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Learn A New Language

Spanish for Beginners 1

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19 views

Learn A New Language

Spanish for Beginners 1

Uploaded by

matbelarri
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1: How to Learn a New

Language
For most folks, learning a new language is one of the most
challenging things they will ever do in their lives. The reason
for this is that languages don’t come easy. They take time
and dedication for the learner to achieve a certain level of
proficiency.
It takes several years of study and development before we
can be reasonably proficient in a language. It is around the
age of 7 or 8 when a child is able to communicate fairly well.
Nevertheless, it takes a few more years of schooling and
training before an individual truly masters a language. Even
then, some folks are unable to go beyond a certain level of
mastery.
The Advantage of Learning as an Adult
The big difference between learning a language as a child
and learning a language as an adult lies in the fact that many
of the cognitive processes, which children need to develop,
have already been developed.
What does that mean?
It means that you don’t need to go back and re-learn the
alphabet or work on phonics. You can begin to reasonably
decode a new language with some helpful pointers. Also, this
means that you don’t have to learn the mechanics of reading
and writing. These are skills that you have already gotten a
handle on in your native language.
So, what happens when you learn a new language is that you
are transferring the skills you have already developed in your
native language to the new language that you are learning.
While that sounds rather straightforward, there are some
bumps along the way.
First of all, language systems tend to vary significantly.
In general, languages function like complex systems that
depend on logic. Every language has its own logic. However,
that logic doesn’t always make sense when compared to
other languages. In fact, when you look at language, it is like
getting a glimpse into the way the mind of people works.
Secondly, some languages share a common ancestry, while
others have no relation between them whatsoever. Most
Indo-European languages share some kind of similarity
among them. This can be observed in the syntax (word order)
and the structure of the words themselves. If this is the case,
then it is a lot easier to make sense of the way such a
language is structured.
Thirdly, some languages share a common base from which
they splinter off into different directions. One such example is
the so-called “romance languages.” These languages share a
common ancestry in the Latin spoken by the old Roman
Empire. That common base can be seen in the syntax and
similarity in roots and word families. Yet, the similarities pretty
much end there. Each language (Spanish,
French, Italian, and so on) go off into their own direction, thus
making them unique in their own right.
Main Differences Between English and Spanish
So, what can you do to make learning a new language easier for
you?
Based on the previous examples, the first aspect to consider
is syntax. In the case of English and Spanish, they both
share common syntax insofar as the subject preceding the
verb. Then, the object of the verb follows right after the verb.
This basic structure is essentially the same. However, there
are some subtle differences. For instance, adjectives precede
nouns in Spanish, whereas the opposite is true in English.
Also, romance languages make use of gender-specific
nouns. This is one of the most significant differences
between English and Spanish. For example, Spanish has a
specific gender assigned to all nouns in the language. Now,
determining the gender for each noun depends on its
spelling. A general rule of thumb, in this case, is that “o”
ending nouns are treated as masculine nouns, while the
feminine nouns are identified with “a” ending nouns. This is a
general rule of thumb, and there are a number of exceptions.
Nevertheless, it is a good standard to rely on.
There is also a far more complex verb conjugation system in
Spanish than in English. The most complex verb
conjugations in English can be found with irregular verbs in
the past tense and the past participle form. Beyond that, verb
conjugation is fairly self-explanatory in English.
In Spanish, though, verb conjugations are dependent on verb
tense and the verb ending of the verb in its infinitive form.
This difference can make conjugating verbs seem hard. But
once you become familiar with the patterns for each type of
verb, you will find it to be much easier than you had initially
anticipated.
These three main differences make English rather different
from Spanish and are the source of frustration for many
Spanish learners. In this guide, we will not only focus on
these differences but also on other insider tips that will surely
help you gain an advantage in your endeavors with the
Spanish language.
Now, here are some general guidelines that you can follow when
learning Spanish.
● Listening practice is one of the most important
exercises you can do on a regular basis. There are
many audiovisual materials online. These materials will
help you train your ear for the sound or the “music” of
the Spanish language. In this case, you will not only
hone your listening skills but also your pronunciation
skills.
● Vocabulary lists are old-fashioned but still hold their
merits. Now, we are not advocating that you make long
lists of words and pound them into your mind. What we
are saying is to keep a journal of the language you learn
on a daily basis. This journal can be something as
simple as writing down new words and expressions you
learn. You can use drawings, pictures, and notes to help
you imprint their meanings in your mind.
● Grammar rules can be effective if that is something that you
find useful. Not all people find grammar rules to be particularly
useful and engaging. So, if you feel that writing out rules will
help you fixate meaning in your mind, then, by all means, do so.
If you don’t feel too keen on memorizing rules, schematics,
such as flowcharts and diagrams, can certainly help you gain a
much different visual perspective.
● The use of translation is alright at the beginning. While you will
hear some teachers say that translation will actually harm your
development, it is worth mentioning that translation can help
you navigate through the meaning of words and grammar in the
very early stages of your development. Later on, translation can
help you when you are traveling or interacting with other folks
who may require your assistance.
● Watching movies and TV shows are a great source of language
for you to learn. Also, music is a wonderful way to become
close to the Spanish language. So, take a shot learning a song
you like or simply enjoying a telenovela. You will find that
exposing yourself to Latin American culture from the get-go will
pay off right away.
In the next chapter, we are going to take a look at the fundamental
underpinnings of the Spanish language and how you can get a grip
on the most important secrets to gain proficiency as a new Spanish
speaker.

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