| Top 5 Spanish Study Tips | | | | specifics related to your field. For example, a real |
| By Megan McGuire/All Seasons Lessons, Inc. | | | | estate agent doesn’t need to learn all about |
| 1. Don’t get frustrated! Easier said then done, | | | | shopping at a grocery store if they are only interested |
| right? Well, I know all about getting frustrated while | | | | in communicating with their Spanish speaking clients. |
| trying to learn Spanish. I come from a family where | | | | There are many companies that offer career specific |
| only English was spoken-so I know! There is no | | | | Spanish lessons. My company offers a complete |
| “set-pace” for learning Spanish. You need | | | | Spanish for Real Estate program: |
| to learn at the pace that works best for you. | | | | 5. Watch career specific Spanish television. What?! |
| That’s where taking community college | | | | You just said not to watch Spanish television! Okay, let |
| university classes can become difficult. They tend to | | | | me explain: using real estate agents as an example, |
| move at a fast pace. If you can keep up with that | | | | you can occasionally find cable access channels that |
| pace-great! If you can’t, you may want to | | | | will run local real estate shows advertising homes for |
| pursue other opportunities. There are tons of great | | | | sale in the area. They have the same type of shows |
| online and private resources available. Check out my | | | | in Spanish. It’s a great, safe way to utilize and |
| website: I have companies listed on my | | | | recognize vocabulary you’ve learned. Once you |
| “Resources” page and also on my blog: | | | | have completed a career Spanish program, I would |
| 2. Don’t watch Spanish TV if you are a | | | | then recommend delving in and watching these |
| beginner! They speak extremely fast and are using an | | | | programs on TV. The objective is to utilize your time |
| enormous variety of grammar and vocabulary. | | | | and not waste it on something you don’t |
| It’s only going to lead to frustration and | | | | understand or will only frustrate you. The majority of |
| aggravation. Who needs it?! | | | | the words being spoken will be ones you are familiar |
| 3. Study Study Study!!! Yes, you have to do it. No, you | | | | with and learned in your program. Plain old Spanish TV |
| do not have to spend hours on end. Chunk your study | | | | programs are not going to give you the same |
| sessions into short periods of time. If you have note | | | | exposure or result. Another example: if you’ve |
| cards with vocabulary to memorize, I recommend | | | | completed a career specific automobile sales Spanish |
| studying them during television commercials. Who | | | | program, watch one of the dealership’s cable |
| wants to work all day and then come home and study | | | | access programs. They run them in both English and |
| all night? Not me! Keep your cards with you while you | | | | Spanish. It’s a great opportunity to revisit |
| are watching TV and only study them during the | | | | vocabulary and phrases you’ve learned. Plus, it |
| commercials. Memorization is best achieved when you | | | | gives you the opportunity to listen to someone else, |
| study for short, frequent periods of time. Please refer | | | | besides your instructor, and decipher what they are |
| to my blog for other study tips: | | | | saying. Instructors enunciate and speak slower on |
| 4. Only study what you need/want to learn, specifically | | | | purpose. Unfortunately, not all native speakers you will |
| if you are in business and are only interested in learning | | | | work with do that. |