| In the last article; 'Anybody can learn Spanish' I talked | | | | learn than others but of course this is all relative. It is |
| about the different reasons why people might decide | | | | true however, that the structure and functionality of |
| to learn Spanish. I also talked about the great sense of | | | | some languages are more similar to each other than |
| achievement that learning another language can bring | | | | they are to others. The structure of the French |
| you. In this article I am going to talk about the different | | | | language for example more closely mimics the |
| things you should consider before embarking on such a | | | | structure of the Spanish language than it does English. |
| crusade. | | | | I spent a few days on a trip to 'El salar de Uyuni' (a |
| I think a lot of people believe that learning another | | | | salt lake), in Bolivia with a French girl. Most of the time |
| language won't actually be that difficult. Well, maybe it | | | | we spoke in English but we were able to have basic |
| won't be for some, but if like me you have never tried | | | | conversations in Spanish too. I didn't realise until the end |
| to learn a foreign language before then it may well turn | | | | of the trip that she had only been learning Spanish for |
| out to be one of the most challenging things that you | | | | a month and yet she was almost as good as I was!! |
| are ever likely to attempt. Of course I don't want to | | | | If you can already speak another language then |
| put anybody off, after all, in my last article I said that | | | | perhaps learning Spanish will be easier for you. Even if |
| anybody can do it. Well, I absolutely believe this, but I | | | | it isn't then at least you will already be prepared for the |
| also believe that you should realistically think about how | | | | learning experience that you are about to embark on. |
| and when learning Spanish can be achieved for you. | | | | At this stage you might well be thinking, how can I |
| Of course not everyone is the same. Some of us are | | | | prepare myself for the learning experience that I am |
| better at doing some things than other people are. So, | | | | about to embark of if I have never tried to learn a |
| it stands to reason that learning Spanish might be | | | | different language before? How can I prepare myself |
| easier for one person than it is for another. The truth is | | | | for the challenges ahead if I don't even know what the |
| that learning a new language can be achieved by | | | | challenges are? The reality is that your not going to |
| possessing any number of different skills. There is no | | | | know how difficult or easy learning Spanish might be |
| proven formula for learning a new language that 100% | | | | until you actually get started. All I really want to |
| works for everybody! What you need to think about is | | | | emphasise at this point is that you shouldn't |
| what methods work best for you. | | | | underestimate how difficult and frustrating it might turn |
| When I first started to think about how and when I | | | | out to be. Patience is the key! |
| would learn Spanish I honestly thought it was going to | | | | Of course you should be very positive and excited |
| be easier than it actually was. I think one reason was | | | | about learning Spanish, after all if you don't enjoy doing |
| because I was comparing myself to the millions of | | | | it then what is the point! Learning Spanish could be one |
| Europeans that fluently speak English. Anyone who | | | | of the most amazing and fulfilling experiences that you |
| has been to Germany, or Scandinavia will know that | | | | have ever had. It certainly has been for me. Believe |
| pretty much everybody can speak English. I thought if | | | | me, learning Spanish could open new doors in your life |
| so many of them can learn a new language then it | | | | that you had never before thought possible. |
| couldn't be that difficult! | | | | In the next article I intend to talk about some of the |
| Now, when I think about Europeans speaking English I | | | | first steps that I took in my path to learning Spanish. I |
| realise that they are so good at it because they have | | | | mentioned in the previous article that one of the main |
| been learning it practically since they started to learn | | | | reasons I wanted to learn Spanish was because I was |
| their own languages. This is certainly one of the key | | | | about to embark on a long trip to Central and South |
| things that you need to realise about learning Spanish. It | | | | America. My first steps began before this trip was |
| will not happen overnight. It is a process that can | | | | about to take place. I didn't want to leave England |
| literally takes years. | | | | without knowing anything! |
| Some languages might be considered more difficult to | | | | |