10 STEP GUIDE TO

becoming a confident Spanish speaker

As a beginner, if you are looking to become a confident Spanish speaker within

the next few months, here is my 10-step guide achieving that goal. I hope some
of the ideas below prove useful. Un saludo! Peter Hanley

SET A DEADLINE FOR ACHIEVEMENT

Decide how long you will devote to your course of

study. 3 to 6 months of this program should be plenty.

WORK FULL-ON DURING THAT PERIOD

Research shows that you will be way more successful

than those who take the laid-back “one day” approach.

LET’S BEGIN

1 TAKE A NOTEBOOK 2 GET A DICTIONARY

Or find one you like online. I know of
none better than: www.spanishdict.com

You will also need a basic grammar

reference book.

Try EL MÉTODO, Spanish for Beginners.

3 TAKE A COURSE
Take a teach-yourself style Spanish course for beginners, which is a proven method that
will get you speaking non-stop, engaged and motivated. This is just to get the basics
down as quickly as possible and to enable you to begin the next phase.

4 START READING & LISTENING TO SPANISH

Level 1 stories, kids’ materials, easy podcasts/videos and best of all real people. As you
advance, stick to subjects that you are interested in rather than any stuff that happens
to be in Spanish - just make sure the material is broadly understandable.

Try the Youtube channel DREAMING SPANISH & the series EXTRA for Spanish learners.

5 WRITE ONE PAGE A DAY

With the help of your dictionary fill a page a day with new language, written down in the
same context you heard them. Write phrases, not words. Pay particular attention to the
verb forms as these are the most important aspect of the language that the beginner
needs to master.

6 TRANSLATE THE PHRASES

Write the translations down the other side of the page.

7 REPEAT THE PHRASES

Out loud, many, many times until semi-
memorised and flowing off the tongue.

8 TEST YOURSELF 9 REPEAT 8 UNTIL PERFECT

Cover the Spanish column and translate the English phrases back into Spanish. Until fluid.

10 LISTEN TO SPANISH ALL THE TIME

Even as background noise. Expose yourself to hundreds of hours of the spoken language.
Listen out for the language that’s already in your notebook. Keep filling the notebook.
Make an effort to use these phrases in real life, in your conversations.

When notebook is full and memorised, you are well on your

way to mastering the language.

Un saludo,
Peter Hanley
TO YOUR SUCCESS!