| 1. The best thing about Spanish is that it is a | | | | 6. Make simple flash cards. Keep them in your |
| 100% phonetic language. What you see is what | | | | purse, briefcase, or backpack, and review them |
| you speak. | | | | while waiting for the bus, in a restaurant, |
| 2. The worst thing about learning Spanish is the | | | | wherever. |
| verb conjugations; they are complex, so you | | | | 7. Look at yourself in the mirror, and carry on a |
| need memory triggers and/or lots of practice to | | | | conversation with yourself in Spanish. "How are |
| remember them. Yes, you can write out verb | | | | you today? My, you're looking particularly good |
| conjugations, but you need a way to remember | | | | today." |
| the verb in the first place. Check out Comic | | | | 8. Buy a couple of Spanish-language music CDs. |
| Mnemonics, which is designed for kids but works | | | | 9. Buy a Spanish-language magazine or two, and |
| well with adults, too. | | | | leave them in places you relax. |
| 3. At the beginning, go around your house or | | | | 10. You can read about swimming, but you will |
| apartment and put yellow stickies on everything, | | | | never actually know how to swim until you jump |
| with the Spanish word printed on it. You will soon | | | | in the water. Visit Spanish or Latin-American |
| remember all those items, because your brain will | | | | stores and restaurants in your area, and use your |
| read the Spanish words unconsciously. | | | | Spanish whenever possible. Nobody will laugh at |
| 4. Do the same with the food in your refrigerator, | | | | you, and everyone will be pleased that you are |
| and items in your bathroom cabinet. | | | | making the effort. |
| 5. Watch TV programs in Spanish, if they are | | | | Your brain needs to develop the patterns of |
| available in your area. Although you won't | | | | Spanish, and the only way to do this is to speak |
| understand everything, you will hear the flow of | | | | frequently. The more you speak Spanish words, |
| conversation, the rhythm and musical patterns of | | | | the easier it gets. |
| the language. | | | | |