| er what new activity we try, an spinning routine, | | | | priority; it IS necessary! Now make sure you |
| a diet, or a new hobby, those first couple of | | | | have a PLAN of how you will achieve your goals. |
| weeks are exhilarating and we don't wait to have | | | | Choose how much time you will allocate to |
| time for our fresh, new adventure. Endorphins are | | | | learning. The increased amount of information you |
| igniting in our brains, and our interest is sky-high. | | | | take on-board, the more you have to remember. |
| It's common that no matter how much we like | | | | To keep it all straight forward, it is vital you make |
| our new activity, after a period of time, our | | | | time to practice. Remember to use your best |
| hunger can diminish. This is a perfect time to ask | | | | learning style (the environment you learn best in), |
| ourselves why we decided to learn Spanish in the | | | | and try to use as many senses as possible. I can't |
| first place : | | | | stress this enough that one of the most vital |
| Are you planning on holidaying in a Spanish | | | | aspects to learning to speak a language is |
| speaking country? Are you planning a study | | | | practice. |
| exchange to a Spanish speaking country? Or | | | | One definite reason why motivation can drop is |
| would you like a whole new challenge and have | | | | when something is monotonous, and your |
| always loved the Spanish language and its culture? | | | | practicing is no longer fun. Try and think of when |
| All of these are brilliant reasons to maintain your | | | | you last had fun — what was the cause of |
| language study. Think of the rewards! | | | | the fun? Often it was something new and |
| PICTURE yourself at the end goal..Conversing in | | | | exciting, something you don’t normally do |
| Spanish in your new community, or ordering food | | | | — driving a new type of car, meeting a |
| in Spanish on that holiday of a lifetime. Or my | | | | new friend, watching a new movie. Now,, imagine |
| personal favourite, picture yourself impressing | | | | seeing the same movie again and again...Despite |
| your colleagues with your ability to speak Spanish. | | | | how much you love it the first time, your brain is |
| This method is an extremely powerful tool and | | | | going to realize that the same old material is going |
| has allowed many people to achieve their goals | | | | in the same old way and it will start to stroll off |
| not only in learning to speak Spanish, but many | | | | to other interests. This is not beneficial for your |
| other areas of life. | | | | study. (Though I did have a friend that has seen |
| When that end goal picture is firmly planted in | | | | the movie Titanic 16 times!) |
| your mind it’s time to develop a plan (you | | | | So, keep it lively and fresh! Study in a new |
| may already have one in place). It is extremely | | | | environment! Develop a new way to use your |
| important to remind yourself of your motivation | | | | learning style. Sing your course dialogues in the |
| during the difficult times, and keep that spirit alive. | | | | shower, find a new person who is also learning |
| Pitcure your goal in your mind and see yourself | | | | Spanish to practice with.. All of these new and |
| doing it. | | | | exciting things will inform your brain that this is |
| It is not hard to tell ourselves we do not have | | | | fun, and your brain will thank you for revitalization |
| any time for things; these days, all of us live | | | | by remembering it all more efficiently. Or more |
| extremely busy and stressful lives. Do you really | | | | simply, PLAY! |
| want to learn Spanish? Find the time! It could be | | | | Just to recap, how are you going to improve |
| when your children have gone to bed in the | | | | your learning? Remember the 5 Ps: |
| evening, or even before you start the day. It | | | | Picture yourself using the language: remember |
| could be that time when there is nothing on TV | | | | your end goal. |
| and you are just relaxing. Decide now that learning | | | | Prioritize! Learning Spanish is important to you, and |
| Spanish is a priority for you and stick to a regular | | | | is now a major part of your life, make sure you |
| time each day, for at the very least three times | | | | prioritize accordingly! |
| a week to give to your learning program, and | | | | Plan: Don't just try! You must make time for your |
| stick to it, just as you would a meeting for you | | | | new priority and make sure you stick to the plan. |
| job or business. Doing this will allow you to reap | | | | Practice: It takes three weeks to develop a new |
| the benefits! Make your study a Priority. | | | | habit, and discipline is an important part of this. |
| You have already decided that learning to speak | | | | Reward yourself every time you work on your |
| Spanish is an important part of your life. Reinforce | | | | course (chocolate is a personal favorite!), and find |
| the idea that you plan to work through your | | | | ways to practice, practice, practice!.. |
| chosen Spanish course at times that are friendly | | | | Play: Even learning something fun like Spanish can |
| for studying, when and where you won’t | | | | get a little boring. This is bad for your learning. Find |
| be disturbed, and can really concentrate. At the | | | | different ways to enjoy yourself, and have fun! |
| beginning of the week, look toward your study | | | | These tips will go someway to helping you learn |
| times, and try to picture yourself learning (and in | | | | the wonderful language of Spanish. The hardest |
| love with!) your new language. It’s quite | | | | part is the start, then eventually things will |
| easy to put new things aside in favor of all the | | | | become better and easier. |
| mandatory ones. Well, you just made this a | | | | |