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Is Spanish difficult? How to learn Spanish on your own from scratch at home

What language is spoken in Mexico? Why, when traveling in Mexico, English can not only not help, but also interfere? How to learn basic Spanish quickly and fairly easily? I will try to give answers to these and other questions in this article.

What is the language in Mexico?

Do you think that in any country you can safely travel and feel comfortable if you know English? Let me tell you a secret: if you are going to Mexico, English will not help!

How so? What is the language in Mexico? - you ask. Answer: Spanish. Yes, thanks to the Spanish conquistadors.

Do Mexicans really not speak English at all? It is very, very rare to find such a valuable specimen. Perhaps in quite touristic areas, such as Cancun (where we have not yet reached), the situation is a little better, but I would not count on it much. During the four months of traveling in Mexico, Andryusiks and I met literally a few people who at least somehow speak English (they can be counted on the fingers, perhaps even one hand is enough).

The whole point is that English can not only not help you in Mexico, but also play a cruel joke. It turns out that Mexicans do not like English just as much as they dislike their northern neighbors who speak this wonderful language. It happens that even knowing English, a Mexican basically does not want to speak it. He may not answer you a question asked in English, pretending that he does not understand anything at all, or he will communicate very reluctantly and not very friendly. But one has only to say a few words in Spanish, as they are ready to show and tell you everything.

So, my friends, Spanish!

The main thing is to have a goal

And what to do now? How to travel to Mexico? Learn at least the basics Spanish. That's exactly what I decided when Andryusiks and I decided to go on a long Mexican trip. The situation was facilitated by the fact that I really liked Spanish and was interesting.

And then there was a specific tangible goal. After all, it is much easier to go forward when there is a reward waiting for you. We all need motivation.

So, if you have a desire to feel comfortable in the wonderful country of Mexico, set yourself the goal of getting to know the local language better and speaking it.

Spanish - easy and fast

Hooray! You are going to Mexico, there is still time before the trip (I think that such long-distance trips are more or less planned in advance). A reasonable question is how quickly, and even easily learn Spanish? I must say right away that I don’t know the secret a la “I wanted in the evening, woke up in the morning and spoke in Spanish”. Personally, I took care of this issue about three months before the trip. These three months I actively studied the language. So I can’t say that it was very easy for me to speak Spanish. You will also have to work. But I think three months is a very short time.

What makes you very happy? The fact that Spanish (especially its Mexican version) is considered sufficient easy language. Firstly, the pronunciation is very similar to our native one, there is no French “rrr” here (well, you understand what I mean), nor English “rrr”, which is also very unusual for us. Secondly, in Spanish, words are both heard and written, how they are written and read. You will have to remember a couple of rules, but there are at least exceptions.

"The most difficult thing in Spanish" is an article written to help learners of Spanish not to over-dramatize their mistakes, as long as those mistakes do not harm free communication, the main goal of learning a language.
In this post, I will tell you about two situations in which Spanish learners find themselves in a predicament most often. I will do it in a descriptive way. Each of these problems deserves a separate article. Here I will only list them.

The most difficult thing in Spanish: difficultaspects of Spanish.

Spanish, like any other language, has its challenges:

• It is necessary to conjugate verbs for each of the three persons in the singular and plural (total we have 6 verb forms), which is not, for example, in English language. However, for a Russian learner it is quite simple.
• You need to be able to conjugate verbs in 17 verb tenses, which is not so easy anymore. In addition, there are several tenses that are very similar in their use in some situations - for example: pretérito indefinido and pretérito imperfecto de indicativo - but gradually, with effort, this difficulty can be overcome.
• There are 2 imperatives in Spanish: affirmative and negative. It requires double the effort compared to learning other languages. But this is not an insurmountable obstacle!
• Also in Spanish there is subjunctive mood(el modo verbal subjuntivo). At first, this causes some confusion, because here we find a fundamental difference from many other languages, including Russian. But those who have previously studied French, Italian or Portuguese have a significant advantage in overcoming this difficulty. However, this is not so important. After all, Russian students are very diligent, they will certainly overcome this obstacle.
• Of course, there are moments that deserve special attention on the part of the Spanish language learner: the gender of some words that does not coincide with Russian, correct use prepositions, idioms, set phrases and expressions, etc. But absolutely all these difficulties can be handled by a diligent student.

The hardest thing about Spanish: the irresistible aspects of Spanish.

We got acquainted with the complex aspects of the Spanish language. Now, finally, let's talk about the almost insurmountable difficulties that a foreigner who speaks Spanish faces.
For Russians, little is impossible. In fact, learning Spanish is usually quite easy task for them. There are only two things that are sure to be a trap for a Russian who is starting to speak Spanish.

Neither perseverance, nor resourcefulness, nor self-sacrifice, nor courage will help to cope with these two tricky aspects. I say this because I have seen very gifted people fail trying to overcome this problem.

And above all, I say this because I have Russian friends who spend half their lives in Spain and know absolutely all the subtleties of the Spanish language. And, believe me, they would have perfectly passed for locals if they had not made these mistakes over and over again.

What two points am I talking about? What kind of two black beasts stand in the way of Russian students striving to master the Spanish language perfectly? Here they are:

a) Confusion when using the verbs “ser” and “estar”.

We use ser and estar before adjectives. The rule is to use the verb ser for tense adjectives - ser alto (to be tall), ser bajo (to be short), ser inteligente (to be smart) - and the verb estar for adjectives that change in time - estar cansado (to be tired), estar enfadado (to be angry), estar triste (to be sad).
The problem is that this rule has exceptions.

For example, we say - estar muerto (to be dead) - and this is quite stable over time. While the rule works in many other cases, the student, however, tends to make mistakes in verb choice, such as using "ser mojado" instead of "estar mojado" (to be wet).

b) Abuse of definite articles: el, la, los, las.

Definite articles are auxiliary parts of speech that are placed before a noun to indicate that the speaker knows the noun - el libro (book), la casa (house). If he did not know them, he would use the indefinite articles - un libro, una casa.

The problem with articles, in many cases, is that Russian speakers tend to use them all the time: “compro la comida, escucho la música y leo los libros” instead of “compro comida, escucho música y leo libros” (“I buy food, listening to music, reading books).

The hardest thing about Spanish: the importance of making those mistakes.

In most cases, manipulating the verbs ser and estar, or using definite articles where they are not needed, is not such a big deal. big problem. The worst thing that can happen to you is that when you want to say “eres buena” (“you are kind / good”), you will say “estás buena”, which means “you are sexy”. And, my friend, I do not think that this will be a serious problem. The Spanish interlocutor will understand you perfectly.
I will end by giving you some advice: listen to Spanish speech whenever possible, learn general rules, study and practice every day and do not bother yourself with unnecessary problems.

The most difficult thing in Spanish DONPROFESOR

What is the best way to learn Spanish?

Break the Spanish Language Barrier

9 problems in learning Spanish

Learning Spanish is a rather time-consuming and costly undertaking. Therefore, each of us wants the results of training to justify expectations and investments. To do this, you should think in advance about what difficulties may arise and how they will be solved in the teaching method you have chosen.

Learning is the interaction between the student and the one who teaches (teacher, methodology, school). The student has his own tasks and personal characteristics, the teacher or methodology has his own. They don't always match. It's not just about purely human compatibility or its absence. The teaching method itself also plays a role. Many of them sin by lagging behind life and cannot meet the tasks of the student.

The problems that will be discussed, we did not invent ourselves. These are the real pains that students most often come to us with. Teachers from different schools talk mostly about the same difficulties in their students. And teachers do not always know exactly how to solve these difficulties for a particular student.

In the training system of our Center, a mechanism for solving these problems has long been created and successfully worked out. It is universal and applicable to all students because it is based on natural processes.

1st problem - fluent Spanish

Many of us learn a language for years, but never get the desired result. Learn rules and words - old (XV century), kind, but not always The best way get fluent communication in spanish. It is long, divorced from practice and often leads to "mess" in the head. The fact is that this familiar, most common and most convenient for teaching approach to the language splits it into parts. From these parts, it would seem that the whole should come together, but usually everything remains at the level of disparate parts. Our recipe is a holistic approach to the language as a single organism. And also to immediately engage in the development of practical skills of free communication in Spanish: listening comprehension, speaking and reading.

2nd problem - incomprehension of Spanish by ear

Listening misunderstanding is connected not only with the lack of language practice. The trouble is that most teaching methods pay negligible attention to one of the most important components: phonemic hearing. Unlike music, phonemic hearing enables us to perceive and understand speech. This is the foundation provided for us by the nature and physiology of the brain, on which the whole language is built in the future. No foundation, no language. Phonemic hearing in relation to the Spanish language must be developed! Therefore, almost half of your classes with us will be devoted to this particular skill.

3rd problem - forgetting Spanish words

This always happens when foreign words they try to memorize by rote memorization - cramming or any mnemonic techniques, out of context and practice of their application. By the way, memorizing words with the help of cards or, in more modern version, in the app on your phone, also apply to mechanical way memorization and forgetting is simply inevitable here. The use of mnemonics (“1000 words in 3 days” and so on) in relation to the language is also most often bare mechanics. As a result of memorization without semantic connections, Spanish words settle in short-term memory, from where they disappear very quickly. According to the methodology we use, words are immediately presented in the context of their use, and most often not separately from each other, but in phrases, sentences and dialogues, that is, in a semantic bundle. This corresponds to the natural way of learning Spanish, when words in our memory and consciousness are combined into a kind of family, called semantic (semantic) fields. Only due to this, as well as repeated repetition and frequent use in different meanings words are stored in long-term memory. And so you won't forget him even after years after studying.

4th problem - difficulties in constructing sentences

This is part of the problem discussed above when the language is taught "by the elements". In fact, grammar is a kind of superstructure of the language. Imagine that before the October Revolution, the grammar of Russian was so strongly one-met, built on the principle of German grammar, that it contained alien phenomena that did not exist in living speech. At the same time, the living language was the same as it is now! The reform of the Russian language abolished these phenomena, unnecessary to Russian grammar, but this did not stop us from understanding the language of our ancestors. Porridge from grammar and difficulties in constructing independent statements occur when grammar is studied as an unshakable foundation, in isolation from everything else. According to the CLP method, grammar moves from practice to theory, and not vice versa. This corresponds to the natural mechanisms of speech, in contrast to the movement in opposite side: from theory to practice of its application. When grammar is based on the living application of the Spanish language, it becomes an important helper and friend. Otherwise, we get what many of our domestic textbooks and tests do: strange expressions that the native speaker will never use or even understand. Therefore, communicative teaching methods also use this path: from practice to theory.

5th problem - think in spanish

In order to be able to think in Spanish, you must become familiar with this language. We assume a "natural" mode of presentation of the material and a soft immersion in Spanish language environment, without violence to your own brain. The Spanish language is built into your life without too much stress, so in the end you will really learn how to think in it. Special lessons, during which you will perform simple mental exercises in Spanish, take up about 20% of all training with us.

6th problem - Spanish pronunciation

This is closely related to the 2nd problem - misunderstanding by ear. Physiologically, we do not have separate auditory and separate speech systems, but there is one auditory-speech system. It is based on the basic natural abilities for languages, which are present in every person, but require special development in adulthood. According to the CLP method, teaching Spanish pronunciation takes about 20% of the lessons.

7th problem - the language barrier

When we think in Russian and then try to translate our thoughts into Spanish, this is what always happens. From the very beginning of learning Spanish, you need to accustom yourself to think like a native speaker. This will not impoverish your thinking in Russian, because a separate system for the Spanish language will be built in your head, based on the logic of this particular language. For this, it is necessary from the very beginning to perceive the language from the native speaker, and not in the Russian interpretation. That is why educational materials personal programs are prepared and voiced by native Spanish speakers, professional linguists and announcers. Therefore, you will immediately get used to the living and natural patterns of Spanish speech, their logic and sound. The CLP method successfully combines the advantages of learning Spanish with a native speaker and the domestic teaching system, which is rightfully considered one of the best in the world.

8th problem no time for spanish

The CLP method gives you two huge advantages at once in this matter. First: you download the training program to your computer once, and you don’t depend on anyone else and don’t adjust to anyone! You can copy the program to another medium, transfer current lessons to mobile devices. Secondly, more than half of the audio lessons of the program can and even desirable be combined with other activities. Such listening in the background is done in order to reduce the unconscious resistance of the brain, to remove the barrier. This makes it possible for the Spanish language to be perceived neutrally. At the same time, it saves your time as well.

9th problem - Failed to complete tutorial

Why can't I complete the tutorial? There are a variety of circumstances in life, due to which sometimes it is necessary to interrupt training and postpone it for an indefinite period. As a result, the acquired knowledge begins to be forgotten. As for your personal program, even if you have to take a break from studying Spanish, you will always have the program and you can continue studying when circumstances favor it again. The good news is that you will not forget what you have learned before: rather, on the contrary, thanks to the break, the acquired skills will be even more firmly fixed in your memory. This is due to the fact that according to the CLP method you master skills and abilities, and not abstract knowledge of the language. Skills are more difficult to forget than knowledge divorced from practice, because skills are based on muscle memory. Just like having learned to swim or ride a bike once, you are unlikely to ever forget how to do it.

What problems do you find in yourself?
How many problems do you need to contact us to solve them?

Sometimes just one is enough if it's the same problem, which eats up your time, effort and money, not allowing you to achieve your goal.

In addition to the above problems, there are others that will be discussed in our newsletters. Solve your problems!

Any problem can be solved if you approach it correctly!

Spanish - very beautiful language. This is the language of rich history, which is spoken by over 500 million people worldwide. For a person who knows English, Spanish is one of the easiest languages ​​to learn, as both English and Spanish are heavily influenced by Latin. Spanish is even closer to French or Italian, since they belong to the same language group - Romance. For Russian speakers, Spanish has its advantages - for example, the fact that spelling and pronunciation usually match. Yes, learning any language takes time and effort, but the joy of the first real conversation with a Spanish-speaking person will fully justify all the effort! This article will talk about how to learn Spanish easily and with pleasure.

Steps

Learning the basics

Learn the Spanish alphabet. The Spanish alphabet is the Latin alphabet that you are familiar with. It almost completely coincides with English, with the exception of one letter, but the sounds are significantly different. Studying correct pronunciation is a very difficult and important stage of learning, and therefore it is worth starting to learn Spanish from the alphabet. Once you learn the pronunciation of individual letters, it will become much easier to pronounce words and phrases. The following is a list of the pronunciations of the letters of the Spanish alphabet:

Learn to pronounce letters. When you learn the rules, you will be able to pronounce all the words correctly.

• ca, co, cu = ka, ko, ku; ce, ci = se, si(or interdental sound closer to English, th in the word "think")
• ch= h
• ga, go, gu = ha, go, goo; ge, gi = hee hee
• h mute: hombre is pronounced like ombre
• hua, hue, hui, huo = uh, uh, uh, uh
• ll is pronounced like th. "Calle" is pronounced like kaye
• m and n at the end of a word, as well as n before c, are pronounced as a nasal sound n in English "think" or French "un"
• n before v is pronounced like m
• r at the beginning of a word and rr in the middle of a word are pronounced booming, in other cases - as usual R
• que, qui = ke, ki
• v is pronounced like b
• y is pronounced like And between two consonants and how th in conjunction with vowels.
  Listen to recordings of Spanish speech to understand how these letters sound, and also read.

1. Remember simple words. The more your lexicon, the easier it will be for you to speak Spanish. Learn simple words used in everyday life and you will be surprised at how quickly your vocabulary will start to grow!

   Learn basic conversational phrases. By learning the basics of polite conversation, you can quickly start communicating with Spanish speakers, even if only in English. simple level. Write down a few conversational phrases for daily use and memorize them 5-10 pieces a day. Here's where to start:

   Learn basic grammar rules

   1. Learn the rules of conjugation regular verbs. Verb conjugation is an important part of Spanish grammar. As in Russian, here verbs have a person, number and tense, which can be used to understand Who And When performs an action. To learn the conjugation table Spanish verbs, it’s worth starting with regular verbs in the present tense. Learning regular verbs is easy - they all end in -ar, -er, -ir, and each of them is conjugated depending on the ending. Details are below:

      Learn the conjugation rules for commonly used irregular verbs. Having learned to conjugate regular verbs, move on to irregular ones. These verbs are called irregular because their conjugation pattern differs from that of regular verbs. The reasons for this lie in the history of the Spanish language itself, and it will not be easy to explain them. Some of the most common verbs, including ser (to be), estar (to be), ir (to go), haber (to have), are just plain wrong. Just memorize the forms of these verbs.

      Learn the features of the genus category. In Spanish, as in Russian, all nouns have a gender. There are only two of them: male and female. At the same time, by ear or by spelling it is impossible to determine with certainty what gender the word belongs to, therefore the gender of nouns must be learned by heart along with the words themselves.

      Learn the rules for using the definite and indefinite article. There are no articles in Russian. English has one definite article (the) and three indefinite articles (a/an/some). There are eight articles in Spanish: four definite and the same number of indefinite ones. The use of this or that article depends on the gender and number of the noun.

      • For example, talking about a cat ( singular, masculine), you need to use the definite article "el" - "el gato". Speaking of cats plural, masculine), you should use the definite article "los" - "los gatos".
      • The definite article will change when it comes to female cats. So, "cat" (singular, feminine) requires the use of the definite article "la" - "la gata", and "cats" (plural, feminine), respectively, require the article "las" - "las gatas".
      • The four forms of the indefinite article are used in a similar way. "Un" - masculine, singular; "unos" - masculine, plural; "una" - feminine, singular; "unas" is feminine, plural.

      Dive into the language

      1. Find a native speaker. One of the best ways to improve your language skills is to communicate with a native speaker. Such a person will easily correct your grammatical errors, help with pronunciation, and also introduce you to colloquial phrases which you won't find in the textbook.

         • If you have a Spanish-speaking friend who is willing to help, then you are very lucky. If there is no such friend, find sites where you can get acquainted with the goal of language practice, or courses that provide classes with native speakers.
         • If you can't find a Spanish-speaking person to chat in real life, chat on Skype. You may even find someone who will agree to teach you Spanish in exchange for Russian lessons.

      2. Try signing up for a course. If you need extra motivation or feel like you'd do better in a more formal setting, enroll in a language school.

         • Look for language schools or courses at local educational institutions.
         • If you are afraid or embarrassed to go to a course alone, ask a friend to sign up with you. This will make it easier and more fun.

      3. Watch movies and cartoons in Spanish. Buy Spanish DVDs with subtitles or watch movies and cartoons online. It's simple and easy way get used to the sound of Spanish speech and to the structure of the language.

         • If you are eager to fight, then after all simple sentences pause and try to repeat what you heard. Perhaps this will make your accent less noticeable.
         • If you can't find anything suitable, ask on the forums or groups dedicated to the Spanish language: people are sure to share their sources.

      4. Listen to Spanish music. It's another one great way surround yourself with Spanish speech. Even if you don't understand all the phrases, try to isolate individual keywords and use them to guess what the song is about.

         • Get a Spanish radio app on your phone so you can listen to it on the go.
         • Download Spanish podcasts to listen to as you run homework or playing sports.
         • Of the good Spanish-speaking performers, it is worth noting Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and Enrique Iglesias.

      5. Learn more about Spanish culture. Language and culture are in a very close relationship, so many expressions and mentality are explained by the peculiarities of the culture of the people. The better you know Spanish culture, the less problems will arise in the future.

         If possible, go to Spain or another Spanish-speaking country. When you feel confident enough in terms of the language, consider going to a country where Spanish is spoken, because there is no better way to immerse yourself in the language!

         • Remember that each country has its own accent, its own slang, and even words sometimes differ in meaning. In Chile, for example, they speak quite differently than in Mexico, Spain or Argentina.
         • Over time, it will make sense to focus on one branch of Spanish. You will get confused if you constantly go over the meanings of words and pronunciations. However, only 2% of the words differ from the main vocabulary in each country. Aim to explore the remaining 98%.

      6. Don't give up! If you are serious, then the pleasure of mastering a second language will cover all the difficulties. Learning a language is difficult and time-consuming, and it is impossible to fully master it in a day. If that didn’t convince you enough, then know that Spanish is far from the most difficult language:

      • Read, read and read again! This is the best way to learn a language, as reading covers many aspects of the language: vocabulary, grammar, set expressions, and so on. The more complex the work and the more difficult it is to read, the more useful it is in terms of language learning.
      • Many words in languages ​​derived from Latin (Italian, Spanish, French) are similar to each other. Learn the rules of the so-called language conversion (for example, English word, ending in -ible, is spelled the same in Spanish, but read differently). Thanks to the conversion alone, you can replenish your vocabulary by 2000 words.
      • Practice all four components of language learning i.e. reading, writing, listening and speaking. Make time for them all.
      • You can install a language learning app like Duolingo on your phone.
      • Pay Special attention for pronunciation. Remember that the position of a sound in a word determines how it sounds (for example, "b" and "d" are pronounced differently at the beginning and in the middle of a word). If you have a good ear, paying enough attention to pronunciation can smooth out the accent.
      • Try to find a friend whose native language is Spanish. It will help you understand the intricacies of the language, which are not written in textbooks.
      • To improve your pronunciation as much as possible, sing songs in Spanish. Give preference to songs performed by native speakers. At the same time, do not try to understand the meaning - try to pronounce the words exactly as the singer does. One example of such a song is "Amor Del Bueno" by Caliber 50. If you want, you can find the lyrics of the song and its translation later, focus on the pronunciation first.
      • Complex sentences can be made from simple sentences. For example, "I'm hungry" and "I'm hungry" can be turned into "I want to eat something because I'm hungry."
      • Try using an electronic translator - it will come in handy to check if you understand and speak correctly.
      • Try to write down new words and make sentences with them. If you recognize a word, use it!

      Warnings

      • To teach new language, you need to spend a lot of time and effort. Result in this case directly proportional to the effort expended. Don't let the lessons get boring - enjoy the process!
      • The only way to learn a new language is to start speaking it. Speak out loud, even if you are talking to yourself. This will help you get a feel for how the language sounds.

Let's face the immigrant's truth in its shameless eyes: Spanish for you is not a whim, but a real necessity. For the first time, money is dripping onto the card, documents are being made, it's time to worry about the essentials: How will you contact the local population?

Okay, in stores you can somehow use gestures, but in supermarkets it’s even easier: you put food in the basket, handed out a card at the checkout - you don’t have to open your mouth at all. How about getting a job? Also gestures? Like, I can “clack-clack” on the computer /here we play the invisible piano for visualization/ and “blah-blah” on the phone /defiantly wave our mobile phone/? What if you go to college? And call a doctor and explain to him what happened and where it hurts? Also gestures and facial expressions? But the temperature of +40°C can slightly undermine your acting talent, and then what?

flickr.com/eisenbahner

You get the point: Spanish in Spain is must have. And he himself, sadly, will not learn. Therefore, we begin to work actively. By the way, working in Spanish is "trabajo", remember.

Properly motivated? Obviously a winner!

The fact that you have decided to move to Spain may be enough. But having this fact exclusively in your head is not enough! Your brain processes one million one hundred thousand gigabytes of information every day. And if something is not paramount right now, then cunning convolutions can easily push it away.

To avoid this confusion, we take get motivated! Desktop screensaver? Spain! Do you have photos from past trips? To the avatar! “Letters of happiness” were hung around the house on ordinary A4 sheets.

flickr.com/24289877@N02

The text is roughly as follows:

• “In six months - to Spain!”;
• “Whoever doesn’t finish learning Spanish lives in Voronezh”;
• Ready to conquer Spain!

Are you going to your beloved / beloved? Your shared photos should be everywhere. Have you been offered a dream job in Spain? Hang up your professional awards, photos of your future workplace, etc.

There is only one goal: do not let the insidious brain forget about the main mission! By any means!

Spanish ... What is it?

Did immigration force you to study Spanish? Do not be sad, if a similar situation had happened to the Spaniard, he would have had much more difficult. Still, learning Russian is not an easy task.

Of course, if you start learning Spanish from birth, it would be easier. But then the teacher of an average Moscow kindergarten would have difficulty understanding you. Yes, school would be difficult. So learn now. As long as your brain is working, nothing is too late.

Spanish words are spelled almost the same as they are pronounced.. There are no burry "r" and similar problems with pronunciation in this language.

flickr.com/lexnger

It will be even easier for those who speak English. These languages ​​are similar, and Spanish is also considered easier. It has its own rules, but there are not as many of them as in the same Russian. And therefore ... go for it!

How to teach? Who to study with? What to teach?

Now about how to learn Spanish quickly and permanently. Method two:

Looking for my guru

You can learn Spanish with:

• Group language courses.
  This is an option for those who feel more comfortable in a team. But courses must be chosen: it is desirable that the school has certificates from the Instituto Cervantes, CEELE and prepares students for the DELE exam.
  You can go to Spain to study at a language school. And on Wednesday you will plunge, and see the country, and you won’t get completely confused - the teachers will always be there.
  You can also take courses at the Spanish Embassy in your city.
• Individual lessons with a teacher.
  Lessons can take place at your home, on neutral territory, at the teacher's house or even on Skype. Do not trust teachers from your city? By Skype, you can study with those who are in Spain right now, and from there, through the kilometers, they will broadcast to you about tenses and verbs.

flickr.com/holtsman

We study proudly, independently and ... on our own!

And what? It's also possible! All textbooks, rules, exercises are on the Internet. You can download a tutorial, you can learn the language on specially designed sites (for example, busuu.com, hispanistas.ru, studyspanish.ru or livemocha.com).

Social networks have thematic communities, for those who learn Spanish. They post demotivators and memes in this language, learn words together, understand complex issues. And it's all free, by the way. Search the Vkontakte groups and see for yourself.

An important aspect: pronunciation and complex grammar issues. Learn for yourself, write down all the situations that you have not figured out. Later, go to at least a couple of classes with a tutor: he will explain difficult questions, listen to pronunciation, and tell you what to work on.

An alternative pronunciation option is to find yourself a Skype interlocutor who will be a native speaker.

Dude, practice!

Learning a language without practice is a dead number. But where to get practice in Spanish in a completely Russian-speaking environment?

Here are some options:

• Watch movies and . First with Russian subtitles, of course.
• Throw Spanish music into the player favorite genre. From time to time it is useful to read the lyrics of the songs you like, the translation, watch the clips, etc.
• Choose Spanish on your phone, laptop and social networks. Know your computer/phone/Facebook by heart? Here, check it out!
• Learn a language with the whole family. Children - Spanish cartoons and children's songs. And for each household item, hang a sticker with its Spanish name. Do you want to take possession of the TV remote control, computer or delicious candy? First, name him/her correctly. And rightly so - we now have it in Spanish!
• Read. Of course, in Spanish. Therefore, it is preferable - from a tablet or at a computer, in which case you can quickly see the translation. What to read? And what do you want: adapted texts, classics in the original, world news, thematic sites, Spanish mommies forums, etc.
• Go to conversation clubs. Remember English speaking club? It is the same.
• Don't take on everything at once. If in one day you reconfigure your whole life in a Spanish way, then ... You are more likely to get confused and irritably throw aside all your activities. Therefore, we begin gradually with what appeals to you more. Added two more films a week to classes with a teacher? Here are the good guys! Turn on the next item when you start to cope with this volume easily and without stress.

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Dmitry (27 years old, Granada):

“I have been in Spain since I was 24. And he also moved his wife and son. It was easy for me: the goal was a long time ago, I learned the language from scratch gradually, with a good teacher. While I settled into new country, wife and child lived in Russia. As a result, when I was able to pick them up, my son was already 4 years old. Like it is necessary to give to the kindergarten upon arrival. But a change of scenery, a new language, different rules… I was worried about how the adaptation would go. Therefore, even at home, the son began to study Spanish. My conditions were: no grammar, rules, only game form classes. Plus, I got a very experienced teacher who spoke excellent Russian, but never showed it to the children. The children thought that the teacher would not understand them in Russian and they simply had no choice. Therefore, the son mastered the basic set of phrases very quickly and without any stress: only games, fairy tales, cartoons, etc. Zhenya was greatly helped by the tutorials “Spanish in 30 Days” by Koenigbauer and “Espanol en vivo” by Nuzhdin.

Dasha made a video in which she told how she learned the language:

And another review on the topic - from Marina:

We learn Spanish from here and ... But in fact, to what level?

If you are planning to study or work in Spain, then you have to take an exam in spanish. The exam will test your ability to read, write, speak and understand Spanish.

The exam is called DELE and consists of six levels:

• initial or Inicial (A1-A2);
• medium or Intermedio (B1-B2);
• high or Superior (С1-С2).

To receive in Spain higher education, a high level is required:

C1 - fluency in the language and communication on any topic;
C2 - all the same + the use of highly specialized terms.

For simple work (nanny, cleaning lady, nurse, driver, builder), a household level is enough, i.e. B2. Do you want a position with a more attractive salary (doctor, programmer, engineer, teacher)? C1-C2 levels will help you.

Alina (32 years old, Madrid):

“Our family moved to Spain three years ago. I won't lie, it was difficult. The last time I studied something radically new at the institute, and here in a few months you need to draw out a new language at least to a level sufficient for everyday communication… But we mastered! The husband has already confirmed his diploma and works in his specialty, a programmer. So far I have abandoned all this: my daughter was born, I am taking care of the child. We plan to give it to the usual kindergarten Let him learn Spanish right away. And my husband almost stopped speaking Russian with me at home: he makes sure that I do not forget the language.

Information about will be useful to all who are going to stay in this European country. There are nuances that you should get acquainted with even at the stage of preparing for the move.

We've arrived! What's next?

In Spain, immigrants are treated ... As they deserve, they are treated. If everyone sees that a person is learning a language, is interested, friendly to others, works well, then they will help him, and prompt, and advise. For those who for several years of living in the country have not bothered to learn the language or remember the traditions, there will be no discounts. Spaniards don't care where you come from: everyone is treated the same.

The sooner you send your child to a local kindergarten or school, the sooner he will learn the language. The method is simple, but proven. But try to prepare your child for the move: taking courses at home will be useful not only for you, but also for him. Of course, there is a Russian-language school in Madrid, but did you move for this?

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Before moving, find out what conditions for immigrant assistance are in your city. For example, in Madrid and Castile, the Alcala Institute teaches free of charge foreign students Spanish. Similar projects are also found in other cities.

Learn Spanish? Teach! And most importantly, don't be afraid to use it. Well, you will be mistaken a couple of dozen times, but you will see that you have been understood, and you will feel confident. And then you will stop making mistakes, start thinking in Spanish ... Buena suerte!