New Year’s Resolutions for Learning Spanish

“This is the year I’m finally going to do it,” you say boldly to yourself as you stare at the piece of paper that has two simple words staring back up at you: Learn Spanish. No matter how many times you’ve started and given up, no matter how many resolutions you’ve written and then broken, we’re glad you landed on this blog post, because we’re going to help you determine that this is the year that you follow up on your New Year’s resolution to Learn Spanish. 

• Affirm Your ‘Why’

1. 1. • Resolution: “I am learning Spanish because….” (language connection with family? Travel? Appreciate other cultures?)
      • Tip: Understanding and repeating often your motivation to learn Spanish will help keep you motivated on the days when language learning becomes tedious or challenging.

• Understand the Commitment

1. 1. • Resolution: “I will research and inform myself of the time, energy, and resources it will cost to learn a new language. I will acknowledge that it will be a long, challenging, and rewarding process and I commit to keep going when the going gets tough. 
      • Tip: Write a chart with “Challenges of language learning” on one side and “Rewards of language learning” on the other to visualize the cost-benefit analysis. 

• Commit to Regular Practice:

1. 1. • Resolution: “I will dedicate at least 30 minutes to learning Spanish every day.”
      • Tip: This is the best way to learn Spanish, no shortcuts. Establish a daily routine that fits in your schedule and readjust it as life happens instead of quitting it. 

• Immerse Yourself in Spanish Media

1. 1. • Resolution: “I will watch at least 1 Spanish movie or TV show per week and listen to Spanish music or podcasts throughout the week.
      • Tip: Even though they speak fast and you won’t understand a lot at first, exposure to how native speakers talk will help you with the pronunciation, meter, and colloquialism of the language. 

• Set Realistic and Specific Goals

1. 1. • Resolution: “I will set achievable milestones, such as learning 10 new vocabulary words and 2 verbs (with conjugations) each week. I want to be beginner’s level conversational by this date ______. 
      • Tip: Break down your larger goal into smaller, manageable tasks to track your progress and stay motivated.

• Join an Online Language Program

1. 1. • Resolution: “I will join an online language program to help me keep accountable and learn from qualified teachers how to properly speak Spanish.”
      • Tip: Cultural Bytes offers One-on-one tutoring from native speakers that is guaranteed to help you on your language learning journey this year. If you would like your child to learn Spanish, we also offer ViLaCa (Virtual Language Camp) as well as in-person camps for children. 

• Practice with Native Speakers

1. • Resolution: “I will find language exchange partners or conversation buddies to practice speaking Spanish regularly.”
   • Tip: Platforms like Tandem or HelloTalk connect language learners with native speakers for language exchange.

Using this blog post as a guide, write out your own resolutions and tape them up in a place in your home that you will look at every day. Stick with your studies, and before you know it, you’ll be saying “¡Por fin aprendí español!” (I finally learned Spanish!).