow you to gain oral speed.
4. Think in English: That’s the consequence of disabling the Spanish (or your mother tongue): A good exercise is to translate (mentally) your thoughts or quotidian situations into English to acquire mental agility.
5. Make English-speaking friends: Not only natives! Our goal is to be able to communicate in English: a language that is spoken by millions of people (mostly as a second language). Understanding different accents is as important as understanding the British or the American English. If you still don’t have friends to help you practice, start looking for them now! On the Internet you’ll find many websites of people interested in speaking English with you such as Verbling or PenpalWorld. Another option is to find places in your city to perform linguistics / language exchanges. For this purpose there are cafes, cultural centres, colleges and even groups of people that join to practice activities (such as hiking or travelling) while meeting new people and speaking English.
6. Listen to music and watching films in English: Having fun is one of the best ways to learn quickly. The more you include English activities in your daily life, the more you’ll improve your knowledge (and your motivation will also be higher). Learn the lyrics of your favourite songs, watch films (or plays) in English… Subtitles are a good tool to start: Firstly in your mother tongue, then in English… and after that dare to take them away! If you are afraid to do that, you can start with movies that you have already watched. 😉
7. Write down the new words and expressions: It’s especially useful when you are living abroad. Each day you will hear many new words and expressions. Write them and try to use them in your everyday life. It’s the best way implant them in your memory “forever”.
Alba
