There are many ways to learn the Spanish language on your own and the methods you choose and the resources you utilize are all up to your discretion. Depending on how you learn, the amount of time you have, and the motivation you put forth, some methods may work better than others. Conversational learning, as stressed in the Rocket Spanish Program, dives right into conversations for the learner to familiarize him or herself with this new language and is really the best way to learn spanish quickly and effectively. Conversational learning is for someone who is going to put forth a lot of time towards learning the language to become fluent. It is great if you need to learn the language to communicate with co-workers or live in a Spanish speaking country.

An alternative that takes less time each day compared to listening to an audio conversation is making flash cards. Flash cards can be made for free, by hand. What is great about flashcards is that you can control the material that you learn. Although you will not be focusing on grammar and sentence structure, vocabulary is an important aspect of learning a new language. Just by knowing a variety of key words, you can still communicate with others.
 

It’s So Easy!

Flashcards are helpful and so easy to use. All you need to do is decide what subject you want to work with, construct a list of words and phrases, and put them on index cards. You can make a schedule for each month of the different topics you would like to cover, and have a long-term goal as well. Once a week, make a new batch of cards focusing on 20-30 new terms or phrases. Keep them by your bed to review a few times through before you go to sleep, or keep them in your bag for when you are on the go. Did you know you spend a huge amount of time waiting in lines when you are out, whether it be in a waiting room at a doctors office, or in line at the grocery store why just stand there when you could be learning Spanish? The more repetition, the better you will remember the words. You can go through the stack and have two piles for the ones you knew and the ones you need more help with. Keep going through the pile until you have gotten all of them right. Concentrate on one group of terms for the week and then at the end of the week review all of the groups.
 

Resources

Flashcards are great because you can make them on your own and practice them by yourself or use them in a group. Making them is not hard either, but when there is no teacher present, it can sometimes be tough finding reliable sources to get your information from. It would be a shame to go through all that work and have the wrong definitions memorized. Of course it would be ideal to go through a Spanish textbook to get vocabulary words, since the lessons are usually already separated into different subjects.

A bookstore like Barnes and Noble or the library will probably carry a hefty selection of textbooks and workbooks. Another reliable resource is a dictionary or a Spanish to English translation book. They have these available at all major bookstores and libraries as well. Of course, the Internet is an additional source as well. Just make sure the website you are on is giving you valid information. Since anyone can post anything on the web make sure the website is running through a recognizable company or trustworthy person.