Love is something we express in every language, and Spanish is a particularly romantic language (after all, it's a Romance language, i.e. it's derived from Latin). There are so many words to express love, but you need to know which ones are appropriate when. It's important to avoid misunderstandings! There are several ways to express love in Spanish, just as there are in English.

1. "Te quiero": This can be literally translated to "I want you," but it does not have the sexual meaning that this phrase would have in English. A more accurate translation would be "I love you," and it's the most commonly used phrase to express this emotion. You can apply it to a lover, a family member, or a close friend. When you use the word "querer" in reference to an object, then the meaning changes from love to want. "I want a glass of water"/"Quiero un vaso con agua."
2. "Te amo": This also means "I love you,"  but it's used more with a lover or a spouse. "Te amo" generally refers to romantic love, and it's used less frequently than "te quiero." In many Spanish-speaking societies, this term is considered more literary or even overly dramatic, and many people would generally avoid it and stick with "te quiero," or "te quiero mucho," although some still use it.
3. "Me gusta"/"Me gustas": This means "I like her/him" or "I like you," but it has a romantic or sexual connotation, so you would generally want to avoid it unless that's what you mean. It's what a teenage boy might say about a girl he has his eye on.
4. "Me cae bien"/"Me caes bien": "I like him/her," or "I like you,"  but in a non-romantic way. For instance, your friend introduces you to another friend, and you say, "I like her--she seems nice"/"Me cae bien--parece simpática." You can express the opposite emotion with "Me cae mal"/ "I don't like him/her."
5. "Me encanta": This doesn't actually express love. It expresses a strong liking for something non-human, for instance chocolate. In English we say "I love chocolate," but we don't really mean that we have romantic feelings for it, or that we love it as we do our mother. In Spanish, we would never use the same word to express love for our mom as we would for our love of a candy bar.
6. "Me fascina": This is another expression of strong liking, or of fascination or great interest. It's not generally an expression of love, and it's rarely used to refer to people. However, when used about a person, it's an expression of passion, so be careful how you use it!
7. "Desear": This means to want, and it's used in different ways. Many times a host will use the verb "desear" instead of "querer" because it's seen as more polite: "¿Desea una bebida?"/"Would you like a drink?" However, when it's used to refer to people, it's unambiguous--it refers to sexual desire. "Te deseo" means exactly the same as "I want you" in English.

There are several other expression of love in Spanish,  some more literary, some obscure or more vulgar, some are more slang or colloquial. However, the above are the most commonly used phrases, and they are generally used throughout the Spanish-speaking world in the way I've described above.
It's a good idea to review the verb "gustar" and its uses, as well as verbs that are conjugated similarly to "gustar," since many English speakers have trouble with this. Take a look at this previous blog entry to help you  review: http://ferrumspanish.weebly.com/1/category/gustar/1.html.

Summer is a good time to organize your flashcards, or make the flashcards you might have missed throughout the semester. The act of writing them out yourself and putting them in order helps you to memorize the contents. Separate them by categories that make sense to you. Many students use half of a notecard for each flashcard, in order to save on paper. Some students illustrate them, either with their own drawings or with something from a magazine or web page. This is a good idea because images can also help you remember things. Review your flashcards regularly. If you have a partner who can work with you, quiz each other, or play games. You can also play games yourself, or create sentences. Some games you can adapt for flashcards would be Go Fish (with categories replacing suits, like "ar," "er," and "ir" verbs and vocabulary, or vocabulary for the home, travel, etc.), Memory, Pictionary, or whatever else you can think of--be creative! Create sentences by taking a card out of each category and creating a silly sentence, then changing that sentence to the past, to the future, to the progressive, changing only the verb. The more you do these things, the more you'll remember. And don't forget--always speak out loud! Pronouncing words and sentences helps you remember, and learning a language is all about memory. You can also play any regular card game with a normal deck of cards just to practice numbers, or create a board game of your own using your flashcards as the game cards.
Here is some card-playing vocabulary that may be helpful:
los naipes     the cards
barajar     to shuffle
Me toca.     It's my turn.
Te toca.     It's your turn.
una carta     one card
repartir     to deal
¿Cuántas cartas?     How many cards?
ganar     to win
perder     to lose
hacer trampa     to cheat
tramposo/a     cheater
Poner las cartas/los naipes en la mesa.     To lay your cards on the table.
Suertudo/a.     Lucky you!
picón/picona     bad loser
Felicitaciones     Congratulations
el as     the ace
el rey     the king
la reina     the queen
el jack (pronounced "yac")     the jack
corazones     hearts
diamantes     diamonds
tréboles     clubs
picas     spades
el dos de corazones     the two of hearts
el tres de diamantes    the three of diamonds
You get the rest...
el juego de mesa     a board game
el espacio     a space
la ficha     a game piece
tirar el dado     to roll the die
la cárcel     jail
regresar     to go back

     Almost every community in the United States has businesses that cater to the Hispanic population--go explore a few. You've probably been to Mexican restaurants, but have you been to the Cuban restaurant? The Guatemalan one? The Peruvian or Chilean or Colombian or Spanish restaurant? All Spanish-speaking countries have their own unique cuisine--try it out!
     Another important place is the local Hispanic grocery. It may be very small, but I can guarantee you'll find things you've never seen before. Read the labels and talk to the people who work there. Many times this is the heart of a Hispanic community. Not only will you discover new products, but you'll also make a connection with the people there. I recommend trying the breads and sweets if they have a bakery.
     Also find out if there are flea markets or other places where large numbers of Hispanic people shop. In some communities the weekly flea market ("La Pulga") is also a big social event. People meet, chat, eat, kids play, and this could be a good place to practice your Spanish. Sometimes churches have events, as well. One church where we used to attend has a monthly sale of Mexican food, where the local ladies cook and bring their delicious home-made foods. It's not what you'll find in a restaurant--it's what people actually eat in their homes. This is called a "Kermés" and it's a Mexican tradition.
     Most importantly, don't be shy. Try to reach out to the community and get to know people. As long as you're respectful and sincere about learning about their culture, you'll be welcomed.