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