Spanish Learning Software

When we think about how to learn Spanish lessons, many people remember the textbooks and difficult instructors they dealt with in high school.  I have good news for you – there’s a better way now! 

The internet is probably the single best thing that has happened to language education.  You don’t need to sit in a classroom anymore, only going through one lesson at a time.

Instead, we now have constant access to a variety of Spanish tutorials, lesson plans, software, learning games, vocabulary lists, books, songs, videos, etc.  The list could go on and on. 

The question now is:  How do I find the right lessons for me?  The key is to recognize your learning style, the amount of time you have available, and which medium works best logistically. 

Everybody has different learning styles.  Some people are strong auditory learners (people who learn by listening), others visual learners (people who learn by looking or reading), and others kinesthetic learners (people who learn by hands-on activity).  Which type of learning style you are will dictate what sort of learn Spanish lessons you should look for.

For auditory learners, CDs, tapes, and software that includes audio files is the best way to go.  You will probably do well listening to English conversations and then the Spanish version back-to-back.  You may also benefit from watching Spanish videos with dialogue, such as a Spanish soap opera or movie.  Singing simple songs in Spanish (you can find the lyrics for many online) can help you remember words and phrases. 

Visual learners will appreciate lessons in book style or software that they can read on their computer.  You may find reading simple books in Spanish (such as children’s books) can help you learn faster.  Pictures with Spanish captions for you to decipher is a useful tool as well.  Again, the internet is a wealth of information as far as this is concerned.

The ultimate way to learn for a kinesthetic or tactile learner is, of course, visiting a Spanish-speaking country and immersing yourself in the culture and language.  However, this option is not always a possibility.  Playing Spanish games, such as those that are found in some software packages, is a good way to practice for the hands-on learner. 

Another idea is to post an ad for a Spanish-speaking person who is trying to learn English to have conversations with you.  Just sitting down and trying to communicate will undoubtedly bring you to a new level of speaking and understanding Spanish .

As far as time management and logistics, not all learn Spanish lessons are created equal.  Some require more time and effort; others are portable and easy to fit into the small bits of time you have here and there. 

If you like the idea of sitting down for a set amount of time each day, a video series or course with a workbook may be a good idea.  If you are always on the go, some CDs for the car or software that has mp3 audio files you can put on your ipod are good ideas. 

Software is a versatile option because it usually includes audio files, visual tools, games, tests, and cultural information that you can break up, using only what you need at a particular time or for a particular reason. 

Hopefully this has given you an idea of how to choose the right learn Spanish lessons.  May your language learning be easy, fast, and enjoyable!  ¡Adios!