| Of all of the Romance languages, Spanish is | | | | |
| the most widely spoken by native speakers | | | | However, with our busy schedules, often |
| (47%), so it's certainly no wonder you want | | | | hectic personal lives and even financial |
| to learn it as well. As the official language | | | | limitations, immersion may not be feasible |
| of many countries all over the world, it | | | | and classes may conflict with other |
| simplifies communicating with locals during | | | | obligations. That really leaves two other |
| your travels and if you have a Spanish | | | | choices, which are hiring a private tutor or |
| speaking population back at home, you'll | | | | simply learning at home on our own. Private |
| enjoy sharing in their culture at the native | | | | tutors of course are costly and you're still |
| level. | | | | subject to adhering to a schedule for your |
| | | | lessons. |
| Spanish, as with most languages, is directly | | | | |
| descended from Latin, or more precisely, | | | | Fortunately, there is an abundance of |
| Vulgar Latin, the form used by commoners | | | | self-taught training in Spanish widely |
| throughout the Roman Empire. In many | | | | available on the Internet, CD's, DVD's, audio |
| respects, the vocabulary and grammar is | | | | cassette and even in workbooks and manuals. |
| similar to other languages such as | | | | Pursuing a home study course is ideal because |
| Portuguese, French and Italian, so if you | | | | you learn according to your schedule and at |
| speak any of these languages, learning | | | | your own pace. You can listen to CD's for |
| Spanish will be a breeze for you or certainly | | | | example while driving, working out or doing |
| vice versa. | | | | just about any other activity. |
| | | | |
| As with any language studies, Spanish may be | | | | You'll start with basics, learning simple |
| learned in a variety of ways and will | | | | vocabulary and grammar to communicate with |
| generally take up to 300 hours to become | | | | native speakers. As your vocabulary and skill |
| skilled at speaking fluently. Taking classes | | | | at grammar increases, you may want to find |
| locally in a group setting by a trained | | | | other Spanish speaking people to practice |
| instructor is often helpful, but you'll | | | | with; ideally someone who's native language |
| proceed at a slower pace. The best method of | | | | is Spanish. This will allow you to focus on |
| course is total immersion - actually living | | | | the details of the language and refine your |
| and working in locality where Spanish is the | | | | level of fluency. |
| official language. | | | | |