A person who has mastered a foreign language sooner or later comes up with thoughts about further development in this direction. At the same time, I would like to dwell on a popular and not too complicated language. The native speech of the Hispanic population meets these criteria. Beginners are concerned about the question of whether it is difficult to learn Spanish.

Why Spanish?

This speech belongs to the most studied and beautiful in the world. It is considered native by approximately 500,000,000 people. In the list of the most common languages, Spanish occupies an honorable fourth place.

Today, fluent knowledge of English is a weighty argument in the competition for a vacant position. Many have mastered it yet. In such a situation, the winning option is Spanish. With some effort, it will be possible to understand almost all the inhabitants of both North and South America.

The complexity of the English language is the lack of clear pronunciation rules, the need to check new words by transcription. With Spanish, things are much simpler: learning the basic principles of pronunciation will allow you to read all the words correctly.

Spanish language: difficulties

No matter how melodic someone else's speech is, it is not native. Is it difficult to learn Spanish? Those who have not yet made the final choice are looking for an answer to this question. The answer is unequivocal: there are difficulties, but stubborn and hardworking people can easily overcome them.

Features of Spanish speech:

• All vowels are pronounced clearly and distinctly. There are no inarticulate or aspirated English sounds, fuzzy Russian unstressed vowels. You will have to achieve crystal clearness of each sound.
• The grammar is pretty tricky. The endings of words are confusing, changing depending on their gender, tense and mood of the corresponding verb.
• Having memorized the rules, you will have to pay attention to exceptions to them. The list of irregular verbs is impressive. At first, you need to be very thoughtful in making sentences, choosing the right form of verbs. With practice this will happen automatically.

How can you make your life easier by learning Spanish?

Having decided to start mastering a foreign speech, you should learn everything about how to achieve your goal faster. Secrets of Effective Learning:
Classes should be regular. It is important to choose the right pace: work every day, but do not overwork. If you study rarely, then in the next lesson you will have to repeat the forgotten material for a long time. The brain overloaded with new information simply does not remember what and in what order was studied in the previous lesson. The ideal option is continuous assimilation of the material in small portions.

Other news

What is the best way to learn Spanish?

Break the Spanish Language Barrier

9 problems in learning Spanish

Learning Spanish is a rather time-consuming and costly undertaking. Therefore, each of us wants the results of training to justify expectations and investments. To do this, you should think in advance about what difficulties may arise and how they will be solved in the teaching method you have chosen.

Learning is the interaction between the student and the one who teaches (teacher, methodology, school). The student has his own tasks and personal characteristics, the teacher or methodology has his own. They don't always match. It's not just about purely human compatibility or its absence. The teaching method itself also plays a role. Many of them sin by lagging behind life and cannot meet the tasks of the student.

The problems that will be discussed, we did not invent ourselves. These are the real pains that students most often come to us with. Teachers from different schools talk mostly about the same difficulties in their students. And teachers do not always know exactly how to solve these difficulties for a particular student.

In the training system of our Center, a mechanism for solving these problems has long been created and successfully worked out. It is universal and applicable to all students because it is based on natural processes.

1st problem - fluent Spanish

Many of us learn a language for years, but never get the desired result. Learning the rules and words is an old (XV century), kind, but not always the best way to get fluent in Spanish. It is long, divorced from practice and often leads to "mess" in the head. The fact is that this familiar, most common and most convenient for teaching approach to the language splits it into parts. From these parts, it would seem that the whole should come together, but usually everything remains at the level of disparate parts. Our recipe is a holistic approach to the language as a single organism. And also to immediately engage in the development of practical skills of free communication in Spanish: listening comprehension, speaking and reading.

2nd problem - incomprehension of Spanish by ear

Listening misunderstanding is connected not only with the lack of language practice. The trouble is that most teaching methods pay negligible attention to one of the most important components: phonemic hearing. Unlike music, phonemic hearing enables us to perceive and understand speech. This is the foundation provided for us by the nature and physiology of the brain, on which the whole language is built in the future. No foundation, no language. Phonemic hearing in relation to the Spanish language must be developed! Therefore, almost half of your classes with us will be devoted to this particular skill.

3rd problem - forgetting Spanish words

This always happens when foreign words are trying to memorize by rote memorization - cramming or any mnemonic techniques, out of context and practice of their application. By the way, memorizing words with the help of cards or, in a more modern version, in the application on the phone, also refers to the mechanical method of memorization and forgetting is simply inevitable here. The use of mnemonics (“1000 words in 3 days” and so on) in relation to the language is also most often bare mechanics. As a result of memorization without semantic connections, Spanish words settle in short-term memory, from where they disappear very quickly. According to the methodology we use, words are immediately presented in the context of their use, and most often not separately from each other, but in phrases, sentences and dialogues, that is, in a semantic bundle. This corresponds to the natural way of learning Spanish, when words in our memory and consciousness are combined into a kind of family, called semantic (semantic) fields. Only due to this, as well as repeated repetition and frequent use in different meanings, words are laid down in long-term memory. And so you won't forget him even after years after studying.

4th problem - difficulties in constructing sentences

This is part of the problem discussed above when the language is taught "by the elements". In fact, grammar is a kind of superstructure of the language. Imagine that before the October Revolution, the grammar of Russian was so strongly one-met, built on the principle of German grammar, that it contained alien phenomena that did not exist in living speech. At the same time, the living language was the same as it is now! The reform of the Russian language abolished these phenomena, unnecessary to Russian grammar, but this did not stop us from understanding the language of our ancestors. Porridge from grammar and difficulties in constructing independent statements occur when grammar is studied as an unshakable foundation, in isolation from everything else. According to the CLP method, grammar moves from practice to theory, and not vice versa. This corresponds to the natural mechanisms of speech, in contrast to the movement in the opposite direction: from theory to practice of its application. When grammar is based on the living application of the Spanish language, it becomes an important helper and friend. In the opposite case, we get what many of our domestic textbooks and tests sin with: strange expressions that the native speaker will never use or even understand. Therefore, communicative teaching methods also use this path: from practice to theory.

5th problem - think in spanish

In order to be able to think in Spanish, you must become familiar with this language. We assume a "natural" mode of presentation of the material and a soft immersion in the Spanish language environment, without violence to one's own brain. The Spanish language is built into your life without too much stress, so in the end you will really learn how to think in it. Special lessons, during which you will perform simple mental exercises in Spanish, take up about 20% of all training with us.

6th problem - Spanish pronunciation

This is closely related to the 2nd problem - misunderstanding by ear. Physiologically, we do not have separate auditory and separate speech systems, but there is one auditory-speech system. It is based on the basic natural abilities for languages, which are present in every person, but require special development in adulthood. According to the CLP method, teaching Spanish pronunciation takes approximately 20% of the lessons.

7th problem - the language barrier

When we think in Russian and then try to translate our thoughts into Spanish, this is what always happens. From the very beginning of learning Spanish, you need to accustom yourself to think like a native speaker. This will not impoverish your thinking in Russian, because a separate system for the Spanish language will be built in your head, based on the logic of this particular language. For this, it is necessary from the very beginning to perceive the language from the native speaker, and not in the Russian interpretation. That is why the learning materials of personal programs are prepared and voiced by native Spanish speakers, professional linguists and speakers. Therefore, you will immediately get used to the living and natural patterns of Spanish speech, their logic and sound. The CLP method successfully combines the advantages of learning Spanish with a native speaker and the domestic teaching system, which is rightfully considered one of the best in the world.

8th problem no time for spanish

The CLP method gives you two huge advantages at once in this matter. First: you download the training program to your computer once, and you don’t depend on anyone else and don’t adjust to anyone! You can copy the program to other media, transfer current lessons to mobile devices. Secondly, more than half of the audio lessons of the program can and even desirable be combined with other activities. Such listening in the background is done in order to reduce the unconscious resistance of the brain, to remove the barrier. This makes it possible for the Spanish language to be perceived neutrally. At the same time, it saves your time as well.

9th problem - Failed to complete tutorial

Why can't I complete the tutorial? There are a variety of circumstances in life, due to which sometimes it is necessary to interrupt training and postpone it for an indefinite period. As a result, the acquired knowledge begins to be forgotten. As for your personal program, even if you have to take a break from learning Spanish, the program will always remain with you, and you will be able to continue studying when circumstances favor it again. The good news is that you will not forget what you have learned before: rather, on the contrary, thanks to the break, the acquired skills will be even more firmly fixed in your memory. This is due to the fact that according to the CLP method you master skills and abilities, and not abstract knowledge of the language. Skills are more difficult to forget than knowledge divorced from practice, because skills are based on muscle memory. Just like having learned to swim or ride a bike once, you are unlikely to ever forget how to do it.

What problems do you find in yourself?
How many problems do you need to contact us to solve them?

Sometimes just one is enough if it's the same problem, which eats up your time, effort and money, not allowing you to achieve your goal.

In addition to the above problems, there are others that will be discussed in our newsletters. Solve your problems!

Any problem can be solved if you approach it correctly!

To the question Is Spanish difficult? given by the author Caucasian the best answer is I will answer your question - it's easier! Compared to German and English. True, it is necessary to take into account other factors: what the language is for, this determines the speed of learning as well.
Spanish is very easy in terms of pronunciation for a Russian person. Everything is read as it is written (and this is already a lot). Only the letter "h" is not readable! And then memorize verb conjugations and remember that in most cases the adjective is placed after the noun (unlike Russian!).
Spanish is really easy to learn, at one time I learned it in 3 months. At that time, I bought a book with "Spanish in 3 Weeks" CDs. Learning in 3 weeks is a utopia. But it's a good basic grammar. Then I had a textbook by Gonzalez-Fernandez, Shidlovskaya, Dementiev, it is entirely in Spanish, without Russian. What gives the advantage to immediately start thinking in Spanish, without the mediation of Russian. But to begin with, it's difficult.
And then, well, you just need to have language practice. To do this, you can find people on Skype (link), usually there are a lot of people sitting there, open for communication. The site is highly praised. link .
Source: good luck!

Answer from Naiman[newbie]
No for me yes

Answer from Natalia Ilchenko[guru]
harder than English

Answer from staff[guru]
they say simple - in any case, pronunciation is not slippery there

Answer from Landrail[guru]
No, en absolutely. There would be a wish...

Answer from [email protected] [active]
in general, to whom. I don't think so. I'm learning true English. but we had an elective at school in Spanish for a couple of years. I can say that spanish is easier than english

Answer from Andrey Strizhkov[guru]
Each language is complex and easy in its own way. If you learn with pleasure, then it will seem easy to you, and you will master it perfectly. And if only because you are forced, or simply reluctantly, then it will turn out to be an insurmountable peak for you.

Answer from Dimka Miller[guru]
There are no simple languages, you know, everywhere there are squiggles.

Answer from Svetlana[guru]
harder than English but much easier than German, generally considered one of the easiest!!

Answer from DIMITRY SHUKOV[newbie]
Spanish belongs to the Romance group of languages. The most important thing is desire and patience. If you try, you will definitely get a good result... Phonetically, it is easier than English and German. Grammatically, it's complicated.

Answer from Elena[guru]
I tried to learn it on my own using a self-study guide, and after Polish it seemed much more difficult for me to learn it - the most difficult thing is the verbs and how they change ... but if you have a desire, then everything will be up to you!! Good luck!!

Answer from Lexy[guru]
learning 4 languages ​​- english french german and spanish
and Spanish is the EASIEST!! !
in general, it is considered the lightest of the European

Answer from Anna[guru]
like no! but easier than japanese))

Answer from Black Moon[guru]
it is easier than English. and if you learn it, knowing English at a decent level, then there will be no problems at all. and German, I would say, is many times more difficult than Spanish

The question of which foreign language to learn can baffle anyone, since there are more than enough opportunities for this now. Many learn or already speak English quite well, but would like to learn another language. For some, a foreign language is a prerequisite for a career and work, for others it is just a hobby.

Spanish language combines everything at once:

the ability to use it at work (especially in the field of tourism and hotel business)

Spanish is really very exciting, many would like to learn this language just because it is native to their favorite singers and actors

Spanish is an excellent choice for people who already know English (you will be able to understand almost all the inhabitants of America - both northern and southern).

If you would like to learn Spanish, but you are not completely sure of your choice, then you may need information about this wonderful language and some experienced tips.

I had a desire to learn Spanish at school, after a trip to the Spanish resort of Costa Brava (a suburb of Barcelona) during the summer holidays. Then, like many of my peers, I studied English at school and in classes with a tutor. A trip to Spain changed a lot. Acquaintance, albeit at first fleeting, with this country, its rich culture, friendly and very sociable inhabitants, instilled in me the desire to learn how to speak Spanish (of course, not forgetting about English :).

This desire came true at the institute, I chose Spanish as my first language (the second was English). I did not regret my choice, the further I studied this language, the more I fell in love with its unique sound and imagery. The Spanish language turned out to be the golden key to the rich history and culture of not only Spain itself, but also numerous Latin American countries in which Spanish is also the official language. In addition, learning a second language allowed me to compare the ways of thinking of different peoples, which are so clearly manifested precisely through different ways of expressing the same thought.

It was hard at first to get used to the new pronunciation and reading rules, English sounds constantly broke through, especially such as, which in Spanish, unlike English, are pronounced without aspiration. It was also quite difficult to get used to the fact that in Spanish vowels are practically not reduced and with the need to "growl" every time a word begins with [r] or has . Helped daily swotting, reading aloud, listening to cassettes. Gradually my pronunciation began to approach more or less similar to Spanish. After a couple of weeks of hard and painstaking work, I could already read Spanish quite tolerably.

In fact, learning how to read and pronounce Spanish words correctly is not so difficult. In Spanish, unlike English, there are quite clear reading rules, thanks to which, you can correctly read any, even an unfamiliar word, without resorting to a dictionary and transcription. The main thing is to force yourself to devote at least an hour a day to reading, not to be lazy to re-read complex sentences several times. If you have a very tight time, you can record yourself on a tape, and then listen to it - from the side of the error appear more clearly. You can bring the tape to your teacher and ask him to comment on your mistakes and advise on how to correct them.

The next obstacle to learning Spanish is— grammar. For me personally, the most difficult thing to get used to is a huge number of Spanish endings, each of which corresponds to the person in which the corresponding verb is, tense and mood (indicative, subjunctive - the famous Spanish Subjuntivo or imperative). Also frightened by the number of deviant and irregular verbs. It seemed to me that in English everything is arranged much more simply. I learned 3 forms of irregular verbs, remembered that in the third person singular of the present tense, verbs take the ending -s, and no problem. And then ... However, as they say, the eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing. In the end, everything turned out to be not so scary. The main thing at the first stage is not to rush, to scroll through the entire paradigm of the verb in your head in search of the desired form, to clearly imagine in what tense and mood you want to say this or that phrase.

If we talk about progress in learning Spanish, I can say that at the end of the first year I could already conduct small dialogues, read and discuss simple topics, in the second year there was an active replenishment of grammatical and lexical material, the improvement of phonetics and conversational skills. Then we began to take on more complex and serious topics (problems of terrorism, drugs, politics and economics, etc.), studied new and repeated grammar material. The fourth and fifth years were devoted mainly to grammatical subtleties, vocabulary replenishment, active discussions of various topical topics, reading and translating articles (from Spanish into Russian and from Russian into Spanish), lectures on the history of the language and linguistics (in Spanish). With such a flow of new material, simple words and expressions began to be forgotten from the first year. It was very funny when, having discussed all the possible problems of today's youth, we began to think about how to say something like "Pass me a cup of tea" correctly :) Therefore, sometimes it is very useful to go back to the very first lessons and remember the very basics.

In general, my teachers personally helped me a lot, who were always happy to give advice and help to understand the most difficult moments. The most important thing is not to leave anything misunderstood, to understand everything at once. If this is not done, then errors will accumulate like a snowball and then it will be really difficult to fix anything. Some students in our group went through almost the entire paradigm of the verb before they got to the form they needed, but it was enough just to figure out what time is used when and devote more time to homework. This was very disturbing, especially at the stage when it was already necessary to discuss a topic, instead of choosing suitable phrases, we had to return to the material we had already covered, which slowed down the work of the whole group.

Concerning educational material, this is also an important point. As you know, a boring textbook can completely discourage any desire to learn a language. At the institute, we studied textbook edited by A. I. Patrushev and E. I. Rodriguez - Danilevskaya. This is a tutorial in two parts - for beginners and for those who improve. We passed both :). The rules in this manual are explained quite well and completely, so that it was almost not necessary to use additional grammar materials. With themes a little worse, the standard set: mi family, en el restaurante, Madrid etc. Some of the texts used in the textbook are also rather outdated. Nevertheless, the lexical material is chosen, in my opinion, well. The exercises are designed to reinforce what you have learned. For variety, we used printouts from Spanish manuals that teachers took from the Cervantes Institute, short stories, and then books by Spanish and Latin American writers. In the first year, we read and retold fairy tales and small funny stories, read tongue twisters, sang songs - all this contributed to a faster vocabulary replenishment, besides, it was a lot of fun, so the lessons flew by unnoticed.

From dictionaries First of all I can advise A large Spanish-Russian dictionary edited by B. P. Narumov and Large Russian-Spanish Dictionary, edited by G. Ya. Turover(if you are really serious). If you need Spanish only for communication, you can buy a small but good enough dictionary edited by K. A. Martsishevskaya(Spanish-Russian and Russian-Spanish). I cannot fail to mention one more vocabulary, which is simply necessary to understand the Spaniards, who, as you know, like to insert very expressive and often far from literary expressions into their speech. This is Colloquial Spanish Dictionary edited by Sllavka Simeónova. The cover of the dictionary depicts the notorious Don Quixote and Sancho Panza exchanging just such phrases: Hola, tronco, ¿que tal? — ¡De puta madre! However, it is worth noting that you can use this dictionary only after accumulating a certain amount of knowledge, since the words and expressions in it are translated not into Russian, but into Spanish, only a literary language.

Of course, all the difficulties in learning Spanish, like any other, cannot be listed. However, these difficulties should not stop a person who decides to learn Spanish. It is a beautiful language, bright and expressive, you will immediately fall in love with it, you can trust me! The main thing is perseverance and self-confidence, and everything will work out! As the Spanish proverb says: "No hay atajo sin trabajo" — "You can't even take a fish out of the pond without effort."

Julia Baltacheva