Si, S’il Vous Plait: Spanish And French Are A Cinch

Si, S’il Vous Plait: Spanish And French Are A Cinch

If you can read this, then it can safely be assumed that you are competent in English. Already that is a plus for you if you plan on learning a language like French or Spanish, both of which more or less utilize the same alphabet. Of course, it will be that much more difficult if you are to study Chinese or Arabic. Not only will you have to pick up on linguistic nuances, but you will also have a whole new set of symbols with which to familiarize yourself if you are to be able to even read at a passable level.

Studying a new language is, in more ways than one, like being a kid again. You learn your letters and sing the alphabet song over and over till you get it right. In a sense, that is exactly how it is if you are to master the so-called language of love, or lisp like any natural born and self-respecting Castilian.

The most ideal and recommended way to go about this is to enroll in a reputable language training school. Nothing beats a specialized class with professional certified trainers at the helm. It would be easier to learn with others or among your peers under expert supervision, but if you must take on the task alone and at your own pace, invest in a good language book, preferably one that comes with a tape or CD. This will serve as your instructor so it is imperative that you pay close attention as you would in an actual class setting, even though, to your inexperienced ears, all you hear is a disembodied voice.

Read up on French or Spanish culture and brush up on your history as this will help shed light on the uniqueness of their respective languages. This requires a whole lot of patience as studying a country’s mother tongue alone will simply not suffice. This doesn’t mean, however, that you must subject yourself to sleepless nights with your nose pressed between thick volumes. Simply get to know the basics and that will go a long way in your training.

Learn to make connections. There are certain words in French and Spanish that are quite similar in form and meaning to their English counterparts and can be easily discernable. This is because French and Spanish, both Romance languages, descended from Latin, from which about half of the English vocabulary is also derived. English has likewise borrowed considerably from French through the centuries. You don’t have to know Latin to be successful at this endeavor, though. We will not go into linguistic history in painful detail here, but knowing when and how to spot these similarities will save you much time and effort. Also, it is a great way to boost your confidence and get you off to a good start, having a rudimentary understanding of language commonalities.

Immerse yourself in your language of choice. Rent foreign movies and set the subtitles to the same language so you hear it out loud and see the words onscreen at the same time. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with accents, inflections, pronunciations, and why, in French, there seem to be more silent letters than those that are actually spoken.

Go out and purchase music albums. Listen to French or Spanish songs. Include them in your MP3 playlist so you can take them everywhere with you. Particularly catchy tunes you can sing repeatedly are good tools to help you out, even if you have yet to discover what in the world it is you’re singing.

When you are not at home listening to your language tape, you can still review what you have learned so far by trying to think in that language wherever you find yourself. If a certain thought comes to your mind while waiting at the bus stop or having lunch, attempt to translate it in your head. Later, as you get better at it, you’ll be thinking in French without even realizing it.

Once you are more confident of your abilities, try reading classic literature. Good English translations are okay, but it is even more fulfilling to read Don Quixote in its original Spanish or Les Miserables in French. Have the translations handy, though, for easy reference. More advanced classes actually have students doing the literary translations themselves. You can try doing this, too.

As with any new skill, you will need to practice, practice, practice. You must have the patience and dedication needed to see this through, and you will have to be consistent. Stick to a fixed schedule so your brain will get accustomed to it. You cannot study now, stop for an indefinite period, then resume where you left off when you feel like it. It doesn’t work that way. Trust us, we’ve tried.

Admittedly, learning a new language is no easy task, but it is also challenging and very rewarding. And when at last you’ve conquered it, gift yourself with a trip, if this wasn’t already your intention in the first place. At least now you’ll know what exactly the locals think of the pesky tourist. And in return, you’ll be able to offer them more than the usual gracias or merci.