How I Learned Spanish in Less Than A Year - A Step by Step Guide
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2024
- In this video I explain how I learned Spanish in less than a year. I know that many of you have asked questions about my language learning process. In this video I give a step by step guide to what I did to learn Spanish. Below are links to the resources that I used/discussed in this video. #LanguageLearning #LearningSpanish #HowToLearnSpanish
Check out my book on how to learn Spanish here!: www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8RBK7W8
Link to Madrigal's Magic Guide to Spanish: amzn.to/3gG1PBj
If you're interested in using iTalki feel free to use my referral link. This gives you a discount on your first class and I use the credits that I get to try and review tutors on iTalki: www.italki.com/i/ref/6aHFC6?h...
My iTalki Teachers:
Sharon: www.italki.com/teacher/6518892
Juan: www.italki.com/teacher/6811690
Martha/Lily: www.italki.com/teacher/7183086
Books:
Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish: amzn.to/3gG1PBj
Spanish Short Stories for Beginners: www.amazon.com/gp/product/170...
Spanish Short Stories for Beginners Volume 2:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/198...
No Nonsense Spanish Workbook:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/153...
Practice Makes Perfect - Intermediate Spanish Grammar:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Short Stories in Spanish for Intermediate Learners:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/152...
Sir, you have my respect. 3 jobs and still making time to learn Spanish and no doubt other things. This world is better with people like you in it! Wishing you much success in life!!
Wow thank you Rick and good luck to you on your Spanish journey
@@MikeBen how come you stopped duolingo?
He’s a wild man! Learn Spanish, they said. It’ll be easy, they said. Well, it’s not easy. Much respect.
@@curtismabry5658 that's a good question
@@curtismabry5658 @cantonese poems I know I’m a little late, but at the end of the video he said it’s because in 15 minutes of Duolingo, is worth less than 15 minutes of reading a Spanish learning book.
Your tutoring business is not “little” and your pressure washing business is not “small”. Don’t do that to yourself brother. C’mon Mr. Ben! 💪🏾🔥🙏🏾
You are right, I appreciate that!
I agree with your sentiment, but it is not a negative term to call a business small. It is simply a description
Years ago I tutored a kid in high school using that book. He was failing Spanish. Not only did he pass, but he went on a cruise with his family that summer and met someone from South America. He was able to speak Spanish with is his new friend for the whole trip. He and his dad were so excited to tell me when they came back. Of the three of us, I don't know who was most happy about it.
Wow it’s been a great resource for years then, stories like yours remind me why that book is so effective!
David, are you referring to the Madrigal book?
@@tollwutig Yes
@@agroasesor1 is that an open offer mi amigo? ^^
@@andreashellmuth7739 si, y si quieres yo te enseño. Asta las mala palabras, a guebo 👊🏻
To summarize, if you want to learn ANYTHING, then you need to immerse yourself in that activity and practice it. Don't worry about how bad you are at the beginning. If you consistently practice and learn 1 thing per day, then at the end of the year, you would have learned 365 things.
Active learning is the most effective way of learning.
Agreed 100%
@@agroasesor1 I bet you charge for that shit as you should for giving time into this, do let me know more
65 trying to learn and remember Spanish 🙈
I got to a point at one of my jobs that was surrounded by Cubans, I could understand 80% of what they were saying.
Damn 60 hour weeks and still finding the time to self improve...props to you !
Thanks Monique!
Amen to that! Bravo Mike Ben!
makes me real embarrassed for saying i don't have time to learn spanish
That boy was on his purpose! 🧠🔥
Agreed!!! Talk about dedication!!!
I’m a native Spanish speaker and I’m listening this video in order to improve my English listening skills. I really like all the recommendations that you gave us.👌🏻
Thanks Tatiana and I hope the other videos that I have can help you practice your listening as well!
@Hall. She’s a catfish, bro.
I love fish , specially sardines and tuna.
Me too, i am native Spanish speaker and i'm watching this video to improve my English:)
I'm a native Portuguese speaker, and I'm listening to this video to practice my English listening skills, and to know more about that book and how to start studying Spanish.
Dude!!! I found that book while I was in prison!!! I wrote each lesson by hand and read it out loud 3x/day for a week. Some lessons I did for two weeks due to word reversals. But I swear by that book to all my friends who "claim" they want to learn spanish. I'm now at the point to where they cant even tell I'm white on the phone.
Being confused for a native speaker is the ultimate compliment. I agree, this book is a gem!
“Not sitting around watching telenovelas and listening to Ozuna.” 🤣 Really needed this advice - thanks!
De nada jaja
It's a powerful feeling when you start to learn a new language and begin to understand those around you and engage in conversations. It literally opens you up to a whole new world and a whole new you. It helps with self esteem and confidence.
Agreed 100%!
To speak 2 languages is like you become in 2 persons.
This is probably the most in-depth “how I learned Spanish” vid I’ve seen. Much appreciated, salute !
Thanks!
For real. I think I'm at the place that I already "know" Spanish. I've been studying for it for a little less than a hear and now I'm learning more accents and phrases and the way different people speak it, and improving conversational fluency.
And lemmie tell you, when I started, no one put out a damn nearly 40 min video explaining in detail and providing resources, and this is something that's amazing to see.
O.H!
Yes, this is a super helpful video. I'm working on improving my Spanish too! Will check out your resources.
Salute!??? Eso es italiano.
In a just country, we’d pay our teachers enough that they wouldn’t have to work 60 hours a week. Amazing that you were able to do anything at all in your time outside of work. What an inspiring story. Thank you.
Im glad this helps Nick! I was a little bit of a workaholic back when I recorded this video lol
Dude...check out an average salary in the Long island region of NY....
Tip: If you see a Spanish learning book/app that has the red and yellow flag, that's EUROPEAN Spanish, not Latin American. They are different.
Gracias
Yeah I realized it the other day
You were definitely born to be a teacher💕
Thanks!
VERY TRUE
“It’s crazy what the human brain can do when you just put information into it and stay consistent” I love this quote, it’s so applicable life in general, not just language learning. This video was really helpful and has given me plenty of resources to look at to try and kick on with my Spanish. Congratulations on your own learning journey and you for sharing this video.
I'm glad this helps y que sigas aprendiendo!
Mike, you just took away all my excuses for not learning Spanish! If you can find the time while working three jobs and having a life then I have to redouble my efforts. Thanks for the motivation and inspiration.
I’m glad this helps Danny!
Dang you’re a busy man!....thanks for video. I’m two weeks into learning Spanish.....at 56 years old. I’m making it my sole mission to learn how to speak to our local Mexican immigrants. They are nice people and I would really like to communicate in their native language. I feel kinda stupid trying but I love the language when I hear it.
I am very southern country and when I play back myself it sounds really funny. I am sure they may find strange sounding. I plan to visit the Mexican store just down the road from me in about a month or so just to ask for a few vegetables. I have to get up the nerve.
Thanks and I think that's the best way to practice while we're in the US!
Similar boat. Learn some phrases and visit and speak! Just do it...then return.
you have a big heart❤️
Don’t be self conscious, they would proud you’re learning the language. Especially now a days with “this is America, speak English” crap going on.
Right out the gate you're being honest about your accomplishments, not jerking people around. Obviously it takes years to achieve fluency in any language. But the ability to at least speak conversationally in a year is still impressive.
Thanks and I'm glad this helped
This video was EXCELLENT! I took notes. I am so tired of being at the same level in Spanish, seemingly not progressing in Spanish conversation, so I took notes. I have one of the workbooks that you showed us. The one in yellow. I will be implementing these study routines into my life. I am determined to get better. I will NEVER give up! Thank you for this information.
You’re welcome and I’m glad this helped!
How is this going now?
@Heaven & Hell Testimonies Thank you for asking! I had gotten a little frustrated there with my progress and just stopped cold turkey, but then I got motivated when it occurred to me that I needed you read aloud in Spanish. That has helped. I think I've had a fear that I couldn't do it and when I was put on the spot to translate for somebody, I would totally freak out and shut down. Then I realized later that I DID understand what had been said. But last Sunday at church, there were two women from Venezuela who came but understood no English. I just shifted gears and I flowed naturally. I didn't even realize what I had done until I got home. I was in shock! 😳 I even introduced them to the app called, "Language Transfer" which teaches English for Spanish speakers. They were so happy. 😃 That was a first and it will not be the last time that I do that. I just need to take the pressure off of myself.
How is it going chaplain? I'm stuck for years :)
@@melanielovick-lugo3118 Have You watched the Spanish Telenovelas from Univision and Telemundo; a Lot of People Learn Conversational Spanish that way.
The creator of that book is from my country, Costa Rica, a lot of pride.
She wrote one of best language learning books of all time. Pura vida!
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 📚 Overview and Disclaimer
03:59 🎧 Month One: Getting Started
07:46 🚗 Month Two: Immersive Listening
10:35 💬 Month Three: Speaking Practice
14:46 📚 Month Three Continued: Expanding Learning
17:39 📚 Language Learning Resources for Beginners
18:21 💰 Investing in Spanish Lessons
19:02 🤝 Resuming Lessons and Expanding Learning Sources
20:12 🚀 Building Momentum in Language Learning
21:47 📖 Combining Reading, Music, and Grammar
23:36 🎯 Consistency and Exchange Partners
25:13 📚 Using Grammar Workbooks
26:24 🗓️ Months 8-11: Consistency is Key
29:11 🧳 Language Learning through Travel
31:21 🗝️ Key Takeaways
Made with HARPA AI
Thank u
I agree that italki is an amazing resource. You know what else is great? A Kindle. A waterproof one if you want to read while at the beach or in the tub. I read the first 3 Harry Potter books and the first 3 Percy Jackson books in Spanish and I loved that I could put my finger on a word and it would give me the definition, translation, and sample sentences instantly. Then it would automatically save that word in my word list, so I can review it whenever I please. Thank you so much for the podcast information. I am going to check them all out! : )
That's such a great idea, I'm going to invest in one this year!
That’s good to know! Does it work for phrases? For example “a lo mejor” etc would you need to highlight the full phrase? Cheers
I agree! I bought an old used one just for Olly Richards short stories and now I love it and read so much more than before (well, I didn't even read before)
Don't you need an app for that? Or was just having a Kindle enough?
wow! thanks! didnt know any of this. *immediately searches amazon for a kindle*
I'm a native Spanish speaker and when I started learning English I was 32 and I got addicted to it. For years I only listen to English music. Only read English books. Every CZcams video I watched, and so on. Now I listen to music in both languages. However for some reason my brain enjoys more English. It's like a workout. It's more challenging. Siento la necesidad de hablar y escuchar el Inglés. Thanks for this information.
I understand that addictive element that you're describing. I am there now with Spanish and its a major part of my life now.
I really respect the fact you don't straight up lie and claim you speak the language perfectly despite having a really high level. I find the youtube "polyglot" community to be super toxic and narcissistic. You have people claiming to speak 30+ languages, but in reality they only know how to ask (not answer) a series of casual questions. More people should be transparent like you and show the people out there learning that it's completely normal to spend months, even years to get to the point of having a basic conversation, which in itself is a great achievement. I understand these lies generate clicks and money, but people don't understand the long term negative effects of turning a language learning journey, which should be a beautiful thing and possibility to comprehend a new culture and mindset into a "how fast can I reach a level where other people will be impressed by how good I am?" competition.
Keep it up brother. Languages are the keys that unlock the many doors of new experiences and cultures.
Agreed and thank you for the comment Marky!
at age 10 , I wanted to learn Spanish and I found : Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish" I would write out sentences and words and practice pronunciation. I never seen anyone else use that book and I always recommend it ! so cool to see that you also found it helpful!
It’s an amazing resource!
Silvana sin Lana is a great seriess on Netflix. Easy to understand Spanish.
Thanks, I'll be sure to check her that one out!
Best line in this excellent video " I'm bored when I'm no learning something." So true! Words to live by. Keep up the good work.
Gracias!
Excellent
I’m a Portuguese speaker that is also fluent in Spanish, but I watched this video to try to get an insight for my other languages. I work full time and I’m getting my second degree which is making it hard for me to focus on my studying of Chinese, Japanese, and German. I’m already B1 in two of those but your tips helped me get organized and make the best of my time. Thank you.
I'm glad this helps!
Also, see videos by
Anna Lenkovska
Zoe of Zoe. languages (methods)
Olly Richards
Steve Kaufmann
Luca Lamparielloomo
Buena suerte!!
M
Jackpot. The only CZcams video I had to watch to learn Spanish
I’m glad this helps 🙏🏾
Wow. What an entrepreneur you are. Lots of respect and admiration for you. Wishing you great success!
Thank you!
I watched ONE video about how to learn spanish cuz I was curious and now youtube won't stop recommending these to me
I'm a native spanish speaker 💀
😂
Great info… Thanks for sharing
Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish is the best old-school resource. I've used it to teach Spanish. I always appreciate resources like that that don't waste your time and treat you like an adult.
Agreed, it’s such a great resource!
3 minute Spanish got me out here breaking language barriers . Muchas gracias mi hermano👏🏼
Haha de nada!
So good!! Tyy ❤
De nada!
hahaha Ozuna was a big source of knowledge in my Spanish learning journey too. Also this just shows how you have to actually want to learn the language, because that's when you find the ways to fit it in for 15 minutes a day, 30 minutes a day, rather than making the excuse that you can never find time to practice. Just chipping away and making small progress every week by practicing a fundamental skill (speaking, reading, writing, listening) for at least a bit everyday, or not even everyday but most days, will lead to immense progress in 1 year.
Agreed 100%, we make time for things that we prioritize. Also, Ozuna brings me so much nostalgia now lol. He's talented
Good for you! I taught myself Spanish in 1996, before the internet! I'm currently writing about my experience. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Brian!
Thanks buddy so helpful! Appreciate the effort to share all the resources
I’m glad this helps!
Thanks so much for sharing!! This is so SUPER helpful!!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for doing this!
Im glad that this helps!
Very inspiring! 🔥 Thank you for taking the time to make this super detailed video! Definitely taking some notes 😎👍❤️
Im glad this helps!
Thank you so much for sharing all this info. This is the most informative and more to the point REAL video I've seen on language learning. You are a born teacher and your kindness shines. I am learning Spanish and will be investing in some of your books you have recommended. I cannot thank you enough. I'm so glad I found your channel. Love from Scotland ❤🙏🏴
Wow muchas gracias and Im glad this helps!
thanks. good stuff!!!! thanks for sharing!!!!!
Glad this helps!
Thank you so much! Super informative! Appreciate your work man!
Encantado! Im glad this helps!
This is so exciting! My family and I met today to share our first stories. We’re at different levels but are excited about improving our language skills. Thanks so much for the tips you shared in this video. We’ll keep you posted😃
I'm glad this helps and sigue adelante!
Extremely helpful and inspiring! Thank you very much 😎🤘
Im glad these help Erik!
THANK YOU!!!!
Im glad this helps!
Super helpful! Thanks! 🙏🏻
You're welcome, I'm glad this helps!
This was so helpful, thank you so much for your detailed and insightful process to learning Spanish! I never thought about using workbooks before but I’m definitely checking some out from the library today.
I'm glad this helps!
I really loved this video, thank you. You’ve definitely inspired me to hop on the wagon and take Spanish seriously. I have so many great resources around me Ave can’t wait to see my progress. You’ve done great work, congratulations on your hard work, and thank you for sharing it.
Im glad this helps and sigue adelante!
Thank you so much for this video!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great info thank you so much.😊
Glad that it was helpful!
Mazel Tov Mike! This is amazing and so inspiring. My passion for Spanish has been sparked the last so many months and this video gives me a lot of motivation to jump full force into my dream to speak Spanish. Muy Bien Amigo! Keep going!
De nada and I'm glad this helped! Sigue adelante!
Thanks so much for the advice! This has really helped me create a path on my journey to learning Spanish . You gained a subscriber ✊🏽
Muchas gracias and good luck on your journey, I’m glad this helps!
thank you this really helped
I’m glad this helps, que sigas aprendiendo
Thank you! thank you! thank you!!!
I’m glad this helps!
Hi Mike, I’ve just come across your video as I’m starting to learn Spanish. I found it very informative and helpful. It was good to hear your learning journey. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Stella, and I'm glad that this helped!
This is packed with all types of resources and ideas. I appreciate this video so so much! Thank you
Thanks and you're welcome, I'm glad it helps!
Thank You for this gift👍🏾
I'm glad this helps
Thank you so much for sharing
De nada!
Hey Mike, thanks for sharing your journey. Been learning Spanish for a year, and working on overcoming my transition from beginner to intermediate Spanish.. keep up the great vlogs! 🙂
You're welcome and I'm glad this helps!
Mike, this is the best Spanish learning video I have seen so far. Thank you!
You're welcome and I'm glad this was helpful!
Appreciate you and your hard work. Thanks man!
De nada and I'm glad this helps!
Very helpful! Thank you!
De nada!
I’ve always wanted to start a CZcams channel & document my language learning journey. This was so helpful & motivational for taking those first steps, so hopefully I can make some really good progress so i can recommend your channel to other people trying to learn👍🏾
Gracias y sigue adelante con eso!
Awesome video! The most practical one that I have seen for learning a language. This has encouraged me even more towards really learning Spanish! Thank you!
De nada and Im glad this helps!
I speak Spanish, and studied Italian on Duolingo and it worked.
It can work, just doesn’t work with my personal schedule
Your determination to accomplish your goals is what we all can take from you. Great job!!!
Gracias!
This video was really helpful to give some structural guidance. I keep wanting to learn everything and bounce all over the place with learning. Thank you for taking your time to put this together! 🙌🏽😄
I'm glad this helps!
Super inspiring. Really appreciate everything you shared fam. Thank you.
I'm glad this helps
This is so incredibly helpful thank you so much 🙏🏻✨
Glad it was helpful!
Great video! This is very motivational for me to get back on my own language learning journey!
Im glad this helped!
CZcams recommended this video a couple of times to me after I watched a couple of reviews on the Madrigal’s Magic book. I’m so glad I finally clicked play. I’m in such awe of your dedication and thoughtful approach to learning Spanish!
At the end of your video you wisely recommended finding people who we connect to who have done this journey and you are that! Mom is Mexican and Spanish is her first language. I’m half Latina but don’t really speak Spanish (I could understand it ok as a kid). It’s a point of embarrassment. I really want to get started but have felt overwhelmed.
I appreciate your guidance and recommendations on resources that have worked for you. This is really an inspirational video! Gracias! 🙏🏽
De nada and I'm glad that this helps! The connection with your mom's side will be a great motivator!
Thanks for the tips. Great video.
Glad it was helpful
Great video and thank you for the tips and resources!
Glad it was helpful!
I just came across this video and your channel yesterday, and I'm so glad I did. This video contains a ton of helpful resources. I've been trying to learn Spanish off and on for several years now but finally my new year's resolution for this year was to practice Spanish at least 10 minutes every day so I've been doing DuoLingo primarily. After seeing this video I ordered the Madrigal book (received it today) and have been going through Kieran's 3 minute Spanish lessons and I'm on 79 already (everything has been a refresher so far). I love Kieran's approach and methodology to learning a new language. Thanks again!
I'm glad that this helps and good luck on your journey with Spanish! Sigue adelante!
I'm on month four of learning Spanish and this was so helpful! I'm of the same mindset of you in that I should consume from multiple sources that include audio & reading as well as talking. I was struggling to find written content that I could read at my level. I currently have Open Door to Spanish by Margarita Madrigal and I'm enjoying it (It's far too easy for you now.) I'll check out the other books you recommended especially Madrigal's Magic Key to Spanish as I have heard Jim from Spanish to Go recommend that, so that's two good recommendations - plus I like her Open Door book. And I'm super excited to see that Short Stories for Beginners book. I was looking for something similar at the library and came home empty handed. I started with an italki teacher from day 1 when I could only say "Hola". Bless his heart!! I kept meeting weekly because I knew it would hold me accountable and keep me from quitting. It worked! I'm passionate to learn the language now. Muchas Gracias!!
Glad to hear you’re having success! Thanks for the tips and sigue adelante!
This is SO helpful! Thank you!
Im glad this helps! Que sigas aprendiendo!
Love hearing these tips. Your dedication has clearly paid off!
Thanks and I’m glad these help!
Thank you Mike for laying out a plan. Synergy Spanish is helping me with vocabulary and structure.
You’re welcome Tom and I’m glad this helps!
Amazing content! As someone who's made learning Spanish a goal for 2021, this is super helpful :) thank you!
You're welcome and I'm glad this helped!
I am trying to learn too, I got a lot of time these days, But i want to learn the alphabets take it from the very start, One thing that discouraged me from learning Spanish is the different dialects and how some Spanish speaking countries would use different words, But he mentioned that he watched kids stuff to help him learn that is a good idea i haven't thought about
@@agroasesor1 heyyy i want to do it!! How can i contact you?
appreciate all of these resources. Thanks so much
I’m glad this helps!
Bravo! Thank you so much.
You're welcome, I'm glad this helped!
This was so motivational. I've been tampering with learning Spanish for many years but his year I decided to make it a priority. However, I haven't put in the time like I should. Thanks for the tips and the motivation to keep going. You speak it so well and that was encouraging. My biggest issue is speaking it in front of people and sounding crazy but there are a lot of people here in GA I can practice with so again thanks so much!
You can do it! Que sigas aprendiendo!
Thank you for your month -to -month breakdown . I really received a tremendous amount of information on how to begin.
Im glad this helps!
Excellent. Thanks, Mike. 🙏🏻
I’m glad this helps!
Much respect!
Gracias!
Mike Ben, thank you for putting this video together. I just bought the Madrigal's book a few days ago and I am happy to see that your video recommends it. I will probably get some of the other resources that you mentioned later to augment and improve my learning. I am looking at one year window like you. I can speak English and French (very high level - but still improving it) and I want to add Spanish.
I'm glad this helps!
Thanks for this. I'm just starting & have been looking for good lessons. Thanks for the recommendations & tips.
BTW, I've watched a few Butterfly Spanish videos. Love her!
Her videos are great! I'm glad this helped!
I refer back to her lessons on pronouncing the letters. I also use Practiquemos by Catalina Moreno E.... Catalina has some simple quizzes at the end of each lesson too.
Helpful, thank you.
De nada 🙏🏾
Thank you so much for all this information! Wishing you all the best.
Thanks and I'm glad this helps!
Only a teacher can tell you how to learn something properly! Thank you mike for such an informative video. Will definitely use some of your resources and suggestions in my spanish learning journey :)
Glad it was helpful!
Bro, this is one of the realest videos on language learning I’ve seen. You seem down to earth and genuine. I appreciate the guidance. Respect ✊🏾
Wow gracias! I’m glad this helps
That was such a useful video!! Amazing tips - Thank you Mike!!
I'm glad this helps!
thanks you! this video motivates me keep on
Happy to hear that!
Thank you. I’ve been struggling to learn español for years and now I see that I am not dedicated to it enough. Thank you for the great example of how to get it done. Your Spanish pronunciation is really good and so enjoyable to hear.
Mil gracias!
Madrigal's book is absolutely awesome! Good to see someone found it useful!
It’s a lifesaver!
thank u, Mike!
De Nada!
Mike, class man. Just what I was looking for. Thank you very much 👍
Thank you, I'm glad this helps!
Thanks, Mike! Very informative. I hadn't even thought about using Spotify to learn Spanish. Now I can listen during my commute or small gaps of free time. I love the '3-minute Spanish' idea. I'll check out a few of those workbooks too!
Im glad this helps and sigue adelante hermano!
Teacher Mike-I’m studying Spanish and have been off and on for a long time. It’s not easy to learn! I recently had a resource recommended and it’s a different approach. It’s an app called language transfer. It is completely free and depends on voluntary donations for support. I have already learned new skills with his teaching approach and plan on continuing to use it. Best of luck to you.
哈哈居然在这里看到了麦克老师！一起加油学西语！
I just started using duolingo since my girlfriend is majoring in spanish, but after hearing what u said I will be swapping to other methods ASAP. I haven't watched any language videos in the past but this has to be one of the most in depth amazing videos i've watched on this platform in awhile. You seem really passionate about learning the language and mastering it, even with three jobs buying tutoring and all these books, listening to it in the car etc. I know this video is now almost 3 years old but i hope your journey has been and continues to go well !
Thank you and I'm glad this helps!