Perfect! You've started to study Spanish: you've chosen an academy, your teacher is very nice, there's not much homework...
You start learning a lot of things at the beginning and suddenly your motivation fades away. Don’t worry, it’s normal. For many students, it’s not grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary lists or homework; the hardest part of learning Spanish is staying motivated.
In this article we are going to tell you the secrets of some of the students at our Spanish language school in Madrid to stay motivated every day. Please note, we know this is a very personal thing, so choose the ones that best suit your study style and your learning pace. Here we go!
Set targets
One of the first tips is to set goals. Start with short term goals: a few weeks, a month… Every time you cross the target goal you can give yourself a small reward: new highlighters, a visit to a sweet shop… anything you like!
When setting goals remember that they have to be very specific and, above all, manageable. Don’t write ‘speak Spanish like a native’ as this is an unspecific and time-consuming goal that you won’t be able to see your progress. Instead choose a simpler goal related to your tastes. For example: to understand a scene from a Spanish series with Spanish subtitles, or, if you are studying in Spain, to be able to ask a person in the street for directions.
Practice little by little, but every day
Step by step goes a long way. Waiting until the last minute to do your homework will make studying stressful. That’s why we recommend studying a little bit every day. Even if you only spend 15 minutes, this will make learning more manageable.
Numerous studies in Neuroeducation, the science that studies how your brain learns, agree that it takes time for new information to stick in the brain. If we think about vocabulary, the new words that your teacher is writing on the blackboard and that you copy into your notebook are now in your short-term memory. To get them into your long-term memory you need time… and rest!
If your brain rests between studies, it will learn (commit to long-term memory) faster. Interesting, isn’t it?
When to study? Any time is good, but it’s better if it’s every day at the same time, so that studying Spanish becomes part of your routine. You can review vocabulary while having breakfast. Listen to the audios you have practised in Spanish class while you go to work… ‘yo conjugo verbos en la ducha’ (I conjugate verbs in the shower) is also a good idea, Markus!
Study like the pros
When it comes to studying it is always better if you include variety. If you study the same way every day, the same things, over and over again, you will end up getting bored. Look for ways to study Spanish with activities that you enjoy: watching films or series, listening to music, cooking… You can always read about topics that catch your attention on the internet, look for Instagram or Twitter accounts that write in Spanish about things that interest you, or read the Hablamos blog every week to find curiosities and tips for studying Spanish!
In company, it is better
Our last tip is the favourite of many of our students and that is to make friends who study or speak Spanish.
Attending classes in person or online with a friend is always much more fun, it helps to overcome shyness in the early days and you can also help each other. If you don’t know anyone who wants to study Spanish, joining an academy is always a good idea. At Hablamos the groups are small so it is easier to make friends and in the free cultural activities you will meet people of other levels, different nationalities and with the same desire to study Spanish as you.
And finally, if you decide to study Spanish in Madrid with us, you will be able to live in a cosmopolitan and open city where meeting native speakers is very easy. Practising Spanish with Spaniards, listening to the real and spontaneous language, is the best way to practise and be motivated to continue studying. Do you want to know how to make native friends in Madrid, read the blog of Hablamos, your Spanish language school in Madrid!
