In order to use these words, you need to know a lot of grammar, and you would also have to combine them with content words in order to actually say anything. They are very important words, but cannot be studied in isolation. You’ll come across them naturally in time, but we don’t recommend learning them as part of a list.

Don’t study grammar: Pick it up

Learning grammar has had a lot of stick recently, as many see it as a boring, academic approach to learning a language which leaves you lacking the vital tools for actual communication. However, most arguments around this focus on approaches to learning grammar but not the importance of actually learning it. The phrase “study grammar” conjures up images of being buried in an enormous tome, studying obscure and impractical details. However, grammar is a crucial part of the language and can’t be avoided.

Our approach is to learn the language first, and the grammar second. Grammar guides should be a reference, rather than teaching you something new. That said, it can be very frustrating at beginner level to avoid grammar. Grammar is the glue that helps you stick your vocabulary together, so unless you want your Spanish to be a jumble of single words, it’s worth attending to. We have a longer post regarding some tips for learning grammar, but here are a few other ways to approach Spanish grammar:

You can’t learn it all at once
You can’t learn everything in one fell swoop. It needs to be taken in bite-sized pieces.

Understand that even once you’ve learnt an item of grammar, it will be a while before you can really use it. There’s a process of internalization that takes place, which (ideally) looks something like this:

1. Learn, read, or hear a phrase that uses a new grammar item
2. Wonder what that grammar item was
3. Look up the grammar in a grammar reference. All the rules and uses should “fit into place” with what you already know from when you first heard or read it
4. Start noticing the grammar more in your input (it’s always been there, but now you’ve got it more firmly on your radar)
5. Start using the grammar
6. Get it wrong; check the reference again
7. Continue using the grammar, but with increasing accuracy

Notice that the emphasis here is on checking and referencing grammar, rather than studying from “cold”. This is more efficient, and will make the learning process and internalisation quicker and easier.

Although there is no set order to learning a language, it does make sense to learn verb conjugations as a priority. These help you to communicate quickly, and give you the tools to create phrases of your own. The good news is that if you are learning phrases, you will have already met many of the verb conjugations. When you come to check these in a grammar reference, you will find them easier to memorise.

Learn how Spanish sounds

If you can’t hear it, you can’t say it. In order to pronounce Spanish, you need to be able to recognise the sounds, and this is not something that you can do from a book. There is a wide range of podcasts available to give you exposure to this, including our own range of Spanish audio for every level. Listen to the sounds of Spanish, and follow along with transcriptions to get an idea of how to pronounce written Spanish. Remember that good pronunciation starts with listening!

When should I start practising?

Again, this is an area where there’s been a lot of disagreement. Some say that you should start practising immediately, and others that you should wait until you feel comfortable. The truth is, speaking Spanish for the first time is going to be completely different to any kind of studying you will have done up until then. You need to be able to listen and comprehend while simultaneously combining your own phrases which are appropriate and relevant, all while under pressure. So, in speaking there’s more of a performance aspect, and it’s not something that can be practised alone.

We believe that no time is too soon to start speaking and practising. Yes, it can be nerve-wracking, and you may not feel ready, but these are not skills that can be developed privately. The sooner you can build these skills the better. Learners often complain of a perceived disparity between their comprehension and their speaking, and this is often due to coming to practise the language late. Most learners’ end goals are to build fluency, and speaking Spanish is the only legitimate way to do this.

Even if you can’t speak Spanish well, you’ll develop “coping” mechanisms to help you express yourself. Focus on communicating your message rather than delivering perfect Spanish, and you’ll have a much more enjoyable time. So, get out there and speak!

Where and how can I start practising?

If you don’t live in Spain or a Spanish speaking country, getting practice can be tough. Luckily, there are many websites dedicated to helping you practise languages – just search for “online language exchange” to see what’s out there! Although we’ve never used these ourselves, we’ve heard good things about italki and Busuu.

However, if you have the opportunity, talking face to face is always a better option. Check out our article on “intercambios” (language exchanges) for more tips.

The importance of input

One of the most important parts of learning a language over the long run is frequent exposure. This is why people who go on immersion courses seem to learn so quickly. They are exposed to Spanish everywhere they go, and it seems to filter through by osmosis. Making big improvements to Spanish will mean trying to expose yourself to it as much as possible – you can take your exposure to Spanish as far as you like, even while in your home country.

We have put together a few ideas for how you can get exposure in points 1 – 10 of this article. As a beginner (or any kind of learner), the input you get should tick the following boxes: