Already 8 and a half months since I have packed my bags in Colombia. As everywhere, one of the first questions asked during an exchange is the traditional one and a little too classic: “where do you come from?” When I answer that I am French, you cannot imagine the number of times that I have heard: “ha but for you, Spanish is easy… ¨ No! Learning a language is never easy, it takes time and a lot of motivation!
Nevertheless, here are some tips, all tested, to help in learning Spanish and all for free.
1. Online resources
There are many resources are available on the internet, so many that it is sometimes easy to get a little lost. Therefore, I would recommend the following 2 mobile apps: Duolingo, which offers you the option to learn around more than 10 languages. The rules are simple: you earn points as you do the exercises while improving your language skills. Another app called MosaLingua allows you to focus on pronunciation, comprehension and oral expression. There are 6 languages available, including Spanish.
Apart from that, here is a list of free online resources recommended by Hablea teachers for their students:
–ProfeDeELE: there are free activities, classified by level.
-VideoEle: short videos with transcriptions classified by level from A1 to B2.
-Todo Claro: grammar exercises classified by level.
-Podcast Viaje al español: Podcast created by Hablea’s teachers, available on Spotify.
-Documentaries DW en español: This news channel publishes short news and documentaries in Spanish that we recommend for its varied content.
– Radio Ambulante: podcasts about the history of South America. This resource was adapted for a more advanced level.
-Blu radio: A Colombian radio channel with different daily themes.
-Radio Nacional de Colombia: A Colombian national radio to listen to live and cultural articles.
-Ver-taal: short video reports with transcriptions for an intermediate level student and grammar exercises for all levels.
If you speak English, the SpanishDict app comes in handy because it can be used offline. This is an English / Spanish dictionary with many example sentences and conjugations.
2. Intercambio de idiomas (language exchange)
In Medellin, it is possible to go to a language exchange (intercambio) almost every evening. They are meetings organized in public places (bars, restaurants, parks, etc.) to practice Spanish and English with native speakers. There are 2 Couchsurfing and Meetup sites / applications that will allow you to see the events organized in the city of your choice. In Medellín you can join the Facebook or WhatsApp group Wola Exchange to be updated about all weekly events.
This is a great way to practice a language and meet future friends, both Colombians and expats. Remember to reference these 2 sites regularly because there are weekly exchange. You could even organize your own events and offer an exchange between a language you master and the one you want to learn.
Many people want to learn your language, so why not learn another language in exchange for teaching your language? You can post a message on an expats Facebook group, such as “Medellin Expats” and offer to exchange one hour of your language for one hour of Spanish. We wrote an article about the places to do language exchange in Medellín.
3. Practice with your phone
Like me, do you have trouble remembering conjugations in Spanish? A very practical trick is to write them on a piece of paper, take a picture of it and put it as your phone’s wallpaper and screensaver. You can also change the language of your laptop and computer to Spanish, this is useful for acquiring technical vocabulary.
4. Watch media: film, series, books
You can learn through entertainment. If you are a movie lover, you can watch Pedro Almodóvar’s films or other movies like: Paraiso travel, Rosario Tijeras, el Secreto de Sus Ojos and Crimen ferpecto. If you are a super fan, I recommend La casa de papel, Vis A Vis and El Ministerio del tiempo.
If you like to read, you can go to a bookstore in the languages section, where you will find foreign language books and bilingual readings.
5. Have a notebook with you all the time
When you go out, always have a small notebook and pen with you. It is very useful for writing new words / local expressions heard or read, but also, for referencing it during the day.
6. Write 5 words every a day on your hand
An English friend, completely new to learning a language, used to write 5 words on his hand daily. According to one of my English teachers, a word is completely understood if it is used at least 3 times in the right context. It obviously works for Spanish too. So try to use the 5 words you have written on your hand in any context. If you only remember 2 words a day, that’s always 2 more words in your vocabulary.
7. Meet natives
Colombians are very curious and outgoing. They love to go and talk to strangers. Young, old, men, women or children, there is no ulterior motive to their approach. So, don’t hesitate to speak with them or strike up a conversation even if you are a beginner in Spanish. They will be happy to help you.
That might sound a little pointless, but Tinder and other dating sites can be a great way to practice Spanish. First, messaging allows you to work on reading and writing comprehension. Then, if there is a date, you practice oral comprehension and speaking. Having a native Spanish-speaking boyfriend / girlfriend is a guaranteed way to progress quickly. One of my roommates told me that the best way to learn Spanish is the ¨CACA¨ method, on the calle (on the street) and in the cama (in bed).
8. Soak up the environment around you
As you walk down the street, try to immerse yourself as much as possible in the written information that surrounds you: advertisements, instructions, transport plans… Read everything and analyze the constructions of the sentences. It’s a great way to build vocabulary and to learn phrases. Here is a good example of an imperative:
9. Writing and listening activity with a native
Here is an activity offered by Hablea that helps improve pronunciation and listening skills. Each week, write 2 short texts about anything that your teacher will correct. Once the texts are corrected, have a native friend read them while you record them. So you can listen to the audio again to work on your pronunciation and accent.
Here is a short list of tips that make learning a language easier, all for free. It’s up to you to see what works best for you.However, nothing beats lessons with a native, at least at the beginning. Also, I highly recommend taking online classes with Hablea and supplementing the learning with these few tips. Hablea offers a free 20-minute lesson with a Colombian teacher.
Do you want to learn Spanish?, So you too can take the plunge!
Written by Delphine DDP
First photo from: Element5 Digital sur Unsplash
