Tag: Spanish

  • Best Apps to Learn Conversational Spanish

    Best Apps to Learn Conversational Spanish

    Immerse yourself in the best app to learn conversational Spanish. Acquire the skills to confidently engage in everyday conversations, foster personal connections, and excel in professional settings. Mastering conversational Spanish is key to enhancing communication in practical scenarios. This post explores the benefits of conversational skills in social and business settings, the challenges learners face, and the role of language learning apps. Discover essential app features such as interactive speaking exercises, real-time feedback, voice recognition, and cultural context. Read reviews of top apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, and Busuu. Maximize your learning with tips on goal setting, consistent practice, and using diverse resources to become proficient in conversational Spanish.

    The Best App to Learn Conversational Spanish and Enhance Your Communication Skills

    Acquiring conversational Spanish is instrumental in bridging communication gaps in various practical scenarios. While formal language instruction focuses on grammar, syntax, and vocabulary, conversational Spanish emphasizes the fluidity and nuances of real-life interactions. It is these everyday conversations that enable travelers to navigate through foreign cities, comprehend local culture, and foster personal connections with native speakers. Whether you are asking for directions, ordering food in a restaurant, or engaging in small talk, the ability to converse comfortably in Spanish enhances the overall experience.

    Social interactions, whether for business or personal purposes, benefit enormously from proficient conversational skills. In business settings, especially in Spanish-speaking countries, personal rapport often outweighs formalities. Being able to engage in informal chat can create a favorable impression, build trust, and pave the way for more fruitful professional relationships. Similarly, in social settings, informal conversations can help form deeper connections, increases cultural understanding, and foster friendships.

    Nonetheless, mastering conversational Spanish presents unique challenges. Unlike formal Spanish, conversational language involves slang, idiomatic expressions, and varying regional dialects that are not typically covered in traditional language courses. Learners often struggle with listening comprehension and spontaneous speech due to the speed and unpredictability of natural conversations.

    This is where app-based learning emerges as a vital resource. Language learning apps offer interactive and immersive experiences that simulate real-world conversations. Features such as voice recognition, dialogue practice, and instant feedback are designed to enhance listening and speaking skills effectively. With the convenience of practicing anytime and anywhere, language learners can overcome the hurdles of conversational Spanish and steadily build their confidence. By integrating these tools into daily routines, app-based learning creates a structured yet flexible approach to mastering the art of conversation, thereby making language learning a more accessible and efficient process.

    Top Features to Look for in a Conversational Spanish App

    When choosing an app to learn conversational Spanish, certain features can significantly enhance your learning experience and help improve your fluency. One of the most critical features is interactive speaking exercises. These allow you to practice your verbal skills in realistic scenarios, helping to build confidence and competency in actual conversations. Furthermore, interactive exercises are often gamified or scenario-based, making the process engaging and enjoyable.

    Another indispensable feature is real-time feedback. Immediate corrections on pronunciation, grammar, and usage errors ensure that you are not perpetuating mistakes. Real-time feedback helps to fine-tune your speaking abilities and facilitates faster learning by addressing issues as they arise.

    Additionally, effective voice recognition technology is a vital component of any top-tier conversational Spanish app. Advanced voice recognition can assess your pronunciation and intonation, ensuring that you are speaking clearly and correctly. This technology bridges the gap between written exercises and actual spoken conversation, providing a more holistic approach to learning.

    Understanding the cultural context is also fundamental to mastering conversational Spanish. High-quality apps incorporate cultural lessons, such as idiomatic expressions, customs, and etiquette. This immersion into the cultural nuances of Spanish not only enriches your learning experience but also aids in understanding and participating in conversations more effectively.

    Lastly, the accessibility of the app on multiple devices is crucial. Whether on your smartphone, tablet, or computer, an app that allows learning on various platforms ensures that you can practice anytime, anywhere. This flexibility maximizes your learning opportunities, promoting consistent practice essential for language acquisition.

    Incorporating these features into your learning routine can tremendously boost your ability to converse in Spanish fluently. Choosing an app that includes interactive speaking exercises, real-time feedback, voice recognition, cultural context, and multi-device accessibility is key to mastering the language efficiently and enjoyably.

    10 Best Apps to Learn Conversational Spanish and Side-By-Side Vendor Comparison

    Learning conversational Spanish can greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in various settings. Here we delve into ten of the best apps to help you master conversational Spanish, and we provide a side-by-side vendor comparison to help you choose the best one for your needs.

    Top 10 Apps to Learn Conversational Spanish

    1. Duolingo
    2. Babbel
    3. Rosetta Stone
    4. Busuu
    5. Memrise
    6. Lingodeer
    7. Mondly
    8. Pimsleur
    9. HelloTalk
    10. Tandem

    Side-By-Side Vendor Comparison

    Feature/CriteriaDuolingoBabbelRosetta StoneBusuuMemriseLingodeerMondlyPimsleurHelloTalkTandem
    PriceFree, $$$$$Free, $Free, $Free, $$$Free, $Free, $
    Interactive Speaking Exercises✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
    Real-Time Feedback✅✅✅✅❌✅✅❌✅✅
    Voice Recognition✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌✅
    Cultural Context❌✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
    Gamification✅✅❌✅✅✅✅❌❌❌
    User Reviews⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
    Multi-Device Access✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
    Offline Access❌✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌❌

    Detailed Breakdown

    Duolingo

    Duolingo is well-loved for its gamified approach, keeping users engaged with points, streaks, and rewards. However, while Duolingo excels in vocabulary building, it might lack depth in conversational practice.

    Babbel

    Babbel is known for its focus on real-world conversations. It provides detailed grammar explanations and cultural context, making it a robust choice for serious learners.

    Rosetta Stone

    Renowned for its immersive method, Rosetta Stone uses pictures and sounds to teach the language without translation, mimicking natural language acquisition.

    Busuu

    Busuu offers structured lessons with social learning features, allowing users to practice with native speakers and get community feedback.

    Memrise

    Memrise is unique for its combination of real-life video content and gamified learning. It’s particularly useful for picking up slang and idiomatic expressions.

    Lingodeer

    Lingodeer focuses on delivering well-structured lessons with a strong emphasis on grammar, making it suitable for beginners and intermediate learners.

    Mondly

    Mondly combines regular lessons with augmented reality and virtual reality experiences, providing an innovative and interactive way to learn.

    Pimsleur

    This app excels in audio-based learning, suitable for learners who prefer listening to watching or reading. It’s great for developing listening and pronunciation skills.

    HelloTalk

    HelloTalk connects learners with native speakers worldwide. It’s a social app that promotes language exchange via text, voice messages, and video calls.

    Tandem

    Similar to HelloTalk, Tandem focuses on connecting language learners with native speakers for real-time conversational practice.

    Choosing the right app depends on your learning style, preferences, and specific needs. Evaluate these options and find the one that best supports your journey to mastering conversational Spanish.

    Review for some Best Apps

    In the quest to master conversational Spanish, several apps stand out for their unique features and effectiveness. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top-rated apps available today.

    Duolingo

    Duolingo is a popular choice for language learners due to its gamified approach. It features bite-sized lessons that keep users engaged through points, streaks, and rewards. The app is free with a premium version that offers an ad-free experience and additional features. Users commend Duolingo for making learning fun and claim it helps establish a routine. A user review on the App Store states, “Duolingo makes language learning addictive. The bite-sized lessons fit into my day and keep me motivated.” However, some users note that while Duolingo is excellent for vocabulary, it might lack in-depth conversational practice.

    Babbel

    Babbel distinguishes itself with lessons created by language experts that focus on real-world conversations. The app offers 10-15 minute lessons that fit easily into a busy schedule. Its approach is more structured than Duolingo, providing detailed grammar explanations and cultural context. A premium subscription is required, starting at $12.95 per month with discounts for longer commitments. Users appreciate the effective learning methods, with one commenting, “Babbel’s conversational lessons are practical and directly applicable in real situations.” On the downside, some users feel the app’s price is relatively high compared to its competitors.

    Rosetta Stone

    Rosetta Stone is well-established in the language learning industry, renowned for its immersive technique that mimics natural language acquisition. It emphasizes learning through pictures and sound, offering a comprehensive suite for various levels of proficiency. The app requires a subscription, starting at $11.99 per month. One user review highlights, “Rosetta Stone’s immersion method really helps you think in Spanish rather than just translating from English.” Nevertheless, some users find the lack of translation and grammar explanations a drawback for complete beginners.

    Busuu

    Busuu combines structured lessons with a social learning experience, allowing users to practice with native speakers. The app offers interactive lessons with a strong focus on conversational skills and offers feedback on exercises from the Busuu community. Subscription plans start at $9.99 per month. Users value the personalized feedback, with one stating, “The community feedback from native speakers has improved my conversational skills dramatically.” However, some users mention that technical issues can occasionally disrupt the learning experience.

    Each of these apps has its strengths and weaknesses, catering to different learning styles and preferences. It’s advisable to try out different apps to find the one that best suits your needs in mastering conversational Spanish.

    Tips for Maximizing Your Learning Experience with Language Apps

    Learning Spanish through apps can be incredibly effective if approached with the right strategies. One key tip is to set realistic and attainable goals. Breaking down your language learning journey into manageable milestones helps in maintaining motivation and provides a clear roadmap of your progress. Instead of aiming to be fluent within a few months, focus on specific targets such as mastering basic phrases or holding a simple conversation.

    Consistency is another crucial factor. Establishing a regular study schedule ensures continuous progress. Even dedicating just 15 to 20 minutes daily can result in significant improvements over time. Most language learning apps offer features like reminders and streaks to help users stay on track.

    To supplement the learning experience, it’s beneficial to use additional resources. Spanish podcasts and videos provide exposure to the language as it is naturally spoken, enhancing listening skills and pronunciation. Immersive content like movies, TV shows, and music in Spanish can further deepen your understanding of the cultural context and idiomatic expressions.

    Engaging in live conversations with native speakers is another indispensable practice. Language exchange partners, tutors, or online communities can provide real-world practice, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned and to refine your conversational skills.

    Maintaining motivation is essential, and tracking progress can play a significant role in this aspect. Many language apps include progress tracking features such as quizzes, levels, and performance analytics. Regularly reviewing these metrics can provide a sense of achievement and highlight areas that need improvement.

    By incorporating these practical tips—setting achievable goals, maintaining a consistent study regimen, using diverse learning resources, engaging in real-life conversations, and tracking your progress—you can maximize the effectiveness of language learning apps and accelerate your proficiency in conversational Spanish.

  • The Ultimate Guide to Learning Spanish Online

    The Ultimate Guide to Learning Spanish Online

    Learning Spanish online has never been easier! But there are so many different learning options out there, from Spanish podcasts to Spanish apps. Where are you supposed to start?

    Do you want to learning Spanish online?

    To help you find your way in the world of online learning, we have written the ultimate guide to learning Spanish online for you!

    Why learn Spanish online?

    Traditional classroom instruction is a very effective method of learning the language, especially in Spanish-speaking countries. But not everyone has the time to attend such a Spanish course. There are so many different options online that you can now learn almost everything from the comfort of your own home.

    The Ultimate Guide to Learning Spanish Online Image
    The Ultimate Guide to Learning Spanish Online

    Besides being a very convenient option to learn Spanish, you can adapt it to your learning style and needs. Would you like to improve your listening comprehension? Try podcasts. Would you like to improve your thinking skills? Try apps and games. Would you like to work on your expression and conversational skills? Online courses and tutoring are your tickets to the Spanish-speaking world. No matter how you learn, you will find a suitable solution for everything.

    What’s the best way to learn Spanish online?

    Don’t make the mistake and only use one of the options mentioned to learn Spanish online, combine the offers. Use a website or course as your main learning source and a choice of other platforms to learn in different ways.

    If you’re looking for an efficient option to use on your commute, you should try an app. Sometimes it’s better not to set the goals too high, so you can achieve them. Even if you only learn 5 words a day, that‘s 1,825 words for the whole year and that’s an optimal basis for learning a language.

    If you’re looking for a more comprehensive option, consider opting for a paid platform or course. All of the platforms we recommend here offer you a wide range of learning materials and courses so you can progress from beginner to pro. Online Spanish courses also offer you personal contact with the teacher and individual feedback.

    Learn Spanish with websites

    It may not be as traditional as studying in a library with books, pen, and paper, but using websites has become a common way of learning Spanish. There are endless possibilities. To get the most out of these Spanish learning online websites, choose the ones that help you work on specific skills. For grammar practice, Curso De Español is a good and free option. They provide you with over 500 DIN A4 worksheets. For example, for vocabulary practice, you could try “BUSUU”. The visual material in the form of images is displayed here in addition to the new vocabulary so that you can expand your vocabulary faster.

    However, if you are looking for a comprehensive learning method, it is better to go for a website that offers complete Spanish courses. Of course, the aforementioned free options can be helpful, but if you want to master the language, a properly structured course is the ideal option.

    Learn Spanish with apps

    Your motto is: Learning by doing? Then you should learn more interactive Spanish.

    Apps are the perfect way to fit Spanish into a busy schedule. 10 minutes a day are enough and we guarantee you: your ambition will be awakened.

    Also, apps are a great option for those who are on a budget as some of the best apps like Duolingo and Memrise are free.

    It’s unlikely that a language learning app will take you from beginner to pro, but it’s a great way to learn regularly in a limited amount of time.

    We recommend these apps:

    • Duolingo – the undisputed champion of language learning apps. It is the most downloaded educational app and is used by over 200 million users every day. It’s an app that makes the learning process fun: the more you use this app, the more “lingots” (Duolingo currency) you get. This unlocks additional lessons and outfits for your character.
    • Memrise – the space style app. The playful design makes learning child’s play! Do you want to focus on your vocabulary? Then it’s the right thing for you! Another useful feature: you can learn different types of Spanish. Whether you want to go to Mexico or Madrid, with this app you are well prepared because you can learn the Spanish variation you need.
    • Babbel – the paid premium app that focuses on a long-term learning process. You might even use the app more often if you pay for it. Among the paid apps, this one definitely offers the best learning methods from beginner to pro.

    Sum Up

    The above-mentioned hacks are motivational and enjoyable to learn Spanish but to be very honest it does not work if you are not a master of Spanish. We should go through Spanish storytelling and take Spanish classes with native Spanish speakers to be fluent in Spanish.

  • What are the top ways to learn Spanish Fast Online?

    What are the top ways to learn Spanish Fast Online?

    Learn Spanish Fast Online – What are the top ways? How about speaking Spanish? At this point, you can now speak some Spanish if you wish. Technically, you’re already talking when you’re following the dialogue. If you are brave, now is the time to talk to a local or Spanish teacher. This will help you overcome your fear of talk and speaking! But never forget that simply speaking Spanish won’t make you a better (or more natural) Spanish speaker! This is one of those strange paradoxes in language learning that most people don’t understand. But it’s very true.

    If you’ve always wanted to learn Spanish, you’re not alone; Ten million people learn languages every day around the world. And no wonder! Spanish is a language full of beauty, levels of meaning, and rich history of the language. Learn Spanish in Madrid, It can take you around the world, from South America to Spain to the islands of the Pacific Ocean.

    But you may have a lot of questions about what it takes to get started – or why it’s worth it. The good news is that you can rest assured that learning Spanish is worth it. With the right technology to guide you along the way, you will see your efforts pay off in many ways.

    Why learn Spanish fast?

    Learning a new language is a challenge that can open your mind to new perspectives and help you connect with all kinds of people around the world and languages. The reasons for learning Spanish are very valid. Here are a few reasons why spending time learning Spanish is a good idea:

    Reasons to learn Spanish fast online.

    Learning a new skill can help you express your creativity, stimulate your mind, and discover new aspects of yourself in the process. Learning a new language like English to Spanish or Spanish to English is no exception! Here are some of the many ways that learning Spanish can have a positive impact on your life.

    Develop your Spanish business skills.

    If you are a professional looking for a way to stay competitive and relevant in the global marketplace, learning a new language – Spanish in particular – is not going to work. A large number, Latin America and South America are emerging markets full-size of business opportunities. Learning Spanish is a fantastic way to connect with colleagues from other countries, attract new customers, build strong relationships with Spanish-speaking partners and investors, and showcase the multicultural, international, and inclusive nature of your brand.

    Use your tongue to train your brain.

    Learning a new language is a very solid way to keep your brain flexible and agile, especially as you age. Don’t give in to the argument that once you grow up, you’re somehow worse at learning languages! Choosing a new language is more than memorizing a vocabulary list (although you will definitely sharpen your vocabulary along the way).

    This includes making connections between these words and what they represent, speaking and thinking spontaneously on your toes, taking up challenges when they are frustrating and confusing, and listening very actively. If you’re short on intellectual stimulation, there are slightly better ways to work your mental muscles than learning Spanish.

    Immerse yourself in Spanish culture, unfiltered.

    Learning Spanish will not only give you a better understanding of the language itself, but also the arts and culture of the world it uses. Reading literature from excellent Spanish-speaking writers such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and Pablo Neruda means engaging with language in some of its most beautiful and poetic expressions. Through a Spanish lens, you can see lyrics to classic flamenco songs and more actively immerse yourself in more modern Spanish-language media such as Spanish podcasts, radio shows, books, and TV shows.

    The stories and recipes of world-famous culinary creations, the dialogue of famous Latin American and Spanish films, and the most exciting streams of Spanish journalism will be at your disposal as you learn Spanish. And if you come from a family with Hispanic ancestry and ancestry but don’t speak the language yourself, learning Spanish is a great way to connect with your heritage.

    Learn Spanish for Travel.

    When you have a Spanish identity in your big opportunity, you have a passport to a whole new world. Learning Spanish doesn’t just mean you’ll be able to find your way around new cities by reading street signs, menus, and train tickets. It also allows you to connect with new people you meet there. It’s often said that the best way to see a new place is through the eyes of a local, and learning Spanish allows you to break away from the tourist attractions and step into the real world as the locals see it. Whether on the beaches of Barcelona, the many streets of Mexico City, the ruins of the Incas in Peru, or elsewhere, Spanish is the official language, you’ll be better prepared to get off the beaten track if you have Spanish in your language. repertoire.

    Spanish living abroad in Spain and Latin America.

    Whether you want to enroll in a foreign-language Spanish university and get an alternative college experience, find a boarding job where you can surf during the day and work at night, or want to retire in a calmer tropical climate, the practical approach is to use to achieve language experience. The most interesting. By placing yourself in an environment where you need to speak Spanish – as if you lived in Spain – you will speed up your journey to Spanish. Learning Spanish is the door to a stable, colorful, and new adventure in life!

    Find out how to really learn Spanish Fast.

    Before we get started, there are a few things we need to improve on… Because years of language learning in schools and traditional courses (perhaps even with language apps) have likely left you with some wrong (and counterproductive) ideas of language learning. If we don’t fix it now, you will lose a lot of time.

    This is how most people think that learning Spanish (and other languages) works. I call this the design approach.

    • You will learn words to convey objects, concepts, feelings, etc.
    • You learn grammar rules. That way you can take words and make sentences from them.
    • Putting together sentences like this is a pretty slow process at first because there are so many rules to remember.
    • You think: “I have to be faster here!”
    • So you do a lot of grammar practice, fill out the conjugation table, and if you’re brave, try to speak a lot of Spanish.
    • In theory, if you do it long enough, you’ll eventually be able to speak Spanish fluently!

    What is the best way to learn Spanish fast?

    Let’s do a quick reality check! If you want to learn Spanish on your own, you’ll need a few things;

    • Motivation (to continue)
    • Focus (to be effective)
    • Time (for everything to sink)

    Without these three things, it is impossible to learn a language.

    In all my work with language learners, there seems to be one deadly way to be successful – keep it simple! Since there are tons of Spanish websites, apps, and courses out there, jumping from one to the other can be tempting. But there’s one golden rule to remember… “It’s usually more effective to rummage through books or stick to research methods than to try different things out of curiosity.”

    So how does learning Spanish work?

    Successful language learning works more like this:

    • You will learn some basic words to describe concepts, objects, feelings, etc. So far so good.
    • But now you’re starting to see native Spanish speakers. They listen to what they say in conversation and how they say it.
    • As you watch, you’ll discover exactly how native speakers express themselves … because you have words and word combinations right in front of you.
    • As you listen, you might think, “Oh, so that’s what a native Spanish speaker would say!”
    • Your sentence structure will likely be slightly different from what you are used to in your native language. This will give you some grammatical explanations that explain what you see in native-speaker sentences.
    • You’ve seen what word combinations natural speakers use (called chunks) so you know they’re right. So instead of learning individual words, you learn these word combinations immediately. This way, you can bypass many of the grammar rules.
    • You start using these word combinations yourself when you speak Spanish.
    • You listen and watch more and more so you can find more of these word combinations.
    • Here we are speaking in natural sentences which the local Spanish will also use. From the beginning.

    Is there any logic in it? I call it the OBSERVATION approach to language learning – and it’s the fastest way to learn a language I’ve ever seen. It’s also very intuitive.

    What are the top ways to learn Spanish Fast Online Image
    What are the top ways to learn Spanish Fast Online? Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay.

  • Intermediate Spanish for Dummies

    Intermediate Spanish for Dummies:

    Need to brush up on your Spanish? Intermediate Spanish For Dummies is your key to success in building your writing skills and bolstering your confidence.

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  • Grammar and Writing in Spoken Language Study

    Grammar and Writing in Spoken Language Study

    Discover the impact of grammar and writing on language development. Explore the role of proper sentence structure and pronunciation in effective communication.

    Grammar and Writing in Spoken Language Study:

    Personal experience about Grammar and Writing:

    I had the great advantage of growing up in a home in which grammatically correct English was spoken.  As I progressed through grade school and on into high school, my language ability matured as a result of my home and school environments.

    In retrospect, I believe that this is what happened. For the most part, I used proper sentence structure and pronunciation because that is what I heard in my home.  However, when I went to school, I needed to learn grammar in school in order to reinforce my knowledge of my own language.  I — like probably most of my classmates — did not learn to speak by studying grammar.  Rather, I was able to learn how to do grammar exercises because I already knew how to speak.

    Certainly, I learned many important things about my language through grammar study. But it was of importance to me only because I had already achieved basic English fluency.  I did not learn to speak English as a result of English grammar lessons.

    In contrast, I also took two years of Spanish in high school.  We started with basic grammar.  We wrote exercises almost every day.  But we almost never heard spoken Spanish and had even less opportunity to try to speak it ourselves.  (Language instruction in the United States has changed considerably since I was in high school.) After high school graduation, I could neither speak Spanish nor did I understand Spanish grammar.

    In my mid-twenties, I spent a year in Paris studying French.  I had the great fortune of enrolling in a French language school that emphasized spoken French to the complete exclusion of written exercises.  Not only did I learn French grammar — meaning that I learned to use sentences that communicated what I intended to say to a French listener — but, interestingly enough, because verb construction is similar in both French and Spanish, I also began to understand the Spanish grammar which had made no sense to me in high school.  Because I could read and write in English, I had no difficulty reading French.  It was a simple transfer of knowledge from reading in English to reading in French.

    Later, I studied another language in Africa.  Because school-based language courses were almost non-existent in that country, all of my language training was done by way of recorded language drills that I adapted from local radio broadcasts.  I also had a university student as my language helper.  Yet I learned how to structure a sentence in that language — which is applied grammar — and how to write much more quickly than had I been studying grammar and writing independently of the spoken language.

    Traditional language instruction:

    Traditional language instruction has reversed the process with poor results.  Most second language classes teach grammar as a foundation for spoken language.

    The quickest way to teach students to read a new language is to teach them to speak it first.  The fastest way to teach them sufficient grammar to pass college entrance exams is to build a foundation by teaching them to speak the language fluently.  Then as they build on that foundation, they will understand the target language’s grammar.  Finally, it is almost impossible to teach non-speaking students how to write well before they have mastered the basic spoken language.  Whenever the process is reversed, it takes a needlessly long time to succeed in teaching grammar and writing skills, much less spoken language fluency.

    Do not misunderstand.  One cannot speak any language — fluently or otherwise — without using the grammar of that language.  That is true because grammar consists of the rules used in that language to string words together as units to convey meaning.  (In English we call these units sentences or paragraphs.) In English, we can use a given number of words to make a statement or ask a question by the way in which we order the words and use inflection.  Simply stated, placing the words in the correct order applied grammar.

    The issue is not whether or not students learning a new language need to know grammar.  Language is unintelligible without it.  The question is, “How is grammar best taught?”

    The best time to study grammar:

    That effective spoken language instruction simultaneously trains all of the cognitive and sensory centers of speech.  To again resort to an English example, when is the best time to introduce the grammar rule that the sentence. “That is a book,” is an English statement, and “Is that a book?” is an English question? The best time is when students simultaneously learn to speak these two sentences. Inverting word order to change a statement to a question.  That would take place while they are learning many other similar sentences. So that they develop a cognitive sense reinforced by motor skill and auditory feedback that the order and inflection of the one sentence is a question, while the other is a statement.  The sound of the sentence is as much an indicator of its meaning as its written form.  Right? Right!

    There is also a relationship between good pronunciation and good spelling.  I am a poor speller.  I understand that I misspell many words because I mispronounce them.  At some point, everyone who expects to write a target language well must learn its spelling.  Yet, it will probably be faster for a student to learn good spelling after learning good speech habits. Than it will be for the same student to learn good spelling without being able to speak.  In practice, in a spoken language course, students should learn the spelling of new words as they added to the vocabulary of each new lesson.

    This is not to say that grammar and spelling are unnecessary for the new language learner.  Rather, what is being said is that grammar can be taught more effectively — and in less time — by using audio language drills.  Teaching grammar by means of spoken Learning to Speak a Second Language

    language has the great advantage of reinforcing the cognitive learning of grammar. While using two additional functions found in normal speech — motor skill feedback and auditory feedback.  Teaching grammar as a written exercise does develop cognitive learning, but it reinforces it with visual feedback.

    Though visual feedback through reading and writing has some merit, it is outside the context of spoken language.  Reinforcement through visual feedback outside of the spoken language context is far less effective. Than motor skill feedback and auditory feedback that are both inside the spoken language context.  The trade-off in gaining visual feedback at the loss of motor skill and auditory feedback is costly and retards progress.  Far more gained when the student identifies correct grammar, by the way, a sentence sounds, rather than by the way it looks. 

    Though it would not typically explained this way, it is also important on a subconscious level that the student learns how to correct grammar feels.  As a function of the proprioceptive sense, a statement produces a certain sequence of sensory feedback from the mouth, tongue, and air passages that feel different than a question.  A speech pathologist working with children’s speech problems will pay a great deal of attention to this part of speech during retraining.

    It would take considerably longer to teach a language student. How to manipulate the grammar of the new language and then speak that language correctly. Than it would teach the same student to first speak the language correctly and then introduce rules of grammar.  This gain would greatly augmented, however, if the rules of grammar were incorporated into the spoken language lessons themselves.

    A year spent exclusively in spoken language study will produce a marked degree of fluency.  With that language fluency, the student will gain a functional understanding of the grammar of the target language.  The same amount of time spent in grammar study will produce limited fluency and little practical understanding of that language’s grammar.

    Grammar study in your own language program:

    How you approach grammar study in your target language will depend on the language program you are using.

    If you enrolled in an established school program with written grammar assignments. You will obviously need to complete them just like every other student in the class.  However, as you will see in Making the Feedback Training Method Work, on your own time. You can then use the completed (and corrected) written exercises as spoken language drills.  If you focus more on using your grammar exercises as spoken language drills rather than simply as written assignments. You will find that your ability in your target language’s grammar will increase much more rapidly.  Of course, this will add time to your study schedule, but it will undoubtedly result in considerably higher exam scores.  You will also see an important caution regarding correct pronunciation when you are reading grammar assignments as spoken exercises.

    As also explained in Making the Feedback Training Method Work, if you design your own language course with a language helper. You can have much greater freedom in the way you study grammar.  In that case, you will try to incorporate your grammar lessons into your spoken drills.

    Nonetheless, there will be times when you will ask your language helper for clarifications regarding grammar.  For example, to again use an illustration from English, during the first week of lessons you would encounter the two articles “A” and “AN.” If your language helper explained that “A” used before a word beginning with a consonant, and “an” used before a word beginning with a vowel, it would certainly be a grammatical explanation.  With that knowledge, however, you could then ask your language helper to record an exercise with both “A” and “AN” sentences.  Your grammar study on “A” and “AN” would then done with a spoken exercise rather than a written assignment.

    International students struggling to learn English will often say that they want more grammar lessons.  But that is not what they are really asking for.  Many undoubtedly have a large vocabulary from studying written grammar for years.  They do not need more grammar rules to memorize — they need spoken language exercises that will teach them to organize the vocabulary they already know into fluent, spoken English sentences.

    Irrespective of the kind of language learning program you are in, the primary emphasis of this closing section is to encourage. You to study grammar by using spoken exercises rather than written assignments.