While it’s helpful to study new Spanish vocabulary with Drops, there are more steps you need to take to put your Spanish into practice and take your speaking and writing skills to the next level. And once you start working on your Spanish writing skills, the next step is to develop your very own writing style.
In this article, we’re going to give you some useful tips to help you find that voice, so you can be more confident in your ability to communicate in Spanish.
A good first step to building Spanish fluency is to subscribe to various media in the language. Think Youtube channels, Netflix, Hulu, and other services with Spanish content. You can even subscribe to a newsletter service that sends you regular readings and assignment help in Spanish on different topics.
Once you find something, try using Spanish subtitles rather than English. This is so that you know which words are actually being spoken. It makes it easier to understand how these words are pronounced in everyday usage. You should also take note of all the new words you learn. Over time, your vocabulary will grow immensely, and you will be able to write more interesting things with a wider vocabulary. And you can always reinforce the new words you’re learning with Drops!
Is there a Spanish-speaking club nearby? Join it!
Is it possible to find a language partner? Connect with them!
Do whatever you can to speak Spanish as much as possible. Connecting with native Spanish speakers will motivate you to expand your vocabulary and accelerate your learning. Conversing with native speakers is also a good opportunity to spot mistakes, as they are likely to correct you when you use or pronounce a word the wrong way.
Another major advantage of talking in Spanish a lot is that it makes the language a part of your daily life. With such a solid foundation, it will be much easier to find your own speaking and, eventually, writing style.
Since you’re trying to improve your writing, you should dive into books on the language. Consider audiobooks. They are the perfect mix of the spoken language and written language within a literary context. Not only do you get to see the Spanish writing styles of others, but you also get to see how those words would sound if spoken. A lot of writing out there is formal, and seeing how it sounds when spoken gives you a solid base for your formal and oratory practice. It also allows you to compare formal and informal Spanish, especially if you’ve been having a lot of conversations with natives in the meantime.
A good strategy to try with audiobooks is to start off with the familiar stuff. Are there books you’ve already read in English that you liked? Try listening to their Spanish versions. You already know the story, so now your main focus is to hear it told in another language. This is a great practice, as it presents you with the opportunity to compare the nuances of English and Spanish. Both have unique characters and construct sentences and stories the same way. Listening to your favorite books in the two languages will help you build your intuition for how to construct your own stories in Spanish.
If you’re able, why not move to or travel to a Spanish-speaking country? This can help your Spanish fluency grow exponentially.
The good news is that you have a lot of locations to choose from. There are at least 20 countries in the world where Spanish is an official language spread across three continents: Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
You also have lots of options for how you can spend time in these locations. Rather than live alone abroad, consider joining a teaching program, an international co-op placement, or a university exchange program. That way, you’ll have plenty of support when you make the move.
One especially attractive advantage of moving to a Spanish-speaking country is that they are generally cheaper to live in than their English-speaking counterparts. You won’t have to dig too deep into your pockets to learn the language!
And important note to make here is that simply making that move won’t help your fluency. You have to actively engage the locals in this country and make friends to increase your exposure to the language. Since international exchange programs are many, there is a very high chance you’ll meet English speakers in Spanish-speaking countries. While it can feel good to hang out with familiar people, it won’t help you learn Spanish. Instead, try to meet spend time with more Spanish speakers and escape the expat bubble!
This is one of those things you can’t quite plan, since nobody gets to choose who they love. But if you’re lucky enough to fall in love with a Spanish speaker, then you have an incredible opportunity ahead of you!
At any rate, falling in love with someone who comes from a different country and culture than yours can do wonders for your open-mindedness and expose you to new experiences and new ideas. The more fun and understanding they are, the better the experience will be.
To be honest, you can’t really call this a proper strategy, as much of it will depend on serendipity (imagine walking the streets of Barcelona asking random people if they’ll date you so you can learn Spanish). However, you can take steps toward making it possible, like joining a dating site and adjusting the settings so you can connect with Spanish speakers, or joining dating sites made exclusively for Spanish speakers. You manifest your own luck!
The tips above are just the tip (pun intended) of the iceberg. There are lots of other ways to learn your own style. For example, the most obvious one is that you should write in Spanish daily. With time and consistency, your creative juices will flow freely, and you’ll get better at writing in Spanish about different topics. Whatever approach you take, however, be sure to remain committed and consistent. It will pay off dividends in time.
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About the Author: John Peterson is a journalist with 4 years’ experience working at EssayOnTime. He is a professional mini-tennis player and he has written a novel, “His Heart”. You can find him on Facebook.
