I’m sure one of your goals for 2019 is learning Spanish. And I’m sure that, by now, it’s become clear to you that this goal might not be as easy as you thought it would be. Indeed, we all procrastinate. Worst of all, we think that this habit keeps us from achieving our goals. But what if I told you that you can turn around your procrastinating habits in order to help you practice Spanish this 2019? Impossible? Not at all! Here are 6 simple daily things you can do this year to improve your Spanish while procrastinating.
1) Use social media
Yes, you heard me. Turn on your phone and log in to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter… But,before you start scrolling, change the language settings to Spanish.
Now, each and every day, you will read useful sentences such as:
Bonus tip: you can receiving your news feed in Spanish by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
2) Binge-watch Netflix
We all love spending our Sunday afternoons snuggled in a blanket and watching Netflix. The best thing is that now, you can access an endless number of Spanish-speaking series and documentaries to help you with your Spanish.
Listening to a language in real-life contexts is absolutely key for you to develop your listening skills. However, there are some tips before you start watching:
a. Watch a something you’ve already seen in your language, especially if you are a beginner. This will help you tremendously as you will already know the storyline so you can focus on the language being used.
b. Watch movies and series made in Spanish-speaking countries, these movies and series will help you understand the cultural background of each country.
c. Focus on small segments: listen, pause and repeat. Whenever you come across a section you find interesting from a linguistic point of view, take some time to analyze it. First, listen carefully while reading the transcript. Then, pause and write down the new words or expressions and repeat the segment aloud as many times as necessary so that you can practice your accent and memorize new useful sentences.
3) Have a Spanish coffee break
Take some time off and just enjoy Tomamos un café. You will get to speak with a small group of Spanish learners’ about news, culture and much more. If you want more information on these meetings, just check out our Spanish coffee break by clicking below:
4) Enjoy delicious food
While this might not be the best advice for your line, it can certainly help you improve your Spanish skills. How? Just download a recipe in Spanish and start cooking! This will help you learn tons of vocabulary and also get used to all the Latin-American accents. If you prefer to see recipes in action, take a look at this Youtube list:
And, if you feel too lazy to cook, you can always find a Spanish or Latin-American restaurant near you, but before you order, make sure the waiters speak Spanish so you can start practicing.
5) Listen to songs
You’ve probably noticed how easy it is to get a song stuck in your head, right? Use that to your advantage and start listening to playlists in Spanish. The best thing is to listen to your songs with lyrics and that’s why, on our YouTube channel, we have selected those that have the lyrics incorporated, have a look:
6) Go on vacation
This is probably the most enjoyable advice to follow. Pick a destination between the 21 Spanish Speaking world and plan a trip there. This way, you will immerse yourself in Spanish language and culture. If you are not sure where to go to yet, just check out our Spanish in Muxía program, it might be just what you are looking for.
I hope you’ve modified a bit your procrastinating habits and are on your way to learning Spanish. Let me know in the comments below what your 2019 objectives are and start to hablar español now.
¡Nos vemos!
