I believe, learning the language of the country is upmost important. Of course, you cannot learn every language of the world. Or can you?
What have been for me the the ways of learning Spanish? That's the question...
1. The motivation, always needed.
If no motivation, forget learning that language.
2.
You must "feel the language". You must be interested in the culture of the Spanish speaking countries. When awaken, and in your dreams too.
3. You must do it in the long run,
be persistent.
4. Studying Spanish at the University or somewhere else, and in many different ways. Listening the music, reading the books, looking at the TV in Spanish, studying internet in Spanish...Travelling in the Spanish speaking countries...Studying or working in the Spanish speaking country...In one word,
"throw youself into Spanish".
I have been in Latin America more or less 15 times. And in Spain more or less as often, or even more.
To be networked and to do networking all the time. I do follow what is "happening in Spanish" in my home country Finland. The Film Festivals, artists from the Spanish speaking countries visiting Helsinki, intellectuals visiting the University, receptions organized by the Spanish speaking embassies or on subjects which deal with spanish speaking countries, parties "seasoned in Spanish" and so on...
5.
Using Spanish, whenever possible. First in the written form, and trying to understand what is written. Then in listening, what is said. And at the end speaking Spanish yourself - Speaking, the most difficult form of using the language. But when you are so far, you are already at the very end of the learning process. Speaking a language in the telephone, is almost the very extremity of the every day use of the language.
Use Spanish at work, and during your free time. Do not turn using English with your foreign fellows, if they can speak Spanish. If they want to practise English, let them - if you want to practise Spanish,
do it systematically.
6.
Observe very carefully, when in the Spanish speaking country. You will find words written in Spanish everywhere around you. What is nice, you will find the country specific Spanish words. Do not let them bring to you the menus in English.
7.
Keep your ears open and keep on asking, the everyday use of Spanish. You will snap a word from here and there...When you do not know the correct word, you can ask it, and learn on place...
8.
Use Spanish when in the taxi. Some times the taxi drivers are very eager to speak and to listen to what you have to say. For example I myself when coming from the airport to the very center of Lima, succeeded to tell the taxi driver almost the whole history of Finland, and couple of things up to that. As the taxi driver asked from me very eagerly...
