Learning a second language is thought to be exceptionally difficult. This does not have to be the case! As a tutor of many years, something that always strikes me when I tutor languages is just how much simpler language learning is compared to other subjects I tutor, such as reading, or Language Arts. A major component of Spanish, French, or any other world language is vocabulary. And vocabulary is easy!
We learn new words in our native language all the time. Every year, around 1,000 new words enter the English language1. Think of words such as affluenza, and captcha. We didn’t know these terms ten years ago. No matter how old we get, we are constantly learning terms, and we learn them from repetition. We don’t have to repeat the words ourselves; we just need to hear them repeatedly. This is how I learned the word twerk. I never intended to learn it and would be happy to un-know it!
Students of Spanish do themselves a great favor by spending time learning vocabulary. Unlike any other subject you might study, a large portion of your Spanish grade concerns the knowledge of words. And unlike lists of SAT words, you already understand the meaning of all of them! It’s like pre-school, except pencil is lápiz and snack is merienda. You got this!
I recommend two programs for vocabulary learning: Quizlet and Memrise
Quizlet is a program I find best suited for short-term learning because it doesn’t have an automated system choosing what words you study and review each day. The interface is beautiful and easy to use, and there are also free apps for iOs and Android. If you have a specific vocabulary list you need to memorize for class, this is what I recommend. It is quick and easy to create your own decks of flashcards.
My other recommendation, and the one I suggest for general vocabulary increase, is Memrise. Once you get on the website, you’ll choose Spanish as your language, and then you’ll be taken to a page with many options. What I love about this program is that review is built into it. You can go into your settings and customize how many words you need to learn and review per day. I recommend the standard learning settings unless you have specific and ambitious goals. With the standard settings, you’ll learn 5 new words each day and review 25 words.
Here are my recommendations for three courses to start with:
100 Most Frequently Used Words
100 Most Frequently Used Verbs
5000 Top Spanish Words With Audio
What do you think? Do you have a memorization program that you recommend?
1. http://www.learn-english-today.com/new-words/new-words-in-english1.html