Study Tips
How to study grammar and vocabulary in Spanish
Every subject you study in college is different, and you need different strategies for studying them. Foreign languages require a different kind of thinking than your other subjects; there is a great deal of memorization, and you need to figure out how to put new material into your longterm memory. Since language learning is cumulative, you need to have a good grasp of one concept before moving on to the next, you need to constantly review old material, and you have to study every day without fail. Your professor in Spanish 201 expects you to already know the material from Spanish 101 and 102, and counts on your having covered and thoroughly studied that material. Think of it in terms of another cumulative subject; math. It would be impossible for a child to learn subtraction without an understanding of addition, and without those, multiplication and division become too complex, and if you haven't studied algebra you will have trouble with calculus. This is why cramming does not work. It may get you through the next quiz, but you won't do well on the unit exam because you memorized but did not really learn the material.
Strategies:
o Flashcards are a good strategy for a start. You should make flashcards and keep them well organized and color-coded. You can start by putting a Spanish word on one side of a card and the English on the other, or a verb with its conjugations on the other side. Some students draw a picture or paste an image on their flashcards as a way to trigger their visual and associative memory. As you make your flashcards, say the words out loud to reinforce them. When you study them, do so out loud, preferably with a partner. Concentrate on proper pronunciation.
o Use your flashcards in context. Take the words you have learned and create sentences with them. Write out the sentences and read them out loud. Combine vocabulary words with current grammar points when you make the sentences, so that you're combining more than one skill. Play games with your flashcards, using them for guessing games, card games, memory, and try to get away from equating the Spanish with the English. For instance, instead of trying to remember the meaning of a word in English, try writing a definition for it in Spanish. This is is more like what you will be required to do in class and on tests, and it will give you more practice with the language.
o Try to work with a partner or a group whenever possible. Working with other people, preferably speaking in Spanish as much as possible, helps you to practice communication skills and pronunciation, as well as helping you produce the vocabulary and grammar in more contexts. The more you actively produce a word, rather than passively interpreting it, the more likely that you will retain it long-term. Go to the PAL tutor in the ARC and get help. Be prepared before going to your PAL, by having specific activities to practice, or by taking your flashcards with you as starting points for review or conversation practice.
o Work out loud. Always read out loud, and say things as you write them. This helps improve your pronunciation and helps you retain the material in your long-term memory. In Spanish, if you can pronounce things correctly, you can spell them correctly because Spanish, unlike English, is a phonetic language. Also, if your pronunciation is good, you will be more easily understood and your mistakes will not be as noticeable.
o Study every day. You can't cram for Spanish and expect good results. You need to study every day. Set aside an hour every day for Spanish, and you'll start to notice the results. If you're done with the assigned homework, review old materials. There are links on your course site to web sites that have review activities and games. Use those to help you practice, and again, do it out loud. Go over old quizzes and tests. Review the previously covered chapters. Review your old text books. Find a native speaker who is willing to spend some time practicing conversation with you. Make an appointment with the PAL and go over old materials as well as the new things.
o Make the most of your class time. Class time is limited and very valuable. Make the most of it by going to every class, arriving on time and prepared, participating and asking questions, and always speaking in Spanish.
These strategies may seem time-consuming, but if you follow them you'll be more successful in your Spanish classes, you'll learn more, and Spanish will become not just a required course, but a useful skill that you'll have the rest of your life.
Also take a look at the page for how to write in Spanish for tips on successful essays.
Every subject you study in college is different, and you need different strategies for studying them. Foreign languages require a different kind of thinking than your other subjects; there is a great deal of memorization, and you need to figure out how to put new material into your longterm memory. Since language learning is cumulative, you need to have a good grasp of one concept before moving on to the next, you need to constantly review old material, and you have to study every day without fail. Your professor in Spanish 201 expects you to already know the material from Spanish 101 and 102, and counts on your having covered and thoroughly studied that material. Think of it in terms of another cumulative subject; math. It would be impossible for a child to learn subtraction without an understanding of addition, and without those, multiplication and division become too complex, and if you haven't studied algebra you will have trouble with calculus. This is why cramming does not work. It may get you through the next quiz, but you won't do well on the unit exam because you memorized but did not really learn the material.
Strategies:
o Flashcards are a good strategy for a start. You should make flashcards and keep them well organized and color-coded. You can start by putting a Spanish word on one side of a card and the English on the other, or a verb with its conjugations on the other side. Some students draw a picture or paste an image on their flashcards as a way to trigger their visual and associative memory. As you make your flashcards, say the words out loud to reinforce them. When you study them, do so out loud, preferably with a partner. Concentrate on proper pronunciation.
o Use your flashcards in context. Take the words you have learned and create sentences with them. Write out the sentences and read them out loud. Combine vocabulary words with current grammar points when you make the sentences, so that you're combining more than one skill. Play games with your flashcards, using them for guessing games, card games, memory, and try to get away from equating the Spanish with the English. For instance, instead of trying to remember the meaning of a word in English, try writing a definition for it in Spanish. This is is more like what you will be required to do in class and on tests, and it will give you more practice with the language.
o Try to work with a partner or a group whenever possible. Working with other people, preferably speaking in Spanish as much as possible, helps you to practice communication skills and pronunciation, as well as helping you produce the vocabulary and grammar in more contexts. The more you actively produce a word, rather than passively interpreting it, the more likely that you will retain it long-term. Go to the PAL tutor in the ARC and get help. Be prepared before going to your PAL, by having specific activities to practice, or by taking your flashcards with you as starting points for review or conversation practice.
o Work out loud. Always read out loud, and say things as you write them. This helps improve your pronunciation and helps you retain the material in your long-term memory. In Spanish, if you can pronounce things correctly, you can spell them correctly because Spanish, unlike English, is a phonetic language. Also, if your pronunciation is good, you will be more easily understood and your mistakes will not be as noticeable.
o Study every day. You can't cram for Spanish and expect good results. You need to study every day. Set aside an hour every day for Spanish, and you'll start to notice the results. If you're done with the assigned homework, review old materials. There are links on your course site to web sites that have review activities and games. Use those to help you practice, and again, do it out loud. Go over old quizzes and tests. Review the previously covered chapters. Review your old text books. Find a native speaker who is willing to spend some time practicing conversation with you. Make an appointment with the PAL and go over old materials as well as the new things.
o Make the most of your class time. Class time is limited and very valuable. Make the most of it by going to every class, arriving on time and prepared, participating and asking questions, and always speaking in Spanish.
These strategies may seem time-consuming, but if you follow them you'll be more successful in your Spanish classes, you'll learn more, and Spanish will become not just a required course, but a useful skill that you'll have the rest of your life.
Also take a look at the page for how to write in Spanish for tips on successful essays.