“I am too old to learn Spanish” –that is a lament I would occasionally hear from my grown-up friends.
One thing that holds many adults back from trying to learn a new language is the belief that we can’t teach an old dog a new trick- As we grow old, we become forgetful and it seems more difficult to get things in our head. But would these really make learning Spanish a mission impossible?
The good news is that, as an adult we have many advantages over kids that makes us more efficient language learners:
1.The choice of learning is ours
Unlike kids who are bound by their school syllabus, or are being forced by their parents to go language classes, we learn Spanish because we want to.
2.We pick our style of learning
Compared to kids whose only option is going to class, as a grown-up we are free to choose whatever means that we see fit and enjoy most, be it movies, videos, apps… etc.
3.We decide our pace of learning
Unlike schools that have a rigid syllabus, we decide for ourselves how fast or slow we learn.
When we get overwhelmed, we are free to take a short break and get back on it later.
Here are our 4 tricks for adults learning Spanish:
1. Use Anki
Need help in memorizing Spanish words? Anki will be your great companion.
Anki is an app which you can use as a flash card on the go on your smartphone. It is designed based on the principle of spaced repetition: showing you the words that you need to remember over and over again, in increasing intervals, so that they will be committed to your memory.
You can create your own set of Spanish flash cards using Anki, or you can download for free Spanish flash card created by the others (For instance, search “1001 most useful Spanish words and Sentences” on the App!).
2. Mixing learning with fun
Feeling bored of studying with your textbook? Why don’t you learn by doing something that you enjoy?
If you like films, watch an Argentine movie and pick up some Argentine slangs!
Enjoy cooking? Try some new recipes from a Spanish cookbook!
Mixing your Spanish learning with something you have fun out of will keep you hooked and engaged.
3. Give yourself a purpose
Setting a goal would give you something to aim for, and help you to keep motivated. Planning to travel to Spain and need to talk to the locals? Want to read a Spanish novel in its original text? Watch a Spanish movie without the need of subtitles? The gratification of achieving your goal will be the greatest reward for your effort.
4. Taking private Spanish classes online
For adults, taking traditional group classes for learning a new language might not be the best option-you are bound by a fixed schedule without much flexibility, and more importantly, you teacher might not have much time for your questions as he/she will be busy with taking care of the needs of the whole class.
On the other hand, taking private classes online will give you the freedom to choose when and where will you will be having your class, and your Spanish tutor will become your private language coach who would devote all his/her attention to your learning, and tailor your class so that it will match perfectly with your level and your pace of learning.
A great news is that online Spanish classes are now very affordable starting at USD15 per class. Check out Master Spanish Now for details!