learn arabic
learn chinese mandarin
learn french
learn german
learn greek
learn hindi
learn italian
learn japanese
learn portuguese
learn russian
learn spanish
learn more languages

ASK A QUESTION
SEND FEEDBACK
CONTACT US

The Top 10 Ways to Learn Spanish A special feature by www.languageadvantage.com

First presented on the Main Stage at Viva España 2003 at London Olympia, Sarah Carroll explains why you should learn Spanish and convinces that you can do it too! She then introduces her top 10 ways to learn Spanish, featuring some of the best and most innovative language providers in the world.

For the many who travel to Spain regulary and go to live there, learning to speak the language is a priority. This can seem a daunting task but it needn't be - it can be fun and will open up many avenues of experience if we can communicate with customers, colleagues and friends. Sarah Carroll of www.languageadvantage.com will encourage you to get learning with advice on how to do it and point you to the best and most innovative language products and services in the world. With www.languageadvantage.com unashamedly focusing on persuading Britons to learn other languages, Sarah will convince you that Spanish is the best place to start.

Spanish is going to be one of the next world languages … but what do you know about it?

- Over 400 million people speak Spanish in the world
- Spanish is widely spoken in 23 countries
- Spanish is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese, English and Hindi
- 7.4% of the world population on-line is Spanish
- Other languages are spoken in Spain, including catalan, valenciano, mallorquin, gallego and basque.

Amazingly, Spanish is expected to be the first language of 50% of the population of the United States by as soon as 2050. And combine this with the growing strength of the Latin American economies as they are integrated into trading blocs such as NAFTA - and you see why Spanish is moving from strength to strength.

We believe that it is now necessary for anyone wanting to travel or do business in other countries, wherever they may be, to just rely on English. Spanish is becoming a real alternative to English and we predict that many people will learn Spanish as their second language instead of English in the next decades. You've been warned. Get the Spanish language advantage, before it becomes the Spanish language necessity. But how do you do it?

So how do you learn Spanish, when you reckon you're hopeless at languages and when you've no time at all? Well you're not alone.

Last year I set my New Year's Resolution about this time of year … to get to intermediate Spanish by the end of 2002. I'd done a little bit before, but nothing formal at all. So January went by, February went by, March went by … yes and eventually in June I realised half the year had passed and I'd not done much … well in fact I'd done nothing at all. But you know how it is, there is a deadline at work, the decorating needs doing, the children are sick, your grandparents have fallen ill, there's another party to go to … the list of excuses is endless … And I know I am the one who is meant to be convincing you to learn - and I've just given you a set of perfect excuses for not doing it.

Anyway, with half of the year gone, I set my mind to it. I did a couple of self-study courses and then headed to Spain for a week's Spanish course - and finally, on 1 December 2002 - they said I'd reached intermediate Spanish - and I have a certificate to prove it!!

So how do you do it?

- First of all, forget your language learning at school
- You only need to learn a few hundred words to get started, not thousands
- Many words in Spanish and English are similar, so you already know lots!
- Only learn the grammar you really need
- The pronunciation of Spanish is actually much easier than English
- Build it into your daily routine (it's just like exercise, dieting)
- Have the confidence to give it a go.- and focus on getting by, not perfection

Reckon you'll give it a go?

Well here are our top 10 ways of learning Spanish, featuring some of the best and most innovative language learning products on the market to get you going!

Easy to carry around, a phrase book that gets you by (just) - and that makes you speak Spanish!
Try Pigeon Cards, a new innovative phrase postcard that fits into your pocket and is easy to use.

The technology has moved on so far now, that we've got machines that will speak the Spanish for you! Speak into the translator in English and it will talk back the Spanish translation.
Try Ectaco's new speech-to-speech translator, a portable interpreter for the gadget-mad.

For those starting out, or those who are really motivated, try your hand at studying on your own with a language pack. There are loads to choose from, but some of our favourites are Michel Thomas, (the best-selling audio-only course from the famous language guru), Teach Yourself Instant Spanish (study for 35 minutes a day for 6 weeks) and the BBC who have something for everyone (from travel language packs to the comprehensive Suenos World Spanish).

Once you get to intermediate or advanced level Spanish - you need to keep in touch with the language every day. Subscribe to an audiomagazine and a CD or cassette and booklet will arrive on your doorstep and you can listen to it everyday and then sit down with some free time to do the exercises. Try the Puerta del Sol Spanish audiomagazine.

For those of you who are really serious about getting started or improving your Spanish level and need a helping hand, then enrol on a regular course.
Try the Instituto Cervantes, in London, in Manchester and in Leeds. They're the Spanish government's official language and cultural organisation - and offer courses at all levels at all times of the day - and week crash courses too.

Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced … you can take advantage of the technology - you really just need to pop the Spanish CD-ROM or DVD-ROM into your computer, type in your name and you're off. It's great for learning vocabulary and having fun along the way. The new Advanced DVD-ROM Spanish from Eurotalk makes you become a movie star in a Spanish sit-com - and you can record your own lines!

If you've got a computer at home or at work and are not a technophobe, this could be the answer for you. You can go through the modules at your own pace and make real progress with the basic grammar and vocabulary. They're also great for refreshing or maintaining your level. You just miss the spoken in most cases.
Try the BBC Languages website for FREE on BBCi to see if this way of learning suits you - and try the Spanish Steps - an on-line course for beginners.

The ultimate in language learning - go to the country and, well, immerse yourself in the Spanish language and culture for 2 weeks, 3 months or even more! And you'll have the time of your life and make friends for life. You could even come back fluent!
Try Don Quijote for an immersion course in Spain or Latin America.

Perhaps all of this still sounds too much like hard work. Well, what about a language holiday? Spanish and Scuba Diving in Tenerife. Spanish and Flamenco in Sevilla. Spanish and Wine Tasting in Salamanca. Or Spanish in the Rainforest? And what about a house party in the Basque Pyrennees?
Try Don Quijote in Spain or Latin America again!

And don't forget the culture. Even if you speak English, understanding the Spanish culture will help you get more out of your holiday, or get competitive advantage in business. Try a CULTURE SHOCK! Guide to Spain or a Teach Yourself Spanish Language, Life and Culture, to get a bit of knowledge about how the Spanish live and work.

The free Spanish lessons in the Language Pavilion were provided by the Instituto Cervantes on Friday and Elisabeth Smith - the author of best-selling Teach Yourself Instant Spanish … 35 minutes a day for 6 weeks (Saturday and Sunday). Thanks to all of you!

You'll be able to leave Viva España speaking more Spanish than when you came in!

For those of you who entered the Language Advantage Spanish Language Competition at Viva España 2003, here is a reminder of the 70+ prizes! Prizewinners have been drawn - see if your name is below!! You will be notified by email or letter if you've won.

Don Quijote 1 week standard Spanish course in Spain to be taken during 2003
1 enrolment for Instituto Cervantes 30 hour course starting February 2003 with one lesson/week
1 year subscription to Puerta del Sol audiomagazine for 2003
10 x Pigeon Spanish Cards
5 x Michel Thomas Spanish 8 hour course
5 x Michel Thomas Spanish Language Builder
10 x Teach Yourself Spanish
10x Teach Yourself Instant Spanish
10 x Teach Yourself Language, Life and Culture
1 x BBC World Spanish Sueños
1 x España Viva
5 x BBC Talk Spanish
5 x BBC Get by in Spanish
5 x Eurotalk 4 disc Spanish CD-ROMs

Sarah Carroll is the founder of www.languageadvantage.com

Sarah has always loved learning languages and working and holidaying abroad. Before setting up Language Advantage, Sarah worked on global projects for Deloitte Consulting and Accenture (Andersen Consulting in her day).

Her belief that you can get the competitive advantage through speaking languages and understanding other cultures has emerged through first-hand experiences of managing million dollar change programmes with multilingual and multicultural teams. And with jobs like these, she's tried so many different ways of learning languages.

Sarah speaks English, French, some German and is learning Spanish. Next is Mandarin Chinese - and then she'll be able to speak to about 80% of the world's population in one of their official languages! Well she has to practise what she preaches!

more information

More information about learning Spanish and other languages:

Visit our Spanish page and Language Advantage Courses for more of the best and most innovative language providers in the world.

More information about Viva Espana 2003:

Language Talk!! Sarah Carroll of www.languageadvantage.com will tell you The Top 10 Ways to Learn Spanish on the Main Stage at 11.30am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday!
Language Competition!! A language course with Don Quijote in Spain and the Michel Thomas language course are just some of the 60 + prizes on offer. Enter the Spanish Language competition after Sarah's talk for a chance to win!
Language Lessons!! Free language lessons from the Instituto Cervantes on Friday 24 January and Elisabeth Smith, the best-selling author of Teach Yourself Instant Spanish on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January! They will be in the Language Pavilion at 12.30, 2.30 and 4.30.

Language Offers!! We have up to $50 off our Spanish Talking Dictionaries until the end of January 2003 in celebration of Viva España!
FREE tickets winners!!
The 10 lucky winners of the Language Advantage - Viva España 2003 free ticket offer are:
Julie Sewell, Hertfordshire
Ken Hall, Leeds
Caroline Breton, Stockport
Gigi Ho, London
Sarah Griffiths, Surrey
Saqib Awan, London
Samantha Wilson, Surrey
Angela Reinoso Rojas, London
Lynda Drossa, Surrey
Annie Bannerman, Birmingham

For previous special features go to our archive of Language Advantage Features.