think that. You can also look up a word or two in a dictionary as you get "stuck."

Repetition helps memory, and repetitively speaking the new vocabulary is even better than just reading or writing the words. Saying the words in your mind is a way to be "speaking" in Spanish all the time, and it is a very productive habit to develop.

More than just practice, putting your thoughts into Spanish forces you to learn not just words and rules, but specific ways to express what you want to tell ot

To learn Spanish, or for that matter any language, can be a lot of work. Rote memorization will be required of course, but are there also easier ways? Many, actually. You can label things around the house using your new language, for example. You can listen to language CDs and tapes while you are driving. You can also do what I did to learn Spanish. You can think in Spanish.

How I Learned Spanish

For about six weeks before going to Ecuador, I studied Spanish books. The problem was that I just read the books and took notes. I didn't speak a word of the language prior to my trip. It was a big mistake, because speaking a language is not only crucial to learning proper pronunciation, but it speeds up the whole process of learning.

The good news? Despite my limited study, I could converse with the locals in the hostel in Quito the day after I arrived. Within a few days I was discussing economics, philosophy, and politics with Ana, who is now my wife. How did I learn Spanish so rapidly?

Actually, I didn't really learn Spanish quickly. Even after a month in Ecuador, I had a very limited vocabulary. However, I could use what little I knew to express myself, and this made all the difference. I credit this to a habit which I soon realized is a great technique for learning any language. It is the habit I had of having conversations in my head - in Spanish.

I was always thinking of what I might say. Even in English I hear possible future discussions in my mind. I found myself doing this in Spanish as well. The result? I learned how to say a lot with the few Spanish words I knew.

Think In Spanish

You might think you have to be fluent to think in a language, but this just isn't so. If you can think "I am traveling to the beach," there is no reason you can't think "Yo estoy viajando a la playa," as soon as you know those six words. And if you don't know the verb "viajar" (to travel), but know how to say "Yo voy a la playa," (I go to the beach) - then think that. You can also look up a word or two in a dictionary as you get "stuck."

Repetition helps memory, and repetitively speaking the new vocabulary is even better than just reading or writing the words. Saying the words in your mind is a way to be "speaking" in Spanish all the time, and it is a very productive habit to develop.

More than just practice, putting your thoughts into Spanish forces you to learn not just words and rules, but specific ways to express what you want to tell oth

hat I just read the books and took notes. I didn't speak a word of the language prior to my trip. It was a big mistake, because speaking a language is not only crucial to learning proper pronunciation, but it speeds up the whole process of learning.

The good news? Despite my limited study, I could converse with the locals in the hostel in Quito the day after I arrived. Within a few days I was discussing economics, philosophy, and politics with Ana, who is now my wife. How did I learn Spanish so rapidly?

Actually, I didn't really learn Spanish quickly. Even after a month in Ecuador, I had a very limited vocabulary. However, I could use what little I knew to express myself, and this made all the difference. I credit this to a habit which I soon realized is a great technique for learning any language. It is the habit I had of having conversations in my head - in Spanish.

I was always thinking of what I might say. Even in English I hear possible future discussions in my mind. I found myself doing this in Spanish as well. The result? I learned how to say a lot with the few Spanish words I knew.

Think In Spanish

You might think you have to be fluent to think in a language, but this just isn't so. If you can think "I am traveling to the beach," there is no reason you can't think "Yo estoy viajando a la playa," as soon as you know those six words. And if you don't know the verb "viajar" (to travel), but know how to say "Yo voy a la playa," (I go to the beach) - then think that. You can also look up a word or two in a dictionary as you get "stuck."

Repetition helps memory, and repetitively speaking the new vocabulary is even better than just reading or writing the words. Saying the words in your mind is a way to be "speaking" in Spanish all the time, and it is a very productive habit to develop.

More than just practice, putting your thoughts into Spanish forces you to learn not just words and rules, but specific ways to express what you want to tell ot

apidly?

Actually, I didn't really learn Spanish quickly. Even after a month in Ecuador, I had a very limited vocabulary. However, I could use what little I knew to express myself, and this made all the difference. I credit this to a habit which I soon realized is a great technique for learning any language. It is the habit I had of having conversations in my head - in Spanish.

I was always thinking of what I might say. Even in English I hear possible future discussions in my mind. I found myself doing this in Spanish as well. The result? I learned how to say a lot with the few Spanish words I knew.

Think In Spanish

You might think you have to be fluent to think in a language, but this just isn't so. If you can think "I am traveling to the beach," there is no reason you can't think "Yo estoy viajando a la playa," as soon as you know those six words. And if you don't know the verb "viajar" (to travel), but know how to say "Yo voy a la playa," (I go to the beach) - then think that. You can also look up a word or two in a dictionary as you get "stuck."

Repetition helps memory, and repetitively speaking the new vocabulary is even better than just reading or writing the words. Saying the words in your mind is a way to be "speaking" in Spanish all the time, and it is a very productive habit to develop.

More than just practice, putting your thoughts into Spanish forces you to learn not just words and rules, but specific ways to express what you want to tell ot

myself doing this in Spanish as well. The result? I learned how to say a lot with the few Spanish words I knew.

Think In Spanish

You might think you have to be fluent to think in a language, but this just isn't so. If you can think "I am traveling to the beach," there is no reason you can't think "Yo estoy viajando a la playa," as soon as you know those six words. And if you don't know the verb "viajar" (to travel), but know how to say "Yo voy a la playa," (I go to the beach) - then think that. You can also look up a word or two in a dictionary as you get "stuck."

Repetition helps memory, and repetitively speaking the new vocabulary is even better than just reading or writing the words. Saying the words in your mind is a way to be "speaking" in Spanish all the time, and it is a very productive habit to develop.

More than just practice, putting your thoughts into Spanish forces you to learn not just words and rules, but specific ways to express what you want to tell ot

think that. You can also look up a word or two in a dictionary as you get "stuck."

Repetition helps memory, and repetitively speaking the new vocabulary is even better than just reading or writing the words. Saying the words in your mind is a way to be "speaking" in Spanish all the time, and it is a very productive habit to develop.

More than just practice, putting your thoughts into Spanish forces you to learn not just words and rules, but specific ways to express what you want to tell others. People have different interests, and need to say different things. For example, a nurse might need to say "where does it hurt?" while you may need to ask where you can find a beach.

Spanish lessons are often about what the teacher thinks you should know - a good start. But your thoughts and needs are uniquely yours. Thus, when you think in Spanish, and imagine the situations you'll be in, you are teaching yourself exactly what YOU need to learn.

If you want to learn even faster, carry an English/Spanish dictionary to use whenever your thoughts stop flowing easily. You can use it to find other ways to express yourself as well. You'll learn the words, expressions and sentences that are most important to you - and quickly - if you are always hearing them in your mind. It is a powerful way to learn to communicate in Spanish (or any language), even before you know many words.